An amazing breakfast joint in Ithaca. We had a delicious breakfast platter with a veggie omelette, home grown fries and toast. The setup is more like the ones we see in a classic Hollywood movie, very authentic and the food was fantastic, had a perfect start to the day. The pancakes were nice as well. There are a lot of options in terms of spread for both meat and vegetarians. Loved the vibe & Loved the food. Do visit for some delicious food when near the finger lakes region.
Good food but the wait to get served takes a very long time, especially on the weekends when it’s particularly crowded. Getting a table was only about a 10 minute wait but the wait to get the food we ordered took almost an hour! (About 47 minutes to be exact, which is absolutely ridiculous)Classic diner decor which is nice. And classic diner food menu. Surprisingly, they charged us 75 cents for mayonnaise!It’s pretty much the only diner in downtown Ithaca - with good diner food but particularly slow service - so it’s a really a take it or leave it situation unfortunately.
Looked like a great spot, but cold food and small portions. Ordered corned beef hash and eggs, smallest portion of hash ever with two eggs was $12. Ordered one blueberry pancake that sat on the counter for 5 min before the rest of our food came out. Home fries were half cooked.Sorry, but this was our experience.
Traveling we choose authentic dining to experience the area. The Strand was a Fantastic breakfast spot. Dined Sunday morning 7/25/21 with Hannah as our server. Hannah is a delight and professional in answering our questions about the establishment and area attractions. There was a wait for food preparation but the diner was full and the food was worth the wait (veggie omelet, eggs & hash and biscuits with gravy) Thank you Hannah for a great experience! Bob & Michele (Rochester)
You want to eat here!I havent been here since the early 90s, but was in Ithaca and was hoping they were still around.The food is outstanding as it always was, and the service, absolutely top notch!My fiance has a couple of food allergies and the waitresses and cooks went above and beyond trying to help her find a couple options.Beautiful old diner, tons of ambiance.
We loved this dinner. The food was flavorful and fresh. The attention and service was outstanding. Maya, the waitress who served us was exceptional, she even made sure our pet was comfortable.Even the owner, who was seating outside two tables away from us, was kind and attentive.
This was the last leg of our trip when we stumbled into the State Diner. 😆 😱 OMG The BEST FRIED CHICKEN 🐔 AND WAFFLES 🧇 EVER!!! The place took me back to my father’s place in Brooklyn. I will be back 😃😃😃
When I got here the place was pretty filled up, but they brought my order out before my first cup of coffee even got cold! This is my first ever Google review, so I was clearly impressed. Excellent staff, excellent food.
What can I say bad about this Ithaca institution? That they dont open 24 hrs anymore? Thats Ithacas fault. Its nicer now yet retains the key elements that made it a second home of sorts for many of us years ago.. great personable service, regulars doing their regular thing in the front, flip down booth seats, and that perfect flat top diner fare. Somehow you have to eat all the carbs. Coffee is better than i remember it, there is no smoking section anymore, but other things remain unchanged. Giant pancakes, butter slathered toast and mandatory home fries. I guess the downside is I would have to start drinking at noon to get to the greek omelette before they close...
Excellent service the bathrooms are clean and the floors and tables and menus are all disinfected well in between customers. I was very impressed by the plastic shields in place to fight covid the server was awesome she was very polite and speedy with-our service. The prices are very reasonable too for down town Ithaca. This is a great choice for a good meal in a covid friendly environment.
Really REALLY good diner food at diner prices. Makes me feel like Im back home in Buffalo. Hell of a way to start mornings on the weekend.
I love to be able to eat breakfast on the afternoon. I got a mound of fried potatoes that come with every breakfastI think. Ordered pink lemonade and you get free refill, so she gave me a large to go cup. I had 2 eggs over medium which were done just right. 2 piece of white toast with grape jelly. Than an order of bacon 3 large slices. I think the total was 16.04. Plus I always leave 5.00 tip no matter what. Could not even eat half, so much food.
This is your standard old school diner — you know the type, a bewilderingly wide menu that makes you wonder how they stock everything for it. A counter gives you an up front view of the kitchen grill.Food is good, service on the slow side and more so on the weekends. A popular spot for lunch time, and extremely crowded even during these COVID times. No such thing as social distancing is even possible here so don’t look for it.Overall I wouldn’t avoid it but wouldn’t go out of my way for it. Parking is very limited especially since there’s major construction going on next door so plan accordingly.
Pancakes were great, so was the Patty Melt. Service was excellent!
Great service good food but very busy place.
I found myself on state street, thinking what you have for lunch and realized I was right down the road from the state diner. I figured Id grab a burger and fries and sat at the counter. The cook was great and very personable. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger with a over medium egg on it. It was one of the best burgers Ive had in a long time. It was delicious. And the fries were great and were heaping on the plate. I walked out for 15 bucks including tip. Ill definitely be back!!
Food was above average diner fare. A little pricey compared to a down home diner. Staff was hustling.
This diner i would recommend to anyone looking to get a good meal the food is great prices are on point for what you get my waitress was very good
Great food and prices. Perfect dinner atmosphere.
Good food but as you can see by the other reviews, the owners never respond to the reviews about the absurd prices. This is literally the most expensive diner Ive ever been too. I went several times but finally decided its just not worth it. Here is my order.1 Pancake (not a stack) just 12 over medium eggsCorn beef hash2 strips of baconCoffeeOrange juiceTotal just under $24I can literally go get a 3 course meal at a steak house for a couple dollars more.Its $10 for just a stack of pancakes. I worked in restaraunts for years.. its literally pennies worth of pancake batter and water. The end.
Its a diner, exceeded my expectations. Went in because it was the only place we could find open traveling through Ithaca for breakfast, that wasnt fast food. Very friendly staff and hot food. Dont pay for the local real maple syrup its not worth it.
I dont know what I expected but I didnt think the food would be as good as it was. I could literally heard the guy two booths away crunch down on his fried chicken, it was so well cooked.
A little pricey but food was very good. Lots of choices and everything our group had we loved. We had a fun waitress, too!
I had the chicken parm dinner which was amazing
Very fast service and good food.
Service was great, food was very good. I had the hot turkey and gravy sandwich with french fries. The fries are awesome. Good price for the meal. I would recommend this place and plan to go back again. 😁
Love the place. Good breakfast, nice people, prices reasonable.
I got a Western Omelette with cheddar cheese and green peppers and it was pretty good. The service is great, theyll even box your food for you.
Weve never been to a busier Cafe yet never received better service. Our waitress was phenomenal. I feel bad I didnt catch her name. We ordered breakfast, one of the best weve had in years.
My aunt and I come here every Friday and we enjoy the fast service and the friendly environment.
Very good food, but kind of expensive for a diner. And they need to update their on-line menu. I don’t go there often and when I do I always like the food and the waitresses but they need to lower their prices.
Quick service. Good food in downtown.
Few restaurant options led us here, biscuits and gravy was so salty basically inedible. Omelette was alright.
It was my first time at the state Diner food was good and waitress was very attentive beyond that the place was cleaned nicely done decorating and the only thing was it was a bit expensive it was super crowded
Traditional, cozy, small-town America diner that reopened after months of closure. The building and the room can easily be framed into an old movie. Food-wise? Its diner food: humble, folksy and inoffensive. For steaks, they will give you A1, hot sauce, and ketchup. With salt and pepper on the table, I dont have any complaint. Coffee is adequate.Service is quick, but they dont always attend to every section of the dining room. Just be thick-skinned and prepare to flag down anyone if you need anything. Temperature check at the door as a safety measure.
Classic Diner atmosphere! Good breakfast and coffee
Long wait, food was pretty straightforward diner food. Friendly service staff.
Great food, great service. Fair prices.
Way overpriced. Food not flavorful. Rushing us even though only 4 other customers.
Friendly service.Good food at a reasonable price.
Great food and great service.
Classic diner with great food and service.
Great service and delicious food!
A surprising but short wait to be seated at mid-morning on a Monday, but definitely worth it. Excellent food and quick service.
The breakfast was good. Just a simple eggs and bacon.
Good food, good quantity. A bit pricey.
Great vibes. Lisa was great!
What a great diner! We had chocolate chip pancakes and an omelette, and everything was delicious. The servers were so friendly and took amazing care of us. Also, they were really safe with covid, with staff wearing masks and wiping everything down. Also, there was plexiglass separating the booths. Had a great experience! I especially appreciated the great food and service after going to Sunset Diner and having a terrible experience there.
Good food and service. Go here!
Very expensive, staff was slow and not attentive and there were only 3 other customers. Burgers come by themselves, no fries or sides unless you order a the burger which costs $19.99. even then youll be lucky to get a handful of French fries. I paid $8.99 for a very pain Jane burger. Just a bun, lettuce, burger, mustard. Burger was dry, thin, and unseasoned. Diner is going for the usual, small and inexpensive family owned feel yet does not achieve this. Would not recommend.
Friendly staff, good food, relaxed atmosphere.
The food was good but there was a wait in service.
Fast courteous staff, good portions
Terrible!!! Worst place in Ithaca. $10.00 for 2 eggs, $3.00 for a cup of coffee??The place is dirty the waitress are not waitresses.Panera is 100% better.
Your waitress Karina Ross is the rudest, most entitled excuse for a human being I’ve ever met. Clearly her mother never taught her any manners or respect! What a sad excuse for a woman.
It had been a while since I ate here. It was nice to stop in for breakfast.
Staff was friendly, and service was good. But way over priced!!
Went here to give it try. This place was really clean. The entire staff had there masks on the whole time. The price was reasonable. I got two breakfast sandwiches, two scrambled eggs and a sausage patty. It was delicious. Everyone was courteous about wearing masks. They took your temperature at the door. I was really impressed. I will be eating here again amd highly recommend this place to everyone. It has that old style diner look and feel.
Really freaking good
Good food cant wait to go there again
Nice local dinner, excellent biscuits and gravy
This was the first time I have ever been here and it will be the last. It took 3 times to get my waffle correct (chocolate chips, no whip cream). The homefries were not cooked 100% and the homemade hash was not what homemade hash should be. And when you ask for whole wheat dry toast and get buttered whole wheat. Someone isnt paying attention. Also the prices are outrageous! Not impresses at all!
The best breakfast! Try the mediterranean omelet.
Cute diner. COVID conscious. The waffles were good, but not crisp enough.
Food was excellent diner fare and coffee was good. Cant ask for much more!
Was horrible service and got charged a extra fee for wanting my bacon extra crispy 2 eggs for 11$ and my sandwich for 8 was so thin only thing I enjoyed was the home fries
Very nice servers and excellent food
Tasty Greek Omelet!
Great old style diner to eat at with a lot of step back in time nostalgia!!
Two stars is me being generous. My food was dropped on the floor, my partners food was wrong and then the server denied and failed to admit her wrongdoing. Food was soggy and wet, however, service was fast. Although the food was bearable, definitely could not bring myself to complete my meal OR take it to-go.
Loved the food and the service. Its the best and reccomend to anyone!!!!!!
Best Greek salad ever!
Great breakfast food!
LOL, I ALWAYS, ALWAYS love it. It was closed today
Good place for breakfast.
Over priced. Not impressed.
Amaxing portions, amazing staff
Cool diner vibe.
Food was good. However I did notice when passing the kitchen door at least two staff members were not wearing their mask appropriately (ie: covering only their mouth and not their nose) I appreciated the temperature checks at the door and mask requirements but who is monitoring the staff in the kitchen?
Good food service couldve been better
Good food and ser
Terrible prices, $10 just for pancakes and $3 for watered down coffee with one refill. If you want a full meal expect to pay no less then $25 per person.
A lovely old school diner with well executed classics and a very friendly staff
A great little diner. Had the breakfast special, everything was good. Service was great and coffee was strong. Great price point. Street parking is easy to find. Recommend for breakfast. Will be back to try lunch and dinner.
Excellent spinach and feta omelet
The Greek omelet is to die for! Its fun to watch the line cooks - up to five of them I think- do their thing. The service is fun, fast and friendly. I have been going here since the early 70s!
Adorable! And huge on the inside
Good food and they make you feel like you are part of the family open 7am to4 pm for now
Food and service were excellent !!!
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