Taverna Banfi — Restaurant in City of Ithaca

Taverna Banfi is a safe choice for an outstanding dinner in Ithaca. It is located inside The Statler Hotel at Cornell University. Having one of the top hospitality programs in the country, you can expect quality service, cleanliness, organization, reliability and repeatability. Even when your host may be still a student, you're getting an outstanding service and meal altogether. Their menu is simple and well executed to appeal to a wide audience. Many entrées can be adapted to your diet restrictions, and their desserts are world-class. They offer a la carte service throughout the week, as well as an outstanding brunch on weekends.

We recently had our anniversary dinner at Taverna Banfi. We ordered the octopus appetizer, which came with chorizo, potatoes, arugula and a squid ink aioli. It was an unctuous small plate that went perfect with prosecco and with a local Finger Lakes Riesling. My entrée was the braised beef gnocchi. This dish was well built to provide an upscale version of a homey meal. The braising liquid was slightly sweet and was balanced with kale (you can imagine the textural elements at play). The gnocchi were soft, slightly savory, and took with them most of the viscous sauce. My wife had the duck breast and was able to substitute one of the sides due to dietary restrictions without any difficulty. The duck was cooked to perfection, with a crunchy skin and a juicy medium cooking point. It had sweet potato, a white bean puree, and a beautiful tuille topping it all off. For dessert, I had the tiramisú. It was most certainly a healthy portion, and it scored high both on flavor and texture.

This was my fourth time at Taverna Banfi and I will certainly be coming...

Taverna Banfi offers a cozy and elegant escape in the heart of Ithaca, providing a warm atmosphere perfect for a date night or a celebratory dinner. Located in the luxurious Statler Hotel, this restaurant exudes a classic, Italian-inspired charm with an upscale twist.

The menu at Taverna Banfi focuses on traditional Italian dishes, with a selection that emphasizes fresh, high-quality ingredients. One of the highlights is their extensive wine list, which features both local and international selections, making it easy to find the perfect pairing for your meal. The waitstaff is knowledgeable about the wines and is happy to offer recommendations.

For appetizers, the bruschetta is a must-try – fresh, crunchy, and full of flavor. Their pastas are exceptional, with the Tagliatelle Bolognese being a standout. The rich, savory sauce perfectly complements the hand-rolled pasta, offering a true taste of Italy. For those who prefer something lighter, the grilled seafood platter is a perfect option, showcasing the freshest catches of the day.

While the atmosphere is relaxed, Taverna Banfi is ideal for those looking for a fine-dining experience in Ithaca. The service is attentive, and the overall dining experience feels refined without being overly formal.

Whether you’re a local or just visiting, Taverna Banfi offers a true taste of Italian elegance and is a must-visit...

We went here for Saturday brunch buffet and had a terrible experience with disorganized service and a condescending host. We weren’t aware that the a la carte menu isn’t typically offered during Saturday brunch and were hesitant about food safety for buffets during covid. One server kindly told us they could allow us to order from the a la carte menu, but didn’t come by for another half hour. When we tried to place our order with another server, she argued with us about how their buffet was extremely sanitary and told us we couldn’t order from the a la carte menu. When we walked to the buffet, we noticed other tables with food on their table from the a la carte menu because it was not available in the brunch buffet. We noticed that these other patrons that were offered the a la carte menu looked like older, wealthy (and mostly white) alumni of the school and felt that we were treated poorly because we did not fit that demographic. Servers also took a long time to offer us water and completely forgot to bring out our tea order. Our food from the buffet was very mediocre and not worth the price AND we noticed how people were getting food from the buffet area without a mask, which is completely unsanitary during covid. Would definitely not recommend this place for how they discriminate based on the appearance of their customers and their lack of covid...