542087 Thu Jul 24 16:24:27 -0700 2008 6 20 Tristate Region 0 3898920 Are there any small spots, eateries that surprise you with quality? lets start a list Thu Jul 24 16:24:29 -0700 2008 212278 bobobrazil 1 3900244 Willow is excellent -- quiet, classy, with inventive and top-quality food and service. Dijon is a bistro with authentic food and good service. Both are off Route 13 in strip mall locations. Also try Pangea -- more inconsistent than the first two, but when it's on, a close third. Fri Jul 25 06:23:43 -0700 2008 3898920 209979 FKM123 1 3900254 I'm a big fan of the stalls at the Farmer's Market. They have a flatbread pizzeria, some Asian and Mexican stuff and this one lady who sells suhi roll type items stuffed with seasoned nuts. Fri Jul 25 06:27:47 -0700 2008 3898920 15393 bigmackdaddy 1 3905076 It has been two years since we visited Ithaca, but my wife and I found these places memorable... Just-A- Taste, 116 N Aurora St, near the commons. A wine bar with tapas sized portions. Most of their ingredients are from local farmers. My wife and I each did a wine flight, and shared 5 dishes. All their dishes were nicely executed with attention to detail. Small, busy, bisto-type ambience. http://www.just-a-taste.com/ State Diner, 428 State Street, very old-school diner with decent quality food. We were there for basic diner breakfast. Eggs, bacon, french toast, cuppa joe. Everything looked like it was original, down to the torn vinyl-clad booth seats that spring up when you are not sitting in them. Maxie's Supper Club & Oyster Bar, 635 W State St. Southern comfort-food menu. Fantastic bar with tin ceiling. Had the most-fantastic time there. Food was top-notch and the staff was excellent, especially the bartenders, this is a small town after all. Their website says they don't open until 4 PM, but I remember we went back a a second time for brunch, they had fantastic beignets. This place also gets extra points in my book, because our bartender introduced us to Hangar One brand vodka, including a sample of their rare wasabi-infused vodka, from the alchemist series that was sold-out. http://www.maxies.com/index2.html I also second bigmackdaddy's recommendation of the farmers market. There is a lot to look at there, even if you can't fill the trunk with groceries. We did a lot of snacking there, too. Sun Jul 27 06:03:29 -0700 2008 3898920 71633 jerryc123 2 3905320 Were you ever at Glenwood Pines? I thought it was an okay place. Not great but just okay. I hear how good it i and wonder if I went on an off day. Sun Jul 27 08:25:56 -0700 2008 3905076 15393 bigmackdaddy 3 3905338 I second Dijon -- it's as close to a French bistro as you will find anywhere. The food was great (big portions, so be forewarned). The location is a little strange, in a strip mall in a not that great part of town. For ice cream, none better than Purity. www.purityicecream.com There are lines at 11 a.m. and at 10 p.m. and you'll soon find out why. Gimme Coffee's original branch is in Ithaca and I've yet to have a better macchiato anywhere in the United States. The baristas are well trained. Not a fan of either Just a Taste or Moosewood. I think they're both overrated. Sun Jul 27 08:35:44 -0700 2008 3905320 83766 brendastarlet 3 3907606 I was at Glenwood Pines a couple of times and I think I mostly got the Pinesburger, which they are famous for. It was a good burger, not amazing, but it was good. It's basically a casual family style place, not a place to take someone you would want to impress. I second the recs for Just A Taste and Maxie's. 2 of my favorite restaurants in Ithaca. I don't necessarily think of those as small hidden gems though b/c I feel like alot of people know about them...I'm trying to think of some, but can't come up with any. Mon Jul 28 08:11:29 -0700 2008 3905320 66556 Solstice444