Ah, poutine. The classic Canadian dish. But Canada isn’t the only place where you can get great poutine. Restaurants around Syracuse are adding poutine to their menus – and including their own twists on the classic dish.
Classic Poutine @ The Brasserie
The first stop on our poutine adventure is for some classic poutine. The Brasserie’s poutine is traditional and super flavorful. The dish starts with a bed of steak fries topped with melted cheese curds and a rich gravy. A sprinkle of coarse salt finishes off the dish. My recommendation? Spend the extra $2 to add bacon. You’ll thank me later.
Red Eye Poutine @ Brewer Union Cafe
A true lumberjack-style poutine if there ever was one, the Red Eye Poutine at Brewer Union Cafe has everything you need for a morning pick-me-up. The dish starts off with breakfast potatoes instead of french fries. Then they add 2 eggs, cheese curds, and pot roast. The final touch? Campfire coffee gravy. Have this for breakfast and you’re bound to have a great day.
Breakfast Poutine @ Modern Malt
Modern Malt does what it does best and puts a modern twist on a classic poutine. How? They start with a bed of tater tots and top them with a poached egg. Frizzled onions, scallions, cheese curds, and gravy complete the brunch-inspired dish. But if that’s not your jam, try their Canadian Gold classic poutine or the Hello Buffalo with crispy chicken and hot sauce.
BBQ Poutine @ Limp Lizard
What started out on the specials menu quickly became a fan favorite at Limp Lizard. Their BBQ Poutine features crispy, battered fries covered in gravy, BBQ sauce, and pulled pork. The best part? The cheese curds are fried! They add that little something-something to the dish, which is finished off with scallions.
Irish Poutine @ Kitty Hoynes
Who says poutine can’t cross oceans? Kitty Hoynes turns their poutine into an Irish dish at the pub. They cover their fries with cheese curds, scallions, and an onion gravy made with none other than Guinness beer! Think French onion soup turned into a gravy and smothered over some fries with cheese. Irish-Canadian perfection.
Veggie Poutine @ The Hops Spot
When it comes to unique twists on poutine, The Hops Spot has something for everyone. Their poutine menu has grown significantly since the restaurant first opened in Syracuse. Made using fresh cut fries from New York potatoes, they are one of the only spots in town to feature vegetarian poutine. The Veggie Classic is made with a veggie-gravy and topped with Yancey’s Fancy cheese curds. Other poutine varieties at The Hops Spot include The Alamo (avocado, jalapenos, salsa…), Le Bloc (bacon, smoked bleu cheese, and maple syrup), and even The Big Lebowski (topped with deep-fried pierogies). We suggest a different style for each person at the table.
Of course, these aren’t all the places that have poutine in Syracuse, just some of the most unique. And if you’re willing to take a drive, be sure to try the Texas Poutine at del Lago’s Sociale Café and the Biggie Fries breakfast poutine at Locals Only in Rochester. Both are made with brisket and are super tasty.
