Hilltop breakfast at Ithaca's new Sunset Grill

Sunset Grill 823 Danby Road, Ithaca 607-272-1986

I've been hearing that the new Sunset Grill, opened by the owner of the Mahogany Grill in the spot where Franco's used to be, had a great brunch, so I dragged a few friends up south hill today to check it out. They don't really do what I'd call brunch, but they do offer both breakfast and lunch menus, so it works out. We all picked breakfast.

The breakfast menu offers lots of griddle items and a variety of omelets; two of my dining companions chose omelets, and seemed quite pleased with them. They certainly looked generous and well stuffed. I'm told the home fries were too bland, though.

I chose the homemade corned beef hash and eggs, and ordered the hash well done. I wasn't disappointed! The hash was tasty and crisp, just the way I like it. In addition, I took advantage of the long list of "breakfast sides" to order a single blueberry pancake. I was surprised to find a pile of fresh blueberries in the middle of the pancake, instead of the occasional blueberry throughout the batter. While better distribution would be nice, I really enjoyed this pancake once the waitress gave it a brief nuking to correct the fact that it had arrived too cold. The plump and juicy blueberries in the middle made a real difference.

Our server was friendly and didn't do too bad a job, though I think her rhythm was a bit off; there was a too-long stretch of time between her dropping the food off and checking back to make sure everything was OK, and when I'm in "breakfast mode" I'm happiest when my coffee is being refilled regularly without my having to ask for each refill.

I do have to say today's meal felt like a good value; the $5.99 and $6.99 breakfasts are very reasonably priced, and even after I added a blueberry pancake and coffee to my hash and eggs, my pre-tax, pre-tip check was still south of $10. You might spend less at one of Ithaca's diners, but not much less.

I especially love the "breakfast sides" section of the menu, which lets you add a single pancake for about two bucks, or a single egg for a dollar, to whatever you're getting. This is a very customer-friendly way of letting you build the breakfast you want, instead of having to order two $6 breakfasts if you want corned beef hash and pancakes. Even better, I didn't end up overeating.

The dining room and deck at this hillside eatery at Rogan's Corner don't look very different, but the kitchen area has been torn out and rebuilt with a counter seating area and grill right in view of the entrance and dining room. I think it looks much more open and airy, and I'll have to try sitting at the counter on a future visit. I'll need to stop in to try the Yankee Pot Roast, among other things. Visit the Sunset Grill at 823 Danby Road on Ithaca's south hill, or call them at 607-272-1986, and tell them you heard about them here.