Protagonist is such a gem. Locally owned and operated, they have a great selection of books and…read moregifts, as well as tasty drinks! If you want to stay awhile and get work done, the cafe offers public WiFi and quant, homey seating. I also appreciate how community-minded this place is, and loved seeing flyers and posters from various programs and organizations from around the area.

I have PTSD and cannot go here. Was looking for a safe space but I was met with the opposite. Their…read morewindow decal needs to come with a trigger warning.

This is one of my favorite places to come for good food, good vibes, and good beers. I'm a little…read moreindecisive so I always get a flight to try a few because they have a large list to choose from and you can try 4 with their flights. We went a little after they opened and it was a great time because it wasn't too busy. Any time I drive by the parking lot is full. They have parking in the front and around the right side of the building. I tried the Meier's Creek Choccy Milk, Other Half BA 10X Bananaversary, TALEA Beer Hibiscus Splash, and Allagash Allagash White and I enjoyed all of them. The bathrooms were clean and easy to find and I can't wait to go back in the spring/summer to check out their outside seating because they have about 15 tables. They also host a game night and have live music. Definitely a hotspot in the Ithaca area.

I stopped by Brewer's the other day, a place I hadn't been in years, and it was a pleasure to see…read morehow they've evolved since their debut. The food menu is now several pages long, including tried-and-true favorites (many gourmet burger varieties, chicken sandwiches (with a Nashville Hot style option), nachos, wings, and salads . . . plus more intriguing fare like kimchi tater tots, a tuna poke bowl, and pork belly burnt ends. The inside has a gorgeous polished wooden bar in the middle for socializing; and while the inside can get crowded at peak times, keep in mind there's an enormous beer garden out back with about 15 picnic tables. And with a well-curated selection of two dozen beers on draft, you're sure to find something you like. But here's the amazing part about my visit: despite it being a weekend evening at the height of the dinner rush, our food came out in less than 10 minutes. And it was SO YUMMY. So keep in mind that, even if the parking lot looks full, there's almost always plenty of room out back. The two folks on the wait staff we interacted with were super nice, down to earth, and did a great job. The ordering process is a little confusing at first if you haven't been there, but the staff members was really helpful at walking us through it. Bottom line: Brewer's is the kind of neighborhood joint that's all too rare in these parts. Highly recommend!

I absolutely love Coffee Mania! Their drinks are always amazing, the staff is always friendly, and…read moretheir baked goods are always delicious. This location specifically can be a little tricky to get in and out of, but that's about the only downside. If you're in Cortland, this is definitely a place to check out!

It's very easy to overlook this small drive-up coffee shop as you drive through Cortland on Port…read moreWatson Street, but - as I discovered from my sister-in-law who lives in the area - locals know it as "the place" to pick up their morning/afternoon/evening (or whenever!) coffee! Why? Because they have all sorts of good coffee and lots of different kinds of flavor shots, if you're into that sort of thing. They also have a great variety of muffins, scones, rice krispy bars, etc, if you'd like to take along a little snack. And... wow, are they friendly! Always pleasant and extremely welcoming. I live out of town, but whenever I happen to be in the Cortland, NY area, I always see my Google Maps app to take me to Coffee Mania on Port Watson Street. By the way, this is only a drive-up establishment - no place to sit and put your feet up - but grab that great cup of coffee (and maybe a tasty snack) and head off to wherever you're going. Even though you may not know me, you'll thank me for steering you there!

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.

Lots of coffee choices - my latte was great. Just a few pastry choices for food but my cinnamon…read moreroll was really good! One in our group had a scone which she loved too. Large enough place to have tables, window stool seating & a comfy couch. Nice atmosphere with plants everywhere. Early on a Saturday morning during college break it was very quiet so we took our time. Would recommend & return if in the area again.

Holy Grounds is a great locally owned coffee shop! The shop itself is so cute, and a great space to…read morerelax and sip your coffee. It also has. Convenient drive thru, just in case you need a quick caffeine fix. I tried one of their winter specials, a Winter Swirl Latte and it was DELICIOUS! They also brew Recess Coffee, another local business from Syracuse. They're super committed to locally owned, and that's amazing.

My husband and I have been looking for a locally owned coffee shop in the Elmira area for quite…read moresome time. We decided to give this place a try, and it was totally worth it! Although it's not near the hustle and bustle/shops, it's definitely worth the short trek off the highway! We absolutely loved our lattes (we each got the pumpkin cloud, one hot and one iced). The flavors were so good! The baristas were so friendly and the vibes were immaculate! Oh and there's a drive thru! We will def be back!!

Stopped in to get a cappuccino... it was great, so were the muffins... I had blueberry... cool…read moreatmosphere and the bathrooms were super clean .... Nice !!!

Quick and friendly service with great choices! Everything was just as we ordered (a latte with oat…read moremilk and a caramel drink) delicious!

I absolutely love this coffee shop! I work at the dance studio that's in the same mall, and it is…read morewonderful to be able to run in and grab a quick drink or snack. The staff is always lovely, the food and drinks are stellar, and the atmosphere is very calm. It can be quite busy, especially when they have bands playing, but they always do their best to get you in quickly. And even if it is busy, there is plenty of seating. One of my favorite spots to bring my out of town friends!

Great prices and super fast service. Oftentimes when you choose a local coffee shop over the chains…read moreyou're sacrificing something. Definitely not the case with Bru. Great atmosphere, baked goods, and drinks all at a fantastic price

Fantastic service and atmosphere. I adore this witchy, bookish tea & coffee shop. The background…read moremusic is on point and made me feel like my junky laptop and I were plunked down in the middle of a Jane Austen novel. The employee was so affable and sincere with every customer even when it got crowded and hectic, giving the kind of service one sees only in cozy, fictional small towns of long ago sitcoms. This whole place was the perfect autumnal treat i needed. Onion garlic cream cheese on a breakfast bagel hit the spot and the Pumpkin Hot Cocoa as well as Iced Lavender Vanilla Latte are both to die for.

I had no idea how badly I need this charming spot in my life. First off, bookstore AND coffee??? Is…read moreit Christmas??? And then I chose the 'barista' favorite 'Mocha Pistachio Latte' - oh boy! Talk about 'spellbound' - that coffee is magic! Charming server behind the counter. And did I mention the craft room for special classes? I may be in love. I will definitely be back!

Love it ! I ordered the egg and olive sandwich, with gluten…read morefree bread option. It was delicious and perfect size for my tummy. Highly recommended when you are visiting Skaneateles. I'm sorry I was so hungry that I took a bite before I took the photo.

TLDR; decent food, bad service, unclean practices, beware of 3% up charge if paying with card…read more Stopped by for some sandwiches on a Saturday afternoon, and the line was out the door. The roast chicken breast ($11.50), BLT ($10), and smoked turkey ($12) were all pretty good, standard sandwiches. Didn't try any desserts or drinks, though the coffee options seemed popular. Service was subpar and very unpleasant, as some other reviews here mention - the young girls working the register and the man making the sandwiches all seemed like they didn't want to be there, and were not very kind. They also don't use gloves when making sandwiches. Also beware that they upcharge 3% if paying with card - mentioned on a small slip of paper near the register. They seemed to already have factored this in, despite the fact that we paid with cash. Overall, unfortunately would not return, nor recommend.