Rachel C.'s Profile

This is definitely my favorite place to get coffee when I'm in Oswego. There's a huge selection of coffees and teas and everything (the raspberry mocha is heavenly), and the pastries are very good. The atmosphere is great, it's nicely decorated (often with artwork from local students), and the service is always good. The sitting area upstairs is usually quiet and it's the perfect place to chat with friends over coffee. I only wish they could bring back the peanut butter mocha.

Love this place! I went recently after seeing it on Lifebooker, but I'd certainly pay full price in the future. The decor is so girly and cute, the boutique-y atmosphere up front gives you plenty to browse while you wait for your appointment, and obviously, they do good hair. I went to Haley and I'm really happy with the results. So worth the splurge.

I came back for the third or fourth time when I was in town today, and I don't know if I just showed up on a bad day, but it was so awful that I had to update my rating.

The only thing saving this from a one-star review is the food - my sandwich was just as good as always. However, the service was horrid. Our visit started off on the wrong foot - I think the girl at the register when we ordered was new, because when I placed my order, she stared at me in total incomprehension. I had to point out that what I wanted (The Greek, a vegetarian sandwich) was on the menu and where it was located. After placing our orders, it took forever before they brought our food out (a group that had come in ten minutes later than us got their food five or ten minutes before us), and the server couldn't be bothered to even pretend that she cared about her customers.

All of this was unpleasant, but certainly not enough to make me stop going. Unfortunately, our experience when ordering dessert has me seriously doubting I'll be returning. The woman getting our desserts for us (the same woman who had been our server) ran the register, handling some cash in the process, and then, without putting gloves on, began handling our food. With her bare hands. Her bare hands that had just been touching money that's been God only knows where. We then saw a male employee exit the restroom, enter the kitchen, and begin handling food - again, without gloves. I mean, I'd love to think I can trust all employees to wash their hands after using the bathroom, but if nothing else, he certainly touched the door handle.

I'm so thoroughly grossed out by the lack of attention to the most basic hygienic standards of food service that I think I'm going to have to avoid Walker Cake Company in the future. I love the food and I hate to give up this lunch spot, but... Ew, ew, ew. Show owner comment »

On my first night back in Oswego for Thanksgiving break, my family decided to check out 197 for dinner. Since the restaurant scene in town is relatively small (don't get me wrong, there are some very good places to eat - I've just been to all of them already), it was exciting to visit someplace new.

We were absolutely blown away by our food. To start, we had the crostini with pear, Gorgonzola, and walnut - an interesting combination, and pretty good, but not my favorite part of the meal. For my entree, I had the risotto with butternut squash and caramelized onions, which was quite tasty and filling. My brother ordered the tournedos, which was determined by the carnivores at the table to be some of the best tenderloin they've had. The salmon and scallops were also very good. But dessert was definitely the best part, at least for me. I'd mentioned halfway through my entree that I hoped they served crème brulée (I had randomly started craving it), so when I heard they had it I obviously had to get some. Best. Decision. Ever. It was absolutely mind-blowingly delicious. Everyone else at the table agreed that it was the best dessert out of the four we tried.

Aside from the food... The atmosphere and service were also great. The interior was pretty modern and sophisticated, very well-designed, and our server was quite kind and attentive.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend 197. It's different from anything else in Oswego, and although it's also more pricey than other restaurants downtown, it's well worth it. You get what you pay for.

My friends and I came here on a whim tonight in search of good cheap food, and we ended up enjoying it. The veggie falafel was really good, so was the mint tea; the salad was kind of stingy on the dressing. It was a little tiny inside, but the employees were all super nice and they had Al Jazeera on, so overall I'd call it a win.

This has been a go-to place for a group of my friends for a year now, and it still has yet to disappoint. The fried squid is very good, as is the bok choy. I was also a fan of the vegetable dumplings, and my friends love their pork buns (I'm a pescetarian so I can't really vouch for that). The food is all insanely cheap for the portions given, so blowing money on drinks is less objectionable.

The only thing that's less than great is the wait. We usually wind up waiting 15 to 20 minutes, which really isn't so bad, but I'm impatient. Some waiters also have a tendency to neglect tables, too, so service can be hit or miss. Regardless, we always have a good time when we're here, and I'm sure we'll keep coming back.

I came here with a group of friends for brunch to celebrate a birthday after our original restaurant plan fell through. I would not recommend it for a group larger than 4; seating was a nightmare for us.

The food was pretty good. I got the Norwegian scrambled eggs (eggs with salmon and mozzarella), which came with some roasted potatoes, a small salad, and an English muffin. I was pleased enough with the eggs and ambivalent about the sides. I mostly just found myself regretting not ordering the Belgian waffles.

The atmosphere was nice, I liked the kind of old world-y decor. Service was not the best but not the worst, our server was okay but seemed a bit cold or unfriendly, which isn't the most impressive quality in a waitress.

All in all, I don't think I'll be going back since I don't live nearby, but I'd probably recommend it for a relatively cheap brunch (mimosas are $2 and the brunch specials are all $9.75 for pretty big portions).

I went here tonight with a couple of friends for a quick meal and we all enjoyed it. The atmosphere was good, we all thought the interior was very well designed. The service was incredibly fast, which was good since I had someplace to be afterward. The food was good as well; we got the mango shrimp to start, which was very tasty. I also got the Out of Cont'Roll (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, asparagus; topped with torched tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and "rice crunchies"), which I enjoyed, and I tried a piece of my friend's Iron Man Roll, which was also good. None of the food was mind-blowingly amazing, but for $21 it was a nice way to get away from campus food for an evening. I wouldn't say it's my favorite, but I'd go back.

If a place is cash only and the line is consistently ridiculous, I'm usually far too impatient to find whatever they serve to be worth the inconvenience. Stumptown is one of the few exceptions. Their mocha has set me up to be disappointed by any and all coffee drinks I'll consume in the future, but it's so, so worth it.

Full disclosure: I might be a little biased because the barista who served me the first time I visited gave me an extra shot for free because it was finals week. But that just speaks to how awesome they are.

Being a poor college student, I found myself at MoMA yesterday largely because my university ID gets me in for free and I was in need of a nice way to spend the afternoon without spending money. Unfortunately, I made the fatal mistake of forgetting to eat beforehand, and eventually my hunger pangs landed me at Terrace 5.

Although I wasn't thrilled to have to spend nearly $20 on my meal, considering my original plan to avoid spending any money at all, the food was good. The egg salad sandwich on a parmesan scone was delicious and very filling, and the side of seasoned chips was very tasty as well.

Since I was there fairly late and it was already dark and a bit too chilly to sit outside, I couldn't fully appreciate the view. Nonetheless, the atmosphere was good and, as only a handful of other diners were there, the servers were attentive and friendly. Overall, recommended for convenience and decent food if you're willing to pay a little extra.