Ithaca eating suggestions, pre-game?

Bringing a friend to game Saturday night vs. Niagara. He wishes to eat 5-6 PM before the game. Looking for hints and pointers -
thx - Lou

Four suggestions of places that we frequently go to before Cornell Hockey games.

Souvlaki House - Collegetown on Eddy Street - Italian Greek
Joe's - Corner of Buffalo St and Meadow St - Italian
The Rose - Triphammer Shopping Center
Boatyard Grill - Taughannock Blvd.

Parking can be tough in Collegetown. All the others have their own parking. All are low-mid priced with Boatyard being more mid-priced.

Larry

It's during break. Collegetown is empty.

I'd also add The Nines for good deep dish pizza in Ctown, but they're slow. Make sure you get there right at 5.

CowbellGuy
I'd also add The Nines for good deep dish pizza in Ctown, but they're slow.

I think we're calling it "learning disabled" now.

If you're looking for quick food; my friends and I always hit up Shortstop pregame. Get a nice hot sub and do a mini tailgate in the parking garage...if it's not sub-zero outside.

As much as I hate to betray my undying love of DP Dough, I'd suggest Ruloff's. My friends and I enjoyed many a juicy burger there before games, and we never regretted it.

ftyuv
As much as I hate to betray my undying love of DP Dough, I'd suggest Ruloff's. My friends and I enjoyed many a juicy burger there before games, and we never regretted it.

Their sandwiches are good. Prettiest girls in Collegetown, as well. Er, IMHO.

Trotsky

ftyuv
As much as I hate to betray my undying love of DP Dough, I'd suggest Ruloff's. My friends and I enjoyed many a juicy burger there before games, and we never regretted it.

Their sandwiches are good. Prettiest girls in Collegetown, as well. Er, IMHO.

Well I don't know about you, but when I was up there, the prettiest girls in Collegetown were in my bedroom. Amiright or amiright!

ftyuv

Trotsky

ftyuv
As much as I hate to betray my undying love of DP Dough, I'd suggest Ruloff's. My friends and I enjoyed many a juicy burger there before games, and we never regretted it.

Their sandwiches are good. Prettiest girls in Collegetown, as well. Er, IMHO.

Well I don't know about you, but when I was up there, the prettiest girls in Collegetown were in my bedroom.

...taking advantage of the privacy while he was at hockey games.

Chariot, Oliver's, Johnny's...

(they're all closed, just in case anyone doesn't get it)

ftyuv

Trotsky

ftyuv
As much as I hate to betray my undying love of DP Dough, I'd suggest Ruloff's. My friends and I enjoyed many a juicy burger there before games, and we never regretted it.

Their sandwiches are good. Prettiest girls in Collegetown, as well. Er, IMHO.

Well I don't know about you, but when I was up there, the prettiest girls in Collegetown were in my bedroom. Amiright or amiright!

It is unlikely that you are right, though that doesn't appear to be one of the choices.

Is Hong Kong still there?

The Plantation on rte. 366 has great bar food and is just up the road from Lynah. Strongly recommended. And don't forget to do a couple of shots for good luck!

ugarte

ftyuv

Trotsky

ftyuv
As much as I hate to betray my undying love of DP Dough, I'd suggest Ruloff's. My friends and I enjoyed many a juicy burger there before games, and we never regretted it.

Their sandwiches are good. Prettiest girls in Collegetown, as well. Er, IMHO.

Well I don't know about you, but when I was up there, the prettiest girls in Collegetown were in my bedroom. Amiright or amiright!

It is unlikely that you are right, though that doesn't appear to be one of the choices.

Stalinism applied to mackin', baby.

(Not ignoring you, Beeeej... I just can't think of any half decent response.)

fullofgas
The Plantation on rte. 366 has great bar food and is just up the road from Lynah. Strongly recommended. And don't forget to do a couple of shots for good luck!

I don't know if I'd take culinary advice from someone with a screen name like yours.

Just a Taste down in the commons. Pretty decent beer and wine selection tops off a nice menu of tapas-style offerings to set your night off right.

fullofgas
The Plantation on rte. 366 has great bar food and is just up the road from Lynah. Strongly recommended. And don't forget to do a couple of shots for good luck!

[maps.google.com]

I'm as big a proponent of walking (rather than driving) as the next guy, but you might want to temper those rounds of shots! It's still 4 miles away, so not quite, "just up the road".

French Rage
Is Hong Kong still there?

Nope. It's been replaced by a burger/bar food type take out restaurant.

Here's what you do, and this is what you order:

Either Louie's Lunch on North Campus or Sinbad's in collegetown (across from Dunbars) - if you're nice - will make you the following sandwich (For 9 dollars, agreed upon beforehand):


THE FAT DARRYL

I believe legend places the origins of this saintly treat somewhere in or around Rutgers University.

Darryl was very very hungry. He ordered this sub, and, according to history, the next ten people in line ordered the same thing. If I could make it to the game this weekend, I would relive some of the best Cornell nights I ever had, making sure to start with this sub:

Foot long sourdough sub loaded with french-fries, chicken fingers, and mozzarella sticks...and the whole thing is SWIMMING in marinara sauce.

Tell me your heart didn't just skip a beat..."Should have sent a poet."

LaJollaRed
THE FAT DARRYL

I believe legend places the origins of this saintly treat somewhere in or around Rutgers University.

That would be a Grease Truck creation if I'm not mistaken (a reputable source no less than wikipedia backs me up [en.wikipedia.org] ). Quality establishments

nr53

LaJollaRed
THE FAT DARRYL

I believe legend places the origins of this saintly treat somewhere in or around Rutgers University.

That would be a Grease Truck creation if I'm not mistaken (a reputable source no less than wikipedia backs me up [en.wikipedia.org] ). Quality establishments

You would not go to a sandwich shop in New Brunswick to order your half t-sui, and you should not go to a sandwich shop in Ithaca to order your Fat Darrell.

Couldja hold the fries? I'm trying to lose some weight...

1.Rulloff's - burgers, nachos, chowder (chowda)
2.Willow- more, er, contemporary American food. Try the mussels.
3.The Nines- pizza (add an hour to standard pizza time, though)
4.The Vietnamese place across from the Palms....it used to be good! is it still there?
5.John Thomas Steakhouse- 'nuff said.

post game: HOT TRUCK!!!

I'm a big fan of Lost Dog Cafe. Try the sweet potato fries.

I've got a hockey team of 15 year olds and their parents I need to feed before the game on Sat -probably 40-45 in total- there used to be a sports bar downtown (near state street diner?) that might work if it's still open ? (name?) or any other ideas? We're staying at the Ramada near triphammer mall...(Fri night is Applebee's so that won't work)
many thanks

The Rose, located in the Triphammer Mall, should be able to handle your group before Saturday's game. You may want to call ahead just to let them know roughly how many.

Are you thinking of Benchwarmers by chance? Their site is still up, so I'm assuming they're open. That's a great place.

dietlbomb

French Rage
Is Hong Kong still there?

Nope. It's been replaced by a burger/bar food type take out restaurant.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

pman78
I've got a hockey team of 15 year olds and their parents I need to feed before the game on Sat -probably 40-45 in total- there used to be a sports bar downtown (near state street diner?) that might work if it's still open ? (name?)

I think you're thinking of the place on Green St. Formerly the Ithaca Sports Club, it's now called Uncle Joe's:

[unclejoessportsbar.com]

See the link in the yellow box of their homepage for "group/party options."

I think you mean the sports bar called Uncle Joes.

[unclejoessportsbar.com]

it is the next block over from state street.

if you are at ramada The Rose is just across the bride of rt 13..

The Rancor
4.The Vietnamese place across from the Palms....it used to be good! is it still there?

Still there, still good, and still called--brace yourself--"Vietnam"

CowbellGuy

The Rancor
4.The Vietnamese place across from the Palms....it used to be good! is it still there?

Still there, still good, and still called--brace yourself--"Vietnam"

The #22 (pork rice bowl) is very good. Great place for quick eats before the game. I was in and out in 15 minutes a few weeks ago.

I think Uncle Joes *is* the place i was thinking of..Thanks for this. Will also keep The Rose in mind if we need a place closer to the hotel...

why has no one mentioned wingz over ithaca

A-19
why has no one mentioned wingz over ithaca

I like that place, too, I don't care what anyone says. (Nothing else is open at 1 a.m. when you're staying at the University Inn Best Western.)

A-19
why has no one mentioned wingz over ithaca

I'm not sure how comfortably they could handle 45 in the restaurant. And didn't they go back to Wings?

If you don't mind driving a little beyond the commons, The Pines is great for a big group. Call ahead and you'll have downstairs to yourself.

A-19
why has no one mentioned wingz over ithaca

Because you hadn't posted yet.

What an odd question.

Awww man...The Chariot is closed??? I loved that place...ahem...

A-19
why has no one mentioned wingz over ithaca

Gah, you're right, I should've remembered that. I even saw Schafer coming out of there once, which must count as an endorsement of some sort!

If you don't mind driving a little beyond the commons, The Pines is great for a big group. Call ahead and you'll have downstairs to yourself.

great suggestion for a large group, the glenwood pines! we used to have our year end hockey banquets there. the food is good, beer for the parents, skee ball-bowling and very hockey friendly. CALL AHEAD (like the day before at a minimum) if you have 45 people for gods sake!

pman78
I think Uncle Joes *is* the place i was thinking of..Thanks for this. Will also keep The Rose in mind if we need a place closer to the hotel...

The food at Uncle Joe's is a dissapointing. If you are looking for lots of big TV's and a sports theme, Benchwarmers on the Commons has a larger menu and at least marginally better fare.

L-J

pman78
I think Uncle Joes *is* the place i was thinking of..Thanks for this. Will also keep The Rose in mind if we need a place closer to the hotel...

The food at Uncle Joe's is a dissapointing. If you are looking for lots of big TV's and a sports theme, Benchwarmers on the Commons has a larger menu and at least marginally better fare.

Right, the food is marginal at both Uncle Joe's and Benchwarmers. Benchwarmers can get pretty busy and loud and service can bog down and get pretty slow.
The Plantation has MUCH better food. Service is fast (and waittresses and tenders are easy on the eyes) and there is room in the pool room for quite a few people. Saturday early evening before a hockey game is usually very quiet there and getting a large group in and out would be no problem.

Trotsky

A-19
why has no one mentioned wingz over ithaca

I like that place, too, I don't care what anyone says. (Nothing else is open at 1 a.m. when you're staying at the University Inn Best Western.)

DP Dough is!

Nothing else is open at 1 a.m. when you're staying at the University Inn Best Western.

Three words: State Street Diner

Trotsky

A-19
why has no one mentioned wingz over ithaca

I like that place, too, I don't care what anyone says. (Nothing else is open at 1 a.m. when you're staying at the University Inn Best Western.)

And that is just one more reason to suck it up and stay at the Hillside.

mnagowski

Nothing else is open at 1 a.m. when you're staying at the University Inn Best Western.

Three words: State Street Diner

Three more words: Green hamburger buns

Section A Banshee

mnagowski

Nothing else is open at 1 a.m. when you're staying at the University Inn Best Western.

Three words: State Street Diner

Three more words: Green hamburger buns

That reminds me of a funny story involving a large amount of alcohol.

mnagowski
Three words: State Street Diner

Four words: milk shake with pickle.

Benchwarmers' food is pretty bad, but it has the virtue of serving late.

Trotsky
Benchwarmers' food is pretty bad, but it has the virtue of serving late.

They've recently expanded their menu. I never thought it was bad, personally. The generic industrial cleanser they serve as "Cola" on the other hand...

CowbellGuy

Trotsky
Benchwarmers' food is pretty bad, but it has the virtue of serving late.

They've recently expanded their menu. I never thought it was bad, personally. The generic industrial cleanser they serve as "Cola" on the other hand...

I never thought it was bad either, just average. There's a lot of things that are fried or have a large amount of cheese or mayonnaise (at least, as of the last time I was there, which was before they expanded the menu), but that's standard for a sports bar; the quality is not much better or worse than you'll find at any sports bar anywhere else in the country (and probably pretty comparable to what you'd find at Applebee's though with a narrower selection). My recollection is that their wings are pretty good as well, which I used to take for granted (when I lived upstate) but no longer do.

Kyle Rose

CowbellGuy

The Rancor
4.The Vietnamese place across from the Palms....it used to be good! is it still there?

Still there, still good, and still called--brace yourself--"Vietnam"

The #22 (pork rice bowl) is very good. Great place for quick eats before the game. I was in and out in 15 minutes a few weeks ago.

Also extremely cheap, and the guy who works there has a disturbingly good memory for faces.

I went in there after a 3 year absence and he looked at me and said "#23 (or whatever it was), right?" I had to ask him what it was, and sure enough - that's what I wanted.

My girlfriend went in there once after nearly 2 years away from Ithaca and the guy said "I have something for you" and brought out the travel coffee mug she'd left behind the last time she was there.

Tom Lento
Also extremely cheap, and the guy who works there has a disturbingly good memory for faces.

I went in there after a 3 year absence and he looked at me and said "#23 (or whatever it was), right?" I had to ask him what it was, and sure enough - that's what I wanted.

The female half of the couple that took over Sa's Place from Sa (sometime in the mid 80's, I believe) also had that knack. It was uncanny.