14850 Dining

Like Cookie Monster, Ithaca has plenty of "sometimes food"

Cookie Monster tells us cookies are a sometimes food, and this week 14850 Dining is looking at some places in Ithaca that aren't really restaurants… but serve sometimes food.

Welcome to Ithaca! Now, what's for dinner?

Here at 14850 Dining, we like to say that Ithaca and its surroundings reportedly have the most restaurants per capita of any area in the United States. We're not surprised! But we're pleased to say that food in this area excels in quality and variety, not just quantity.

Every year about this time, Ithaca's population swells with thousands of new and returning students, who'll call Tompkins County home for the next several years. And, every year about this time, we know people are looking around and wondering where to eat. We have some thoughts on the matter.

A new Buffalo Wild Wings in Ithaca's southwest is affordable for lunch, pricey for wings

Ithaca probably had plenty of chicken wings already, but this week the 14850 Dining Report checks out Buffalo Wild Wings, the latest chain restaurant to open in town. On Route 13 in Ithaca's southwest, Buffalo Wild Wings serves not just wings and so-called "boneless wings," but wraps, burgers, and even ribs.

It's the latest franchise in a chain started by a pair of Buffalo natives who'd moved to Ohio and found before long that they missed decent chicken wings. The chain is known for decent food, and we have to agree.

Lehigh Valley House, Ithaca's oldest restaurant, to shut down

The year is 1897, and the 14850 Dining Report is visiting a new eatery on the other side of the tracks. Right near Ithaca's bustling railroad station on the Geneva and Ithaca railroad line, the Lehigh Valley House serves a hearty dinner to passengers and train crews on their brief stopovers, and provides a warm bed to travelers spending the night in Ithaca before continuing on.

Local fare takes center stage at Simply Red's lunch and brunch on Ithaca's South Hill

It was with fond memories of the original Simply Red Village Bistro in Trumansburg that we headed up South Hill recently to visit Simply Red Bistro at La Tourelle Resort. This cafe off the inn's lobby offers breakfast and lunch, and an excellent Sunday brunch. It's a worthy successor to the Trumansburg original, along with Simply Red at Sheldrake Point Winery.

Family-owned Corners Deli blends Middle Eastern and American deli fare

Minutes from downtown Ithaca or the Cornell campus at the Community Corners shopping center, we're enjoying a delicious lunch at the Corners Deli. This middle eastern eatery owned by Sam and Alice Sarkissian has been serving up handmade delicacies and fresh deli sandwiches for over twenty years.

Breakfast and lunch at Fall Creek's Orange Blossom Pancake Company

We're on the northside this week for breakfast at the Orange Blossom Pancake Company. This new eatery in Ithaca's Fall Creek neighborhood offers breakfast and lunch at the corner of Route 13 and Third Street, near the Sciencenter, Papa John's, and Red Feet Wines.

Orange Blossom blueberry pancakesWe admit we were inevitably reminded of Andy's 3rd Street Cafe, which closed almost exactly ten years ago, not least because of the french toast sandwich on the menu. More on that later.

Slow-Cooked Food, Fast, at Mo's Pit BBQ

This week the 14850 Dining Report is trying out Mo's Pit BBQ and Cowboy Cuisine, the latest eatery to arrive in the food court at the Shops at Ithaca Mall. Mo's has BBQ sandwiches, platters, and even burritos and tacos.

Passover Observance Offers Food Symbolism, Grain Restrictions

This week the 14850 Dining Report is talking about Passover and its food traditions. Straight out of the Bible's Book of Exodus, the Passover story is about the Jewish people's departure from slavery in Egypt, and the holiday is full of traditions that recall aspects of that story.

Upcoming Food Events Around Ithaca and Tompkins County

This week we're trying something new at the 14850 Dining Report and talking on the radio about some upcoming food-related events. This online version has some extra items, some additional details, and links that are much easier to click than the ones on the radio!

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Like Cookie Monster, Ithaca has plenty of "sometimes food"

Welcome to Ithaca! Now, what's for dinner?

A new Buffalo Wild Wings in Ithaca's southwest is affordable for lunch, pricey for wings

Lehigh Valley House, Ithaca's oldest restaurant, to shut down

Local fare takes center stage at Simply Red's lunch and brunch on Ithaca's South Hill

Family-owned Corners Deli blends Middle Eastern and American deli fare

Breakfast and lunch at Fall Creek's Orange Blossom Pancake Company

Slow-Cooked Food, Fast, at Mo's Pit BBQ

Passover Observance Offers Food Symbolism, Grain Restrictions

Upcoming Food Events Around Ithaca and Tompkins County

Elsewhere on 14850.com

RECENTLY REVIEWED RESTAURANTS

Buffalo Wild Wings

Orange Blossom Pancake Company