Eating in Ithaca (New York): Budget

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• Collegetown Bagels/Ithaca Bakery www.ithacabakery.com Six locations: Ithaca Bakery (Downtown): 400 N. Meadow St., 607-273-7110; Ithaca Bakery (Triphammer): Triphammer Mall, Rte. 13 @ Triphammer Rd., 607-257-2255; Collegetown Bagels (Collegetown): 415 College Ave. 607-273-0982; Collegetown Bagels (Commons): 203 N. Aurora St. 607-273-2848; Collegetown Bagels (East Hill Plaza): 329 Pine Tree Rd. 273-1036. The Brous & Mehaffey family operates five locations around Ithaca, so Collegetown Bagels is something of an Ithaca institution. They offer bagels, sandwiches, and coffee with a whimsical, new-agey feel at reasonable prices. Some of the best authentic bagels and fairly traded coffee, and definitely the most Ithacan. Great for breakfast or lunch. $5-$10.

• The Nines. A former fire station in Collegetown turned restaurant/bar, The Nines features live music several times a week, as well as some of the best pizza in the region and a patio that's pleasant on warm summer evenings. This, along with the large selection of beers on tap, makes this a favorite of the student crowd. Their service is slow; orders of pizza often take more than an hour to receive.

• Viva! Taqueria at the corner of State and Aurora Streets. Maximum calories for your money. Very vegetarian and vegan friendly. Be sure to check out the Viva! Cantina next door for an expanded menu, table service, and a bar featuring a large tequila selection.

• Ned's Pizza inside Center Ithaca. Bargain prices on basic and loaded slices. Probably the cheapest fill-up in Ithaca.

• Lincoln Street Diner on Lincoln St. between N Tioga and N Aurora, next to the Fall Creek laundromat. Cheap, good quality breakfasts and lunches. Favored by Fall Creek locals, construction and utility workers.

• Rogan's Corner (formerly King Subs) www.roganscorner.net Located right off the Ithaca College campus on Route 96B serves the "best pizza on South Hill" by the slice with its signature homemade sauce. Rogan's also has hot and cold subs, calzones, wings, Italian dinners, and breakfast for carryout, delivery, or dine-in. Beer on tap coming in September 2008.

• Shortstop Deli on W. Seneca St. between Albany and Geneva. Open 24 hours. Specializes in large, delicious subs. Also has breakfast sandwiches, big cookies, soups, and many varieties of coffee. Veg friendly, with veggie burger and seitan subs and vegan chili. Counter service only, but you can sit on on the window ledge outside.

• State Diner on State St, a few blocks west of the commons. This railroad car diner is one of Ithaca's few 24-hour restaurants.

• Napoli Pizza, 335 E State (Gateway Building a block E of Commons), 607-272-3232. Pizza, wings, and Italian standards.

• Ling Ling Restaurant, East Hill Plaza on Judd Falls Road and Ithaca Plaza on Rt 13 S at Elmira Rd. Frequently voted best Chinese food in Ithaca. East Hill Plaza location has large dining room and Elmira Rd location is mostly take-out.

• www.ithacabakery.com
• www.roganscorner.net