Revelry Yards — Restaurant in City of Ithaca

As someone who has been working in the restaurant industry for sometime, my experience here at revelry was less than desirable… I’ve also never left a negative review on anything before so that’s saying something. This was me and my partners second time coming, in hopes the first time was just a fluke since they had just opened.

First time experience - came for brunch on a Sunday, my partner had a beer flight and the Hank Aaron and I had a vodka soda and Eggs a la Liz. Drinks came out at a decent time, although the service seemed uneducated (no big deal, we all start somewhere) but it seemed like they offered this girl zero education on what their beers were at the time. My partners food came out after a decent wait & mine was no where to be seen… so we wait… and wait… he’s done with his meal before I can even find someone to ask about mine. Well it finally comes out and is cold and the eggs are over cooked. At this point, whatever I’m ready to go so I asked for a box. All in all, I chalked this up to them only being open for a short time.

Second visit - My partner and I wanted to give it another shot! We come in and it’s not super busy, maybe 15 patrons in the building (not busy, is the point) so we sit at the bar and are greeted by Rex, fairly friendly and introduced who I’m assuming was a trainee. She had zero idea what she was doing and no one seemed like they were helping her? Poor girl. Rex walks away and my partner and I are ready to order some beers, she just keeps making awkward eye contact so I said with a smile “ we are all set to order some beers, whenever you’re ready” assuming she just hasn’t learned the social clues. She takes our order and pours some brews, they were tasty!! Some time passes and we finallllyy have the attention of ANOTHER person, Monty, he takes our order and gets it in no problem. Food comes out and the portion of the twice fried chicken was small, okay whatever inflation is crazy, my sliders come out and the amount of grease that poured out of them made me sick to my stomach. I squeezed all the grease I could out and ate one… I’m not one to complain or send things back so I just toughed it out… fries were soo over salted and we were basically done eating/picking through our food by the time Rex came back around to check to see if we needed ketchup or anything. Just some more training on how to do table touches, etc needed. Idk, very much a subpar dining experience and just disappointing. Someone shouldn’t be training another person if they themselves aren’t trained properly…

Now let’s talk about some other odd things - soo many people behind the bar at one time, we counted 6 at one point, why??? Their bar isn’t even that big. There was also 3 people sweeping something for like 30 minutes, what the heck did you break that takes that long to clean up? And why do 2 people need to supervise? Just strange.

At one point there was 8-9 people on the floor, again not busy so need for this. Their overhead must’ve outweighed the food sales by a ton… Also, the chef (I’m assuming, tall gentleman wearing black chef coat) was just kinda out in the front doing nothing? Just lurking around, hanging at the end of the bar. Didn’t ask people about meals, etc.

There was also a woman who I’m assuming was maybe the front of house manager? She didn’t seem thrilled to be working, girl I get it, some days suck. But, I timed how long it took her to do table checks and wowza, if I was her booths I’d be upset. She also snapped at the trainee for not realizing one of the pours was simple syrup and not lemon juice - maybe label your pours? Idk seems like an easy way to distinguish them. Therefor leading to less problems or confusion.

Overall, I think we will definitely stick to the old standbys for now - Ithaca ale house and Reds. We do really hope you guys get your team together and turn around, we love eating out and drinking craft brews😃 Good luck! & I generally mean that,...

During my recent visit to a local restaurant, I had the pleasure of being served by someone who truly transformed the dining experience: a server named "Trips Tips." From the moment I was seated, it was clear that Trips Tips was not just an ordinary server, but a consummate professional who excelled at every aspect of his job.

First and foremost, his welcoming demeanor immediately set the tone for the meal. He greeted me with a warm smile and genuine enthusiasm, creating an atmosphere of comfort and hospitality. From that moment, I knew I was in good hands. His attentiveness was remarkable—he anticipated my needs without being intrusive, and I never once had to flag him down for anything. Trips Tips was always a step ahead, refilling my water just before the glass emptied, and checking in on my meal without disrupting the flow of conversation or dining.

In addition to his impeccable timing, his knowledge of the menu was impressive. When I asked for recommendations, he didn’t just list popular dishes; he took the time to understand my preferences, asking about my taste in flavors and dietary preferences. Based on our conversation, he suggested a dish that I wouldn’t have otherwise considered, and it turned out to be one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. His expertise extended beyond the food—he also provided thoughtful suggestions for wine pairings, which elevated the entire dining experience.

Moreover, Trips Tips’ attention to detail was unmatched. The table was set perfectly, and everything from the placement of utensils to the presentation of dishes was executed flawlessly. He managed to strike the perfect balance between efficiency and elegance, making sure the meal was served at a pace that felt neither rushed nor delayed. His professionalism was evident in every action, from clearing plates quietly and efficiently to ensuring that the table remained tidy throughout the meal.

But what truly set him apart was his genuine passion for hospitality. Trips Tips didn’t just go through the motions of serving; he brought a sense of joy and pride to his work that made the experience memorable. It was clear that he cared deeply about providing an exceptional dining experience, and that level of commitment is rare.

In every way, Trips Tips exemplified what it means to be a great server. He combined warmth, expertise, and impeccable service to create a dining experience that was truly special. Servers like him are a rare find, and I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to be served by someone who is so clearly passionate about his craft. I will certainly be returning to that restaurant, not just for the food, but in the hopes of experiencing once again the outstanding service provided by Trips Tips.

“COVID is for pussies” -trips...

Went on opening night and had the burger, which I thought was one of the best I've ever had, great flavor and juicy... Well, I chased that dragon three more times and those were all... ok (not great / not bad)... not nearly as juicy and the flavor was just not there.

Breakfast / brunch was pretty good and those sourdough pancakes are fantastic and have easily been the best thing I've had there. Partner got the breakfast burger and didn't care for it - I tried and it was very dry.

Had the fried brussels sprouts and I'd say they were just boring and bland... But other items they go the opposite way... Got the deviled eggs on one of the first trips and they were awful - I've been told they change the way they make them most days, but the day I got them they were green from whatever they put in them - It could have been wasabi or something else, but I found them to be downright offensive. Really should have had a warning. Also oddly expensive for 1.5 eggs (3 halves)

Partner got the baked chicken and that was just as bad as the eggs - really weird spice that was VERY hot and not much else - was also like $30 for $5 of chicken. Easily the biggest ripoff in town for food.

My last meal there was the Mac & Cheese. It allegedly had brisket with it, but we only found 4/5 very small pieces of a dark matter that might have been it. Cheese was "beer cheese" but was very boring and was more 'Velveeta' thinned with Miller Lite - definitely not worth almost $20. I think I've had at least five or six dinners there now and they were all because that first burger was so good. I am now probably done eating there.

On the drinks...The beer is good and they had 6 "in house" beers - all good and inoffensive (but the Heff is way too sour for me). With the mixed drinks - all with good sounding recipes, but all tasted like NA drinks. I really don't even mind paying $10+ for cheap rum if the recipe is sound, but at least put in a fair ratio. The new outback beer garden is my favorite part overall and has a kinda tucked away hidden vibe to it.

To me, one of the weirdest / dumbest things about this place... I asked the bartender about a couple of beers and their taste profile and she said they were not allowed to drink there - not even when they're not working! Like, fine, don't get drunk while on the clock, but if you only have 4 (now 6 and growing) beers - every employee should have one of each to be a better server. Not allowing employees to ever drink there is just dumb. I was so excited for another brewery in town, but this feel more like they're trying to be a fancy restaurant and also want to be cool by having a brewery on site.

tldr; beers are pretty good, food is ok and a bit overpriced...