Geddes, NY — Saturday was the busiest day of this year’s New York State Fair so far. The 80-degree temperatures and clear skies probably had a lot to do with it.

Sure, the 83,240 visitors are nothing special compared to the record year of 2018 with 127,394 visitors, but the influx of visitors caused all sorts of problems on the roads to the fairgrounds and at the entrance gates. Traffic was so bad that dozens of fairgoers got stuck in traffic jams, parked their cars on the side of the road in Solvay and walked down.

Those of us on the grounds could feel it. We had to wait longer for food and drinks, we had to squeeze into the birthing center to witness the birth of a calf at 4:15 p.m., and the crowd in Chevy Court wanting to see the Ying Yang Twins stretched all the way to the Toss & Fire Pizza grounds.

Here is a view from the Skyliner over the exhibition grounds at dinner time:

Speaking of dinner, let’s eat.

Today’s menu

I’m at the fair every day and night, and hey, a man’s got to eat (and drink). I write about food and drink for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard, so I might as well give you suggestions while I’m working here. But I’m no expert. I rely on readers to tell me what’s good. If you find something that makes your belly happy, text me at 315-382-1984 and I’ll try. Maybe I’ll eat or drink with you and pay the bill.

Lunch: During the 13 days of the fair, I will eat no less than eight gyros at various stands, which probably explains why my shorts are so worn out. Anyway, on Saturday it was too hot for such a sandwich at Kiki’s on Restaurant Row, so I opted for the Greek salad ($15).

It’s pretty much the same as their gyro, just without the toasted pita: lamb, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, red onion, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. It’s topped off with olive oil, oregano, and tzatziki sauce.

The greens, veggies, tzatziki, and feta were nice and chilled, so the whole meal went down easily (and quickly). I was proud that I chose a salad again this time instead of another big sandwich. I rewarded myself with a cold Utica Club Pilsner across the street at Bosco’s. They’re one of the few places that still has it on tap, and it’s still under $5.

Dinner: All that walking made the salad disappear into my stomach, but I didn’t want to ruin my three-hour health kick, so I bought a bowl of burritos from Las Gringas, a relatively new stand based in North Carolina.

Like my salad before it, this bowl has all the ingredients of a Mexican sandwich, just without the tortilla. It’s corn, black beans, shredded cabbage, onions, cotija cheese, chipotle mayonnaise, and my choice of protein (I chose chorizo, chicken, or beef). All of that sits on a bed of brown rice under a blanket of hot sauces. It costs $16.

This stall has an impressive menu and if you’re not careful, the sauces are a real slap in the face. I have a high tolerance for spicy stuff and wasn’t prepared for something that would really challenge me. I thought the squeeze bottle labeled “HOT” was a joke, so I doused my bowl with the dark red nectar. Yes, it was strong, but it was tasty.

I will be back just to put more of this sauce on those tacos, nachos, Mexican spring rolls, or a gringa (their giant quesadilla).

Beer of the day: Some people may have overdone it a bit on the first weekend of the fair and may therefore need a palate cleanser before diving back into the work week.

Paradox Brewery’s Pilsner is a refreshing way to spend an afternoon and banish Sunday anxieties. Sip one of these beers while watching golf in the beer garden while the kids do 13 topspins in a row.

“More than one brewer has told me this year that pilsners are the new sour beers,” said Beer Garden owner Erinn McDowell.

She serves it with a slice of lime so it still tastes a little tart. And remember, it’s the beer of the day so it’s $1 off.

» Detailed daily schedule for Sunday, August 25

Concerts

1/27

» The Elders, 1pm at Chevy Court

» Dax, 6pm at Chevy Court

» Dropkick Murphys, 8pm at Suburban Park

Today’s forecast: Warm, sunny and a little humid

Fair principles

Hours: The fair is open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. The buildings are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Midway is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., but closes at 9 p.m. on Labor Day.

Tickets: Admission to the fair is $8 for an adult. Seniors 65 and older are admitted free. Children 12 and under are admitted free. You can purchase tickets in advance online. You cannot purchase tickets with cash at the entrance – you must purchase them on your phone or at a kiosk at the entrance.

Park: Parking is $12 per car this year, up from $10 last year. You CANNOT pay with EZ Pass Plus, but you can pay with a credit card at the entrance to the parking lot. You can also purchase parking passes in advance online.

Further rules: Smoking is only permitted outside the gates in designated areas. You can bring coolers with food and non-alcoholic beverages. Pets are not allowed unless they are working dogs or participating in a competition. Visitors must wear a shirt and shoes. Last call for alcohol is 10:30 p.m. each day.

State Fair Newsletter: Stay up to date on all the New York State Fair news, food, music, events and more with our free newsletter, emailed to you each morning. Click here to sign up.

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Charlie Miller finds the best food, drinks and entertainment in all of Central New York. Contact him at (315) 382-1984 or email at [email protected]. (AND he pays for what he and his guests eat and drink, just so you know.) You can also find him at @HoosierCuse on Þjórsárdalur and further Instagram. Sign up for his weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here.