The 317 At Montgomery

Very disappointed. We were really anticipating a good, fine dining experience. It was really bad overall. The server was pleasant but completely untrained for fine dining. Her abilities did not match the pricing whatsoever. The food was tasteless. The food quality was poor. They used the same herb garnish on every single plate served, including the appetizer. A complete waste of our money.

I came during dining week. Based on the previous reviews (unrelated to dining week) and the fact that it took me 3 – 4 times to get a reservation, I had very high expectations.
Finally made a reservation on Tuesday for a Friday.
Service was pretty bad. Got seated with no bread plates but a basket of bread. Waitress did not come around much for drinks and was not attentive.
Food portions were very small. Yes it is restaurant week. Yes it is more of ‘fine dining’… BUT plates looked as if they hadn’t prepared enough so they had to be stingy with sauce/​extras. For example… Not enough crab and more bread in the stuffed haddock. Or a drop of honey in the parsnip bisque.
Hopefully this experience was a fluke from restaurant week and I can get a better idea of their food/​service in the future when I come back.

Visited several times. Consistently good. Attentive service and warm atmosphere. Above all excellent food with fine wine pairings. All is beautifully presented. Best place in Syracuse these days. I had stopped eating out in Syracuse until I tried this place. Good for business and romantic dinners or birthday parties.

This is a review based on my experience during restaurant week– a very busy time for downtown restaurants.
My group of four made mid-​week reservations, and I’m glad that we did. It was quite busy. The restaurant is pretty, modern, and intimate. There is a downstairs, but I did not see it.
When we were seated, we were given waters, one person ordered a beer, and we also order sparkling water for the table. Once those beverages were served, we were not offered any refills. I even asked for another class for the Pelligrino, but we had to wait 20 minutes for that. We also had to ask for bread after waiting for over 20 minutes, and it was nearly an hour between the time we sat down until when we received our appetizers.
As far as the food goes, it was a limited menu due to it being restaurant week. For appetizers, we shared our selections, but the portions were very small. We had pork belly BLT (not impressive), roasted portobello mushroom (exactly what you’d expect– fine), and duck won tons (a nice fried won ton, but where was the duck?). For the second course, we had the option between a salad and a parsnip bisque with white Turkish figs. I chose the bisque, but I would not have called it a bisque. Instead, it reminded me of puréed parsnip in that it wasn’t smooth or particularly interesting, and there were no figs. It actually reminded me of the baby food I used to make my daughter. As the entrée, I selected the crab stuffed haddock with edamame. It was delicious: very light and fresh and buttery with real crab meat. I do think that rice would have probably been a better side because the edamame was under seasoned and a bit of a throw-​away, but I enjoyed the fish so much that I didn’t mind much. On the other hand, one of my dining companions ordered the flank steak that came with roast potatoes and vegetables. She enjoyed all of the sides but said that the meat itself was so chewy and fatty that she couldn’t even eat it. She brought it home in a to-​go box, but she was just being polite.
Throughout the meal, our server was absent. I was very glad that I had ordered that bottle of sparkling water so that we all had something to drink. But when it came time to pay, she brought over their «payment terminal,» which was an iPad (or some other tablet) that I used to make the payment. She said there was only one for the whole restaurant. Then she proceeded to stand over my shoulder and watch me make my payment. To be honest, it was really awkward awarding a gratuity when she was starring at me the whole time.
I guess the overall message– most of the food was good. The atmosphere was quaint and lovely. The service was bad. I would hope that that was due to how busy the restaurant was, so I will likely return.

I’m here to defend this place regarding my personal restaurant week experience.
Party of 4 with 6:00 reservation on a Friday night. We arrived right on the nose and were seated immediately, Followed by being served bread immediately, Everyone that served us was not only friendly, but funny and engaging.
Now on to the food. For the most part we were all happy with everything. Not all, but some of the dishes portions were very small. We also kept in mind that this is a finer restaurant and that a typical 3 course meal hear would be double what we paid.
The 3^rd course was good. I had the steak with greens and potatoes. The steak was marinated very well and cooked medium like I asked. The greens were delicious!
My other dining partners had the crab stuffed haddock which they enjoyed. Probably could have had something added, but definitely not as bad as the other reviews.
My boyfriend had the pork which he really enjoyed (despite wanting the steak but I ordered it first and he doesn’t like to order the same thing, neener neener!)
The sweet potato mash was very smooth and the pork was tasty and not dry.
They timed it perfectly so that each course was served to all of us at the same time. And the timing was perfect. I would love to give it 5 stars, but the tiny pork belly, and the second course options weighed in. Still thought everything was great and would love to come back again!

We went during Restaurant Week. The ambiance is very nice and we enjoyed viewing our surroundings. The downstairs is much quieter than upstairs, obviously because there is no bar. Service was slow. However, I prefer slower service at pricey restaurants – makes me feel like I’m getting my money’s worth. There was a little confusion on which table ordered which item of food a few times, but I try not to sweat the small stuff. The pork belly BLT as an appetizer and the stuffed haddock was good, but not excellent. My favorite dish of the evening was the parsnip bisque – very unique and delicious. We ordered two bottles of wine (that’s why the big bill) and it was delicious! Our overall assessment? Better than most but not the best.

Despite being restaurant week, they put on a tremendous meal. We were served promptly and courteously by Michael, one of the owners.
My starter was a pork belly BLT. l wish more restaurants would use this cut. There’s nothing quite like it.
Following on, a delicious thick and creamy Parsnip Bisque. The entrée was a wonderful sweet pork tenderloin served with a gorgeous mashed sweet potato. The green beans were crisp and crunchy, perfectly cooked.
Others enjoyed the fish, the flank steak etc. The wine was just a touch overpriced but I suppose at $ 25.00 for three courses they have to at least break even. Decent coffee and a delicate crème Brule cheesecake finished the meal perfectly. Return is guaranteed. One of the classier restaurants in town.

Disclaimer: This review is for restaurant week ONLY as I have never found their service or cuisine to be so poor before. This review is not intended for regular business service or quality of their food items usually.
Last night we decided to start our culinary adventure for restaurant week at 317 Montgomery. Now we have a special attachment to this establishment as we started our relationship off here and have eaten here often so with that our expectations were high as we would expect nothing less than their best.
Despite this we arrived at 7:15 and did not leave until almost 9:30. We waited 25 minutes just for bread, another 30+ to get our first course. It appeared as if they were understaffed. This is the biggest week of the year… be ready for the encounter!
Before the start of restaurant week we checked out their facebook page to see the goods, serving sizes, etc.
The photos posted on their facebook page showed decent size portions, creamy silky soup, etc. For example– the parsnip soup featured on their site was soup consistency and what we were served was a mush of parsnip (almost like eating mashed up sweet potatoes). The duck wontons were featured as three per serving on their site. I even thought I saw the chef serving them with three to a plate (whole). When ours arrived they were two to a plate and cut up to appear as more. I asked our waitress who said «what was on their website was only for their pre restaraunt week diners.» This is misleading!
Additional first courses included cheddar puffed pastries which was flaky and cheeseLESS as it was just like a 1oz cube melted in the center and just puff and pastry everywhere else. When you advertise «stuffed puffed pastry with cheese,» you expect it to be filled throughout.
The pork belly was good but a bit too dry (inside) for our taste.
The second choice was salad or parsnip soup. Again, the soup was a big mush of parsnip blob. See advertised photo from 317 then see ours. The salad was fine.
Our final course is where the biggest disappointment came. We had ordered our dinner entrees over an hour before they came out. I ordered the fish, my mother ordered the steak (medium rare) and my boyfriend pork tenderlion.
After an hour they bring me the wrong dish! I told them i ordered the fish and that is when the manager informed me that they ran out of fish and would i take the pork, no here is the menu to select another entrée or anything. I asked about the steak and was told «it would take too long,» so the pork it was!
The pork was so dry. I mean choking dry. The cut of meat was crappy too as there was nothing «tender» about this tenderlion. The steak was so tough and nothing medium about it. We watched the table next to us be given steak knives while we struggled with butter knives.
Overall, the wait was horrible (it was not that crowded and they should have been prepared with the appropriate amount of staff). Although my forced upon me pork was comped, the experience was poor. I am disappointed and probably would not dine here for restaurant week again.

This is a tucked away gem in armory square. It’s still in the main area of the square but I’m nice quiet side street. Area is so quaint and cozy but elegant it feels like a true window into a NYC restaurant. Menu options are great and changing bar selection and staff are wonderful. Great room downstairs for private parties!

What a wonderful find!
As my boyfriend and I turn on to Montgomery street, we are pleased with this location that’s off the beaten path. It is a quaint area of downtown. Peaceful and calm, without the hectic chaos from Hanover bleeding over, into this quiet area. It is a nice safe street with plenty of lighting and street parking.
As we enter, it is very dim, but perfect for our special date night ambience. We had easily made a reservation earlier that day, and we greeted by a very welcoming host. We were lead to our reserved table and handed menus created specifically for New Years night. Before we had a chance to look at our delicious options, we were given a complimentary glass of champagne for the special evening. Followed by a chef sample tasting of a roasted beet, decorated with goat cheese, herbs and a balsamic vin.
We then, finally decided on a couple apps:
* The Pork Belly– perfectly cooked with a slight crisp to the outside which was packed with flavor that pleased us both.
And,
* The Charcuterie and Cheese platter. — this was perfection. Definitely with be sampling this on our next visit. The champagne cheddar was my favorite!
For our main course we decided on the Duck Duo and the Lamb Shank. They were both cooked perfectly and I loved the sides paired with both dishes.
Service was a ⁵⁄₅. Food 5/​5, location was great! Can’t get better than this! Will definitely be back! I can’t wait to see what the Chef has up his sleeve for our next visit!

Located pretty close to downtown. I found this place through a Groupon and couldn’t help but to try it out. The owner/​manager was very responsive to some circumstances that I was under and I greatly appreciate her for it.
I tried out quite a bit of their lunch menu and shared it with some friend. They included the: turkey sandwich with house special soup, lobster roll, duck bacon BLT, and a Cubano.
I have to say, their house special soup was delicious! I forgot to ask the name of it but it was a tomato base with a fried cheese ball in the middle. Normally, I am not a fan of that stuff, but the fried cheese ball added that perfect texture and taste to balance the rest of the dish.
The lobster roll was good. Not that enough lobster considering the price, but still quite delicious. The other sandwiches were all delicious, but relatively standard. Their homemade potatoe fries are overly salted. The price may be an issue for a lot of people. Groupon definitely helps to balance things out when coming here for the first time, but if I didn’t have a coupon for more than 50% off, I would think the price/​quantity is quite high.
Overall, a solid restaurant with great service. Nothing too out of the ordinary with classic dishes done well. A little steep on price.

This is a tough review for me to write. Contrary to pretty much everyone else who reviewed this place, I thought our servers were fantastic. They were attentive and helpful. Including when I hated my prime rib. They took it and some other items off the bill to help make it right, but in the end, the prime was leathery tough and not really edible. My wife liked her seafood scampi and the calamari frittes were delicious.
Based on how great the staff was, I will probably be back and try the chef’s tasting. I will update my review based on that experience. Till then… Just not good.

My wife and I just enjoyed a delightful dinner at 317. We knew that this place knew what it was doing by just looking at the menu, since they had put together a very simple menu (in my experience, the quality of the food goes down as the length of the menu goes up).
We were seated immediately, and our server was very attentive and friendly. Since it wasn’t very busy there tonight, we basically had her undivided attention. I wish we could get this kind of service everywhere we eat.
I ordered the yellow fin tuna, my wife ordered the scallops, and for our starter we shared a plate of escargot. Every single component of our meal was executed perfectly, and the ingredients were top notch.
The reviews here are pretty polarizing. It sounds like it has taken a while for this restaurant to hit its stride, but my wife and I couldn’t have been more pleased. Especially with the Groupon deals going on right now, I would say you should give 317 a shot. We’ll definitely be back.

I can honestly say my experience at 317 Montgomery ranks as one of the worst dining experiences I have had. There were only 4 others diners on a Friday night and it was 45 minutes before the only server brought out our appetizers of salad and cold calamari. We were told that they forgot to put the heat lamp on. The main courses were another 25 minutes with only 2 others diners in the restaurant at this time. While the food was ok, the timing of the service was totally unacceptable. When we walked out the 4 new diners were walking out as they received zero service in 25 minutes. It’s too bad that we won’t return as the restaurant had charm and potential.
Since I posted this review, the executive chef contacted me to apologize about the unforgivable service and vowed to address the issues. For the restaurant’s sake, I hope so.

It was good. I liked my meal a lot more than my fiancée liked hers. Definitely on the pricey side, considering the food didn’t blow us out of the water.
Service was great at first. Waitress brought out some dumplings to taste from the chef — delicious!
Everything was good up until we tried to use a Groupon and the waitress practically yelled at us. Apparently we were supposed to have 4 people (we had 2), to use the coupon. We obviously overlooked this, and apologized multiple times. We even would’ve taken half the discount, and a gift card to come back another time if she wanted to do that. Instead, she just lectured us about how we should’ve read the fine print and how «they won’t make any money» on us. She simply wouldn’t accept our apology and made us feel terrible, it was shockingly unprofessional.
She ended up taking the coupon, but it had us leaving with a terribly bad taste in out mouth. Probably won’t return.

Great food! Great service… I had the petit filet and its huge servings… there were 2 medallions. Potatoes were okay. But the service was great!

317 is the best kept secret in Syracuse. I cannot believe it took this long to discover this unbelievable restaurant. We were walking by and met the owner, Dean, the other week and he was gracious enough to give us a tour. That same evening we came back and couldn’t have been happier.
The downstairs is straight out of a magazine! The chef, Richard, is a genius. Everything he puts together for the menu is inventive and absolutely delicious.
The ambiance, décor, servers, bartenders, everything is outstanding. Your next dining experience needs to be here

Nice place, small bistro looking. We came for mothers’ day brunch. Surprised the restaurant was way under staff, just 2 people serving all tables, must have a small kitchen because, it took over 1 hour for brunch to arrive, talking about breakfast food which should not take that long.
Finally food arrive, some plates were on the colder side and others were ok. Taste was good, the French toasts and omelette were really good, but the slow service just made it not as good enjoyable.

Although this is my second time here, it is my first review. I had dinner the first time and today I had brunch. So far this is on the top of my list amongst the places I have eaten in Syracuse. We had the goat cheese and asparagus omelette, the cream brûlée French toast, and the steak and eggs (served with duck confit potatoes hash). The food here is at another level, must be the quality of ingredients. I highly recommend it!

Sigh I am not sure what is up with me but I have not felt inspired to write as of late, as some of you might have noticed. I have been to great restaurants and enjoyed lovely food but nothing moved me enough to sit down and write about.. . Until now that is so I apologize in advance if my writing is a little rusty, I promise to work on it :-)
In my absense, I have been browsing the world wide web of food menus and reviews and in my constant desperate search of finding delicious food to tickle my tastebuds, I came across 317 Montgomery when they first opened several months back. I finally had the chance to try it out and what better way to sample all that the restaurant has to offer than to try their sample tasting menu (of course with wine pairing)!!
In all my experiences of tasting menus, not once did the chef asked my party of two if we wanted to try different dishes so that we can expand our samplings! I was so shocked at the offer I asked to verify that one of us was not going to get short changed with a vegetarian option (not that there’s anything wrong with being a vegetarian of course).
To our delight the chef paraded various options for us to try (pictures to follow later) and true to his word only our amuse bouche were the same and our dessert of four things were shared. We were beautifully presented with generous (for tasting menu portions) delicious foods that did not disappoint. The wine portions were also very generous as well.
This might very well be my favorite restaurant in Syracuse — quiet location with ample street parking, intimate décor and ambience, enjoyable food and plentiful wine portions. My compliments to the chef and my recommendations for this cute restaurant in Syracuse!