WOW is this a classy and comfortable location that's stunning on the inside despite the construction buzz in/around downtown Syracuse! Service was stellar, the options were perfectly selected and not overwhelming, the prices are beyond reasonable (2oz, 5oz, 8oz), and the ambiance is intimate.
Infused with ever-so light and fresh Snoqualmie Riesling, Cavit Moscato, and ice wine... paired with the heaping Banana Bread Sundae with vanilla ice cream drizzled with chocolate (enough to share with 3 people!) and Creme Brulee with strawberries ... made this a perfect chic girls night out. Can't wait to come back and explore the menu some more!
Came for dessert and coffee (I know it's a wine bar, but didn't feel like drinking).
Food: Got the Tiramisu and Death by Chocolate Cake, had large portions. The Tiramisu had actual ladyfingers soaked in coffee and marscapone cheese (sad to say this is not always the case at other restaurants!), I enjoyed it. DbC cake was dense and chocolatey, although I would have preferred it to have more of a dark chocolate flavour and not as sweet buttercream (but that's just my preference).
Presentation is fairly simple, the pieces of cake on a white bowl/plate without garnish. For a place that presents itself as fairly fancy, I would have expected a similar food presentation so a bit of a mismatch. No points lost on taste or size though.
They lost a star for the weak cappuccino & latte we got (should have heeded the other review) - tasted like regular drip coffee with fake steamed milk (which is weird because I saw them making it at their industrial espresso machine with real espresso grinds and milk). Perhaps a regular coffee would be better, or some wine.
Service: Otherwise, service was pretty good - we were seated at the bar for about 10 minutes while waiting for a table, and once seated at the table our server was pretty quick to bring us water and take our order. Wasn't pressured to eat quickly and leave despite the full tables, which was nice.
Ambience: late 90s light pop music in the background (a la Natalie Imbruglia), packed tables and bar with 20/30-somethings, and mood lighting. Good for dates, was able to talk without straining to hear.
Price: Came out to $22 for two desserts and two specialty coffees - not terrible, but would skip the coffee next time.
Overall: I'd come back if I had a hankering for late night dessert and couldn't be bothered to make any. Please please please improve your espresso-making and I will return a lot more often! :)
Great place for drinks and desserts in Syracuse. Â Honestly, it is one of the only places to go to enjoy yourself after 10pm, that doesn't include the SU bars full of drunken co-eds. Â
My favorite is the caramel brownie cheesecake and my hubby loves the carrot cake. Â Good wine selection. Â The employees are always sweet and accommodating. Â I've never had a negative experience here. Â They have great specials, wine tastings, and a very chill atmosphere. Â Will continue to come to Bittersweet for a relaxing, fun night!
I was just here this last weekend for a small get-together before heading home for the holidays. We joked that an acquaintance had described Bittersweet as "lady friendly," but really, there's a lot of truth to that statement!
There's plenty of different wines to choose from, a nice ambiance, and it's overall a nice place for a get together with friends or a couple looking for an intimate place for a date. I'll admit I've had better tiramisu, but then again nothing will ever top the tiramisu I had in Italy, so maybe I'm biased. With that said it was good- just wish the cake had soaked a teensy bit more. The panini I had for dinner was good too- loved the bread, and you can tell the mozzarella is quality stuff too. Really, I can't complain about the price either- everything is pretty solidly on point.
Probably the only drawback might be that after awhile the place fills up, and a few people were waiting at the bar area to get a table. However, when I arrived just around 7 we were seated no problem. So come early if you don't want to risk a small wait.
I thought we might be rushed out the door once more people showed up... but the waitress was super nice. She let us eat and enjoy our ourselves- you know what I mean if you've been in a restaurant that tries to shoo you out the second you put your fork down. Just another reason Bittersweet is pretty great- it's worth checking out!
Very romantic... very intimate.. the music goes from soul, pop, some mainstream.. very chill spot ! I go here with my girlfriends all the time. We are regulars. I always fall in love with the desserts here... ( My fav is the Strawberry Love & Brownie or Bust) its never a disappointment .... talk about melts in your mouth!!! The Paninis & BIG Salads are to die for!! The servers are always friendly and welcoming to me and my guest. Its gets busy on the weekends and you have to wait to get a seat but i never have a problem with that.. reserve a table and wait 10 min or sit at the bar and enjoy a glass a wine either go next door . Best time to go is during the weekday . The weekend gets really busy after 9pm . Overall i love this place.
Review Source:Now don't get me wrong the homemade desserts are very tasty and the menu has a nice variety of different desserts and add on's, however my experience with the service and staff is stopping me from returning. Coming from the service industry I understand letting staff go early happens when it isn't busy and maybe once in a great while closing early happens, however if your hours say till midnight you should be open until midnight.
 I went with a few friends around ten and it was closed so when the next time came for us to go I called first, the woman who answered the phone told me that although she was aware my party was coming in that I should call back later sometime to make sure they were still open....um still open? If your hours are till midnight why do I need to call back?
  Turns out to "my luck" they were still open around ten, when I arrived there were several parties dining but my server found it appropriate to ask me when the other people in my party were coming because she had a long day. The server then began to shut everything down at the bar early infront of me and leave the bag of trash from the bar near me as well (lovely I know). Once again she came over and said "I just want to give you the heads up the kitchen wants to close so maybe you could just order for your friend coming." I should have just walked out then but people in my party had never been (and won't be returning).
 As soon as the last person of my party arrived the server rushed from behind the bar and rushed my friend into ordering. The dessert was out within minutes but so were the lights. The server dropped my check with the dessert instead of offering anything else. Shortly after, the three remaining staff literally turned off the music, most of the lights and sat at the bar in quiet watching us finish.
 Okay I understand you had a long day, but give me a break I don't know who trained you but this was rude and over the top inappropriate,  I was disgusted by the way I was treated as well were the other people with me. It's not as if I walked in at 11:45, but even if I had business is business and you don't make your customers feel as if they are a burden to you.
 Here is a tip bittersweet and especially to the server I had, you are not doing a favor by waiting on guests, they are paying you for your service and doing the business a favor, have some class. Good dessert but not worth the hassle.
One of Syracuse's gems.
I purchased a Groupon for the wine and dessert bar after hearing rave reviews from friends about the great desserts. My best friend and I went to console my broken heart. Waiter was funny and energetic.
Desserts are over the top and worth it. I ordered a brownie sundae, and by far, it was homemade like my Mom's. Â The only thing lacking is the background music. If there was some, I don't remember it.
Went to Bittersweet for a friends birthday tonight. Cute place, comfy bar stools and pleasant staff. The non-dessert dining options are casual - paninis and salads - and decent...albeit unimaginative. The cheese plate had blue, brie, Gouda and soft over ripe grapes. Desserts were tasty - fudgey brownie sundae with ice cream and a chocolate cake...pound cake with strawberries and fruit fondue with choice of dipping sauce. Not adventurous at all! Plays it safe with desserts I could make at home. Â If desserts are your specialty give me a reason to leave the house. I would have loved this place when I was 16.
Review Source:My only real complaint here is that when it's busy, you have to wait for a table. But it's worth it for sure. Also, I had a cappuccino here and it wasn't great. But since this is a wine and dessert place first and foremost, that's what I'm rating it on.
Came here first for a friend's engagement party (where I got the cappuccino) and had a few bites of friends' desserts: tiramisu (just okay) and Peanut Butter Dream (INCREDIBLE).
I came back on Valentine's Day with my boyfriend. We split an antipasto meant for one person, which was huge and delicious -- the tuna, artichoke & fresh mozzarella were the best parts. :) We sampled the Deco Chocolate Port, which was nice but a little too strong to get a real glass of it. Then we got 2 ounce pours (I love that they do that!) of the Mirassou Moscato (sooo good) and the Merritt Bella Ice Wine (good, but ice wines are a little too sweet for me). And we split the Peanut Butter Dream, which continues to be delicious.
And I went again this weekend with my sister and cousin. I advised them that we shouldn't each order our own dessert because they're huge, but we got 3 anyway: Peanut Butter Dream (our collective favorite!), Gimme S'More (the homemade marshmallow and graham cracker weren't great, but the chocolate mousse was insanely good), and the Belgian Waffle with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream strawberries, hot fudge and caramel. I'm not big on waffles for dessert but the toppings were pretty good.
The blonde bartender (seems to always be there) is super nice and attentive. Our waitress was also really nice but it was busy so we didn't get a ton of attention. Overall, I've had a great time whenever I've been here.
It was a great experience; i found the place online and decided to dine there for my birthday. Honestly, me & my husband loved the place; it's so calm, clean, cozy and lovely. Food was yummy; desserts are heavenly and the atmosphere is as good as you can imagine.
The hostess was amazing and friendly .... I higly recommend and sure will make it a place to go to whenever we in Syracuse.
****UPDATE*****
I was back at this wine/dessert bar on a Saturday night for a girls night out/bacelorette party. It was crowded and we waited at the bar for the large table in the front. The staff was amazing as far as making sure that there were enough chairs for us and also from stopping people that just walked in from taking our table by letting them know that they were setting it up for a different group - they could add them to a list waiting for a table. This to me was the best change that I had seen here. They were more attentitve to the customers and making everyone feel welcome. We had a great time and never felt rushed or neglected.
I am thrilled that this place has made some great changes. I would like to see maybe more seasonal desserts - perhaps if the menu/selections changed every 3 or 4 months it would keep things fresh. I wouldn't even worry about keeping a "staple" - change the chocolate cake offering - people want variety and surprise!
They should change the name from Bittersweet to Sweet and Sweeter. I've been twice, and both visits were disappointing. I like my dessert semi-sweet, or "sweet, but not too sweet," and nothing they offered met that description.
If sweet is what y'all like, it could be a good choice for dessert. There are decent beverage options: the coffee is good, and I ordered a reasonably priced bottle of sparkling wine. They're open late, and the ambiance is trendy, even romantic. The booths are good for dates or tight-knit groups, and there are also seatss a large table in front and seats by the bar. The service is friendly (though not well executed for the price).
If you are interested in the dessert itself (vs. the trendy ambiance), try Bistro Elephant (i.e. Lemon Grass) instead. You can be seated at a table for dessert and drinks.) If it's late, try Alto Cinco, instead.
This is one of the cutest places in Syracuse, without question. From the cushy white stools that line the bar (and matching chairs at the equally pretty tables) to the charming pink, brown, and white paint scheme that graces the walls, you will feel like you are in an adorable little wine bar in a proper city. My boyfriend and I came here after wandering Armory Square on a Friday night. While there were 40-minute waits everywhere else, Bittersweet was pretty quiet on a Friday evening. We were quickly informed that we could seat ourselves and the lovely server promptly produced menus. Though you'd be mad if you didn't have dessert here, the handful of savory options were decent too (and very reasonably priced). Each of us had ordered a sandwich, and I was particularly pleased with mine, the Nonna Lina, which included grilled eggplant, tomato, and fresh mozzarella (I believe it came with prosciutto as well, but I skipped it). The portions were pretty decent, so I only ate half of mine.
My boyfriend and I absolutely knew that we'd be having dessert too, but I'm glad I convinced him to share one with me, because the cookie cake sundae we shared was massive, lovely, and about five bucks.
The wine list is, well, eh, but I can live with that considering how fun and affordable this place is. And, considering that, for the most part, Syracuse is lackluster at best, this is a nice addition to the area.
This place is going for that trendy, west coast wine/cheese/dessert bar environment. Â And they almost pull it off. Â The problem is that they aren't really a wine bar. Â Wine aficionados will be disappointed with the selection here...it is more for the taste of the Red Cat and Riesling crowd. Â Cheese isn't really their specialty either; I ordered a cheese board and it came with swiss, provolone and some other grocery store favorite. Â The desserts we ordered were tasty, but again, the selection was what you would find on most chain restaurant menus: Â cheesecake, carrot cake, blah, blah, blah. Â The fondue was the only stand out feature of the dessert menu.
The decor was nice, and the servers were attentive. Â Overall, not a bad place, but I wasn't impressed.
Bittersweet is amazing! A few of my friends surprised me with a wine and dessert tasting here in celebration of my upcoming wedding. The desserts were melt-in-your-mouth, to-die-for. And they were paired with a wonderful variety of wines, many, if not all of which were from New York. We sampled: "Red Decadence" with Death by Chocolate cake, Bella ice wine (amazing!) with NY-style cheesecake, sparkling rosé with "Peanutbutter Dream" (and it was dreamy), and a NY riesling with carrot cake.
The inside of the bar is cozy and warm-feeling. Maybe it was the wine, or the heady desserts, but everything seemed to glow at Bittersweet! This is a great, classy addition to Syracuse's nightlife.
I stopped here with two friends on a Friday evening during the Taste of Syracuse festival. The restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived, but was packed by the time we left (perhaps from people put off by the ridiculous crowds at ToS?)
Anyways, we glanced over the menu, and THERE IT WAS: fondue!!! You order your choice of white, milk, or dark chocolate, and they provide you with fresh fruit, marshmallows, and bite-sized cubes of chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and rice krispie treats. The best part? Just before bringing out the fondue, the waitress placed a small black heater thing on the table.
"This is for toasting your marshmallows," she told us.
Perhaps it was the wine we had already gotten cozy with, but this blew our minds. Toasted marshmallows. Fondue. BRILLIANT. Of course, it was no raging campfire, so you had to be patient if you wanted your marshmallow to get to toasty perfection. Honestly, it's probably better than way... it will occupy you enough to keep you from otherwise demolishing the rest of the fondue.
Overall, it's a very cute little restaurant, and the patronage (at least when we were there) seemed to be a more mature, laid-back departure from the typical downtown Syracuse bar crowd. I'm very seriously considering Bittersweet as a stop for my bachelorette party. I can't wait to try the other desserts!
This is definitely a cute place for friends or dates. Â My friend and I love to come here to try different wines and the desserts. Â Our favorites are the tiramisu and the cream puffs. Â Service is usually decent. Â Although, more than once we've been asked to move our seats right when we sit down, to accomodate other people. Â Not a big deal, but servers, plan that ahead next time.
Review Source:This place was great. I grabbed one of their great deals on groupon or livingsocial to satisfy my girlfriend, but I did not expect to enjoy myself. to my surprise, it was indeed nice. The girl behind the bar took our order or 8 glasses of wine and deserts. each glass was supposed to have 2 ounces - I'm guessing I smiled at the right time or something, because they were well over. The deserts were huge and delicious. We were told what would go well with what and had an interesting discussion with the bartender.
Overall, a great great place for a date or at least part of a date. Somewhere in the beginning of the end part.
Try the peanut butter desert and the cheesecake was awesome.
On a weekday for lunch I found a nicely renovated place for wines, beers and a menu of a few sandwiches, salads, a cheese board, a Belgian waffle and a whole page of delectable-sounding desserts.
 A cup of their soup - Lentil - $2.50, produced enough beans, some potato and very little celery, broccoli and carrot. But the mild flavor was decent. It came in nice white china with 2 hunks of so-so French bread. Next, for takeout, a sandwich - La Lucia $8.50. On a good hoagie roll holding a couple of baloney-thin slices of portabella mushroom, enough red onion, and little tomato, mozzarella melted in and finished with balsamic vinaigrette. For $8.50, I expected a whole lot more mushrooms than this! But the flavor was OK. This came with a snack bag of what seemed like small, homemade potato chips.
I hope their desserts are more generous.
My new favorite hangout in the 'Cuse. Excellent wine selection and I especially love the varied serving sizes of wine and flute option. Desserts are all homemade, including the whip cream. This is the classiest bar/lounge downtown . . . I really hope the downtown bar "regulars" don't ruin it.
Review Source:We were warned when we were ready to order that the Belgian Waffle was too big for one person. It is.
This is a wine and dessert bar, they do have other items on the menu, but I think it will take too long to try all the chocolate entrees to get to the salads.
Our server was wonderful. He suggested a great espresso.
We are going back again. This time with more friends so we can have the fondue.
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