Glenwood Pines

Incredible food, great beers, awesome atmosphere. Glenwood Pines was our harvest host for a night so we came in for lunch as well as dinner. For lunch I went with the pineburger and wings combo. Wow. Every component of this plate stood out. Extremely fresh roll, juicy delicious burger, and 1000 island dressing is a new favorite burger sauce for me. The wings were perfect, juicy and tender, crispy on the outside, and they have an awesome smokey flavor. Dinner was the fresh fish fry, also incredible. The fish was definitely fresh, cooked perfectly. Flakey on the inside, crispy batter. Same goes for the fries. Topped off with a great local IPA. Also, you cannot sleep on that slice of peanut butter pie for dessert. Owner and staff were really great, service was excellent and friendly. Very relaxed and inviting atmosphere. Overall a really awesome place I wish I was closer to, and will go far out of the way to visit again.

Came on a weekday and still had to wait 30+ mins for food, so you know it's a popular spot. Nothing fancy here, just straightforward food and a lovely view of the lake. The fried fish is excellent!

Good food, clean, lake view at some tables. I liked the fish fry and Cornell chicken salad, but the real standout was the smoked chicken wings.

Great food and atmosphere! The breading on the onion rings and fried mushrooms was sooooo good. Glad we stopped here!

An outstanding burger spot with beautiful views. We crave their burgers! Nice people too.

Nice local place close to the falls. Had some nice specials and lunch options.

Great views, atmosphere is amazing, bartender is great, owner can’t melt blue cheese on a burger. Everything served in to-go containers. Waste of a solid location. Under seasoned, sysco provided basic. Go to Wendy’s unless you want a great view of the lake, otherwise, pack a picnic.

While in Bills territory was looking for a place to try and watch the Eagles game. Both played 1PM on the same network. The owner/mgr made an effort to put RedZone on for us because it was acting up. Had great conversation with him and bartender during the games. Food was good bar food and had great beers on tap. Nice little spontaneous find for a Sunday afternoon!

Food was fresh and good. Very nice. Fish Sandwich looked great. Burger like mom used to make.

Ugh, what happened to this place. Went for years while I lived here. It's been 7-8 years since my last visit. Finally back in the area and stopped in for a lunch, excited to hit up this old staple and its delicious lakeside food. Is it new owners? Or old owners not giving af? In order of importance to me: Food was wildly disappointing. Not one of our 6 person group was remotely impressed. Food was bland or in some cases rotten (our cole slaws were bubbling and tasted funky... wish us luck). They need to invest in a spice rack and bring back the tasty, fresh quality food they used to serve. This place is/was renowned for a reason, but that reason is now gone. Everything is now served in plastic containers and with plastic cutlery. So beyond environmentally wasteful, and also, who wants to eat a fish fry against plastic? FFS hire a dishwasher or install an electronic one. Where did the wait staff go? Why get rid of it? Bar staff was very curt and not having anyone's indecision as groups of people stood in front of the menu trying to figure things out. There was table service for a reason. You also have to go pick up your food at the bar when it's ready. They'll just call your name and if you're not in the vicinity you'll have no idea. A former institution that sadly will be cut out of my rotation when I'm in the area. Hopefully they bring it back to what it was.

Glenwood Pines jumped out at me given its great location on the west edge of Cayuga Lake just a few minutes from the heart of Ithaca. I figured it'd be a good, no frills lunch option with some distant lake views based on the pictures I'd seen online. There's no formal wait service as you have to order food/drinks at the bar, and also head back to the bar to pick up your food when it's ready. Food is served in clunky plastic take out containers. It was a slow wait as it took 20-25 minutes for them to prepare the food. While waiting, I had a chance to explore the interior of the place, and was quite impressed with their collection of bobbleheads on display. Some were of presidents, while many were of pop culture like superheroes/villains and animated television characters (I liked their line up of Simpsons bobbleheads)...definitely gave off some quirky dive bar vibes. We ordered a local beer, mozzarella sticks, a cheeseburger, and a chicken sandwich. The mozzarella sticks were the frozen food service kind without much of a taste, and served with bland marinara sauce. The cheeseburger was quite small and also lacked any seasoning/flavor. The side of onion rings were also underwhelming and not worth the cost. The chicken sandwich was probably the best of the items we ordered, but was mediocre otherwise. All in all, the food was average at best, with nothing being particularly memorable, so worthy of an overall 3/5 Yelp rating from me. While I wasn't expecting a gourmet meal, it seems many of the reviews you find online are inflated due to the views of Cayuga Lake off in the distance. While it's a really nice location, they could do better in terms of food quality, so I likely would not return, and recommend others to drive an additional 8-12 minutes into Ithaca for better quality food.

Great place to watch sports. Excellent crab cakes and jalapeño poppers. The deep fried mushrooms were just so-so. The happy IPA on tap was delicious. Order at the bar. Bus your own table. Enjoy the view of Cayuga Lake.

Great place! We were staying in their lower lot through Harvest Hosts. Went up to the restaurant to grab us some dinner. While I waited for the food, I grabbed a Moscow Mule with the local Ginger Beer. Tasty! We ordered the Pineburger, a single for her and a double for me. We both really enjoyed the burgers! They were perfectly cooked to our requested temp and they were super juicy and flavorful. We got a few sides to complement the burgers. My wife loved the fries, and I thought the Onion Rings and Corn Fritters were very good. For dessert we grabbed a Coconut Cream slice for my wife and a slice of Peanut Butter Pie for me...both tasty! My wife LOVED the Ithaca Root Beer, said it was the best she's had. The staff was wonderful! Great place and great experience!

I came here 7 years ago and it was a great place to eat. I recently went last week and was really disappointed. Food served in plastic take out boxes, bland tasteless burger meat, and barely any sauce. The quality has plummeted. I got the original Pines burger and like I said, the meat tasted like nothing.

Stop serving food in to go containers, what in the actual heck is that about. Plus it's a waste of money for your business . The burgers and fries were cold and we ate it there, not like we left with it. Wings were probably best of all. Won't be going here again. Terrible vibe and the staff is rude. No one wants to order food at the counter as soon as you walk in. Get it together or this place is done for

Super-casual bar and burger place with wonderful staff, views, and overall vibe. It felt we had gone back to a better time in some ways. We had read their burgers are among the best in Ithaca, and while I would not say they are The Best we've had (for us, Ithaca Ale House holds that honor), they were nonetheless excellent here. The French bread roll is a nice touch Don't be turned off thinking it'll be crusty/crunchy; it's soft and just right. Will definitely be back!

Really good burgers. Steak sandwich not as much but wasn't bad. Steak was bland but it wasn't chewy or anything. Corn nuggets (fritters) were crunchy and sweet. Really liked the onion rings. Family loved the boned and boneless wings (not buffalo sauce, the other one) lol can't remember what it was called. Yummy bloody Mary's (had 2) with well vodka at $6.50 each. Amazing. Order at the bar, take your drinks and go find a cool spot to sit either inside or out (we sat outside). Lake view too!!!

To visit Ithaca without a visit to Glenwood Pines would not be complete! the burger is just so outstanding. It's a good bakery bread instead of a bun is perfection. Eating that magnificent burger while taking in Cayuga lake... Even better.

Ok, the service is not how it used to be but it's ok. The ambiance feels like a fishing cabin which I like and they have a nice little arcade which makes it feel like you fell back into '09. The food was also good, pricey. Also, not worth the portion itself.

Came here on a Friday evening and it was honestly only about half full. You order at the bar here - there aren't any servers so it feels more like a bar than a restaurant (they do have what I believe is a full bar too). I got their famous pine's burger and a side of apple sauce. The burger is served not on a regular hamburger bun, but rather what seemed like a french roll. Honestly, it was a good decision - the bread was really good. However, the rest of the burger was pretty mid in my opinion and I don't know what separates it from other burgers. The food came out fast and the pricing is quite good - I paid about $12 for my whole meal.

The food was delicious. The service was excellent and quick. The beer was cold and tasty. Highly recommend this place. I will definitely be going back.

I didn't expect much when we pulled into the parking lot but darn it, I was 10 minutes past the hangry stage and needed food now! My husband is from the finger Lakes area and his meat Cornell chicken quite a few times at home. I've never had it at a restaurant so I thought I'd give it a shot. I was blown away at how much flavor the chicken breast had in it. It was a nice crusty roll that complemented the juicy chicken. I would definitely come here again and order the same exact thing.

We stopped here for a quick meal after a day of hiking in Ithaca and Moravia. We both got burgers and they were delicious! We got a side of Fred's that were small but very good. We also ordered a side salad that was fresh. The bar staff was friendly, attentive and helpful. The restaurant has a nice old vibe to it! It's almost like a rustic version of a diner. We were very happy with our choice to eat here. The parking lot was busy almost every time that we drove by!

Had a great dinner here with family after spending the day at Cornell. Great burgers, great beer with a beautiful view of the lake! Staff was friendly and welcoming. Looking forward to coming again in the fall.

I went back to visit Ithaca and came here to relive fond memories of chasing the hair of the dog. They did away with the table service which you think would make things work faster and more efficiently. However, the bartender was incredibly surly and the kitchen was in the weeds. The Pinesburger lives up to its reputation, but 5 bucks for a tiny handful of fries is pretty rich. The Pines is a shadow of its former self and you should steer clear.

As a long time favorite, Glenwood Pines never disappoints. Once a full service restaurant, it has been reinvented as a "self serve" style establishment. Don't let it deter you. The food quality is still above par. During our last visit (10/12/24) the restaurant was serving a steady crowd of diners who all appeared happily satisfied. After ordering at the bar, and being told it would be a half hour wait, our food arrived in only 20 minutes, hot and delicious. The staff is friendly and the view is beautiful. One of our absolute "go to" spots if we're traveling through Ithaca.

Fish fry was delicious! The barkeep was warm and wonderful and took care of business. It had been more than fifteen years since I last visited, so I'm here to report that a lot of work has been done on the building. It's beautiful inside and outside with a lot of outdoor space to picnic.

I'll admit I tried this place after hearing about it on " Designated Survivor ". You order at the bar and all food is in To go containers. We ordered the infamous Pineburger and the fish Reuben with a double order of onion rings. I recommend sitting in the lower level for the fantastic view of Cayuga Lake. Both sandwiches came with thousand island dressing. They were very tasty though the Fish Reuben bun was a little burnt.

I live in the area. I haven't been to the Pines since the pandemic. It's really sad now. They still serve food as if it's the pandemic. Everything is take out. They removed everything that had style. It's a waste of time and money to go there.

This is a must stop on a visit to Ithaca... Incredible views from multiple levels of outside seating. Fast friendly service at the counter. Everything is packed up to go even if you stay on premises to eat. We love the fish sandwich, the fish Ruben and the pine burger. Small but decent selection of beers on tap

Just like so many great restaurants in upstate NY. They are so consistent. Their burgers are amazing. The fries were just right. You now order at the bar and basically everything is takeout. However they still have seating and a great view of the lake. Just like clockwork a great meal was served up in 15 minutes. Can't wait to do this again. A burger on a French roll Yummy

Ever go back to a restaurant years later and it disappointingly doesn't live up to your memories? I returned to "The Pines" 33 years after eating there while attending a nearby college. This time I brought family members who had heard me rave about it for several years so I was prepared to be razzed. But "The Pines" crushed it. Same beautiful views and "nostalgic"interior but freshly painted and clean. The burgers, onion rings and fries were perfectly cooked and the simple service was fast and friendly. I didn't have the famous Bloody Mary because we were heading to wineries but I'm sure it's still the best!

We were hiking nearby and someone recommended eating here claiming it's where all the locals go ... sho'nuff the parking lot was packed. We found out why: extremely friendly staff serving simple but outstanding food. The friendliness of the folks was beyond compare and even though everything is served to go, they offer free refills on beverages. The pictures don't even come close to showing how delicious the food was but it was well worth the 30 minute wait. Thanks for a great experience !!

I was regular when traveling thru Ithaca. It has changed and unfortunately not for the better. Gone is table service and real plates and utensils. Menu options are reduced and posted on the wall. Ordering is done at the bar then you wait. Food comes in styrofoam containers, plastic utensils and beverage in plastic cups. I could tolerate that if the food was great but it wasn't. The burger was greasy and the side of fries was small and not hot. It still had the roadhouse flavor and likely remains a local favorite that is living on reputation. Overall it was disappointing. It would be improved with friendly wait staff and a dishwasher. The bartender acted like you were imposing. Go elsewhere.

Crab cake sandwich and fries were very good. Had a delicious margarita in a can too. Quick service. Order and pick up at counter. Inside and outside seating.

I'm rating it this low to attract attention and hopefully they will pay attention. This place is an ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER! All the food is served on extremely durable, reusable to-go containers whether you're eating in or taking out. Everyone that eats in THROWS THEM IN THE GARBAGE! They put more plastic in the landfill in one lunch hour than I do in a year. Why not at least use paper? Or better yet, hire a dishwasher and use reusable plates like every other restaurant in town. It's a burger joint. Good burgers I guess but I won't go there again until they become a lot more environmentally responsible.

A family friendly gem overlooking the lake. No wait service- Self service ordering and pick up at the bar which was cool. Drinks were strong, good beer selections and very good food. We went twice because it was so good. Ordered pulled pork- excellent , tender, not sloppy with sauce to hide the pork served over slau on a fresh roll. Also enjoyed the spicy sausage an peppers on ciabatta and a burger. Portions were large! No need for side orders of fries etc. but if you do- get one to share. Each drink is served with a personalized and possibly disposable restaurant cup. Didn't see a recycle option for them which is sad. Saw a lot of them in garbage which is sadder. Took ours home to reuse. All in all a great place to stop after the beach or hikes in the area. Lots of outdoor and indoor seating. Very relaxed vibe.

Food was not so great. Waitstaff had attitudes. Food was not even brought out to you and was given to us in throw-away food contains (wasteful). Bathrooms were incredibly small and smelled so bad, you could smell them in the dining area (Definitely not handicapped accommodating).Tables were sticky. Food was frozen or dried and not many options. Kids shrimp didn't even taste like shrimp. It was like processed mushed-together junk. Thanks but no thanks.

Great food, service, and ambience! Outdoor dining. You place your order at the counter.

I enjoyed the food, and this place could have been a regular for us... BUT. I was incredibly unhappy with how wasteful they are as a restaurant. They put every order in a to-go container, all drinks come in a single use plastic cup, and they put all the food in a plastic bag. This is for every order, no matter if you dine in or out. They could be immensely less wasteful for dine-in orders by simply using reusable, hard plastic plates and cups, along with providing a bag only when a customer asks. I can't remember if the to-go containers were recyclable or biodegradable, but it wouldn't matter either way if they're being thrown out into a normal trash bin.

Really good food and bar, great outdoor seating and a nice view of the lake. Also tons of fun games and activities downstair.

This place is a gem. The lady who took my order was very nice. This place is more than a burger and bar place. It's a place where the town can get nice meal and hang out. It's a place ithaca beer company wants to be. I'm glad it was our last meal in Ithaca before going back to reality.

Heading back from Ithaca to Auburn, my husband wanted "a simple burger, nothing fancy". Well, that's just what he got! Glenwood Pines is a very friendly place to walk into with food order at the bar, served in take out containers to either eat in the restaurant or to bring outside to their lovely multi-level outdoor dining area, complete with a beautiful view of Cayuga Lake! Service was prompt and friendly, the atmosphere inside was somewhat dark, and very dated, but cozy. We chose to eat outside on this beautiful day. As for the food, my husband really enjoyed his burger. I had a fish fry with some kind of corn fritters. Don't get those fritters!! The fish was good however. This restaurant does not pretend to be anything other than it is it. It is an honest friendly place to go in a beautiful location.

The last time I was here it smelled like dirty mop water and bad breath. I didn't order, I didn't even give the door time to close.

We have tried so many times to embrace this new streamlined edition of The Pines. After last night we are officially done. For context, pre-pandemic, the Pines was a family owned restaurant that was always packed wall to wall with folks of all ages; families, college groups, seniors. Sports fans, tourists, locals. The food was reliable, consistent and very good in a vintage kind of way. The service was efficient, friendly. The place was a well oiled machine, and EVERYONE was working full tilt. Besides the famous Pines Burger ( fantastic), fish fry ( reliably v. good), etc., there was always a "Soup of the Day" to look forward to, NE clam chowder you could stand your spoon up in, Daily specials, Chili, spaghetti and meatballs, and more. The vintage sign outside is all that is left of that magnificent restaurant. Post pandemic, either it was sold or the next generation took over. The menu has been reduced ( streamlined ) to burgers, fish fries and wings. Bar food, but without the ambiance of a bar. It attempts to be a "Doug's", but their system is terrible and the food is inconsistent. Order at the bar and fend for yourself. As others have mentioned, everything is in take out containers ( at least Dougs puts eat in meals on paper plates). Even the beer is served in disposable cups. The famous burger has suffered and is smaller and inconsistent. The last two fish fries we've ordered were greasy and not hot ( nobody notifies you if your order is ready). French fries are straight from Sysco to you. Obviously there is no longer a chef, or anyone who knows how to cook. The new owner has no clue that the hospitality means "be hospitable". I suggest he get out from behind the bar, greet people, check with his patrons on how their dinner is, find the folks whose orders are sitting on the bar when the order comes out. There was a bit of remodeling, money spent on swanky new chairs, but the original, dark, humid, smelly, inaccessible ladies room remains the same. There were a ton of take out orders going out, but folks who live nearby have limited options, and likely some were out of towners/alum were there for nostalgic reasons or based on old reviews. We won't be back. A sad loss on our restaurant scene.

Food is good , great views and location. Not too personable but delicious nonetheless.

Fries are definitely frozen. Not a fan. "World" famous steak was below par. For price & quality this did not hit.

Service - check Food - not bad Ambiance - ehh is this a dive bar/diner style? Entertainment - check (there's a pool table) Stopped by because reviews recommended to try the pine burger and corn nuggets. Exactly what I ordered and yes those corn nuggets were great! Bratwurst and fried mushroom was the other dish and it was disappointing. Overall, this place is not bad and I'll come back for their service and corn nuggets. Interestingly the waitress who impressed us, it was her first day. She's great and should be given a raise !

Divey and no frills. I felt like I was eating in the mess hall at camp. Old wood paneled walls, long tables with benches and views of the lake all add to the charm. You can tell that this is a reliable and comfortable spot for those who live in the area. They are known for their burgers, and the menu has got plenty of different types. Plus all of the traditional greasy spoon fare like hot dogs, onion rings, fries, chicken fingers, etc. They also serve alcohol and have a list of local wine and beer. Chicken fingers and fries are very solid. The order comes with four large tenders and a mound of some of the crispiest fries I've ever had the pleasure of eating. The honey mustard was decadent, and that's important. Service was very slow, but otherwise it was a pleasant experience. For some casual and deliciously greasy eats you really can't go wrong.

An Ithaca area staple. A regional newspaper ranked their burger the best in the Finger Lakes. While good, I am more intrigued by their peanut butter and jelly burger. Sounds bizarre, but was actually quite good. Nice view of Cayuga Lake from the restaurant too!

Came for dinner on a week night and were seated and greeted promptly, which was nice. My daughter ordered spaghetti, which she really enjoyed; the rest of us went for the burgers. My husband really liked his double burger, and commented on the flame broiled style being a highlight. My son and I ordered single cheeseburgers and both of ours were overly charred, to the point where the burn flavor was overpowering. The fries were perfect and the cheesecake was delicious! I'd like to come back, but I'm not sure if I'll have the burger again or try the seafood instead.

The first time I tried it, I was unimpressed but decided to try it again and was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the fish Reuben with a side of fried mushrooms, but I also sampled my friends jalapeño poppers. The fish Reuben had a sideable piece of fish, which was cooked perfectly and delicious with the 1000 island dressing and coleslaw (4.5/5). The fried mushrooms were alright (2/5), but the jalapeño poppers were perfectly cheesy and spicy (5/5). The portion of jalapeño poppers was quite small, but so worth it. Would recommend for a scenic, fast casual eat.

It used to be a welcoming and friendly place, before the pandemic. Since, there is no longer any waitress service, you have to order at the bar and you get your food in takeout containers and sit anywhere. It's really impersonal and off-putting, it feels like they don't want to have to deal with you. The Pinesburger is still good, but what they have become is basically a Burger King with a liquor license. After 25 years, I'm out.

We were in town and decided to stop by here based on local reviews. We were not disappointed. Food was good, not expensive and service was amazing. Very friendly. Would definitely come back when we are up that way again. Tip: still no indoor dining. Perk: nice view for outdoor dining.

Updated review: My friends told me this place had gone downhill. I didn't want to believe it but they were 100% correct. The "new" (to me) style of service is a baffling ordeal: First you stand there and stare at the menu on the wall. Then you walk over to the bar (standing only, no stools) to be "greeted" by a server who seems genuinely annoyed that you are there. After placing an order, seating is open but the table layout seems awkward. Why can't there be bar seating? Nobody knows. You don't get a number or a beeper, instead they bring your food to the bar in a to-go container and holler. Seems abrupt and again, unwelcoming. The lighting is too bright and the food is just ok. Not pleased for what was an all-time favorite previously.

Nothing fancy but it's a very chill place to get standard American food to go, which you can then eat at their outdoor picnic tables overlooking the lake!

I can't believe I've waited this long to review. I used to come here quite a bit when I lived in Ithaca. The restaurant is a bit of a drive from town, but worth it. The interior has a family restaurant/tavern feel. The ambiance isn't really distinct, but the burgers are worth all the hype this place gets. Granted, I'm a vegetarian so I've never tried the "real" burgers, but the veggie burgers are on point. This is the only restaurant I've ever been to that char-grills the veggie burgers, giving them a smoky, unique taste. You can get any burger as a veggie burger, including the weekly special. I remember having one once that included fried jalapeño as a topping. If you're looking for a casual meal, this place is definitely worth checking out.