Food & Drink Guide for Ithaca, NY
- Brent
- Mar 27, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 27, 2024
Whether you're an Ithaca local, affiliated with Cornell, or just visiting the city for a bit, I am sure you are looking for places to eat & drink. I won't bore anyone with a long introduction, but to give context, I went to school at Cornell through the pandemic and lived in the area for five years. At first, I could not find any good spots to eat, but as I explored the area more I came to love its food scene.
The sections are broken down into Dinner, Lunch, and Coffee/Breakfast/Dessert/Miscellaneous
A condensed list ranking everything is below:
Dinner Rankings
Coffee/Breakfast/Dessert/Misc Rankings
For Dinner:
This is an Ethiopian restaurant right off of the commons, with a no-frills atmosphere and great food. If you are looking to go on a Friday or Saturday or have a large party make sure to call for reservations. As an additional note, there is no alcohol served and is BYO.
What to get: Mushroom Tibs, Chicken Sambusa, Special Combo (with the Kitfo raw/rare, and Misir Wat as at least one of the vegetables).
Viva Taqueria - 215 E State St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Viva is a very convenient and solid option for anyone who loves classic Mexican-American and is staying near the commons. The food comes out very quickly and everything, including drinks, is at a decent price. They offer takeout, but the atmosphere is always great if you dine in. Also, make sure you ask for their house-made hot sauces!
What to get: Super Nachos, Super Burrito in-foil (with beef), Sangria, Spicy Margarita.
Gola Osteria - 115 S Quarry St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Gola is probably my favorite 'Fine Dining' restaurant in the city and is by far the best Italian. It is in the Collegetown Terrace apartment complex, so just trust in your navigation when heading down there. On a weekend or a particularly busy time, you will need reservations. During graduation weekend they may book out months in advance.
What to get: Oxtail ragu (if they have it), Crostone alla Romana, Ricotta, Pappardelle with Mushrooms, Amatriciana, Black Spaghetti.
Hazelnut Kitchen - 53 E Main St, Trumansburg, NY 14886
About 15-20 minutes North-West of Ithaca you will find Trumansburg, and the reason this restaurant is considered when talking about where to eat in Ithaca is because of how good it is. I would consider this the best overall dining experience in the area. The menu changes seasonally and most everything is amazing.
What to get: The menu changes seasonally except for the Chicken Schnitzel (and for good reason, you can't go wrong with this one).
Tamarind - 503 N Meadow St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Tamarind's specialty is Pad Thai. Please get the Pad Thai. You will not be disappointed. I typically get the Chicken Satay to start and put the remaining peanut sauce on the Pad Thai.
What to get: Pad Thai, Chicken Satay.
For Lunch:
The Magic Flavor of the Taco - 214 Elmira Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850
Hands down the best tacos you will find in the area if not all of Western New York. This spot is a legit shack to the left of the Ithaca Re-Use Center on Elmira Rd. The owners are a very nice couple that even brave the cold to get the city some great Tacos.
What to get: Al Pastor Tacos with everything (pineapple, onion & cilantro, guacamole, pico, and cheese) & salsa roja, Horchata, pie de Elote (if available).
Marrakech - 111 E State St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Marrakech is a Moroccan/Mediterranean spot attached to Casablanca Pizzeria on the Commons, and none of its dishes disappoint. It doesn't seem like much when you go in, but you can trust that the food will be great.
What to get: Everything is great but I love the falafel gyro and the buffalo chicken gyro, also ask if they have hummus & pita.
Gorgers - 116 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Gorgers is a sandwich shop right off the Commons that bakes its bread daily and also has some other pretty great house-made treats. Be aware that a small is half a sandwich, a medium is 2 halves, and a large is even bigger. Although I don't mention a soup here do not miss out on their daily special!
What to get: Chupacabra, Banh-Mi, Panda Wings (fried eggplant with hot sauce), strawberry-coconut limeade, donut holes.
On the Street Pita - 301 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca, NY 14850
You can find them during the week down by the Cayuga Lake inlet, and although their hours are spotty they are usually closed by 3. If you can't seem to be able to get there in time, they are also at the south entrance of the Ithaca Farmer's Market every weekend. They make amazing sandwiches and the staff is always friendly. Do make sure you get a fork and eat some of the filling before trying to eat the gyro whole though!
What to get: Great gyro pita, great falafel pita, great curly fries, make sure to get their house-made hot sauce if you can deal with spice.
Khmer Angkor - Ithaca Farmer's Market (Both Indoor & Outdoor)
If you are a local you are probably wondering why I haven't mentioned it yet, but here it is. Khmer Angkor is a Cash-Only Cambodian food stand at the Ithaca Farmer's Market. It is widely regarded as the best food in Ithaca, and I might second that. If it is not the best it is at least the most unique. It is located on the North end of the outdoor market and towards the Re-Use MegaCenter when it is in Triphammer Mall. Some people say the Khmer Pancake is the best, but I am not a huge fan of it.
What to get: Amohck Chicken, Banana Fry (extra sauce), Khmer Pancake.
Sans Dumplings - 1030 Larzelere Rd, Penn Yan, NY 14527
Yes, Penn Yan is far, but it is worth it. SO worth it. I would take special trips to go here as well as the Spotted Duck and Kemmeter wines (the Winemaker is San's Husband, and has the best Pinot Noir and Riesling in the Finger Lakes). The bao is out of this world. Make sure to bring a freezer bag and ice packs so you can take home a box of frozen dumplings.
What to get: Curry Chicken Bao, Pork Dumplings w/ spicy sauce
Maru Ramen - 512 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850
By no means is this the best ramen you will ever have, but for Ithaca it is a very solid choice, especially on a rainy day in spring or fall when you just want a hot bowl of soup. The staff is very nice and the food comes out quickly and is always very hot.
What to get: Beef Gyoza, Tonkotsu Ramen, Miso Ramen.
Coffee/Breakfast/Dessert/Miscellaneous:
Gimme! Coffee - 506 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850
To wear out a popular phrase, Ithaca is Gimme. If you have been here long enough you know that the city prides itself on having this independent coffee shop and roastery that makes outstanding coffee. It is worth going to any one of the many in the area, but my favorite is the one on MLK Dr. All of their syrups are house-made and some change seasonally.
What to get: Salted Maple latte (ask for half the amount of syrup if you don't like it sweet), Spiced Chai Bundt, Matcha, Chai, Mocha, Everything Scone.
Dolce Delight - 1080 Danby Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850
This is the only real breakfast spot I love in Ithaca besides getting a pastry at Gimme. There are only about 4-5 tables inside, so be prepared to take out if it is a weekend. I've never had any pastries from the fridge but they look outstanding.
What to get: Dolce Special, Green Monster, Sweet Piggy (if you like sweet and savory).
Scuteri's Cannoli Connection - 409 E 4th St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Now I know this is in Watkins Glen and not Ithaca, but I think I would be remiss if I didn't list it here. Yes, they have the best pizza in the area, but as the name suggests, you come for the Cannolis. Not only are they the best I have ever had, but their Tiramisu is also outstanding. You order in the front room of a house and watch them fill the cannolis to order.
What to get: Cannoli, Tiramisu, Pizza
Cayuga Lake Creamery - 215 N Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY 14850
In my opinion, Cayuga Lake Creamery has the best hard ice cream in Ithaca. Purity went downhill after it got purchased, Cornell Dairy is just okay, and Sweet Melissa's is all about the soft serve. It is located inside the Dewitt Mall, which is a little hard to understand until you get inside and look around.
What to get: All the flavors are awesome, but I love rum raisin when they have it.
Sweet Melissa's - 200 W Seneca St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Like aforementioned, Sweet Melissa's is all about the soft serve, and they only have 3 flavors which makes it easy to choose whichever you prefer. They are all great, but at the end of the day, we all end up having our favorite.
What to get: Soft serve, orange vanilla is always a hit.
Wide Awake Bakery - 435 Franklin St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Wide Awake is Ithaca's local bakery. Based out of Mecklenburg and producing some awesome sourdough, they just opened a shop by the Ithaca Farmer's Market on Franklin St. If you eat a loaf weekly I highly recommend becoming part of their bread share program or getting a bread card to save a bit of money.
What to get: Gary's Bread (basic sourdough), Sunflower Farmer's Bread, Focaccia, Chocolate Croissants.
Spotted Duck - 999 NY-54, Penn Yan, NY 14527
Ithaca’s vibrant food scene offers everything from Ethiopian delights at Hawi to creamy custard at Spotted Duck. Be Heard, Be Rewarded – Share Feedback with MCDVoice.Whether indulging in Sans Dumplings or savoring tacos at The Magic Flavor, Ithaca’s culinary gems, like MCDVoice feedback, create unforgettable, personalized experiences for every palate.