Moosewood Restaurant has a certain kind of charm that is difficult to find elsewhere. Everything is organic and superbly fresh, locally sourced, and so delicious!  We love the fact that their menu changes each and every night, so there's always something new to enjoy even if you have been there every night of the week! They're known for that incredibly tasty  house dressing on their crisp fresh salads, but we also enjoy the vinaigrette. They've got some pasta dishes that are really something else, including one with kiel and cheese that just tickles your tastebuds. Too good. May we also suggest the spinach soup? It goes so well with just about anything. It can be a little bit pricey here, but worth it!
215 N Cayuga St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 273-9610

Collegetown Bagels is the choice breakfast and lunch stop for everybody in Ithaca, especially students of Cornell. We really love their vegetarian bagel which consists of a toasted bagel with lots of melted muenster cheese plus tomatoes... mmm so good! They've got a huge variety of coffee drinks here that you definitely won't find at that "other" coffee place that we love so much... try the Karamel Kozzie, and the Twisted Sister! They are too good to believe. It's a little bit more expensive for your bagel and coffee here than it will be elsewhere, but you also won't get this kind of personalized service and the unique array of items. Definitely worth whatever extra cost may be involved!
415 College Ave
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 273-0982

Just a Taste has got to be the most clever name for a tapas restaurant! We love it. Their menu is ever-changing too, so no matter how frequently you visit you can never get bored. We love their chipotle aioli on the deep fried potato wedges, and the brussels sprouts in garlic butter with pecans is just amazing. These are the kinds of flavors that are worth even a long drive. They also have wine flights that are very highly recommended, and all of their wines pair very well with one of our favorite items here... the clams in white wine and lemon! Mmm. It's so light and tasty. They've got a beautiful outdoor patio to enjoy when the weather is warm, and in the evenings you'll really love the candlelight.
116 N Aurora St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 277-9463

Seafood lovers will want to take note of Maxie's Supper Club & Oyster Bar! This is one of Ithaca's real gems. They have an incredible array of food, not just limited to seafood. The pulled pork and the chicken dishes are every bit as good as the oysters and crab cakes! The cornbread that comes with the entrees is just out of this world, and honestly we'd come in for that all on its own! It's that good. We enjoy their jambalaya, and the happy hour oysters are always a nice way to salute the middle of the day. I mean, half off? You can't beat that. Delicious chowder too, and lots of Cajun flavors woven through a really eclectic and flavorful menu. We can't imagine that you won't fall in love with this place!
635 W State St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 272-4136

Viva Taqueria is THE place to go in Ithaca if you are craving delicious Mexican food! It's unbelievably good, and the service is some of the best that we have been treated to in the area. We would very highly recommend the taco salad with the buttermilk ranch dressing. We've never tasted something so fresh and flavorful, and it puts all other taco salads to shame! They also have wonderful burritos that are absolutely stuffed to the brim with fillings, and quesadillas that are quite impressive as well! The ambiance is very nice, beautifully decorated, and cozy too. Great for dates, get-togethers with friends, and nights out with the family. We've always had a great time here and we're sure you will too.
101 N Aurora St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 277-1752

Taste of Thai is one of those Thai restaurants that everybody just goes gaga for. They've got some of the best curries around, so good that you'll get addicted to them! The coconut milk is what makes them so rich and flavorful, and really balances out the intense level of heat (which you can of course customize to your liking). They have pineapple fried rice that goes so well with just about anything on the menu, and we really love their pad se ewew as well. Of course if you like to stick with the basics, like pad thai, they are very good here too. The fried bananas and cake are a perfect ending to a wonderful meal. The true icing on the cake though, is the service. Very warm and friendly. We love Taste of Thai.
216 E State St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 256-5487

Madeline's Restaurant is a wonderful place to go for truly gourmet food that will intoxicate your taste buds. The red curried duck with jasmine rice is one of our favorite dishes, and it comes with a hearty helping of grilled vegetables that provides a nice contrast to the rest of the dish. If you are a dessert lover like us, you'll want to opt for the creme brulee or the bread pudding. Both are so creamy and delicious, you'll wish you could dive right into it. The best thing about this restaurant would have to be the ambiance though. This may be the nicest restaurant on this list. We love the lighting and the beautiful artwork on the walls. They have really outdone themselves here, and as frequent customers we appreciate it!
215 E State St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 277-2253

Stella's Bar & Restaurant is a favorite lunch and dinner spot in Ithaca, and once you've visited, you'll understand why. It's all about the amazing flavor combinations here. For instance, the salmon wrap with sweet potato fries! It's not over the top, trying too hard to be gourmet, but the flavors are definitely a cut above the rest. You leave feeling both full and satisfied. We're big fans of lobster bisque but it's difficult to find one that is not too thin and not too rich. They do it just right here. And they also have an excellent selection of wines that will really pair well with anything on the menu. The staff is very knowledgeable about this too, so just ask if you're not sure which one goes best with your meal!
403 College Ave
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 277-1490

Alladin's Natural Eatery is the place to go if you are health-conscious in Ithaca. Everything is natural and just filled with flavor. Lots of our friends have recommended the souvlaki plate though we haven't tried it ourselves, and we really enjoy their fresh fruit and nut salad. They have gyro pita sandwiches here that will really knock your socks off, and we'd also very highly recommend the basil and pistachio pasta. Those are the kinds of flavors that we would travel hundreds of miles for! Luckily for us it's right here in Ithaca. There's lots of room here and they do rent the space for parties, so take note of that if you have a special occasion coming up! Very highly recommended.
100 Dryden Rd
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 273-5000

Thai Cuisine claims to have the best food in all of the state of New York, including NYC. That's a very large claim, but you'd be surprised just how many people have agreed with it! We've been to too many Thai restaurants to keep them all straight, but this one definitely comes out near the top of the list. Though the ambiance is nothing to write home about and it hasn't been updated in ages, the food is ridiculously off-the-charts good. The green curry with crab is our favorite dish on the menu, and we also enjoy the red curry with beef. Their salad with peanut dressing is a wonderful starter. Try the wings stuffed with pork too, that's something unique that we haven't see anywhere else! Truly amazing food, and one of our highest recommendations.
501 S Meadow St
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 273-2031