The ambiance became, while intimate at first, a bit noisy toward the end of dinner--probably due…read moreto the close proximity of tables and the overall restaurant set up. However, did love the elevated feel of a typical American bistro. We thought the service could've been more attentive, but improved as the evening progressed. Our waitress was super nice and was helpful in explaining the menu specials and answering any questions we had. Most notably on the menu, the NY strip was a perfect medium rare. We opted to get the 4 jumbo shrimp on the side, which we thought retained a nice snap when we bit into it. It was also well seasoned, while still displaying its freshness. The fries complemented the steak, but was too well done for our liking. Our other entree, the lobster mac and cheese, had a nice cheese pull. We liked the added roasted tomatoes in the baked mac and cheese, which gave it a necessary acidity that countered the creamy, cheesy roux. For our appetizer, we chose the meat and cheese board, which was really solid. Appreciated the waitress explaining the selection, as well as the addition of a sour cherry jam and pickles on the side. This gave us a lot of mix and match options (64 to be exact), and we also liked how it came with charred/toasted bread. Finally, we wrapped up with a chocolate peanut butter parfait and key lime pie. Both were really good (get both if possible, but we liked the latter more).

This restaurant has two floors, plus a lot of windows. The atmosphere was welcoming, and the inside…read morewas very clean. Our server was great! Very polite, knowledgeable of the menu items, and let us know about any specials happening. My family ordered a salad and Vin Blanc Mussels to share. The mussels were really good! The sauce paired well with the seafood and was savory. Not only that, but you could dip the bread that came along with the mussels into the sauce and eat it, which was even better. The salad was just fine, nothing special about it. I ordered a Pork Milanese for myself. My parents ordered a Shrimp Scampi and Ahi Tuna Burger. They said that the scampi was decent, though they did wish there were a few more shrimp and that its sauce was a slightly stronger, since they thought it was a tad too light. They also said the tuna burger was kind of plain, but otherwise alright. My Pork Milanese dish was unfortunately overcooked. When it got served to me, at first glance, I genuinely thought it was burnt to a crisp. I decided to eat it anyways instead of asking about its quality, since it was already pretty late at night, near closing time. The pork's outer breading was kind of too hard. While the inside of the meat was better, in my opinion, it was still too firm, and didn't have much juice/oil inside it. I feel that the pricing for some of our dishes were too much, while other price charges were more reasonable. The water we were given also cost money to drink, which we hadn't realized until we were given the bill. Our experience with this restaurant was decent, but I think some aspects maybe could've been better.

The Creole Southern Steakhouse took me back to my visit to New Orleans, Louisiana. The vibe felt…read morerelaxing and chill here. From the time I stepped foot to this place, I felt welcomed. For my dinner, I ordered the Lobster & Crawfish Pot Pie. Talk about heavenly. The lobster veloute' tasted sweet and savory. The pot pie came with chopped potatoes, crawfish, pieces of fish, sweet corn, carrots and celery. The pot pie came with an arugula side salad with some cheese. I felt so honored to have eaten this pot pie. The creole buttery puff tasted terrific. Joseph ordered the rib eye. The ribs came with a side of risotto and molasses baked beans. He said he liked the food. Andrew our server did a fantastic job of making us feel welcomed. He got an A+ for service and communicated to us about the status of our order. Talk about being serviceable, near the back, customers could go to the bar. While in Ithaca, come to Creola Southern Steakhouse. Bring friends, family, or a date.

We went here for a random Friday date night. It's always bustling so we decided to check it out…read more The decor is great with outdoor seating available and a full bar. They have a great menu and it was honestly hard to choose. I went with the BBQ Ribs which were super tender and delicious. The service was great and so was the presentation and food. Everything was very delicious. I want to come back soon to try some of their blackened fish entrees. Def recommend!

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.

I joined Cornell CHAARG, an organization (rather scammy one but that's beyond the point) dedicated…read moreto showing college-aged women that fitness can be fun and fulfilling. Anyways... what did I get out of it? An awesome group of people and well... MIX. Updating my review because MIX deserves a proper shoutout and I haven't done it justice. This place is unequivocally my absolute FAVORITE brunch spot. The selection is vast, the portions are hearty, and the staff? They're the kindest, most accommodating folks you'll meet. It's like they've mastered the art of making you feel right at home. And the food? Oh, the food is ABSOLUTELY divine. Every bite is a delicious reminder of why I've converted to the church of brunch. Seriously, I went from a casual brunch-goer to a full-fledged brunch enthusiast, all thanks to CHAARG for leading me to this culinary gem. My brunch game has never been the same.

I've had brunch, lunch, and dinner at MIX, and all with varying levels of enjoyment. My recent…read morebrunch experience included ordering a Where the West Begins omelette, which includes "Braised short rib, butternut squash, red onion jam, spinach, smoked gouda". I wasn't sure how to feel about butternut squash with everything else (I'm not necessarily a huge squash fan - but I'm trying to learn to enjoy it), but the omelette was decent... it's the other side on my plate that looked less than appetizing. The biscuit was still covered in flour (and who wants to bite down on a clump of flour?), the cheddar hashbrown casserole lacked in flavor, and the brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal just... wasn't doin' it for me. Other recent experiences have been similar... there's usually one item on the plate that's flavorful or imventive (sometimes a main dish, sometimes a side), and the other parts of the plate are lacking. In reality, I think MIX is suffering a bit from rising food costs and inconsistency in their service and offerings. They've also changed the style of their menu from the original tapas-style to now being more typical entree options. Again... they've lost some of their innovative, experimental approach. In terms of ambiance, it really depends. I've been here for a work event and, because of the number of people, it was SO LOUD... they had also done a buffet offering for the event. As you can imagine, the food from the buffet was lacking, but that's often what happens when you're more mass producing your food (and it's left in a chafing dish, trying to be kept warm). On the other hand, I've been here for a dinner on a random night and was able to enjoy one of their Thai noodle bowls (and split some other apps with friends). The reality is that experiences at MIX are... well... a mix. Whether service, menu offerings, etc., I've found MIX's recent inconsistencies to be a disappointment. Will probably only visit in the future if it's suggested by others.

I always hear my nephew raving about this place. He loves the steak and the bread here so I had to…read moregive it a try. As soon as you walk in, the restaurant is decorated to the max with western themed decor. Right at the front is the display of meats to order. Even a name board of who's cutting the meat today. Meat looks fresh. Good sign! The waitress taking you to the table is already holding a basket of bread. As soon as I sat down I had to try the bread. So warm and soft with a slight sweetness. Comes with whipped cinnamon butter. Definitely lives up to all the raves from my nephew. We ordered the 16oz ft worth ribeye with shrimp. Comes with 2 sides - picked the chilli bowl and Ceasar salad. Both delish. Steak is very tasty. Comes with a dipping oil. Definitely an affordable steak house with good portion size. Lots of specials that they run all week. All day $5 drinks specials for beer, Margharita and Long Island ice teas. The $5 beer was modelo. Love my beer nice and cold. Perfect for my food. You can pay at the table with the tablet. Always check your bill. Overcharged for the beer but the waitress quickly corrected that.

Yes, this is a chain restaurant but if you haven't been here I would give it a go…read more Why you might ask? # 1 is that it serves dinner until 10 pm when a lot of other Ithaca food seems to have closed their doors. # 2 they support local events including veterans #3 the place is clean and the staff and bartenders are always friendly. #4 the food taste pretty darn good. # 5 the interior space is laid out nicely. Large wrap around bar with lots of TVs. Lots of nice woodwork inside and intimate family tables with some local acknowledgment in the decoration. It shows some thought about being part of the community. I can appreciate that. # 6 They prepare some really tasty and hardy foods. You don't leave hungry. They have shrimp and potatoes and a very decent porterhouse which I would suggest. they even let you pick your own cut at the front of the kitchen before you are seated. # 7 There is plenty of free parking and you don't have to drive into the downtown area of Ithaca where parking can be difficult to find and costly. My one complaint would probably be that their driveway is in a bit of an unexpected location. It's hard to find at night as in not in the right location. I don't think it has a properly illuminated sign. You almost flash by this place on route 13 because I believe there are some large trees in front of it and your sometimes in busy traffic. I sometimes end up having to try to turn around someplace and come back or just forget about it even when I know it's coming up and it's a dark hidden entrance.

The food was good, but the service was very slow because there was one server working the whole…read morerestaurant. It was a late Saturday dinner for the 6 of us. We got our sodas 30 minutes later. Thankfully the food was good. The tater tots were crispy and the French onion soup was flavorful.

Cozy tavern. Fun server. Two of us at table for 5, they accommodated 5 last minute friends for a…read moretotal of 7. French Onion burger delicious. Tots crispy and warm, partner requested fryer fresh replacement - accommodated. Gratuity added, for less than 8? I wouldn't mind but I didn't look before I added regular tip to my share of bill, my bad.

Located on the Cornell university campus. Great ambiance with wonderful prepared cuisine. Attentive…read morestaff that pay close attention to detail. Love this place for brunch with friends and family.

This was an entirely student-run operation, which already made it feel special and shoutout to my…read morefriend who managed to snag us seats. I was genuinely excited to check it out. The theme for the night was Pojangmacha, inspired by Korean street food stalls, and the vibes were on point. Our table of six shared the Korean BBQ short ribs (LA Galbi) for $24. The ribs were tasty but leaned a bit salty -- not a dealbreaker, but definitely something we noticed. As for the rice, it was a bit divisive. A few people at our table found the texture odd, but I didn't mind it. Honestly, I was too focused on the meat to overthink the rice. The truffle fries were $12 and were pretty good too although I wish the truffle flavor was stronger. The true star for me was the Strawberries and Cream dessert. I think it was around $6, but I was too busy having an experience to confirm. It was so simple, but so good -- like, how did I not know strawberries and cream could slay this hard? Pure joy in a cup lol.

recently hosted a dinner party at Allechant in Ithaca, NY, for my daughter's bridal shower weekend…read more At the website it asks that parties over 8 please call, that it may be necessary to rent out the entire restaurant.  Allechant is a small owner/chef run French Restaurant.  They are only open for dinner Thursday-Sunday evenings and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday.  I did call and email. Patience is key, because owner/chef, Matt, is busy Thursday-Sunday at the restaurant and I'm sure the other days, he is planning, shopping, returning emails and calls.  We did connect and he was just wonderful to work with. I did book the entire restaurant as our party was planned for 10-15 people. He offered several selections for entrees, appetizers and desserts for me to choose for our menu.  Since I wanted to have a steak offering, he asked that make entrée selections in advance for shopping purposes.  We worked out a wonderful menu.  He even accommodated a wine tasting of two different flights of wines that would be offered all evening. The evening started with glasses of champagne and socializing in the first room of the restaurant with has the bar area with a few seats and several small dinner tables. Matt had the second room set up with a large rectangular arrangement of the tables, so that our entire party could be at one table.  This room adjoined the kitchen, so you could see Matt at work.  After initially greeting all of us, Matt went to work and his delightful assistant served as hostess, sommelier and waitress all evening.  She was positively amazing!  We were pleasantly surprised to find out Matt had prepared our personal menus and placed them in the Allechant menu books. They not only made wonderful souvenirs, but it was nice to have a record of the wines we tasted. After we were seated, we were offered the first of the wines in the white flight.  What was very nice about the wine tasting, is that each taste/glass was brought out sequentially and each guest was asked if they wanted to try that wine.  The appetizers started coming, and one by one the other white wines were offered for tasting. Both the gyoza and lamb meatballs were cooked perfectly, sauces were delicious. Entrees were coming when the offerings of the red wine flight started.  I had the red curry salmon which was cooked to perfection, the sauce was generous and amazing and portion so large, there were leftovers.  My mother had the coq au vin blanc, and said it was absolutely the best she had ever had.  And those having the steak and the gnocchi raved as well. (entire menu in pictures with review).  The food was incredible, portions generous and service was excellent.  Then came dessert; once again, very generous servings, perfectly prepared.  It was an amazing evening.  I can see why Matt asks patrons to book the entire restaurant when the party is larger.  Since he is the chef, he wants to be able to prepare, serve and time every course and every entrée so that no one is waiting, everything is service at the right temperature and is cooked to perfection.  If you are looking to host a special, elegant evening in Ithaca, then Allechant is the intimate, friendly, 5-star restaurant for you.

Great spot for dinner in Ithaca! I love the house-made desserts!…read more I tried the mussels for appetizer which were very good. Not too heavy or salty. For mains I tried the vodka gnocchi and the cod stew. Both were excellent! I think if I were to return I would get the cod stew though- it is much more unique. Only complaint about the gnocchi is I wish there was more cheese on top. Desserts were divine! I love how they display them all on the table by the fireplace! We tried the pumpkin cake and the poppyseed coconut almond cake. I truly don't think I could pick a favorite. I wish the whipped cream was also homemade though. I came for dinner on a weekend night (with reservations). Service was solid. Overall, I would return! I will definitely be coming back to try their brunch!

We love this place for its unique and high quality brunch foods. We ordered the french toast and…read morethe omelet and cleaned our plates! The service is great, the staff is attentive and refills water frequently. The ambiance is lovely and the restaurant sits on the second floor of a hotel. You can call to reserve a seat.

Had dinner at Taverna Banfi while visiting Cornell and we liked it so much that we had to come back…read moreagain the following night. To start, we had the Grilled Octopus and the Spinach and Stracciatella Salad - both excellent. For our entrees, we had the Duck Breast, Fried Chicken and the Ribeye - all very nicely prepared especially the Duck and the Ribeye. Great staff especially our server Freyja who was very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend!

This is an incredible spot for late night studying and an afternoon snack…read more When I first encountered bibibowl, I simply thought it was the chipotle of Korean Cuisine. As I continue to venture there, I realise the masterpiece bibibowl really is; incredible service, sleek packaging, and delicious goods. 5/5 FOOD 5/5 SERVICE 4/5 AMBIANCE 14/15=93% WOULD RECOMMEND.

When I originally saw the listing for this Asian grill, I thought it was a BIBIBOP, which we love…read more However, this is like that, but didn't have the same level of yumminess we're used to. The broccoli was very fresh, but I would've liked to have seasoning on it. The potatoes were small squares versus good hearty chunks. The salmon felt overcooked. It was good for what it is, but not amazing. Also, we were looking for safe gluten-free. Some of the meats were GF and some of them weren't which was a bummer. So if you want somewhere, you can actually eat that is safe for celiac, you can consider this place.