Armory Square pub hits all the right spots (Family Dining Out Review) – syracuse.com

(As the mom of two preschoolers, eating out as a family can be a challenge to say the least. Between the highchairs, kids menus and sippy cups, dining at restaurants sure looks different than it did a few years ago. But as a foodie, Im determined to not let these houligans ... I mean, the loves of my life ... keep me from enjoying one of my favorite hobbies. Join me on my quest to find great family-friendly restaurants in CNY, where you dont have to choose between a delicious meal or getting the side-eye.)

Syracuse, N.Y. Downtown isnt the first place that comes to mind when youre eating out with kids, but with a dedicated play area, reasonable prices and a menu that would satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, The Hops Spot Burger Bar & Poutinerie (THS) is on its way to changing that.

We ventured to the Armory Square restaurant with kiddos and grandparents in tow to fill our bellies after an afternoon of sledding. Grateful for street parking nearby, our party of seven was quickly escorted past a full bar of SU fans to a large table toward the back of the large, open restaurant.

We were still wrangling our 2-year-old in his high chair when our wonderfully patient and attentive server Charlie stopped by to see if we wanted anything to accompany our waters. The boys quickly indicated their preference for chocolate milk, but it was going to take the rest of us a little longer to browse through the huge selection of craft beers (38 taps), wine and cocktails ($7-$9.79). Draft beer is offered in three sizes (5, 10 & 16 ounces) making it easy to try a bunch, but dont pass on their signature mixed drinks.

I asked for something sweet, and as promised The Dirty Shirley (Black Cherry liqueur, vodka, and Sprite) went down easy reminding me of a cherry cola.

The grilled cheese and fries from the kids menu at The Hops Spot in Syracuse. (Katie Jerome | Contributing Writer)

We placed the kids orders first (chicken tenders and grilled cheese) and were pleasantly surprised at the prices ($5.29-$6.79) as well as the side options: goldfish and carrot sticks in addition to the standard French fries and applesauce. The dedicated kids menu came with crayons and puzzles that held their attention for the five minutes before our 4-year-old spotted the play area. The plastic cups with lids and straws ensured there werent any spills.

With the kids distracted, we finally got a moment to take a closer look at the extensive menu. For a place known for its burgers and fries, we werent expecting the breadth of starters offered from pierogis to tacos. We ultimately decided to share the Fried Green Tomato Stack ($13.29).

THS adds a Southern twist to this caprese-style salad by layering fried green tomatoes with slices of fresh mozzarella, pesto and balsamic glaze. It tasted as delicious as it was presented. We only wished there was more of the sweet balsamic reduction which served as a balance to the tart tomatoes.

The fried green tomato stack at The Hops Spot in Syracuse. (Katie Jerome | Contributing Writer)

THS calls itself a Poutinerie and for good reason. Their fresh hand-cut fries and Yanceys famous cheese curds serve as the perfect base for the restaurants 10 poutine varieties.

Its not a coincidence that THS original location is in Clayton, N.Y., just across the border from the French-Canadian region this famous comfort food hails from. We took Charlies recommendation and tried The Dirty Plate ($14.29) which features a generous topping of chicken tenders, cheddar cheese curds, jalapeos, dill pickles and chipotle ranch. The dish was perfect to share and so tasty that we had to remind ourselves more than once to save room for the entrees.

The Dirty Plate Poutine at The Hops Spot in Syracuse. (Katie Jerome | Contributing Writer)

The kids meals came out with our appetizers as requested, but pulling the boys back to the table proved difficult. I dont know why more restaurants dont offer something similar, but the small area dedicated to little ones is genius.

Its nothing crazya TV with kids Netflix, a height-appropriate chalkboard, and a climber/slidebut its more than enough to keep kids occupied (with something other than a device) while grown-ups enjoy a nice meal. The half-wall and bench seating make it easy for parents to keep an eye on things but also easy for our youngest to make a break and run around the restaurant on occasion. Thankfully our table was nearby and we could intercept him.

The dedicated kids area at The Hops Spot in Syracuse. (Katie Jerome | Contributing Writer)

I tried a few bites of each and noted they were larger portions and of higher quality than youd find at most kid-friendly restaurants, a clear reflection of the ingredients like thick sourdough bread. My kids had no complaints when they finally ate upon returning home and realizing they were starving.

The rest of us on the other hand, left more than full (as reflected by our to-go boxes). My dad enjoyed the Honey Dijon Chicken salad ($15.29) which was generously topped with fresh ingredients and tossed in a tasty house-made vinaigrette.

The Honey Dijon Chicken Salad from The Hops Spot in Syracuse. (Katie Jerome | Contributing Writer)

Moist chicken was noted on both the salad and the Pickle Rick! ($16.79) that my brother tired, one of six sandwiches featuring THS buttermilk-battered fried chicken. This one had Szechuan sauce, dill pickles, cilantro aioli and a fried pickle speared on top of the bun.

The real stars though were the burgers. It was tempting to Build Your Own veggie, turkey, or grass-fed beef burger with their wide range of toppings and scratch-made sauces, but we decided to trust the kitchen and the remaining three of us ordered house burgers (16 concoctions ranging from $14.79-$16.79) which were huge and included your choice of house fries or side salad (or upgrade to poutine for $4.29).

Both of the beef burgers were perfectly cooked to order (medium rare). I could not have been more pleased with The BB King ($16.49)the combination of the smoked crumbled blue cheese and balsamic bacon jam melted in my mouth. My husband gave high marks to The Corporate ($16.29) which is THS take on a rodeo/western style burger with thick bacon, BBQ sauce and beer-battered onion rings.

The BB King Burger and Dirty Shirley cocktail at The Hops Spot in Syracuse. (Katie Jerome | Contributing Writer)

My mom loved her Harvest Turkey burger ($13.79), which can sometimes be dry but not in this case. The combination of granny smith apples, bacon, cranberry aioli and maple syrup was the perfect bit of fall in every bite.

None of us could finish our meals, but like your last stop at the State Fair, dessert smelled too good to pass up. We ordered the Bourbon Caramel Dessert Poutine for all of us to share. Instead of potatoes, these were cinnamon sugared funnel cake fries served a la mode with decadent house made bourbon caramel. Despite vowing only to have a few bites, we somehow all managed to find enough room in our bellies to clean the whole tray. Next time Ill save room!

The Bourbon Caramel Dessert Poutine at The Hops Spot in Syracuse. (Katie Jerome | Contributing Writer)

If there was any complaint, we felt the buns were a little dry and not up to the same quality as the rest of the ingredients. Upon revisiting the menu for this story, it occurred to me that none of our sandwiches came on the Kaiser brioche listed (and pictured in many reviews online). I called the restaurant to inquire, and sure enough they were out of their usual buns on Saturday and served us the gluten-free rolls instead. Our meals were still delicious, but I wish we had been made aware of the substitution (I may have opted for the pretzel roll instead).

It would take more than dry buns to sour our experience though. From start to finish The Hops Spot executed a superb experience for this multigenerational meal.

If you actually want to enjoy your childrens company, this might not be the placethe play area proved too attractive for our little ones to spend much time at the table. But we were more than happy to have adult conversation without paying a babysitter.

The Restaurant:The Hops Spot, 116 Walton St., Syracuse; (315) 646-2337

Reservations?No

Credit cards?Yes

Access to disabled:Yes, via rear entrance on Fayette Street

Parking: Street, public garage nearby

Noise level: Medium. Loud if its a game night.

Special diets? Yes, a Beyond Beef (vegetarian) patty can be subbed on any burger or sandwich. Gluten-free rolls and vegan cheese available.

Childrens menu?Yes.

Hours: Kitchen is open Mondays, Wednesday-Saturday, Noon a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Sunday, Noon to 8 p.m.; closed Tuesdays. Bar stays open late.

Cost:Everything is less than $18. We ordered more than we would typically to get a good sample of the menu. The total dinner for seven (five adults and two kids) with drinks, starters, entrees and desserts, plus tax and a 20% tip, was $280.14.

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Katie Jerome is a restaurant critic for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. You can reach her at kjerome@skyhighstrategies.com.

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Armory Square pub hits all the right spots (Family Dining Out Review) - syracuse.com