14850 Dining Guide



The 14850 Dining Podcast

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The Podcasts

26 January 2010
Taste of Thai Express (Extended Edition)

Here's the 14850 Dining Report, this week visiting the new location of Taste of Thai Express on Route 13 in Ithaca's west end. After a long delay, the West State Street eatery has finally moved, but they're still offering fresh, affordable Thai food for dine-in or delivery. [Listen Now]

19 January 2010
Prize Diner

Join us downtown this week to visit a classic Ithaca diner reborn as the Prize Diner. Right across from the State Theatre, this remodeled eatery is open for breakfast and lunch daily, serving simple, homestyle meals to happy customers. [Listen Now]

12 January 2010
Crossroads in Lansing

After several years, the 14850 Dining Report is visiting a favorite old watering hole reopened at the end of North Triphammer Road a few miles out in Lansing. The Crossroads Bar & Grill opened for business in mid December, a family eatery with a full bar and the beginnings of a pub menu. [Listen Now]

21 December 2009
14850 Dining's 2009 in Review

As 2009 draws to a close, 14850 Dining marks its tenth anniversary. We're going to look back at some of our favorites, and some eateries that have gone away in the last decade. Our favorites are the restaurants we keep coming back to, the ones we'll go to without a second thought.
[Listen to Part 1] [Listen to Part 2] [Listen to Part 3] [Listen to Part 4]

10 December 2009
Food Gifts

The Christmas and Hanukkah shopping season are upon us, but it's not too late to do something nice, and as always, the 14850 Dining Report reminds you that food is a wonderful gift any time of the year. [Listen Now]

3 December 2009
Coal House Cafe

Here's the 14850 Dining Report, this week visiting the Coal House Cafe, the new incarnation of coffee shop, pastry shop, and sandwich shop that used to be the Queen of Tarts. This small green building was actually the railroad coal office years ago, and was renovated in 2006 into a beautiful, cozy cafe. [Listen Now]

23 June 2009
Little Thai House (Extended Edition)

At the 14850 Dining Report we've talked before about Little Thai House, the quick and inexpensive Thai eatery on Dryden Road in Collegetown. They've appeared on our Year-in-Review lists and Top Ten lists, they're featured in our Welcome to Ithaca feature, and they come up every time we talk about affordable lunch options. But, somehow, we've never given Little Thai House their very own review, until now. [Listen Now]

16 June 2009
Mahogany Grill

This week the 14850 Dining Report is enjoying a meal on restaurant row at Mahogany Grill. This downtown eatery returns a beautiful restaurant space to the traditions started by Plums a few decades ago. [Listen Now]

2 June 2009
The Nines (Extended Edition)

The 14850 Dining Report is in Collegetown visiting an old stand-by, The Nines. This College Avenue pizzeria and bar is in an old firehouse building -- the new station number 9 was built next door -- and offers the area's finest deep-dish pizza, plus sandwiches and a few surprises. [Listen Now]

19 May 2009
Asia Cuisine (Extended Edition)

This week the 14850 Dining Report is in downtown Ithaca visiting Asia Cuisine. We've heard good things about this combination Korean and Japanese restaurant on the corner of Seneca and Aurora Streets not far from the Commons, and we finally got to check it out for ourselves. [Listen Now]

16 May 2009
Tamarind

This week, the 14850 Dining Report is visiting Tamarind on Route 13. Just one of many Thai restaurants in Ithaca, this cozy restaurant offers good food at a reasonable price. [Listen Now]

1 May 2009
Pita Pit

Here's the 14850 Dining Report, this week visiting Pita Pit in Collegetown. 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. [Listen Now]

6 November 2008
That Burrito Place Downtown (Extended Edition)

This afternoon, we're grabbing a quick lunch at the newly opened That Burrito Place, in its second location on the downtown Ithaca Commons. No fancy tablecloths, no wine stewards, just a counter where you can get fresh burritos and similar fare made to your specifications, in a couple of minutes, and get out the door. [Listen Now]

3 June 2008
Comfort food at Mustard

We're back in downtown Ithaca at Mustard. It's the brainchild of the owners of Dijon Bistro, in the South Cayuga Street space you may remember as Dano's or Les Ducs or Lokelani's. While Dijon aims a bit fancier with its French fare and fine service, at Mustard, owners Courtnay and Mark Papera are focusing on that most American of cuisines, the comfort food. [Listen Now]

22 April 2008
Passover Dining

This week, we're taking a look at the food restrictions surrounding Passover, the Jewish holiday occurring this week. The Last Supper was a Passover dinner. Most of the food restrictions for observant Jews this week stem from the flat bread eaten by Jews during the Exodus from Egypt. [Listen Now]

15 April 2008
Joe's Restaurant

This week, we're revisiting an old favourite in Ithaca's West End, the legendary Joe's Restaurant. Reopened a little over two years ago, Joe's labored for a while with the common impression that they hadn't quite gotten it. More recently, the return of a former chef has helped to set things right. [Listen Now]

8 April 2008
Ithaca Farmer's Market (Extended Edition)

Ah, Spring, when a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of ripe and juicy local produce, and with his friends at the 14850 Dining Report, he visits Steamboat Landing and the legendary Ithaca Farmer's Market. Spring is definitely here, and as the world awakens around us, what better way to celebrate than by checking out the fresh vegetables and herbs just waiting to come home with you and become part of your next gourmet meal. [Listen Now]

25 March 2008
Maxie's Supper Club (Extended Edition)

Today, we're in Ithaca's west end at the consistently great Maxie's Supper Club. Maxie's brings an unmistakable New Orleans flair to Ithaca in its straightforward menu of fish, seafood, sandwiches, and hearty jambalaya and gumbo; its raw bar and cocktail list, and a fun atmosphere that's always lively and often full of free live music. [Listen Now]

4 March 2008
Dano's on Seneca

This week, we're on the shores of scenic Seneca Lake, visiting Dano's on Seneca. This beautifully designed building evokes the feeling of European wineries which would sell mugs of their new wines, along with a small variety of foods to pair with them. [Listen Now]

26 February 2008
Mr. Beef

There's been a renaissance of vegetarian dining in recent years, with nearly every restaurant offering not just an afterthought vegetarian option or two, but a full range of dishes a vegetarian or even a vegan can enjoy. Mr. Beef in Dryden is not one of those places. [Listen Now]

18 February 2008
Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-Off (Extended Edition)

What's 20 degrees and sunny and full of people? It's the 10th annual downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-Off, and this weekend the 14850 Dining Report was there, sampling chili, wings, and more from the area's most creative cooks. [Listen Now]

12 February 2008
Lost Dog Brunch

This week the 14850 Dining Report is downtown checking out the new weekend brunch at the Lost Dog Cafe. If you've been listening for a while, you know I'm into breakfast and brunch, so I was delighted to discover this new downtown option as so many other eateries are shelving their weekend brunches. [Listen Now]

5 February 2008
Brae Loch Inn

This week the 14850 Dining Report is up in Cazenovia at the Brae Loch Inn, home of the annual Robert Burns Dinner. Recently the Brae Loch celebrated their 63rd Burns dinner, and the Scottish poet laureate's 249th birthday. You don't have to wait until next January to enjoy this Scottish inn... they have a full restaurant menu all week, and a pub menu for simpler fare. [Listen Now]

29 January 2008
Glenwood Pines

Here's the 14850 Dining Report, this week darting up Route 89 to the Glenwood Pines, overlooking Cayuga Lake. We've talked about the famous Pinesburger, and another favourite is their fish fry, but believe it or not, the Pines has more than these two items available. [Listen Now]

22 January 2008
Ca Phe House

This week, the 14850 Dining Report is in Collegetown, enjoying Vietnamese sandwiches and coffee at the new Ca Phe House. This tiny Dryden Road eatery serves very few things, but fresh, handmade sandwiches and strong, creamy coffee top the list. [Listen Now]

31 July 2007
14850 Dining: Imperial Kitchen Buffet

This week the 14850 Dining Report is checking out the new Imperial Kitchen Buffet, on North Triphammer Road in front of the Y. Ithaca has several Chinese buffets, but this one adds a few things we're not used to, and it's the first all-day buffet in the northeast corner of town. [Listen Now]

19 July 2007
14850 Dining: Letters Central Hots

It's the 14850 Dining Report, this week in downtown Ithaca visiting Letters Central Hots, a small shop on South Cayuga Street featuring hot dogs and coffee in a beautifully redone space with a gorgeous wood bar and free evening music. [Listen Now]

7 June 2007
14850 Dining: Carriage House Cafe Brunch - Extended Edition

Here's the 14850 Dining Report, this week enjoying a quick brunch at the Carriage House Cafe. This lower Collegetown eatery on Stewart Avenue features top-quality foods and baked goods at prices to match for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. With many of our favourite brunch spots closing or dropping brunch from their hours recently, it's nice to have this option on the scene. [Listen Now]

27 March 2007
14850 Dining: Willow Mondays

Here's the 14850 Dining Report, this week visiting an old favourite, Willow of Ithaca, at the north end of North Tioga Street. We've eaten at Willow a few times lately, focusing on the Comfort Zone portion of the menu that's been expanded as Willow opens on Mondays for the first time with a special Mellow Mondays menu. [Listen Now]

1 Feb 2007
14850 Dining: Queen of Tarts

It's the 14850 Dining Report, this week on Maple Avenue above Collegetown checking out the new Queen of Tarts coffee and pastry shop. Opened at the end of 2006 by Leslie Muhlhahn from Just Desserts, the Queen of Tarts offers a mouthwatering variety of handmade pastries, fresh bread, Gimme! coffee drinks, and even hot soup. [Listen Now]

2 November 2006
14850 Dining: Sebastian's Cocina

This week's 14850 Dining Report is in Ithaca's west end, visiting the new Sebastian's Cocina at 900 Taber Street. It's right next door to the new location of Newark Valley Angus, formerly at the foot of Seneca Street, and it's where Atlantic Harvest Seafood used to be. I'm telling you all this because this eatery is a little out of the way... but it's definitely worth finding. [Listen Now]

24 October 2006
14850 Dining: Viva Cantina

At Viva Taqueria, you can still get a filling burrito for five or six bucks, and a limited menu of other items, but next door at Viva Cantina there's much more variety... and a full bar with a good tequila selection and serious margaritas. [Listen Now]

5 September 2006
14850 Dining: Smoke 'n Bones

14850 Dining is out looking for a fresh supply of down-home BBQ. Our old favourite rib joints keep fading away... remember Don's Longhorn? Billy Bob Jack's, Bistro Q, and Ralph's Ribs? There are a couple places left in town to find BBQ ribs, but this week we're looking a few miles west, at Smoke 'n Bones, on Route 79 in Burdett. [Listen Now]

29 August 2006
14850 Dining: Fair Food

Summer's drawing to a close and the 14850 Dining Report is paying a visit to the New York State Fair. Sure, there are rides and horse shows and cute baby animals, but admit it, you go to the fair for the food. [Listen Now]

22 August 2006
14850 Dining: Ithaca Ale House

We're in downtown Ithaca this week to dine at the Ithaca Ale House. This Aurora Street eatery features a wide selection of beers on tap, still more beers in bottles, and good food in a relaxing environment. [Listen Now]

27 June 2006
14850 Dining: Fabio's, family Italian in Cortland

This week, we're visiting Fabio's Italian Restaurant in Cortland. It's an authentic Italian eatery with a fantastic variety of pasta dishes, steaks, seafood and chicken, and even dinner salads and sandwiches. [Listen Now]

20 June 2006
14850 Dining: Cooking on a Camping Trip

This week, we're going camping and bringing along some good food. Hot dogs are OK, perfect for keeping the kids entertained, but there's no reason to leave your taste in good food behind when you toss the tent in the car. [Listen Now]

30 May 2006
14850 Dining: Rogue's Harbor

This week, we're paying another visit to Rogue's Harbor at the crossroads in Lansing. This 1830s landmark features a porch that's perfect for dining on a spring evening, a spacious bar that often has live music, and a comfortable restaurant that we're pleased to see is offering a blend of old favourites for regulars with new items when you're in the mood to explore. [Listen Now]

16 May 2006
14850 Dining: Simply Red Village Bistro

We're visiting Simply Red Village Bistro once again. This Trumansburg eatery never fails to impress us with a warm and inviting atmosphere, friendly and professional service, and some of the best food in the area. Chef Samantha Izzo has blended the favourites from her southern comfort food menu with fresh fish, sandwiches, vegetarian burgers and entrees, and a creative array of appetizers and side dishes to create a perfectly balanced menu. [Listen Now]

9 May 2006
14850 Dining: Papa John's

This week we're eating in the new dining room at Papa John's Pizza, at the corner of Route 13 and Third Street. Right across from the Farmer's Market is a good place for this franchise pizza shop that prides itself on using fresh ingredients, including local produce. [Listen Now]

2 May 2006
14850 Dining: Ithaca's Burger Scene

This week we're looking at Ithaca's burger scene. We've talked about finding the perfect hamburger before, but the scene has changed a bit. Still available is the famous Pinesburger, at Glenwood Pines on Route 89. There's a new class of burger in town, though, the ten-dollar burger we've talked about a couple of times. It's big and juicy, and when done right, is served on a solid bun that doesn't fall apart before you're done eating. [Listen Now]

25 April 2006
14850 Dining: Kilpatrick's Publick House

We're in Downtown Ithaca this week to visit Kilpatrick's Publick House on the corner of Seneca and Tioga Streets. It's a new Irish pub with a legacy going back a hundred years. [Listen Now]

11 April 2006
14850 Dining: Pita Gourmet

We're taking a jaunt up Route 13 this week, visiting Pita Gourmet in downtown Cortland. Pita wraps and sandwiches are just a small part of the menu at Pita Gourmet, which specializes in fresh and inexpensive Lebanese food in a casual atmosphere. [Listen Now]

4 April 2006
14850 Dining: Napoli Pizzeria

This week, we're visiting Napoli Pizzeria in downtown Ithaca. Napoli moved from their old shoebox of a building to attractive new digs in the Gateway Building over a year ago, and they still make some of the best pizza, wings, and Italian dishes in town. [Listen Now]

14 March 2006
14850 Dining: St. Patrick's Day

This week, we're taking a look at St. Patrick's Day food traditions and your options here in town. When you think of St. Patrick's Day you probably think of corned beef and cabbage, but you may be surprised to know that most folks in Ireland wouldn't be interested. Kilpatrick's Publick House is getting ready for their grand opening, and chef Sean O'Brien at Willow reaches back to his roots each March. [Listen Now]

21 February 2006
14850 Dining: Joe's Restaurant

The problem with being a legendary restaurant is trying to live up to your reputation day after day. And the problem with trying to recreate a legendary restaurant that's been closed for five years is that you have to live up to everyone's fond, hazy memories. That's the challenge facing Joe's Restaurant, recently reopened in Ithaca's west end. After a few weeks of coming up to speed, Joe's is doing a great job serving delicious Italian food and creating some memories of their own. [Listen Now]

14 February 2006
14850 Dining: Rongovian Embassy

I'm exercising my diplomatic immunity on sovereign ground... at the Rongovian Embassy to the USA. This Trumansburg bar, night club, and restaurant has been open and closed in various incarnations since 1973, and new owner Mike Barry has brought the Rongo back to life with a familiar and comfortable flavor. [Listen Now]

5 February 2006
14850 Dining: Ralph's Valentine

We're back at Ralph's Ribs on Route 13 in Ithaca's Southwest. I love Ralph's for hot food in cold weather, and you may remember I mentioned their delicious commodore chowder a few weeks ago when talking about soup. Ralph's chili, topped with chipotle sour cream, plus a piece of corn bread, makes a really satisfying winter lunch. And we're intrigued by the upcoming Valentine's Day dinner at Ralph's, $25 for two. [Listen Now]

24 January 2006
14850 Dining: Willow Winter

This week we're checking out the new winter menu at Willow on East Falls Street. I'm always a fan of starting a winter meal with some hot soup, and the new green tea & coconut broth with rice noodles at Willow hits the spot, reminiscent of Thai coconut soups. And we tried the olive oil marinated manchego, a Spanish cheese marinated in extra virgin olive oil and served with a baguette. [Listen Now]

29 November 2005
14850 Dining: Dinosaur BBQ

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que got its start in Syracuse over 20 years ago as a traveling BBQ vendor at fairs and festivals, and for over 15 years they've been on the corner of Franklin and Willow in Downtown Syracuse... a combination BBQ joint, blues hall, and biker bar. They've been in Rochester for seven years in the old Lehigh Valley train station on Court Street, right by the Blue Cross Arena, and this week marks the first birthday of Dinosaur in New York City, at the corner of West 131st and 12th Avenue. [Listen Now]

17 November 2005
14850 Dining: Pita Pit & Holidays

Always on the lookout for affordable lunches, I'm Mark Anbinder, with WVBR's 14850 Dining Report. This week we're checking out Pita Pit on Dryden Road in Collegetown. The low-carb craze has made pitas and wraps popular, and that's what Pita Pit does well. Actually, it's pretty much all they do, not counting the salads, but with enough variety that just about anyone can find something to eat, hot or cold. Meantime, we're preparing our annual list of holiday hours. [Listen Now]

10 November 2005: 14850 Dining: Angelina Centini's

Do you remember when you first ate at Centini's Restaurant? I can't remember my first visit. Angelina Centini's Italian Ristorante opened in 1934, and chances are, if you've been in Ithaca for a while, you've had a special meal or two, or twenty, at Centini's. I'm sad to say that Centini's closed its doors after dinner Tuesday night, but I'm happy for the memories of lunch with Lisa, dinner with Alan, Laura's birthday gathering, and lots of other visits. [Listen Now]

23 October 2005: 14850 Dining: New Orleans

With WVBR's 14850 Dining Report I'm Mark Anbinder, looking at some favourite food spots in New Orleans... eateries I'm hoping will reopen in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation of that wonderful city. This feature was inspired by seeing a photo taken last week at Crepes a la Cart, one of the places I ate in New Orleans this past spring. [Listen Now]

4 October 2005: 14850 Dining Report: Simply Red Southern Night

We're back in Trumansburg for Monday night Southern Night at the Simply Red Village Bistro. Chef Samantha Izzo is South African, but it's the southern US that lends Simply Red its Monday night cuisine. [Listen Now]

24 August 2005: 14850 Dining Report: Affordable Lunches

WVBR's 14850 Dining Report checks out some of the affordable lunch options around town. As so-called "lunch specials" climb to $6.95, $7.95, $8.95... or the infamous ten-dollar burger... it's nice to know your choices aren't limited to brown-bagging it or hitting the vending machine for a $2 sandwich that's been there for two days. [Listen Now]

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