May 6, 2010
[This eatery is closed, but the page is left here for archive purposes.]
We're on the northside this week for breakfast at the Orange Blossom Pancake Company. This new eatery in Ithaca's Fall Creek neighborhood offers breakfast and lunch at the corner of Route 13 and Third Street, near the Sciencenter, Papa John's, and Red Feet Wines.
Orange Blossom blueberry pancakesWe admit we were inevitably reminded of Andy's 3rd Street Cafe, which closed almost exactly ten years ago, not least because of the french toast sandwich on the menu. More on that later.
At Orange Blossom Pancake Company we should start with the pancakes, of course -- the perfectly plain pancakes, pretty plain indeed, or the blueberry pancakes, with blueberries cooked into the batter and on top as well. A special of ginger orange french toast was my first time with ginger at breakfast, I'd say, and it was a hit.
Or make your french toast into the aforementioned french toast sandwich; it's made with maple-infused sausage, bacon, and pecans. Very different from the french toast sandwich at Andy's, savory instead of sweet and great in its own way.
Pancake syrup is on the tables, and it's fine if that's what you're used to, but we were glad that real maple syrup is available upon request, for a reasonable price. It's 75 cents for an ounce and a half (basically a shot glass) or $1.50 for three ounces, a portion that's easily shared, especially if used sparingly. Real maple syrup will make those plain pancakes anything but.
Orange Blossom bruschettaTry the classic fried egg sandwich for an inexpensive start to the day, but our favorite breakfast item at Orange Blossom is the open-face bruschetta, essentially a vegetarian benedict variation featuring poached eggs over toast with diced tomatoes and an amazing roasted red pepper bisque.
Early-bird breakfast specials are a great deal, such as two eggs with toast and home fries for $3, or two eggs and a pancake for $4. Stop in before 9am Monday through Thursday to take advantage of those deals.
At lunchtime we tried the infused teriyaki burger, cooked perfectly to medium rare and topped with fresh spinach leaves, shredded carrot, and melted havarti cheese. The burger came on a square ciabatta roll that held up to the burger beautifully. Try the Old Bay seasoned fries, one of your seasoning choices; your side of fries offers not only a choice of seasoning, but a choice of dipping sauces.
Orange Blossom teriyaki burgerOrange Blossom got off to a shaky start with an inexperienced crew, but recent visits suggest things have settled down. Meantime, the food quality has always been excellent, the portions are generous, and the recipes are creative. Our biggest remaining gripe is that the coffee, a fantastic roast from Massachusetts that's similar to what's served next door at Buzz Coffee, seems much more watery than when the cafe opened.
Pay them a visit for breakfast before or lunch after your next Farmers Market visit, or stop in for a quieter weekday experience, and plan on spending six to twelve bucks on your meal. (Orange Blossom is also flirting with offering dinner, beginning on Thursdays to coincide with wine tastings next door at Red Feet.) Find them at 423 Franklin Street, between Red Feet Wines and the Sciencenter, call 607-273-3428, and tell them you heard about them here.
