Calle Tropical is another local Syracuse business that found its way to The Fair this year. They’re located inside The Eatery and have done a beautiful job transforming the front of their space into something fun, attractive and interactive.
And while I know it isn’t cheap to operate at The Fair — between rent, buildout costs, and the expense of staffing and cooking — I do feel like their pricing is a little high for what you get.
I ordered the Chicken on a Stick — and if you know anything about me, you know I’d love that. Meat on a stick cooked over charcoal? I’m 1,000% in. Give me 20 of them.
Well, maybe not at Fair prices.
The chicken skewer was $10 — Chicken on a stick cooked over charcoal with a sticky, medium-thick glaze that had a sweet Caribbean/Latin flavor to it. They prep the skewers in advance, as they should, and hold them in some kind of steamer or hot box. I ordered mine and was immediately handed the chicken in a heat-safe bag.
Was it good? Sure. It just wasn’t the level of execution I wanted for $10. Overall, I was disappointed with what I got for what I paid.
I’d have loved to walk up and smell the charcoal and get a skewer that was hot instead of just warm — something where I could still taste the char on the outside.
It was good, just not great. And it wasn’t something I’d spend $10 on again.
To be fair, everyone who told me to go to Calle Tropical also told me to get something other than the chicken skewer, so maybe I’ll go back and try the empanadas.
Special shout out to our friends at GT Automotive for sponsoring today’s visit to The Fair. If you’re looking for a place to take your car, truck, van or any motor vehicle, give them a try — that’s where I take my truck for all its needs to make sure I’m driving in top shape while I travel around New York.
