<p>We'd like to take our family out the night before orientation starts in Ithaca. Can anyone recommend a wonderful restaurant? Is it too late for reservations? Thanks.</p>
<p>haha, I’d recommend Taverna Banfi, which is right on campus 
But I’m a hotelie so I’m biased.</p>
<p>Taverna Banfi is wonderful and has excellent food, but is pricey (it’s inside the Statler Hotel).</p>
<p>Madeline’s in the Commons is also a good option.</p>
<p>Stella’s Cafe, Plum Tree, or Miyake’s in Collegetown.</p>
<p>If you are looking for Sunday Brunch, The Thai Cuisine has wonderful food, but is only accessible really by car.</p>
<p>I like Zaza. It’s a nice Italian restaurant. Some people swear by their lasagna. </p>
<p>Maxie’s Supper Club is also pretty good. It’s more casual.</p>
<p>Short answer: John Thomas
Taverna Banfi is good for easy dates (dinner or sunday brunch if you’re lucky) only because you can cornell card it. Otherwise its nothing special than your standard italian food that has been americanized and then europeanized once again.
Oh and if you want to go sake bombing with your parents, I highly recommend plum tree or miyake.</p>
<p>the heights is really good for dinner [The</a> Heights Cafe & Grill](<a href=“http://www.heightscafe.com/]The”>http://www.heightscafe.com/)</p>
<p>zaza is good too. </p>
<p>or just a taste has great small plates but no reservations so expect to wait up to an hour on a saturday.</p>
<p>Zaza does have amaaazing lasagna!</p>
<p>Plum Tree has the best sushi around, IMO.</p>
<p>Stella’s is good for wholesome, organic, vegetarian food.</p>
<p>yeah taverna banfi is a little pricy, but you cant beat its amazing views of the campus.</p>
<p>John Thomas, Boatyard Grill, Stella’s, The Antler’s</p>
<p>i’m still pressing for the heights if you want an upscale dinner over john thomas or banfi.</p>
<p>[Madeline’s</a> Restaurant](<a href=“http://www.madelines-restaurant.com/]Madeline’s”>http://www.madelines-restaurant.com/)
[Moosewood</a> Restaurant - Ithaca, NY](<a href=“http://www.moosewoodrestaurant.com/]Moosewood”>http://www.moosewoodrestaurant.com/)
[url=<a href=“http://www.kitchenandcocktail.com/]Kitchen”>http://www.kitchenandcocktail.com/]Kitchen</a> and Cocktail<a href=“Stella’s”>/url</a></p>
<p>It’s a bit of a drive, but Taughannock Farms is very nice:
[Taughannock</a> Farms Inn](<a href=“http://www.t-farms.com/dining.htm]Taughannock”>http://www.t-farms.com/dining.htm)</p>
<p>I also like Zaza’s a lot.</p>
<p>My family swears by Thai Cuisine. Boatyard Grill is also a good one. Both are by car tho. Make sure you do ur research about prices b4 u take ppl up on the recommendations tho bc places like John Thomas are VERY expensive (but good). Ithaca is a great place for food so you have many places to choose from.</p>
<p>Took D to The Heights last semester for her b-day. President Skorton and wife were sitting two tables over. </p>
<p>It was very good but pricey.</p>
<p>By price of main course: </p>
<p>Highest (25-40): John Thomas, Heights - can do lunch at Heights for about 12 per person, best lunch in Ithaca in my opinion, and much better deal than dinner</p>
<p>Upper (20-30): Banfi, Madeline’s, Za Za</p>
<p>Middle (10-20): Just A Taste - best small plates - great dinner but no reservations, Stella’s - in collegetown, Antler’s, Mahogany Grill, Boatyard Grill, Thai Cuisine - best thai, Plum Tree - sushi in collegetown, Ruloff’s - OK food in collegetown, Maxi’s Supper Club - cajun, The Nines - best deep dish pizza in collegetown, Ithaca Ale house - Burgers, Moosewood - all vegetarian - well recognized nationally</p>
<p>HOW COME NO ONE HAS SUGGESTED TASTE OF THAI IN THE COMMONS?!?</p>
<p>soooo good!</p>
<p>because it’s not that good. especially compared to The Thai Cuisine.</p>
<p>I’m going to second KDMOM’s recommendation. Taughannock Farms was wonderful. We had d’s graduation dinner there. Prices are actually pretty reasonable as the entree price includes appetizer- salad and dessert. They don’t even raise the price for graduation dinner- so keep it in mind for a graduation celebration too. Also like Zaza and Boathouse.
one other restaurant we liked alot was [Rogues</a>’ Harbor Inn ~ Ithaca Aurora Finger Lakes bed and breakfast inn ~ Lansing NY lodging near Ithaca and Aurora in the Finger Lakes](<a href=“http://www.roguesharbor.com%5DRogues”>http://www.roguesharbor.com)</p>
<p>it’s in Lansing and probably a 20 minute ride or so from campus- but Ithaca can be so hectic/crazy during this time, you might want to be a bit of a distance away from campus anyway.</p>
<p>I recommend Stella’s in ctown.</p>
<p>Boatyard Grill is really good imo</p>