I'm going to dream about the Melrose breakfast sandwich months from now as well as their dirty chai…read morelatte. Don't judge me. This is a place that will spoil other establishments for you. We originally came here because we saw they have gluten-free bagels. And we need someplace to eat safely because of celiac. They made their OG breakfast bagel with a gluten-free one and it was a complete hit with my teen. So much so that we had to come back the next day as well. No complaints from me on doing that.

Hound and Mare is one of the cafes that I visit regularly when I'm staying in downtown Ithaca. I…read moreusually am getting either drip coffee or an espresso-based drink, but they also offer a food menu including baked goods and pastries. I tried a tasty chocolate donut recently and learned that their donuts come from an source in Elmira. The coffee drinks have been solid, and the staff have been consistently welcoming when I've gone. I've also seen people working on their computers, so I imagine it's a good place for studying or reading.

Didn't get to try the kava, but honestly? The vibes alone were worth the trip. The music? Solid…read more The person at the front? Super nice. The energy? Just the right amount of weird. We went on a Monday, so it was completely empty, which only made it feel more like a secret hideaway for people who appreciate a little offbeat charm. Definitely the kind of place you stumble into and think, "Yeah, this is where the interesting people hang out." Would I come back? Absolutely -- preferably on a night where there's more life, and maybe I'll finally try the kava :)

I came here looking for tea, ended up learning about and trying kava!…read more If you haven't had kava before, it's a root that's powdered up and served as a drink. It has calming properties that help people be more social similar to alcohol but without the negative effects. It does taste pretty bitter and it has a numbing sensation (similar to sichuan peppercorns) so their flavored options are recommended for first-timers. The apple cider version was pretty good. I did feel the effect, but did I love it? Honestly, not sure. It felt a bit weird. But even if I decide not to try kava again, their tea was also really good and the owner is a super nice and interesting guy. People who come here are looking for something different, so give it a shot! The inside definitely looks like it used to be an elk's lounge or something. But overall, it's a chill and relaxed space with good vibes.

recently hosted a dinner party at Allechant in Ithaca, NY, for my daughter's bridal shower weekend…read more At the website it asks that parties over 8 please call, that it may be necessary to rent out the entire restaurant.  Allechant is a small owner/chef run French Restaurant.  They are only open for dinner Thursday-Sunday evenings and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday.  I did call and email. Patience is key, because owner/chef, Matt, is busy Thursday-Sunday at the restaurant and I'm sure the other days, he is planning, shopping, returning emails and calls.  We did connect and he was just wonderful to work with. I did book the entire restaurant as our party was planned for 10-15 people. He offered several selections for entrees, appetizers and desserts for me to choose for our menu.  Since I wanted to have a steak offering, he asked that make entrée selections in advance for shopping purposes.  We worked out a wonderful menu.  He even accommodated a wine tasting of two different flights of wines that would be offered all evening. The evening started with glasses of champagne and socializing in the first room of the restaurant with has the bar area with a few seats and several small dinner tables. Matt had the second room set up with a large rectangular arrangement of the tables, so that our entire party could be at one table.  This room adjoined the kitchen, so you could see Matt at work.  After initially greeting all of us, Matt went to work and his delightful assistant served as hostess, sommelier and waitress all evening.  She was positively amazing!  We were pleasantly surprised to find out Matt had prepared our personal menus and placed them in the Allechant menu books. They not only made wonderful souvenirs, but it was nice to have a record of the wines we tasted. After we were seated, we were offered the first of the wines in the white flight.  What was very nice about the wine tasting, is that each taste/glass was brought out sequentially and each guest was asked if they wanted to try that wine.  The appetizers started coming, and one by one the other white wines were offered for tasting. Both the gyoza and lamb meatballs were cooked perfectly, sauces were delicious. Entrees were coming when the offerings of the red wine flight started.  I had the red curry salmon which was cooked to perfection, the sauce was generous and amazing and portion so large, there were leftovers.  My mother had the coq au vin blanc, and said it was absolutely the best she had ever had.  And those having the steak and the gnocchi raved as well. (entire menu in pictures with review).  The food was incredible, portions generous and service was excellent.  Then came dessert; once again, very generous servings, perfectly prepared.  It was an amazing evening.  I can see why Matt asks patrons to book the entire restaurant when the party is larger.  Since he is the chef, he wants to be able to prepare, serve and time every course and every entrée so that no one is waiting, everything is service at the right temperature and is cooked to perfection.  If you are looking to host a special, elegant evening in Ithaca, then Allechant is the intimate, friendly, 5-star restaurant for you.

Great spot for dinner in Ithaca! I love the house-made desserts!…read more I tried the mussels for appetizer which were very good. Not too heavy or salty. For mains I tried the vodka gnocchi and the cod stew. Both were excellent! I think if I were to return I would get the cod stew though- it is much more unique. Only complaint about the gnocchi is I wish there was more cheese on top. Desserts were divine! I love how they display them all on the table by the fireplace! We tried the pumpkin cake and the poppyseed coconut almond cake. I truly don't think I could pick a favorite. I wish the whipped cream was also homemade though. I came for dinner on a weekend night (with reservations). Service was solid. Overall, I would return! I will definitely be coming back to try their brunch!

I'm a coffee snob from Houston and this is the best coffee shop in Ithaca, period. (Followed by a…read morereal period.) The aesthetic feels like an escape into a quiet city coffee shop with plants and natural light everywhere. Staff was friendly. Iced and hot lattes are both great. I'd never had a Tasty pistachio latte...until I came here. Ithaca is an incredible place, truly. But if you ever want a little escape or find comfort in city-level coffee shops, check out Botanist.

Best cinnamon roll in ithaca! Good coffee too and cute interior…read more Ambiance is nice- pretty spacious, easy parking, fun plants. The cinnamon roll is so good! Love the cream cheese frosting! The bottom is also caramelized which just makes it so much better! The cotija jalapeno scone was okay- I probably wouldn't get it again. I'm not the biggest fan of cotija in general- it's too mild for me... overall not a bad scone, just not for me. A very foamy latte- yum! Overall, I would highly recommend! You must get the cinnamon roll!

Great coffee spot and got myself 2 bags of coffee beans…read more They mainly have medium roast but they still taste very bold

Parking is street. It was busy when we arrived with 3-4 in line and 3-4 waiting for drinks…read more They were churning them out tho and the line moved pretty quickly. As I saw online, they were already sold out of banana bread around 1pm. Bummer. I chose an oat milk latte ($1.50 up charge for oat milk) which was pretty good.

Great service & menu with a quiet atmosphere to work remote or hang out with friends.read more

My friend and I came here for brunch today. We tarted with maple cinnamon lattes which were 5/5…read moreperfect amount of sweetness really good coffee!!! For food we had the BECCA which was very good, had a delicious aioli on it and the bacon was crispy and delicious. We also had the sausage Sammy which was good, the sauce didn't carry the flavor and spice I was hoping for, so it mostly tasted like classic sausage and egg with fresh spinach, overall well made but not my favorite. The service was great, staff was so kind and attentive. The vibe was modern and cozy, good place to do some school work or to chat with friends. I would definitely recommend

To start the breakfast croissant sandwich I got was was AMAZING ! The bacon was the best part but…read morelike all of it was so so so good. The place is really cute but pretty small, it was crowded when I went but our food and drinks came out incredibly quickly so I was satisfied.

A solid spot for brunch in Ithaca!…read more I wish it was located a tad closer to c-town, but when the weather is warm it is actually quite a nice walk (still definitely walkable even in the winter)! We tried the breakfast croissant, the breakfast burrito, and crepes. We also ordered a hot Razz Mocha and an iced matcha (both with oat milk). I wish they had more milk varieties (only had whole and oat). Everything except the matcha was super tasty! I really loved the razz mocha- I will definitely be ordering this again. The crepes were my favorite entree- slightly thicker than your typical crepe, more of a chew. Nonetheless, very yummy. I like the berry compote and whipped cream. I enjoyed the croissant sandwich- ours had lox and egg. Too much egg, but perhaps the right amount of egg if you just want an egg sandwich without meat... Burrito was fine, though a tad watery. There was a bit of a line when we came- Saturday around noon and not much seating. We took our food to-go. Better to come when the weather is warmer- there is more seating under the tend in the back. Have heard mixed things about their other dishes, but I will definitely be returning!

Nestled between two popular Collegetown spots, Le Cafe is a charming new Korean cafe with a cozy…read morevibe. The first noticeable thing when you enter is undoubtably the welcoming ambiance, accentuated by the flowers and fairy lights. This place feels like it belongs in Commons rather than Collegetown. Ctown doesn't really have a lot of cafes beyond Cornell campus so I was initially excited for a nice change of scenery. However, I must say that I'm slightly disappointed. The staff were extremely friendly during the times I visited. They offer a variety of reasonably priced drinks such as their homemade fruit juice. I've tried their grape juice and it was VERY sweet -- consider yourself warned! Their kimbap is okay, but I probably wouldn't get it again. Their snack and drinks corner is absolutely adorable and makes it easy for those that want grab-and-go snack or beverage. It's super charming and makes Asian snacks accessible, saving you a trip to the Asian supermarket. As a group study spot, I probably wouldn't recommend it! The area could feel a bit tight. I came with a friend for a study session and the tables weren't big enough to hold both of our laptops. There's also seats near the windows and and blue sofas to sit but for both, you would have to work at an awkward angle. Overall, it's a good place to hang out casually with friends or to do a coffee chat.

So delicious with excellent service!! Kimbap, bulgogi, and fruitade are all amazing, highly…read morerecommend

Delicious coffee!! Loved the medium dark roast latte here…read more They're located inside a local supermarket too

Best cortado and cappuccino ever! In Ithaca area for a few days and needed good espresso drinks…read more Shop is located in a grocery coop with nice indoor and outdoor seating. Tried both a cortado and cappuccino and both were outstanding! Service was also excellent! Highly recommend 40 Weight!