Geddes, NY — Someone in your group attending the New York State Fair this year will insist on a sausage sandwich, someone will want a gyro, and you know you’ll all be craving a pizza fries. We get it. We do it, too, and, yes, we wash it all down with a wine slushie.
But there is so much more that you probably don’t know about.
Reporters Charlie Miller and Anne Hayes spent opening day roaming the fairgrounds, looking for hidden gems and lesser-known foods and drinks that will broaden your culinary horizons. One of us (Chuck) eats and drinks for a living; one of us (Annie) eats and drinks as a hobby. That sort of qualifies us as fair experts. Right?
Here are some of our State Fair diamonds, some rough, some beautifully polished.
Breakfast in the Indian village
Breakfast in the Indian Village at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
WHO: The Soup House
Where: Indian village
How much: $18.50 (for essentially two meals)
What is so good: The only way you know you’re at the State Fair while eating at Indian Village is when Ted & Amy tell you over the loudspeaker, “It’s 8 a.m.!” Otherwise, you’re surrounded by trees, grass, and furniture made from logs.
We opted for the basic breakfast plate ($9). That’s two fried eggs, a few strips of crispy but not wilted bacon, a mountain of hash browns and a huge piece of toast. Just for fun, we both ordered a portion of bison hash ($7) to go with it.
Our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomachs, as we could barely finish the simple breakfast. The bison meat is so lean that you’ll definitely want to spice it up with one of the bottles of Frank’s on the table.
Eating here is like having breakfast in your parents’ kitchen. The people are friendly, the food is filling and healthy.
Affogato at The Eatery
An Affagqto from the Sicilian Breeze booth in the Eatery is a hidden gem of the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
WHO: Sicilian breeze
Where: The restaurant
How much: $7
What is so good: Even on this chilly opening day, Annie indulged in ice cream for breakfast and didn’t regret it. Just like Sabrina Carpenter says in her summer song, we’re going to be working late, so this espresso-charged pick-me-up was the perfect way to start the day.
The affogato includes your choice of gelato with freshly made espresso. We recommend the espresso chip gelato (and so does owner Domenick Brancato) for the full espresso experience. Brancato, a Sicilian himself, makes all of the gelato himself on-site using ingredients from Sicily. Brancato is no stranger to the fair—he’s been helping others with their booths for decades—but this is his first year with his own booth. We were lucky enough to snag the very first scoop of his homemade espresso chip gelato. For huge fans of coffee gelato, it was an honor.
Even caffeine addicts will be put in the mood by this affogato. The taste is the perfect blend of bitterness and sweetness. The cup contains at least two shots of fresh espresso. The chocolate chips in the espresso provide enough crunch to complete the experience. If you’re looking for a pick-me-up, Sicilian Breeze is your go-to. Just like the sign says: espresso plus gelato is love.
Fries and mussels at The Shamrock
Who would have thought that an Irish pub stand at the State Fair could serve good food? The Shamrock served Reuben fries and steaming mussels. That’s why it’s a hidden gem at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
WHO: The cloverleaf
Where: Next to The Midway, right in front of the Expo Center
How much: Mussels for $12 and Reuben fries for $7.50
What is so good: We have a knack for finding an Irish bar anywhere, but The Shamrock is a fairground institution. We almost ran over during a brief rain shower and could have stayed all day. (We’ll be back.) You can enjoy a hearty meal and ice cold beer while being accompanied by the screams of children being hurled around on the rides next door.
This year, the stand has a new addition to the menu: Reuben fries. These are the rich fries of your Irish dreams. The Russian dressing is tangy and coats the fries. The fries themselves are like a more compact version of McDonald’s fries. This new addition should be on the permanent menu.
You might not think you can find fresh mussels at an Irish bar next to the Midway, but you’d be wrong. Annie makes it a point to stop for the steamed mussels every year, and decided to let Charlie join in on the fun this year. You get over a dozen mussels and a tub of butter for just $12 (a deal that rivals the New England coast, according to Annie). They’re not They are the most filling, but also a perfect salty snack to accompany your beer. Whether you want to hide from the rain or rest your feet, the Shamrock is the place to do it.
Steak tips at Pickle Barrel
Pickle Barrel’s Beef Tips have always been a not-so-hidden gem at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
WHO: The pickle barrel
Where: Opposite the beer garden in Restaurant Row
How much: $16
What is so good: In our humble opinion, this steakhouse-quality dish is the best food at the fair. It was inducted into our State Fair Food Hall of Fame last year, and we featured it in last year’s Hidden Gems. It’s just so good we had to go back. You can even smell Au Jous from Suburban Park, nearly a mile away. “I want a candle that captures the smell of beef and mashed potatoes cooking in their giant skillets,” she said.
Steak tips are a notoriously difficult cut of beef to prepare, but the folks at The Pickle Barrel have perfected it. The tips are tender and seasoned to perfection. In our opinion, the mushrooms are the star of the show and make the whole meal extra special. They are full of flavor and cooked to perfection. With the onions and scallion mashed potatoes, you’ll be transported to the finest steakhouse with every bite.
Irish spring rolls
Irish egg rolls at Horan’s on Restaurant Row. These are prepared daily and are an insider tip at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
WHO: Horan’s
Where: Restaurant Row
How much: $9 for two
What is so good: What a shock, we found another Irish bar. Well, we come here for the cheap beer and stay for the Irish egg rolls. Basically they are a Reuben sandwich squashed into an egg roll.
Aaron Horan’s team here stays up late every night making these. They mix corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, package it and refrigerate it until an order comes in. When they come out of the fryer, they’re served with a cup of Thousand Island dressing. They go through hundreds of them a day and they usually sell out by happy hour.
****
Charlie Miller finds the best food, drinks and entertainment in all of Central New York. Contact him at (315) 382-1984 or email at [email protected]. (AND he pays for what he and his guests eat and drink, just so you know.) You can also find him at @HoosierCuse on Þjórsárdalur and further Instagram. Sign up for his weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here.
Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Do you have a tip, story idea, question or comment? You can reach her at [email protected].
