Gola Osteria Restaurant & Catering
An intimate, speakeasy-style Italian restaurant known for its authentic homemade pasta and creative seasonal dishes.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Blue hour photography, calmer galleries
Gola Osteria Restaurant & Catering
Highlights
Must-see attractions
An intimate, speakeasy-style Italian restaurant known for its authentic homemade pasta and creative seasonal dishes.
"Experience a charming ambiance and authentic Italian cuisine, a true hidden gem."
Make Reservations
Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends, as the restaurant is modestly sized and popular.
Allow Extra Time for Parking
Parking can be tricky as it's located inside a residential apartment building.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Italian
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Hidden Speakeasy Ambiance
An understated dining room with low lighting and candles creates a charming, speakeasy-like atmosphere.
Authentic Homemade Pasta
Experience authentic Italian cuisine with housemade pasta and flavorful, creative sauces.
Black Spaghetti
A visually striking and delicious dish of black spaghetti with clams.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Grilled Swordfish
Grilled Octopus
Eggplant Parmigiana
Veal Saltimbocca
Grande Piatti Misti
Meatballs
Cannoli
Panna Cotta
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Make Reservations
Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends, as the restaurant is modestly sized and popular.
Allow Extra Time for Parking
Parking can be tricky as it's located inside a residential apartment building.
Navigating the Entrance
The restaurant is tucked away; use the intercom or look for the patio door for entry.
Embrace the Adventure
Finding the restaurant can be an adventure, adding to its unique charm.
Tips
from all over the internet
Make Reservations
Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends, as the restaurant is modestly sized and popular.
Allow Extra Time for Parking
Parking can be tricky as it's located inside a residential apartment building.
Navigating the Entrance
The restaurant is tucked away; use the intercom or look for the patio door for entry.
Embrace the Adventure
Finding the restaurant can be an adventure, adding to its unique charm.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Gola Osteria offers an intimate dining experience with authentic Italian cuisine, particularly praised for its housemade pasta and unique ambiance. While many enjoy the flavorful dishes and charming atmosphere, some diners have noted inconsistencies in seasoning, particularly saltiness, and a few have found the pricing to be high for the portion sizes. The restaurant's hidden location adds to its mystique, though it can also present a challenge for first-time visitors.
"Excellent experience. The grilled swordfish was firm yet buttery and flaky, perfectly charred. Definitely the highlight of the meal. It looks small in the picture, but it was quite thick and and more than a sufficient portion."
Micah Rickard
"We dined at Gola Osteria over the weekend while visiting Ithaca, looking to try something a little more upscale. Be sure to make reservations in advance, and give yourself some extra time to find parking as it's located inside a residential apartment building, and while it’s not hard to find, parking can be tricky.
We arrived right at opening and started with the Grande Piatti Misti appetizer, which we highly recommend. It was well-curated and delicious. That said, the portion of bread was very small, and the dipping oil was even smaller.
For the main course, my husband had the veal parmesan with homemade spaghetti, which he said was “just okay.” I had the chicken saltimbocca with homemade rigatoni, and unfortunately, it was extremely salty; I could barely eat it. Based on our experience, I’d say the reviews mentioning salty dishes were accurate.
For dessert, he had the cannoli and I had the panna cotta—both were good and a nice way to end the meal.
All in all, we probably wouldn’t return, but it was fun to try something new and a bit of an adventure finding the place."
Michele Walker
"I eat at the best restaurants around the world. The steak tasted cheap. It was cold. It was rare not medium rare too. The drinks came out bitter everytime. I know my Mojitos and sangrias. My friends drinks were also bitter too. I never write reviews unless I’m very disappointed in the food. The meatballs were amazing and the bread with the olive oil was amazing. Everything else tasted cheap and very overpriced. I love spending money on great food but this was so overpriced for the quality. Tasted like McDonald’s meat. I paid 50 dollars for this meal with the picture below. Cold rare steak with cheap lettuce and the cheese. Also the presentation was horrible. My fiends chicken looked like a chicken you would get from Walmart with burnt tasted vegetables."
Ben EastwaterVlogs
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Gola Osteria is located inside a residential apartment building. Look for the building and then use the intercom or find the patio door for entry. It's part of the adventure!
Yes, reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend dining, as the restaurant is small and popular.
Parking can be tricky as the restaurant is located within a residential apartment building. Allow extra time to find a spot.
While the menu focuses on traditional Italian dishes, it's best to inquire directly with the restaurant about specific dietary accommodations.
Highlights include the black spaghetti, grilled swordfish, grilled octopus, and various housemade pastas.
The Grande Piatti Misti (appetizer platter) is highly recommended. Fresh mozzarella and bruschetta are also popular choices.
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Ithaca, New York, Travel Guide
Frisch named Gola Osteria as his top spot in town for a nice dinner out, and Lev Kitchen on the Commons downtown for a more casual meal — “so tasty,” he said.
The Best Food in Ithaca – Actually Tasty
A few blocks up from the Commons, and inside an apartment building, is Gola Osteria. This Italian spot opened five years ago, so it was new to us, and it was a little bit of an adventure walking through the halls of what looks like a dorm to find a restaurant waiting for you at the back. We were told we absolutely had to try the mozzarella fatta giornalmente as an appetizer, so here it is – each order is hand-pulled and served with sundried tomatoes, olive oil, capers, and a sprinkling of black pepper.
The 6 BEST Finger Lakes Restaurants for Dining this Winter
Gola Osteria: For a “fresh spin on classic Italian dishes,” head to this local favorite. You’ll find seasonal menus using the bounty of New York and Pennsylvania farms, housemade pasta with rich sauces, and creative mains for a full feast. Cocktails are inventive twists on old-school classics and the wine list includes beautiful selections from Italy and our own Finger Lakes wineries.
Made in Ithaca Gift Guide
Treat your loved one to a multi-course dining experience at Gola Osteria, a locals’ favorite Italian restaurant in Ithaca offering an expansive menu that includes homemade pasta and fresh approaches to classic dishes. A full bar and curated Finger Lakes wine list to complete the experience with the perfect drink to complement the gastronomic experience.
Forty Weight Coffee Roasters in city Ithaca
Not forgetting to mention Gola Osteria and State Bakery, the blueberry scones are SOOOOO good, not too sweet, and baked fresh daily!. The Baristas here have been friendly and informative on tasting notes as well as the growing and roasting processes of the beans, when I need more help choosing a bag. There is nothing bad I can say about this business.
Best Date Night Spots Ithaca, NY
The evolving Italian cuisine at Gola Osteria can be hard to resist. It’s a new spin on all of your Italian favorites, with an expansive and inventive dinner menu including homemade pasta, fresh sauces, and seasonal ingredients. The full bar is stocked with well-curated Italian wines, along with vino from all of your Finger Lakes favorites.
25 Cant-Miss Best Restaurants in Ithaca (New York)
If you are passing through Ithaca and want an authentic Osteria as if you were in Italy, this is it. Gola Osteria Restaurant & Catering is one of the best Italian restaurants in Ithaca. Gola Osteria is tucked inside a historic Building, offering an old-world charm with antique Stickley-style furniture.
Food & Drink Guide for Ithaca, NY
Gola is probably my favorite 'Fine Dining' restaurant in the city and is by far the best Italian. It is in the Collegetown Terrace apartment complex, so just trust in your navigation when heading down there. On a weekend or a particularly busy time, you will need reservations.
Gola: A Hidden Gem | Restaurant Reviews
It’s a destination restaurant: you won’t walk or drive by it and, on impulse, decide to eat there since it’s hidden from view and a bit difficult to find. You’ll have to make a decision before choosing Gola. It’s located in a residential area on S.
The Ultimate Guide to Ithaca
Gola Osteria is located inside the Quarry Arm building, an apartment complex. But don’t let its mediocre surroundings confuse you, inside is an extraordinary restaurant serving even better Italian cuisine. Their homemade pasta’s are to die for.
The highs and lows of Celiac dining in Ithaca
Gola Osteria — Italian food can be tricky to navigate when going out to eat, but Gola makes it easy. Their menu is insanely tasty while also being incredibly knowledgeable from server to chef on keeping things safe for folks like me.
Highest-rated Fine Dining Restaurants in Ithaca by Diners
- Rating: 4.0/5 (169 reviews)- Price level: $$$- Address: 115 South Quarry St. Ithaca, New York - Categories: Italian, Bars- Read more on Yelp. You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Ithaca
10 most romantic restaurants in the Finger Lakes
Gola Osteria Located in Ithaca, this restaurant’s seasonally inspired menu promises “new experiences driven by passion and tradition.” * Address: 115 S. Quarry St., Ithaca * Phone: 607-273-0333 * Price: $$$ * Website
Best Restaurants, Places To Eat
Gola Osteria in Ithaca, NY, offers a delightful fusion of Italian tradition and locally sourced ingredients, creating an unforgettable dining experience.
The #1 Italian restaurant in Ithaca right now—and see the rest of the top 12, according to Yelp reviewers
- Rating: 4.0/5 (163 reviews) - Price level: $$$ - Address: 115 South Quarry St. Ithaca, New York - Categories: Italian, Bars - Read more on Yelp
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