Let us paint a picture for you. Rewind to our first year at Cornell University. The gang has just spent a lovely night in Ithaca, the vibes are high and the TCAT is on its way. While we wait, we kill time in our favorite late-night eatery: Collegetown Pizza. Now let’s fast-forward to the present, where we’re waiting for the TCAT in the worst possible state: pizza-less.
This was until the murmurs of Patsy’s Pizzeria entered the stratosphere. Can Patsy’s manage to fill the hole CTP left behind?
A great slice in Ithaca is hard to find outside of Thompson and Bleecker, so Patsy’s may be a new great option. Patsy’s is a New York City pizzeria opened in 1933 and has two locations on the East Side. The pizza is coal-oven, regarded as a legendary New York institution and was famously frequented by Frank Sinatra. Their newest location in Ithaca is located inside the Marriott on South Aurora Street. Good pizza, good sides and a convenient location in the Ithaca Commons could make it a great spot for a dinner out on the weekend.
The pizza at Patsy’s is, in our opinion, their best dining option and was incredibly high quality. Every pizza had a fairly thin crust with a proportional layer of cheese. It was cooked to where the crust was a bit burnt at the ends, offering a great crunch. The first pizza they offered was a mixture of cheeses, sauces and pepperoni — a delicious combo. Aside from that, they served a Classic New York and a Pepperoni Pizza. Both were well-executed and had rich, fresh ingredients. If I were in New York, I would probably choose Patsy’s for pizza a few times a year. This place will instantly be one of the best pizza options in Ithaca, but similar to Thompson and Bleecker, it’s a sit-down restaurant and not a stop for a quick slice. Consequently, the late-night CTP hole remains unfilled.
Yet on the topic of its sit-down quality, the other non-pizza dishes we were served were quite good. For the antipasta, we were huge fans of their Tuna Crudo — an exciting addition in Ithaca, as fish can be something to be wary about here. The pastas were also a highlight, with the meats and sauces complementing each other very well in each dish we tried. Our standout pastas were the Candele Genovese and the Beef Meatballs.
Additionally, the restaurant had a neat atmosphere, with modern lighting, large windows and a lively bar along the back wall. The large windows along the front also offered great views of the Commons.
However, Patsy’s is expensive. Based on the pizza portions they gave us at the opening, $28 to $36 per pie is a high range. This pricing suggests the rest of their menu and the experience of eating there should be good enough to justify these prices. Nevertheless, the overall service and experience of dining there were average to subpar. There was no distinct ambience to the restaurant, and the service was fairly slow. For an opening event that the restaurant had months to prepare for with a set menu, it's a bit strange to have 15 to 20-minute delays. The vibes were overall a bit off, but that might be from the fact that it’s in a hotel lobby. All the servers and staff were very nice, but we figured a New York pizzeria would have New York timing.
All in all, with its convenient location, quality food and lively atmosphere, Patsy’s is definitely an option to add to your Ithaca eatery arsenal. If you’re ever in the Commons and looking for a good bite, Patsy’s is worth a visit.
Yianni Metis is a member of the Class of 2028 in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. He is a staff writer for the Lifestyle department and can be reached at ymetis@cornellsun.com.
Jared Miller is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He is a staff writer for the Lifestyle department and can be reached at jmm792@cornell.edu.
