In a piece a few years back about J. Ryan’s Pub, 253 E. Water St., I wrote that this place was all about the beer. Well, it’s still all about the beer.
Kitchen manager Chris Case told us that the beers continue to change constantly, and there were 17 IPAs alone to choose from on the day we visited. There are 69 beers on tap from all over the world, some I bet you have never heard of. Local breweries were well represented, too, including Empire, Middle Ages, Ithaca and Harvest Moon Ciders. Although not his cup of tea, Case said a lot of the patrons are into sour beers these days, and they are available, as well.
When you look over the menu at J. Ryan’s, you’ll be struck by the value pricing. No burger was more than $8; the most expensive menu item wasn’t even $10. We ordered “J. Ryan’s Own,” a burger on an English muffin with ham and cheese, blue cheese and Buffalo wing sauce. The flavors married well, and the drippings were perfect for dunking the waffle-cut fries that came with it.
We also customized a chicken sandwich with mushrooms, Swiss cheese and a crazy amount of bacon. . . sustenance for heading out into the cold after lunch. If you are just up for grazing, there are offerings such as fries, sweet potato tots, Black and Tan beer-battered onion rings, chicken fingers and Portobello mushroom fingers. Homemade soups change daily, and a full selection of salads is available. The salad special they were offering when we dined was a spinach salad with strawberries, croutons and Gouda.
Assuming for a minute that warmer weather will come to Syracuse, the patio will be the place to be. The pub will again offer a $5 lunch menu on weekdays that is popular with downtown workers. A friend from work is still talking about a salad special they offered last summer on this menu. Right now, you can stop by two Sundays each month and listen to an Irish music jam session. What goes better with beer?
Beer enthusiasts should head over during the last week of April for the Cask Conditioned Beer Festival. Half of the pub will be filled with cradled casks; last year, 31 varieties were offered. You can buy by the sample or purchase a wristband for unlimited tasting. The festival will be Friday, April 25, 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, April 26, 2 to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 27, 1 to 6 p.m. The regular menu will also be offered. Call 399-5533 or visit Jryanspub.com for pricing and other information.
Favorite Menu Item
Am I allowed to say beer? Not just my favorite, it’s one of the most popular: Stone Brewery’s IPA “Enjoy By 4/20.” Once the date passes, the brewery will produce another batch with a different “enjoy by” date. The current batch is clean-tasting and not very hoppy.
Local Flavor is a special advertising feature produced in concert with local establishments.
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