Just A Taste

The food has always been great. I wish they expand their vegetarian menu.

As always delicious!!! I enjoyed some amazing brussels made in briwn butter, panchetta and cheese. The Duck breast could have been cooked a bit more rare to my taste but was tender and taste wonderful with the lentils and onions/​garlic accompaniment. The spicy shrimp was so plump and fresh and the pork chop was cooked amazingly. Never disappointed!!!

The food here is definitely one of the best options in the area. They have a fun flight option for wine which is great for 10 – 12 you get to try a pretty substantial amount of 4 – 5 different types of wine.
I don’t like the mismatched plates/​kitsch murder vibe they have going on design wise. It can get very loud and if they played some soft music it would be a much better atmosphere for dinner. They also can seem a little judgemental if you don’t want extra plates after your initial order or if you say you’ll pass on dessert (which is really delicious). Other than the kind of judgemental attitude, the service was very attentive.
It’s pretty busy so definitely get here early or be ready to wait/​eat at the bar.

Excellent Tapas place in Ithaca! I have been here several times and have numerous dishes. My favorites are the potato wedges and cod fritters. What I like about Just a Taste is its amazing décor and atmosphere. I enjoy sitting outside during the summer with some sangria or perhaps a wine flight (YEAH THEY DO THAT HERE!) and a casual meal. It makes for an excellent date night as well.
The wait is ridiculous at times. The staff also employ what I think is somewhat of a silly policy for their wait — where you can put your name down and they will call you when a table is set, even if you are not at the store when your table is ready. It does make for a frustrated situation, especially when it is in the winter or late at night. Waiting for people to come back to claim a table after they were told it would be ready in 20 minutes seems a bit counter-​intuitive. That’s my rant about the waiting system. Other than that though, I love this place!
I would recommend sitting outdoors if possible in the summer. It is very intimate and shaded so it makes for an excellent space. I also see lots of animals seated outside with their owners so it is very sweet and cute. The menu changes from time to time, which I really appreciate since the chefs clearly take into account what is fresh and in season. I have had great seafood dishes during the summer — their produce is always super fresh.
I would not recommend coming here if you are starving — as that is a very quick and easy way to rack up the bill. Otherwise come, wine and dine and have a great time!

A lovely place. Food was excellent, wines were good, and service was friendly. I’d like to knock off half a star because of the noise — just a loud place, but I can’t so I’ll leave it at five. We had four different items plus a couple wine flights and we’re happy with everything. Highly recommended!

I want to like this place so bad! Unfortunately, I feel that their food is desperately trying to reach tapas «status» and falling short with each plate. They do have traditional tapas dishes like «patatas bravas» (spicy potatoes, essentially) «bacalao» (salted cod) and charcuterie. They don’t pay homage to the authentic dish and try to give it a unique take on it but it doesn’t live up to the true essence. The non-​protein dishes were reasonably priced ranging from $ 5 – 10 but the price hikes when you’re in the mood for meat.
The service was not great. The hostesses are frantically running around trying to seat everyone while the waiters are watching unenthusiastically. My waiter spoke under his breath and looked bored to be there.
I really do like their wine flights. They give good pours and have a variety of eclectic wines, all for a great price. I definitely think the wine carried the experience for me.

We had a wonderful meal.
When we arrived we were told it would be a wait or that we could sit right away at the bar. Opted for the bar, and were happy with the service there.
Our favorite was the buffalo meatballs in a creamy mushroom sauce. Absolutely delicious, with the three tender, flavorful meatballs sitting in a dish of creamy sauce, with chunks of mushroom and other vegetables (and an empty plate when we were done.)
The duck and roasted potato dishes were our other favorites. Chicken noodle soup was different and flavorful (and not salty), filled with large pieces of chicken and vegetables. Brussels sprouts were good although not particularly special. The portobello mushrooms were the one letdown. They were pleasant with a bit of a charred taste, but boring.
We had looked at the menu online before going, and while the basics were the same, the menu changes daily. Just be aware that checking an online menu before you go is more indicative of the varieties of plates offered than the specific sauces/​preparations you’ll find that day.

Maybe it’s because I’ve studied in Spain where tapas originate, but all this was was glorified pub grub in smaller portions. But that’s not all…
Dirty… Hair in bread pudding, flies in not one, but two glasses of wine, a dirty (food still on it) plate handed to us and a windowsill that hasn’t been cleaned in months.
Waiter wasn’t too pleasant or attentive. Hostess was nice though.
I didn’t want to finish the food or bring it home. I didn’t even want dessert… And I always want dessert.
Oh and I was charged for something they we out of when I never got it.
Two stars because the focaccia bread was ok and everything did come out fast. If it didn’t glorify itself with the name tapas then I’d rate it higher but this is NOT tapas quality food.

Visited for the first time this weekend and arrived around 9:30pm, about 1 ½ hours before closing. Food was excellent (tried: the potato wedges with chipotle aioli, the portobello mushrooms, the tomatoes and watermelon with balsamic and mozzarella, the focaccia bread with oil and garlic) and arrived very quickly once ordered. The wait to order was rather long, but they were quite busy. I absolutely LOVE that they offer flights of wine! Overall, a very tasty experience and quite affordable. I would visit again the next time I am in the area.
Editing to add: I am vegetarian and almost the entire first half of the menu is vegetarian. Not quite as many vegan options though I would imagine many of the items could be made vegan.
Editing AGAIN because I forgot to mention dessert! My boyfriend and I shared the peach cobbler, and it was simply one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. I wanted the whole thing for myself. :)

My husband and I got the foccacia bread, potato wedges with chipolte aoli, the flank steak, salt cod fritters, flatbread with baby eggplant, and a flight of local wines. Everything was delicious and we were stuffed. We got dessert anyway, the chocolate soufflé was so yummy!
The foccacia bread was served in large hunks with roasted garlic on the side that you had to squeeze out of the husk. We dipped it in olive oil.
The sauce for the potato wedges was delicious!
I was skeptical about getting the fish fritters (the husband chose it) but they were so fluffy on the inside and very tasty

This place is incredible. If you can accept the fact that tapas means small plates and portions of food, meant for
Sharing with people whose company you enjoy then you have made the first step in having a fabulous time here. We ordered 4
Servings –two servings of the sausage dish and two servings of the shrimp. Both were exquisite. And because we are hungry-​mungries we also ordered an entrée of penne to share. The water glasses were
Filled faster than we
Could blink. The workers were
Incredibly efficient. We ordered a flight of wine samples (5) which were slow in coming and they compensated us in an appropriate manner. Lots
Of fun and really made our day special.

Great food. Delicious yet slightly expensive. The server was friendly and the outside courtyard is so cute. They have a cool local wine flight.
My only complaint is that we were told there was a wait yet we were called less than five minutes later and was seated in a half empty courtyard.

There is no doubt that this place is one of the most classy, aesthetically pleasing in Ithaca. The atmosphere, lighting, food and wine selection are sublime. The menu is always interesting and varied and the service is always superb – friendly but laid back.
In short, if you need a classy place to take your parents or date, this is a great option! That said, however, keep in mind that this place gets packed within ten minutes of being open. If you’re not right there at the door at 5:00 o’clock, sharp, you’ll probably have to wait to be seated. But of course, that just means you can believe the hype!
Another thing to note is that portion sizes are pretty small – obviously because it’s a tapas bar, but even though it may be obvious it’s still worth noting that if you’re ravenous, you probably won’t be too full unless you spend a good chunk of cash. To make something resembling a full meal, I usually need 3 – 4 selections, which can quickly turn into $ 25 – 30 per person, not counting any drinks or dessert. Again, this is to be expected in a tapas bar, but I think it’s worth noting because the relative inexpensiveness of each item on the menu might be slightly misleading at first glance.
Finally, there are not too many vegetarian options and almost no vegan ones. That’s not a crime, of course, but in a place like Ithaca, that could be the difference between «great» and «amazing» for many people.

I really enjoyed my time at this tapas place. My friend and I had dinner here and between the 2 of us ordered 4 – 5 different items and it was just enough food for us. They don’t take reservations, but we were lucky to come in and find a seat inside (although the outdoors didn’t seem to have any).
It’s hard to recall exactly what we ordered, but I’ll do my best. Let me say that every item was delicious, amazing and full of flavor. I noticed that most of my Ithaca reviews are five-​stars and there is something about this town that brings out incredible food and locals who care.
We had the Squash which came with walnuts and some melted cheese. The squash flavor was complimented much by the cheese and the walnuts added to the flavor. A very nice choice to get some fresh veggies in my diet! We also had the «local chicken» dish. At $ 9, it was a steal and the portion led to some great sharing, we also shared tuna meatballs and a mushroom dish. All of these were phenomenal and unique and flavorful. Our server was very professional and had some nice recommendations ready to go.
We really enjoyed our time at Just A Taste and I would love to go back.

Food Baby Impregnation Station!
Every time I come here I eat way too much and love every bite.
The Cod Fritter have a bright lemon aoli, the garlic braised greens are killer, they make one of the only Caesar dressings worth eating in Ithaca and the charcuterie is mostly house cured.
I eat at the bar almost every time or grab a table with friends. I love that they don’t take reservations. It’s always an option for someone who doesn’t mind having a drink down the street till a table opens up or makes last second plans!

What a great little spot right in the center of a cool little downtown core.
Older daughter and I were anxiously awaiting the start of a foodie /​culinary adventure as we toured the Midwest looking at colleges during her Spring Break… what a great way to start! Great atmosphere and kind severs made for a pleasant experience.
Being a Spanish Tapas style restaurant, I opted to start with a sangria cocktail which was light and refreshing with just the right amount of spice. Then we began eating our way through the menu. Here is a rundown of the dishes we tried:
* Warm brie with crostini and apples — perfectly gooey and the apples were just right as an accompaniment
* Fried potato wedges with chipotle aoili dipping sauce — if you do not get this dish you are a flat-​out fool ;-)
* Shrimp with garlic and sherry — on the smaller side, but light and flavorful
* Homemade Chorizo — just the right amount of zest /​spice
* Sauteed mushrooms — good side dish for the shrimp and the Chorizo
* Tortilla Espanola — another «when in Rome» selection, traditional fare with great flavor and textures
And what’s a meal like this without… dessert! Finished off the feat with a chocolate soufflé that rivaled some of the best we’ve ever had.
All in all a truly outstanding meal in a rather unexpected location… we would definitely go back if in the area.

Stunned by the huge flavors and modest prices, this is tapas done right with an enormous variety of accompanying wines and beers. Seriously, how many tapas places have you tried where you walked out and said, well that was great but the price per bite was brutal? Not at Just a Taste, the 3 of us devoured 9 different plates and the bill before alcohol, tax & tip was just $ 60. Lol I’ve spent that just on myself in big city tapas places without the enjoyment I found here. highly recommend!
So let’s start with the drinks. The centerpiece is the amazing Cruvinet machine, 16 wine taps on the front plus another 16 on the back, that’s 32 wines by the glass from the Finger Lakes as well as the rest of the world, bottles topped up with argon gas so nothing oxidizes, how great is that? Plus 4 fine beers on tap, when we visited the drafts were Ommegang Hennepin from NY, Chimay red (yes Chimay on tap!!), Anderson Valley from CA and La Fin du Monde from Quebec. And get this: a draft Ommegang is $ 5.50, so cheap! Rather have a bottle? How about a Pilsner Urquell for $ 4. Yes, four dollars. Getting the picture? You can treat yourself to some of the best stuff in the world without breaking the bank.
Seating is close — real close — and the room is small. In short it’s a jigsaw puzzle of people and tables :), fit your shape in anyway you can! But despite the close proximity of the hugely enthusiastic crowd in the room, adult conversation was totally possible, that was great.
We estimated 3 plates per person would make dinner (9 total), and I have to say we were only long by about 1 plate — but that didn’t leave room for dessert. I’ll just mention what truly wowed us, not bore you with every herb and aioli sauce along the way. Focaccia with long-​roasted garlic head was a great starter. Chipotle aioli (as others have mentioned) on the deep-​fried potato wedges was tremendous and they gave a very generous portion. Caesar salad dressing was fresh and rich with anchovy on a huge pile of romaine. Finally I wanted to lick the pan that had the shrimp sautéed with garlic and sherry, stunning sauce.
Vegetarian rating: 5 stars, you can have small plates of potatoes, greens, eggplant soup, veg flatbread, brussel sprouts, mushrooms, baba ganouj and so much more. You’ll be as well fed as any animal-​protein eater, these people really have your back.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t offer some constructive criticism: (1) serve bread, too many sauces deserve to have every last molecule mopped up; (2) ditch the lamb, it was chewy and tasted like beef, a total disappointment at $ 9.
The vintage radios from 1949 – 58 are really cool, admire the shapes high above the bar while you’re trying not to guzzle your glass of wine.

This is by far my favourite restaurant in Ithaca. I’m not alone though, and since they don’t take reservations it’s best to go early (doors open at 5:30).
Value is great no matter what, although seafood prices are high for the portions you get. Dishes with the best value (that seem to be menu staples) are the focaccia, russet potato wedges, brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and flatbreads. The clams in white wine sauce and ahi tuna are to die for.
The menu of wine flights adds a sophisticated whimsy to the offerings at Just a Taste. In the summer, outdoor seating at the back is cozy and just a wonderful spot to spend an evening.
This place is perfect for a night out, and very affordable. Come here for a date, with a small group of friends, or with the parents!
Be warned, however, that service is hit or miss. If you go on busier nights, chances are you’ll be completely ignored for 15 minutes while you wait at the door. Generally things are okay, and the five-​star rating stays because the food is so good, but there have been a few times that I’ve just walked out and found food elsewhere.

Great place to sit outside and have a small plate or two or three. The menu changes daily and the food is fresh and tasty.
Reasonably priced and attentive friendly service in Ithaca.
I had the spaghetti Squash, the English cheese, and the Potato pie. Nice presentations and well flavored.

We ate too many dishes to talk about but the bottom line is that they all come to the table in a timely fashion and they are either appropriately hot or cold depending.
Every dish is fantastic. I’ve been here twice. Once 2 years ago and again tonight and I can honestly say that this restaurant has not changed. Every dish is presented well and is flavorful and as described on the menu.
Service is swift and attentive. Flights of wine are always good too.
Dessert is equally well done. There is absolutely nothing to complain about.