Check out these restaurants, which offer seasonal (or as the weather permits) outdoor seating areas. Keep in mind the hours for outdoor dining may differ from the restaurant's regular hours, and some places can't serve alcohol outdoors.

Aladdin's Natural Eatery
100 Dryden Road
607-273-5000
Collegetown
Aladdin's offers passable Greek-style food, so-so service, and an unfortunate inattention to detail. The high points are the desserts and their extensive selection of bottled beers.

Boatyard Grill
525 Taughannock Blvd
607-256-BOAT (2628)
Ithaca West End
This restaurant was opened by Mark Campagnolo, a former partner at Joe's Restaurant. The beautiful building with its nautical theme is a great setting for the quick and friendly service and the exceptional, hearty food at this comfortable restaurant. Naturally, there's lots of fresh seafood (brought daily from Boston), but the Texas Cowboy Steak (a porterhouse with a chipotle glaze served on the bone) and Boatyard Angus Sirloin (smothered with fresh roasted garlic) aren’t to be missed. Be prepared to wait for a table. (Full Review) (Web Site)

Corners Deli
200 Pleasant Grove Road
607-257-4019
Ithaca Northeast
Hours: M-F 8:30am-6:30pm, Sat 9-4.
This Community Corners institution is a family-owned delicatessen specializing in Middle Eastern specialties in addition to a wide array of fresh American-deli-style foods. The overstuffed sandwiches and pitas barely leave room for the exceptional baklava and other desserts. Great falafel and gyros, and fresh roast beef whose aroma permeates the neighborhood. In the morning, stop by for a pastry or rice pudding and a cup of flavored coffee. (Web Site)

Doug's Fish Fry (Cortland)
206 West Road (Rte 281), Cortland
607-753-9184
Nearby
Hours: 11am-9pm Sun-Thurs, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat
Doug's Fish Fry is worth the drive from Ithaca. It's a small, privately owned chain that prides itself on simple, quick food, with no table service, no wait staff, and no tipping. Excellent lobster bisque or clam chowder, huge fried fish sandwich that overflows the roll, or even steamed live lobsters. (Full Review) (Web Site)

Doug's Fish Fry (Skaneateles)
8 Jordan Street, Skaneateles
315-685-3288
Nearby
Hours: 11am-9pm Sun-Thurs, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat
Doug's Fish Fry is worth the drive from Ithaca. It's a small, privately owned chain that prides itself on simple, quick food, with no table service, no wait staff, and no tipping. Excellent lobster bisque or clam chowder, huge fried fish sandwich that overflows the roll, or even steamed live lobsters. (Full Review) (Web Site)

Ginny Lee Cafe at Wagner Vineyards
9322 Route 414, Lodi
607-582-6450
Nearby
Hours: Lunch 11-4 Mon-Sat, Sunday Brunch 10:30-2 and Lunch 12-4, May-October.
The combination of disorganized and ill-trained service meant even great food would suffer, and the food honestly wasn't that great. At least it was relatively affordable. A friend's "Asiago Sirloin" was a decent steak, though with that name I'd have expected more than a hint of cheese. (He also expected a sandwich, because the menu's a bit confusing.) My "Tuscan Wrap" (turkey, salami, and provolone) was actually quite tasty, but was drowned in so-so Italian dressing. This also all took longer than it should have, because it took several minutes for a server to come see us, only to decide we weren't her table, and wander off again. Their Sunday brunch sounds interesting, but no one there seemed interested in promoting it; we had to ask. At $16.95 for the buffet, it also seemed a bit on the pricey side compared to their lunch. OK for lunch while winery-hopping, but I wouldn't make it a destination. Try instead the nearby Red Newt Bistro or Suzanne's. (Web Site)

Grist Mill Cafe
3825 Main Street, Burdett
607-546-7770
Nearby
Hours: Mon-Sat breakfast & lunch
This tiny eatery, on Route 79 between Ithaca and Watkins Glen, just past Burdett's four-way flashing stop light, offers pancakes and egg sandwiches for breakfast, and delicious fresh sandwiches for lunch. The coffee is top-notch, and a "large" mug is the size of a measuring cup! A warm roast beef sandwich was served on a fresh roll with caramelized onions and garlic mayo -- complete with garlic cloves. Yum! The lemonade was fresh, and went nicely with the quiet outdoor deck, which overlooks a stream with a small waterfall.

Kelly’s Dock-Side Kafe
319 Taughannock Blvd
607-273-9642
Ithaca West End
Kelly’s, opened in a 28-seat trolley car 28 years ago, is famous for its omelettes and Sunday brunches, and has outdoor seating that’s perfect for a pleasant Saturday morning. The owner, whose full name is Albert Kelly, though everyone just calls him Kelly, does most of the cooking. Try the spinach, mushroom and cheese omelette, with a side of crisp bacon and some home fries. Even the toast was done to perfection.

Madeline's
215 East State Street
607-277-2253
Downtown Ithaca
Hours: Lunch and dinner 7 days
A trendy bar and eatery with fancy food and fancy prices, on the east end of the Ithaca Commons. Exceptional bar featuring a great single malt Scotch selection. Listed only.

Mama Teresa’s Pizzeria
139 Dryden Road
607-272-6262
Collegetown
Hours: Til 3am weekdays, 4am weekends
Mama Teresa’s has adequate pizza, and good dishes such as chicken or eggplant parm. Their regular pizza doesn’t really have enough sauce, but the sauceless veggie pizza has a nice array of vegetable toppings. Free delivery.

Pangea Restaurant
120 Third Street
607-273-8515
Ithaca
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday nights
Pangea offers a surprising and delicious variety of dishes, varying in size and price, with a creative menu they call “precontinental cuisine.” (The menu changes frequently.) Many of the dishes seem ideal for sharing; they’re all flavorful and colorful. We were especially pleased with the summer risotto, featuring roasted red peppers, wild mushrooms, and white truffle oil; and the tagarashi-dusted seared scallops. (Full Review) (Web Site)

Red Newt Winery & Bistro
3675 Tichenor Road, Hector
607-546-4100
Nearby
Hours: Wed-Sun, lunch noon-4 and dinner 4-9
A few miles northeast of Watkins Glen on the east side of Seneca Lake, Red Newt Winery & Bistro offers a remarkable variety of delicious foods that changes frequently. We recommend the appetizer of phyllo triangles with duck sausage, golden raisins, chard, and cheddar cheese with a balsamic syrup, and the pasture-raised chicken breast stuffed with lavender chevre in a lavender white wine sauce. Vegetarian options abound. The bistro not only serves Red Newt's fine wines, but also generously offers a broad selection of wines from other Finger Lakes vintners. (Web Site)

Viva Taqueria
101 North Aurora Street, Ithaca
607-277-1752
Downtown Ithaca
Affordable and unassuming, this taco and burrito eatery provides a limited menu of passable if unexciting California-style Mexican fare. The burritos used to be humongous and cheap, enough for two meals, but the portions aren't what they once were. The next-door Cantina adds table service and margaritas.