VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Big Fellas Restaurant Takes Downtown Dining Weeks In Syracuse
Dhani Joseph: At 208 W. Water Street, just a few steps away from Clinton Square, is the Big Fellas restaurant. Created by Syracuse basketball player Eddie Lampkin Jr. and his business partner Antoine Smith, the two arrived to the 315 and saw a hole they could fill when it came to the food options within Syracuse.
Antoine Smith: You know Eddie came here, he seen the food scene here before I got here. He was like ‘bro you gotta come check it out,’ so I came and checked it out. We did a little pop up. The people really liked it so we were like ‘alright let’s figure it out.’ So I just moved on over with the family and we figured it out.
Joseph: The restaurant quickly gained traction as various Syracuse athletes began trying its food and posting their meals on social media. Even Orange legend Carmelo Anthony paid Big Fellas a visit earlier in the year. However, Downtown Dining Weeks is an opportunity to reach a new demographic.
Smith: The lady hit me up, and I mean we just wanted the exposure. All of the exposure we could take. So we decided to lock in with it. And they get to try a little bit of everything. So that’s what really, really makes it different.
Joseph: And with dishes such as Cajun pasta chicken, steak, and shrimp, among others, the restaurant quickly began to gain a loyal fan base.
Chris Gatty: The food is amazing. It speaks for itself. Supporting Chef Antoine. I just like the spot, the vibe. You know, every aspect of it just makes you want to keep coming back.
Tazz: Honestly, I love rice. I love rice. So their rice, I love their rice. And the lamb chops. They’ve got great drinks. You know something that you can’t find like everywhere else.
Joseph: For Smith, he’s excited about the new customers that will find his restaurant through Downtown Dining Weeks. With new items constantly coming to the menu, there will surely be something for everyone to enjoy.
Smith: We only make stuff we like. There’s nothing on the menu that me and Eddie wouldn’t eat everyday of the week. So, and we big fellas, so we know it’s good. Like, we know what we like to eat.
Joseph: You can head down to Big Fellas from now until Friday, March 14, to try a select menu of the restaurant’s best.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — When Syracuse men’s basketball player Eddie Lampkin and his business partner Antoine Smith arrived in Syracuse, they were looking to bring something “different” to the Syracuse food scene.
“You know Eddie came here, he seen the food scene here before I got here. He was like ‘bro you gotta come check it out,’ so I came and checked it out,” Smith said. “We did a little pop up. The people really liked it so we were like ‘alright let’s figure it out.'”
Initially Smith was running the operation out of his own kitchen, making restaurant staples such as the chicken Cajun pasta dish and others for those who knew about it. But in January, Smith and Lampkin were able to get an official restaurant. On Jan. 6, 2025, the two officially opened Big Fellas at 208 W. Water Street.
After two months of relative growth in popularity, Smith jumped at the chance when he was approached with the offer to be a part of Downtown Dining Weeks, the two-week event where restaurants in the area offer a special menu where they can sample multi-course meals of the establishment’s best.
“The lady hit me up, and I mean we just wanted the exposure. All of the exposure we could take,” Smith said of the opportunity. “So we decided to lock in with it. And [customers] get to try a little bit of everything. So that’s what really, really makes it different.”
In addition to Cajun chicken pasta, Big Fellas also has Cajun pasta dishes with shrimp, steak, salmon and much more. They also carry rice bowls, chicken wings and sandwiches too. The restaurant also serves various different drinks. One such drink, named by Lampkin, is called Booty Juice.
With Downtown Dining Weeks going on, Smith hopes that the promotion will bring even more customers to the Big Fellas. Many people who come to restaurant often agree that it provides a new taste to the Syracuse area.
“The food is amazing, it speaks for itself,” Chris Gatty, a Syracuse University student said. “Supporting Chef Antoine. I just like the spot, the vibe. You know, every aspect of it just makes you want to keep coming back.”
“I love their rice. The lamb chops. They’ve got great drinks. You know something that you can’t find like everywhere else,” Tazz, a Big Fellas regular said.
Smith is excited about the new customers that will find his restaurant through Downtown Dining Weeks. With new items constantly coming to the menu, there will surely be something for everyone to enjoy.
His sales pitch for people to come to Big Fellas is simple.
“We only make stuff we like. There’s nothing on the menu that me and Eddie wouldn’t eat everyday of the week,” Smith said. “And we big fellas, so we know it’s good.”
Check out Big Fellas from now until Friday, March 14 to enjoy a specially curated menu of the restaurant’s best.