I have been going to Cent-Dix for 10 years and let me tell you this restaurant doesn't disappoint, and is probably my favorite in Ithaca. We are talking about great execution on basic french dishes here with excellent service on the commons. It's also the most elegant of the restaurants in the commons in my opinion. None are particularly elegant, but Cent-Dix feels the nicest. A must get is the beef tartare. It's so good, it's better than many tartare's I've had in france. Just hands down an easy winner. To cut it's richness I think you should get the Frisee aux Lardons. No matter the table size this is a perfect salad. You can always get more salads or greens, but if the table size is 2 or 6, everyone will like this. The fat, acid, bitterness is perfect. Steak frites are amazing, but even better is the cote de bouef on Saturdays. Either way you won't go wrong, but this restaurant does steak so well, and has good wines to pair with the steak. I've personally never had room for dessert, but everyone always orders it and I have some. It's good, but my favorite is that the espresso machine is always running after dinner for a nice pick me up before my walk on the commons! read more

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One of the better restaurants in Ithaca! I enjoyed the coursing- they did a very good job with timing. Service in general was very good. I also like the flowers on the dishes. I came with a friend and we tried the pear appetizer, mussels, leek and gruyere tart, and the ricotta gnocchi. Honestly, everything was really good. The gnocchi was pillowy and the tart did not have a soggy bottom. For dessert we tried the Pear frangipane which was also good. Quite a strong almond flavor and a little on the sweet side. Overall very good, I would recommend! read more

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Came here with some friends for a celebration. We laughed, we ate, and we took pictures. There were a lot of couples (given that it's a fancy date night restaurant) and it took about an hour to get seats for a group of 5. * House Made Levain ($5) Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. Came with butter and that butter slaps. Nothing revolutionary, but solid. 4/5. * Beef Tartare ($14) Raw beef, but make it fancy. Slightly salty for my taste, but paired beautifully with the bread. Never had beef tartare before, so I have no reference point. This could be the best tartare in existence, or I just have peasant palate. Either way, I'll give it a 4/5. * Kohlrabi & Pear ($8) First time having kohlrabi, and I was not expecting it to be so crisp and apple-adjacent. The pear added some nice sweetness, and the goat cheese + garlic combo made it feel elevated. I respect it, but I wouldn't crave it. 3/5, purely based on my personal taste. * Steak Frites ($36) This is the dish. The aioli sauce for the fries? So good we asked for extra and then extra to-go like some sauce-hoarding gremlins. Steak was cooked medium-rare perfection -- just go with what the restaurant recommends. No notes. 5/5. * Mocha Walnut Torte ($8) Not a huge walnut or sweets person, but this was light and not overly rich. My friend could pinpoint the walnut in it... which is great for them. I mostly tasted "fancy cake." 3/5 for effort and subtlety. * Crème Caramel ($8) I am a fiend for crème brûlée. Had that satisfying sugar shell crack, wasn't too sweet, and left me wishing I had another one waiting at home. 5/5. read more

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This little bistro is my favorite dining spot in downtown. It has an inviting feel as soon as you arrive. Thursdays special are mussels. They are the sweetest little morsels swimming in a bowl of the most delicious wine shallot and fennel sauce. Thankfully we were t left with a spoon, yum. My dining companion had them as well. We split the fennel salad and I begrudgingly shared the olives. I asked our server for more olives and we all had a good laugh. She thought I was kidding. We each had an N/A cocktail. Mine with cucumber and my friend had the one with ginger. They were very good. They have a wonderful wine list. Additionally, they have their house wines on draft. Wonderful idea. I just love this place. So, when in Ithaca It's a must. You will love the food, service and comfort of the restaurant. read more

Amazing Experience - Great Food & Vibes! Came here with my boyfriend after a hike during Parents Weekend at Cornell University, and we were blown away! The place was packed--every table was reserved--but we got lucky and grabbed two seats at the bar. The service was absolutely phenomenal. The entire restaurant was being run by about seven people, and they worked seamlessly as a team. Everyone was super friendly, efficient, and clearly cared about creating a great experience. The atmosphere was lively but welcoming, and the food was incredible. Everything came out hot, fresh, and full of flavor--just what we needed after a long day. Definitely recommend this spot if you're in town. Whether you're a local or just visiting, this is one of those hidden gems worth checking out. We'll be back for sure! read more

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Had dinner last night at the bar. First, Yelp listed this as a French restaurant. Got a couple of items with French ish names....struck me as American food. Had the trout. It was nicely done with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Very tasty! Question...why are all the bartenders in these kinds of places prima Donna's?...no smile and they're going to make you sit and wait until they feel like it's time to get you a drink! I don't get it!...honestly, I would have stayed for a couple more drinks and dessert but who wants to deal with someone that's totally disengaged. read more

Le Café Cent-Dix is one of the rare spots in Ithaca that gets it right--classic French food, thoughtfully prepared, with real attention to detail. We had an excellent experience here this year and have been talking about going back ever since. The French onion soup was the standout opener. Rich, deep broth, beautifully caramelized onions, the right amount of gooey cheese, and not overly salty like so many versions out there. It was exactly what you want from a French onion soup, and easily one of the best we've had anywhere. We shared the côte de bœuf for two, and it was phenomenal. Cooked exactly to temp, deeply flavorful, and plated in a way that let the meat speak for itself. No unnecessary flourishes--just a quality cut, prepared perfectly, with sides that complemented without distracting. The whole vibe of the place is warm, cozy, and unpretentious. The service was polished and attentive without being stiff. It's the kind of place that's equally great for a special occasion or a relaxed dinner when you just want to eat well and feel taken care of. Our only real gripe? No reservations. For a place operating at this level, it's frustrating to have to wait on the sidewalk, especially as adults who like to plan a night out. We were lucky and got in without too much delay, but that part of the experience could use a rethink. Still, once you're seated, all is forgiven. Le Café Cent-Dix delivers one of the most consistently great dining experiences in town. It's exactly the kind of neighborhood bistro every city should have--and we're lucky Ithaca does. read more

At the request of the hubby, rating it a 5 stars. We went 2 nights in a row and tried almost half the menu. The space is small and intimate and there are 6 2 tops and maybe 6 4 tops and 7 bar seats. People start queuing around 5.20pm. Around 6pm, the restaurant is usually full and turning away people. I would say a lovely, quiet and classy French modern bistro with a seasonal approach to the menu. From appetizers and starters, we tried the beef tartare, hamachi crudo, tomato and French onion soup. Beef tartare and French onion soup were great classic renditions. The hamachi crudo is refreshing and a great way to kickstart an appetite. I wish my hubby was more into vegetables as the heirloom tomatoes were super fresh and paired lovely with fromage blanc. From entrees, we had the chicken roulet, ricotta gnocchi, cod roti, duck confit and sea scallops. I would say their daily specials are always a home run and the regular menu are great classics. The chef is great at cooking seafood as they are always cooked to the right temperature- a nice sear on one side and juicy, flaky moist cod. Desserts were the crème caramel, mocha walnut torte and chocolate cake. There is in order of preference as we love sweet desserts. Great French bistro in Ithaca downtown. read more

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Good service and good, but you can't add any modifications or substitutions. But, delicious apps and fun atmosphere.

Went in at 6:15. Two seats at the bar were open. Max the bar tender was very welcoming and introduced us to how he planned our service for the night. He was excellent throughout the meal or better our experience. We have not eaten in Ithaca for 15 years and this is a big step up. We had two salads that were excellent with our cocktails that were very tasty. French75 is a must! The duck and chicken were cooked to the description max provided us. The almond tort was just enough to Finnish off a great night. read more

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Another excellent dinner at Cafe Cent-Dix. Always great service and so delicious and elevated cuisine. read more

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One of my favorite places since moving to Ithaca, if not my actual favorite! I came for the beef tartare and stayed for the rest! We ordered the beef tartare, the steak frites, and the onion soup gratinée. The beef tartare was amazing with the crispy bread and the egg yolk really made it! The onion soup was not exactly for me, I found the cheese to be a bit over powering but that is just personal preference. The steak frites were by far the highlight and I haven't stopped thinking about it since going. I think both their aioli and ketchup were made in house? Either way, the aioli was citrusy and light and the ketchup was sweet and kinda textured but in a really good way. The steak was cooked perfectly and the fries were some of the best I've had! I really enjoyed my meal and will be back to try more! Only downside is no reservations, but come early and walk around the area while waiting if needed but trust me that it is worth it :) read more

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Delicious food! New waitress was adorable and the rest of the staff - attentive. Everything was great! read more

In Ithaca, this is an excellent French restaurant. Their beef tartare does not miss; the scallops, duck, and cote de boeuf for two are good. And don't overlook the sourdough bread!! It is good when it is warm. Pro tip: if you want to avoid the usual hour or two wait, consider arriving before the restaurant officially opens. read more

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We had an incredible dinner here--perfect for a romantic dinner or if you just want really decadent, delicious French food. We got the beef tartare, the pheasant and pork pate, the lamb, the gnocchi, and the mocha walnut torte. Everything was perfectly cooked, and had innovative flavors and textures. The service was great as well, we arrived at 6:30 on a Saturday night and had to wait 1.5 hours for a table but it was so worth it. Definitely our favorite meal during our trip to the finger lakes. read more

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Very nice ambiance, portion sizes is just right. Got the duck confit which was amazing. Very much enjoy the view into the kitchen. read more

Le Cafe Cent-Dix - Duck confit - French Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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When in Ithaca, La Cafe Cent-Dix is your number one dinner destination. Sit at the bar and enjoy Max's expert and attentive knowledge of the menu, welcoming interaction, and on-point suggestions. He was the perfect waiter / bartender. Everything we ate was classic French bistro, perfectly executed and portioned. Don't skip the bread or the almond tart, and definitely share dishes, so you can experience as much as possible from the divine menu!! read more

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Real French Bistro atmosphere and excellent food! Definitely a place to return to on a regular basis.

The perfect blend of fresh herbs with not an overbearing season on food. The freshness is in each bite. I've traveled in search of the best restaurant in multiple countries and I don't know why this isn't Ithaca's most recommended, so I will say it's Ithaca's best hidden gem. Best steak you'll have. Perfect when paired with a glass of Gamay. I don't write yelp reviews often, but had to come to share this one. You can taste from the first bite, chef sees each meal as their craft. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. read more

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Fantastic French restaurant. The restaurant is small and does not take reservations. I walked in around 5:45 pm on a Saturday night and was seated right away, but by 6 pm the restaurant was full. The House Made Levain and French Onion Soup were both delicious. The Cod Roti was a smaller than expected portion size, but was good and flavorful. Make sure to order a side of French Fries with ketchup which the restaurant makes. Our waitress recommended a great wine (Morgon). read more

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Excellent food and service in a cozy atmosphere. Will definitely return next time we're in Ithaca to try dessert as we had no room left after dinner. read more

Me and my friend had an amazing dinner here! The Plats Du Jour we had on Friday, was this duck breast. It was glistening as the star of the show that night and the flavor was immaculate! The texture was not too tough and literally melted in my mouth. My other favorite was the french onion soup, which I've never actually tried before. This also receives a thumbs up because it was bursting with flavor from the combination of buttery Gruyère cheese, caramelized onions and broth. We also ordered the steak frites, but wish I asked them to have the steak medium done because the rare steak was quite difficult for me to chew BUT the flavor was still on point especially with the compound butter. Finally, the best way to end every dinner is with dessert, which we had the chocolate walnut rum cake. The dish I was not too sure about was the fennel, so this is up to you to try. I've never had this before so it was something new I wanted to try. It tasted like a mix of ranch, licorice and star anise, which I'm not a huge fan of, but my friend loved it. Note: Definitely come early when they open at 5:30pm because they are always busy, but we got VERY lucky to be seated around 6:30pm. Service was great and our waiter for the night also described what each dish is made with. read more

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I love this place! I have never been disappointed when dining here! The food is top notch as well as the service! I usually order the chicken dish which is so tender and flavorful! read more

Le Cafe Cent-Dix - French Near Me - Ithaca, New York

We had a wonderful dinner here before a concert nearby. The wine expert- she was outstanding. The small plates were were good and it was a lot of fun to sample the menu. We split 6 or so dishes. The gnocchi was the star of the meal. They do not take reservations- and this seems to be a popular spot. Corkage is $25. Would gladly go back. read more

my bf and I were blown away. every meal was perfectly sweet, salty, umami with a wonderful touch of acidity. the flavors were complex and perfectly balanced! you could tell there was a lot of intention behind these meals and created by a trained and talented chef. i cannot recommend this place enough esp for a date night (super cute and sexy spot). the food came at a really well times pace for us to enjoy our meal. one of my fav spots i have ever eaten at! read more

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Super high quality restaurant! Definitely one of my favorites and probably one of my top 3 Ithaca restaurants. Service and ambiance are great. read more

Very rude staff, doesn't take reservations, claims there's no seating available a hour before close despite there being numerous open tables. Creola next door is a much better option read more

My favorite restaurant in Ithaca! Everything I have gotten here has been phenomenal. I highly recommend the boat day scallops (Wednesday special) and the steak frites. read more

This was such a pleasant surprise! The food was incredible and decently priced! We arrived shortly before the restaurant opened and were one of the last parties to have a seat without waiting. We ordered the fennel salad, monkfish bouillabaisse, gnocchi, and crème caramel. Everything we ate was delightful and the staff were exceptionally friendly. The atmosphere is relaxed, we were dressed fairly casual and didn't feel uncomfortable. I could see this restaurant being great for special occasions or a simple date night. read more

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Came here for my fiancé's birthday dinner. Service was good but the timing of the appetizers were a little off. The table next to us ordered the same thing after us and got their dishes first then remarked to us that it was weird because we ordered sooner. The beef tartar was lacking in flavor and the French onion soup was too thin (but flavorful!). My fiance said the raclette was alright. The presentation for the dishes were great but the taste fell short. Duck confit was very salty and left me wanting more balanced flavors rather than the same salty taste throughout. The pork belly was too bland and could've used more of a sear/roast for more texture. The sides on the pork belly dish included beans and broccoli which were solid. The dessert was just alright, nothing amazing. Overall, this was a pretty average tasting meal for how much it cost. We were excited to come but were left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied with the dishes. read more

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Best restaurant in Ithaca hands down. Every time I go, I'm impressed. Highly recommend the cote de boeuf on Saturdays. And the drinks are stellar too. read more

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Came here on a Friday night with no reservation. Had to wait 25 minutes which was totally alright. Ordered the bread, which was a sourdough, beef tartare, and steak frites. The bread was very delicious and fresh, and it is a must have. The beef tartare was surprisingly super delicious with the egg yolk on top. Ordered my steak frites rare and they certainly delivered! The steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly and the fries were perfectly crispy and airy. Overall, one of my favorite meals ever in Ithaca and would highly highly recommend! read more

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Cent-Dix doesn't take reservations but we arrived as they opened (5:30pm on a Friday) and were the first table seated. By the time we left, the place was full. We'd hope to start with a leisurely cocktail course (French 75 and Bijou), but maybe the waiter was counting on an extra table flip because we'd each only had a sip when he came out with the French onion soup. Having just returned from Paris a few days earlier, my friend had no hesitation and said "keep it warm". We also wanted to enjoy the bottle of wine (the Cab Franc) we'd ordered with the soup and leading to our main. He should have asked about the flow we expected plus the cocktails were worth savoring. French onion soup is ubiquitous. This was good and did not suffer from any delay (despite the fact that waiter abruptly brought the second time it as it 'would be otherwise ruined'). Still piping hot. Not too salty. Not too rich. Good. Note that the printed menu does change so check the website for current (photos on yelp are dates). We both chose the Beef Bourguinon served on celeriac purée. Very nice. Not quite fork tender as promised and could have used a spoon of sauce to finish but good flavors. No dessert or coffee - $150 for two. Space is lovely but you will get a cold breeze from the door in winter. Our waiter could have been better between rushing and then abandoning and one disconcerting moment when he popped up from behind the banquette (technically he was in the bar service area) to ask how the food was (I guess table-side was a long walk). To be honest, I would have given a 3.5 because the service just wasn't all I expected - I just expected a bit more. I'd go back at least once more to try the duck. read more

Le Cafe Cent-Dix - French Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Forget everything you know about carrots. CCD's "Romance Carrots" have crunch plus fatty citrus notes in the buttermilk dressing, with crispy fried quinoa. Super yummy appetizer. Had the Saturday rib eye for two. Caramelized onions and Bordelaise was right up there with sex. Run, don't walk to this joint. read more

The service started out a little weird, but the experience got better from there. We arrived for an early dinner shortly after the restaurant opened. They had a table open outside, but the waitress/hostess (she was doing double duty) seemed a bit flustered and told us that no drinks were available since they were short staffed and lacked a bartender. We stood around for a moment before being seated. After we were seated, things seemed more organized and went smoothly from there. The bread was fresh and delicious--a good start. The food turned out to be excellent (although fairly straightforward--no surprises on this simple French menu). We both had the salmon, which was prepared with a lovely sear and presented very nicely. I will give them the benefit of the doubt on dealing with staffing limitations, especially given the current circumstances with COVID! The food was solid, so check this place out if you are visiting Ithaca. As a side note, many area restaurants in the Commons vicinity are doing a great job of outdoor dining. The city of Ithaca has parts of some streets closed to cars to make this safer and more comfortable for diners. The area was busy and had a fun vibe, all while far enough apart to feel safe with eating out. read more

The French bistro at its best. The food service and atmosphere delivers. We loved our meals and they were prepared just as described. We can't wait for next time. read more

We had a lovely birthday dinner here & I loved the Vieux Carré cocktail ... The bread is awesome & well worth the few extra buckaroonios ... The chocolate dessert we split kicked mighty buttooshka ... No complaints about the steak either so long as you're realizing it's a standard little bistro steak & nothing superprime of course ... My medium well proved perty dang well -- so if there was a next time I might live a little & go medium on it at least ... & personally would wish there was a baked potato, or mash, or spinach option ... Not a huge shoelace fry person, but they were good for what they were & the supposedly "house-made" catsup did have an especially nice flavor tinge to it ... (You also get mayonnaise dip automatically, in keeping with the Francophilia, but my feelings on that are rather similar to those of Samuel L Jackson in Pulp Fiction so ...) ... All in all a delightful experience & our party sailed right in at 6-ish on a Wednesday eve ... read more

Great dining experience. Two of us had the duck breast, which was served with white turnips and broccoli, with a red wine reduction. It was perfectly cooked. My wife had the duck confit, which she also gave high marks. My son had the gnocchi, which looked great and he enjoyed. We started with the bread of the day, which was a warm sourdough, with whipped butter. We finished with chocolate cake and their chocolate walnut mousse cake. All of it excellent. The service was good, but a bit slow. It was a busy night, and we weren't in a rush. read more

Food was not outstanding but very good. Staff was friendly when I came in but my waiter began to ignore me half way through. He asked the table literally right next to me if they needed anything and even though I had my hand raised he didn't see me and walked away until I raised my voice and said "excuse me." It was happened more than once and I wondered if I had somehow offended him. Very strange. I would return for the quality of the food. read more

Went for a pre-movie dining experience Cafe Cent Dix. people were already lining up about 20 deep waiting to get in as they do not take reservations. However, when the doors opened, we were quickly seated. Start to finish, it was a perfect meal. Beginning with the most wonderful of waiters, Max, who impressed us with his, meticulous, kind, and excellent service. I typically do not order mussels but when my friend said they were very good at this restaurant I agreed to share the mussels with french fries as a starter. I could not stop eating the broth! -Especially once we had the house made sourdough bread, which is well worth it. Rarely do you get a crust like that on a loaf of bread. It was simply divine. I am not much of a meat eater but The poulet roulade what masterfully made and was one of the moistest pieces of chicken I have ever had. We finished our meal with Delicious chocolate dessert, and left very happy. Hats off to this team for having created French dining at its best and Ithaca! read more