DINING OUT: Preserve at 405
It’s worth the wait for a delectable meal at this Syracuse’s Inner Harbor restaurant
By Julie McMahon
It took us several tries to get a seat at the Preserve at 405 in Syracuse’s Inner Harbor — but it was worth the wait.
After showing up without reservations three or four times, we finally made a reservation and ultimately we really enjoyed the meal, especially the wedge salad and our sandwiches.
For drinks, we had the blueberry lemonade cocktail ($9) and the Mass Riot IPA ($10), a personal favorite, served cold and fresh from the tap. The blueberry lemonade, which consisted of blueberry vodka, lemonade and a skewer of blueberries, had the perfect blueberry flavor with a subtle lemonade taste.
For appetizers, we got the scallops wrapped in bacon ($15.95) and the half wedge salad ($10.95), which the server remarked upon when we ordered. She commented that the guy who makes the wedge really well was here and she asked if we’d had it before. We hadn’t, of course, but we knew we were in for a treat. And he did a good job.
Starting with fresh, crisp, clean iceberg lettuce in a large wedge and topped with the perfect blend of bacon, blue cheese, tomato, onion and balsalmic, this was really delicious. We understood why the server would remark on it. The half portion was large enough to serve as an appetizer. Each of us got a decent portion and we took a little bit home with us, though we kept returning to nibble on this throughout the meal.
The scallops wrapped in bacon were also really good. They came six to an order and were served with blueberry jalapeno jam. The dipping sauce had a little kick and paired nicely with the salty, rich scallops. The bacon was cooked crispy and the jam added just the right spice and sweetness.
We were seated in the bar area of the restaurant, which was busy, along with the lengthy dining room situated off to the side. The décor of the restaurant is subtle and modern, with black, gold and silver accents. The bar area has several televisions and popular music played at a moderate level throughout our meal.
The server was quick and fun. She was clearly very busy, even for our 5 p.m. reservation, but she didn’t miss a beat and managed to take good care of us.
The menu at the Preserve is huge, featuring salads, pizza, sandwiches, pasta and steaks. We both opted for sandwiches for our meals. We ordered the beef on weck with housemade potato chips ($22.95) and the Buffalo chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries ($23.95).
As we wrapped up our appetizers, our food came out quickly. I was hungry so this was very welcome. Everything was hot and looked delicious.
The Buffalo chicken sandwich was massive. I ordered it crispy, though grilled was an option. Instead of being doused completely in hot sauce, this slab of fried chicken came topped with Buffalo sauce and a mound of blue cheese. The chicken was smothered, so every bite contained a bit of the sauce and cheese. The vegetables were crisp and a nice addition to each bite.
The sweet potato fries came with a brown sugar butter dipping sauce that was absolutely divine. The hefty wedges of sweet potato were crisped flawlessly. Each bite made for a yummy morsel of great flavor.
The beef on weck contained tender meat, not fatty or tough at all. The sandwich was served au jus and the dipping sauce added to the moisture and taste. Best of all, the sandwich came with a horseradish mayo that was good enough to dunk the potato chips, fresh cut and crispy and enjoyed on the sandwich as well. The roll was good, though it was a kaiser roll, not the kimmelweck roll we’re used to seeing in Central New York. This was noted on the menu though and didn’t deter from the sandwich being tasty. It was especially good when the bites got small enough to dunk in the au jus and horseradish mayo. It was nice the horseradish was delivered in a mayo instead of on its own. This added to the flavor and balanced out the tanginess of the spice.
Our server boxed up our leftovers for us, which was a nice touch, not something you get at many restaurants. At the Preserve, you get some upscale touches in the casual but refined environment they’ve created.
We topped off our meal with a slice of lemon blueberry cheesecake ($9.50). A large slice was delivered to our table, the lower portion a classic sponge cake topped with the cheesecake. The prominent flavor was lemon, accented with blueberries. The dish was served with lots of whipped cream and blueberries on the side. It was a large and scrumptious finale to a great meal.
The place was pretty packed by the time we wrapped up at 6:15 p.m. We noticed the outdoor tables, not in use on a rainy night, would make a fine place to dine in nice weather.
Our server dropped the check before we finished dessert, and returned by the time we finished our drinks.
Outstanding service made the experience better.
Though the final bill was slightly expensive ($110 including tax), it felt appropriate for the amount of food we ate and level of service we received. We would come back to try the pizzas, steaks and more from the menu.
The Preserve at 405
315-214-4399
405 Spencer St., Syracuse, N.Y. 13204
Tuesday – Saturday, Noon – 9 p.m.