Taverna Banfi

Delectable food and exceptional service. Taverna Banfi defies expectations for a student-run restaurant. The dishes are absolutely gorgeous both taste and presentation wise.

The duck is tender and savory with the perfect amount of sweetness from the maple sauce and sweet potato side. The calamari is crispy and light. The wine pairing is perfect. The table-side focaccia is tender and airy.

Perfect for elegant date nights or special occasions. Prices range from $30-70 per person. Parking is limited

Food was fabulous and so was the server. She was very friendly and made our dinner so much fun. I had the duck and it was the best I've ever had.

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 back for more.

Brunch was great. They have all your classic breakfast selections, such as bacon, sausage, eggs, and more. They also had freshly cooked crepes available. The lunch selection was wonderful. From a salad and soup bar to pasta, shrimp, roast beef and so on! Their dessert were fresh with a wide variety to select from.

This is by far the best place I've been to in Ithaca for dinner. Far surpasses other expensive restaurants in the area in quality of food, service, and atmosphere. And it's not as expensive as those other places.

Banfi is without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Ithaca! Every meal I’ve ever had here has been nothing short of excellent and you’d be missing out by not taking advantage of this hidden gem while in Ithaca!

Pictured, from my most recent visit in April 2023, are the grilled octopus (incredible—amazingly tender and delicious!) and the NY strip (perfectly cooked, with a mouthwatering bourbon glaze). Prices are a bit on the higher side for Ithaca, but the food and experience is well worth it.

They also do an awesome weekday lunch buffet as well as a weekend brunch!

had a great dinner! everyone was friendly and super thoughtful. Matt was great! he super kind and very polite. i wish him the best at cornell and in his football and finance careers! we ate great, plates were warm, and absolutely delicious! this is also a great way to learn more about cornell, as everyone in the restaurant attends the college. this place is a must come! greatly recommend!

One of the reasons I stay at the Statler Hotel at Cornell University is because I love the food at this restaurant, and the customer service is great- students are actually been trained to run restaurants and hotels and guess what, while been watched by a preceptor and possibly graded. So you can be rest assured service will be great😉
Like I stated, food is great and fresh; well plated , also atmosphere and seating is relaxing.

A delightful and delicious meal, served in a private room by a wonderful person (Julia).

The restaurant is on second floor of cornell statler hotel, on cornell ithaca campus. It's very convenient if you are staying on statler hotel. All the servers are cornell students. The food was amazing. My favorite dish was grilled octopus and duck breast. We had a great time, definitely will be back again.

The atmosphere was good and the server was nice. The food was more delicious than expected.

Everything was exceptional from start to finish! Luke was also a great server and helped to make this the best meal we’ve had while in Ithaca!!

As somebody who has spent a great deal of time in hotels, this is one of my favorites! The bathrooms might’ve been the cleanest I’ve ever been in! The rooms are extremely spacious, the view was wonderful, the right # of USB and outlets available was fantastic. They also might be the most comfortable hotel bathrobes that I have ever worn! The restaurant was fantastic and the convenience to bus stops was literally outside - and being in the heart of Cornell was ideal. Looking forward to staying here again someday.

Superb atmosphere and service, one of the best restaurants in Ithaca. Gorgeous view of the campus from the window seats(which you may need to reserve in advance). I’ve been here several times for brunch and dinner with friends and we all love it. I highly recommend brunch buffet here as you have various options to choose from, perfect for meat lovers and vegetarians. I especially like the dessert here such as brûlée and mousse as they are very delicious and not too sweet. For the diner, it’s also great but as the dinner menu does not often change, I have not been able to find something new after a few visits.

Great food, great drinks! The service was also fantastic. They also have gluten free options. I definitely recommend this place.

We had a lovely meal. The halibut dish was outstanding. Our waitress was delightful.

This is our go to place for a date, or just a casual weekend brunch. The food never disappoints and the price is fair considering the quality of food and the general atmosphere.

As always, amazing. Best part is that you interact with the hotelie students. Excellent food and wine. Ask for a window view.

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We, a group of three, had the pleasure of dining at Tavarna Banfi today, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The lunch buffet offered a delightful array of delicious vegetarian options that satisfied all our taste buds completely. The freshness and excellence of their coffee left us impressed.

What truly made the experience memorable was the impeccable service provided by Ms. Heather. Her warmth, attentiveness, and professionalism added a special touch to the entire meal. She went above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was truly enjoyable.

We wholeheartedly recommend Tavarna Banfi to anyone seeking a fantastic dining experience. The combination of scrumptious vegetarian dishes, excellent coffee, and outstanding service makes it a top-notch restaurant. Five stars without a doubt!

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The food here seems to be prepared with extreme care, using the best ingredients available. Even a regular steak tastes delicate and exceptional here.
The ice cream is possibly the best in the world! Don’t dismiss any dish because it sounds ordinary. Try it for a pleasant surprise!