Enjoy a fried haddock sandwich with fresh made tartar sauce, lettuce, tomato and fries - every Friday for lunch! While it lasts.
A BIT OF HISTORY
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.
The tin ceiling above the bar is original to the building and the name still honors Phoebe, but much has changed since those early days. William Eberhardt opened Phoebe's Garden Cafe in December of 1976 with a bistro style menu and an ornately carved wood bar. The ambiance exuded warmth. There was rich red brick walls, wide wood plank floors and deep green upholstery, all surrounded by lush green plants. The large atrium dining room was added in 1979, increasing seating and opening up the entire restaurant. This new addition instantly became a hit! The immense skylight bathed guests with natural light and even more greenery.
In the summer of 2004, Phoebe's experienced a refreshing makeover rejuvenating the atrium dining room with fresh paint, new upholstery, and artwork. The bar and cafe areas received a softer touch with cool linen window treatments and warm shades of burgundy and cream. The coffee lounge also opened that year, and it became an instant hit with the surrounding university and business crowd. These changes marked a new chapter for Phoebe's, prompting a name change to reflect the updated attitude and ambiance: Phoebe's Restaurant and Coffee Lounge.
Classic elements of Phoebe's remain untouched; the French onion soup, velvety deep dish quiche and enticing crème brulee, for example, but other menu items change seasonally. The Coffee Lounge serves as a full service take-out window for the lunch and dinner menu as well as all of the made-to-order coffee and espresso drinks. The Lounge also has a small seating area and free wireless internet capabilities.
Present Day
Phoebe’s Restaurant and Coffee Lounge continues to refresh their menus seasonally to meet the evergrowing community surrounding them. You’ll enjoy lunch Monday through Friday and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. The coffee lounge and take out window continue to serve gourmet espresso drinks with beans sourced from Recess Coffee, a local favorite. The ambiance today has kept true to the original vintage style with brass rails, tin ceilings, untouched beautifully hand carved wood bar, warm woven wood window treatments along the cafes, beautiful wide plank wood floors and a soft, light and airy feel in the atrium. The parlor dining room has also received a new look with the addition of vintage Syracuse posters and fresh paint. Luscious plants can be found throughout as the ample natural light provides a great home to the vast amount of succulents, fig trees, ficus etc.
Phoebe's old world charm makes you feel right at home in this revitalized area of the city. Located on the Connective Corridor on East Genesee Street across from Syracuse Stage and near Syracuse University, Phoebe's Restaurant remains a favorite stop for Syracuse Stage patrons, Syracuse locals, Syracuse University students, LeMoyne College students, travelers and those visiting loved ones at nearby hospitals. We invite you to join us and make Phoebe's Restaurant your new favorite place.
Eat Together
Phoebe’s Restaurant has proudly served the Syracuse area since December of 1976.
We take great pride in our seasonally changing menus
in which we use the freshest of ingredients.
Whether you join us for lunch or dinner,
we promise to serve you fresh quality food and drink.
“We had a great lunch at Phoebe's Restaurant. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming.
The menu was very creative and the food was delicious.
The server was very friendly and the service was prompt.”
~Trip Advisor
The team
Angie Knox
General Manager
Angie’s first experience with hospitality was at her family restaurant in Maryland. This is where she learned the sense of pride that comes with providing great guest experiences. That pride combined with the everyday interactions of restaurant life and the camaraderie that develops among the staff is what motivates Angie every day. Her warmth and wisdom is the reason Phoebe’s has remained a unique and friendly neighborhood stop for many decades. Phoebe’s has been her ‘home away from home’ for over 20 years.
Jessica TenEyck
Assistant Manager
Jessica has worked in restaurants since her first job at What’s your Beef in Manlius when she was a teenager. She has worked in all front-of-the-house positions in several of Syracuse’s favorite haunts, from the Craftsman house to the Brewster Inn. She was an integral part of the team that opened Wildflowers at the Lodge at Turning Stone Casino. Jessica has always enjoyed working as part of a team and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds. In addition to her experience in restaurants she has a degree in psychology and is certified in addiction recovery counseling. Jessica is passionate about helping others and making people feel comfortable. She began her career at Phoebe’s in 2014 as a server and has transistioned perfectly into her current management role. Her organizational and interpersonal skills make her an asset to the team at Phoebes.
Ben Burr
Executive Chef
Ben has been working in kitchens since he was just fourteen years old. Starting as a dishwasher, and climbing the ladder, his culinary knowledge is expansive. His love for cooking developed into a passion and he has never looked back. He has left his footprint in restaurants all throughout his hometown Syracuse, and even a couple of food trucks. Working in many kitchens, serving a multitude of different menu fares. Ben’s broad experience has allowed him to weave together a diverse set of culinary skills that he applies to his craft. He gravitates towards simple, and approachable cuisine, with fresh and seasonal ingredients taking center stage. This comforting simplicity provides a classic and delicious menu here at Phoebe’s.