
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Ithaca area by diners
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Ithaca area by diners
Breakfast holds a special place in American culture, serving not only as a source of nourishment to start the day but an opportunity to create traditions. It's a daily ritual for more than 290 million Americans and is often regarded as the most important meal of the day, according to data from the Department of Agriculture.
While staples like eggs, bacon, and pancakes are common nationwide, regional preferences showcase America's culinary diversity. In the South, biscuits and gravy are a staple, while the East Coast is known for dishes like eggs Benedict and bagels with lox. The Midwest often favors hearty skillet breakfasts, while the Southwest's spicy breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros reflect the region's Mexican influence.
There are a wide variety of restaurants that serve breakfast today. Traditional diners often feature laminated menus filled with pages of combo meals pairing eggs with a breakfast meat of your choice served alongside hash browns, buttered toast, and endless coffee refills. Then there are modern breakfast spots that embrace innovation, adding global influences and creative twists to traditional dishes. Avocado toast, kimchi fried rice, and churro waffles are some of the more recent popular offerings that reflect how multicultural flavors have become part of contemporary breakfast traditions.
American breakfast culture has evolved significantly over the years. In the mid-20th century, diners and coffee shops dominated the morning meal landscape, catering to workers and families with fast, affordable options. Then, the rise of fast-food chains in the 1960s and 1970s shifted breakfast trends, introducing convenient grab-and-go items like McDonald's Egg McMuffin. By the early 2000s, the brunch boom transformed weekends into social events, with restaurants offering elaborate dishes, bottomless mimosas, craft Bloody Marys, and vibrant atmospheres that encourage extended Saturday and Sunday morning dining experiences.
Today, breakfast culture continues to balance nostalgia with innovation as classic comforts meet modern trends in both casual diners and brunch destinations, ensuring that morning meals remain a meaningful and celebrated part of life.
Curious about where to head near Ithaca for your next breakfast or brunch? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Ithaca area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of March 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "breakfast & brunch" on Yelp that are open at 7 a.m. and are within a 10-kilometer radius of Ithaca were included. Some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides breakfast food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 15 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to discover new inventive egg-centric dishes or time-honored classics for your next leisurely morning!
#7. Kelly's Dockside Cafe
- Rating: 2.9/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 319 Taughannock Blvd. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#6. The State Diner
- Rating: 3.2/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 428 West State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Collegetown Bagels
- Rating: 3.5/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 301 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Sunset Grill
- Rating: 3.5/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 823 Danby Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Ithaca Bakery
- Rating: 3.7/5 (496 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 400 North Meadow St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Delis, Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Lincoln Street Diner
- Rating: 4.1/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 309 East Lincoln St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#1. East Shore Roadhouse
- Rating: 4.9/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 1928 East Shore Drive Lansing, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 293 metros.