Taverna Banfi

4.7 (1454)

$31 to $50

Italian

130 Statler Drive, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

Make a reservation

Taverna Banfi

4.7

$31 to $50

Italian

Ithaca

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 6, 2026

7:00 PM

Booked 50 times today

About this restaurant

Good for business meals
Good for special occasions
Charming

Taverna Banfi brings the heart of Tuscany to the Finger Lakes, offering modern Italian cuisine inspired by the Castello Banfi vineyard estate in Montalcino, Italy. Honoring the legacy of the Mariani family, alumni and winemakers, who have been supporters of the Nolan School of Hotel Administration.

Located inside The Statler Hotel, Taverna Banfi offers a warm & welcoming atmosphere with beautiful views of Cornell’s campus. Enjoy handcrafted pasta, seasonal dishes, & thoughtfully selected wines.

As part of Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration, Taverna Banfi is more than just a restaurant. It's a working classroom where future hospitality leaders learn, grow, and bring service to life. Every meal reflects a commitment to learning, tradition, and exceptional dining.

-Complimentary Valet Parking
-Casual Fine Dining
-Perfect for Entertaining Family, Friends and Clients

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Contemporary Italian, Mediterranean
Hours of operation
Breakfast Daily 7:00 am–10:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:30 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(607) 254-2565
Website
https://statlerhotel.cornell.edu/
Payment options
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Andrew Nichols
Catering
On-site catering is available through The Statler Hotel for larger groups. Please contact the hotel sales department at ha-statlersales@cornell.edu OR 607.254.2678
Private party facilities
For parties of 6 people or more, please call the restaurant.

Location
130 Statler Drive, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
Neighborhood
Ithaca
Cross street
130 Statler Drive
Parking details
Valet
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Housemade Mozzarella$18.00
Prosciutto de Parama, Arugula, Micro Basil, Aged Balsamic, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Maldon Sea Salt
Grilled Octopus$18.00
Chorizo, Marcona Almonds, White Gazpacho, Fingerling Potatoes, Arugula, Grapes, Black Garlic-Squid Ink Aïoli
Fried Artichokes$16.00
Pickled Onions, Radish, Vegan Citrus Aïoli
Brooklyn Ricotta$16.00
Caponata, Toasted Pine Nuts, Calabrian Chili Honey, Crostini
Crab Cake$21.00
Avocado Purée, Fennel and Arugula Salad, Lemon Vinaigrette

Salads

Tuscan Greens$13.00
Mesclun Mix, Currants, Pine Nuts, Radish, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Lemon Vinaigrette, Balsamic Glaze
Baby Kale Caesar$13.00
Parmesan Crisps, Croutons, Grape Tomatoes, Caesar Dressing
Squash and Arugula Salad$13.00
Roasted Butternut Squash, Herb Boursin Cheese, Candied Walnuts, Fried Sweet Potatoes, Honey Vinaigrette

Pastas

Gluten Free Pasta Available Upon Request

Cascatelli Buttera$30.00
Italian Sausage Bolognese, Chili Flakes, Peas, Pecorino-Romano
Ricotta Gnocchi a la Vodka$36.00
Maitake Mushrooms, Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano
Shrimp Scampi$34.00
Shrimp Emulsion, Angel Hair, Herbs, Pecorino-Romano
Sweet Corn Miso Campanelle$28.00
Chestnut Mushrooms, Peas, Oven-Dried Tomatoes, Toasted Buckwheat, Cippolini Onions

Entrees

Jurgielewicz Duck Breast$39.00
Carrot Purée, Potato Fondant, Braised Red Cabbage, Duck Fat Tuile, Maple-Currant Agrodolce
Grilled Statler Chicken$33.00
Apple and Sage Bread Pudding, Squash Purée, Sauteed Kale, Roasted Squash, Maple Crème Fraîche
Salmon$35.00
Truffle Leek Cream, Brussels-Fingerling Hash, Arugula and Pickled Onion Salad, Herb Oil
New York Strip$54.00
Potato Purée, Asparagus, Almond Romesco, Brown Sugar Bourbon Glaze, Truffle Salt
Bone-In 22oz Ribeye$79.00
Onion Rings, Asparagus, Shallot Cream Sauce, Black Garlic Compound Butter
Halibut$44.00
Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Carrot, Sesame Spinach, Crispy Potato, Tomato Butter Sauce
Zucchini Noodles And Quinoa Croquettes$29.00
Grape Tomatoes, Broccolini, Asparagus, Dried Olives, Broccoli Pesto, Pomodoro

Sides

Mushrooms$9.00
Potato Purée$9.00
Grilled Broccolini$9.00

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Taverna Banfi.

4.7

(1454)

4.6Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Upstate New York
Healthy
Upstate New York
Most Booked
Southern Tier
Best Overall
Southern Tier
Best Food
Southern Tier
Best Service
Southern Tier
Best Ambiance
Southern Tier
Best Value
Southern Tier
Good for groups
Southern Tier
Healthy
Southern Tier
Neighborhood gem
Southern Tier
Great for fine wines
Southern Tier
Good for special occasions
Southern Tier
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Taverna Banfi offers "excellent cordial service" with a menu praised for its "wonderful meticulously crafted cuisine." Diners enjoy a "great ambience" with window views and a "friendly and professional" staff, often led by knowledgeable students. Their brunch is noted as the "best in Ithaca," making it a top dining choice.

1,455 Reviews

P
Peter
New Orleans6 reviews
4.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Despite the name and promotion this is not an Italian restaurant. The menu had four Italian pasta dishes but nothing more. Delicious, however. Sadly, there were very few Finger Lakes wines, so many of which would have been perfect with the food. Remember that this is a culinary school in the Finger Lakes. On a high note, server Joe was excellent and a great resource of local wineries.
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F
Frank Gold
New Jersey31 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 26, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service and food consistently over the years
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L
Leora Gold
New York City36 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 22, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The salad and buratta starters were delicious. The gnocchi and chicken entrees were also delicious and the halibut was in a gorgeous presentation. Sundae for four people worked well for dessert. The wines were terrific choices. Pinot noir also delicious. Hope was our server and she is wonderful. An overall truly enjoyable meal.
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J
Julia
New York City6 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 19, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful dinner and our server was terrific. We had a perfect table for watching the sunset over campus. The bread was delicious and served warm with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Statler chicken was perfectly prepared and outstanding. Finished with the ice cream sundae which was huge and definitely enough for two.
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J
John Gold
San Francisco8 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 18, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
excellent cordial service; Elliott makes it happen
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J
Judith Gold
New York City48 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 16, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
We were very pleasantly surprised by the excellent menu choices and tasty dishes on a very buys weekend. And we truly enjoyed our server who was a Cornell student, of course.
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P
Paul
Cincinnati15 reviews
4.0
Dined on October 7, 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
One of the few restaurants left in the area where you can still dress up for good evening out .
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S
Susanna Gold
New York City19 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 4, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had brunch with our daughter here at noon on a Sunday. Lots of choices -- both breakfast food and lunch food. Efficient service. Valet parking included if you have a reservation.
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M
Mel and Joe Gold
San Francisco6 reviews
5.0
Dined on September 26, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and service! Tiramisu espresso martini was so good!
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R
Ralph Gold
Indiana25 reviews
5.0
Dined on September 25, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
great buffet, fine service, very accommodating. iWill always go back when given the chance.
Is this helpful?

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Contemporary Italian, Mediterranean
Hours of operation
Breakfast Daily 7:00 am–10:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:30 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(607) 254-2565
Website
https://statlerhotel.cornell.edu/
Payment options
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Andrew Nichols
Catering
On-site catering is available through The Statler Hotel for larger groups. Please contact the hotel sales department at ha-statlersales@cornell.edu OR 607.254.2678
Private party facilities
For parties of 6 people or more, please call the restaurant.

Location
130 Statler Drive, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
Neighborhood
Ithaca
Cross street
130 Statler Drive
Parking details
Valet
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

FAQs

Yes, Taverna Banfi regularly welcomes families: guests report bringing children and grandchildren, kids have enjoyed familiar dishes like shrimp scampi, and the restaurant markets itself as perfect for entertaining families.

Weekends for brunch, Saturday or Sunday from 10:00 am–2:00 pm, are a standout time to visit Taverna Banfi, with many guests praising the brunch as outstanding and a top pick in Ithaca.

The brunch and breakfast buffet portions are generous, guests report the breakfast and weekend brunch servings leave them comfortably full.

For a standout visit, go for Sunday brunch (10:00 am–2:00 pm): guests repeatedly praise the weekend brunch buffet as a wonderful, indulgent experience.

Private dining isn't part of Taverna Banfi's offering, the restaurant focuses on its open dining room and warm, welcoming atmosphere inside The Statler Hotel.

Yes, Taverna Banfi is a lovely choice for date night, with guests celebrating anniversaries and Valentine's dinners while praising the food, service, and views.

Business casual is the guide, aim for neat, polished attire rather than formalwear; many guests wear suits or nice dresses for events and campus entertaining.

Taverna Banfi offers a warm, Tuscan‑inspired, casual‑elegant dining room with beautiful campus views and plenty of natural light, making it a welcoming spot for celebrations or a relaxed meal.

How FAQ content is generated

Make a reservation

Taverna Banfi

4.7

$31 to $50

Italian

Ithaca

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 6, 2026

7:00 PM

Booked 50 times today

Taverna Banfi

Make a reservation

Taverna Banfi

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Starters

Housemade Mozzarella$18.00

Grilled Octopus$18.00

Fried Artichokes$16.00

Brooklyn Ricotta$16.00

Crab Cake$21.00

Salads

Tuscan Greens$13.00

Baby Kale Caesar$13.00

Squash and Arugula Salad$13.00

Pastas

Cascatelli Buttera$30.00

Ricotta Gnocchi a la Vodka$36.00

Shrimp Scampi$34.00

Sweet Corn Miso Campanelle$28.00

Entrees

Jurgielewicz Duck Breast$39.00

Grilled Statler Chicken$33.00

Salmon$35.00

New York Strip$54.00

Bone-In 22oz Ribeye$79.00

Halibut$44.00

Zucchini Noodles And Quinoa Croquettes$29.00

Sides

Mushrooms$9.00

Potato Purée$9.00

Grilled Broccolini$9.00

Loved For

Review summary

Additional information

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FAQs

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Does this restaurant have private dining?

Is this a good pick for date night?

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Make a reservation

Taverna Banfi

Make a reservation