Ruby Begonia's Restaurant and Lounge

Ruby Begonia's opened in Chittenango in 2025 under Todd and Jyoti Harris, and This is CNY's food writers named it among Central New York's best restaurants of the year for its upscale Southern menu. Expect fried chicken and fish, a shrimp and scallop cake, and a lineup of from-scratch sides. The chicken fried chicken earned a spot on the writers' best-dishes list, so start there, then save room for a side of greens.

Picks from This Is CNY

A Southern-leaning restaurant and lounge in Chittenango, east of the city, that This is CNY's food writers included in their 2025 best-restaurants and best-dishes picks. The Chicken Fried Chicken takes a breast pounded thin, dredged in seasoned flour, fried, and smothered in a savory country-style pepper gravy, while the buttermilk-brined fried chicken plates with coleslaw, green beans and cornbread. Order the Chicken Fried Chicken with pepper gravy, or the buttermilk fried chicken with cornbread.

Picks from This is CNY (Advance Media NY)