Alright, IC Collegiettes, if you’ve never been over to C-Town to eat, listen up. Ithaca is partially known for being “gorges,” but also known for having an awesome selection of food; if you’re not tapping into Collegetown’s selection, you’re missing out big time.
Luckily, I’ve had the chance to frequent many of Collegetown’s eateries, and I’ll give you the scoop on which ones to try. Disclaimer: I haven’t been to them all, so if I don’t mention one, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check it out. If only my boyfriend and I had unlimited funding and could eat everywhere… #brokecollegestudentprobz.
Collegetown Bagels (CTB): If you haven’t been here, or at least heard of it, I’m not sure if you actually go here. (Cue Mean Girls quote “She doesn’t even go here!”). Owned by the Ithaca Bakery, CTB is the go-to place for bagels, breakfast sandwiches, coffee and snacks (their dessert case is divine). They have crazy hours, so even the post-bar/frat party crowd hits it up for some late-night noms. There’s one on The Commons as well, but it’s just not the same when it’s not packed with Ivy League students like the C-town location is.
Apollo Chinese: Another frequent late-night stop, Apollo Chinese has all the fried and delicious Chinese-food goodness you crave at 2 a.m. Although it’s one of many Asian cuisine restaurants to choose from in Collegetown, it’s the bf’s fave, so we often end up there on the weekends (despite my attempts to keep him from letting me eat late-night Dumplings and Crab Rangoon’s. Mmm.)
Collegetown Pizza: The Sammy’s of Collegetown. That pretty much sums it up.
Plum Tree Japanese Restaurant: For sushi lovers, this is the place for sushi in Collegetown. With the same owner as Sushi Sake on The Commons, the two menus are strikingly similar, but Plum Tree’s sushi seems to taste better to me. Their appetizers, miso soup, and ginger salad are all classic and delicious, as are their basic rolls. The bf and I have tried a majority of the specialty rolls (we really like sushi), and they all have something different to offer. Feeling super adventurous? Sake bombs.
Stella’s Restaurant, Bar, & Cafe: For a classier experience, head to Stella’s. The cave-turned-restaurant atmosphere is entertaining enough to keep you occupied until your delicious, budget-friendly, locally sourced food arrives. They switch out their menu pretty frequently, so don’t get too attached to anything (as I learned the hard way). One item that never disappears, for good reason, is their burger—always a solid choice.