Had dinner at The Heights on a relatively busy Saturday evening. We had the Pan Seared Duck Breast, Jumbo Shrimp and Paccheri Pasta and Strawberry & Chèvre Pizza. All pretty solid except the duck being a little more done than we liked. Unusual combination of ingredients on the pizza but it worked well. The Lava Cake Soufflé for dessert was a nice finish to the meal. Friendly staff and our server George was terrific. read more

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A great dinner spot in Ithaca! My favorites were the shrimp/scallops and the salmon. The burger was solid too. The real highlights of the meal was the butter at the start of the meal-- it was wonderfully seasoned and the chocolate souffle. I would return here perhaps just for the souffle. I have yet to try a dessert in Ithaca that rivals this one. read more

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A very cute restaurant hidden from the busyness of the Ithaca Commons or Collegetown. The servers were also extremely friendly and willing to accommodate any needs. The decor is also aesthetic and serves as the perfect atmosphere for a nice date, family sit-down dinner, you name it. We ordered the Portuguese Octopus which was cooked perfectly and very flavorful! The Shrimp Toast was also delicious with jumbo shrimp, also cooked perfectly, but felt that it wasn't very homogenous as a dish with the toast. The Roasted Cauliflower came on a skillet with cranberries and Brie which added an additional layer of complexity to the overall flavor profile. However, I did find it quite greasy. For the main course, I ordered the Char Grilled Skirt Steak that came with Lemongrass Hummus, Charred Broccolini, Pickled Slaw, Miso Aioli & Gochujang Sauce. It was a nicely grilled steak that was both tender and of high quality. The gochujang sauce was good but didn't pair well with Miso Aioli and the acidity of lemongrass hummus and pickled slaw. The Heights Signature Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache, Fresh Berries de Chantilly was for dessert. It wasn't too sweet but was rather dense and didn't seem very fresh..almost crumbly. The Chantilly cream added the needed moisture, so it was fine, and the fruits were fresh. The Sorbet was very refreshing, and the acidity cut all the grease and heaviness from dishes earlier. Overall, my favorite dish was the Portuguese Octopus and the steak with just the gochujang sauce, but I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to have it again. However, I would recommend trying this restaurant out if you're looking for a nice sit-down place that uses high quality ingredients. read more

My husband and I decided to go to The Heights for NYE and we were very pleasantly surprised. Our server Nathan was helpful and attentive without being intrusive. After hearing the specials, we decided to go with some of the items that were already on the menu. We had an amazing vegetable appetizer featuring roasted beets, asparagus, sesame brittle (!) goat cheese, cucumbers, radish, and some perfectly cooked Panko coated eggplant on top. For entrées, I chose a flatbread pizza that could not have been more savory and scrumptious; Cranberries, caramelized, onions, broccoli rabe, plum tomatoes and Brie came together just perfectly. My husband had a gorgeous piece of Atlantic salmon that looked like it had various vegetables and some fragrant garlicky greens under it. We passed on dessert and instead I got an incredible dessert cocktail... An Affogato martini that just blew me away with its deliciousness! Vanilla vodka, Kahlúa, espresso all poured it over a creamy scoop of delicious vanilla ice cream. What a way to end 2024! I cannot say enough good things about the Heights, it's obvious that the chef has an incredible palate and uses a lot of creativity and skill with his menu choices. It was a 10 out of 10 for us, and we will definitely be back. It's probably the most expensive restaurant in Ithaca but very well worth it. read more

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My favorite spot in The area. Creative flavors and top notch plating, atmosphere is top notch as well looking forward to future meals here read more

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Great food and ingredients. Service was top notch. Easily Michelin Star standard. Would go back again .... and again.

This restaurant is one of the best in Ithaca, yes, the price is slightly steep but the freshness and quality of the food have no comparison. If you are planning to go do a reservations. The place gets packed even on a weeknight. Also, the menu online doesn't reflect the specials, so wait until your server tells you what they are. We went with a couple of them and they were delicious. Looking forward for our next visit. read more

The Heights Restaurant and H Bar - Octopus and fish collar appetizer - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

We have been coming to The Heights for the past 4 years and this is the first time we were a little disappointed with the food. We ordered calamari which was drenched in what tasted like the bottle of Thai dipping sauce that we buy at the market and use for spring rolls and was too sweet (perhaps it would have been better put on the side). Calamari itself was cooked well. We also ordered a very tasty beef cheek appetizer that was deep fried with an interesting batter (there was a hint of the same dipping sauce from the calamari which I thought could have been left out). For our main course we ordered the duck, garnished with camembert and raisins, roasted squash and pumpkin, all flavorful however duck was on the chewy side. Creamed mushroom, beef soup with a hint of lemon was very good but was a little salty. Chocolate molten lava cake is always a highlight. Service was excellent. Very friendly and accommodating. All the staff were wonderful. Lovely atmosphere. I've had so many excellent meals in the past so we are not giving up on the restaurant. They often change the menu so I hope that our next visit will be better. read more

The most expensive restaurant that I know of in Ithaca but the quality does not exactly match the price. I was impressed with the bread and salad options - the bread is very tasty and the oil mix + hummus that comes with it is phenomenal. In addition, the salad is great - large quantities and seasoned really well (the berry vinaigrette was bussin, respectfully). I was disappointed in my entree, however. I got the skirt steak, which was over $40 and came out like it costed $15. Firstly, it wasn't even warm when it was served to me - this is really disappointing especially for such a high-end establishment like this. It tasted good, but not great. I'd honestly recommend going to somewhere else - you can do a whole lot better for your money. I came back because my initial experience was great but I don't think I'll be back. read more

The Heights Restaurant and H Bar - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Truly amazing!!! I would give 10 stars if I could. My boyfriend found this restaurant for our anniversary dinner, we mentioned it to our waiter (George) who immediately made our night feel so special. The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully made. The drinks were wonderful as well. The overall atmosphere is upscale but comfortable, truly the best dining experience we've had. LOVE this place!!!! read more

Best restaurant in ithaca. my girlfriend and I come in for just the lava cake sometimes. Great service all around

Great place! Nice inviting decor, service was exceptional and fast. Drinks were reasonable, food was delicious. Apparently lots of other folks think so because the place was packed by the time we left. I had the Jumbo scallops and shrimp which was delicious. The Caesar salad that comes with my entree was huge, practically a meal by itself and yes, they put anchovies on it if you want. So why 3 stars? The price was insane! This is a good solid high end restaurant but I don't like throwing money away. It just wasn't good enough to justify the price. If you're into throwing money away to impress your friends then the Heights is for you. read more

After hearing great things about this restaurant, I was disappointed by the food. Our waiter was great -- it was his second night working at the restaurant. The complimentary bread and hummus was good. The Smoked Salmon Rolls and Caesar Salad were fine, but I was certainly not impressed by either dish. I could not eat the Seafood Bouillabaisse & Gnocchi because it tasted as if someone poured a few lbs of sugar in the sauce. However, the Ahi Tuna special was fantastic -- great flavor and nice piece of tuna. The Chocolate Soufflé was good if you like the flavor of blueberry with chocolate combined. The corkage fee of $52 is quite steep. For the price, I was disappointed and would recommend going somewhere else for a nice dinner. read more

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This place is ok, the food is great and there lava cake was awesome, Tulum Burger tasted amazing and the fries were delicious. I just didn't like the anchovies so much, it was too salty so I wasn't a fan of it. And the employees were nice but the manager wasn't, we had a big group and one of us didn't like the lava cake so he went to tell the manager about that. BUT when he told him about it he was like, READ THE MENU, we thought he was joking but then he ignored him and just left so that was rude. But the staff and the food were great so I recommend this. read more

This entire experience was top notch! Making a reservation was easy. I was able to go online and get one for the same day on a weekend. Our table was ready when we arrived. The ambiance was perfect for date night. Our server was terrific. He was attentive without being invasive. The food was perfectly timed and was expertly prepared. This restaurant is going in our regular rotation! read more

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Excellent food, both in terms of quality as well as creativity. We had a mix of daily specials and regular menu and everything was amazing! Very good kids menu, too -- only thing is that the kids steak shouldn't have had as much pepper. Beautiful setting/ambiance both indoors and on the patio --very professional service. Knew all details of menu etc. ... could have been faster/staged differently (eg not have kids fed before adults even made it to the salad course), but that may be personal preference Prices reflect the ambition here ... may be high for the area but being from NYC, we were pleasantly surprised by the quantity and quality relative to price read more

They must be called the Heights because their prices are sky high for the food you are getting. It was graduation week so reservations were impossible to get and prices were jacked up 30-40% from their menu on their website. All sort of understandable given the circumstances although obviously not thrilled about it. But even if I was paying their regular prices, I would not have been happy. We got a bunch of apps but I forgot to take pics of all of them, which is unfortunate because they were easily the best part of this meal. Kind of like the cocktail hour at a wedding. The Portuguese octopus, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and bacon were all pretty good. Then it all went downhill. The salad came, which is pretty massive. The pic does not do its size justice. It is like a whole head/bunch of lettuce per plate. Not much else though. The dressing is some nondescript balsamic with no other contrasting flavors. No cheese or raisins to make it interesting. It is a lot so if you like quantity over quality, you will be happy. For entrees, I ordered the tamarind lamb shank because I love tamarind duck at Thai restaurants so I was hoping it would give me that vibe. Unfortunately nothing close to that. The sauce is overpowering to the point that the flavor of the underlying meat becomes irrelevant. The sides are similarly lost by the cloyingly sweet tamarind flavor. My daughter ordered the rack of lamb special, which was pretty good although "special" means another 50% up charge compared to the already graduation week inflated prices. My wife and son both order the Chilean sea bass special, which were not very special at all. For desserts, we share cheesecake, carrot cake and profiteroles, the last of which was highly recommended by the waiter. After tasting it, I am convinced he has never had a good profiterole before. It is a soggy gloopy mess. At least for me, the meal ended on a decent note because the coffee comes with a little cup of whipped cream, chocolate chips and a sugar stick. Not enough to make me happy about this meal, but that and the rack of lamb are enough to go from 1 star to 2 stars. We will not be returning when we come to visit my daughter over the next 2 years. read more

The Heights Restaurant and H Bar - Salad included with main course - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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This is right next to Allechant. We went in by accident and they didn't even redirect us. They were rude and only stated they didn't have our reservation, we would have to wait, and nothing about trying next door. Tremendously racist. Treated everyone else politely and welcomingly except for us. Would rate this place negative, if possible read more

Came here for a group dinner with a fixed menu and had a pretty good time. The place is clean and nicely designed and the staff couldn't have been nicer. Very polished service for sure. The options on our fixed menu included some fish dishes, steak, rabbit and a vegetarian option. We started with a salad that was mostly greens and severely underdressed. Many of my dining companions asked if they were going to bring dressing because you couldn't tell it had anything on it. After choking down the leafy delights, I moved onto my filet. It was all right, but not as tender as I would have expected. I ordered medium rare and it came out a little more than medium so that may have been the cause. The greens that came with it were really good. It was served on something I couldn't quite identify...maybe a risotto. Tasted something like rice balls, if you ever visit Italian friends at Christmas you know what I am talking about. Dessert was a very good bread pudding with ice cream. I had heard good things about this place so I believe my expectations were too high. I would definitely go back and order off the menu to see what a more accurate representation of their kitchen would look- and taste- like. read more

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OMG ... all these cheapo naysayers... no one forced anyone to enjoy spending money here ... This. Is. Fabulous food, ambiance and wonderful kind, helpful staff!!! 3 of us sat at the bar and had a lovely evening - beyond yummy food - every dish, done to perfection and the wine list was so extensive. What a truly elegant gem! We'll be back often read more

Food price / quality rating 8.5. The atmosphere is subdued and dark. I had the double cut.pork chop, which was so large that it would make Fred Flintstone envious. Served with a cranberry glaze, roasted parsnip, and squash, and presented wonderfully. Excellent! It also included a large, beautifully prepared mixed salad, which was more than enough for my wife to have as her dinner! read more

The Heights Restaurant and H Bar - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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The food and service was excellent! Every flavor in the plate complemented each other so well! Get the crème brûlée. read more

The Heights Restaurant and H Bar - Crème brûlée! - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Chocolate lava cake dessert was nice. Menu is very overpriced but I think that's just Ithaca in general. Skirt steak is so tiny & I don't think the sauce compliments it. A chimichurri sauce would be better. read more

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A really nice meal, the restaurant is a little stuffy and crowded because there's many tables in each room, but the food is quite tasty and the portions are surprisingly large. Plus they give you complimentary bread that is pretty hard to resist. The menu is pricey but should have something for everyone. read more

Fantastic food and service. Really well done. Nice wine selection also. Def recommend for special occasion. read more

The Heights Restaurant and H Bar - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

There were plenty of options to choose from and everyone in our party thoroughly enjoyed their selection. The service was great! Our server was professional but still very personable. He was knowledgeable of the menu. Highly recommended! read more

I would give this restaurant a 6th star if I could. I've visited this restaurant twice, and both times I ordered a fish entree from the regular printed lunch menu. Both times, it was the best fish entree I ever had. On this visit, I enjoyed the fantastic PAN-SEARED SALMON: Roasted Beet Salad, Saffron Cous-Cous, Citrus Ginger, Pineapple Chutney, Green Harissa & Chinese Broccoli. What is exceptional about this dish is the multitude of sweet, spicy, tart and other flavors on the plate and how well they complement each other. Joanna is a fabulous experienced server. The decor and ambiance are upscale and lovely. My husband says the chocolate cake is great. The pear cake I ordered is OK, not great. The Heitz port is a superb dessert wine, sweet as honey. read more

Overall love this place, but to agree with some reviewers, some items are hit or miss. We LOVE the macaroni and cheese: it's the perfect mix of cheesy and creamy but not too heavy. The salmon on the Mac and cheese is good, but not the chicken. Next time we'd skip the steak:not worth the price. The salads are all good. The salmon naan sandwich and fries are good, and my husband enjoyed the fish and chips. The desserts are pretty tasty too! When we stick to our favorites, it's for sure a good date night! read more

The Heights Restaurant and H Bar - Chocolate soufflé - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Three stars for what is considered one of Ithaca's better dining establishments. Let's start with the positives. They are following the COVID protocols and parking was easy. They were expecting us and we were warmly greeted when we arrived. A friend of mine had suggested that I tell Amy the bartender that she said hello and that she has sent us which I did and Amy asked for my name and spoke fondly about our mutual friend. Once seated we were greeted by the staff and our server who asked us for our drink orders which we discussed possible options and requested more details. Our server explained that a couple of the drinks I was interested in had just been added to the menu and he wasn't familiar with them. We decided getting more details from bartender Amy would be helpful. After quite a bit of time away from our table he returned with Amy's recommendation. We placed our drink order. His the St Regis and me the Barbados which is a rum drink. Fresh baked bread with two types of spreads were delivered to our table. Olive oil with balsamic vinegar and a white bean mash with garlic & parsley-yum! Our server then discussed the menu and the 6 different main meal additions before our drinks arrived. While I appreciated hearing about all of them it was quite overwhelming and our server wasn't familiar with the new, additional menu items nor what were the vegetarian/vegan options. Again I felt rushed and on someone's else's timeline vs my own. Also disappointed that the server wasn't more familiar with the menu. Again feeling rushed we placed our dinner orders at a much earlier time than I would have preferred. We were out for Valentine's dinner and during COVID just being out is a treat and I certainly didn't want to be rushed. A great example of how quick everything was moving. I didn't have time to get a glass of wine with my meal because I was still trying to finish my rum drink before dinner was served. I wasn't successful so no wine with my meal. For starters, he had the Caesar's salad and I had the Harvest salad. Both were excellent and well prepared. My harvest salad contained crispy Brussel sprouts and a Sriracha honey dressing that I could have just kept eating. Plus, several wasabi peas. That was a first for me and something I will add to my salads. My date had their last remaining portion of swordfish with potatoes and pears in a Korean BBQ sauce. The swordfish was good but the potatoes were still hard. His request for future orders/ dinners would be to please add in a couple more slices of the pear. My main course was their seasonal vegetable plate. Parts of it were good and parts were not. The broccoli was very undercooked and the red cabbage was very tart and crunchy. If they were trying for a sweet & sour red cabbage they missed it completely. I couldn't cut the broccoli with my knife and told the server about it with really no reply. The potatoes were in an Indian style chunky stew that was spicy and flavorful. The potatoes, spices and other veggies were very good and well prepared. I was just extremely disappointed that my entire main course wasn't good. Overall, I had such high hopes and expectations regarding service , my meal especially on Valentine's Day 2021 and at an upscale restaurant. They were not met. read more

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We have really enjoyed the seasonal updates with the menu and the generous amount of specials there are daily. Every time we have had the same server, I think his name is Dominic, and he provides fantastic service. I see people complaining about the price, but I think the quality is reflected more than fairly in the price. read more

This was my first visit to The Heights. My companion had already been for a work function. The space itself has a bland but comfortable vibe. When we were seated at our table, my companion remarked on how we were seated closer to our neighbors than to each other, due to the size of the two person table. I understand that the 6-feet rule is no longer required of restaurants... but this still felt too close, especially as it's the only place I've been to in Ithaca where the staff aren't masked (nb: writing this during the delta surge). Also, it's just awkward. To drink, we each had a cocktail: the Caribbean Days and the Atelier. The cocktails were better than average for Ithaca, but not as good as Argos or Watershed. We shared the shrimp starter, which was tasty and beautifully plated. For mains, my companion had the Milanese pork cutlet, which she said tasted like "fried air" - surprisingly bland. We are aware of the "put an egg on it" and add fresh cheese strategies (to amp up a dull dish). This dish had both a fried egg and fresh mozz, but even that couldn't redeem it. I had the tuna special ($55!), which had different and interesting flavors, but was actually a one-note dish. To be honest, by the end of it, I was sick of it. The only way I'll be back is if a work function requires (and funds) it. For expensive fine dining, we prefer Gola or Hazelnut Kitchen. read more

The servers were very attentive. The owner came out with a pleasant attitude and took our order. Portion sizes are phenomenal and the taste is amazing. We will definitely visit again. Thank you ! read more

The Heights Restaurant and H Bar - Beautiful Swordfish, one of the specials of the night. Yum - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Absolutely EXCELLENT. Worth the drive from NYC, even if your kid doesn't go to Cornell! Easily competes with anything downstate-- menu selection, preparation, service. The ambiance is quiet, but not stifling. Staff cordial with exactly the right level of presence. Nothing more need be said. If you get what I said, you will be writing a stellar review of this restaurant yourself. The greatest complement is from the one star bunch who emerged from their bomb shelters covered in SPF 100+ sunscreen, chewing iodine tablets. The diners believed that they were in mortal danger by what they perceived as pandemic conditions at the restaurant, which threatened their very lives. Despite this, they finished their meals, down to the last morsel. In their mind, THIS food justified their perceived risk. How much more complement can be conferred on any restaurant! read more

James, Heidi and the entire staff do a wonderful job at this longtime Ithaca establishment. The food is always wonderful as is the service. Upscale and classy, this is one of the best places in the area for a date or business meal. Definitely one of the restaurants I miss since leaving Ithaca. read more

Service/atmosphere: Went for my husband birthday. I've been pleased with service in the past but tonight was disappointing. We were seated & we got water right away but it took the server way too long to come & say anything to us. I was about to go ask who was our server. The space is divided into 3 small rooms and they really pack the tables/people in each room. The servers had to keep squeezing past my husband's chair to pass through to another table. Also, I would like to see the lighting turned down just a tad more for a Saturday night dinner. Food: Appetizer: Calamari was ok. Decent portion size. Salad course: Caesar was good. Offered anchovies. House salad was different w/ Brussels sprouts & squash added. Lamb chops: good but it's a small dish. If u have a larger appetite, this dish is not the best value for your money. My daughter was disappointed on the portion size. Spare ribs: meat was really tender & very well seasoned. 2 large bones where meat just fell off bone. Generous Portion size, too much for me to finish. In the past I received complementary truffles at the end of the meal (not from this server). They typically bring a candle in a dessert for birthdays. We ordered dessert to go but I still expected some type of birthday acknowledgement. As we were leaving I asked the hostess if they still gave truffles at the end of meal & she said we should have gotten something. She went to the back & provided truffles for each of us. Thank goodness for her customer service!! As a fine dining restaurant with some of the higher prices in the area, I expect consistency of service. The Heights has been a go to place when we want a nice upscale dinner. I hope it was just our server. I won't hurry back but I will give them one more try before I downgrade them as one of my top local restaurants. read more

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Decent food, but a little too pricey for what you get. The only stand out dish were the sticky ribs. Almost all the dishes have a sweet sauce and the flavors are good, but nothing to write home about. Overall, it's worth going to, but set expectations low. read more

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Profiteering. What is a traditionally decent restaurant morphed into an extremely expensive dining experience on Cornell graduation weekend. The Heights demanded $20 per person for advanced dinner reservations without disclosing their "updated" menu (see attached). Captive diners were forced to fork out $54 for fish and $44 for pasta. If we were dining in Manhattan, San Francisco or Palm Beach we could understand. Ithaca, NY? No way. I defy The Heights to sport their graduation weekend menu the rest of the year. I suspect their tables would be empty. read more

The Heights Restaurant and H Bar - $44 for a pasta dish? Yikes! The Heights has an integrity problem. - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Loved it! Great food! Great ambience! Great staff! Zero wait time! Try the meatball pizza because it's unforgettably delicious!

A fabulous place for those times you're ready to spend a lot of money. I especially love the outdoor seating in the warm months. Great food and service. read more

Great food and proprietor James is an awesome person to get to know. The Pork shank was incredible and the steak is always perfectly prepared. We will always come back for me at the Heights!! read more