The Salina Street corridor on Syracuse, New York's north side was once the Italian immigrant center of the city. In 2004, the city and local groups labelled the area its Little Italy district, and helped to renovate and attract businesses to the neighborhood. Restaurants, bakeries and religious outreach organizations fill the storefronts along Salina Street.
The area is not near any golf courses, but the Italian restaurants in Little Italy are less than a 15-minute drive from any of the area's top courses, including the championship courses at the 6,877-yard Foxfire Golf Course in Baldwinsville or the 6,659-yard Links at Erie Village in East Syracuse.
Antonio's Ristorante
The most established of the Little Italy restaurants, Antonio's Ristorante is an elegant fine dining restaurant. The menu features traditional Italian dishes, with pastas and veal, chicken and seafood dishes. Veal dishes stand out on the menu, from the Veal Nicholas--egg-battered veal scallops sauteed with shrimp, artichoke hearts and mushrooms in a marinara sauce--to the Veal alla Cardinale--veal scallops sauteed with lobster tail, mushrooms and artichoke hearts in a wine sauce. Dinner is served Wednesday through Saturday evenings.
Antonio's Ristorante
700 N. Salina St.
Syracuse, NY
(315) 425-1946
communitysite.com/Antonios/
Asti Café
The family-owned Asti Café is one of Syracuse's finest restaurants. The open kitchen looks out into the dining room. Steaks, fish and chops are prepared on a wood-fired grill, and desserts and bread are made in-house. The house vodka cream sauce is the most popular choice and adorns a number of different pastas on the menu. The center of the menu is chicken or veal dishes served one of six traditional styles: picatta, saltimbocca, marsala, francese, parmigiano or di Asti--topped with grilled eggplant and fresh mozzarella and sauteed in mushrooms and Madeira. Lunch and dinner is served Monday through Saturday, and dress is business casual.
Asti Café
411 N. Salina Street
Syracuse, NY 13203
(315) 478-1039
asticafe.com
Francesca's Cucina
Francesca's Cucina is an intimate fine dining spot reminiscent of restaurants in New York City's Little Italy. A neon sign bearing the restaurant's name hangs above a green and white awning on the restaurant's facade. Meals reflect a local flavor, incorporating locally sourced ingredients and regional dishes, such as chicken riggies--grilled chicken with sauteed peppers and onions in a spicy red cream sauce over rigatoni. Seafood is imported daily from Canada and Boston, making up half of the non-pasta dishes. Veal, chicken and steaks make up the remainder of the listing. Lunch and dinner are served Tuesday through Saturday, and dress code is business casual.
Francesca's Cucina
545 N. Salina Street
Syracuse, NY 13208
(315) 425-1556
francescas-cucina.com
Frankie's Piccolo Bistro
Frankie's Piccolo Bistro serves dinners Tuesday through Saturday in a open-air restaurant. The restaurant serves traditional Italian entrees with some unique touches. Tuscan ravioli are homemade pasta pillows stuffed with ricotta cheese and served in a Marsala cream sauce with prosciutto, mushrooms and sundried tomatoes. Shrimp alla Bionda features sauteed shrimp, chicken and vegetables in a white wine cream sauce over penne pasta.
Frankie's Piccolo Bistro
656 N. Salina St.
Syracuse, NY 13208
(315) 479-8797
frankiespiccolobistro.com
About The Author
Jared Paventi is the communications director for a disease-related nonprofit in the Northeast. He has extensive experience in the health care, technology and sports industries. He holds a master's degree from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication and a bachelor's in journalism from St. Bonaventure University.
