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Lost Dog worth the wait

Downtown Ithaca's Lost Dog Cafe, which just opened this fall, was in the works for so long, and was originally to open so long ago, that it's in last fall's phone book. After such delays as a contractor absconding with a deposit and the now-expected shenanigans from the City of Ithaca Building Department, an Ithaca incarnation of the legendary Binghamton hangout is finally open.

Liz Hughes, one of the owners of the original (which started in an old Binghamton gas station, then moved into a disused factory) and the instigator of Ithaca's Lost Dog, says she and her friends created the coffeeshop and eatery to provide something they felt was missing in the area, a place where diners wouldn't be rushed out of their tables, but could relax with a cappucino and The New York Times.

They've succeeded admirably. The Lost Dog, now occupying the first floor of the old Morris's menswear store and soon to add its second floor, offers a balance of top-grade eatery with coffee-and-dessert shop.

Starters

Our dinner began with a brief wait for a table, which we spent at the combination bar and coffee bar. The beer-on-tap selection included such personal favorites as Ithaca Pale Ale, Guinness Stout, and the seasonal Beck's Oktoberfest, and we passed the time skimming the menu and chatting with folks at the bar who'd eaten here before, and could share some advice. It was nice to see the dining room full, just a couple of weeks after the restaurant opened. (By the time they expand, I'm sure they'll have the following to fill the larger space.)

Our first appetizer was a delicious chilled sundried tomato dip served with warm garlic toast slices, and we were pleasantly surprised to find fresh smoked trout on the menu as well. This appetizer was served with a horseradish cream sauce and assorted crackers. I'd have skipped the salad course, knowing what was still ahead, but was intrigued by the sound of the "sesame carrot" dressing. This was vaguely reminiscent, in color and consistency, of the salad dressing at Japanese restaurants, and was tasty and faintly sweet. (They also had a typical array of other dressing options.)

Moving on to the main course

The three of us tried three very different entrees. Marie's hamburger seemed unassuming, but she said it was excellent. It came with tomatoe, red onion, garlic mayo, and mustard, and looked like a serious burger. Dan had a delicious Grilled Balsamic Chicken, served boneless over flavorful mashed potatoes with a heap of crisp, bright green, fresh broccoli.

Following the advice of those folks at the bar, I ordered the Tortellini Amore, mounds of lobster meat and huge, succulent shrimp, with mushrooms, spinach, peppers, and a creamy sauce over tricolor tortellini. I've never really enjoyed seafood-alfredo-like dishes, but this entree focused more on the chunks of seafood than on the cream sauce.

Endgame

Saving half of one's entree for the next day is not only economically sound, but also a good way of saving room for dessert. The three of us split a Mambo Chocolate Love, a chocolatey volcano with a molten core, served with a scoop of fresh Purity banana ice cream.

We also all had coffee; my hazelnut coffee was served in an attractive single-serving French press, along with a mug.

The Lost Dog's prices all seem a bit on the high side, with the exception of the $1 salad (available with any entree). The coffee drinks in particular seemed pricey. That said, we all enjoyed our meals, felt we got reasonable value for our dollar, and are likely to return -- perhaps again and again!