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Taverna Banfi, Ithaca, NY

Taverna Banfi

4.7 (1419)
$31 to $50
Italian
130 Statler Drive, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 20 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for business meals
  • Great for scenic views
A Tuscan Inspired Italian Restaurant In Ithaca, NY.
Tuscan culture embraces a cuisine that is inspired by availability and accessibility. At Taverna Banfi, our seasonal menus reflect this attitude. Located at the heart of Cornell University campus, our casual fine dining atmosphere is perfect for entertaining family, friends, and clients visiting Cornell University and the Finger Lakes region. We offer Complimentary Valet Parking.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Daily 7:00 am–10:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Andrew Nichols
  • Private party facilities
    For parties of 6 people or more, please call the restaurant.
  • Neighborhood
    Ithaca
  • Cross street
    130 Statler Drive
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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What 1,419 people are saying

Taverna Banfi 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

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • 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

    Good for special occasions

  • Southern Tier

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Taverna Banfi offers "excellent food" with fresh, natural ingredients and a "relaxing atmosphere." Located in Cornell's Statler Hotel, it boasts attentive service by Cornell students and "fantastic" seasonal menus. Highlights include shrimp scampi, ricotta gnocchi, and a beautiful view of the campus. A must-visit for "amazing" culinary experiences.
1,419 Reviews
  1. Tatyana

    London1 review

    4.0

    Dined on July 13, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food, very fresh and natural ingredients, interesting menu. The service was a little slow, but very friendly.

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  2. Jonathan

    New York City12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and a relaxing atmosphere, highly recommended

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  3. Blair

    Upstate New York2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Taverna Banfi is an unexpected gem of a restaurant nestled into the Cornell University hotel. The unassuming nature of the restaurants decor does not prepare you for the amazing quality of food, drink and service that you will receive when dining here. Everything from both the Octopus and Mozerella starters, to the deliciously nutty flavor of the pecorino cheese in the shrimp scampi to the amazingly tender and delicious duck breast had us falling in love with each bite that came to our table. The staff was wonderfully attentive and ready to help make your dining experience exactly what you want from either a quick get together or a fancy night out. We highly recommend you give Taverna Banfi a try.

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  4. Diana

    Costa Rica2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The food is next level. The salads were tasty, the octopus was grilled perfectly, the ricotta gnocchi made me die and go to heaven. The server we had we great though we were left alone a while at the end of our meal waiting for her to come ask us if we needed boxes and a dessert menu. You can tell it is a training restaurant RE the service. There was elevator music and the lighting kept switching (possibly due to a storm) so the ambience was not great. The food was some of the best I've ever had though and I've eaten at Michelin starred restaurants. A must visit for the food!

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  5. Roger VIP

    New York City76 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on July 6, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    I would describe this restaurant as uneven. Two Dishes out of three were quite good but unfortunately I had the loser. It was a NY Strip Steak, quite expensive, cooked wrong and loaded with fat and gristle. It sat on a soggy base of good mashed potatoes with too much gravy and vegetables. I found it a bit too goopy. The two fish dishes, salmon and halibut were both well-liked by my dining companions. The drinks and desserts were good.

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  6. Scott

    Pittsburgh / Western PA1 review

    5.0

    Dined on July 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome meal and service was outstanding. Great window view.

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  7. Risa VIP

    New York City42 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Hands down the best place in Ithaca for an elegant lunch.

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  8. Joseph

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service was amazing and the food was delicious. Highly recommend!

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  9. Jay

    Philadelphia County6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had seven people for dinner to celebrate a graduation. The staff was very attentive and the food was outstanding. If you are looking for an upscale experience, I would highly recommend Taverna Banfi!

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  10. Ron

    Virginia29 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was a wonderful dining experience. The meal and service were outstanding. I can’t say enough about the great young men who are members of Cornell’s football team and work as servers in the restaurant. They are personable and knowledgeable about the selections and their recommendations made this a truly memorable dining experience. Please thank them for me.

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FAQs

Taverna Banfi is rated 4.7 stars by 1419 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 20 times today
Google Map for Taverna Banfi

130 Statler Drive, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

Additional information

  • Cross street
    130 Statler Drive
  • Neighborhood
    Ithaca
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Daily 7:00 am–10:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Andrew Nichols
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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