Sheraton Hotel Bar and Restaurant

Your rating: None Average: 4.3 (3 votes)

Update: The bar has since been renamed "Sitrus on the Hill."

 

You know it’s there, but you have never checked it out. After all, you attend Syracuse University, so why would you need to go inside the Sheraton Hotel? Make the two-minute trip from Marshall Street, though, and you’ll find out what you’ve been missing. The hotel’s bar and grill, Sitrus on the Hill, and restaurant, Rachel’s, are hidden gems for your drinking and eating pleasures.

When to Go: As soon as you walk through the door on a Friday night, the scene engrosses you: A live band plays music in the background, and groups of friends share some laughs over appetizers at the booths and spacious bar. As long as you are of legal age, the Friday night scene at Seasons Bar and Grill is definitely worth your time. For a small cover charge (or sometimes no charge), the Friday happy-hour specials from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. are a treat. All-you-can-eat wings and pizza have patrons lining up and drooling. Pitchers of Miller Lite can be bought for $5. The only holdback is you must be 21 to enjoy the fun. If you’re not of age, Rachel’s Restaurant is open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The bar and grill stays open from noon to 11 p.m. They are open every day. The bottom line: If you are 21, stop down for some food and brew before heading out to Chuck’s or Faegan’s on a Friday night.

On Tap: If you consider yourself a beer fan, Seasons at the Hill is worth a taste test. There are 14 beers on tap, including Blue Moon, Yuengling Lager, Guinness and Sam Adams Seasonal. If you prefer a bottle, why not try one of the 18 different bottled beers, including Labatt Blue, Coors Light and Smirnoff Ice. Three nonalcoholic beverages also are offered. If you are in the mood for wine, Rachel’s has a wide assortment for your pleasure. The beer is a little expensive, though, averaging around $5. The wine is mostly between $20 and $40. Cash and credit are accepted. The bottom line: If you like to have a drink, this hotel has you covered.

Blue Plate Special: Whether you eat like Homer Simpson or prefer to watch your calories and eat healthy, there is a wide variety of foods for your enjoyment. Rachel’s has a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. Seasons has one menu. The granddaddy of them all is the lunch buffet at Rachel’s. For just $6.95, you get an all-you-can-eat buffet, complete with salad and dessert. It’s a great meal that fills you up, and is just as cheap as most meals you will get on Marshall Street. Other than the buffet, the meals are a little more expensive for lunch, averaging about $10. At dinner time, the average entrée is between $15 and $25.  The bottom line: Stop down for lunch one day, and you won’t be disappointed.

The Scene: On Friday nights during happy hour, you’ll find a multitude of people (students and graduated) sharing a good time inside the bar. The live band has people singing along, and the wings and beer have mouths chomping and drinking. Televisions located around the bar also let the die-hard sports fans keep updated with ESPN. During the day, the bar is quiet while families and hotel guests feast at the restaurant. The daytime atmosphere is peaceful, with not much going on and soft '90s rock playing in the background. The bottom line: When the sun goes down, the fun turns up, especially at the bar.

The Crew: If you’ve never been to Rachel’s for lunch, you don’t have to worry. Waiters will quickly ask you if you’re from Syracuse University, and then tell you about the lunch buffet. They know we’re college students on tight budgets. The bottom line: They’ll help you get to the buffet line quickly.

The Deets: Rachel’s and Season’s Hill at the Sheraton are treasures on this campus. Who doesn’t love wings and beer with friends and music, or a great-tasting buffet for only $6.95? While it might not be a place to take people for dinner, you will find that lunch and happy hour more than make up for it. The bottom line: Be ready to have some fun and find a great meal.

Review by Matthew Ehalt

 

Location

801 University Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 475-3000

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