For a change of pace after our lunch at
Kilpatrick's Publick House, it was decided by the powers that be that our second lunch in Ithaca would be at the
Ithaca Ale House. Given the name of the restaurant, I was expecting to be overwhelmed by traditional pub food but was, instead, pleasantly surprised by the extensive variety of dishes on the
menu -- a full page of burgers, another full page of salads and wraps, another still of pizzas, and then a selection of sandwiches and other miscellaneous entree choices.
I especially appreciated the non-burger options since I wasn't in the mood for anything terribly heavy. After considering all of the items several times, I finally settled on the
Spicy Thai and Lemongrass Chicken ($15) from the
"Ale House Originals" section of the menu. It only took me one bite to experience the powerful punch that this dish possessed.
The chicken, prepared with a
lemongrass marinade, was moist and flavorful and had a caramelized sweetness to it that paired perfectly with the
Thai-style noodles. The noodles were dressed in a
spicy peanut sauce before being garnished with slices of
cucumber,
scallions, and
fresh cilantro. Since I love spicy food, I was grateful that the kitchen didn't hold back and that they delivered exactly what they advertised. In fact, the heat of the sauce was so intense, there may have been a few tears [of genuine admiration] in my eyes by the time we finished our lunch.
The lesson?
If you're dining at a restaurant for the first time and are unsure about what to order, don't hesitate to try one of their signature dishes or something that has achieved the status of "customer favorite". Even if the dish doesn't seem to fit the restaurant's cuisine. You might be surprised by the foods you'll discover!
Ithaca Ale House
111 North Aurora Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 256-7977 |
Map
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