The best fine dining restaurant in Ithaca in 2024, according to Yelp reviews—plus, see the rest of the 20 best

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Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Ithaca by diners

Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's 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 at the 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 chef's 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 to choose from, 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 Ithaca 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 Aug. 19, 2024.

Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!

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Yelp

#20. Luna Inspired Street Food

- Rating: 3.1/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 113 North Aurora St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: New American, Tacos, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#19. Monks On The Commons

- Rating: 3.1/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 South Aurora St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#18. Coltivare

- Rating: 3.4/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 235 South Cayuga St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: New American, Venues & Event Spaces, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#17. The BoatYard Grill

- Rating: 3.5/5 (486 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 525 Taughannock Blvd. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Seafood, Bars, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#16. Taste of Thai

- Rating: 3.5/5 (288 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 216 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

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Yelp

#15. Viva Taqueria

- Rating: 3.6/5 (451 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 215 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#14. Ciao Wood-Fired Pizza & Pasta

- Rating: 3.7/5 (246 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2 Hickory Hollow Lane Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#13. Taverna Banfi

- Rating: 3.7/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 130 Statler Drive Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#12. Souvlaki House

- Rating: 3.7/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 315 Eddy St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Greek
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#11. Sangam Indian Cuisine

- Rating: 3.7/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 424 Eddy St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Indian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

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Yelp

#10. The Heights Restaurant and H Bar

- Rating: 3.7/5 (202 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 903 Hanshaw Road Community Corners Center Ithaca, New York
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#9. Spicy Asian

- Rating: 3.7/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 335 Elmira Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Chinese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#8. Simeon's On The Commons

- Rating: 3.8/5 (292 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 224 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: New American, Brasseries, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#7. Mia Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 130 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Indian, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#6. Gola Osteria

- Rating: 4.0/5 (169 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 115 South Quarry St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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Yelp

#5. Maxie's Supper Club & Oyster Bar

- Rating: 4.1/5 (467 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 635 West State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood, Southern
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#4. Mercato Bar & Kitchen

- Rating: 4.1/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 108 North Aurora St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#3. Saigon Kitchen

- Rating: 4.2/5 (740 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 526 West State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#2. MIX Kitchen & Bar

- Rating: 4.3/5 (449 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 205 Elmira Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

Yelp

#1. Le Cafe Cent-Dix

- Rating: 4.6/5 (120 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 Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.

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