Ithaca Bakery (Route 13)

Tom:

Our first pseudo-randomly chosen restaurant was the Ithaca Bakery down on Route 13. This seemed like an ideal first choice for a few reasons: it was an Ithaca Landmark, it had recently been expanded and redone to be unlike the other Ithaca Bakerys/Collegetown Bagels, and Sam and I both knew we liked the food.

(Our own private counter)

On the way there, we encountered an absurd amount of traffic, even for lunchtime on a Saturday. Sam also absent-mindedly strolled through a red light as though it were a stop sign, indicating a good start for the blog. When we finally got to the restaurant, there was no parking, forcing us to go down the block and turn around when we saw someone leave the parking lot, whose spot we then took.

(Tom's Roasted Red Pepper Soup)

Fans of the old Ithaca Bakery's stifling, loud atmosphere will not be disappointed with the renovation. There was no table space, forcing us to sit at some bar-like fixture in front of a giant mirror. There are now 3 separate places to order and pick up different kinds of food, which may be convenient to some, but only bewildered yokels like us. We agreed that one of us should eat food from the newly installed buffet, but upon seeing it was only breakfast food for some reason we both elected not to.

(Tom's Parisian Panini)

I ended up getting a Parisian panini (turkey, chutney, brie, spinach) and a cup of roasted red pepper soup, both of which turned out to be pretty delicious, though the panini dripped piping hot grease on my fingers. Sam got an Eggs Melissa (scrambled eggs and cheese on a bagel) which he "remixed the shit out of", since he got it on a croissant and with Munster cheese.

(My Egg's Melissa)

Sam:

I think Tommy basically covered it all. I didn't do too well getting us there, traffic was bad, it's still loud/confusing there and the food was pretty good. The only thing i'd like to add is the one new feature of the improved Ithaca Bakery that I really like. Those familiar with any of the other Ithaca Bakerys/ CTBs will know that once you place your order you have to sit and strain your ears in order to hear them mumble your name over their terrible PA system. At the new Ithaca Bakery, if you tell them that you're eating there, they'll give you a number and you can just sit down and relax and wait for them to bring you your order which is a surprsingly simple and wonderful new feature. It takes the 'stress' out of 'Esatting atr Itheaca Basksery'

(We're just two best friends eatin' food and havin' fun)

Tom:

PS When we left I heard a guy ask for an "orange-gina" and I wanted to hurt him.