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.

CIAO is a new Italian eatery in the former home of Watercress and Billy Bob Jack's, off North Triphammer Road. Opened by owner Mark Campagnolo, formerly of Joe's and now a co-owner at the BoatYard Grill, they feature brick-oven pizza, as well as Tuscan-style dishes. They're off to an excellent start.

Collegetown Pizza has moved down Dryden Road to the former location of Mama Teresa's Pizzeria. As with most pizzerias, the slices that have been sitting out for a while are only appetizing at 2am, but the freshly made pies aren't bad.

This new outlet of the legendary west-end restaurant features wings, salads, deli subs, hot subs, pizzas, and pasta dinners. They'll even deliver beer.

Lucatelli’s is best known for its plentiful Italian-style entrees. It’s also best known for its juicy steaks. And, it’s best known for its extensive antipasto salad bar. The food’s tasty, the parking’s easy, the pasta and gnocchi are fresh, and if you haven’t been here in a while, what are you waiting for? Lucatelli's has a surprisingly good bourbon selection -- important to this bourbon afficionado. The shrimp cocktail features four large, juicy shrimp and deliciously sharp cocktail sauce, and the "side" of pasta (ordered a la carte with most entrees) looks like a meal in itself.

Opening at the end of November in the former downtown home of Ragmann's, Mercato Bar & Kitchen promises crostini and charcuterie, pasta and panini, steaks and seafood. They'll offer an extensive and affordable wine list and a creative cocktail menu.

This bakery and Tuscan-themed Italian restaurant was opened in 1995 by Philip Romano, the restaurateur who's also responsible for the Macaroni Grill and Fuddrucker's chains. He built it for his ill sister, Rosalie, but she unfortunately passed away about a year after the restaurant opened. A meal here begins with freshly baked, hot Italian bread, with olive oil and a plate of oregano, grated cheese, hot pepper flakes, and minced garlic to mix into your oil as you see fit.

This pizzeria has offered freshly made pies and pizza by the slice, plus lasagna and other Italian dishes, salads, and side dishes for many years in the Cafe Square food court at the Shops of Ithaca Mall. The pizza's especially good when it's fresh, and the Italian entrees are a pretty good deal.

On the second floor of the Statler Hotel on the Cornell campus, Taverna Banfi (formerly "Banfi's") is known for a solid lunch buffet, an exceptional and decadent Sunday brunch buffet, and a Tuscan-themed menu, with unrivaled views of campus. Much of the staff is from Cornell's School of Hotel Administration, learning how to operate a restaurant, but they're working with pros. For a casual visit, we love the simple tapas menu in the Banfi wine bar, set up nightly in the same room as the midday buffet.

Since ZaZa's opened, we haven't heard anyone comment that they didn't like the food; at worst, people felt it was a bit pricey, or that the portions didn't match the prices. There's no question the experience is worth the price for a special occasion such as a birthday or friends visiting town, or just a relaxing mid-week treat. The food is very good, the presentation beautiful, and the service expert and attentive.