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Diners
Dino's Cosmopolitan Restaurant
313 College Avenue
607-273-4563
Collegetown
They’ve got a full menu, but it’s the breakfasts that seem to keep people coming back to “the Cosmo,” attached to the popular Dino’s Collegetown bar. The food’s not that special, and don’t expect expert service, but it’s decent diner fare, and it’s inexpensive and quick.
Dryden Queen Diner
84 North Street, Dryden
607-844-5060
Dryden
The Dryden Queen is a clean, simple diner, with friendly service, good food, and reasonable prices. What more do you need? Crispy corned beef hash? Yep, they do that pretty well, too.
Friendly's
Cayuga Mall, Triphammer Road
607-257-5797
Ithaca Northeast
We've never been a big fan of Friendly's, but they certainly have their place in the local dining scene. This restaurant, across Triphammer Road from the Pyramid Mall, offers decent service. There are also Friendly's locations inside Pyramid Mall (next to Cafe Square) and along Fast Food Row on Route 13 in the southwest. We find Friendly's does best at breakfasts (which are inexpensive) and ice cream (expensive but with good variety). For lunch and dinner, we suggest going elsewhere.
Hal's Deli
115 North Aurora Street
607-273-7765
Downtown Ithaca
A Jewish-style deli with good hot and cold deli sandwiches, burgers, salads, soups, and breakfasts that include bagels and lox. The triple-decker sandwiches are named after Hal (the deli’s late founder) and assorted relatives and regulars; the "Ron Mack Special" is a plate of potato pancakes and corned beef named after the late Cornell professor of psychology. The food's not fancy and the service is friendly and well-meaning, if not expert, but sometimes you just gotta have a Reuben and a knish, y’know?
(Full Review)
Lincoln Street Diner
309 Lincoln Street, Ithaca
607-216-1616
Ithaca
Hours: 6am-2pm M-F, 7am-1pm Sat
In the Fall Creek area near the Ithaca Falls, the Lincoln Street Diner, formerly Ziffy's, serves breakfast all day, hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, and daily specials like chicken and biscuits or a NY strip sandwich. The omelets are generous, and the signature breakfast is a pile of home fries and corn bread smothered in sausage gravy.
Manos Diner
Elmira Road
607-273-1173
Ithaca Southwest
Hours: 24 hours
Dubbed "The Diner of Fate" by those who know, Manos offers the usual diner fare, from breakfasts 24 hours a day to sandwiches, burgers, and entrees, plus a full bar (and the same food menu) in the attached Ichabod's. Manos is perfect for an inexpensive but filling breakfast. Later in the day, try the fries with a side of gravy, and if you’re in the mood for a big meal, the turkey dinner can’t be beat. Ichabod's also features a nice, fresh salad bar, great with your dinner.
(Full Review)
Sunset Grill
823 Danby Road, Ithaca
607-272-1986
This new eatery on South Hill at Rogan's Corner features a full breakfast menu that's a good value, and we especially love the "breakfast sides" section of the menu, which lets you add a single pancake for about two bucks, or a single egg for a dollar, to whatever you're getting. This is a very customer-friendly way of letting you build the breakfast you want, instead of having to order two $6 breakfasts if you want corned beef hash and pancakes. It's a typical but solid American-style lunch and dinner menu, with good food and reasonable prices. Less-scattered service would net them a 4.
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