A welcoming site for the birthday proper dinner.
The Tin Rooster was a really big deal.
The name may conjur up a dusky little backwoods joint where somebody’s playing banjo on the sagging porch, but certainly not at this place my dear wife Karen chose to celebrate the cornerstone dinner of her Birth Week celebration 2014.
When we walked into the lobby of the new collection of nightclubs collectively called Exit 31 — that’s the stop on the New York State Thruway for the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y., some 30 miles east of Syracuse, her son Daryl, and my daughter Elisabeth and her boyfriend George were waiting for us. Karen whispered to me that this is the sort of entrance she should be making on her birthday proper.
Big and beautiful and country all the way.
The five of us climbed the stairs to the main entrance and walked into a country-themed ballroom restaurant at 7:10 p.m. on a weeknight. I pictured it swinging as a country music bar three, four, five hours later and on weekends most certainly. It would certainly be quite easy to whisk the several tables off the wood dance floor.
Sure enough, twice during our stay, the sound-system tunes turned up a notch, the big screens scattered around the hall turned the music videos off, and a trio of young people — staff, most obviously — wearing denin fit to impress took to that dance floor and moved in a line dance of some note.
We sat and watched.
On one side, a trailer, parked.
A fully appointed old-school bubble trailer sat parked on one side of the space. Karen and I went inside, where she stood under a NASCAR bar light and chuckled at the old TV with rabbit ears adorned with tin foil between them to better the reception.
There was plenty of staff, and the managers dressed in suits, men and women, looked very out of sorts compared to the hands-on folk in Nashville-like jeans and plaid.
Here we are, ready to read the offerings.
One kind waitress offered to take a group picture as we were looking over the menu.
Karen and I stuck with what won her over as she inspected all of the restaurants under this huge resort and casino roof. And there are more than a dozen. We ordered the Tailgate Party for Two. That brought us ribs, both beef and pork; barbecued chicken; smoked kielbasa; pulled pork; beef brisket; and jalapeño cornbread. For our sides we chose mac and cheese, and cole slaw. Daryl chose a half-order of the turkey special. Elisabeth went with the chicken sandwich special with a jellied sauce; George chose a pulled pork sandwich.
Chicken sandwich made special.
Pork, pulled and tender.
This is a half-order. I know!
Bucket ‘o food, already dipped into by two.
On the table sat a rack of three sauces: medium red, hot red and mustard yellow.
The mustard yellow was really good on the kielbasa. The medium red enhanced my brisket and pulled pork. I wished I had some the next day when I ate leftovers of both forms of ribs for my lunch.
George told me that the hot red was very. Elisabeth seconded with a whew! and stuck to the medium, like her dad.
Daryl and I rolled our eyes at the mound of turkey he got with a half-order.
Everybody enjoyed, thoroughly.
Because the kids had handed over gifts to Karen, the wait staff ended the night with a kind little singing parade that included a red velvet cupcake with a sparkler of fireworks as a candle for Karen. Because we’d said no to the dessert menu, they also brought a little box. Later, at home, my little bite told me the cream cheese icing was to die for.
Great photo lineup I.
Great photo lineup II.
On the way out, I had to line up my loved ones for two more photo ops. We don’t get all of the kids together like this often enough, with all the busy schedules of life.
The Tin Rooster was a smashing success. Cheesecake Factory, say what?
Have you been to a restaurant for the first time lately that has totally lived up to expectations, and if so, where and when and why? Medium red, hot red, or mustard yellow sauce in a barbecue place? Do you have a hard time getting all the kids/sibs/cousins together, and where do you like to go when it can happen, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
Looks like a fun place to eat and enjoy your family time, too! Glad you stretched Karen’s birthday into a week, but I did comment on an earlier one, hope she knew I was wishing her a good one! You made it a fantastic one! Smiles!
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Yes, Karen knew of your wishes, Robin, and thank you again. This was a great birthday dinner for the family, the right spot to kick back and just enjoy ourselves. 🙂
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That place looks like a ton of fun! I’d have had to keep it on the mild side. The cake sounds yummy and the company looks fantabulous! You got some great photos. 🙂 I’m glad everyone was able to make it for the birthday lady’s special celebration! 😀
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My pictures came out a bit dark, but, well, it was a bit dark i there, but the night was bright for all of us, Rachel. What a fun night. 🙂
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If you’ll email them to me, I can lighten them up and color correct them for you. 🙂
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Never mind, I downloaded them from here. I’ll email them, to you on Facebook. 🙂
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Happy happy happy birth week again to your dear wife Karen! What a fabulous place to celebrate a birthday! It can be tough getting the entire fam together, which makes it all the more special when it happens. We are typically at an aunt or uncle’s house and just talk, drink and eat big meals while sharing memories. Some of my favorite times!
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And you have quite the family from your blog stories and photos, CBXB. We all squeezed around this one table here just fine! 🙂
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a restaurant review–fantastic! Looks like a winner. Glad you got the fam together–yay. Why are you having mustard sauce at a barbecue place? Is that a Cootersville thing? 😉
Some restaurants do blow you away and they are never the chains. Here’s to the independents of both the food and cinema worlds.
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I think every great restaurant has to put a mustard out there with the reds, especially when they have kielbasa on the menu in any way, shape or form, Liz. That’s what I used the yellow on, and it was perfect for that smoky treat.
Yes, Turning Stone is full of their own restaurant creations, including the best damn buffet I’ve ever had because of number of choices and quality of food. Pricey, but if you go for lunch insted of dinner, within reason. Anyway, yay, indie.
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What a cool place! I showed my daughter the pix and we put it on our list…looks like a very fun place, Mark. I also loved the little trailer! And…did I hear “blog party?” Where do I sign up? I’m always up for a get-together. 🙂
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You are on the list for the party, Ermigal. I want to do a big one. We can start with us locals, though. I’ll email you when Chris Malone and I are going to lunch next time. Are you in for that?
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And Jim McKeever of course. Can’t leave Mr. McKeever out.
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Okay….if I EVER get to your neck of the woods….that’s a must do for me and the husband with you and Dear Wife Karen!!!!
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The trailer, the turquoise, the pulled pork, the barn, cream cheese icing–it’s all right up my alley. We need one here!
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It’s not a chain, so maybe you can start one up, Kerbey. Wait. Let’s all go in. Liz? Benson? Yee-hah!
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I can tend bar as soon as I graduate from my online bartending course 🙂
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You’re in!
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If it remotely resembled a country bar, my freak flag would have been flying high on the dance floor. Country music and plaid, the sweet song of my people.
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Not close enough for you,Apple Pie, I take it. Sad imitiation up norrth?
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No imitation, it looks like an awesome place. It looks like a blast.
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Cool. You’re thumbs-up means plenty!
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This looks like a fantastic place! I am lovin’ the trailer. The while sceen actually, Chum. Yay for birthdays and cool places to eat.
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This could be the placer for us to have our big blog party, Aud. What say you?
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A perfect place, Chum. Agreed!
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Yes. We will do it, in the future, Red.
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Sounds fantastic – I am now hungry! Looks great too.
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We could have had you and Steve eat out of our one Tailgate Party Pail, Rachel, that’s how much food there was!
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Themed restaurants are always fun! I really enjoyed Bubba Gump’s when I went to LA. Happy, happy belated birthday week to Karen!
Diana xo
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Karen and I have been to Bubba Gumps with our ship cruise buddies in Long Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Baltimore, and loved it each time, Diana. Karen thanks you for her BW wishes!!
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Medium red, for sure 🙂
My extended family is very fond of chain restaurants, which are fine for those types of gatherings. If it is just me and Matt, we go for locally-owned Thai, Vietnamese or Indian food. When he comes to visit, he has already said he is going to want to try Jamaican food next 🙂
I am glad that y’all had such a wonderful night. What a beautiful way to celebrate Karen and what she means to all of y’all 🙂
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Youse two enjoy your geting your Jerk on when Matt comes back home, Jeanette. I make sure to have Jamaicain meat pies every year at Taste of Suyracuse and love the kick!
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what a great post, mark. it’s filled with lots of colors and tastes and love. all of that shines through so clearly. I’m so glad you were able to enjoy the whole gang together for the biggest night of karen’s birthday celebration. i love those times and they are far too rare, so i enjoy every minute of them, and it’s clear you did too )
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It was great, and I even love my shy wife squirming just a tiny bit at the fireworks candle birthday cupcake. Thanks, Beth, for joining in the colorful fun at the Tin Rooster. ))
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Wonderful looking meal Mark and even more wonderful company. The ambience also looks amazing. Love the little airstream trailer – Ha, memories. I’m a yellow sauce type of guy myslef – or sweet sauce if available. I’m an only child so there aren’t any family gatherings. We have a steak joint here in Canada called The Keg, that has really great food and good ambience. I enjoy having get togethers there. Ha! I have to tell you this short but funny story. Many years ago my wife’s son had won a hockey award and we took him (about 14)and his sister (about 12) and a friend each out for a celebratory dinner at the Keg in downtown Ottawa. It was cold and I tried to open the door of the restaurant and it was stuck. With the family behind me, I pulled a number of times, each time a bit harder – no luck. It was cold and I felt foolish not being able to open the door, so I put both hands on the handle, and leaned back puttiing all my weight behind it plus pushing with my legs. Now, I weigh about 1/4 of a ton and the door was no match. Unfortunately, it ripped off the hinges on the right side (which must have been loose,causing the problem in the first place) and came away from the frame in my hands. I casually set the door against the wall, as if this were normal, and we entered (it had an inner set of doors as well, so no cold could get in). The kids were awed – unfortunately the management wasn’t.when they showed up shortly after we were seated. To make a long story short, it worked out OK after some tense moments and we had a wondeful meal. Ha!
Great Post Mark – and awesome pictures. if i’m ever in the area and need a good meal, I knwo where to go.
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So you singlehandeldly tore the door off The Keg. That is a winner, Paul (Bunyon). You are a man among us boys here. 🙂 Come down anytime to share a meal with us in Syracuse. It’s not that far of a drive. When you’re feeling better, of course.
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Thanks for the invitation to the red, red hot, and mustard yellow, big-deal birthday celebration with your loved ones, Mark! I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
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Thanks for dropping in to share the sauce, Ann!
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