Ithaca · United States
The Ithaca food cheat sheet
One page from Chef Amazing · November 2026
The dish to eat
Vanilla ice cream with warm cherry syrup, whipped cream and a cherry.
Best at Purity Ice Cream, Fall Creek. Get: A sundae
Five places, and what to order
- Glenwood Pinesclassic · Route 89, west shore of Cayuga LakeGet: The Pinesburger (a cheeseburger on French bread with Thousand Island) or the haddock fish fry
- Hawi Ethiopian Cuisinefamily-run · The CommonsGet: The vegetable platter, eaten with injera
- Moosewoodclassic · DowntownGet: The seasonal vegetarian menu
- Heart & Hands Wine Companyfor finger Lakes Riesling · Union Springs, east shoreGet: Riesling
- Ithaca Bakeryfor bagel sandwiches · North Meadow StreetGet: A bagel sandwich and coffee
The market
Farmers market. Farmers, cheesemakers, bakers and cooked-food stalls on the Cayuga Inlet
How it works here
Tip: Tip 18-22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two a drink at the bar.
Book: Book the hot places on Resy or OpenTable, often the day tables drop (2-4 weeks out); counters and slices are walk-in.
When locals eat: Lunch noon-2pm, dinner 6-9pm; it gets late only in the big cities.