Shifty’s

If you want an authentic dive bar– this is your place. Shiftys is known for their wings. But after having them a few dozen times I can tell you that they are more miss than hit. The cooks are always out back smoking and seem to forget they have wings cooking. They are usually (⁷⁄₁₀ times) overcooked, dry, and crack like dust. But– when they are on, then are spot on with the wings! My fav is the sweet chili!

Like many, I heard the wings were some of the best in Syracuse. I ordered the garlic/​parm (garlic wings must be a Syracuse specialty… have not seen them elsewhere) wings, my companion had burger. Wings were overdone, and the garlic was so strong that I couldn’t eat many of them. Burger was ok, not as good as blarney.
Yes, it’s a dive (hogs parked out front, but that’s ok), but they have live music (not the night we were there though). Even with the last experience, I’m going to give Shifty’s one more try.

Asking me if I would ever go back, is like asking me if I’m open minded to a STD. I have been in many dive bars and these days most of them have class. This place doesn’t even have any bloody coat hooks to hang your jacket/​coat. I had to eat my under cooked burger with my jacket on my lap, like an old lady who dines with her purse in her lap. I was so tempted to give the bartender an additional $ 20 bucks so they can go to the local hardware store and by a dozen or so coat hooks. The only thing this place has going for it, is you can’t smoke. Thank god !!!

Went to Shifty’s last night the first time in years… Had a cold blue moon, which was nice, but the burger… Woohoo! An unexpected surprise for sure. A huge (10oz?) juicy, cooked to perfection, hand crafted masterpiece. Definitely as good as the last blarney burger I had, and def. among the best it had in town the bun was grilled and yummy, the lettuce crisp, came with delicious fries and a crispy pickle. Pssshhhh… I think I’m going again sooner than I probably should!
If the next one I have is of consistent awesomeness, it will put Shifty’s on my list of the best Syracuse joints to get a burger, and probably in the top 5…
The band was just coming on as we left, I think there were a blues-​rock band… Not sure, but their warm up was kinda funky. Parking sucks of course being a corner bar, but I parked in the ice cream shop across the street. Prices were fair, and the brews cold.
If you’re a burger dork like me, put Shifty’s on your list, you won’t be disappointed.

If you don’t love it, they don’t care… Good beer selection. Great wings. Solid local music… And a great overall scene, where college profs sweat it out on the dance floor next to bikers. My favorite bar in Syracuse.

Shifty’s has been around for over a century. Onondaga Historical Association archives trace the building’s existence to 1896. It was a grocery store in 1905, before it was known as Wysocki’s Old Corner Tavern from 1917 to 1969. Wysocki’s Old Corner Tavern was then renamed Shifty’s in 1969 by Central New York natives Pete Woods and Gary Oviatt. Since then, Shifty’s legacy stubbornly stuck around.
Seeing as I’m not a drinker, I first became aware of Shifty’s through the documentary The Great Chicken Wing Hunt, where the makers of the film spent 3 weeks traveling east coast states searching for the best wings. Shifty’s ended up being the runner up. As a self professed wing snob, that means I had to try them.
My wife and I came on a Friday evening. Not a ton of people there. As has been said, its a dive bar and looks the part. We got a menu and sat down. Our intention was to get wings and wings only, though there was other tasty sounding stuff on the menu. We ordered a dozen hot buffalo, and a dozen of their Frankenstein sauce.
Wings came out quickly and were perfectly cooked. Crispy on the outside, but tender and juicy inside. The Frankenstein sauce, which the bartender described as a mix of all flavors, tasted pretty much exactly that way. Garlicky, lemony, a little hint of spice and heat. They were tasty though. The true test to me, though, was the plain hot buffalo.
I had such high hopes, but I was very disappointed. While they were also cooked perfectly, the flavor just was not there. They tasted buttery, more like a mild sauce than hot. Everybody raves about their wings, and it’s cool and all that they have a ton of flavors to choose from, but as a chicken wing snob/purist…if you can’t get a simple buffalo sauce right, your wings just don’t make the cut, and can’t be called some of the best in the country.
Service was fine. Though the bar was busy, the bartender did check on us, bring us our food, and answer questions. Food did come out quickly and perfectly cooked. They had a wide selection of beer to choose from, but my wife did mention that her on tap Blue Moon was flat.
I give them three stars because the wings were not bad, just disappointing. They were cooked well and we do plan on giving them another try, perhaps with their Xtra hot sauce.

Wanted to add why I never would come back here … The SERVICE Here was HORRIBLE… Place was packed with Like three waitresses tending the whole place … No where to sit people eating standing and half the place dedicated to a broke down pool table … The waitress tells me she will come find me. I was sitting outside in the cold a guy outside smoking told me hey I think they are looking for u I go inside she hands me my two plates (wings greasy as all) … After15 minutes sitting out in 47 degree weather eating I couldn’t take it anymore & I go in ask for the check and I was ignored finally someone cashes me out I ask for a box and I get lectured that it was half off wing night I said we’ll id rather take the other half home to eat in warmth sitting … The rude lady then tells me $ 3 cash for a box … Just a TOTAL DISSAPPOINTMENT… If you like being ignored for greasy food in a packed small room then Shiftys is your spot … We work too hard for our money to come in pay 17 $ for a meal that’s handed to me with a attitude to go sit in the cold

Shiftys is hyped for quality wings. I got down but there are better wing spots in Cuse. They have genny so that’s a star bump on my end. Also known to be a good live music spot but I have not seen a show here so I can not comment on that.

Great place to watch the game and relax. The beer selection is great, and the wings are top notch! A dive bar with character, and the staff are always helpful. Mondays are half off wings, so a great recommendation for Monday Night Football!

I always have a great time when I go to Shifty’s. The beer selection is impressive for the dive bar appearance. Staff is friendly but will banter, which is always fun. And the big screen makes for a good place to watch sports. Complete with pool table and darts for the bar gamers out there.
In terms of the food, they’re definitely in the top 3 places to get wings in Syracuse (With a $ 8 /​dozen wings night on Mondays). I’ve tried most of their sauces and the Frankenstein wings are worth going alone. It’s a good balance of sweet and spicy without being overly complex. Garlic Parm is also noteworthy. I thought the Cajun could have used a bit more spiciness but may have just had a bad batch or personal preference. Pizza is passable as pizza, which is about all you can ask of a dive bar.
Overall, good spot to hang out pretty much any day of the week.

Wings, wings, great music, wings, crab rangoons… but especially the wings. Very local which we loved! Neighborhood was not lit well which concerned us a bit but everyone was nice and no concern once we got inside. We were from out of state and listened to Unilocal.Glad we did!

Best wings in ‘cuse hands down — order at the bar, sit where you can.
Monday nights are wings night which is like $ 8/​dozen.
Flavors to definitely try:
Flaming Mango — definitely kick to it, not for the weak, but if you like «thai/​indian hot»
Parm Garlic — they load it up with parm and tonnes of garlic, beware — in an awesome way
Cajun
Old Bay — the only place in town that will give you a feel for wings in Baltimore
They have the standard hot, mild, BBQ, etc…
They have open mic night and live band nights too, but havent had chance to check it out!
Darts, pool, and pinball!

Food: Best wings in the city of Syracuse. The rest. …eh. …its bar food
Liquor: basics, but decent beer selection.
Ambiance: Great dive bar with interesting patrons, a wide variety of good local live music, pool tables and fun staff.

What a great go-​to bar. Food is great. Wings, probably up there for best in town or anywhere!
Great beer selection. Good staff.
Great bands, always good local talent.
Not my neighborhood but I feel comfortable there.

Great dive bar/​neighborhood watering hole. Great music and love having a few drinks and playing a game of pool!
Cant recommend the food sadly. Everyone tells me they have the best wings in the city, but i sadly wound up with food poisoning from them — the LAST thing i wanted on vacation. Go for the drinks and music. Pass on the food

Shiftyyys. It’s a real. Good. Bar. Lots of live local bands. The clients are very friendly if you are friendly. Great selection of draft beer. The food is outstanding and well priced. Pizza and wings are where it’s at. The bartenders are always smiling, attentive and thoughtful. Parking can be a little tight. Can’t wait to go back.

Shiftys is the place to go for great food, drinks and music. They have live music almost every night and Monday is the night for cheap wings. If you haven’t been then you’re missing out.

Look the place does good business and they have great wings but they have to be able to take some criticism.
Everytime I order wings to go and I sit there and wait, I notice the cook rings the bell and puts the to go orders there,…where they seem to sit… and sit… and me assuming its for someone else maybe a regular they know and he just isnt here yet I just sit and wait… and wait… for my order… only to find just a half hour later… it was mine. This has happened to me 3 times and to add insult to cold wings she asked me to pay… AGAIN. forgetting I already paid.
I had the impression even though she took my order hardly 20 min ago had I not complained and asked where my wings were i never would have gotten them .
Does anyone care? I suspect not. But I can tell you I will weigh the hassle in my mind next time I am craving wings and might… just might go to dino.

I have to be upfront and say that I’m reviewing Shiftys as a place to eat… It seems like a great place to drink with your buddies.
I’ll say, the food and prices were good. They only had one cook so the good took a bit longer than I wanted it to. Bartender did warn me of that though. They didn’t have anywhere to sit that wasn’t occupied and they did not take AMEX… My fellow business travelers will know what that means.
All in all, I thought it was good-​ish, but I won’t be back.

Shifty’s is the best kind of hole-​in-​the-​wall dive bar, with a laid back neighborhood crowd of all ages and the best chicken wings in town. Shifty’s doesn’t mess around with flavor — their wings go beyond basic mild/​medium/​hot. My favorite is the Garlic Parmesan, extra crispy. I’ve also tried the Frankenstein variety; I’m not sure what combination of spices makes the magic with these wings, but it works.
Stop by on a Monday night for 35 cent wings — bring a few friends, order a dozen each of different flavors and call it dinner. Your wallet and your tastebuds will appreciate it. There’s no table service so belly up to the bar and pick your poison. Service is pretty fast, even on a busy night.
If not for the wings, check out their live local music or catch a game on their big screen.