Unique mac and cheese and good gnocchi!…read more I am debating giving the rook 3 or 4 stars... I was not a fan of the salmon mousse... far too salty and I wish it was paired with crisped bread or at least something other than Ritz crackers. I did, however, enjoy the presentation and taste of the macaroni au gratin. The square shape is very unique and I liked the cheese sauce. The lamb w gnocchi was also quite good. Pillowy and soft. The lamb was cooked well. Overall, I would maybe return. I enjoyed the macaroni au gratin as well as the lamb w gnocchi!

Loved the Rook's design choices, filled with anthropomorphic art and light yet refined ambiance…read more It wasn't too crowded when we arrived and we were seated immediately. Staff was pleasant and quick. The menu is dominated by drink options (cocktails and wines), and happy hour is 4-5pm, which is perfect for an aperitif. The fried chicken is by far their speciality, with the macaroni coming in as a distant second. But while both were delicious, I'd say the best value and taste goes surprisingly to the simple summer salad, which was crisp, sweet, tangy, and refreshing. It's only $10 for a hefty portion of food and I'd order that again anytime (and that's coming from a guy who'd never normally order a salad). My only criticisms are that the Rook doesn't have many entree choices (which may be a good thing for indecisive diners), and that it's very slightly pricey. Otherwise, it's an easy recommend for me.

The atmosphere is cozy and has a homey vibe. The staff is always pleasant. Get classic drinks are…read moregreat. Not a huge fan of there signature drinks.

I really enjoyed Bar Argos. My girlfriend and I wandered in right at 4 pm - opening time lol - and…read morewere immediately greeted by a woman who checked our IDs and handed us menus with quiet efficiency. The place was totally empty, which is to expected at that time. Bar Argos is definitely a vibe. Think: antique chic with a touch of eccentric elegance. Ornate chairs, old-school lamps, and fancy mismatched furniture are scattered throughout, making you feel like you've wandered into a vintage movie set where cocktails play a leading role. There are multiple rooms, including one with a long table and huge windows that let the light spill in dramatically. I was lowkey stunned by how pretty it all was. Girlfriend and I shared the Clarified Lassi ($13), which is under the "Delightfully Unusual" section of their cocktail spectrum - right in between "Colloquial" and "What?!" It was fruity, creamy, and weird in a cool, sophisticated way. My Hotelie friend later explained in the car (upon mention of the drink) that clarified cocktails use a process where milk is added to a mixed drink and then curdled on purpose. The curds trap impurities, and when you strain them out, you're left with a crystal-clear drink that still has the creamy mouthfeel. Definitely checks out with the Clarified Lassi that we drank... Overall, the experience felt like stepping into a fancy secret. 10/10 would come back, undoubtedly!!

We stayed at the Statler Hotel for work and enjoyed dinner here both nights. Not pictured are all…read morethe appetizers we devoured (crab dip, chicken bites, sweet potato fries, and the fried polenta). I personally wasn't a fan of the fried polenta, but also did not try it with the sauce. The first night I tried their lavender lemonade (non alcoholic), which I thought was good, but fell in with the Lemon Tree cocktail the second night. Both nights I ordered the "burger of the month" which was a pesto burger. I added bacon and asked for a Caesar salad instead of fries. We ordered two of the chicken bites so the group could try both sauces, but since I'm not a fan of spicy, I only tried the honey truffle one and loved it. Our servers were very nice and patient (we were a group of about 10), and if I'm ever back in town, I'll be sure to try some of the other entrees!

The Regent Lounge is one of those hidden gems that never misses. The food is consistently…read moredelicious, the drinks are thoughtfully crafted, and the vibe strikes the perfect balance between relaxed and elevated -- whether you're out for date night or catching up with friends. What truly sets this place apart, though, is the staff. Lowell and Brooke are fantastic!!!Every time I visit, I'm met with genuine hospitality, great recommendations, and the kind of service that makes you want to come back again and again. It's one of my favorite spots in the area -- cozy, stylish, and always a good time.

I've had brunch, lunch, and dinner at MIX, and all with varying levels of enjoyment. My recent…read morebrunch experience included ordering a Where the West Begins omelette, which includes "Braised short rib, butternut squash, red onion jam, spinach, smoked gouda". I wasn't sure how to feel about butternut squash with everything else (I'm not necessarily a huge squash fan - but I'm trying to learn to enjoy it), but the omelette was decent... it's the other side on my plate that looked less than appetizing. The biscuit was still covered in flour (and who wants to bite down on a clump of flour?), the cheddar hashbrown casserole lacked in flavor, and the brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal just... wasn't doin' it for me. Other recent experiences have been similar... there's usually one item on the plate that's flavorful or imventive (sometimes a main dish, sometimes a side), and the other parts of the plate are lacking. In reality, I think MIX is suffering a bit from rising food costs and inconsistency in their service and offerings. They've also changed the style of their menu from the original tapas-style to now being more typical entree options. Again... they've lost some of their innovative, experimental approach. In terms of ambiance, it really depends. I've been here for a work event and, because of the number of people, it was SO LOUD... they had also done a buffet offering for the event. As you can imagine, the food from the buffet was lacking, but that's often what happens when you're more mass producing your food (and it's left in a chafing dish, trying to be kept warm). On the other hand, I've been here for a dinner on a random night and was able to enjoy one of their Thai noodle bowls (and split some other apps with friends). The reality is that experiences at MIX are... well... a mix. Whether service, menu offerings, etc., I've found MIX's recent inconsistencies to be a disappointment. Will probably only visit in the future if it's suggested by others.

we made a resy for 5 for a wednesday night dinner, not crowded at all and our server was the most…read moredarling lady. she checked on us many times and would call us "love" after she would take our orders or give us more water. it was very nice and homey. we came here initially because in the past it's been a tapas place and we were looking forward to sharing small plates. unfortunately they changed their menu so they mostly do individual entrees now with a plethora of options from spaghetti to steak to burgers to thai noodles (lots of options) thai mussel bowl - 3/5 mussels a little ocean-y fishy tasting and the thai sauce a little liquidy brazilian cheesy bread gluten free 4/5 - yum appetizers delicious crunchy with cheese inside. the red dipping sauce was just tomato sauce a little strange but not bad osco bucco 3/5 - a little salty but a solid pork shoulder. the gnocci was also fried which was interesting italian sub with house salad 4/5 - good solid sub, i could only finish half and ate my entire side salad which had nice breaded croutons (not the dense thick ones) red clam linguine 4/5 - not bad, only about 4 clams but some more inside the pasta penne alla vodka 3.5/5 - a solid pasta nothing special

This little bistro is my favorite dining spot in downtown. It has an inviting feel as soon as you…read morearrive. Thursdays special are mussels. They are the sweetest little morsels swimming in a bowl of the most delicious wine shallot and fennel sauce. Thankfully we were t left with a spoon, yum. My dining companion had them as well. We split the fennel salad and I begrudgingly shared the olives. I asked our server for more olives and we all had a good laugh. She thought I was kidding. We each had an N/A cocktail. Mine with cucumber and my friend had the one with ginger. They were very good. They have a wonderful wine list. Additionally, they have their house wines on draft. Wonderful idea. I just love this place. So, when in Ithaca It's a must. You will love the food, service and comfort of the restaurant.

One of the better restaurants in Ithaca!…read more I enjoyed the coursing- they did a very good job with timing. Service in general was very good. I also like the flowers on the dishes. I came with a friend and we tried the pear appetizer, mussels, leek and gruyere tart, and the ricotta gnocchi. Honestly, everything was really good. The gnocchi was pillowy and the tart did not have a soggy bottom. For dessert we tried the Pear frangipane which was also good. Quite a strong almond flavor and a little on the sweet side. Overall very good, I would recommend!

What a quaint spot! So much greenery! I sat in a gorgeous corner by the window. It felt so luxe…read more The lavender mocktail was delicious. I ordered a vegetable flatbread and it was so good and healthy. The staff were upbeat and friendly.

A decent place for a cocktail. I enjoy the fact that they are part coffeeshop part cocktail bar…read more The atmosphere is quite eclectic with all of the plants and dim lighting in the evening. We went for a smaller bite and a drink. The BBQ chicken sliders were pretty good, though nothing particularly special. The dark and stormy was the drink special of the night at $7, so we opted for that. The dark and stormy was also nothing to write home about, but was a good dark and stormy nonetheless. We also got a bottle of the Ithaca Apricot Wheat Ale. There weren't many tap options which I feel is something that could be improved. They do have a couple of unique drinks on the menu that I would like to try (the chai cocktail and the blackberry mojito). Overall, I would be back to try the other drinks and enjoyed my time at The Greenhouse.

Friendly, cozy, retro-inspired cocktail bar in the West End. Nice range of signature cocktails,…read moredraft beers..Plus snack machines, a dessert case and vintage movies streaming on a big screen. Such a great addition to the neighborhood.

Great drinks, cute vibe; wish it wasn't so dark inside but amazing otherwise, the bartender was…read morelovely

Must visit! Five stars! I visited years ago and somehow never got around to leaving a review, but I…read moreremember having a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was great, the service was friendly, and everything came together for an enjoyable visit. Even after all this time, it's one of those places I look back on positively. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

We discovered a good Mexican restaurant by passing by the Bickering Twins. We liked how the…read morerestaurant offered happy hour. The food tasted pretty good. I ordered the fish tacos. The tacos came with sliced avocados, turnips, and lettuce. The plantains tasted a bit over cooked. We did not have to wait for our food long. We ate downstairs and we wanted to enjoy the ambiance.

Excellent bicycle themed bar in Ithaca. They have a great cocktail selection and ever evolving tap…read morecollection. Love the atmosphere here. The bartenders are friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. Great spot for live music too!

Easy 5 stars. Great atmosphere and they always have hard to find and excellent beer on tap like…read moreMaine lunch. Bartenders are well informed and very helpful. Love this place!

We had a most excellent drink experience here. First time staying the night in Ithaca. Went into…read morethis bar solely for its name but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of craft cocktails. The bartender was excellent and friendly. Atmosphere was quiet and respectful

This is a sad review for me to write because my husband, friend, and I regularly started our…read moreevenings out downtown by getting a cocktail here. We loved the atmosphere and menu. We have found some of the bartenders to be stand-offish and would only call one of them really friendly, but that just rolled off our shoulders - all three of us are industry veterans. I have never in my entire career as a server and bartender (and customer) observed an interaction like the one we had Friday night. The bartender was so incredibly rude to my friend that we will never return.