Takeout roundup

The only thing better than getting all fancied up and hitting the town for a fabulous meal is throwing on sweats and eating an equally fabulous meal at home. Welcome to the wonderful world of takeout, where delicious eats from Syracuse’s best restaurants can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own futon. Here are some of the area’s top spots to take from and run:

Papa Gallo
205 W. Genesee St., Fayetteville
Delivery? No
4.5 of 5 peppers

At this Mexican eatery, open since 2007, getting a table is harder than getting through international airports. The best way to avoid the crowds? Order takeout.

Papa Gallo’s entire menu, which can be found online, is available for pickup at a fraction of the wait time. Even on an extremely busy Friday evening, a takeout order for two was ready in just under 20 minutes.

For an appetizer, don’t skip the classic tortilla chips with Papa Gallo’s homemade guacamole ($8). Generous portions of guacamole and salsa are served with a heaping bag of fresh-made, crunchy, warm tortilla chips that put Tostitos to shame.

No Mexican restaurant would be complete without burritos, and Papa Gallo has a solid selection, including unique options like the Pescado ($12.95), filled with fried catfish, and the Camarone ($12.95), stuffed with spicy baby shrimp. But the must-try for spice-aholics is the Diablo burrito ($12.50), which packs just as much hellish fire as the name suggests. Beans, rice, spicy shredded pork and cheese are paired with jalapenos and a duo of fiery sauces. Haberno sauce and Papa’s own rojo sauce create a peppery blend that means business. Served to-go in a sturdy tin container with a side of seasoned sour cream, the Diablo is a delicious choice for brave diners who can handle the heat. 

Sakana-Ya
215 Walton St., Syracuse
and
532 Towne Drive, Fayetteville
Delivery? Yes, $4.99 delivery fee, delivery time is 60-75 minutes
3.5 of 5 peppers
For those who like it raw, Sakana-Ya is hands down the best sushi destination in the area. With two locations that offer takeout (one downtown in Armory Square, one in Fayetteville), this sushi spot features classic sushi rolls, plus its signature out-of-the-box creations.

The economical sushi and sashimi entrées are good bets for takeout, and Sakana-Ya fresh fish tastes just as amazing from a Styrofoam container. Each entrée offers plenty of assorted options, served with Sakana-Ya’s tasty miso soup, all for around $20. The Maki Combo ($14), which features a California roll with fresh avocado, a yellowtail roll, sprinkled with flavorful scallions, and a tuna roll, is enough to easily feed two. Another entrée ideal for sharing is the Sushi Dinner ($22). This fish feast includes tuna and salmon sushi, white fish, yellowtail, and your choice of a California roll or the spicy tuna roll, smothered in Sakana-Ya’s zesty red chili sauce. The kind folks at Sakana-Ya are also happy to mix and match sushi rolls to please even the pickiest palate.

As an added bonus, Sakana-Ya packs to-go orders with precision. While not the most eco-friendly practice, separate foam containers are used for each sushi variety so incompatible tastes don’t mingle, and plenty of ginger, wasabi, soy sauce and chopsticks are included with every order.

The Syracuse Suds Factory
320 S. Clinton St., Syracuse
Delivery? Yes, in downtown area
4 of 5 peppers

This downtown brewery, best known for its ample beer selection, offers an extensive menu of classic pub fare that is perfect for couch-side dining.
 
The Suds Factory’s Fish n’ Chips ($7.50), a Friday special, is fantastic. Five large fish filets are served piping hot with a heaping portion of thick-cut potato wedges and coleslaw. The breading on the fish is flavorful and impressively crispy enough to survive a 15-minute car ride without getting soggy.

The Open-faced Reuben ($7.25) is another takeout-friendly option. A giant piece of toasted rye bread (seriously, about the length of a small loaf) is loaded with hot corned beef, sauerkraut, Russian dressing and loads of melted, gooey Swiss cheese. This monstrous meal, also served with potato wedges, makes for great leftovers.
The meals are conveniently packed into Styrofoam containers, along with napkins, utensils and handfuls of ketchup packets that are ready for pickup in 20 minutes.

mcmurp05@syr.edu
 

Published on March 23, 2010 at 12:00 pm