Craftsman Wood Grille & Tap House

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Fresh, Local, and Cooked Over Fire

Craftsman Wood Grille & Tap House sits on East Genesee Street in Fayetteville, just outside Syracuse, and has earned a reputation as the area's go-to destination for contemporary American cuisine done with real conviction. The kitchen's guiding principle is straightforward: source locally, prepare daily, and let the wood fire do its work.

The open-view kitchen is the room's focal point, and the wood-burning grill is its engine. Proteins from land and sea are cooked over live embers, while house-made pizza dough and daily-prepared pasta round out a menu that moves between rustic and refined without effort.

What's on the Plate

The seasonal dinner menu spans a wide range — from shareable starters to full entrées — while keeping locally sourced meat, fish, and produce at the center. A few highlights illustrate the range well: fire-roasted chicken wings finished on the grill, sticky ribs with Carolina BBQ sauce, and crab cakes with Cajun remoulade. The Finger Lakes Cobb salad leans into the region, pairing grilled chicken with an Owera Cab Franc vinaigrette sourced from a nearby winery.

From the sea, grilled salmon comes over a toasted farro and herb salad, while seared scallops arrive on a southern hash of Yukon potatoes and jalapeño. On the land side, cuts range from a 10 oz hanger steak to a 24 oz bone-in ribeye, each served with a choice of sauce — red wine demi-glace, wild mushroom ragout, chimichurri, and others. The Wood Grille Half-Pound Burger, built on a brioche bun with Yancey's XXX cheddar and battered onion rings, was recognized among the top ten burgers in New York State by the NYS Beef Council.

Pasta is made in-house: braised short rib pappardelle, cavatelli with Calabrian chili cream, and a lobster mac and cheese that has become a signature. Wood-fired pies — including a prosciutto and brie with brandy fondue — complete the picture.

The Drink Program

The beverage side of Craftsman is taken just as seriously as the food. The wine list earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, with particular attention given to regional producers from the Finger Lakes — Forge, Sheldrake Point, and Owera among them — alongside selections from Burgundy, Mendoza, Sonoma, and beyond. Cocktails shift with the seasons, crafted by an in-house team of mixologists; the Craftsman Fashioned (Elijah Craig bourbon, Rittenhouse rye, orange, smoke) and the Margarita Flight are among the signatures. A rotating craft beer selection rounds out one of the more complete beverage programs in the Syracuse area.

The Setting

The dining room offers a warm, open atmosphere with an exposed kitchen and covered outdoor seating — equally suited to a weeknight dinner or a private event. Catering and group dining options are available, and the restaurant shares a property with the Craftsman Inn & Suites for guests traveling from further afield.