Visiting Ithaca, NY – Restaurants
The Best Restaurants in Ithaca for Visitors and Guests
Sep 22, 2009
Ithaca has too many restaurants for any to be below par. Cornell University and Ithaca College attract experienced, international patrons and eateries there have to stay great to stay open. Here are some of the most well-known restaurants, and a few hidden places as well.
Best Ithaca Restaurants for Lunch and Dinner
- Moosewood Restaurant: Famous for its nationally-renowned cookbook, Moosewood is the most well-known restaurant in Ithaca. The menu changes daily, as the chefs use only the most fresh, local and seasonal ingredients possible. So if traveling with picky eaters, visitors should make sure to check online or call ahead for the menu before arriving.
- Taste of Thai: Awarded best asian food in Ithaca on multiple occasions, Taste of Thai is a local favorite. The restaurant is situated on the Commons and serves a particularly notable Pad Thai.
- Glenwood Pines Restaurant: A hungry traveler should look no further than Glenwood Pines, located above Cayuga Lake on Rt. 96. It is known for its sandwiches, and its menu includes the Pinesburger Challenge. Contestants must eat four Pinesburgers, the restaurant's signature item, within an hour. Winners receive a t-shirt and their name on the Wall of Fame.
- Just a Taste: This small restaurant on Aurora Street at the Commons serves Spanish-style tapas and has a tremendous wine menu. It is located on a strip of other restaurants and bars, but its food and drinks stand out strongly among them.
- The Heights: The Heights Cafe and Grill located on Hanshaw Road has been a critical success for ten years. The recommended dress is casual but the restaurant is fine dining. It is a great option for graduations and special events.
- Joe's: For italian fare, especially with children or grandchildren present, Joe's is a safe bet. Serving large portions and known also as a local Yankees fans hangout, this eatery serves a casual dinner in a sophisticated space. For a more formal Italian dinner, Za-Za's Cucina is just down the road. Both restuarants are located on Rt. 13.
- Cafe DeWitt: Cafe DeWitt serves wonderful breakfast and Saturday/Sunday brunch. It is also hidden in the Dewitt Mall, which is home to Moosewood Restaurant, antique shops, toy stores, and used book and coin shops. It is a refreshing place to eat on a rainy day before perusing the shelves.
- Carriage House Cafe: Serving the best bread in Ithaca is no easy task, but Carriage House does this and more. With a beautiful exterior to match its interior, its brunch is one of the best meals in Ithaca. Visitors should check the restaurants hours beforehand, as once a month they feature dinner with live jazz. Otherwise they serve brunch Tuesday-Sunday.
- Ithaca Ale House: For beer and burgers, Ithaca Ale House is a local favorite. A large craft beer menu and outdoor seating make this restaurant a great summer destination. It is located on Aurora Street just off of the Commons.
Best Ithaca Restaurants for Dessert
- Purity Ice Cream Company: For locals no dessert destination beats Purity. Patrons should be prepared to wait in line, and will be glad that they did. It is located at Rt. 13 and Cascadilla.
- Madeline's: Nested on the corner of Aurora and the Commons, this restaurant offers a beautiful interior, covered outdoor seating, and an enormous selection of desserts. Madeline's sports a unique dinner menu as well, and is known for its martinis along with its chocolate cakes. Guests can enjoy a whole evening there when it's cold outside.
- Sticky Rice: The mango sticky rice at this Laotian restaurant is a little-known gem in Ithaca. It is located downtown in the Gateway Commons on State Street.
- The Cornell Dairy Bar: Located on Tower Road on the Cornell Campus, the Cornell Dairy Bar serves ice cream, milkshakes, and a wide variety of other products to area sweet-tooths. It is not only a local favorite, though: for travelers driving 5 hours home, the Dairy Bar can wrap ice cream orders specially to last the long trip.
Tips for Eating in Ithaca
If guests are coming into town for special university events, such as graduation, orientation or a big game, the host should make reservations early on. Most restaurants begin reserving seats for graduation night in February, but some open for reservations even earlier.
Also, because of the strain economically on the restaurant business in general, it is wise to check the websites or even better to call ahead before making lunch or dinner plans. Many of these restaurants are changing their hours because of financial toll.
For all restaurants located downtown on or near the Commons, free parking is available at night in the parking garage on Seneca and Tioga. During the day, parking in the garage is still affordable, or drivers can park on one of the area's many side streets, some of which do not have meters.
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