The Best Ithaca Restaurants

I didn’t do much Ithaca Restaurants research before heading to the Finger Lakes. I relied heavily on the taxi drivers, sometimes even just saying we were hungry and to please drop us off at a restaurant they recommend! Fortunately, we were not disappointed with any of our meals during the long weekend. We were able to check out many of the best Ithaca restaurants, and they’ve left us wanting more! I might even head back to the Finger Lakes next fall for TBEX North America.

Simeon’s on the Commons

Our first lunch in Ithaca was at Simeon’s on the Commons. We were lured in by their specials board which listed a crab & lobster roll. It was beyond delicious! We also ordered a frittata, and while delicious the lobster roll wa say far my favorite meal of the entire weekend. The restaurant itself is very charming, and recently renovated after a car crashed into the building a few years ago.

Fat Jack’s Barbecue

Fat Jack’s Barbecue was conveniently located right next door to our hotel. It looked like a fast food joint, and we hadn’t planned to visit this restaurant during our time in Ithaca. However, one of our taxi drivers recommended its barbecue, so we gave it a try. We were not disappointed! We each had half a rack of ribs and two sides. It was perfect after our sunset lake cruise on Lake Cayuga.

Luna Inspired Street Food

Luna Inspired Street Food was another place I was hesitant to check out. We do street food in NYC, I wasn’t sure about doing it in Upstate New York. My friend persisted, so we gave it a try. Despite the reference to street food, the restaurant is very clean, well maintained, and the service is excellent. I ordered a HALF portion of mac & cheese will pulled pork. What an amazing combination. I truly enjoyed this meal, and would be happy to go back and try a few other options from the menu.

The Boat Yard Grill

The Boat Yard Grill is actually located RIGHT by the Ithaca Boat Tours dock. If we had planned better we should have done both on the same night. It would have saved us a bit of cash. Lesson learned. When we arrived at the Boat Yard Grill, we were starving and there was about a 20 minute wait. We headed to the bar and ordered some soup to warm us up after a rainy day of wine tasting. The french onion soup was absolutely amazing. Topped with crispy onions, I had never tasted anything like it before. My main course was a classic salmon with mango chutney and rice & red beans. Very delicious, but it is the soup that was memorable here.

Viva Taqueria

Viva Taqueria is known for its Tequila flight, but I opted for the 3 varieties of tacos on the menu. I really loved the chorizo taco. So much flavor. The plate comes full for just under $10! I wasn’t able to finish it all, but I definitely recommend stopping by if you’re in the mood for Mexican food!

That’s a wrap for the food we experienced in Ithaca. We think we found some of the best Ithaca Restaurants, thanks to our helpful taxi drivers and tour guides. I hope you get a chance to try them out if you are in Ithaca, New York. If you are wondering what else you can do inIthaca, check out my Perfect Finger Lakes Weekend Guide.

 

 

SaveSave