Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Ithaca area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Ithaca area by diners
Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, French Laundry, unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chefs' tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Ithaca area using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#26. Monks On The Commons
- Rating: 3.1/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 South Aurora St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Luna Inspired Street Food
- Rating: 3.1/5 (260 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 113 North Aurora St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: New American, Tacos, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Inn at Taughannock Falls Restaurant
- Rating: 3.3/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2030 Gorge Road Trumansburg, New York
- Categories: New American, Mediterranean, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Moosewood Restaurant
- Rating: 3.4/5 (616 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 215 North Cayuga St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: New American, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#22. The BoatYard Grill
- Rating: 3.5/5 (513 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 525 Taughannock Blvd. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Seafood, Bars, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Taste of Thai
- Rating: 3.5/5 (310 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 216 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Viva Taqueria
- Rating: 3.5/5 (472 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 215 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Ciao Wood-Fired Pizza & Pasta
- Rating: 3.7/5 (269 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2 Hickory Hollow Lane Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Cafe Dewitt
- Rating: 3.7/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 215 North Cayuga St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Taverna Banfi
- Rating: 3.7/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 130 Statler Drive Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Spicy Asian
- Rating: 3.7/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 335 Elmira Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Chinese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#15. The Heights Restaurant and H Bar
- Rating: 3.7/5 (212 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 903 Hanshaw Road Community Corners Center Ithaca, New York
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Souvlaki House
- Rating: 3.7/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 315 Eddy St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Sangam Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 3.8/5 (168 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 424 Eddy St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Indian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Simeon's On The Commons
- Rating: 3.8/5 (309 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 224 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: New American, Brasseries, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Ithaca Ale House
- Rating: 3.9/5 (611 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 301 East State St. Ste 1 Ithaca, New York
- Categories: New American, Bars, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Mia Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 130 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Indian, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Milkstand
- Rating: 3.9/5 (182 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 215 North Meadow St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Gola Osteria
- Rating: 4.0/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 115 South Quarry St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Maxie's Supper Club & Oyster Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (486 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 635 West State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Mercato Bar & Kitchen
- Rating: 4.1/5 (189 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 108 North Aurora St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Saigon Kitchen
- Rating: 4.2/5 (766 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 526 West State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Crossroads Bar & Grille
- Rating: 4.3/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3120 North Triphammer Road Lansing, New York
- Categories: Bars, American, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#3. The Rook
- Rating: 4.3/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 105 West Court St. Ste 100 Ithaca, New York
- Categories: New American, Comfort Food, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. MIX Kitchen & Bar
- Rating: 4.3/5 (479 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 205 Elmira Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Italian, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Le Cafe Cent-Dix
- Rating: 4.4/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 110 North Aurora St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: French, Salad, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
