The thought struck when the platter of chicken tenders and fries was put in front of me.

The trio behind the bar named Three Fat Guys may well have been three skinny guys until they started eating the food so well put together in the kitchen in the green bar at 3898 New Court Avenue in Syracuse. And the slogan on the paper-to-go menu pounded home the point. “Eat Like a Fat Guy.” Indeed.

I couldn’t finish the huge portions of hot, fresh, tasty tenders and well-seasoned fries, try as I did to wash it all down with diet soda. A couple of other folks around the bar ate from similar red baskets from a choice of burgers, chicken, coneys and hotdogs, fries and pub chips.

It’s 1 p.m. Wednesday, so call it lunch in a comfortable neighborhood joint, with a variety of programs on the TVs and Music Choice oldies on the sound system. The kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 1:45 a.m. every day, so the meals also can be called dinner, snack, day-closer … breakfast, too, I suppose if you’re a late riser.

During my travels along the block that sort-of straddles Eastwood and Lyncourt, I’ve noticed more and more traffic in the lot that surrounds Three Fat Guys in the last 14 months or so.

In early May, I wrote about a gathering I spotted for the Veterans Service Motorcycle Club Sons of Sam.

Events and promotions coordinator Jesse James spotted my blog post. He linked the entry on the bar’s colorful home page. Then he invited me over for lunch and to hear more.

Three Fat Guys head cook, Dave Pflug, is a veteran who established the connection with Sons of Sam. That party in May was a fundraiser for veterans who come back home with post traumatic stress disorder. Three Fat Guys will cater the club’s fifth anniversary celebration in Cazenovia on Aug. 31.

In fact, James explains, the bar is looking to set up more catering and music for off-site rallies and such. And right here, it’s looking to be a good neighbor. For Cinco de Mayo, Three Fat Guys partnered with Ponchito’s, the cool Mexican food place next door, to throw a theme bash.

James is in charge of the ever-expanding music portion of the business.

At the start, Three Fat Guys ordered all the premium sports channels and marketed itself as a sports bar. Before long, though, it became apparent that the live music nights
were more popular than televised sports.

Now live music is a staple every Friday and Saturday night, and some Thursdays, too. This week’s schedule features the acoustic work of Ian Wagner tonight, classic rock and jam of Trench Town on Friday night, and the blues of Power Trip on Saturday night.

Other favorites include Hobo Graffiti, Modern Mudd, Bear Paw, and Hot Rod Ford with Two Dollar Bill.

The dropped ceiling on the stage-side of the room is torn down. Corey Fuller takes over a transition to owner in July, James says, and they’re doing the work themselves. The plan is to hang house speakers so bands won’t have to take up floor space with that equipment.

There’s never a cover charge.

“I want people to come in an enjoy the music,” James says. “I recognize that in Syracuse, a $2 cover charge will cause some people to turn away.”

Sports isn’t going away. In fact, Three Fat Guys is in the process of starting a golf league … on the Golden Tee video game.

Look for a hottest wings contest, too. James has the T-shirt design ready. Coming to the neighborhood: Chickens running down a volcano.