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About
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Press
The Kitchen
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The kitchen.

The Rook is a little restaurant serving up big flavor. Under the guide of the highly-regarded, yet alarmingly under-spoken, Owner/Executive Chef Gentry Morris (aka Uncle G), our menagerie of talented kitchen pirates dish out reimagined comfort classics like nobodies' business.

DID SOMEONE SAY butcher's best?

duck fat FRIED CHICKEN

SALADS with heart

a little ARANCINI

HANDMADE cavatelli

bacon wrapped DATES

UNCLE G'S pork schnitzel

banging BURGER

COLLARD greens

cheese PLEASE

LET THEM EAT (homemade) cake 

chef's SALMON

CHOCOLATE mousse

Just like any great restaurant should, The Rook satisfies that itch, that craving for the perfect drink and the pleasure of comfort food. 

Join us for full-service dining, cocktail bar and carry-out services, or your next private event!

Special thanks to our extended Rook family and devoted friends who have supported us over the last eight years on the west end! 

 

We're pleased to announce we will be moving in summer/fall of 2024 to our new location at Library Place (at the intersection of Cayuga and Court, downtown). We ask that you continue to be patient with us, after all, we are just a bunch of kitchen pirates making another big pivot!

Interested in joining the team/employment?

We're always looking to expand the family!  

cocktail prosecco campari grapefruit
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THE BAR.

Third generation barman, Executive Beverage Manager Manny Flores, came up in NYC during the peak of the cocktail resurgence. He learned his craft and hospitality during his years at the Waldorf Astoria, Gramercy Tavern & Bar Veloce.  He's one of the area's favorite story-telling, barmen (anyway, we like him a lot , and you will too).

Don't let  the titles "bartender" or "mixologist" fool you, we're just a bunch of misguided kitchen pirates, floating along with the rest of our well-seasoned front-of-house professionals.

Why campari? Is gin in?

Fernet about it, Chef.

The Bar

Ithaca's tastiest hidden gem
CREATIVE COMFORT FOOD AND COCKTAILs WITH WORLDLY inspiration

We have a soft spot for critics who enjoy a feast and are suckers for free press...

Rumor
in the roost

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Private Events
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PRIVATE
 EVENTS

Rent the entire restaurant for your next special event. 

 

Now offering full-service facility rentals to elevate your next holiday dinner, wedding or corporate meeting or affinity group or celebration event.

Wine Toast
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PICNIC
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elevated casual

FOOD AND DRINK

The Rook offers full-service, elevated-casual dining and bar service. Seating is available on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE basis (sorry, we do not accept reservations or call ahead seating requests at this time).

Please call to place takeout orders.

**Space is limited/first-come-first-serve; We will let you know if there is more than a 30  minute wait 

**Valid ID required for all alcohol purchases    

**Outdoor seating is dog-friendly; furry friends/family-members  MUST be leashed & well-behaved.  

**Takeout orders are subject to a 15% gratuity to ensure the livelihoods of our staff.

NYE/MERCH
GET IN TOUCH
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LOCATION & HOURS

404 West State St,
ITHACA, NY 14850
OPEN Tues-SAT
5pm till 9:45pm

The Rook is located (just beyond) the heart of downtown Ithaca, convenient to the Ithaca Commons, Cornell UniversityIthaca College and the beautiful finger lakes region.

 

Now offering full-service indoor & outdoor chef-driven dining options, cocktail bar, takeout, plus private and special events.

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