DINING OUT: Stone Creek
Marcellus restaurant offers exceptional service, dishes on tap
By Julie McMahon
Stone Creek
69 North St., Marcellus • 315-494-1065
https://stonecreekmarcellus.com
Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Monday – Thursday, noon – 9 p.m.;
Friday, noon – 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
For a higher-end dining experience with hearty, delicious food on the menu, head to Stone Creek in Marcellus.
We were seated right away for a 6 p.m. reservation by a very friendly, professional host who went on to check on us throughout the night. She walked us through the bar area that had some table seating as well as stools at the bar for a more casual experience.
Our table in the fancier dining room was a two-top with a white tablecloth and candle, so we knew we were in for a nice dining experience. Our server arrived just in time for us to take in the beverage and appetizer menus. We ordered Prison City Mass Riot IPA, a favorite, as well as the Lavender Fizz specialty cocktail and we put in an order for the Brussels sprouts appetizer.
Both drinks were brought out quickly by the bartender and were great. The Mass Riot ($9) came in a can, fresh and cold. The cocktail ($13) contained the winning flavor combination of lavender and blueberry, neither dominating the other but instead blending perfectly. Sour mix also gave subtle flavor and texture. It was fizzy but not too fizzy.
We noted as we sipped that the restaurant smelled delicious, like meat on the grill. It was a busy place with a lovely crowd. A lot of laughter and joy emanated throughout the large dining room. Stone Creek has a classic steakhouse feel with wood floors and white tablecloths, and neutral-colored artworks on greenish-gray walls.
Our Brussels sprouts ($13) came out quickly. These were accented by smoky, crispy bacon and the maple aioli coating them was very tasty. The vegetables were cooked al dente, for a nice toothy bite, with crispy leaves on the outside and a tender crunch on the inside. These had a very good flavor overall.
We waited for a little while to put in the rest of our order, but our server was friendly and kind as she recited the specials, which included a New England clam chowder and lobster carbonara.
We opted for the lobster ($40) for one of our entrées and the filet mignon ($55) for our other and we also ordered a small wedge salad ($7) to start.
The salad came out very quickly and was really beautifully plated. It contained both blue cheese crumbles and a dressing, as well as a vinaigrette, all drizzled or speckled nicely across the plate. The espelette (mild chili pepper) vinaigrette was excellent and nicely balanced the strong flavor of the blue cheese.
The iceberg lettuce was clean and crisp, the bacon was crispy and high quality, the heirloom tomatoes and crispy onions all mixed well and the dish was served on a flat wide plate with a lip, it just looked and tasted impressive.
After finishing our salad, we did wait for a bit before our entrées came out. Both the server and host noticed, checked on us and acknowledged that the kitchen was a bit backed up but that our orders were indeed on the way.
At this point we were not concerned. Everything was great so far and we were enjoying each other’s company as well as the ambience of the place.
Still, after checking on us a second time, the server informed us that either drinks or a dessert would be on the house. She dropped off a dessert menu for us to peruse while we waited. It was a short but appealing menu, immediately the panna cotta stood out.
While we fantasized about dessert, out came our entrées.
The lobster carbonara came with a lemon pepper cream sauce, peas, tomatoes, lobster meat, tagliatelle and pancetta and was garnished with parsley.
A large chunk of lobster meat adorned the top of the freshly cooked al dente pasta, which was loaded with vegetables. A very smoky pancetta flavor coated the dish, pancetta was the prevailing flavor for sure. We personally liked and wished for a bit more of the lemon pepper cream sauce. This was light and fresh, a great acidic touch. The lobster itself was tender and fresh, mostly on top of the dish and not sprinkled throughout, but a good portion. The pasta appeared to be freshly made.
Our steak was cooked to order, right to the exact temperature we like. It had enticing grill marks on top, a nice char and texture on the outside, very tender and juicy in the middle and buttery texture on the inside. The 9-ounce center cut was a good size portion for the steak.
We liked this very much and devoured it quickly, but still the humble baked potato was a bit of a star on the plate (with no negative connotation to the steak). This came loaded with sour cream, chives, cheddar and bacon, a good balance of the ingredients, not a lot of cheese or sour cream but enough fat mixed with the potato to create a richness in each bite.
Soon after we scraped one of our plates clean and packed up the other plate in a to-go box, the buttermilk panna cotta ($13) came out and was the proverbial icing on the cake of our meal.
This was served with a thick elderflower gelee, macerated berries, basil and a sesame oat streusel. The berries, gelee and panna cotta all came together in a delicious but not-too-sweet combination.
The hint of basil on top added a zesty punch and the streusel added a nice crunchy texture. The ratio of panna cotta to gelee was almost 50/50, more gelee than we’re used to, but we enjoyed the pop of jelly.
This was the favorite part of the meal for the sweet tooth between us — and we learned when we got the bill that not only was this “on the house,” but so were our drinks. Though we tried to say no, the server insisted that we had waited too long for their standards.
As we reviewed our bill, we noted that prices are a bit higher than the average restaurant in Central New York, but this was to be expected at a higher-end steakhouse. Expect to spend at least $50 per person at a minimum.
We found our meal with the complimentary drinks and desserts, of course, to be exceptional and well-priced. The bill came in at $115 plus tax and tip.
We had a great experience and would recommend this place for a special occasion or night out when you’d like to treat yourself.