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Food Lab just off The Commons in Downtown Ithaca - Food Lab, Ithaca, NY

Food Lab

4.3 (26)
$30 and under
American
113 N Aurora St, Ithaca, NY 14850

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today

About this restaurant

  • Innovative
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Charming
Welcome to Food Lab Kitchen & Bar, located just off the Ithaca Commons. Our ever-evolving selection redefines culinary creativity, blending bold flavors, interactive presentations, and unexpected pairings. Complement your meal with expertly crafted cocktails, curated wines, and a diverse beer selection. Join us in our comfortable casual atmosphere in the heart of Downtown Ithaca.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Fusion / Eclectic
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–12:00 am
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Ithaca
  • Cross street
    E State St
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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What 26 people are saying

Food Lab reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3
4.3 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Upstate New York

    Innovative

  • Southern Tier

    Best Overall

  • Southern Tier

    Best Food

  • Southern Tier

    Best Service

  • Southern Tier

    Best Ambiance

  • Southern Tier

    Best Value

  • Southern Tier

    Healthy

  • Southern Tier

    Great for fine wines

  • Southern Tier

    Lively

  • Southern Tier

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Food Lab offers a delightful dining experience with "creative and tasty" dishes and "excellent" service. Highlights include the "cornflake breaded chicken" and "peach caprese burger." Guests appreciate the "very interesting food combos," "huge portions," and "friendly" staff. Despite minor inconsistencies, it remains a top choice for innovative cuisine in Ithaca.
26 Reviews
  1. Marla

    New York City16 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    When we arrived at the restaurant, there was a wait even though we had a reservation. We were actually seated within about 10 minutes, though. By then, it had become clear that the waitress and bar tender were the ONLY front of the house staff. They were doing everything! That said, our waitress was honest with everyone arriving about there being long waits; most of the non-reservation people left. Some with reservations did too. Despite all the challenges, the food was delicious. This was one of the better meals we have eaten in the Finger Lakes and we’ve been coming to the region for 20 years now. I especially liked the kimchi pakora. The drinks were great, and I highly recommend the smoked pecan old fashioned that my husband got. The staff really deserves kudos. I don’t know what happened — it seemed like an unanticipated situation —but they dealt with it honestly and with a lot of fortitude and still delivered a creative, delicious dining experience.

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  2. Christine

    New York City50 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I LOVED this place!!! Decor perfect! Peach burrata burger excellent!! Fries delicious! So great…looking forward to returning asap!!!🩵
    Food LabResponded 2 days ago
    Christine, Thank you so much for stopping in and for the 5 star review! Genessis and the rest of our team really appreciate the positive feedback and we all hope that you'll stop back in sometime soon. -Mike

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  3. jordan

    New Jersey2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on July 5, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Our server Phil was so nice! It was a super busy day, so things were a little slower than usual but he was very nice about it. Drinks were good and food was pretty decent.
    Food LabResponded 2 days ago
    Jordan, Thank you so much for dining with us and for the 4 star review! Phil and the rest of our team truly appreciate the positive feedback and we all hope that you'll stop back in sometime soon so we can try to earn that 5th star from you. -Mike

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  4. Marcelo

    New York City1 review

    1.0

    Dined on June 30, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    I had the worst experience ever in a restaurant in this place.I waited an hour and a half for a burger that was overcooked and with no flavor. My daughters and I were extremely disappointed by the quality of food and service at this place. Will never come back.
    Food LabResponded on July 1, 2025
    Marcelo, I'm very sorry to see that you didn't have a great experience with us on your last visit. If you could please reach out to me directly from our website (use the contact us form) I'd like to hear more about your time with us and to give you a special offer for a future visit in hopes we can provide you with a much more enjoyable experience. -Mike

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  5. Joseph

    New Jersey1 review

    4.0

    Dined on June 14, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Good overall experience, the food and the service were about average. Definitely try the triple fried potatoes!!
    Food LabResponded on June 17, 2025
    Joseph, Thank you so much for dining with us and for the 4 star review! Our entire team really appreciates the kind words and feedback. Thank you again and we all hope that you'll stop back in soon so we can try to earn that 5th star from you. -Mike

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  6. Nichole

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed our dinner. Food was delicious and service was prompt!
    Food LabResponded on June 25, 2025
    Nichole, Thank you so much for dining with us and for the 5 star review! Our entire team can't thank you enough for the kind words and we all hope that you'll stop back in soon! -Mike

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  7. Christy

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My partner ordered the Chicken Parm and a side of fries and my friend ordered the lobster bruschetta. They both raved about their meals. My partner said it was the best chicken Parm he's ever had. It was a very large portion. He took half of it home They also loved the deconstructed cheesecake. I ordered the Eggplant Brussels bowl. It wasn't terrible but I wouldn't order it again. It was something I could have made at home. I wish they had more vegan options. But overall the experience was great. The server was attentive and friendly. The atmosphere was comfortable and pleasant.
    Food LabResponded on June 2, 2025
    Christy, Thank you so much for dining with us and for taking the time to leave a 5 star review! Our entire team really appreciates all the feedback and we hope that you'll stop back in soon! -Mike

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  8. Amelia VIP

    New York City10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food was fresh and very tasty. Loved the snap peas and the star fruit salad. The peach burger also hit the spot.
    Food LabResponded on May 29, 2025
    Amelia, Thank you so much for dining with us and for the 5 star review! Our entire team works hard to give our customers a great experience and we are so happy to see that you had one. Thank you again and we hope to see you back in soon. -Mike

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  9. Jim & Kim

    Central Kentucky1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was fantastic! Service with a smile. Will definitely be back.
    Food LabResponded on May 26, 2025
    Jim & Kim, Thank you so much for dining with us and for the 5 star review! Our entire team can't thank you enough for the kind words and we all hope that you'll stop back in soon to see us again! -Mike

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  10. Rachel VIP

    Philadelphia County6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Server was great wine was perfect food portions very generous and good quality
    Food LabResponded on May 26, 2025
    Rachel, Thank you so much for stopping in and for the 5 star review! Our entire team truly appreciates all the positive feedback and we hope that you'll stop back in soon! -Mike

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Food Lab offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (607) 882-4631.

Food Lab is rated 4.3 stars by 26 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Upstate New York
  4. Southern Tier
  5. Ithaca

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today
Google Map for Food Lab

113 N Aurora St, Ithaca, NY 14850

Additional information

  • Cross street
    E State St
  • Neighborhood
    Ithaca
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–12:00 am
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Fusion / Eclectic
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
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