The Rook, Ithaca NY

We had the hush puppies, grilled dates, fried chicken and pork schnitzel. Everything was solid, as advertised but nothing was really exciting. We had a couple of house cocktails. Again, solid drinks, but nothing exciting. Bartender was friendly and attentive but once again no pizzazz. I'd come back, but it wouldn't be a destination.

This is our favorite neighborhood restaurant! Always so reliably good in all ways. The small menu makes choices easy and both food and drinks are excellent.

Got all 4 of the small plates and it was a good amount of food and variety for 2 people. So delicious. And a great Manhattan too!

I enjoyed this place very much! It's a small, well appointed restaurant and bar and you can see right into the kitchen. The menu is also small but that can be good, less decisions and everything HAS to be good, I wanted to try it all. I started with the ECHO cocktail, I loved it! Next was the duck fries then the fried chicken and collards. I cleaned the plate, all is well. My server Brandon was cool.

Small but different food and bev menu. Having a glass of Albanno from Spain - dry.waiting for my friend. We split a Great appetizer- blue cheese … bread… and lovely pasta with squash. Staff let us catch up!

The truth is that the variety of food was very little. We ordered the fried chicken and the hamburger and it was ok, nothing special. And I saw the chicken in some parts a little raw.
The portions of the pasta dishes were small.

The truth is that it was a little expensive because I didn't see anything special in the atmosphere of the place either. Apart from that, the area where it is at night is not so pretty.

Absolutely loved this place! The food was amazing and delicious. One of the best burgers I have had and service was great. So nice sitting outside with a dog

Very cool vibe sitting outside in the garden, we could bring our dog too which was great. Food was really quick and delicious, staff are really lovely too so no complaints. Would definitely recommend this place. Quite close to the Ithaca commons so all around great place to visit.

My fiance and I went here for a few drinks while visiting family in Marathon! Great bartender and drinks. Didn't get any food, but a lot of schnitzel was ordered by others, and it looked and smelt amazing! Would definitely try that the next visit!

The food was good, but i wouldn’t say mind blowing.the fried chicken was good in a way that’s not too greasy.the inside of the chicken was completely unaffected - which i love.the portion is also big with one chicken breast and one chicken leg.the summer pasta was on the creamy side with some spice providing good kicks.i enjoyed not having many options on the menu; it helps with the decision making process!

plus points go to the atmosphere, particularly pleasant for summer nights but do be careful of bees / flies / mosquitos things because our table had 2 that were dancing around for too long.overall, might not come again just due to the lack of menu choices for those with dietary restrictions

Small menu, polite, professional and pleasantly reserved waiter, fair prices, fresh and good food.
Unfortunately, regulars seemed to be preferred for the tables outside and inside is quite noisy.

Its hard to get better than this. The food is always great and the staff is nice and attentive. The menu is small, so keep that in mind when heading over, but everything on it is tasty.

Fantastic food and service. Best friend chicken I've ever had! Edit: Stopped in again recently and the food and service are as good as ever!

I was driving through Ithaca on my way to Albany Airport and stopped for some takeout! I got the salmon: delish! It had this yummy tomato relish that was a pleasant surprise. The potatoes were like a sad over-warmed breakfast buffet option but luckily I ordered an additional side. It can be hard finding good greens in a restaurant but Rook’s has got it! Definitely made up for the disappointing potatoes. Would try this place again for sure if I’m ever in the area.

The food and the service were fantastic. Best burger and fries I've had in a long time.

Always great service and food at The Rook. I like how they always have a few staple menu items and some rotating, so you can stick to a favorite or branch out depending on your mood. Plus, the cocktails are top notch! I’ve definitely gone here just to sit at the bar for a couple of perfectly mixed drinks. Recommend.

Some of the fried stuff isn't great but the bacon wrapped dates are incredible and the salmon was fantastic recently also. Staff are always noticeably very professional.

The best seafood dish I've had in this town their salmon is unreal. I have a culinary background, an extensive one like 25 plus years and without hyperbole the best food and bang for your buck is the Rook. All around, I'm friends with the owners so I won't be too overgenerous just discuss specific MUST HAVES or DONT DO'S.

I think the cocktail menu is always curious if over eager and then I order something challenging and am absolutely gobsmacked when it's the doctors order. Bar service itself will be taken care of but nothing over friendly don't go looking to make a besty barkeep this is high end casual price and decorum restaurant theyre selling cocktails and sous vide.

The fig bacon thin is outrageously goodand I don't care for figs. Fried chicken whether G Free or cast iron ceramic lined you will not be left wanting because all things duck fat. Yes fries are basically confit cooking anything submerged adding a layer of almost orgiastic hedonism but with just the right panache of "I've had two excellently balanced and unnoticeably strong drinks and let's fry everything that way. " Recommend anything Gin wise the Salmon for the love of anything stop eating now and don't again until you go have the salmon at The Rook.

And get the fig bacon snacky snack if your kosher with swine, it changed me on figs.

If only the crackhouse upstairs were still some sort of tavern and inn whereupon I could eat duckfat everything and stumble upstairs buzzed and full pf rich food and sleepy to the Nth degree.

P.s. Don't make any plans for after dinner that involve being super active if you chose the rich fatty fat of the Mallard or have a bbunchvof heavy stuff. I keep going there before a show at the State Theater and not being able to enjoy the entire show for case of having 'the itis' and being very sleepy.

Yum

First time here. Really loved it. We started with the Hush Puppies and Cambozola then moved on to the Salmon and Pork Schnitzel. After that we were stuffed and out of time. The Hush Puppies were crispy outside and flaky inside and served with awesome pimento cheese. The Cambozola is a blue brie served in a big wedge sized for two with tasty saving grilled bread and a nicely compatible apple pear compote. We enjoyed the mains just as well. We'll be back next time we're in town. Overall a nice tight menu with a focus on quality.

Can't say that I have ever had anything short of great meal here. The food is truly excellent. Addtionally I would venture to say they are serving up some of the best cocktails in town.