Service - check Food - not bad Ambiance - ehh is this a dive bar/diner style? Entertainment - check (there's a pool table) Stopped by because reviews recommended to try the pine burger and corn nuggets. Exactly what I ordered and yes those corn nuggets were great! Bratwurst and fried mushroom was the other dish and it was disappointing. Overall, this place is not bad and I'll come back for their service and corn nuggets. Interestingly the waitress who impressed us, it was her first day. She's great and should be given a raise ! read more

See all

Divey and no frills. I felt like I was eating in the mess hall at camp. Old wood paneled walls, long tables with benches and views of the lake all add to the charm. You can tell that this is a reliable and comfortable spot for those who live in the area. They are known for their burgers, and the menu has got plenty of different types. Plus all of the traditional greasy spoon fare like hot dogs, onion rings, fries, chicken fingers, etc. They also serve alcohol and have a list of local wine and beer. Chicken fingers and fries are very solid. The order comes with four large tenders and a mound of some of the crispiest fries I've ever had the pleasure of eating. The honey mustard was decadent, and that's important. Service was very slow, but otherwise it was a pleasant experience. For some casual and deliciously greasy eats you really can't go wrong. read more

A family friendly gem overlooking the lake. No wait service- Self service ordering and pick up at the bar which was cool. Drinks were strong, good beer selections and very good food. We went twice because it was so good. Ordered pulled pork- excellent , tender, not sloppy with sauce to hide the pork served over slau on a fresh roll. Also enjoyed the spicy sausage an peppers on ciabatta and a burger. Portions were large! No need for side orders of fries etc. but if you do- get one to share. Each drink is served with a personalized and possibly disposable restaurant cup. Didn't see a recycle option for them which is sad. Saw a lot of them in garbage which is sadder. Took ours home to reuse. All in all a great place to stop after the beach or hikes in the area. Lots of outdoor and indoor seating. Very relaxed vibe. read more

An Ithaca area staple. A regional newspaper ranked their burger the best in the Finger Lakes. While good, I am more intrigued by their peanut butter and jelly burger. Sounds bizarre, but was actually quite good. Nice view of Cayuga Lake from the restaurant too! read more

Heading back from Ithaca to Auburn, my husband wanted "a simple burger, nothing fancy". Well, that's just what he got! Glenwood Pines is a very friendly place to walk into with food order at the bar, served in take out containers to either eat in the restaurant or to bring outside to their lovely multi-level outdoor dining area, complete with a beautiful view of Cayuga Lake! Service was prompt and friendly, the atmosphere inside was somewhat dark, and very dated, but cozy. We chose to eat outside on this beautiful day. As for the food, my husband really enjoyed his burger. I had a fish fry with some kind of corn fritters. Don't get those fritters!! The fish was good however. This restaurant does not pretend to be anything other than it is it. It is an honest friendly place to go in a beautiful location. read more

Came for dinner on a week night and were seated and greeted promptly, which was nice. My daughter ordered spaghetti, which she really enjoyed; the rest of us went for the burgers. My husband really liked his double burger, and commented on the flame broiled style being a highlight. My son and I ordered single cheeseburgers and both of ours were overly charred, to the point where the burn flavor was overpowering. The fries were perfect and the cheesecake was delicious! I'd like to come back, but I'm not sure if I'll have the burger again or try the seafood instead. read more

See all

We have tried so many times to embrace this new streamlined edition of The Pines. After last night we are officially done. For context, pre-pandemic, the Pines was a family owned restaurant that was always packed wall to wall with folks of all ages; families, college groups, seniors. Sports fans, tourists, locals. The food was reliable, consistent and very good in a vintage kind of way. The service was efficient, friendly. The place was a well oiled machine, and EVERYONE was working full tilt. Besides the famous Pines Burger ( fantastic), fish fry ( reliably v. good), etc., there was always a "Soup of the Day" to look forward to, NE clam chowder you could stand your spoon up in, Daily specials, Chili, spaghetti and meatballs, and more. The vintage sign outside is all that is left of that magnificent restaurant. Post pandemic, either it was sold or the next generation took over. The menu has been reduced ( streamlined ) to burgers, fish fries and wings. Bar food, but without the ambiance of a bar. It attempts to be a "Doug's", but their system is terrible and the food is inconsistent. Order at the bar and fend for yourself. As others have mentioned, everything is in take out containers ( at least Dougs puts eat in meals on paper plates). Even the beer is served in disposable cups. The famous burger has suffered and is smaller and inconsistent. The last two fish fries we've ordered were greasy and not hot ( nobody notifies you if your order is ready). French fries are straight from Sysco to you. Obviously there is no longer a chef, or anyone who knows how to cook. The new owner has no clue that the hospitality means "be hospitable". I suggest he get out from behind the bar, greet people, check with his patrons on how their dinner is, find the folks whose orders are sitting on the bar when the order comes out. There was a bit of remodeling, money spent on swanky new chairs, but the original, dark, humid, smelly, inaccessible ladies room remains the same. There were a ton of take out orders going out, but folks who live nearby have limited options, and likely some were out of towners/alum were there for nostalgic reasons or based on old reviews. We won't be back. A sad loss on our restaurant scene. read more

Fries are definitely frozen. Not a fan. "World" famous steak was below par. For price & quality this did not hit.

Great food, service, and ambience! Outdoor dining. You place your order at the counter.

We were in town and decided to stop by here based on local reviews. We were not disappointed. Food was good, not expensive and service was amazing. Very friendly. Would definitely come back when we are up that way again. Tip: still no indoor dining. Perk: nice view for outdoor dining. read more

Glenwood Pines - Outdoor dining area - American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Nothing fancy but it's a very chill place to get standard American food to go, which you can then eat at their outdoor picnic tables overlooking the lake! read more

Glenwood Pines - American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

See all

Really good food and bar, great outdoor seating and a nice view of the lake. Also tons of fun games and activities downstair.

We stopped here on our way to Cayuga Lake. A great find. Easy to order, delicious sandwiches with a great view of the lake. Minus a star because of the styrofoam containers and cups. read more

See all

The first time I tried it, I was unimpressed but decided to try it again and was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the fish Reuben with a side of fried mushrooms, but I also sampled my friends jalapeño poppers. The fish Reuben had a sideable piece of fish, which was cooked perfectly and delicious with the 1000 island dressing and coleslaw (4.5/5). The fried mushrooms were alright (2/5), but the jalapeño poppers were perfectly cheesy and spicy (5/5). The portion of jalapeño poppers was quite small, but so worth it. Would recommend for a scenic, fast casual eat. read more

Glenwood Pines - Fish Reuben - American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

3.75 stars. It is a cozy, woodsy, cabiny bar/restaurant. I imagine it'd nice to sit by the window on a snowy evening with some good food and drinks. Their fries were really good, and the burgers too. But the fries were really good, crispy on the outside moist and plump on the inside. The location is also very pretty, you can see the lake from here. read more

See all

I can't believe I've waited this long to review. I used to come here quite a bit when I lived in Ithaca. The restaurant is a bit of a drive from town, but worth it. The interior has a family restaurant/tavern feel. The ambiance isn't really distinct, but the burgers are worth all the hype this place gets. Granted, I'm a vegetarian so I've never tried the "real" burgers, but the veggie burgers are on point. This is the only restaurant I've ever been to that char-grills the veggie burgers, giving them a smoky, unique taste. You can get any burger as a veggie burger, including the weekly special. I remember having one once that included fried jalapeño as a topping. If you're looking for a casual meal, this place is definitely worth checking out. read more

Food, service, and views never fail to disappoint. This is probably my favorite restaurant in the Cayuga Lake area. The people who work here are always so friendly and nice. I even set up a big celebration group dinner here once and they were super accommodating with planning, even though they don't normally take reservations and stuff. The food is all generously portioned, simple, and delicious. Obviously the burgers are some of the best we've had anywhere. I'm normally vegetarian and they offer a veggie pattie option for any of the burgers. I've also gotten the fish sandwich a few times, which I highly recommend for anyone looking for a non-burger option. It features a massive piece of perfectly fried haddock. Finally, the views of Cayuga Lake from the outdoor picnic-style dining area and the multilevel dining rooms are beautiful. read more

The last time I was here it smelled like dirty mop water and bad breath. I didn't order, I didn't even give the door time to close.

Food is good , great views and location. Not too personable but delicious nonetheless.

Updated review: My friends told me this place had gone downhill. I didn't want to believe it but they were 100% correct. The "new" (to me) style of service is a baffling ordeal: First you stand there and stare at the menu on the wall. Then you walk over to the bar (standing only, no stools) to be "greeted" by a server who seems genuinely annoyed that you are there. After placing an order, seating is open but the table layout seems awkward. Why can't there be bar seating? Nobody knows. You don't get a number or a beeper, instead they bring your food to the bar in a to-go container and holler. Seems abrupt and again, unwelcoming. The lighting is too bright and the food is just ok. Not pleased for what was an all-time favorite previously. read more

It used to be a welcoming and friendly place, before the pandemic. Since, there is no longer any waitress service, you have to order at the bar and you get your food in takeout containers and sit anywhere. It's really impersonal and off-putting, it feels like they don't want to have to deal with you. The Pinesburger is still good, but what they have become is basically a Burger King with a liquor license. After 25 years, I'm out. read more

I brought my family here when they came to visit me from Canada. We enjoyed the food and ambience. I wanted to have a Bison Burger which they used to sell and I heard was very good. However, they aren't selling them anymore for some reason. I was disappointed. read more

Family place. Always a great meal and you are always made to feel like Norm. If you don't have the smoked wings you are missing a chance at food nirvana. read more

The Pines is a local staple loved by oh so many. It's impossible to resist the "legal beverages" sign in the front, but also hard to turn down a Pines Burger. Great spot to grab a casual bite and a beer or cider or maybe even a local wine! Kid friendly! Every time I've gone service has been top notch. Never rushed, but always busy. We tried the Pinesburger Challenge once and got SO close- but did not quite get to the end. You can't visit Ithaca until you've experienced the Pines. read more

I have been coming here when in town since 1996. Since the pandemic it's gone down the tubes. No more games, no pool table - that's fine for public health reasons. But the food quality is also way down. The Pinesburger's bun isn't as good, meat's not as juicy, extremely stingy with toppings (used to be dripping with 1000 Island and get 2 thick slices of tomato and hearty lettuce. Not anymore). As it stands now you order at the bar and get huge plastic take-out containers. Sad this place can't be a staple anymore. Not worth it. read more

Food is 4 star, as is location, view, cleanliness. But I just went and for reasons unknown, they are still not offering table service. You order, have to leave your table and come inside two or three times to see if it is ready (or if it is and sits 10 minutes it's cold) and it is in a bag with plastics containers & utensils, hardly a dining experience. Why at least they don't issue buzzers to tell you your order is up. Enough already, the vaccine is available to all, let us be adults again and get back to dining. read more

I stopped by this place on my way to Ithaca because I heard of the great burgers in an article on social media. It did not disappoint. I sat at the bar and ordered the crunch burger. The crunch burger contained the burger, which I asked for medium well, and got it medium well, but should have went with medium, barbecue sauce, and onion rings on French bread. The burger also came with cheese, but I always elect not to get it. It was very good. Sides are extra, and I did not order any because I can't eat all of that food. I had a great conversation at the bar with someone who had lived in Ithaca for the past 6 years and was moving to San Diego the next day and chose to eat at Glenwood Pines as his last dinner in the area. I think that speaks for itself. I can't wait to be in the area again to try a different burger. read more

These burgers are unlike any you've had before. They're not just a good burger, they're a culinary experience wrapped in deliciousness. They advertise that they grind their beef in-house and you can really tell. It's fresh and perfectly grilled. My wife and I ordered ours the same, Medium with no onions (We don't like raw onions and the burger comes with them by default). The burger is served on local French bread with lettuce, tomato, and mayo/ketchup. The French bread might sound different, and it is, but this is a culinary experiment that pushes this burger over the edge. They also offer a Pinesburger Crunch that is served on the same bread but toasted with onion rings and Barbeque sauce. I didn't try that but I imagine it's fantastic. If you're within an hour of this place and you are hungry you have to check it out. You will not be disappointed. read more

Rustic, basic and a four star place for some down home good cooking. Come for comfort food, have the haddock platter, do the ginger beer. Go home happy. Get mad you didn't try the wines from the region. Think of the pleasant and comfortable place and the nice staff. Vow to come back. read more

Was told for years this is the best burger in Ithaca / the world, was disappointed. Very charred, not great. Would not return.

This is a great place to go for pub style food. Their signature Pines burgers are out of this world. All of their dishes are well prepared & bountiful. Their desserts are delicious. The servers are everyday people, who do a solid job. Lastly, they have cool games Sunset Riders, bowling & Pool I recommend that you try this great restaurant. read more

On the way back from Taughannock Falls State Park, it was great to stop here to get some lunch to go! The burgers are great, the French bread they were on super fresh and a unique twist. The fries were also hot & fresh. Overall a great stop along the way! read more

Every time I've gone here over the years, it's been enjoyable and the burgers are wonderfully charbroiled and tasty - among the best I've ever had! This time I tried the jalapeno cheddar burger, which had cheddar, fried sliced jalapenos, and spicy mayo. It was delicious. We also had very good poppers and corn nuggets. The waitress and hostess were both very friendly. Worth noting - while I haven't had the rice pudding recently, 16 years ago when my mom and grandparents visited me for parents' weekend at Cornell, my grandfather loved the rice pudding here so much that he insisted on eating here 2 nights in a row so he could have the rice pudding again! read more

One of my favorite places in Ithaca. The service can be slow, at times, but their burgers and sides are delicious. Plus there's the Pines Burger Challenge... I love stopping here on the way to Taughannock... there's just something so right about summer and burgers. read more

after reading about this on YELP and the claims that this is "THE BEST BURGER" in ALL of the Finger Lakes, we We started by sharing the Ham Chef Salad. This is a toss salad with 4 slices of ham rolled on top. Somewhat underwhelming, but salad was not the reason we came here. Then our hamburgers were placed in front of us. My husband thought it was the BEST!! It had a nice charcoal grilled flavor. Cooked perfectly to his medium rare order. and he really enjoyed the French bread it was served on. I, too, thought it was quite good. I was not the fan of the French bread roll - too much bread. Next time, I will request the sesame seed bun - which you can do, if you know to. I think it was the bread that causes me to rank the burger of #2 of the 3 we tried (BeeHive Pub gets my vote for #1 in Canandaigua). read more

Glenwood Pines has a rough looking exterior (at least during night time), a sort of honky tonk look. Once inside it changes to a family friendly atmosphere with tables for four, video games and official restaurant memorabilia. I dined on a fried seafood platter of oysters, shrimp, scallops and haddock with two sides: onion rings and a salad with creamy garlic dressing. I also ordered two meatballs on the side and a iced coffee to drink. The meatballs are good. They have a strong beefy taste, and mild seasoning. No bone chips or gristle at all. The tomato sauce is chunky and has plenty of oregano and does not need salt. The salad is standard iceberg lettuce with a tomato thrown in. The greens are crisp. It's the dressing that doesn't work. Very little garlic and lots of sugar. The onion rings are decent enough. The breading is right and has a nice, hot oil flavor to it and the onion is naturally sweet. The seafood platter has its good and its bad. The shrimp is similar to the what you get in the Chinese take-out only places in NYC, but they do taste better. The scallops have no taste at all. The oysters are delicious, big, juicy and lightly breaded. Haddock is the big winner. A big fillet with the skin still on lightly breaded. It's chunky, moist and firm with lots of flavor. Ordering the haddock and oysters is probably your best bet. The coffee has a nice hickory like smoke to it. The staff is friendly and prompt, and the restaurant is clean. My only warning is the parking. If you park one hillt side at night be aware that you are on an incline and there are no guard rails to stop you or your car from sliding down. UPDATE: I tried their famous (locally) cheeseburger along with coleslaw and seafood chowder for lunch. Everything about the burger is plane jane. The meat is nicely charred but doesn't have much seasoning. The tomato and onion are fresh, the cheese plain, the thousand island dressing, bottled with some spice added too it. The bread a nice mini hero. All generic but when you combine every thing it's a pretty damn good cheeseburger. The white and red cabbage of the coleslaw is thick and mixed with mayonnaise, pepper and celery seed. The seafood chowder is thick with fish stock, cream, sweet scallops, chunky fish and fresh cut potatoes. read more

Glenwood Pines - American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Always worth the ride. Even now, their service is exemplary. They are the kindest people one could ask for. And the food is always wonderful. Great home cooking. When normal life resumes, make sure to eat in for the view and the great little bar. Until then, get it to go. read more

Always our favorite stop when we are in the Trumansburg/Ithaca area. The owner and the staff are so friendly, the food is delicious and the scenic view of the lake is breathtakingly beautiful! Our family favorite are the fish n chips and the Pines burger. Simply the best! read more

Excellent food: especially wings and burgers. Top notch bartenders too! Don't forget to tip well!

Awesome food!! Especially the Pines burger Beautiful view of Cayuga Lake!! Cozy fireplace in the winter months Awesome service!!!