Fireside By The River — Restaurant in Town of Lysander

Fireside by the River: A Dining Experience to Remember

As someone who takes dining seriously but doesn’t claim to be a professional critic, I always appreciate when a restaurant surprises me in the best possible way. This past Thursday evening, my wife and I dined at Fireside by the River, a newly renovated gem under the ownership of Brian Holmes. From the moment we stepped inside, it was clear that Holmes has breathed new life into this space. The interior now feels modern yet cozy, creating the perfect ambiance whether you’re there for an intimate dinner or a large celebration.

Adding to the atmosphere was live music by Ronnie Lee, whose gentle melodies provided a pleasant backdrop to the evening. It’s always a bonus when live music enhances a dining experience without overpowering it, and Lee’s performance hit the right note.

One of the most pleasant surprises of the night was the oyster special. Every Thursday, Fireside offers oysters on the half shell for just $2 each, and I have to say, these were some of the best oysters I’ve ever had—fresh, briny, and an absolute steal at that price.

We started with a bottle of Highlands Forty One Black Granite Red Blend from Paso Robles, California. At $32, it was an incredible value. Vivino ranks this wine in the top 2% globally, and I can see why. It paired beautifully with our meal, and was a delightful discovery.

For appetizers, my wife ordered the shrimp cocktail, which was perfectly cooked and served with a cocktail sauce that had just the right amount of bite. It was a wonderful start to her meal.

For the main course, my wife ordered the crab-stuffed haddock, and it did not disappoint. The haddock was as fresh as you could hope for, with a perfectly seasoned crab stuffing. Each bite was a testament to how seafood should be prepared—simple, fresh, and expertly cooked.

Brian himself came by our table, and in conversation, he convinced me to try the hand-cut 14 oz Prime NY strip steak. Now, I’m not usually one to order a NY strip, but I’m glad I listened. I ordered it medium rare with the bourbon maple bacon compound butter, and it was, without a doubt, one of the finest steaks I’ve ever had. The sear was perfection, the temperature spot-on, but that compound butter? It elevated the steak to new heights. It was rich, flavorful, and complemented the meat in a way that left me savoring every bite.

Now, I have to talk about the French fries. Yes, the fries. These skin-on beauties were perfectly crispy, seasoned to perfection, and honestly, one of the biggest highlights of the night. I never thought fries could impress me this much, but these would win any competition they entered.

The service throughout the evening was exceptional. Our server explained the specials in detail, ensured our wine and food were expertly timed, and even brought out warm bread with another flavorful compound butter. The bread, with its crispy crust and soft interior, was the perfect way to start the meal.

In short, Fireside by the River delivered an unforgettable dining experience. From the ambiance and live music to the expertly prepared food and attentive service, it’s clear that Brian Holmes has created something special here. Whether you’re a steak lover or a seafood aficionado, this is a place you don’t...

My girlfriend and I took my 80-year-old mother out for dinner at the Fireside by the River this Saturday evening to celebrate Mother's Day a day early. My girlfriend and I both ordered the special that night, which was Prime Rib King Cut, and my mother ordered the Crab Stuffed Haddock. The vegetable choice that night for the entrees was grilled asparagus, and my girlfriend doesn't care for asparagus, so she got the brussel sprouts instead. The brussel sprouts arrived a little after our Prime Rib entree was brought to our table and was on a small cast iron skillet smothered in bacon. It looked really good, but the brussel sprouts were very tough. She didn't eat the undercooked brussel sprouts, and when the owner (Brian Holmes) came by to check on how everything was, my girlfriend told him she didn't like the Brussel Sprouts because they were undercooked. Instead of saying I'm sorry you didn't like them, he said how much he loves their brussel sprouts and was surprised she didn't like them, as if he was offended. He then told her she could "take them home and cook it." That is absolutely rude, and it put a damper on the rest of our evening. He came around the table and stuck a fork in her brussel sprouts, as if he needed to verify she wasn't making it up. Then he comes by our table one last time to tell us he told the cook about the brussel sprouts and almost got his head taken off. I found the owner (Brian Holmes) to be very unprofessional tonight. I am one of the most easy-going people when I go out to eat. I'm not the type to jump on the internet and leave a bad review, but tonight I am, because I certainly didn't appreciate how we were talked to. I have no complaints about the service, and I thought the food was good sans the tough brussel sprouts. My biggest problem was how we were talked to by the owner. At the time we were talked to like that, I thought maybe the guy was just the restaurants manager, but when I asked the server who he was, she told me he was Brian Holmes and the owner of the place, which just made how we were talked to all the more egregious. The face of the Fireside told us to take our Brussel Sprouts home and cook them. None of us have ever been talked to in that manner and tone of voice at any of the other fine dining restaurants in our area, and we go out to eat a lot. It's safe to say, we won't be coming back. I can go to a chain restaurant and get treated better than...

You ever follow your instincts and act on a fleeting idea only to realize it was one of the best decisions you’ve made in a long time? That happened to us last night. For our anniversary we decided to go to Fireside by the River in Baldwinsville, and wow, are we glad we did. This is a hidden gem here in Central New York, and as selfishly as I would like to keep it that way - I know that this place deserves some attention.

First, they did an amazing job with the inside. I love to go out to eat, so I’ve visited my fair share of restaurants, and walking into this one reminded me of the hard-to-reserve places you would see in NYC or LA. The attention to detail was clear, colors, lighting, layout, even the way the wood was stacked next to the fireplace let me know that the ownership here cares about your whole experience. This place was not planned on the back of a napkin, it was classy and comfortable.

The staff was amazing - we were visited at least 5 times by the staff outside of our server, checking on us and just being friendly. The owner, the manager and even the bartender stopped by. During one of the chats we mentioned we were there for our anniversary, this will be important later in the story.

The menu was great, with classic selections including apps, salads, surf and turf. I treated myself to a smoked old fashioned which was prepared well, excellent balance of garnish and ingredients finished with smoke added right at the table… okay, fine - I had two of them, let’s not judge. For dinner, We both selected a seafood dish, and wow. My wife had the scallops and I had the crab stuffed filet. Both were amazing. With no leftovers to be had.

Finally, desert. We were both stuffed, so we opted to share a creme brûlée. Also amazing. Smooth, well prepared, but the kicker - how it came out. I shared the photo cause I won’t be able to describe it with any justice.

In all - amazing experience, highly recommend and we will...