New Century — Restaurant in City of Syracuse

Hidden in plain sight on a sleepy stretch of Kirkpatrick Street, New Century doesn’t look like much from the outside—just a faded brick building with a sun-bleached awning, wedged into a quiet, unassuming neighborhood. You might second-guess yourself as you walk up the worn steps, but don’t turn back. This is one of those rare places where the soul of the food quietly outshines its shell.

Inside, the décor is an eclectic fusion of Buddhist posters, faux flowers, statues, and decades-old furniture, giving the space a vibe somewhere between a spiritual retreat and an Asian family banquet hall that’s seen better days. The building is cavernous—much too big for the sparse crowd when we visited—which only adds to its mysterious charm. A hand-written sign reminds you: “We are not a fast food restaurant. Please be patient.” And trust me, it’s worth the wait.

We ordered: #33. Bún Đặc Biệt – Special Combo Vermicelli ($17.95) A hefty, colorful bowl topped with grilled shrimp, egg roll, shredded pork, pork meatballs, and beef—every component was perfectly seasoned and charred. The fresh herbs and pickled vegetables underneath offered brightness and crunch, balanced by the fish sauce on the side. #10. Phở Đặc Biệt – Special Combo Pho A deeply aromatic broth, subtly sweet and clear, swimming with rare steak, brisket, tendon, tripe, and beef balls. This is the kind of pho that doesn’t need condiments—it’s confident on its own. Clean, soulful, and expertly balanced. #111. Sinh Tố Sầu Riêng – Durian Shake ($5.95) Thick, creamy, unapologetically durian. Sweet and pungent, a must for lovers of the King of Fruits. Chè Khoai Môn Bạch Quả – Sweet Rice with Taro & Gingko in Coconut Cream ($5.95) This dessert is comfort in a bowl. Warm, sticky rice bathed in rich coconut milk, with chunks of soft taro and subtle gingko. Not too sweet—just right.

The menu is expansive and mostly in Vietnamese—an encouraging sign of authenticity. Prices are modest considering the quality and portion sizes. Service is patient and kind, like you’re visiting someone’s auntie who cooks better than anyone in the family.

Verdict: New Century is a true hidden gem—more spiritual temple than trendy eatery. The space may be aging, but the food is honest, generous, and masterfully made. Come for the pho, stay for the durian shake, and leave with your stomach full and your spirit...

I had the worst experience tonight at this place! we came in as a two person party and we were seated at a 2 person table. We were carrying a few items such as purses and bags so we requested to be seated at a 4 person table in order to have more room. We saw many tables open and thought that wouldn’t be an issue as clearly seen in the picture. A waitress came by and said “you guys can’t sit here” and we explain to her because we have our purses and stuff and we want more room. She replied “I don’t care! We don’t do that here!”

After that we moved to a table for 2 and I took a picture of the restaurant trying to complaint to my friend that the place is empty and they are not willing to let us change table. The waitress came to take our order and asked me “did you take a photo of me?” At this point, with this kind of service and attitude, we won’t trust the quality of the food. I will never trust someone to prep my food with this kind of service so we left with empty stomach and full of disappointment!

Based off other reviews, it seems like “we don’t do that here” is a common phrase used by this waitress! I’m not exactly sure what they don’t want here but clearly, they don’t want my business. If this restaurant will not address this issue, it will definitely hurt them in the long run!

From now on, I will only go to Vietnamese...

Amazing food, that alone would give it 5 stars. By far the best in Syracuse, probably most of CNY but there are some serious problems to keep in mind when eating here. Both times I've been here I've had the pho, and it's so good when I get the chance to come back I just can't get myself to try anything else. On the flip side the place comes off as a little bit dingy (it is an old 70s restaurant). The walls were painted a little sloppy, the light sconces buzz. The place isn't outright dirty or messy, but everything seems just a little bit off. My biggest complaint (I've been here twice now) is the wait staff is 1 star worthy. I've been here both busy and dead, and I actually had better waiter attention when busy. I went there with only our table and another table there, the waiter showed up, took our order, came back with our order and never appeared again. Or would attend to the other table but never stop by our table. It took forever to get the check, it took forever for him to pickup the check and give me a to go container. If it wasn't for my minor complaints it would be a 5 star review. Despite my cons, I love the food too much to let these minor things get to me, I've eaten here twice and plan on...