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    Food Lab

    4.4 (95 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Recommended Reviews - Food Lab

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    Stone Fruit Salad
    Andrew L.

    Had a nice dinner at the Food Lab on a busy Saturday evening (we were lucky enough to get a last minute reservation). Started with the Stone Fruit Salad and the Lemongrass Chili Chicken Wings - both excellent. For mains we had the Branzino (very good), Bone Marrow Burger (a little more done than we would have liked but good flavor) and the New England Shrimp Roll (solid) Servers were very friendly and helpful.

    Ashley J.

    Food was SO GOOD! I got the chicken parm sandwich and the shrimp chowder. Delicious. The chicken parm was perfectly crispy and cheesy, really surprised me. Service was also really fast, the servers were so nice and attentive. There is a lot of seating inside and outside, we were seated fast

    Bone Marrow Burger with Duck fat fingerlings!
    Sean C.

    First time here back on Aug 8, 2026. Sorry for the late review, life. Darla was our waitress and she was great - Thank you. The food was outstanding! So tasty and flavorful mmmm!!! Started with a few cocktails- Smoked pecan Old Fashioned - kids enjoyed them a lot! Wife got the Razz cloud margarita cocktail- very tasty! Appetizers of Black Garlic Wagu Sliders - OMG these were amazing- so flavorful and hot - right off the grill (I am really upset I didn't take a pic of these). Wife got the Lemongrass chili chicken wings. She liked them a lot. On to dinner: coconut curry dumplings - delicious!!!Bone Marrow Burger with Duck fat fingerlings. Excellent! Blackened fish tostada - so flavorful. We really enjoyed our visit and will be back for sure.

    Entrees on menu
    Charlie F.

    I returned to Ithaca for the same Healthcare Grad School & Job Fair as last year. I did not return to the place here in town named for a Greenwich Village corner. I don't normally enjoy sitting at the bar at all but Carly and Kylie were very engaging and handled the whole place well. I started with the simple green salad with sunflower seeds & yuzu honey vinaigrette. Simple but really delicious. I had myself the fantastic blood Orange Branzino for dinner. A big portion of sea bass with sides that were filling and complimented the dish so well, flavor-wise and texture-wise. I may have to return tomorrow night, I really liked this place.

    Interior
    Elizabeth H.

    When the app decided to add a 6 star option, I will come back and update my review. What a GREAT place to eat! The menu had classic food with a fun flair to each dish. Waitstaff was friendly, knowledgeable and wonderful. Every dish, every drink, even the items I saw go to other tables looked incredible. Clean place, outdoor and indoor dining, fun view to people watch. Cannot stop raving about this spot!

    Coconut Curry Dumplings
    Travis M.

    Food was amazing, great spin on Thai with veggie dumplings. My son got the new age chicken parm and I feel he was expecting an original without pesto but he cleaned his plate..... service was friendly and food was quickly served.

    Vodka bucatini

    We dined here for Sunday brunch and omg it was so amazing. The chilled ricotta from the regular menu was delightful and sweet. The honey potatoes from the brunch menu was like general tso chicken except with potatoes and was so lovely. For entrees we had the frittata and bucatini vodka. Both were incredible and generously sized. We happily took leftovers for later. We will be back and can't wait to sample more of the menu!

    Jennifer C.

    I stopped in for lunch to catch up with a friend who recommended Food Lab as one of their favorite local spots. We arrived around 1:30 PM on a hot afternoon, and the restaurant was fairly quiet at that time. Sam, the staff member working, was incredibly friendly and welcoming. He let us choose our table, quickly brought over menus, and was helpful in walking us through both the food and drink options. I decided on the watermelon gazpacho special and a gimlet cocktail, while my friend went with the fish tacos and also opted for a gimlet. The space was inviting and thoughtfully decorated, with local artwork on the walls, racks of wine on display, and large garage-door windows at the front. I imagine those windows would be open to let in a breeze on cooler days, adding to the ambiance. We stayed for a couple of hours, enjoying the food and conversation, and Sam remained attentive without being intrusive--checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. Both dishes were fresh, flavorful, and well-seasoned. The gazpacho was especially refreshing given the heat outside. I'd definitely come back the next time I'm in Ithaca to explore more of the menu.

    My portion of the Pomegranate Brussels Sprouts (about 1/3 of the actual appetizer - there was more than enough to share).
    Mark C.

    A fantastic meal in a chill amosphere. We had the pomegranate Brussels sprouts and a fizzy birch mocktail to start. The sprouts needed a little salt, which our server, Genesis, provided. Excellent after a pinch or two, they were crispy and the feta and pomegranate seeds really elevated the dish. I got the Blood Orange Branzino and she got the Harissa Chicken Skewer. Both were absolutely phenomenal, neither could have been improved upon. The flavors were complex without being overdone, and the preparation was perfect down to the charred lemon on hers and the charred blood orange on mine. The servings were very large, we didn't finish either and still had no room for dessert. Their menu has lots of interesting options with some pretty clever and thoughtful flavor combinations. This is definitely a place worth visiting several times to explore the menu.

    nori steak taco box
    Chelsea M.

    The menu and food were trying to be fancy and creative and sounded great, and it's certainly priced that way, but everything was way off balance and/or missing ingredients. Everything was way too salty, rich, and had no freshness nor acidity for relief. The Nori Steak Taco Box was INSANELY salty, and I didn't see nor taste nori on the steak. Two of the components (rice cake and prawns) were almost exactly like the prawn appetizer, so it felt redundant. The soup of the day, pepper and tomato seemed like pasta sauce adjusted to be called soup??; It was way too salty, rich, super THICK, and the portion size was huge. The dishes weren't timed well either. We sat with nothing for a long time, and then dishes came out really fast one after the other. We got the soup right at mains, so things were disjointed and plates didn't fit on the table. The service was also pretty slow. Staff were nice, but seemed like they were more hanging out chatting with the bar than tending tables.

    Blackened fish tostada with blacked cherry and pistachio sauce

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    1 year ago

    Food was amazing / portions were huge! Great value.. our server Phill was on it and friendly.. 5 stars!

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    1 year ago

    Tried food lab for first time as I was passing thru Ithaca. Food was tasty and quick service. Special shout out to my server -philip.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Food is outstanding. It exceeded expectations. Huge burger. Terrific blackened whitefish. Waiter Phillip was great.

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    1 year ago

    Great drinks! Nicely balanced and unique cocktails. Food is quite delicious with pretty big portions.

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    1 year ago

    The food and service at the Food Lab was great! The ambience was chill. Definitely recommend and would come back!

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    1 year ago

    Visiting Ithaca. Food was amazing! Loved Phillip, great service! Place was delightful.

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    2 years ago

    The food was absolutely delicious. Really delicious. The service was excellent. I will definitely return.

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Chicken Cutlets were delicious. Great good, everything is good. Phillip the waiter is amazing!

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Food Lab

    How noisy is the dining room?

    We were there on a at 7 pm weeknight in early April. Conversation was easy and the restaurant was fairly full.

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    The Rook - Upscale Comfort Food.

    The Rook

    4.2(186 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    •$$

    Solid Great friendly ambiance…read moreWe had: Bacon wrapped cheese filled dates Fried chicken - skin layer under batter isn't the best but chicken was tender Pork Schnitzel - on a buttermilk sauce with two fingerling potatoes. Duck fat fries - nice crunch. Overall a no frills restaurant- good solid choice for a weeknight out.

    The Rook is located a couple blocks north of the Commons. The staff were very pleasant and…read moreexplained everything on the menu. The menu itself is short and focused, while the interior of the restaurant features wallpaper with anthropomorphic animals, and large windows. I opted for the Burger, and my wife the Salmon. We also ordered the grilled dates and collard greens. I also decided on a Ginger Beer. They serve Goslings (since 1806), with all 47 grams of sugar, over ice and a lime. Highly recommended on the ginger beer flavor scale. The Burger came with a massive amount of their duck-fat fried fries, certainly more potato than burger. I also liked the burger with the added bacon. But my wife's Salmon was even tastier. It featured a nice hunk of fish, skin-on, crispy, and not some half-or-quarter fillet that other places might serve. Plus, it comes over a bed of green peas and canneli beans and green asparagus sauce on the bottom, and a small bed of frisée on top. The combination with the lemon cream leads to very satisfying bites. The grilled dates wrapped in bacon, with goat cheese, Marcona almonds, and honey were presented as a drumstick. The collard greens were nice, though on the saltier side. Seating here can be had inside or out. The bathrooms are located in the hallway next to the restaurant.

    Photos
    The Rook - Making cavatelli

    Making cavatelli

    The Rook - Schnitzel, a tad dry with rubbery re-heated tasting spaetzle.

    Schnitzel, a tad dry with rubbery re-heated tasting spaetzle.

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    Mercato Bar & Kitchen - Ricotta Cheesecake with candied orange peel

    Mercato Bar & Kitchen

    4.1(197 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    •$$$

    I suggested this not so casual spot for a casual catch-up with my girlfriend and a friend, mostly…read morebecause I'd tried their sister restaurant next door. We were seated right away. The layout and vibe were nearly identical to the other location: cozy, softly lit, and upscale. Deciding what to eat was the hardest part. I went with my gut and got their Lamb Ragu Pasta - rich, herby, and the pasta had this firm bite. My girlfriend had the Porchetta, which she found a bit too fatty, though she polished off the potatoes with zero hesitation. My friend ordered the Chicken Piccata. I tried it, nodded, and moved on - good, but not groundbreaking. We ended with an affogato (fancy words for vanilla ice cream drowned in espresso). Simple, classy, and somehow the star of the night. If nothing else, I'd come back just for that.

    Super cozy restaurant with phenomenal food and service!…read more We ordered a few starters: the chicken liver crostini, beet salad, and mixed green salad--all of which were fantastic. The chicken saltimbocca and bucatini were delicious, but the star of the meal was the hanger steak. Not only juicy and tender, but so so flavorful! I don't order steak often, but I wouldn't hesitate to get it again. They also have a solid selection of cocktails and wine to pair with your meal. The staff are really friendly and helpful with menu suggestions and wine pairings. I believe it's run by a family, and it certainly provides the comfort and care of one. We enjoyed a fabulous dinner and will be back!

    Photos
    Mercato Bar & Kitchen - View from my seat

    View from my seat

    Mercato Bar & Kitchen - Bread

    Bread

    Mercato Bar & Kitchen - Fresh fish in parchment (cod)

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    Fresh fish in parchment (cod)

    Graft Wine Cider Bar - Coffee Almond Cake

    Graft Wine Cider Bar

    4.3(154 reviews)
    19.7 mi
    •$$

    Enjoyed a date night for two. Got to sit outside, which is very nice because they were busy even at…read more5:30 PM on a Saturday. Service was friendly and helpful, but was slow at times. Didn't mind too much because we didn't have to be anywhere though so enjoyed savoring our drinks and people watching since we were on the sidewalk. Perfect fall night for just that. For cocktails, we got the Lakewood sparkling And a glass of red wine. The sparkling went great with the Mussels we got for our appetizer. Also enjoyed our entrées of Halibut and Chicken. The halibut was definitely better and more interesting. The chicken was fine just not as much flavor. Probably wouldn't order it again.

    We'd received so many recommendations for graft during our long weekend in Watkins Glen. We came in…read moreright at opening (4pm) because we knew it fills up fast and they don't accept reservations. We loved from their website that Graft sources local and keeps their menu seasonal. Everything was VERY good, but I'm not sure that it matches the immense hype. Maybe we didn't order the right things. I was only able to snap a photo of the squash which was actually my favorite part of the meal. I got the half chicken with beans and rice, and my partner got the flank steak. The chicken was quite salty but very good. The steak was cooked well and very flavorful, though the portion was small and there was nothing about it that particularly stood out. Again, a solid meal and a super cute atmosphere and we will always support restaurants which feature local/seasonal menus, but this one fell a bit flat.

    Photos
    Graft Wine Cider Bar - Wine selection | #intenselypassionatephotography

    Wine selection | #intenselypassionatephotography

    Graft Wine Cider Bar - Flank steak | #intenselypassionatephotography

    Flank steak | #intenselypassionatephotography

    Graft Wine Cider Bar - Unofficial cider tasting @tiffhuangry

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    Unofficial cider tasting @tiffhuangry

    Finger Lakes House - View from the terrace

    Finger Lakes House

    4.5(26 reviews)
    29.3 mi
    •$$

    So we came here on a Friday night about 6 o'clock and they were supposed to be an open mic…read morehappening which we were excited about because we love performing an open mic. Since we've been out all day we were really hungry so we decided to eat something before we performed. At the moment there couldn't have been more than eight people in the whole place inside and out on the deck total. We were handed menus that had no prices on them. I ordered the buddah bowl with chicken strips and my husband got a quesadilla with steak. It took about 40 minutes for the food to come and the boot bowl was mostly a big bowl of greens with what couldn't have been more than a tablespoon of chicken chopped up on it. It was very tasty. My husband's quesadilla was the size you would expect loaded with cheese but literally one little tiny cube of steak in each of the six wedges. His quesadilla was tasty We only ordered water to drink because we were going to be singing later and it took about 15 minutes for the water to get to us. She "forgot". The whole time we were there nobody checked on us and place never got very busy no more than maybe eight people the whole time. We decided not to stay to sing because there was practically nobody there and the people who were there were outside on the deck while the place for the performers was inside in the bar. And as far as we knew we were the only people there who were planning to perform. The Buddha bowl which would've made a nice side salad to any other meal was $14, while the quesadilla was $13. In my opinion overpriced for what we got. We also bussed our own table.

    Can we just start with the Pickle Flatbread? Oh and the fact that there are 30 different brew ON…read moreTAP!!! (My honey managed to try 28 of them. The last two were ciders, so he took a pass and just left it at 28...or SEVEN BEER FLIGHTS!!!) We also had the Mexican Street Corn dip and then couldn't leave without trying the GIANT pretzel (could probably feed four!!) Our hosts and wait staff were as nice as could be. It was a truly lovely way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon! Can't wait to go back.

    Photos
    Finger Lakes House - Buddah bowl

    Buddah bowl

    Finger Lakes House
    Finger Lakes House - BBQ sampler, Maryland crab cakes with scallops, butternut squash soup, apple cider sangria, and  Sweet Walter Blackberry wine.

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    BBQ sampler, Maryland crab cakes with scallops, butternut squash soup, apple cider sangria, and Sweet Walter Blackberry wine.

    Bar Argos - clarified lassi and queen bee

    Bar Argos

    4.0(98 reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    Wonderful bar for drinks. I've been here a couple times and have sat both inside (darker, moodier,…read moremore intimate) and outside (livelier, great when the weather is nice, more relaxed). Very unique cocktails! My first visit, I tried the ruby slipper, braulio sour, and the mango lassi. The mango lassi is incredible! It is my favorite drink at Argos! The ruby slipper and braulio sour were also quite tasty but I preferred the ruby slipper a tad more. My second visit, I tried the grapefruit soda (not artificial tasting at all), the Shark Juice (tasted a bit too much like cologne, wasn't a fan), and the Gigi (couldn't taste the hojicha, liked the concept more than the execution). I would get the Gigi again, but would pass on the Shark Juice. Sitting inside, I enjoyed the quieter and calmer atmosphere as well as the soft lighting. The interior decor is very cosy and slightly eclectic. I came with a friend on a weekday evening and it was pretty empty which was nice. The outdoor patio space is very nice- I like the lanterns on the walls and the whole space is quite charming. I left with a few mosquito bites though. Overall, I would recommend Argos Inn!

    As the weather warms up make your way to Bar Argos! They have a quaint outdoor patio with tables…read morelarge enough to accommodate larger parties. While sitting under their string lights enjoy a craft cocktail (or a couple) while catching up with old friends. Of the multiple cocktails we had there wasn't a single one we didn't like. If you find yourself having a hard time deciding, ask a friendly server for a recommendation!

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    Bar Argos
    Bar Argos - For the life of me I couldn't tell you the names of these drinks, but know that they were delicious & strong!

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    Bar Argos - Whiskey sour and Clarified Lassi

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    Food Lab - wine_bars - Updated October 2026

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