Cafeterias in Ithaca, NY

“Hands down the best university dining hall I’ve ever experienced. Open to the public at $16 for adults and ~$7 for kids, it’s an absolute steal considering the quality and scale. The space is massive and beautifully designed, even equipped with a “Discovery Kitchen” for live courses and cooking demos.

The food stations are incredibly diverse: halal, West Side Grill, East Side Market, North End Pizza and Pasta, salad bar, dessert bar, fruit bar, yogurt bar, ice cream (from Cornell Dairy!), and more. Even in summer break, with some stations closed, the options were overwhelming in the best way.

Highlights:
• The pizza was top notch – fresh from wood-fired ovens.
• Blueberry and banana yogurt? Dreamy.
• The grilled fish was surprisingly delicious.
• Tater tots and salad bar were far above average – packed with thoughtful toppings like artichoke, chickpeas, beets, and tuna salad.
• Desserts were solid; the brownie was rich, and we had fun making waffles ourselves.
• The ice cream options, while not mind-blowing, are generous and fun to explore (and hey, it’s Cornell Dairy).

If I were a student here, I’d never want to eat off-campus. Absolute envy.“

“I like the Chinese bbq ribs and the nachos are always fire.

This dining hall is smaller , which I like because I can actually find where things are. I appreciate the easy to find trash can.
Good food choices, aesthetic atmosphere.

The only issue is that the desserts are pretty bad. The brownie tasted like dirt and the cake had overly sweet icing. Also lack of ice cream.“

“Excellent place to eat food. They have a huge variety of foods. I actually like them better than the dining halls because the salad bar has more options and is more organized. They also pay by the lb for a lot of stuff, so you don't have to feel compelled to stuff yourself to get your money's worth. On the go snacks are available too.“

“my favorite super underground spot to eat on campus. okay, it does fall short when it comes to lunch options, but in terms of variety and accessibility, it EXCEEDS expectations! the menu is consistent and the staff are super friendly… my favorite is eating dinner at this place - i loveeee eating dinner here (except wednesdays). HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS DINING SPOT!“

“Those who have experienced pre-renovation Appel may join me in commiserating the loss of a quaint and comfortable dining facility. While the food has remained almost entirely the same, the experience of dining at Appel (North Star) is now drastically different, and far less appealing.Appel was essential to my freshman year at Cornell. I would be up bright and early to have my morning omelette (still available) and watch the sun rise in the quiet leisure of the dining area. Even during my most challenging moments in the semester, in which I would drag myself to Appel in my pajamas, I still felt like I had a comfortable place to start my day and still feel like I was home.Now, the bright white lights, walls, and floors make the location less inviting. I no longer feel like I could be comfortable at Appel in my pajamas, which, while silly, I consider to be an important point to note when creating a space for students to engage with and feel at home in. And while yes, they have added some new amenities such as their "Bowl" station (think Chipotle with less), they have also drastically expanded the seating options (cramming the place to the brim) and completely removed the allergen-safe preparation area.I used to vehemently defend Appel as the best dining hall. The staff were kind, the food was good, and the place felt like home. The staff are still kind, and the food is still good, but the place no longer feels like home to me.“

“Best dining hall at Cornell. Cook never fails to cook. Had the bbq chicken, coleslaw, and curly fries today. They have ice cream just like other dining halls, fresh cut fruit, cookies and brownies. Tried the mandarin oranges for dessert this time, was pleasantly surprised. Bbq chicken was juicy but a tad bit too salty this round. Curly fries were good, and coleslaw was solid as usual. They have a selection of drinks too, but none with sugar.“