It’s time to get funky, funky, funky because campus favorite Funk ‘n Waffles has opened a new location downtown in the trendy section of Armory Square, Syracuse, between Clinton St. Pub and Crepe & Gelato Blvd. Located at 307 S. Clinton St. this new branch supplements the establishing music scene here in Syracuse.

I guess you could say I am kind of a fan of Funk ‘n Waffles, since I have probably been to the Marshall St. restaurant a good 5 or 6 times. So, when I heard about them opening up another location in Armory Square I knew I had to try it. I grabbed two of my friends to see if it was worth the trek downtown.

Upon entry we were greeted by the sweet smell of buttermilk waffles and the sound of live music that really evoked a “good vibes only” atmosphere. The kind of atmosphere that whisks away your problems and makes you focus on two things: the music and the waffles.

Speaking of waffles, there are a variety of options to choose from, which left me with a huge decision to make. Did I want a sweet waffle, or a savory waffle? I could have gone the safe route and had a basic waffle with strawberries and chocolate or Nutella, but what’s the fun in that? I decided to truly mix it up and try something I have never thought of combining together: Bacon, brie, and basil waffle with apricot jam, named BBB in honor of my dear-beloved residence hall. Is your mouth watering yet? I also ordered a strawberry-mango smoothie, just so I could have some sips of paradise while living in this wonderful (and wintery) tundra we call home.

Also, PSA: Funk ‘n Waffles now serves alcohol at a fully-stocked bar for all you drinkers out there.

I received a buzzer for my order and waited anxiously for it to light up so I could have the warm, fluffy waffle in my possession. It wasn’t long before my patience wore thin but then it vibrated and lit up so voraciously I almost had a heart attack. When my waffle was delivered to me, it was almost as if I was a mother seeing her child for the first time post-conception, full of hope and joy. The first thing I did was spread the jam all over the waffle, evenly of course so I didn’t overpower the taste. The first bite was packed with flavor. From the meaty taste of the bacon to the punch from the apricot, I knew I was in for an enjoying ride.

After that wonderful experience, I still wanted more. Round 2. My friends and I ordered the “James Brownie,” which is a brownie waffle with two scoops of ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce. The “James Brownie” waffle unfortunately didn’t have the same wow-factor that my previous waffle had. You would think a waffle made with brownie batter can’t go wrong and the inner chocolate-lover inside me hoped it wouldn’t. But it was hard. Rock. Hard. It would’ve been a great finish to a wonderful evening had it been cooked perfectly. In the end it left me sad, with an inedible chocolate flavored sewer lid on my plate.

Although the Funk ‘n Waffles downtown holds a lot more people, which is ideal for open mic nights, food-wise it’s pretty much the same as the one on Marshall St.—nothing new besides boozy benefits.  

If you go:

Funk n’ Waffles

307 S. Clinton St., Syracuse, NY; (315) 474-1060

Type of food: WAFFLES

Hours:
Kitchen Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. – 12 a.m. and Friday to Saturday, 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Bar Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. and Friday to Saturday, 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.

Sit Down/Take Out/Both: Both

Cost: $

Alcohol: YES!