Unique mac and cheese and good gnocchi! 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! read more

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Loved the Rook's design choices, filled with anthropomorphic art and light yet refined ambiance. 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. read more

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A friend and I tried the Rook based on a recommendation, and I thought it was a solid spot. One of the highlights was the friendly and welcoming service throughout the meal. We were able to find a table on a Friday evening without a reservation, and I appreciated the casual ambience. I had heard about the duck fat frites and how good they were, so I ordered the cheeseburger (which comes with a side of fries). The burger was well-seasoned though I wished they had used a sharper style of cheddar or an alternate cheese. The fries were tasty, and I thought it was a great meal overall. I'd definitely try this spot again when I'm in Ithaca in the future. read more

Knowledgeable staff, pleasant atmosphere, good food and great drinks! My family took me here for my birthday and it didn't disappoint. I would definitely go again. Unfortunately they don't take reservations so get there early as it has limited seating. read more

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The Rook is a very nice clean place, with very good service. We had the arancini and bacon wrapped dates. The dates were very good. The arancini's were very basic and bland. The menu mentioned they had crimini in them but they didn't taste like anything really. My wife had the duck fat fried chicken over collard greens. It was a good dish. I had the pork tenderloin schnitzel with spaetzle. The schnitzel was a little on the dry side, but tasty, and the spaetzle was not good at all. It tasted like it was premade, not fresh made to order. They were like little bits of rubber. There were plenty of alcohol options, but little soft drinks options. I would say it was an 'ok' dining experience. read more

This place is so delicious! We were looking for a place to celebrate my mom's birthday and this was the perfect spot. It's located on a corner street that has street parking available all around. It's a cute little restaurant in Ithaca that has limited seating and doesn't take reservations but their bar is perfect for a place to grab a drink while you wait. I got the catch a cannonball cocktail and it was so refreshing. My sister in law has a gluten allergy and they were more than accommodating. Our waiter went down the menu item by item to let her know about what was safe to eat or of any shared fryer concerns. Wait staff was definitely top tier and so attentive. The pictures don't do the food justice! Portion sizes were pretty big and everything was packed with great flavor. I got the cheeseburger with fries and I could eat those fries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Everyone at the table was trying to grab a few. I'm just bummed I was too full to try any dessert. Then when we were ready for our check they gave us the cutest post card with it. I will definitely be back soon! read more

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A nice option in the area for a menu with some good twists. The specials were especially good. Some things were hit or miss but our server was our kind of guy and that added to the experience. Highlight was the sauce that came with the aracini. read more

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First time there; the ambiance was quaint and service was friendly. It's location is a suite in a multi-business complex (first floor). Its quite small with only a hand full of tables. The feel is eclectic and modern. However, the food was JUST ok.....I got the salmon and my husband got the burger. His burger was a little too dry but in fairness, he did ask for well done. The flavor was just not a stand-out. My salmon was OK but not stellar as the waiter described. I'm not sure I would search this place out again. read more

Great little restaurant, excellent wine and cocktail offerings. Get the date appetizer and the burger. Wonderful service.

Service was great. Drinks were great. Ambience was really nice. The food isn't anything special. The fried chicken was a nice size and cooked beautifully but had almost no flavor. The Salmon has too many ingredients to my liking that didn't taste great together. Wasn't horrible, but definitely not worth going back to. read more

I stopped in while I was in Ithaca for a conference. I was not disappointed. Great service and excellent food.

Came here on a weekday evening and the restaurant was about half full. It's a pretty dimly lit restaurant that feels homey like a southern restaurant but also has elements of a more boujee place. Overall, I had a good time here. I was really looking forward to ordering the pork roast, but they told me they had run out. That kinda sucked because the menu is already small enough, and many items on the menu I already can't eat because I am lactose intolerant. I pivoted to the salmon, which was cooked well and the seasonings were good. However, it was definitely on the pricier side ($26). Service was quick and efficient. read more

The Rook - Salmon - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Very professional service. Well prepared beautifully presented food. Unfortunately no vegan options. Very meat forward menu.

Excellent service and excellent drinks. The food was somewhat hit and miss. The grilled dates were great, the cheese plate was fine. As for the entrees, the opinions were mixed as well. The schnitzel was good and paired with a refreshing cucumber salad, but one person who ordered it thought that the spatzel (which had mushrooms) needed something mire- either the traditional red cabbage or something with a citrus flavor. Similar feelings about the salmon, with one person loving it and one person thing it was just all right. Overall, it's a great place for drinks and has wonderful service. The food is a little more limited in choice and can be hit or miss. read more

Great food and great service. The food was excellent. Wife had seasonal pasta and a caperall spritzer said it was the best she ever tasted.

The food is delicious and worth the $. They don't take reservations but it doesn't seem to be a problem. Service is adequate.

Great food - loved the burger with bacon and duckfries. awesome beer and music selection I highly recommend The Rook! My only critique would be loose the white overhead lighting! read more

went to dinner the other night and ordered the fried chicken. When I received my meal I opened up the chicken to make sure it was cooked to the bone. One piece appeared to be pink and bloody near the bone. I brought this to the attention of the waiter and he proceeded to tell me it's Fully cooked and that's the way they make it so it's safe to eat. Am I wrong to think the chicken i was served was not cooked All the way? Am I wrong to think that he should have taken it back to the kitchen to let the cook decide. The other piece was cooked to the bone. I was given one glass of water because he never came back to my table, so I never received or was asked if I wanted a refill. read more

The Rook - Is this piece of chicken cooked? - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

The Rook serves big flavors in a trendy setting. I think this is great for date nights. The restaurant was small but felt roomy and comfortable because tables are not crammed near one another. There is indoor and outdoor seating. There are also two individual restroom stalls for use. I tried the collard greens and smoked BBQ pork. The flavoring was on point and every bite was consistently delicious! The collard greens were tender and the pork was very soft. The cole slaw was light and citrusy, marrying nicely with the meal. The main dish also came with as sweet bun and sausage. I did not care so much for the sausage, but everything else was cool. read more

Tonight I had my absolute favorite meal in Ithaca, at The Rook. Service was wonderful. Our server made great recommendations and was very charming and warm. The food was next level delicious. Our appetizers - wrapped dates and arancini were excellent. My pork schnitzel was superb - perfectly cooked (tender, moist, crisply breaded, well accompanied). We opted for desert and our cake was great - mascarpone with fruit and nice sour cream. One of the better meals I have had in some time. The outdoor patio was relaxing - though if you want to avoid the occasional road noise the inside looked nice. read more

As always thanks to yelp for the dinner recommendation! My family and I came on a Saturday tonight for dinner and it was hands-down one of our favorite meals of our trip. They have a pretty small menu but there are a variety of items to pick from. We ordered a bunch to share and every dish was a hit. We ordered their special of the day which happened to be mac & cheese and this is something that you should not skip on! It was tasty and creamy and I highly suggest it if they have it. We got a half a rack of ribs ($15) and the meat was tender. I will say that the house BBQ sauce was a bit on the salty side for me but nonetheless it was still savory. Their duck fat fried chicken ($11). It was perfectly breaded and fried and my parents could not stop raving about it. The meat inside was juicy and each bite had the perfect crunch. The summer cavatelli ($16) comes with red onion, pomodoro, and squash and all the flavors came together really well. The Caesar salad ($7) which comes with red onion, house caesar, and parmesan. This was a good balance to all the carbs we were having. Lastly, we got got an order of the grilled dates ($6). This comes with 3 pieces and it's just a burst of different flavors. There's the goat cheese, bacon, sweetness from the dates, and crunch from the almond in the middle. The flavor combinations to this is super unique and I have never had anything like it before! Our server was attentive and ensured that our food came out quickly. The atmosphere was pretty laid back and casual. This establishment only offers outdoor dining at the moment and they're pet friendly which is also a plus! 10/10 would recommend this to anyone who's looking for a delicious meal in the area! read more

The Rook - Assorted food items including a salad with onions, pasta with cheese, glazed ribs, fried chicken, and macaroni and cheese on a wooden table. - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Totally agree with this, which I just noticed, from another review, its my complaint "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." I have gone to the Rook since they opened, back on State st and used to eat a lovely whole fish (maybe frozen not sure), but over the years the menu seems the same--the same without the fish, so not much to choose from for me, even though I want to patronize them and take friends there when they visit from out of town as there are not many places for nice protein/veg options. Maybe add a few more options, beef, pork, fish, of good quality? read more

This cozy spot in Ithaca was the perfect date spot or restaurant to bring friends! I ordered the burger and my boyfriend went with the salmon. The portions were nice we were able to share with each other since we were jealous of each others choices. I enjoyed the liveliness of this restaurant, friendly staff and lots of people around all enjoying great food makes for a pleasant time. There is a bar and it did not seem overly crowded. Great restaurant! I hope to return! read more

Overall, the experience was underwhelming. Love a high quality neighborhood restaurant but the setting did not meet the expectations. Seating was flawless and the Arancini was excellent. After that it was underwhelming. The choice of wine by glass is too limited. The main dishes were less than average. Burger joints serve better burgers and the schnitzel was just okay...not even close to what a schnitzel should be. With so few entrees to choose from, the dishes should be layered with flavors and perfectly prepared. We enjoyed the coffee and espresso which were good. read more

Incredible service, staff were kind and attentive, absolutely delicious food, beautiful ambiance.

Absolutely great, slightly upscale restaurant in Ithaca. Started with a sangria which was made so well and strong. The gnocchi with kale and other veggies and cheese was very fresh, light, and tasty. The duck fat fried chicken was probably our favorite, very flavorful and enjoyable! Would definitely eat here again, great for a cute date night or when you're feeling a little bougie read more

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I got takeout for dinner with my friend after a long day of hiking and waterfalls, and the staff was very friendly : ). We ordered the duck fat fried chicken, which was crispy, tender, and flavorful. We also got the shrimp salad sandwich, which I was not impressed with. While refreshing, I was disappointed in the size and texture of the shrimp. I guess I was expecting something different... it wasn't bad, it was just okay. As a side dish, we ordered the ham braised collard greens, which were exceptionally tasty. We also got drinks : ) mine was the echo something, which I believe had tequila, grapefruit juice, maybe lime, and was exactly what I needed to chill. If I were to redo my order, I'd get more fried chicken and order an additional side, but not get the shrimp salad sandwich. Hope this is helpful! read more

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Celebrated my birthday here and we really enjoyed the fried chicken, which was so flavorful and crispy with each bite! read more

The Rook - A bright orange cocktail garnished with a dried orange slice is placed on a wooden table, with a glass of iced tea and a white plate in the background. - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Pretty disappointed by this restaurant. We started off with the bacon wrapped dates but they were just far too sweet. I ordered the fried chicken (based on other reviews) and unfortunately the chicken was under seasoned but the collard greens were overly salty. I ate them together to even out the flavor profile. My fiancé got the schnitzel and said it wasn't anything special. The service was good and we were seated quickly. The ambience is like a more upscale pub. I still think I would come back to give this place another try! read more

It's fine. I think our expectations were too high, particularly when we opted not to get the fried chicken from a food truck at a brewery we visited before coming here. The duck fat fried chicken was dark-meat and boneless. The coating was crumbly-thin. We paid for the side of hot-ish sauce to dip it in, which helped with the flavor that was otherwise mild without it. We love duck fat fried anything -- we have duck fat in the fridge as we speak --but didn't really taste it on the chicken. The cavatelli was fine. The corn elote cobs were delicious, and were our favorite. A couple next to us was raving about the bacon-wrapped dates...so we regret not getting those. The servers don't mingle too much, though I suspect due to covid concerns? When the bill came, we noticed that they automatically added a 15% tip. A surprise. When the credit card was ran and the receipt came, there was still a tip line (to which we added some $ bc we wanted to tip more than 15%). This has happened to us in another restaurant before, but the server told us about the automatic tip Wish they fid that here. read more

The Rook - Duck fat fried chicken, summer cabatelli, grilled elote - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

(4.5 stars) Dinner here was lovely, very relaxing yet intimate vibes, has that true neighborhood feels. Loved the fries and fried chicken, though I was hoping for a little more heat especially with the added spice. The house hot sauce was super tasty but didn't have much heat. Make sure to get some, used it with the French fries too. read more

The Rook - Fried chicken - A plate of fried chicken with a knife, served with two small cups of dipping sauces, is shown on a wooden table. In the background, a bowl of fries with ketchup is visible. - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

We enjoyed a wonderful meal at The Rook on a recent trip to Ithaca. Their creative use of their outdoor space provides a lot of fresh-air seating that is covered from the elements. (It rained during our meal and we stayed happy and dry!) The cocktail menu is great and the bacon/date appetizer just knocked my socks off! The entrees and sides were all stellar. I enjoyed my ribs and collard greens with abandon. A wonderful evening - recommended! read more

Well we picked up order . Warm Dates with bacon . That was good and tasty . Then we ordered baby back ribs . It was ok . First of all the ribs had hardly any meat in them . Cheap quality product for sure . Then we got fried chicken . Very plain hardly seasoned . Plus you had to pay extra for sauce . Nope not visiting this place again . Staff was super friendly and nice . It's time to change menu and perhaps change the chef . read more

If you're looking for a chill vibe with good food, you should give The Rook a shot. This place does a good job of balancing a laid back feel with upscale. The bar is one corner of the restaurant, with the open kitchen on the opposite corner, which means that you feel close to the action wherever you're sitting. I've tried a lot of things on their menu now - their schnitzel, spaetzle, flank steak, fried chicken, salmon, roasted squash - and I've loved everything apart from the fried chicken, which I think could do with better breading and vegetable sides that give the dish a brighter pop of color (though I have super high standards because I used to live in the south). Some of the food rotates depending on the season, and some of them stay on the menu, but with different sides/preparations. The salmon, for example, has been done with farro or potatoes. No matter what, the presentation is generally top notch. Major downsides of course, are that it's pricey, and the food is heavy, so get ready for a heart attack (from the bill and food/drinks lol) afterwards. read more

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Awesome experience Nice modern space very quick and professional service and just great food

I truly wanted to give this spot more than three stars but it really disappointed. For starters the staff is super friendly! Had us sit wherever we liked and service was quick. The drinks are boozy and there's some awesome beer options! Sad to report...the food was very disappointing. Ordered the fried chicken sammy, the portion was huge but the chicken was not overly flavorful, the texture was slimy, and we ended up not even finishing it. The Caesar salad was under dressed and nothing special. The redeeming food item was the collard greens! When there's good chunks of pork in your collards, I'm SOLD. The sole reason for the three star- if you're going to identify as a fried chicken joint, the chicken better POP OFF. If you like a well made boozy drink- this place is it! read more

Delicious everything. They've got a bartender that'll serve you the best GD cocktail you've ever had and the kitchen staff is serving up some of the most delicious multi cultural food you've ever seen. They have awesome rotating artists that display their beautiful rations on their walls. They also have an amazing outdoor covered patio for hanging with some buds. Who else has okocim on draft!? read more

This place was lovely. Ate here the night before a half marathon. The food was amazing. The service was top notch. We had bacon wrapped dates as an appetizer and I'm not kidding I could have had entire meal of them. So delicious. read more

We were a walk in and didn't have to wait long even though the place was packed. The server was very attentive and the ambience reeked of community - which was awesome! I got a burger and it was ridiculously good. Actually everything we got was packed with flavor. Next time I'm in town I will be back. read more

Great place , great atmosphere, food was prepared well , service was great . We were looking for a little place that served locals . Very busy , great crowd - awesome cocktails. Great menu - not too many items ( the way we like it) . We will be back. read more

The Rook - The bar - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York