This place hosts a few monthly events that I like to attend but I really don't like it here. The bartender/owner makes you feel like you're doing something wrong by just existing. It almost feels like she has a very specific vision for exactly how the space should be in any given moment and is obviously agitated when it's not lining up with what she wants. I've seen her act friendly with people she knows but it's not a given for other customers. I deal with this so I can go to the events I like, but I'm always hoping that it gets a little more inviting here.
Megan Holland
Awesome space, great cocktails, Negroni was very dry but we didn’t mind it! Bartender was awesome.
Lysette Miller
Came in for a drink with my husband before a show at the State Theatre. Decent amount of patrons but retained a mellow vibe. Our bartender Tammy was polite and fluid in handling all the customers. My husband and I don’t drink alcohol but we will definitely be back for another sober cocktail-they were delicious! We also enjoyed some delicious baklava and vegan cookies made by Tammy as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
DD P.
Drinks were good, but this place and our experience was so bizarre. Came here on a Sunday night with a group of 10 - most of the group had gone to college in Ithaca years ago and we were in town for a very special wedding. We swing by after getting dinner somewhere else. It wasn't busy at all, so we grabbed the big communal table in the back and first sat down, but maybe half the party made their way to the bar to order. We were told to order from the counter at the end vs in the middle of the bar which is fine whatever (granted nobody was sitting in the area we were trying to order from). The bartender which I've found from the reviews was apparently the owner w the bangs - asks us how many ppl are in our party and a guy in the group nicely counts and lets her know and lol she goes OH WOW THATS A LOT and kinda makes a face like that's inappropriate which was really odd. She proceeds to give us ten waters that we didn't want or ask for and tells us we can go sit down and then come back and order - but we had literally just sat down and gotten up to come order drinks so I'm like I don't wanna go sit down again and come back to order like I'm here to order. It was laughable and at the same time confusing. The whole experience was straight out of Portlandia (the chicks w the bookstore esque). Two members (a couple) from the group actually sat at the bar bc they wanted to sit at the bar (so crazy apparently) and the bartender interrogates them asking them and making absolutely sure they're not with our group - like it was clear she wasn't going to serve them if they were with us so they just said they weren't with us. We went downstairs after bc there was some live music and it was completely empty which is sad - prob would have had some more ppl down there to enjoy the music if the vibes were not so insanely off putting. I read up on the place after and I guess I get the vibe they're going for, but there are plenty of places that are able to pull this off (all over the country) and can do so without trying too hard, being so insanely uptight, pretentious, and elitist. That sort of attitude and overall vibe is fostered, not strictly enforced w a heavy and pretty condescending hand. On the way out I got the whole schpeel about the tip being included which is great but also came with a bit about how f'ed up America is and capitalism and the man or something or other. Not that I don't disagree, but again - this was all straight out of Portlandia. The whole experience and reading other peoples reviews has provided some good entertainment. Before closing my tab I also ordered a glass of wine - only my second drink and she tells me that they have the wine downstairs and I should order there, but I'm like - my card and tab are up here so?? Lol common sense isn't a thing at this place apparently and customers should run in circles to just order a damn drink. It's also really weird to me if they're going for this library conversation place - why does it open so late in the day? Like it's a bar serving alcohol that doesn't open til early evening - in the commons area of a college town. Bizarre sums this place up pretty well. The owner doesn't seem to really like people either so idk why this was the industry she chose. Also news flash - being rude to customers (scaring them off) and enforcing this insane limit on customers and party size is not helping your workers make any more money regardless of whether or not a 20% commission is automatically tacked onto the bill. If you really want to treat your workers well, maybe pay a flat salary esp if you want to keep the place fairly dead so people can read novels at the bar.
Mortgage Broker
A unique find. Very cool and eclectic.It must be Ithaca’s best kept secret
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Reid Papafloratos
My friends who went were not treated with kindness and genuinely were very upset after going. Overall poor experience and would not go back.
Andy Z
very disappointed by the service and treatment of visitors. Heard good things that fell well below those expectations. Save yourself from a bad experience.
Mary M.
DO. NOT. GO. HERE. unless you're willing to risk being discriminated against. I wish this was an exaggeration, as this bar's attitude does not reflect the spirit of our Ithaca community, but here we are. The employees are so snobby about who they will serve and which customers will receive their respect. I have never seen any business owner conduct themselves with such a lack of professionalism. The woman bartending at this establishment SWORE AT and FLIPPED OFF customers after telling them they were occupying too much space in her bar, singling out a particular demographic of people while prioritizing an older, less diverse crowd. I have never in my life had such a negative bar/restaurant experience as I did here.
Dan F
Great mocktails and very charming atmosphere. They seem to really care about their staff. It's very clean and has lots of options for restrooms. Great beer selection and NA beers as well. Wonderful spot to bring your laptop or a book. 5/5, love this place as a local.
Bart Johnson
It's the only bar in Ithaca with a full set of rules on their website and rude staff to boot. Many better bars in Ithaca that don't think they are above the average folk.
Horrible experience. A couple of Cornell grads and I went out to have a lovely, calm, yet celebratory night. We were met with incredible ageism and rudeness. The bartender was flipping us off on the way out and the woman at the entrance was insinuating that we did not belong just because some of us were from out of state. I truly think this bar is staffed by discriminatory people who are lying to themselves thinking they are cultivating a welcoming space.
Daniel Morgan
Quite possibly the worst bar I’ve ever been to. Service extremely rude. Drinks are poorly made and overpriced. If you go, you will have a terrible time and wish you stayed home. I regret spending a dime here.
Gabe Schiffer
Super good bar if you’re a drunk flunkout college student. Service rude and high strung. Avoid if you want a good time.
Sammy G.
If there is one thing in life you need to hear, it would be NOT to patronize this bar. I came here with a couple of buddies for graduation and the bartender was an arrogant p**** the whole time. What could have been a relaxing night of downing pints of suds with the boys turned into a night filled with tension between the patrons and the staff... and I'm not talking about sexual tension. One star for this joint.
Kaitlyn M.
I created a yelp account just to comment on how absolutely horrible this place is. Despite being completely calm, paying customers, my group of mid 25 year old friends and I were told we were "invading the space" of a patron trying to read a book at the bar top and asked to move.... why you would ever accommodate to that is beyond me. the bartender was absolutely nasty and bitter, swearing at us for saying it was an unreasonable request. Do not come here if you're under 40, they will be incredible horrible and looking for a problem when there is not one. Very reminiscent of the crazy old neighbor bat who screams at harmless kids trying to play catch. Only fun if you're 65 and trying to quite literally read a novel at the bar
This place hosts a few monthly events that I like to attend but I really don't like it here. The bartender/owner makes you feel like you're doing something wrong by just existing. It almost feels like she has a very specific vision for exactly how the space should be in any given moment and is obviously agitated when it's not lining up with what she wants. I've seen her act friendly with people she knows but it's not a given for other customers. I deal with this so I can go to the events I like, but I'm always hoping that it gets a little more inviting here.
Awesome space, great cocktails, Negroni was very dry but we didn’t mind it! Bartender was awesome.
Came in for a drink with my husband before a show at the State Theatre. Decent amount of patrons but retained a mellow vibe. Our bartender Tammy was polite and fluid in handling all the customers. My husband and I don’t drink alcohol but we will definitely be back for another sober cocktail-they were delicious! We also enjoyed some delicious baklava and vegan cookies made by Tammy as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Drinks were good, but this place and our experience was so bizarre. Came here on a Sunday night with a group of 10 - most of the group had gone to college in Ithaca years ago and we were in town for a very special wedding. We swing by after getting dinner somewhere else. It wasn't busy at all, so we grabbed the big communal table in the back and first sat down, but maybe half the party made their way to the bar to order. We were told to order from the counter at the end vs in the middle of the bar which is fine whatever (granted nobody was sitting in the area we were trying to order from). The bartender which I've found from the reviews was apparently the owner w the bangs - asks us how many ppl are in our party and a guy in the group nicely counts and lets her know and lol she goes OH WOW THATS A LOT and kinda makes a face like that's inappropriate which was really odd. She proceeds to give us ten waters that we didn't want or ask for and tells us we can go sit down and then come back and order - but we had literally just sat down and gotten up to come order drinks so I'm like I don't wanna go sit down again and come back to order like I'm here to order. It was laughable and at the same time confusing. The whole experience was straight out of Portlandia (the chicks w the bookstore esque). Two members (a couple) from the group actually sat at the bar bc they wanted to sit at the bar (so crazy apparently) and the bartender interrogates them asking them and making absolutely sure they're not with our group - like it was clear she wasn't going to serve them if they were with us so they just said they weren't with us. We went downstairs after bc there was some live music and it was completely empty which is sad - prob would have had some more ppl down there to enjoy the music if the vibes were not so insanely off putting. I read up on the place after and I guess I get the vibe they're going for, but there are plenty of places that are able to pull this off (all over the country) and can do so without trying too hard, being so insanely uptight, pretentious, and elitist. That sort of attitude and overall vibe is fostered, not strictly enforced w a heavy and pretty condescending hand. On the way out I got the whole schpeel about the tip being included which is great but also came with a bit about how f'ed up America is and capitalism and the man or something or other. Not that I don't disagree, but again - this was all straight out of Portlandia. The whole experience and reading other peoples reviews has provided some good entertainment. Before closing my tab I also ordered a glass of wine - only my second drink and she tells me that they have the wine downstairs and I should order there, but I'm like - my card and tab are up here so?? Lol common sense isn't a thing at this place apparently and customers should run in circles to just order a damn drink. It's also really weird to me if they're going for this library conversation place - why does it open so late in the day? Like it's a bar serving alcohol that doesn't open til early evening - in the commons area of a college town. Bizarre sums this place up pretty well. The owner doesn't seem to really like people either so idk why this was the industry she chose. Also news flash - being rude to customers (scaring them off) and enforcing this insane limit on customers and party size is not helping your workers make any more money regardless of whether or not a 20% commission is automatically tacked onto the bill. If you really want to treat your workers well, maybe pay a flat salary esp if you want to keep the place fairly dead so people can read novels at the bar.
A unique find. Very cool and eclectic.It must be Ithaca’s best kept secret
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My friends who went were not treated with kindness and genuinely were very upset after going. Overall poor experience and would not go back.
very disappointed by the service and treatment of visitors. Heard good things that fell well below those expectations. Save yourself from a bad experience.
DO. NOT. GO. HERE. unless you're willing to risk being discriminated against. I wish this was an exaggeration, as this bar's attitude does not reflect the spirit of our Ithaca community, but here we are. The employees are so snobby about who they will serve and which customers will receive their respect. I have never seen any business owner conduct themselves with such a lack of professionalism. The woman bartending at this establishment SWORE AT and FLIPPED OFF customers after telling them they were occupying too much space in her bar, singling out a particular demographic of people while prioritizing an older, less diverse crowd. I have never in my life had such a negative bar/restaurant experience as I did here.
Great mocktails and very charming atmosphere. They seem to really care about their staff. It's very clean and has lots of options for restrooms. Great beer selection and NA beers as well. Wonderful spot to bring your laptop or a book. 5/5, love this place as a local.
It's the only bar in Ithaca with a full set of rules on their website and rude staff to boot. Many better bars in Ithaca that don't think they are above the average folk.
Restaurantji Recommends
Horrible experience. A couple of Cornell grads and I went out to have a lovely, calm, yet celebratory night. We were met with incredible ageism and rudeness. The bartender was flipping us off on the way out and the woman at the entrance was insinuating that we did not belong just because some of us were from out of state. I truly think this bar is staffed by discriminatory people who are lying to themselves thinking they are cultivating a welcoming space.
Quite possibly the worst bar I’ve ever been to. Service extremely rude. Drinks are poorly made and overpriced. If you go, you will have a terrible time and wish you stayed home. I regret spending a dime here.
Super good bar if you’re a drunk flunkout college student. Service rude and high strung. Avoid if you want a good time.
If there is one thing in life you need to hear, it would be NOT to patronize this bar. I came here with a couple of buddies for graduation and the bartender was an arrogant p**** the whole time. What could have been a relaxing night of downing pints of suds with the boys turned into a night filled with tension between the patrons and the staff... and I'm not talking about sexual tension. One star for this joint.
I created a yelp account just to comment on how absolutely horrible this place is. Despite being completely calm, paying customers, my group of mid 25 year old friends and I were told we were "invading the space" of a patron trying to read a book at the bar top and asked to move.... why you would ever accommodate to that is beyond me. the bartender was absolutely nasty and bitter, swearing at us for saying it was an unreasonable request. Do not come here if you're under 40, they will be incredible horrible and looking for a problem when there is not one. Very reminiscent of the crazy old neighbor bat who screams at harmless kids trying to play catch. Only fun if you're 65 and trying to quite literally read a novel at the bar