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    Food Lab

    4.3 (87 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Recommended Reviews - Food Lab

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    Vodka bucatini

    We dined here for Sunday brunch and omg it was so amazing. The chilled ricotta from the regular menu was delightful and sweet. The honey potatoes from the brunch menu was like general tso chicken except with potatoes and was so lovely. For entrees we had the frittata and bucatini vodka. Both were incredible and generously sized. We happily took leftovers for later. We will be back and can't wait to sample more of the menu!

    Coconut Curry Dumplings
    Travis M.

    Food was amazing, great spin on Thai with veggie dumplings. My son got the new age chicken parm and I feel he was expecting an original without pesto but he cleaned his plate..... service was friendly and food was quickly served.

    Jennifer C.

    I stopped in for lunch to catch up with a friend who recommended Food Lab as one of their favorite local spots. We arrived around 1:30 PM on a hot afternoon, and the restaurant was fairly quiet at that time. Sam, the staff member working, was incredibly friendly and welcoming. He let us choose our table, quickly brought over menus, and was helpful in walking us through both the food and drink options. I decided on the watermelon gazpacho special and a gimlet cocktail, while my friend went with the fish tacos and also opted for a gimlet. The space was inviting and thoughtfully decorated, with local artwork on the walls, racks of wine on display, and large garage-door windows at the front. I imagine those windows would be open to let in a breeze on cooler days, adding to the ambiance. We stayed for a couple of hours, enjoying the food and conversation, and Sam remained attentive without being intrusive--checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. Both dishes were fresh, flavorful, and well-seasoned. The gazpacho was especially refreshing given the heat outside. I'd definitely come back the next time I'm in Ithaca to explore more of the menu.

    My portion of the Pomegranate Brussels Sprouts (about 1/3 of the actual appetizer - there was more than enough to share).
    Mark C.

    A fantastic meal in a chill amosphere. We had the pomegranate Brussels sprouts and a fizzy birch mocktail to start. The sprouts needed a little salt, which our server, Genesis, provided. Excellent after a pinch or two, they were crispy and the feta and pomegranate seeds really elevated the dish. I got the Blood Orange Branzino and she got the Harissa Chicken Skewer. Both were absolutely phenomenal, neither could have been improved upon. The flavors were complex without being overdone, and the preparation was perfect down to the charred lemon on hers and the charred blood orange on mine. The servings were very large, we didn't finish either and still had no room for dessert. Their menu has lots of interesting options with some pretty clever and thoughtful flavor combinations. This is definitely a place worth visiting several times to explore the menu.

    nori steak taco box
    Chelsea M.

    The menu and food were trying to be fancy and creative and sounded great, and it's certainly priced that way, but everything was way off balance and/or missing ingredients. Everything was way too salty, rich, and had no freshness nor acidity for relief. The Nori Steak Taco Box was INSANELY salty, and I didn't see nor taste nori on the steak. Two of the components (rice cake and prawns) were almost exactly like the prawn appetizer, so it felt redundant. The soup of the day, pepper and tomato seemed like pasta sauce adjusted to be called soup??; It was way too salty, rich, super THICK, and the portion size was huge. The dishes weren't timed well either. We sat with nothing for a long time, and then dishes came out really fast one after the other. We got the soup right at mains, so things were disjointed and plates didn't fit on the table. The service was also pretty slow. Staff were nice, but seemed like they were more hanging out chatting with the bar than tending tables.

    Blackened fish tostada with blacked cherry and pistachio sauce
    Jesse W.

    After reading rave reviews and browsing the menu, we decided to stop by Food Lab and give it a try. Unfortunately it did not start well with a long hair inside the bottle of water, hanging down the side. The waitress was kind to replace it. However, when we asked for a glass of ice and were brought the glass, it had a chunk of paper floating in the ice. We asked for a replacement of that glass and waited without it arriving. We had to flag down a second waitress to replace it.... and there was something black floating in that ice. We did not drink from that glass and gave up on replacements. When the food came out - Eventually - we found items in the meals that were not listed on the menu. Such as slivered onions in the Mac and Cheese. The blackened fish tostada was flavorless fish on store bought lettuce and store bought corn tortilla. The pistachio sauce was bitter and added little to the dish. The only highlight was the few halved blackened cherries. The wedge potatoes were haphazardly cut. Some were the usual "steak fry" size while other were a quarter of the potato. This lead them to be inconsistently cooked, with some being crispy and others being very starchy. The burgers were salty with the bacon and Parmesan crisps, and desperately needed tomato or some acid as a relief. When the waitress came to check on us after we'd eaten what we could, she provided a replacement for the Mac n cheese and took one of the burgers off of the bill. We do very much appreciate this gesture and thank her profusely. However the overall experience is what I am using to give this rating.

    Creative drinks
    Craig H.

    We enjoyed a wonderful meal at Food Lab. Our go to place was closed Monday and we had watched Food Labs final constriction on our last visit. We were not disappointed. We went simple. My hamburger was as good a burger as I've ever eaten. Just the right combination of creativity from the caramelized onion to the Chrissy cheese. My wife's Mac and cheese was light and creamy with smoky bacon. Server was a bit stretched but good. My only complaint, while storing wine in display racks near the ceiling looks good, heat rises and the bottles get too warm. Need to find a better way.

    Burger
    Nabeel N.

    Great ambience and good food and excellent service. Wife loved her chicken skewers, while my chili crisp gnocchi was a 3 out of 5. My son enjoyed his bacon Mac n' cheese and my daughter loved her burger! And I recommend the blackberry gimlet :)

    Potato wedges
    Nunki W.

    Gosh where to start... I don't think I ever rated anyone 1 star, I don't think I ever went somewhere barely ate their food and spent good money for crappy food. Let's start from the beginning, hold on tight! Start with the drink. We just wanted water, it came in the bottle closed with the cork. Well... my friend's bf spotted hair stuck inside and out of the cork! GROSS!! Then we asked for ice, there was paper in the glass. Really??? We asked for new ice and the waiter never came back with it so we flagged someone else for it. When we got it, something black stuck in the ice. Sigh. Now, let's move to the food shall we... my friend ordered the mac n cheese nowhere in the menu it said onions but plenty of onion on it. We ordered the blackened fish tostada, it's black alright but that's it... so tasteless. I tried to put some salt on it but yeah no. The sauce was supposed to be pistachios sauce, all I can taste was bitterness as bitter as I am at this point. In the meantime my son's burger was super salty. So that was where all my salt on my fish goes! We also ordered potatoes wedges. It was wedges all I can say. They did try to do right. They comp my friend burger that equally crappy as my son's burger with soggy fries. Also made different food for my friend because the mishap with onions. Though according her the replacement food tasted like can tomato soup. Nevertheless we won't be back and won't recommend this to anyone.

    Burger patty and avocado for our daughter

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Delicious, artfully made food. Attentive service. Phillip, our waiter really knew his stuff.

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    5 months ago

    Great food. Fun environment. Phillip is the best! Great service, meals came out fast.

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    5 months ago

    We ordered the chicken parm and the beef tips. Both were excellent! Service also was excellent! Highly recommend!

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    5 months ago

    Kylee was terrific!! And you should definitely order the Hot Lips drink. It was AWESOME.

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    5 months ago

    Good food and kind servers. good for larger parties. vibes are fun. good place in ithaca.

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    11 months ago

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    11 months ago

    This place was amazing. The food the service the atmosphere. Kylie was our waitress and she was awesome. We will definitely be back!

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    6 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Great appetizers and the drinks were amazing too. Kylie was awesome!! We really enjoyed it here.

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    6 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

    Great selections. Loved the unique plates, delicious. Phillip helped us pick the best and we really just enjoyed the vibe!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

    The food was great, the service was fun, and we truly enjoyed the experience. Must go.

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    8 months ago

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    9 months ago

    5 star phillip! welcoming, amazing service and great food. we had fun drinks and tasty food! thank you phillip!

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    9 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    our waitperson Genesis couldn't have been better. she. made our visit so enjoyable. one of best ever!

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Food was amazing / portions were huge! Great value.. our server Phill was on it and friendly.. 5 stars!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Tried food lab for first time as I was passing thru Ithaca. Food was tasty and quick service. Special shout out to my server -philip.

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Food is outstanding. It exceeded expectations. Huge burger. Terrific blackened whitefish. Waiter Phillip was great.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Great drinks! Nicely balanced and unique cocktails. Food is quite delicious with pretty big portions.

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    1 year ago

    The food and service at the Food Lab was great! The ambience was chill. Definitely recommend and would come back!

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - Food Lab

    How noisy is the dining room?

    We were there on a at 7 pm weeknight in early April. Conversation was easy and the restaurant was fairly full.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Bar Argos - clarified lassi and queen bee

    Bar Argos

    4.0(98 reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    Wonderful bar for drinks. I've been here a couple times and have sat both inside (darker, moodier,…read moremore intimate) and outside (livelier, great when the weather is nice, more relaxed). Very unique cocktails! My first visit, I tried the ruby slipper, braulio sour, and the mango lassi. The mango lassi is incredible! It is my favorite drink at Argos! The ruby slipper and braulio sour were also quite tasty but I preferred the ruby slipper a tad more. My second visit, I tried the grapefruit soda (not artificial tasting at all), the Shark Juice (tasted a bit too much like cologne, wasn't a fan), and the Gigi (couldn't taste the hojicha, liked the concept more than the execution). I would get the Gigi again, but would pass on the Shark Juice. Sitting inside, I enjoyed the quieter and calmer atmosphere as well as the soft lighting. The interior decor is very cosy and slightly eclectic. I came with a friend on a weekday evening and it was pretty empty which was nice. The outdoor patio space is very nice- I like the lanterns on the walls and the whole space is quite charming. I left with a few mosquito bites though. Overall, I would recommend Argos Inn!

    As the weather warms up make your way to Bar Argos! They have a quaint outdoor patio with tables…read morelarge enough to accommodate larger parties. While sitting under their string lights enjoy a craft cocktail (or a couple) while catching up with old friends. Of the multiple cocktails we had there wasn't a single one we didn't like. If you find yourself having a hard time deciding, ask a friendly server for a recommendation!

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    Bar Argos
    Bar Argos - For the life of me I couldn't tell you the names of these drinks, but know that they were delicious & strong!

    For the life of me I couldn't tell you the names of these drinks, but know that they were delicious & strong!

    Bar Argos - Whiskey sour and Clarified Lassi

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    The Regent Lounge

    The Regent Lounge

    4.5(22 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    I've become a regular here for lunch, and it's easily one of my favorite spots on campus. The food…read moreis consistently great, but what really keeps me coming back is the incredible staff. A huge shout-out to Lowell, Kristin, Belle, and Schalyne! They're always so friendly and welcoming, and they go out of their way to make every visit enjoyable. They remember my order, never forget my extra pickles, and always make sure I get plenty of their amazing house-made BBQ sauce (seriously, please keep it forever!). I'm especially grateful this was added as a lunch option on campus during the summer when so many other places are closed. It's made finding a reliable, delicious lunch so much easier. Great food, wonderful people, and outstanding service. I highly recommend stopping by for their lunch menu before the summer ends !!

    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!

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    The Regent Lounge - Food menu

    Food menu

    The Regent Lounge - Lavender lemonade

    Lavender lemonade

    The Regent Lounge - "Burger of the month" pesto burger for November

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    Level B - Fishbowls

    Level B

    2.6(17 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $

    Level B is one of those places that feels like a fever dream -- in the best and worst ways. You go…read moredown into the basement, and suddenly, you're in a dimly lit, curtain-filled labyrinth of crowded dance floors, questionable life choices, and unexpectedly deep conversations in the bathroom line. The Good :) * Coat Check: A lifesaver in the winter. You walk in, shed your layers, and pretend you won't forget to pick it up later. * Photo Booth: If you don't take a chaotic, slightly blurry photo strip with your friends, did you even go? * Seating Area Behind Curtains: If you need a moment to recover from the dance floor (or escape an awkward interaction), this little tucked-away lounge is a solid spot. * Music: Hit or miss. Some nights you'll get bangers, other nights you'll be questioning the DJ's entire playlist. The Bad :( * No Apple Pay. A tragedy, honestly. I lose things easily, so forcing me to keep track of a physical card in a dark, crowded club is a recipe for disaster. It's 2025 -- let me tap my phone and move on with my night. * Bathroom Situation: Three stalls for an entire club's worth of people. Enough said. You will wait, and you will make bathroom-line friends out of necessity. Final Thoughts Level B is grimy, chaotic, and slightly unhinged -- which, in a way, is its charm. You don't go here expecting luxury; you go expecting a wild night and maybe a story to tell later. Still better than Hideaway though! 3/5.

    Level B has some lovely interior design. Plush seating, lights that make your clothes look neon, a…read morewell-stocked bar, etc. People love to come on Wednesdays because it's fishbowl night, but the fishbowls are way too diluted. Management can also be a bit unfriendly and it's Russian roulette regarding if you're gonna get the brunt of it. Personally I like this place more than Moonies, but I feel like there's so much more that can be done with such a pretty basement venue.

    Photos
    Level B - I got a fishbowl for the first time over the past summer. Even though there's sixteen shots of vodka in this thing, it's too watered down.

    I got a fishbowl for the first time over the past summer. Even though there's sixteen shots of vodka in this thing, it's too watered down.

    Level B - Saturday night, Ithaca style!

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    Ithaca Ale House - Grilled cheese on rosemary focaccia

    Ithaca Ale House

    3.8(654 reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    Came for dinner because we were walking around the Commons on a Friday night. They were busy so…read morethere was a bit of a wait as the single hostess was guiding groups to their tables. We sat in an inside booth but it was very sunny and there were no shades on the window so our friend had to wear his sunglasses at the table. They have a mix of limited local beers, and other craft and domestic beers on tap but they don't make their own beer here. Food was good, I shared the shroomin pizza with a friend.

    We stopped for a couple of refreshing sours on a summer evening…read more Meier's Creek Berry Man has prominent dark fruit flavors of goldenberry, strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, led by huckleberry. Huckleberry is a more-tart relative of the blueberry, and is notoriously difficult to farm. There was so much fruit here that we couldn't really say it was the dominant flavor. Quite nice. Nice red hue, too. Wait ... "Berry Man"-ilow? Not sure of the intended implications. It seems to get sweeter as it warms up. I still don't get the name. Wachusett Blueberry Ale was a less-tart and more malty brew. This to us was more beer that fruit-punch. So one of liked the first, and the other liked this. There were maybe a dozen more drafts to choose from. The bar was pleasant, bright, and relaxing.

    Photos
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    Interior

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