Impressed on my first visit to this restaurant! After a day of hiking 15 miles on the FLT, we needed to refuel and recover with a drink and dinner. We decided on Bickering Twins, because can you go wrong with Mexican food and a margarita? Luckily we had no wait on a Friday evening at about 7pm. I was worried that since not many people were there it was a bad sign, but that was not the case. We were seated at a nice, sort of private high-top table near the door, which made it feel like we had privacy and our own little space. We ordered drinks, and I wimped out and went with a paloma instead of the tamarind maragarita. The paloma was great, but I'm still wondering whether I shouldn't have risked it. Our group of three decided to get chips & salsa (because why wouldn't you), and then we ordered three dishes to share. Our choices were as follows: Peruvian Ceviche, Birria Quesadilla and Chicken Enchiladas. First of all, the fact that they had ceviche and it was good just hands down made my day. It was good - I only wish there had been some corn kernels served with it. The birria quesadillas weren't what we had expected, but they were very flavorful and the juice was tasty. I Really enjoyed the enchiladas for the mix of flavors and textures. There were so many vegetables with our dishes and the sides of rice and beans were more than filling. My only complaint is that the rice was too much of a yellow rice - I prefer a white rice, but that's just personal preference. Even though we kept the menu at the table anticipating that we would want to order more, we ultimately were stuffed and the portions (while they looked small were actually quite filling!). Jose our server was kind and friendly. I would definitely come back as there are a variety of other meals I would try, and they have flights of Mezcal and Tequila that looked tempting. After a long hard day of hiking, this fabulous meal made the day. We returned to our hotel with sore legs, but our bellies full! read more

Kind of had low expectations but really yummy! Service was not the best and was a bit slow but food was good! Pretty large portions too. We ordered the ceviche as an appetizer which was nice and limey- perhaps too many onions and rather large pieces. We also tried the popstar cocktail which was good- quite strong. For mains we ordered the taco plate with shrimp, chicken tinga, and lengua, plantains and potatoes. I liked the chicken and shrimp tacos the best. The carnitas platter was also very good! I thought that parts of the pork were a tad on the dry side but this is quickly remedied by pairing it with the beans and guac. Now, the star of the show and the reason this review has 4 stars and not 3 is the chipotle chocolate cake. I was expecting the chipotle/pepper flavor to be completely overpowered by the chocolate cake. However, the peppery taste came through! It wasn't spicy per se but it had a very mild kick but was just noticeable enough. The texture of the cake was also great- not your typical flourless chocolate cake, more custardy and creamy almost. Overall, would recommend! Food was solid- I thought the tacos and ceviche were better than the carnitas platter. The cake was the star of the show! read more

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Descending a flight of stairs from street level you'll find this very inviting Mexican restaurant that is under new management and definitely forging a new identity. The atmosphere is relaxed and gives a welcoming vibe. We sat at the bar and the service was fantastic. They have an extensive tequila bar. Their drinks are innovative and flavorful. I was told they have a new chef and the Peruvian ceviche was a fresh take in ceviche. Cucumber, radish and boiled sweet potato were an interesting addition to their mahi mahi ceviche. It was a refreshing and flavorful dish that I would definitely order again read more

Bickering Twins - Peruvian ceviche - Tacos Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Must visit! Five stars! I visited years ago and somehow never got around to leaving a review, but I remember 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! read more

We discovered a good Mexican restaurant by passing by the Bickering Twins. We liked how the restaurant 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. read more

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When I heard/read about the Bickering Twins being open for brunch, I was super excited and I wasn't disappointed. Love the underground location. Staff was very knowledgeable of the brunch menu. The pineapple mimosa was good. The mushroom and herbs omelette was incredible! Not gonna lie, for me, brunch is better than dinner. I'm not sure many people know they're open for brunch, they could market/advertise better but that might takeaway from my next great experience it was not very busy at all at noon. read more

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My friends and I decided to stop here after realizing HaKaCha was closed on a Sunday (cue dramatic music). In our desperation, we stumbled upon Bickering Twins, and it was like finding an oasis. No regrets here - probably the best quick decision we've made in a while. We were all Bickering Twins newbies, and the place did not disappoint. We each ordered the taco platter and they had big portions, two sides, and enough flavor to make you forget all about your closed Sunday cravings. The tacos were on point, and I mean on point. We were all in agreement, but one friend in particular had an emotional moment when she realized they had fried plantains. She's been on a three-year quest to find them in Ithaca, and it finally came to a dramatic, delicious end. Tears may have been shed. The vibes were immaculate. They've got a whole condiment and sauce station, which we all know is the holy grail of dining experiences. Unlimited sauces? Yes, please! It felt like we'd found a secret treasure trove of flavor possibilities. Oh, and they also split the bill three ways for us so we didn't have to do any of the venmoing stuff. Would I come back? Oh, absolutely. read more

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We ate there last Tuesday. We had reservations, but there seemed to be plenty of tables available. Tried a tamarind margarita , which was delightfully tangy. Standout was an order of ceviche for the table- the lime juice cured the fish, and blended nicely with the sweetness of the veggies that it was served with. Most of us had taco platters, all excellent. I tried the carne asada. Slices of seasoned beef served with rice, a griiled jalapeno, black beans and 3 small corn tortillas which allowed me to build my own. Delicious. Great, prompt service. We will try them again. read more

For years, Bickering Twins has, in its unassuming way, reigned as one of the most reliable "go-to" casual restaurants in Ithaca. The food is fresh, tasty, and I've never once had an experience here that was less than terrific. Choose from among a half-dozen taco options, and definitely don't sleep on the garlic shrimp, shaved steak, or potato-poblano flavors. Tacos are available in pairs or as a three-taco entrée platter. There's even a free "salsa station" with salsas, pickled red onions, and other fresh condiments. Stop any day of the week between 4 and 6 p.m. to take advantage of awesome happy hour specials, including $8 taco pairs ($10 for specialty tacos, like mahi-mahi) and $8 house margaritas. While the tacos deservedly take center stage here, Bickering Twins's well-curated menu offers a solid array of appetizers and entrées too. My server raved about the empanada appetizer, and some day -- when I can tear myself away from the jaw-droppingly delicious tacos -- I'll try the lamb barbacoa or the birria quesadilla entrées. All in all: Bickering Twins is the perfect plzce to drop by for authentic, fresh Latin-American fare, authentically prepared with care. A can't-miss! read more

Bickering Twins - A pair of shrimp tacos in the foreground. An open book, water carafe and water glass are in semi-focus in the background. - Tacos Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Vibes are very on point, especially if you're trying to escape the rain, snow, etc. The decor is eclectic and service was nice. Unfortunately I ordered the butternut squash enchiladas. I'm not sure why I thought those would turn out fine. They weren't fine. The enchiladas had things like seeds in them and white cheese with a green Chile sauce. It was overall bland, pricey for a small portion, and it just felt so healthy. It was topped with a generous portion of sliced avocado. They have a sauce bar where they feature handmade sauces. The sauces were delicious and helped me with my meal. Not sure if I'll be back or not. But I recommend that you do not try the butternut squash enchiladas. read more

Bickering Twins - Tacos Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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The name, Bickering Twins made me laugh and the speak easy vibe entrance kept me intrigued. But it was the tacos that lived up to their hype that sold me! I tried the three tacos - al pastore, garlic shrimp, and mahi mahi! Get the fried plantains. They were delicious! The caramelization added the perfect crunch to pair with the gooey textured plantains. The only heads up is the entrance requires going down a steep staircase in case you need assistance. I recommend planning ahead since they don't take reservations and it can get crowded. But it's crowded for good reason! You won't be disappointed here, you'll be craving the food and coming back again and again! Oh and don't forget the guacamole, oh wow! Sooo good! read more

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I had high hopes for Bickering Twins, but it was a major letdown. The enchiladas were the wateriest I've ever had--completely flavorless and falling apart on the plate. The dining room was filthy. Tables and floors were dirty, and it didn't feel like anyone cared to clean up. The condiment bar was just as bad--everything was watered down and tasteless. Nothing had any real texture or seasoning. Service wasn't rude, but it wasn't attentive either. There are better places in town. I won't be going back. read more

We visited during Happy Hour, which runs from 4pm to 6pm and offers a limited menu. We were the first customers, so it was nice and quiet. The staff was prepping for the evening and our waitress, Daisy, was excellent throughout. The tacos were served on fresh corn tortillas and the chips with guacamole were delicious. My favorite was the shrimp and I wish I had only ordered that. The steak was a bit firm and somewhat disappointing, but the potato dish was unique and we really enjoyed it, especially with the sauce on top. The chicken was great, though it had a slight kick to it. read more

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TLDR; dinner for mixed quality of meals and over an hour waiting for dinner to be served made this an unpleasant experience. Seated at 6:45 on a Thursday night, received our chips and salsa after about five minutes. Received our one drink after about 15 minutes. Received our meals after about 65 minutes. On the three taco plate, Shaved steak was not good, steak was chewy and flavorless However the garlic shrimp and the pork were both very good . The quesadilla not great not bad. Pablo's steak salad was again chewy and flavorless meat. Ricky's Carnitas was very good. read more

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I love the food here, I like the mocktails and tacos and the owners are awesome with opening this restaurant up. They have all sorts of food on their menu and it's a lowkey place for a great date. read more

On a long weekend trip to Ithaca. This was one of the few good meals I ate in Ithaca. The restaurant was cozy and and we were seated promptly on arrival. Good service continued into the ordering portion. Got lots of great recommendations, and made friendly small talk with the waiter. Service did fall off a bit later in the meal, but the restaurant was busy, and we had everything we needed, so hard to fault them too much for this. Had chips and salsa appetizer which was good. The salsa was a little on the plain side, but we snagged a bunch of jalapeños from the condiment bar and jazzed them up a bit. I got a jalapeño margarita with mezcal. It was fine, but a bit bland. For $15 I would have rather had just mezcal... too little kick in the marg. My wife got a mango mocktail which also was lacking in spice and really just tasted like mango juice. Not bad, and only $6, but nothing special. I got the Birra quesadillas which were not bad, but again, a little low on flavor. I added jalapeños, which helped, but it would have benefited from something a bit spicier. The beans and rice were really good though, as was the salad. My wife got the squash quesadillas. She really enjoyed them. What I tasted was good, but maybe not worth the price (more expensive than my beef dish). Overall, had a great time and 100% would go back. Would love to have something a bit spicier next time. read more

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This was my second time coming and it was just as great as the first. I started with a Paloma and the reposado tequila tasting, and they both were so good! For my appetizer, I got the beef picadillo and bananas, and they had the perfect crunch and delicious flavor. For my entrée I got the taco platter and ordered the beer battered mahi-mahi, chicken tinga, and the grilled shrimp tacos. They all tasted amazing! My favorite part of the meal was the fried plantains and my waitress Daisy was so helpful and attentive. read more

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Bickering Twins is a very cute restaurant! Although I don't consider them to be authentic Latin American food, it's still pretty tasty! Their chips and salsa are delicious! The salsa has a really nice flavor and consistency. I like to try a new dish every time I go to a restaurant so I've had the chance to try all of their vegan options. When it comes to their plant-based tacos, they do not shine. I first had a mushroom/herb taco and I found it to be very bland. Similarly with the potato tacos, they were missing seasoning. The closest thing I can describe it as is eating unsalted mashed potatoes in a tortilla. However, the toppings with onion, cilantro, and vegan crema saved the overall flavor! I also have tried the baked winter squash enchiladas (made vegan) and I think this is the only plant-based dish on the menu that is worthwhile. The flavor, generous topping of avocado, and portion was stellar! I also really enjoy their side order of fried plantains. The service is generally friendly and quick! The restaurant itself is also pretty cozy and perfect in the winter. I overall enjoy this place, but it's a little pricey and could improve their veg options! read more

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As someone from Southern California, where great Mexican restaurants pepper the area, I found this place perfect! This place does not disappoint. The specials are also very reasonable with plenty of food. The service is amazing and personable. I felt like a family friend! We ordered the chips and guac, and do we split the taco platter. The steak taco, garlic, shrimp, taco, and fried mahi-mahi taco were absolutely delicious. They're not street tacos; in fact, they are fairly large and stuffed. Malika was an amazingly efficient and downright happy server. I wondered if it was her own restaurant with all the care that she gave us. read more

Excellent tacos and margaritas! Love the atmosphere! Beautiful bar! Great service! Vegan option!

Delicious food! The lamb barbacoa dinner was delicious and contained all the elements of a perfect dinner. The generous portion of avocado paired beautifully with the tender lamb and vegetables. The tacos were fantastic as well. My favorite was the shaved steak, followed by the mahi mahi and Al pastor. I will definitely be back to bickering twins! read more

Bickering Twins - Tacos and lamb barbacoa - Tacos Near Me - Ithaca, New York

One of our very favorite restaurants anywhere! The food is terrific, the service and servers are really nice, and the ambiance is perfect, with two beautiful areas for seating and a gorgeous bar. We love it. read more

Mark did a great job taking care of us on taco Tuesday. Our meal was fabulous and we had quite a selection to choose from. Taco Tuesday means 10% off your 3 taco meal plus a $1 off the house margaritas. We indulged. In fact we over indulged. We started with their delicious homemade guacamole and fresh chips. The chips were light, crispy and not to salty. The guacamole was fresh and simple. If it had more than smashed avocados I would be surprised. The guacamole was served with some chopped onions and cilantro on top. For our meals, Tom got a trio of meat tacos with two sides. His side choices were black beans and fried plantains. Being a sweet eater he commented about how caramelized the plantains were and delicious. He enjoyed his tacos but didn't offer much else as far as comments. His first visit. I loved my three tacos. For one taco, I had the potato and poblano minus the cheese and aioli which made it vegan. For my other two tacos, I got the sweet potato and black bean tacos. They were topped with white corn. My new favorite taco. So much flavor. The portion sizes were generous, too. For my sides, I ordered the rice and back beans. All their sides are vegan and delicious. The corn taco shells seem to be homemade and made fresh with each order. My 3rd or 4th visit. On the side of our taco platters we had a large wedge of lime to squeeze fresh lime juice on our entire meal. To me that's all the accompaniments needed. However, there is a salsa bar with pickled jalapeños and red onions plus two types of salsa. One salsa is milder than the other and both offer a lot of flavor. Overall, we had a great experience and would definitely return for act 2 or 22. read more

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The food is always AMAZING here. Fresh, tasty, and unique. The service is always friendly, attentive, and give good recommendations. I absolutely love their tequila flights they offer. It's a very laid back environment. Great for catching up with friends or good for a family dinner! I recommend this place to everyone! read more

Great food, great jalapeño margaritas, and really great service! My friend and I were there on Tuesday, July 16, at around 6 PM and were seated promptly. We had a fabulous young man as our waiter, I wish I had asked him his name to give him a shout out, because he was awesome. It really does add so much to the experience of dining out when you have a really great server! All in all, the tacos were delicious, and as usual both my friend and I ate way too much but I look forward to returning. Bickering twins is such a great addition to Downtown ithaca! read more

Cute place, sat outside with a great view of the kitties in the cat cafe next door :) Delicious food, the steak was super flavorful and I loved the green sauce it came with. My BF was happy to see a great vegan option and he really enjoyed his meal. I had a bite and I agreed! I ordered the sangria and it was a little too sweet for my taste. Service was great, answering all our questions about what is vegan etc. read more

Bickering Twins - Baked summer squash enchilada (made vegan) & Marinated skirt steak - Tacos Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Some friends and I went for the new brunch service, and it was excellent. I've always loved the ambiance of the place, and somehow on a cold Sunday morning it seemed even more inviting. We started off with some breakfast cocktails, I had the passion fruit bellini, which was very good. For the main meal, I went with the guava stuffed French toast. It was SO good! A huge, thick slab of bread with a creamy, decadent stuffing and a drizzling of chocolate and some other delicious treatments on top. It didn't come with any syrup because it absolutely didn't need it. Very delicious and satisfying. One of my friends had a mushroom omelete, the egg portion was stuffed thickly with mushrooms and there was an appealing and generous green salad on the plate with it. The other entree sampled was a breakfast taco plate, with beef. Also very attractively presented and my friend enjoyed it. Service was excellent, and the entire meal was great. We will certainly be back, as there's more on the menu we'd like to try. read more

In town from LA for a new admitted college student thingee. Of course my new admitted college student ditches me to hang out with some new friends, so I found Bickering Twins thanks to Yelp, and walked a block or two from the hotel. Went downstairs and I was seated immediately. Mark was a terrific waiter, recommended the lamb barbacoa, I say yes sir. It comes pretty quickly, very big portions, and delicious. The lamb is served over rice, there's cauliflower, a lime slice. I asked for some hotter salsa than what was served with the chips and salsa, Mark immediately brought out some orange-colored homemade salsa that was really good. The restaurant is pretty cramped due to some plywood walls, but Mark assured me that the temporary walls were coming down in the next few days, it seems they have been doing some remodeling in the bar. That should be great! Excellent food, excellent service. Very positive experience!! read more

Bickering Twins - Outside - Tacos Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Absolutely terrible service. We left because after 10 Minutes waiting for water, then no food or drinks came after 15 more minutes, we had no appetite for what was going to finally arrive. We sat right beside the bar, not busy, but they couldn't produce our margaritas. Chips and salsa were an extra charge, we ordered as our appetizer, but they were nowhere in sight. It was a Tuesday, they didn't seem all that busy. We finally left, telling the hostess we had waited over 20 minutes for not drinks, no chips, she was apologetic but offered nothing. Prices were ridiculous as well, so we saved money by walking out. read more

Excellent cuisine. Friendly staff. Quick service. The restaurant was tastefully decorated and well organized. I enjoyed my brunch and was very satisfied with the overall experience. read more

the steak tacos were incredible, super delicious sauce on top! the food came fast. very casual. read more

Bickering Twins - Chips and Guacamole - Tacos Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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The good points, the server was friendly, the corn on the sweet potato tacos was very fresh, the guac was good. The bad points. The shrimp tacos were cold, the plantains weren't all cooked properly. I don't like the policy of charging 18% service so they can pay their staff properly, then saying any extra tip is what the server gets, leaves a bad taste. Raise your prices so you can pay your staff properly rather than sneak an extra charge in at the end. read more

Loved it!! The tequila tasting flight was a fun and exciting experience to share with friends! I ordered two of the shaved steak tacos with boiled plantains. Perfect amount of food and I was impressed with the self serve bar that featured a variety of sauces, onions, and jalapeños. Our server was amazing and so entertaining. I love having servers that connect with their table on a friendly and comfortable level. I wish I caught his name, but he is blonde, super funny, kinda tall guy lol! Thank you so much!!!! I cannot wait to come back. read more

Bickering Twins - Reposado Tequila Flight - Tacos Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Came here on a Saturday night while visiting Cornell. Super cute restaurant downstairs with stone walls and a cute little bar. Our cocktails (jalapeño Margarita and a mojito) were delicious. The tacos are quite good. Our table got shrimp, mahi-mahi, steak, mushroom and potato poblano. All got rave reviews. Often shrimp tacos have Tiny shrimp and not enough. But these had 4 good size shrimp each, and tasty. The guacamole and salsa were also tasty and fresh. read more

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What a wonderful place? It's downstairs so it feels very cozy and a little secret. Started with chips and guacamole - standard and good I got three tacos: steak was nicely seasoned and buttery soft. Mahi mahi was lightly fried not heavy, finally the pork was very tasty with some shredded vegetables. Fantastic! read more

Bickering Twins - Three 3 Tacos and 2 Sides Lunch Platter - Tacos Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Bickering twins is down the street from my home and I have always been yearning to go. When I walked in I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant and the customer service was very good. Everyone was really nice and the service was quick. The mushroom tacos were amazing and the perfect portion size for a good meal with the black beans! The I believe I paid $12.75 plus tax for my dinner which is perfectly priced for what you get. Overall, I loved my experience at bickering twins and can't wait to come back. Also, they give you the cutest sticker with your check to take with you on your journey. read more

Bickering Twins - Mushroom tacos with Black Beans - Tacos Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Let me tell you about this place. Amazing. They were wildly accommodating. We are in town to celebrate my birthday- we tried another restaurant. Had an awful experience as we walked in. We got to bickering twins and asked if they could fit 7, the hostess said he was going to look downstairs and assess. He comes back up not even 5 minutes later and says our table it ready. Waitress Mia- she was great. Friendly offered recommendations on food to share, tacos to order and all around was super attentive. The whole Vibe of the restaurant was amazing. I would go back in a heart beat. Food was yummy too! They had a little sauce bar which was my fave! read more

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Great ambience, server was fun and knowledgeable. We did a Tequila tasting, very fun. The food was next level, beautiful presentation. All thumbs up! read more

The chicken enchiladas are the only entree on the menu beyond tacos. The dish is served baked in a dish like Shepard's pie. Unfortunately, the chicken enchiladas are buried under a very thick and putrid tasting cheese reminiscent of stomach acid or vomit. All toppings are on top of the cheese covered in more cheese so it's impossible to eat anything other than the plain enchiladas under the cheese layer. We had high hopes for this restaurant but the flavors are not from any region we are familiar with and we are very experienced with authentic Latin American cuisine. The location in a basement with bugs crawling along the ceiling and the odor of bathroom air freshener sealed the deal on our experience. Wish we would've had a more pleasant experience, perhaps just not our style -- add in the mandatory 18% service fee for the single visit to our 6 person table in an hour....no thanks. read more

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This is my second time making a review on yelp. The last time was over a year ago. So this alone should be saying a lot. My odyssey to Bickering Twins was an interesting one full of ups and down like I've never experienced at a restaurant before. It starts out positive. We get to our restaurant right as it opens around 5 and are greeted by our lovely waitress. I think her name was Cate but don't quote me on that. She was amazing. Funny, polite, and excellent at refilling water, which is a huge pet peeve of mine, so thank you Cate! Now, let me quickly go over what we ordered. Chips with guac, the carnitas special, 3 sliced steak tacos with rice and beans, and 3 different tacos (I can't remember which ones) with plantains and beans. At the time we ordered when there were only 2 other parties in the restaurant. 4 people who came before us and 2 who came after. They also have outdoor seating but no one was seated there at the time we arrived. The guac came pretty quickly. *Thank god.* It was actually delicious. The chips were crunchy and warm. Such a great start for the restaurant where I went out of my way to text my mom and be like "hey, I found the place we should go to when you come visit." Talk about spoken WAY too soon. But, these chips and guac are the only things saving this from a 1 star review. Anyways, guess how long we had to wait for the rest of our food. 20 minutes? 30 minutes? No, somewhere between 45 to 50 minutes. People who were seated after us got their food before. And once we FINALLY got ours, most of it was cold or room temp at best. It had obviously been sitting around for 10-20 minutes. Like shit, at least have the decency to reheat our food. We were all each pretty hungry and none of us finished our food. We would've been better off with our campus dining hall, the 1.5 star rated salsa fiesta, or hell, the Yellow Deli. To give them some credit, the carnitas were so scrumptious. I seriously wish I got them. But everything else was a mix of bad, bland, or forgettable. So, my point is, just don't eat here. There are so many other good restaurants in this town that are amazing. Some I would recommend: Maru Ramen, Saigon Kitchen, Ithaca Ale House, or Maxie's Supper Club. Hopefully this review helps potential customers save their money. Restaurant staff here's a quick pro tip: microwave food that's been sitting out for awhile so at least it's warm. That's the least you could do. read more