Highest-rated Restaurants in Ithaca by Diners

Dreamer Company // Shutterstock

Highest-rated restaurants in Ithaca by diners

Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans say they rarely or never try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, according to a 2024 survey of more than 1,500 diners from TouchBistro.

But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—67% of Gen Zers and 40% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on social media or online restaurant reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google. The TouchBistro survey found that 52% of Gen Zers have opted to try a new restaurant due to positive feedback on social media, and 67% of millennials have gone to a new dining spot solely because of favorable reviews online.

New restaurants in particular tend to garner a lot of online attention. About 50,000 new restaurants open each year in the U.S., and that number continues to rise. An analysis by Yelp published in June 2024 found that new restaurant openings were up 6% from May 2023 to April 2024. But some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established eateries that customers have been visiting for decades.

To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Ithaca, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2025. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews and a 3.0 rating were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.

You may also like: Homes for sale in Ithaca at every price point

#30. Bickering Twins

- Rating: 4.0/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 114 North Cayuga St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Tacos, Latin American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

#29. Maxie's Supper Club & Oyster Bar

- Rating: 4.1/5 (481 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 635 West State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood, Southern
- Read more on Yelp

#28. Tian Jin Foods 天津小吃

- Rating: 4.1/5 (68 reviews)
- Address: 171 East State St. Ste 136 Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Chinese, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp

#27. Mercato Bar & Kitchen

- Rating: 4.1/5 (186 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 108 North Aurora St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

#26. Pokelava

- Rating: 4.1/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 206B Dryden Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Poke, Hawaiian
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Best options in Ithaca for 4 popular outdoor activities

#25. Coal Yard Cafe

- Rating: 4.1/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 143 Maple Ave. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, New American
- Read more on Yelp

#24. 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

#23. Saigon Kitchen

- Rating: 4.2/5 (759 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 526 West State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

#22. Creola Southern Steakhouse

- Rating: 4.2/5 (55 reviews)
- Address: 112 North Aurora St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Southern, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

#21. Temple of Zeus

- Rating: 4.3/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Goldwin Smith Hall Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Ithaca by diners

#20. Louie's Lunch

- Rating: 4.3/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 500 Thurston Ave. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

#19. Maru Ramen

- Rating: 4.3/5 (275 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 512 West State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Ramen, Bars, Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp

#18. MIX Kitchen & Bar

- Rating: 4.3/5 (468 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 205 Elmira Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

#17. The Rook

- Rating: 4.3/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 105 West Court St. Ste 100 Ithaca, New York
- Categories: New American, Comfort Food, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

#16. Gorgers Subs

- Rating: 4.4/5 (307 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 116 West State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Salad, Soup, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Highest-rated ice cream shops in Ithaca by diners

#15. Hound and Mare

- Rating: 4.4/5 (72 reviews)
- Address: 118 North Aurora St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#14. Thompson and Bleecker

- Rating: 4.4/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 211 East Seneca St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Wine Bars, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

#13. Franco's Pizzeria

- Rating: 4.4/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 527 West State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

#12. Silo Food Truck

- Rating: 4.5/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 620 West Green St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Food Trucks, Comfort Food, Breweries
- Read more on Yelp

#11. Le Cafe Cent-Dix

- Rating: 4.5/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 110 North Aurora St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: French, Salad, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Ithaca by diners

#10. Angelhearts Diner

- Rating: 4.5/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 401 East State St. Ste G2 Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Vegan, Diners, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp

#9. Hakacha Restaurant

- Rating: 4.5/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 311 3rd St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Ramen, Pasta Shops
- Read more on Yelp

#8. Dolce Delight

- Rating: 4.5/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1080 Danby Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Comfort Food, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#7. Cornell Dairy Bar

- Rating: 4.6/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 411 Tower Road Stocking Hall - Department of Food Science Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#6. Lev Kitchen

- Rating: 4.6/5 (86 reviews)
- Address: 222 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Ithaca by diners

#5. The Yellow Deli

- Rating: 4.6/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 143 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Desserts, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

#4. Allechant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 903 Hanshaw Road Ste 13 Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#3. Circus Truck

- Rating: 4.7/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 720 West Green St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Food Trucks, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp