Dominick's Restaurant

Dominick’s Restaurant is a casual, friendly setting for an inexpensive yet enjoyable Italian lunch or dinner. Located on Burnet Avenue in downtown Syracuse, its incredibly extensive selection of food appeals to those who love Italian food and those tagging along for a good meal and conversation.

When to Go: The very large dining room area is ready to accommodate you between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. And for those looking to enjoy themselves a little later into the night, the restaurant is open an hour later, until midnight, Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, Dominick's opens at noon. The bottom line: No matter when your stomach rumbles, you will be able to satisfy the craving at Dominick’s.

Blue Plate Special: The menu is the strong point of Dominick’s by far. You will get fresh and delicious bread before you even order. For lunch or dinner, there are more than enough selections. Daily specials offer a tasty addition to the menu choices. The prices are neither cheap nor overpriced, just about average for the food you can expect here. However, the menu provides choices from a kid’s spaghetti with meatball for $4.95 all the way up to a $20.95 surf and turf. The bottom line: No matter what you’re looking for to eat, if it’s Italian or just plain generic, they’re going to have it.

The Scene: Dominick’s is a relatively bright spot in the neighborhood. Complete with Italian art, a fireplace (albeit an electric one), and soothing maroons and other darker colors, it’s got a moody setting without distracting the eye. The booths are incredibly comfortable and can fit four people with plenty of room to spare. The bottom line: You will instantly want a pizza or spaghetti with meatballs as soon as you walk in the door. 

The Crew: At a slow time right at the lunch opening, it seemed as if there was a staff member for every table. Servers were kind, ready to follow up with any needs, and they served the food quickly. The bottom line: Bring some good tip money. You’re going to use it.

The Crowd: Using my superb detective skills as well as my flawless eavesdropping abilities (creepy, I know), I was able to determine that the customers who walked in all seemed to be return customers. However, the staff didn’t seem to be surprised that I was a first-timer. The bottom line: it’s a typical Italian restaurant crowd – a mix of average diners as well as those with Italian backgrounds looking for a taste of home.

The Deets: With its extensive menu, Dominick's is a good selection for all who are looking to grab a quick bite to eat at a sit-down Italian place. Bottom line: If you’re looking for an inexpensive place to bring a date or just somewhere to hang out for the night with friends -- without emptying the wallet yet still pleasing everyone’s picky eating -- Dominick’s is the place.

Review by Kyle Bonn