Matt Brewing Co is such a cozy brewery, we just love to come in and enjoy some of their fine craft brews and microbrews every chance we get. The Saranac line is what is made here, both beers and soft drinks, and they are all so good. We love the old brick building that this place is housed in, and we especially love looking at the aging tanks and brew kettles. It really has a wonderful retro and modern feel at the very same time, bridging the generations of the building and the customers. The tour is purely awesome, really giving you a history of beer as well as an excellent tour of the building and its operation. Of course the tour gives you a bit of a delay before you get to start drinking, but that just makes it all the sweeter when the building tour ends and the beer tour begins, so to speak!
811 Edward Street
Utica, NY 13502
(315) 624-2400

Pho Mekong House of Noodles is a Vietnamese restaurant where you can enjoy all your favorite dishes in a lovely atmosphere. They have really delicious spring rolls here, the perfectly made translucent kind where you can see all of the goodness within. You'll be shocked at the low prices here too! Try the pho, it's an enormous serving and it's so cheap, yet amazingly high quality and packed with flavor. They have bubble tea here which is always a nice pairing with your meal, and even Thai iced tea! It's of course super sweet just as it's supposed to be, and everybody loves it. One of the best things about this restaurant is all the options for vegetarians. You definitely won't find yourself running out of choices here. Try the curried shrimp next time you come in -- we're certain you'll adore it!
601 John St
Utica, NY 13501
(315) 797-7171

O'scugnizzo Pizzeria... it's been claimed by many that this place has the best pizza in Utica, and after several visits we are among the group that says that! They make it in such a unique way, with the meat on the very bottom, then sliced mozzarella cheese, then pizza sauce, then herbs, parmesan, and romano cheese. We haven't seen it this way elsewhere, and it is so enjoyable. One of the coolest things about this place is that you can get online on their website, and order a pizza to be sent anywhere in the USA. It's sent insulated and refrigerated via FedEx. Now THAT'S what we call delivery. Just pop it in the oven and bake it up, and you can have that special Utica flavor anywhere in the USA. No what other restaurant does this? Nobody, that's who. Don't miss this place, it's awesome.
614 Bleecker St
Utica, NY 13501
(315) 732-6149

Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse is a wonderful place for steak and seafood lovers, and considering the fact that it's a steak house, you'll be really surprised by the moderate prices. The decor is part bar, part restaurant, with paintings/flatscreens that change as the night goes on, TVs so you can catch the big game that's on, and wonderful old fashioned Italian music playing for those romantic dates! It's a little cheesy and over the top with the waitstaff dressed up as mob members and all that, but it's cute. It's not out of the question for two people to come in here and enjoy a full meal, including an appetizer, a salad, an entree, some wine, and dessert, and still spend less than one hundred dollars. That's tough to do in New York, but somehow Delmonico's makes it happen. We recommend the Delmonico steak, 24 ounces for less than $20! You can't beat that. Always a nice place to dine.
147 N Genesee St
Utica, NY 13502
(315) 732-2300

Tramontane is a great cafe where you can come in and enjoy delicious coffee and sandwiches any time. We absolutely love the atmosphere here, always lively and packed with happy customers, yet never overcrowded or too loud. They use Utica Roasting Company's coffee beans here which really makes all the difference. They've got Boca burgers for the vegetarian crowd here, and everybody loves their milkshakes and chocolate chip cookies. They have tons of pastries and every coffee drink in the world to go along with them, so just let your cravings guide you and you're sure to find the perfect pairing. You'll love the vintage furniture here, and the overall funky vibe. Come in for open mic nights (call for details) and share some of your creative work with the regulars. Soon you'll be one yourself. We just adore this place and we're certain that you will too.
1105 Lincoln Avenue
Utica, NY 13502
(315) 732-8257

Hotel Utica is a wonderful place to stay whenever you're in Utica, and when you do, you're certain to want to try the restaurant that's on the premises. We definitely recommend that you do, because they have some of the very best food in town. We love their chicken marsala, and the spaghetti is also really excellent. The real star of the show though would have to be the breakfast and brunch. Everybody says that this is the best place in town to grab breakfast or brunch, and after having it ourselves several times, we are definitely inclined to agree. Come in and enjoy all the good food, the great service, and that classic Hotel Utica atmosphere. Hotel Utica, and the restaurant within, are always winners in our book, and we feel very comfortable recommending them both to you!
102 Lafayette St
Utica, NY 13502
(315) 724-7829

The Lotus Garden is one of the most exotic and unique dining establishments in Utica, combining the flavors of Cambodia, Japan, and Thailand into a fabulously eclectic mix. The vegetarian summer rolls are one of our favorite items on the menu, and they are a perfect crunchy starter. They have excellent stir frys here that are just packed with flavor, perfectly cooked, and delicately seasoned. The lemon grass chicken wings are one of the best things on the menu, with a light barbecue type of sauce mixing with the flavor of the lemon grass  to really make a unique combination. All of their curries and coconut milk sauces are recommended by us, and in fact are so good that we haven't yet gotten around to trying anything else with a brown or clear sauce! We get stuck on the curries and coconut milk. Too good! For dessert we'd recommend the vanilla ice cream and tempura banana! Yummy.
339 Bleecker St
Utica, NY 13501
(315) 798-8897

Franco's Pizza gets nothing but positive reviews, and the reason for that is that the owners and staff really put in lots of work to make sure that what they offer is on a completely different level than any other restaurant in the area. The place has a decidedly retro vibe, but brand new and sparkling clean. The staff is always rushing around making sure that everything is perfect, so you'll never catch them standing around chatting with the customers, and frankly we like that. They're all business and it pays off in delicious food and a well-run business! The chicken parmesan is one of our favorite things here as far as the sandwiches go, and those pizzas... oh man. They are just about the best pizzas in the world. Huge, cheesy, perfectly sauced and cooked... the slices are the huge New York style that we love, and when you pair that with the wings, you're in pizzeria heaven. Highly recommended.
411 Trenton Ave
Utica, NY 13502
(315) 724-5213

Grimaldi's Castronovo Original is an excellent Italian restaurant, truly one of the best, where you can nosh on delicious calamari, linguine with clam sauce, chicken riggies, Grimaldi greens (unbelievably good and highly recommended!), and amazing desserts. Try the chicken francaise too. In the evenings you'll want to sit and stay a while at the bar, enjoying your favorite cocktails and looking at the historic photos that share the past of this wonderful place. Everybody loves this spot for lunch and dinner, and we think that you will too. Conveniently located downtown on Bleecker Street. This is one of the originals, so don't miss it!
418 Bleecker St
Utica, NY 13501
(315) 732-7011

Babe's Macaroni Grill & Bar is a pasta lover's dream! We've had some amazing shrimp in a white Buffalo sauce that really impressed our tastebuds, and they have wonderful fresh bread and cannoli here too. When the evening rolls around you'll surely want to sit at the bar and have some cocktails, maybe see what's on TV, chat with the bartender. If you come in for dinner you can relax with a great salad, a sampler plate, some of their world class entrees, and a brew or a wine. We've had nothing but wonderful times dining here, and we very highly recommend that you check it out for yourself next time you're in Utica or the surrounding area!
80 N Genesee St
Utica, NY 13502
(315) 735-0777