October 25, 2011
We're downtown this week for the second anniversary of the Bandwagon Brewpub, a downtown bar and eatery that quickly became a favorite after they opened in the fall of 2009. 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.
Cajun sausage chowder at Bandwagon.Appetizers include an ever-changing soup, like a recent incredible Cajun sausage chowder or southwest corn chowder, coconut shrimp with a tangy orange marmalade dipping sauce, fried green tomatoes with goat cheese, or a fantastic spicy local sausage served with potatoes and mustard made with Bandwagon stout.
Veggie-burger with bacon. Don't judge us.Up next are the burgers, a very good half-pound burger made from local beef and served with roasted garlic mayo -- and the best veggie-burger I've ever had, bar none. It's made from pecans, beans, and barley, and it's a seriously great burger, veggie or otherwise. Top either one with a thick slice of house-cured local bacon.
The fish and chips plate is beer-battered catfish with Bandwagon's awesome fries, or go upscale with grilled tuna served over jasmine rice or a warm and welcoming pot roast with mashed potatoes and peppery gravy. If you're ready for a dare, the citrusy pasta with onion, pineapple, banana, and habanero comes with a boldface warning, and they mean it -- it's seriously spicy! Add shrimp or chicken, and don't say we didn't warn you.
We've loved the vegetables here, and I do mean loved, like the sauteed zucchini or the crisp and buttery brussels sprouts. You won't go wrong sharing a side of whatever veggies are on the menu when you're visiting.
Bandwagon's own beer.It's a brewpub, so there's a rotating selection of beers brewed right there, from the raspberry jalapeño ale to the seasonal stouts on tap right now, an espresso stout with a kick and a black cherry stout. But the five Bandwagon brews on tap at any moment are just a small fraction of the beer list, with an Ithaca Beer or two always around, plus other excellent microbrews, from Sly Fox and Brooklyn Brewing and Ommegang and more. Order by the pint, or try a flight for variety's sake.
Of course there are those few folks who aren't into beer. The full bar includes New York wines and others from around the world, as well as top-notch spirits that include Finger Lakes Distilling's Seneca Drums Gin and McKenzie Bourbon, plus a few great Scotch single malts. Naturally, there's also Ithaca Root Beer and Ginger Beer.
Just looking for a late-night snack? Lots of menu items are available right up to last call, and the house brews are just $3 a pint after 10pm.
This underground space used to be Groover's and Yah Mon, and we're delighted that it's been reborn as a restaurant that was so successful so fast that they expanded into the basement next door before their first anniversary. The new lounge space adds a second bar, a couple more high-top tables with stools, and some comfy couches for relaxing with a beverage.
Plan on spending $12-30 on a meal at Bandwagon. Find them at Bandwagonbeer.com or under the yellow awning at 114 North Cayuga Street, or call 607-319-0699 and tell them you heard about them here.
