The State Diner

If you love classic American diners with a retro touch, then State Diner in Ithaca, NY, is a must-visit. This cozy little spot on State Street has all the nostalgic vibes of an old-school diner, complete with booth seating, bright red accents, and a welcoming atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to enjoy comfort food, whether you’re a local or just passing through. For lunch, I ordered the Greek Burger with Fries and a handmade milkshake—a combo that perfectly hits the spot. The Greek burger is served on pita bread instead of a traditional bun, adding a nice twist. However, the patty itself was a bit dry and could have used a bit more seasoning. The fries, on the other hand, were crispy and golden, exactly how you’d want them in a classic diner setting. Now, let’s talk about the real highlight—the milkshake. This thick, creamy shake, topped with whipped cream, was the definition of indulgence. The retro-style ad on the table proudly states, “They’re Delicious,” and I have to agree! Whether you go for vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry, it’s the kind of treat that brings back childhood memories. Overall, State Diner is a charming little gem in Ithaca that serves up a nostalgic dining experience. While the burger could use a little more flavor, the atmosphere and that killer milkshake make it a spot worth checking out. Perfect for a laid-back meal with a touch of old-school Americana!

Walked here from our hotel for breakfast during a short overnight stay on our way to Niagara Falls. Classic don't judge a book by its cover place. Our server was awesome. Food was very good. Pretty typical diner food, but on the good side of that range. Very interesting seats!

I ordered the special omelet, it had bacon, Swiss cheese, mushrooms and tomatoes, it was delicious 😋, I also ordered the biscuits and gravy, and they were even more delicious 😋. My husband ordered the meat lovers omelet, he must have loved it cause he ate it before I could get a picture..lol...I also had the macaroni salad and I have to say that did not taste good at all, tasted like it had been sitting for awhile, like it went sour, but the waitress was so nice, I told her it tasted funny and she took it off my bill. I would definitely recommend going to eat here.

Family owned and operated. Since 1936. Great service. Waitress was extremely nice.

I always visit this place whenever we come to Ithaca. It's always busy and the food is great! The waitstaff are wonderful and I've never had a bad meal from here yet! Definitely worth a visit whenever you go to Ithaca.

I really love breakfast here! Amazing pancakes, large omelettes and delicious home fries. Staff is great and very on top of things! A stop on the NY dinner tour, great spot.

Very disappointed with my experience at this diner. I was really expecting more of like a family, welcome, well priced experience, but unfortunately didn’t find this here. The food is ok and pricey $$$, our order was incorrect and our waitress was rude and seemed overwhelmed, rather than in control and friendly. Ambiance was just ok, for a diner this was a let down. No free parking, wouldn’t go again.

What a fabulous find! We were traveling and stumbled upon this place and are so glad we did!!

This place has a retro diner vibe. You can definitely get a solid burger or sandwich from here. They seemed to be pretty busy around lunch time. A couple orders at our table were slightly off, but they were happy to remake the dish due to an allergen. The service was excellent overall. I would recommend getting something with a Greek twist since the original owners were Greek.

$11 for 2 eggs with toast and fried potatoes plus $4 for a cup of meh coffee. A very expensive breakfast experience for what you get. No early bird specials anymore. The whole "since 1936" thing is a little misleading. The inside of the diner burned down some years ago, and though they rebuilt, there are new owners and it's different. It's ok. The waitress was nice on that no-nonsense busy diner sort of way. Food was super fast and pretty decent, though hard to get wrong. Coffee was disappointingly burnt. My concept of a diner is it should be a salt-of-the-earth kind of experience. Cheap, decent, maybe a little rough around the edges she's. State diner is all of these things except cheap. I haven't been here in years because i started feeling like it cost too much for the very mediocre food experience, and based on my experience this morning i won't be back again any time soon. A nice early bird special would help create a nice local vibe with regulars with scratchy voices who all know the staff, while letting the staff get the griddle hot and the coffee ready and all that. State Diner used to be a 24-hour joint with a special place in the hearts of locals. A place to get French fries with friends or a much needed cup of coffee at 3am. It's kinda sad it's not that anymore. And hey, don't charge more for a crappy cup of drip coffee than it costs at a nice cafe for a fresh espresso. Nonsense. At least make the coffee good. I hope the tourists and folks who want to reminisce once in a while can keep you in business. Or not. All the same to me. Th

This is a total Old school Diner that's been here since 1936. The moment you walk in it screams American Diner and there is nothing pretentious or fake about the place. Basic American diner menu items with breakfast served all day. It was just after lunch when we walked in and the place was almost empty, and that should have set my internal foodie alarm bells ringing. But..... The coffee is nothing to brag about but the service was spot on and the food came out of the kitchen before I had time to drink 1/2 my coffee. It was fast. I ordered the Bo Burger with fries and my wife had Chili Cheese Dog with fries. Honestly, the French fries and the chili on my wife's dog were the highlights of this lunch. My burger was simply ordinary with no real flavor. But, my wife's chili cheese dog was pretty good. What did surprise me was the $1 charge for a side of mayo and the $4/cup of coffee. All in all, nothing that I'd write off or warn anyone against, but not a Friends and Family Recommendation.

We arrived 9:30ish on a Saturday morning and luckily were seated right away. Our server was great. Breakfast was very good. As I looked over the bill, I was surprised to see that we spent $10 on two glasses of apple juice. Seems a bit steep to me but maybe there was a bad crop across the Apple industry lol. The diner booths had jump seats which I never saw before which added to the old charm.

Great food great service. Me and my wife enjoyed it very much and our kid loved the waffles. I recommend this place to any new customers

I went here with my friends for brunch on a Sunday morning. We arrived at about 11:30am, and there was a 30 minute wait. We waited outside the front door and the hostess came out to call our name when a table was ready. The weather was good, but I probably wouldn't stick around if we'd had to wait out in the cold. I had the Mediterranean omelette, which had gyro meat, feta, onions, and tomatoes. It was served with toast and home fries. It was good and a substantial portion. Typical diner fare, in my book. The service was better than I expected; the hosts and waitstaff were all very nice. Would give it 3.5 stars if possible.

State Street Diner. A cool old diner on State street, offers egg breakfast and coffee at 8am Mon- Friday along with other diner menu items. Less costly than some other local places and makes you feel like you are still in the 1960s.

Our server was fantastic. Our food was great. However, my eleven year old daughter and I watched the owner (Georgia) scream at all of her employees and then proceed to grab one of the women by the arm and leave nail marks on her in front of customers. She also told two of her employees to leave immediately who calmly collected their things and left. I should've called the authorities but in order to not completely traumatize my daughter, I refrained. Completely uncalled for. I told all of her employees before we left to please take care of themselves and not deal with the abuse that the owner is spewing on them. I let them all know I wasn't paying my bill, left a $10 tip for my waitress and we walked out. I was sick to my stomach watching this happen.

Came here for lunch and was surprised to get pretty authentic diner vibes in the middle of Ithaca, New York. I'd say my experience was alright, but nothing special. I got the biscuits and sausage gravy, which came out to ten dollars. As a whole, prices here are pretty high on average and something that definitely hold this place back from being somewhere that is above average and a place I'd come back to. My food was average. Service was fast and effective, on the other hand. My server was super prompt in getting our orders in and food came quickly. Water was refilled quickly, so I can't hold anything back there. Overall, this place is pretty mid - food is alright, prices are a bit high. Probably won't be back but you won't die if you eat here. If you want a diner experience, you can get it here but it's not some wonderful one.

An unplanned lunch stop in Ithaca found us in close proximity to The State Diner. As soon as we walked in off the street smiles spread across our faces. From the outside, it looked conventional. Another urban storefront restaurant. Once inside we found ourselves standing in a diner right out of the 40s or 50s. The sign directed us to find any seat and the fold down seats at the tables aling the front windows were convenient and comfortable. We were immediately greeted by our waitstaff who brought menus and drinks in a flash. Our sandwiches came quickly. We had a triple deck turkey club and a Reuben sandwich. My turkey was made with a generous heap of turkey, freshly cut from a breast, beautifuly crisp bacon, American cheese, fresh lettuce, and mayo, on toasted white bread. My companion enjoyed a delicious Reuben made in the standard fashion, and was very generous in size. She said it was delicious. The service was excellent and attentive The atmosphere was a treat, and everything including the restroom was fastidiously clean. I highly recommend The State Diner. They serve all day breakfast, and the lunch menu has something for everyone, including vegans and those who prefer gluten free fare. I apologize for my exterior pic not being good enough to post, but as you drive past you will not miss the bright red building.

Food was okay. Service was pretty good though- our food came out fast and our waitress was very friendly! Ambiance was cool too... very retro- long counter and a handful of booths. We ordered the blueberry pancakes and 2 eggs any style. I got my eggs poached with an English muffin and the home fries. Usually I don't like potatoes, but my favorite item was the home fries! Very crispy and well seasoned! I think there were onions mixed in with the potatoes! My English muffin was buttered generously and the eggs were cooked well. However the pancakes tasted burnt and were quite dry. I liked the presentation though- they were arranged in a Mickey Mouse style with a face carved in. Flavor wise they were lacking. I could hardly tell they were blueberry flavored and the small hint of blueberry that came through tasted artificial. My biggest complaint is that they were overcooked- not totally burnt- but almost. I would maybe come back, but wouldn't order the pancakes again.

We were looking for a place that was still serving breakfast and came here because there were limited options and my husband said he'd had a good meal here before. I had a veggie omelette that was good; the potatoes they came with it were awful: oily, overcooked and flavorless. My kids had pancakes and when I tasted theirs I thought it was a box mix. My husband enjoyed his Greek burger and chili fries but commented that the pita was cold. There was an old knife underneath the seat that hadn't picked up before we were seated, so it made me question the overall cleanliness. The final straw was that the staff got into an argument and were yelling and cursing; then our server walked out. As in left, mid shift, and did not return.

Service was great - the wait staff never stopped moving and was very nice. Our omelettes were terrible one (a Western) came out missing ingredients, the other, a Greek, came out with home fries that were essentially raw, and it was incredibly salty. The rye toast was whole wheat. The worst was the effect they had on our stomachs - we could still taste the things hours later. Would not recommend.

Summer 2022 I visited this Diner - The State Diner - on my travels through New York State. There were other Diners in Ithaca, but in the afternoon I made a quick decision and opted for here. The style and interior are that of an old school, chrome-and-red type 1960s style. There was a difference to other Diners though. Here the food was prepared right behind the counter and very close to the tables. On the one hand the chefs and food being prepared were fun to see, on the flip side it was hard to smell my own food. The place was small and all the fumes blended into one. The sandwich and hot dog that I ordered were excellent, they tasted just like the ones my family used to make: hot, wafting, tasty and full of bread, sauce, meat, veggies and fries. It was excellent. One thing that lagged was the waitress' attitude and uninterest in having a good time with customers. The interactions were brief as the waitress was also plating and bagging take-out for a few snobby-ites (who think they are above actually sitting at a Diner table and blending in with every other regular person, instead ordering take-out, strolling in and making patrons wait 10 minutes longer for food) that stood around looking lost. Excellent digs. Wonderful, flavorful, diverse traditional New York dishes! Review: 5

The service was good the staff and were very friendly and quick at getting our food in. I got the steak and eggs with home fries and my friend got blueberry pancakes the portion sizes were decently big and definitely worth the price. My steak Was undercooked compared to what I asked for but everything else including the shake was very good will definitely be back to try lunch sometime.

Everything you'd expect and more from this charming diner. Our server Lisa was delightful and friendly. Our food was amazing, the service was attentive and speedy. Can't wait to go back next time we're in Ithaca!

The food and service were great! We met family there and they didn't mind that we sat and visited for awhile after. Great place! They just need to offer gluten free bread for toast!

Mixed review for this place, because while the servers are really friendly and welcoming, the coffee is baaaaaaaaad (flavorless). For me, a good diner needs decent coffee. This one doesn't have it. But there are some good things about this place. First is the flip up seating in the booths (kind of like stadium seating); I've never seen that before. Next is the Florentine omelet, which is good.

Fast friendly service, solid hot breakfast and a decent cup of coffee that they graciously refill before you even get to the end of the cup ~ much appreciated. Good way to start your day.

Sweet and casual - has what you'd expect in a good diner: quick service, good food and large portions. The menu selection isn't huge and it would be nice if they offered more sides to get a single pancake, etc. Anyways: FOOD! I had gotten the Mediterranean omelette with gyro meat, I had spinach added and it was delicious! My boyfriend had the eggs and hash which he gobbled up before I was a third into mine so I assume he enjoyed it. Atmosphere is very casual, no frills, a classic diner feel. If that is what you're going for then come here!

I'm a bit of a "diner" expert and this joint gets high accolades for Authenticity and good food! Great service with strong, friendly and terrific smiling waitresses! The line cook looked like my brother in law and straight out of Hollywood casting! I had the Greek omelet and it was huge and delicious! My son had a huge burger with tons of fries. Saw lots of locals picking up bags of orders, always a good sign! Decent prices too! Most highly recommended!

This was actually our second attempt at getting breakfast on a Saturday morning. The first place was a major failure. Well from now on this will be our first choice!!! From the moment we walked in the door we were kindly greeted and seated quickly. Our server was attentive and very accommodating to the needs of our young children. But to top everything off the food was great! The State Diner is everything we wanted in a Diner!!

We visited this location in October, when we were staying in Ithaca for a mini vacation. This spot was in walking distance to our air b&b. We were in the mood to visit an old school diner and when we saw this spot, we knew we had to go! They followed all of the COVID-19 protocols, taking our temp before we entered and placing us in a socially distanced and clean booth. We both went with the traditional breakfast- I got bacon, over easy eggs, toast, and potato hash. I also got a hot tea on the side. Everything was amazing! Just what you are expecting/ looking for in a diner. We had a fantastic experience!!

Great customer service! The staff is awesome. However.... A $60 breakfast for two? It's eggs everyone, that's mind blowing. You can get the same quality food and customer service at other diners in town.

Solid diner in the Ithaca area. Better than Sunset grill in my opinion. Burger, shake, & waffles were okay.

Food was just ok. I'm sure in Ithaca there are a few other places I'd try before going back here. Hubby had gyro and had very little meat. I had a turkey wrap. Everything was mediocre.

The State Diner is an absolutely adorable diner in the Commons! When you walk in, it is decorated to look like a classic American retro-style diner. It also looks like you are on the inside of a train car which is super unique. The chairs are also really cute flip-down chairs (kind of funny but slightly impractical). So I went for brunch yesterday and got the fried egg sandwich with a buttered roll, sausage, and American cheese. Guys, let me tell you... this was so good. The sausage patty was more like a burger patty than a typical breakfast sausage patty, but I definitely think this made it more flavorful. In addition, the roll was buttery, toasty, and so crispy, making it the perfect vessel for the rest of the sandwich. I will say I tried some of my friend's home fries and there weren't my favorite. I wished they were more crispy with individual chunks, but instead they were really mushy. Overall, The State Diner serves up some really yummy breakfast sandwiches that are worth the visit!

Great customer service and great food. Dessert was great and all we had was that cheesecake and coffee. Very nice people.

Meh. Started with burnt stale coffee and then waited over 40 minutes for an omelette & chicken fingers.... Overpriced for a diner. $6 for 3 tiny pieces of bacon- come on mannnn.

I dig this spot. It's a sweet little diner in downtown Ithaca. The menu is large with a good variety of deli and diner food. It has a nostalgic feel in there with counter service, old fashioned booths and plenty of newspaper. There is some Greek food on the menu and they have special Greek nights. I did not partake but it looks interesting. I had a tasty lunch of grilled cheese and gravy fries. The guys were working hard on the flat top and my food came out super quick. I'd gladly come back another time to check out some breakfast food and take home some baklava.

Pretty mediocre food for a diner and a bit pricey. Had breakfast there today, homefries did not taste like they were made from fresh potatoes, more like potatoes left in the refrigerator too long then covered with garlic powder and paprika. Friendly staff.

Came here Sunday morning, only had to wait 10ish minutes to get seated for a party of 3. Ordered the deluxe cheeseburger, which was an affordable $11. The burger was delicious, the patty wasn't too big and the toppings really completed it. The fries were perfectly crispy. Overall, great value and nice ambiance. Would recommend for a cheap eat!

I would give The Sate Diner five stars except for one thing: . The coffee is not that good. . I guess it's middle-of-the-road for a diner, but they could do better. Especially considering the really good coffee that is available today. . It's one big reason I like Denny's better.

Always great food and service. Don't stress if you have to wait to be seated. The they'll get you in and act like they're not even busy.

Solid diner with good food and a great staff. If you are in the area and are in the mood for diner food, this is a great place.

A decent stop for a quick meal. Nothing to write home about. The space has some history to it so it's cool to go back in time with the old school diner setup. Although, the stale cigarette smell from a time when smoking inside was legal still lingers. Ah, nostalgia. The service was friendly, helpful, and prompt. We had regular coffee refills, quick water delivery, and our orders were speedy from the kitchen. I wish we sat behind the counter instead so we could get the view from the prep area. I had a breakfast sandwich on white bread with american and bacon. I added a side of homefries, but they were pretty bland and not crispy how I like them. Dan had scrambled eggs, bacon, and homefries. The bacon was really the best part of this meal - thick, crispy slices. You pay at the counter at the end. You won't set yourself back more than $20 bucks for a quick meal.

I visited today for lunch with my kids, my friend and his kids. I wanted to give a HUGE shout-out to Cassie, our waitress. She was phenomenal! Super on top of our drinks, took great care of the kids' request and even made a special dipping sauce for us Utahns. We mentioned fry sauce and she asked what's in it and went and made it for us. Give that lady a raise and promotion! She's awesome!

Florentine Omelette: Filling omelette with a side of potatoes and wheat bread sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Not too costly and prepped quickly and thoroughly. Dining: Cozy, not so loud seating area and good service.

Solid breakfast food. Service when we went was impeccable. Shout out to the wait staff. It was like she could read our minds. Only four stars because the home fries could use a bit more seasoning and onions etc. Overall a nice classic diner with good breakfast. Ill be back.

Place was awful. Black bean burger was a greasy mess. Pancakes that said they come with maple syrup came with a package of Kraft syrup. Tacky and lack luster service.

Great spot in town to grab a greasy omelette or some pancakes or something in the morning, perfect hangover cure. Parking isn't usually an issue (street parking is free on holidays and weekends) and there's usually lots of tables around brunch on the weekend. Service is very efficient, and there's no reason to complain about the food. Friends of mine seem to prefer Lincoln St, but honestly it's much easier to get in here and the food is just as good in my opinion.

Yum! Had a good late breakfast with waffles, eggs, bacon, the works. Nice waitress! The place looks like a diner you'd see in a movie.

This was always a staple place to go, and many happy memories. Unfortunately probably our last visit. This is a $22 steak covered in a special sauce that you just get without even asking. It's A-1. The gravy is flavorless. Guys - just serve the steak - the customer can add to it. On the positive side they didn't charge us for the steak (thank you) and the chili is delicious and the service was good.

I'm not sure what's with the mediocre reviews here... PERFECT place for my picky family of five to stop on a long ride back to the east coast. Sidebar... ***Yelp pet peeve*** why complain about pricing?!? You have the ability to view the menu (AND PRICES) BEFORE you sit down to order your food... if too pricey... then order accordingly! This is a small town place that needs to ride out the ups and downs of a college town economy... so I'm fine w the prices.... esp bc the food, service, speed and location were all perfect!! We had waffles, chicken noodle soup (yum), chicken souvlaki (absolutely perfect), buffalo chicken wrap, chicken fingers and salad... dressing was even home made. Need a nice place to stop for a picky family or otherwise... definitely give it a try!!

Food was fair.. waitress obviously had other things on her feeble mind.. and prices were absurd...health department should have a look as well.. stay away unless you enjoy punishment for being a customer

I just stopped by for a quick meal while vacation in the area. I was craving a hearty meat lovers omelet and they made a tasty one. I was in and out in under 20 minutes. The food was good and the service was friendly. Overall, it was a great breakfast stop for myself.

This place is surprisingly large once you enter. The staff is friendly. If you sit at the front booths, you will find seats that fold up, but are still comfortable. We went for breakfast and we left satisfied. My meatlover omelet was stuffed. Couldn't ask for more to start our day.

Very accommodating server. I just loved the Greek salad with xtra feta. Also, I was reminded of my WAAL-FM days as they had nothing but 70's hits playing in the background. Some diners are dirtier than others, this place was nice and clean!

A classic diner! A classic blue collar diner in Ithaca, The State Diner is a great place to go for a classic diner breakfast. If you sit in the front booths you are greeted by fold-down seats and you can watch the mound of home-fries cooking on the grill. Great home-made biscuits. And, as a bonus, this being a college town it does not get crowded on week-ends until the late morning. It is in relatively close proximity to the race course and boat houses for the Cornell and Ithaca crews.