14850 Dining

A-1 is a long-standing family restaurant near the intersection of Routes 13 and 38 in Dryden, and a glance will show it's expanded several times. They serve pizza and Italian dishes, steaks and chicken, and some Greek fare, as well as a good diner-style breakfast.

Aladdin's offers pretty good but not spectacular Mediterranean-style or Greek-style food, at prices that generally seem too high for what they're providing. The fact that their menu can't even spell "souvlaki" consistently right is an unfortunate sign of the inattention to detail throughout the Aladdin's experience.

This underground brewpub just off the Ithaca Commons quickly became a favorite when they opened in the fall of 2009. They serve their own beer ranging from good to great as well as lots of other microbrews, and some outstanding pub and bistro fare from an ever-changing menu. It's casual enough for a late-night snack and a pint, and snazzy enough to bring a date for a nice dinner, and affordable either way. 

This beautifully furnished and serenely lit little eatery has dining inside or on the sidewalk, a gorgeous granite bar, and pieces from local artist Warren Bunn on the walls to set the mood. There's a variety of sandwiches and burgers, salads and entrees, and appetizers and desserts, with many appetizers and a few entrees landing in the vegetarian column. The food's all pretty good but a bit pricey, and doesn't always match what you think you ordered.

We love the attitude at Booker's as much as we love the menu, which offers a broad variety of comfort food prepared in creative ways. (There's a whole menu section just for macaroni & cheese variations.) There are burgers, brisket, and meatloaf; lobster rolls and scallop-laden sandwiches; and even an impressive array of vegetarian dishes, including roasted beet ravioli.

Ithaca probably had plenty of chicken wings already, we're checking 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. We were pleasantly surprised that the wing sauces had lots of flavor. The hot actually was, and the spicy garlic and garlic parmesan both weren't shy about the garlic.

In the basement of the Dewitt Mall, this tiny cafe offers breakfast, lunch, and Sunday brunch featuring lots of local food and creative recipes. Enjoy a cup of soup and a sandwich, or creative breakfast platters available any time. It gets crowded fast, especially on weekends, so be prepared for a wait -- both before and after you're seated.

This restored old building in lower Collegetown has been turned into a beautiful eatery with gorgeous event space upstairs that features live music on some weekends. During the week, stop in for breakfast, brunch, or lunch Tuesday through Sunday, but be prepared for a long wait on weekends. The brie stuffed french toast is decadent, the steak and eggs the best in town, and the burgers, made from local beef and served on ciabatta with homemade sundried tomato puree, are out of this world.

This national chain restaurant in Ithaca's southwest serves up American grill-style fare and southwest-themed food, ranging from their famous baby-back ribs to Mexican-style fare like quesadillas and tacos, as well as burgers and sandwiches. The burgers are overcooked as a matter of policy, but we've loved the Cajun tuna sandwich and the country fried steak. The bar specializes in decent margaritas, and it's always buy-one-get-one-free "happy hour" no matter the time of day.

This legendary College Avenue eatery moved to much roomier digs on their current corner in the mid '90s, and has expanded way beyond their bagel roots. With a wide variety of sandwiches handmade to order from fresh ingredients, including many vegetarian options and lots of top-notch bread, this flagship CTB location also makes fancy espresso drinks, serves brewed fair-trade coffee, offers smoothies, and has a bar at the back with a few draft beers and carafes of sangria.

After a several-year hiatus, it's nice to see a favorite old watering hole reopened where North Triphammer Road meets Route 34 and Route 34B a few miles out in Lansing. The Crossroads Bar & Grill opened its doors in mid December, a family eatery with a full bar and the beginnings of a pub menu.

We're hearing great things about this fun downtown eatery that focuses on healthy foods, especially foods with live cultures such as yogurt, kimchi, and kombucha, a non-alcoholic carbonated drink. They've got lots of fresh entree salads, and a selection of tea. The ball pit is kids-only before 8pm, and adults-only after, so stop in and play. We'll visit soon.

Doug's Fish Fry is worth the drive from Ithaca. It's a small privately owned Central New York chain with restaurants in Skaneateles, Cortland, Mattydale, and East Syracuse, that prides itself on simple, quick food, with no table service, no wait staff, and no tipping. Yes, a lot of the food is fried, but not all of it.

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.

This relatively new west-end eatery features gorgeous exposed-brick decor surrounding an exposed kitchen, and lots of tasty and creative food, ranging from an excellent $10 burger (that's still "just" $10) to vegan tofu curry and a rack of lamb. There's lots of fresh seafood, fish, and tender pork and beef on the menu, as well.

Garcia's on Route 13 in Ithaca's southwest is a branch of the family-run Cortland original. They offer affordable lunches and freshly prepared Mexican dishes, and serve huge margaritas. 

Now open across from the State Theatre, in the former home of the Prize Diner, Gorgers offers soups and gourmet subs on homemade bread, with locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. At $3 for soup, $6 for salads, and $7 for subs, the price is definitely right. Try the coconut shrimp po'boy, served with pickled vegetables and a Thai sweet chili sauce on a homemade sub roll, or make any of the subs vegetarian with eggplant instead of meat. The potato salad, made with a balsamic vinegar reduction, is a tasty side dish. Ready for a challenge?

One of Ithaca's fanciest restaurants, The Heights has offered cozy fine dining for fifteen years. The menu ranges from comfort-food variations such as braised beef hash with a poached egg to gorgeous pan-roasted fish dishes and generous steaks. There are vegetarian offerings, including some of the handmade pizzas, and the Heights takes the gourmet burger prize with their $18 Brie Burger, featuring an entire pound of grilled sirloin. It's an expensive place to dine, but worth the occasional splurge.

One of Ithaca's top pizzerias, this latest incarnation of Italian Carry Out (which used to be on Meadow Street) also offers hot and cold sandwiches, wings, fish fry platters, and such Italian dinners as lasagna, chicken parm, and a variety of pasta. Delivery takes a while and they might not get your order quite right, but they'll cheerfully fix it.

When I told a friend in Florida I was going to visit the Ithaca Bakery, she exclaimed, "Oh, I love bakeries!" I had to stop and think for a moment, then explain that our Meadow Street "bakery" doesn't just do bread and pastries. They do bake the fresh bread, rolls, donuts, cookies, and cakes for a number of hotels, stores, offices, and other eateries around the region, but I was there to visit the eatery part of the business. Any time of day, you can satisfy your appetite at the Ithaca Bakery for just a few bucks for a bagel sandwich or deli sandwich, or spend $8-12 for a full meal.

For delivery, carry-out, or to eat in, check out Jack's Collegetown Grill on Dryden Road, offering burgers, cheesesteaks, generous breakfasts whenever they're open, and Ithaca's only vegetarian wings, as late as 4am on weekends. It's an oddity at an eatery that serves so many burgers, cheesesteaks, and actual chicken wings, but vegetarians will appreciate the tofu wings. They expanded in the summer of 2012, with a new bar area so you can enjoy your food with a pint of beer and the game on TV.

In a beautiful country setting on Route 34 between Lansing and Groton, the John Joseph Inn is a marvelous bed & breakfast on the former site of the Rose Inn. Elizabeth Restaurant is in the refurbished 1852 barn that the Rose Inn called "The Carriage House," and they offer some truly outstanding meals. Breakfast for inn guests changes daily, and there's no menu -- but they'll adapt to dietary restrictions. Dinners are much more flexible, and are often an inspired and inspiring tasting menu showcasing local produce and meats. Reservations required.

Catering to an interesting mix of business owners, college students, and everyone in between, this wine and tapas bar offers an ever-changing menu of creative food, and a broad array of wines to sample. Since the menu changes every night we can't suggest a specific dish, but we'll tell you that if it sounds like an odd combination, it's probably exquisite. Try the sangria.

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.

Best known, and deservedly so, for its decadent desserts and creative cocktails, Madeline's is also an upscale dining destination at the east end of the Ithaca Commons. Many of the dishes display an Asian influence, and the menu ranges from steaks and seafood to vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. The full bar has an enviable whisky selection, among its various strengths.

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 a nearly identical 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. The downside of a decades-old diner is that the building is showing its age.

It’s worth putting up with the cramped feeling and excessive noise in this marvelous oyster bar and Cajun eatery. The food is almost all spicy, and you’ll need to go again and again to try everything that tempts you on the menu. Happy hour until 6 pm means half-price oysters and clams from the raw bar. For a good sampling, try the Cajun Mixed Grill and a side of fresh corn bread with tasty orange-honey butter. Vegetarian options are limited; go for the veggie jambalaya.

Even people who've never been to Ithaca have a Moosewood Cookbook or one of its sequels, and this downtown eatery, focusing largely on vegetarian and vegan dishes, nearly lives up to the resulting reputation. Both food and service are OK but not great, and we find it to be a little on the pricey side for what you get. Lunch is a better deal than dinner.

A fun neighborhood pub in Fall Creek with a creative menu full of small, medium, and large plates, featuring massive chicken wings (available Baltimore-style), tofu "scallops," and an always-different macaroni and cheese of the day. We also love the garlic burger. The bar features a ridiculous number of beers, both bottled and on tap, ranging from PBR to Ithaca and Ommegang offerings to O'Reilly's stout, plus wines and tempting cocktails. Stop in on Sundays for brunch.

[This eatery is closed, but the page is left here for archive purposes.]

Papa John's makes one of the best traditional, round pizzas in town, thanks to a focus on fresh ingredients despite their chain status and their surprisingly affordable prices. It's a little dry unless you ask for extra sauce, which they'll gladly provide at no extra charge. We've always been a fan of the garlic dipping sauce and hot peppers that come with each pizza, and the slices-and-soda lunch specials are a good deal. 

This quick eatery on Dryden Road makes hot and cold sandwiches to order in white or whole wheat pitas, with your choice of a whole host of veggies. Start with your choice of ham, turkey, tuna, or maybe go vegetarian with falafel or hummus. While the filling's grilling, pick out your toppings from an impressive selection, and Pita Pit's friendly crew will fill your pita layer by layer. Pita Pit even has breakfast pitas, featuring scrambled eggs mixed with hash brown potatoes, cheese, onions, peppers, and ham, bacon, or crumbled Italian sausage.

This casual pub out on Route 366 has good burgers, inexpensive cold beer, and dinner specials ranging from prime rib and New York strips to crab legs and fish fry. We love the potato wedges. There's live music a couple nights a week, and karaoke on Tuesdays. Check their Facebook page for upcoming events you might want to attend, or avoid.

We love Razorback BBQ when we see their smoker at area festivals, so we love the idea of their food available all the time. The reality is that the Haunt and its wait staff aren't set up for serving food, though. Think of it as effectively bar or counter service where you'll eventually need to go track someone down to inquire about items that were missing from your order, and you've got the idea. The food is all tasty, but we wish the ribs were a bit closer to fall-off-the-bone tender.

This sandwich shop, pizzeria, and convenience store is perched on Ithaca's South Hill just below Ithaca College. We don't enjoy their pizza, though we realize tastes vary, and the wings and subs are pretty good.

We have fond memories of a truly great burger, decadent and relaxed weekend brunches, and stellar service at Rulloff's. We wish this eatery, with decades of history, still had any of the above. Instead, it's a shadow of its former self. The food is all OK, but just OK; and the service, even though sometimes well-meaning, rarely exceeds "confused."

Whether you call them subs or grinders or hoagies or whatever, Shortstop Deli specializes in those long sandwiches on fresh-baked French bread, or smaller sandwiches on kaiser rolls. They've got the usual ham, roast beef, and turkey, but they've also got seafood salad, eggplant, seitan, or prime rib. For the last few years, the Shortstop hot sub menu has had a selection of the famous Hot Truck French bread pizza subs. Supplement your sub with a fresh hot bowl of soup or chili. In the morning, enjoy their own custom coffee roast and a breakfast sandwich.

If you're a fan of Greek food, you should never move to a town that has none. If you're in Ithaca, the options abound, and Souvlaki House represents the best combination of good food, reasonable prices, and good service. In fact, Souvlaki House offers both Greek food and Italian food, with the area's best souvlaki, Greek salad, and stuffed grape leaves, plus very good chicken (or veal or eggplant, etc.) parmigiana. Inexpensive lunch choices include subs, souvlaki and gyros, and Greek-style pizza. We recommend a bottle of Demestica, a Greek wine, with your meal.

Stella's is attractively decorated, has a fantastic bar selection, and offers a varied and creative menu. If the prices, portions, and service better matched the atmosphere, it would be a favorite. The burger, made with local beef, feels overpriced except when it's half price for "happy hour," and the $10-12 sandwiches feel skimpy, too. The fancier entrees head north of $20. The food's pretty tasty, so we wish we felt the portions and prices were better matched. The coffee shop side is much simpler and a better bang for your buck.

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.

Tavern on Green is the pub within the Ithaca Coffee Company, downtown in the Gateway Commons building, which has expanded its craft beer offerings and now offers beer and wine by the glass each afternoon and evening. They have a tempting array of tapas-style foods such as cheeses and hummus available on combination plates.

That Burrito Place makes burritos, nachos, quesadillas, and rice bowls to order, on a quick assembly line. Nothing unusual here, just tasty Mexican-style food to go. Watch their Facebook for daily specials. (If you want to eat in the restaurant, you'll be standing up. There's no seating, unless the weather's nice and you hit the bench out front.)

This unassuming, little red shop on the edges of Ithaca's downtown neighborhood is a deli and convenience store, but they also serve foot-long hot dogs, 1/3 pound burgers, and a seriously good fish fry. Stop in and grab a freshly fried haddock dinner, served with fries and cole slaw for less than ten bucks, or just have a fish sandwich for under $5.

This tiny Lansing eatery across the street from Rogues' Harbor, the Lansing Skatepark, and the Lansing village ball fields offers handmade, hot and cold sandwiches, pasta dinners, freshly baked pastries, and more. They've got a cooler full of Stewart's sodas (as well as what may be the only cold 2-liter bottles in the area), individual Keurig K-Cups of coffee, and loads of used books at reasonable prices.

This Canada-based chain of coffee, donut, and sandwich shops snuck into Ithaca a few years ago thanks to a deal to open a coffee kiosk in most Tops Friendly Markets stores, but we finally have the full experience. Tim Hortons offers breakfast sandwiches in addition to the coffee and donuts, plus the famous Timbits, but in the afternoon and evening they add excellent freshly made sandwiches and soups to the mix. Stop in for a snack or a meal, and pick up a canister of their great and affordably priced coffee for home, while you're at it.

Added next door to the Taqueria, Viva Cantina offers a similar, slightly deeper, burrito-and-taco menu plus a great selection of tequilas and some excellent margaritas at the full bar. The food's all pretty good, but we have trouble justifying the $1.50-$3.00 price hike from essentially the same items if ordered next door. (It would make more sense if a sit-down meal came with complimentary chips and salsa, as at pretty much every other Mexican eatery on the planet.)

What is it they say about the underdog trying harder? Wendy's is dwarfed by McDonald's and Burger King, but we think that, as a general rule, they offer the best-tasting, best-quality food of the three. Despite occasional missteps like chicken nuggets dressed up as "boneless wings," Wendy's has very good burgers, delightful spicy chicken sandwiches, and top-notch (and affordable) side dishes like salads and baked potatoes.