14850 Dining

Aki Samurai is the latest in a string of eateries in this spot, offering sushi and sashimi, bento lunch boxes, noodles, hibachi dinners, and more. Listed only.

Just recently opened in Ithaca's southwest, in the former home of Smart Monkey Cafe, C. T. Bento offers a variety of Japanese food to dine in or take out. There's a focus on bento boxes, the original happy meal, plus rice bowls, appetizers, sushi, and an assortment of teas. Everything we've tried has been fresh, tasty, well prepared, and attractively served, and we're intrigued by some of the tea options. The place isn't quite organized yet, but we'll do a proper review after they've had a chance to settle in.

A Japanese hibachi restaurant and sushi bar in the Tops/Applebee's plaza on North Triphammer Road in front of the Shops at Ithaca Mall, Kyushu offers hibachi-style dishes (cooked table-side), fresh sushi, and a variety of other Japanese meals. Hibachi is as much a show as a meal; well-trained chefs, practically culinary acrobats, create stir-fry on a large, table-side grill. The food is delicious, well prepared, and surprisingly affordable; complete lunches cost $6-9, and complete dinners $12 and up. 

In the former location of Kayuga, Miyake features attractive new decor and an expanded menu. After we were seated at our table, we were greeted with a small dish of edamame to nibble on, and served hot green tea. The steamed gyoza is a bit wilted, but the calamari tempura is exceptional and the sushi very good. Lunch box specials include cooked dishes or plenty of sushi. There's nothing extraordinary here, but the food's good and the service is good.