The Rook

Restaurants in Ithaca, New York

4.5 (474)

Category	Restaurants · Cocktail bar, Wine bar
Address	105 W Court St Unit 100, Ithaca, NY 14850
Area	Ithaca, New York
Phone	(607) 319-0180
Google rating	4.5 (474)

Hours

Friday	5–9:30 PM
Saturday	5–9:30 PM

About The Rook

The Rook is a small neighborhood restaurant serving upscale (meat centric) comfort food and drinks with casual vibes. Come by for a drink at the bar, or a leisurely dinner and wine with friends.

The Rook is a restaurant in Ithaca, New York. It is listed at 105 W Court St Unit 100, Ithaca, NY 14850, which places it among the local businesses of Ithaca that residents and visitors turn to when they need this kind of service close by. Besides its main category, the business also describes itself as cocktail bar, wine bar, so it may cover more than the name suggests.

Because this group is broad, judging a listing on freshness, turnover and how consistent recent reviews are tends to work better than judging by decor or price range alone. Most kitchens in Ithaca will adjust a dish for common dietary needs like gluten-free or vegetarian if you ask when ordering. Hours vary widely: diners and fast-food chains often stay open late or around the clock, while bakeries and cafes tend to open early and close mid-afternoon. Catering and food delivery businesses in New York usually require advance notice, from a day for a small order up to a week or more for a large event, so it is worth contacting them early.

Hours are published for 2 days a week. The most common schedule is 5–9:30 PM. Hours in the United States do change around federal holidays and long weekends, so a quick call before a special trip is sensible. You can reach The Rook at (607) 319-0180; calling is usually the quickest way to ask about availability, prices or directions. Its website is rookfoodanddrink.com, where you may find menus, price lists or booking options.

On Google it holds a rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 474 reviews, which is a strong result for a restaurant in Ithaca and suggests consistent service.

Ithaca is in New York, in the Northeast, where four distinct seasons shape local life: hot humid summers, snowy winters that can close businesses for a day, and a dense pattern of towns where walking, transit and street parking all matter. US addresses list the street number and name, then the city, state abbreviation and ZIP code, and Ithaca follows the same pattern; a suite or apartment number such as Ste 200 refers to a unit inside the building. The map link on this page shows the exact spot.

See the other restaurants in Ithaca listed below to compare ratings, hours and locations before you decide. Details on this page come from public sources and may change; confirm anything important by phone before relying on it. Business owners can claim the listing to keep it up to date.

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Latest Google reviews

The 5 most recent reviews shown on Google Maps. Reviews belong to their authors; read all of them on Google.

randi rossi a month ago

Got there around 830 on Friday night. They were out of the salmon which is the only gf entree, which would be ok if they were accommodating or understanding. I asked the waiter what I could have instead and he looked at me blankly saying the salad or a cheeseburger with no bun with salad instead of fries. I got the burger but truly and honestly the worst burger I have ever had. I am not against a bun free burger, and usually will be happy to eat it, I know my lot in life as a person with celiac, but this was genuinely so tough and flavorless I briefly contemplated that I was getting sick and losing my sense of taste. Genuinely bad. Then to make matters worse starting getting gluten sick. So not only was it bad and expensive, it also got me sick. Do not be fulles by the other good reviews, something must have happened since then. Beware and avoid. Maybe it will be better earlier in the night but a Friday night should not be an off time for them. My partner who can have gluten got the schnitzel and also left disappointed. I am not one to leave a bad review, but this was genuinely so upsettingly bad.

Charles Macleod a year ago

I give this restaurant overall 3 stars due to the lackluster food. The fried chicken was highly recommended by the waiter and is supposedly the most popular dish. He explained that it was sous vide and then deep fried. I expected the dish to be very tender and bursting with flavor, but to be honest the chicken was dry and the batter was pretty bland. I have had better fried chicken from Popeyes, and it doesn't cost $24 for just a drumstick and breast. The chicken is rubbed with a rosemary spread, breaded in a batter that is very very lightly seasoned and is very floury, and of course fried. I would have liked if they served the thigh instead of the breast meat, and I think it could have been improved with a gravy or hot sauce on the side. The collard greens were tender but didn't have the vinegary bite that they should have. The fries were fine and cooked well. Lastly, the pork milanese was actually tasty. I thought they did a good job cooking it; it was crispy and not dry, and the anchovy was a nice touch. The restaurant had great service, and I liked that I was seated right away. They also have an extensive wine list and seasonal cocktails, if that's your thing.

Some1loveu a year ago

Fried chicken was very fragrant, crispy outside and juicy inside, collards on the bottom eased dryness, plus not too salty as common collard though. Pork schnitzel was a good dish to try as well. Easy to eat compare to fried chicken thigh. Mushroom was very munchies. Servers were very attentive and nice. Would love to come back here again

Elisabeth Bostwick a year ago

We happened upon The Rook one evening in Ithaca and it was such a lovely time! The atmosphere and food are both outstanding. Service was also great. I’d like to return and try more dishes! We all got burgers which doesn’t sound too exciting, but they were the best in my opinion. The fries were fantastic, too. We also ordered a salad and it served 3 of us. Next time I return I hope to try the salmon!

Hong Hanh Dinh 4 years ago

A hidden treasure! They serve amazing southern comfort dishes and the cocktails are amazing. Get the duck fat fries, my first time trying and i loved it. The fried chicken really hit the spot. I love the shrimp grits as well. The salad was one of the best. Refreshing and a good balance of tangy sweetness and savoriness.

All reviews on Google ↗

Frequently asked questions

Where is The Rook located?

The Rook is at 105 W Court St Unit 100, Ithaca, NY 14850, in Ithaca, New York. Use the “Open in Google Maps” button on this page for directions.

What kind of business is The Rook?

The Rook is listed as a restaurant and is also tagged on Google as cocktail bar, wine bar.

What are the hours of The Rook?

Published hours are Friday: 5–9:30 PM; Saturday: 5–9:30 PM. Hours can change on holidays, so call before a special trip.

What is the phone number of The Rook?

You can call The Rook at (607) 319-0180.

How is The Rook rated on Google?

The Rook has a Google rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 474 reviews.

Does The Rook have a website?

Yes, the website of The Rook is rookfoodanddrink.com (linked on this page).

Are there other restaurants near The Rook?

Yes. Ithaca also has Food Lab Bar + Kitchen, Modern Ohana, Pokelava Poke Bowl - Collegetown among others; see the full list of restaurants in Ithaca at the bottom of this page.