Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Central New York

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance in Central New York? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Krebs 1899

4.8

4.8 (1952)

$50 and over

American

Syracuse

About the restaurant

The Krebs is an historic restaurant founded in 1899 by Fred and Cora Krebs. The restaurant has been a popular landmark in Skaneateles for over a century, serving presidents, dignitaries and celebrities. The Krebs was re-opened after undergoing a complete renovation while carefully preserving the history and ambiance that visitors have grown accustomed to. The restaurant is a farm to table concept that utilizes the freshest hand selected local ingredients and the highest quality meats and seafood. All profits from the restaurant are donated to local women and children's charities of Central New York.

Top review

CarolynVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Wonderful experience Talented staff and kitchen Attentive service Wonderful food Beautiful location

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Popular dish

Wedge Salad

The Wedge

4.9

4.9 (26)

$31 to $50

Contemporary French / American

DeWitt

About the restaurant

The Wedge
A cheese-centric bar & restaurant coming to Eastwood in Spring of 2025

Top review

Sue

Dined 2 days ago

The place has a great vibe, loved the decor. More importantly, the food and cocktails were delicious. We'll be back again and again

Moro's Table

4.9

4.9 (55)

$31 to $50

Contemporary French / American

Syracuse

About the restaurant

Good food hinges on quality; fresh ingredients that are properly prepared and cooked. Chef Moro searches out only the freshest, finest product and utilizes the surrounding abundance of the Finger Lakes region whenever possible. His passion for simplicity and purity of flavor ensures that each dish will be balanced and impressionable.

However, a great meal is a multi-sensory experience. It should encompass not only the food but the sounds, aromas, service and atmosphere that surround the diner. A great meal is a memorable experience to be savored again and again.

Top review

robert

Dined 2 days ago

Every time we come here the food is always on point. If you have the opportunity, put this place on your bucket list. This is a true gem in the Finger Lakes.

The Garden Cafe at Crazy Daisies Flowers

5.0

5 (10)

$31 to $50

Comfort Food

Onondaga

About the restaurant

We are not currently taking reservations ~

Where Botanicals Meet the Kitchen!

We mixed our love for agriculture with our love for food and have created delicate small plates, hand-stretched pizzas, a small, yet flavorful lunch menu, and a diabolically fresh brunch menu. In accordance with our life in New York agriculture, we’ve added a NYS Agriculture and Markets Farm Winery license which allows us to serve NYS spirits, beers, wines, and cider. Jennifer comes up with new recipes each season to align with the fruits and flavors of the season!

Top review

Shelley

Dined on Apr 9, 2025

The food was amazing as always. The short ribs were flavorful and so tender it was like butter. The mushroom Risotto was delicious and such flavor. Walker and Eliza were attentive and took care of us. the Delgano Martini with the espresso cream was outstanding! Thank you for a wonderful Wednesday night dinner!

Phoebe's Restaurant & Coffee Lounge

4.8

4.8 (639)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Syracuse

About the restaurant

Originally known as Phoebe's Garden Café, the restaurant has a long and colorful history in Syracuse. Local lore claims that the building was originally a brothel, and Phoebe was its madam.
In the summer of 2004, Phoebe's experienced a refreshing makeover with a bright new look in the atrium dining room with fresh paint, new upholstery, and artwork. The coffee lounge also opened that year, and it became an instant hit with the surrounding university and business crowd. Those changes also warranted a new name to reflect the updated attitude and ambiance: Phoebe's Restaurant and Coffee Lounge. Classic elements of Phoebe's remain untouched—the French onion soup and enticing crème brulee, for example, but other menu items change seasonally.
The Lounge also has its own seating area and free wireless internet capabilities. Phoebe's old world charm is right at home in a revitalized area of the city.

Top review

Himley

Dined 3 days ago

Was amazing , I ended up loving that place , I really recommend

Eden

4.8

4.8 (886)

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

Syracuse

About the restaurant

An entirely wood fired, upscale-causal, dining experience in the heart of Central New York.

Our mission is to highlight the best food producers, farmer, brewers, distillers, and foragers in New York State.

Top review

Shawn

Dined 2 days ago

We had fun. Great wine - great steak tar tar and the beet salad is superb. Steak was good but not melt in your mouth good. But it was a great dinner. Not every dinner is a home run. Regardless we celebrated and enjoyed. I’d go back.

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4.7

4.7 (125)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Skaneateles

About the restaurant

Welcome to Hidden Fish, a modern twist on sushi. From our signature rolls to our inventive creations, we have something for everyone.

Our full bar features sake, beer, wine, and signature cocktails.

Top review

Mark

Dined on Apr 18, 2025

Excellent! Highly recommend, will always go back! Never disappoints!

Abbiocco by A Mano

4.8

4.8 (669)

$31 to $50

Italian

Syracuse

About the restaurant

Opened in September of 2018, a mano kitchen & bar. "new american with an italian soul". Hand made pasta, breads & salumi & wood fired pizza's. Open for dinner, amano offers both small & large plates for your dinning pleasure.

Top review

RichardVIP

Dined on Apr 22, 2025

It’s always great getting dinner here. From the great wine list to the specials and the ownership hospitality along with great staff we eat here frequently and will continue.

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The Tailwater Bar and Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (816)

$31 to $50

American

Syracuse

About the restaurant

For the finest food on the river, look no further than the Tailwater Restaurant & Bar, where rustic atmosphere meets metropolitan flair. Thoughtfully prepared seafood dishes and satisfying comfort-food favorites fill our menu, perfect for savoring after a day outdoors.

Top review

Heather

Dined 2 days ago

I was very pleased with the mothers day brunch buffet

Oh My Darling

4.6

4.6 (426)

$30 and under

American

Syracuse

About the restaurant

Comfort food & cocktails served in retro-chic digs with a basement speakeasy hosting live music. Across from the Landmark Theater and the RedHouse Arts Center.

Top review

Sahar

Dined 2 days ago

Great Mother’s Day experience, highly recommend! Our server was lovely as well.

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Popular dish

Caprese Flatbread

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