Notable Central NY restaurants and bars that opened, closed or transitioned in 2023: See list

It was another busy year on the local dining scene in Central New York. Restaurants, bars, breweries and other hospitality businesses opened, closed or changed in some way.

Although noteworthy closings often generate the biggest headlines, there were also plenty of new places offering new concepts to hungry Central New Yorkers. And in many cases, new businesses quickly moved in to fill closed locations.

Here’s a look at some of the notable changes in 2023. In cases where something new opened in the location of a place that closed, a note says “see openings.”

CLOSINGS

· Pizzaz Pizza, a family-owned joint that served pies and slices at 1916 South Ave, for 40 years, closed up in January when owner Mark Hordies decided to retire. The shop was located just down down from Swallow’s Bar.

· Tony’s Family Restaurant, known for its breakfast-through-dinner menu featuring Italian and American dishes, closed for good on Feb. 3. The restaurant at 3004 Burnet Ave. had been operated by brothers Tony and Mike Albanese for 20 years. They have since devoted their time to their other business, Vito’s Ristorante in East Syracuse (the former Rico’s). See openings.

· Danzer’s German & American Gasthof, one of the Syracuse area’s oldest (and last remaining) German restaurants, closed at the end of February. The restaurant at 153 Ainsley Drive, which opened in 1973, was the last of what had been multiple locations for Danzer’s since the original was founded in 1946. The name Danzers, however, does live on. See openings.

· Otro Cinco, a Mexican-turned-Spanish restaurant and bar in the heart of downtown Syracuse, closed for good on April 15. Owner Johanna Yorke had considered reopening with a new look, but gave up on that idea in May. Its sister restaurant, Alto Cinco on Westcott Street, remains open.

· Finger Lakes on Tap, a bar/restaurant in Skaneateles with 60 beer taps, at least 50 which poured New York craft beers, closed in April. The bar had been in business for seven years at 35 Fennell St., which had once been home to the Creekside Coffee Bar and Bookstore.

· Kasai, a modern fusion restaurant 218 Walton St. in Armory Square that specialized in ramen dishes, served its last meal June 30. That was just days after Danny’s Steaks, a cheesesteak restaurant next door, closed its doors. Both were owned by Kyle Mastropietro, who said he hoped to reopen them at some point elsewhere downtown. That has not yet happened.

· A Mano, a downtown Italian restaurant known for making everything on the menu by hand, closed at the beginning of July as it prepared to change its concept. The vacancy in the Icon Tower at 344 S. Warren St. would be temporary, as the family behind A Mano launched a new concept there in September. See openings.

· Phoenix Sports Restaurant, along with its adjoining Off Track Betting parlor outlet at 228 Huntley Road in Phoenix, closed on July 29. The 13-year-old restaurant, run by Mike Lattimore, offered burgers, sandwiches, steaks, pizza and even frog legs, plus 150 TVs. It was a tenant of the OTB, a betting parlor run by Western Region OTB.

· Two locations of Pies Guys pizza shops in Central New York closed in August. One shop was in North Syracuse. The Fairmount location closed, but it’s since reopened and operates seven days a week. The three other Pies Guys locations remain open as well. Owners have said The Pies Guys restaurants operate under the same name but each spot is individually owned.

· Luigi’s Restaurant, known for its oversized plates of pasta and Friday night fish dinners, permanently closed the doors at 1524 Valley Drive on Aug. 27. It was one of Syracuse’s oldest restaurants, having been in business for 70 years. Founder Louis “Luigi” Savastino had died in October 2022.

· Saint Urban, a fine dining restaurant with a focus on quality wines, closed its five-year-old location at 124 Dell St. near Westcott Street in September. Jared Stafford-Hill, a Westcott neighborhood native who has served as owner, chef and sommelier at Saint Urban, said the closing was necessary so he could focus on reopening Saint Urban in New York City. That is expected to happen by February.

· Full Boar Craft Brewery and Taproom, which opened in North Syracuse during the height of the craft beer boom in 2016, closed for good on Nov. 22. Owners Eric Petranchuk and David Marchant called operating the brewery in a plaza at 628 S. Main St. (Route 11) in North Syracuse both “challenging and rewarding.”

· The Clam Bar, a popular seafood restaurant that opened in 1965, served its last meal Nov. 12. Owners Ed and Christa Nyce, who bought The Clam Bar in July 2012, said they had been struggling to keep the restaurant afloat for some time.

· Wunderbar, a queer nightclub and theater that operated on the edge of Armory Square for almost five years, closed after hosting its final performances in mid-November. It had closed its bar side in October. Owner Tanner Efinger said he is working to find a new location for the club elsewhere in downtown Syracuse.

· Daniel’s Grill, Marcellus’ only nice sit-down restaurant, opened in 2004. Owner Dan Curley said this week that he will close for good this weekend. He runs the restaurant that sits along Nine Mile Creek with his wife, Dina. He said after years of working 75 hours per week, it’s time to relax, travel and maybe do something different.

OPENINGS

· Harvey’s Garden, a bar that features Central New York’s first self-service “beer wall” and a large outdoor space for food trucks, opened in early January. The spacious two-story bar is also known for welcoming sports fans, especially for the Buffalo Bills. It’s located at 1200 E. Water St., near Walnut Avenue a block off Erie Boulevard East.

· Lala Lu opened in January at 6430 Yorktown Circle (near Carrier Circle in East Syracuse) amid a huge outpouring of social media and other buzz. It’s an Italian place, but one that owner Danielle Mercuri describes this way: “This isn’t just a restaurant. This is an experience.’' Both the food and decor are highly stylized.

· Mr. Noodle Ms. Dumpling is another place that got a social media boost when it opened in January at 2841 Erie Blvd. E., a spot previously occupied by The Storming Crab. Owners Jenny Chen (Ms. Dumpling) and Chao Li (Mr. Noodle) offer a menu with a blend of cuisines from throughout Asia, both authentic and Americanized. There is also hot pot and some communal seating.

· Storys, a downtown Syracuse breakfast and lunch spot, opened in February about six weeks after its predecessor, Today’s Special, closed at the end of 2022. It’s in the State Tower Building, with address of109 S. Warren St. Owner Jose Morales worked at Today’s Special, and continues to offer sandwiches and paninis, soups and salads, plus breakfast sandwiches and burritos.

· Lavish Mediterranean opened in February in the space that had been Tony’s Family Restaurant at 3004 Burnet Ave. (see above). The restaurant offers an array of international cuisines, from Iranian (Persian) and Afghani to Indian and Chinese.

· Angry Smokehouse, one of the most anticipated new restaurants of the year, opened in February in the former Lock 24 building at 33 Water St. in Baldwinsville. It’s a spacious barbecue joint featuring items like hickory-smoked ribs, brisket and pulled pork. The owner is Jeff Rogers, who also runs Baldwinsville’s Angry Garlic restaurant.

· The Daily Diner opened in February at 240 W. Seneca St. in Manlius’ Limestone Plaza. Owners Mark Bullis and Nathan Fullmer describe it as “an old New Jersey-like roadside diner with a chef-inspired menu.” It also has a strong cocktail list.

· Holy Cow, specializing cheesesteaks and a fish fry, opened in March at 3 North St. in Marcellus. It’s just off Main Street in the heart of downtown, about a 30-second walk from the Village Tavern. Gino Epifani, former owner of Gino’s Steak & Onion in Fayetteville, serves cheesesteaks using either eye round beef or chicken, with a choice of ten different toppings.

· Mangia Bene, an Italian restaurant that had abruptly close in 2022 reopened in a new location in April. Owner Ray Sardo’s new version of Mangia Bene, which means “eat well,” is in the Seneca Knolls Market Place at 7249 State Fair Blvd. It’s a mostly takeout place that features homemade sausage, meatballs and hand-spun pizzas.

· Emerald Cocktail Kitchen, Syracuse’s first-and-only restaurant with a rooftop bar, opened in June at 1333 W. Fayette St. on Tipperary Hill. That’s the spot that had been occupied for years by George O’Dea’s and other Tipp Hill bars. The new place has three levels, topped by the space that overlooks the city, with a menu featuring modern cocktails and “elevated” bar food. It’s owned by Michele Roesch, who also runs Brasserie Bar & Bistro in Camillus and whose father had owned O’Dea’s.

· El Habanero is a restaurant that fuses Cuban and Mexican cuisine in the space formerly occupied by Esquina Habanera at 324 Burnet Ave. in Syracuse. It opened in June. The old place, which closed in 2022, was best known for its giant Cuban sandwiches. Under the new owners, the Cubanos are back along with tacos (including birria), quesadillas, tostadas, chalupas and chimichangas.

· The Milkhouse opened in July with big shoes to fill. The diner occupies the spot at 2574 Cherry Valley Road (Route 20) in Marcellus that was home to the Valley Inn for 77 years. The new place serves breakfast and lunch, with local ingredients where possible, and even has a Breakfast Garbage Plate.

· JD at Danzer’s Pizza Pub is the new incarnation of the former Danzer’s German restaurant, which closed at 153 Ainsley Drive in Syracuse in February (see above). The new version, with new ownership, opened in August. It combines a pizza shop with full-service restaurant that retains some of the German options, including sauerbraten and the signature Big Red Reuben sandwich.

· Abbiocco opened in September at 344 S. Warren St., in the spot vacated earlier in the year by A Mano. (See above). There is a connection: Owner Anthony Fiachi had operated A Mano for several years with one of his sons, who has since left town. Fiachi decided to reopen with a new-ish concept, still Italian but a bit more rustic. The menu includes gourmet pasta, deep-fried fried cheese, wood-fired pizza, hefty desserts, and signature cocktails.

· Nobody’s Wine Bar opened in September with a novel concept for downtown Syracuse: A place with a “big city vibe” where you can find an extensive list of high-end and rare wines to enjoy by the bottle or glass. It’s located at 222 Walton St. in Armory Square, adjacent to Onondaga Creek.

· Van Hassler Brewing became Onondaga County’s newest craft brewery when it opened in October at 8045 Oswego Road (Route 57) in Clay. The brewery started with about half a dozen beers on tap, in a brewery / tasting room that most recently was home to Cholita’s Peruvian Chicken and an Arby’s. Beer is the focus for now, but plans for the future include adding food and outdoor seating.

· Goodman’s Deli brought an old fashioned New York City-style deli back to Syracuse’s east side when it opened in November in the plaza at 4461 E. Genesee St. in DeWitt. Owners Viktoriya Kononchuk and Huseyin Turan, who previously ran another local deli, Touch of Broadway, offer such items as kosher meats, matzo ball soup, over-sized sandwiches and knishes.

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at (315) 470-2297 or dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.