Cornell Business

In the mood for a red bean, avocado, and jack cheese quesadilla with housemade salsa? Have a craving for fried flank steak dumplings with spicy sesame fried rice and sweet soy drizzle? Miss the lamb braised with almonds and marsala with mashed plantains that Mom used to make? Then, Just A Taste is the place for you. This Ithaca Commons wine and tapas bar offers a wide array of eclectic foods that explode in a cornucopia of flavors.

Just A Taste is a medium-sized restaurant, with decorations as varied as the food. The atmosphere is relaxing, with soft light and close seating, but can be loud at times. The tapas are reasonably priced at about $6.00 each. For those with a favorite or a big appetite, many of the dishes are also offered in a larger portion (called a Racion).

Beyond its food, Just A Taste is also known for its selection of wines, which include selections from the Finger Lakes, other major US wine-making regions, and imports from all over the world. An additional bonus is that Just A Taste offers these wines in tasting flights that usually have a theme, such as Finger Lakes Whites or Big Reds, and are served four or five at a time in tasting-sized amounts. They also have a large selection by the glass. The wine list is comprehensive and reasonably priced.

Here's a sampling of some of the dishes...

Deep-fried russet potato wedges with chipolte aioli, $3.75. The chipolte aioli is well matched with the fried potatoes. Also, the aioli is served on the side to allow the diner to tailor the amount of spice.

Salmon baked in a chili pepper-cilantro-tomato sauce with orange sour cream, $6.25. The salmon was cooked to perfection, but the sauce masked the salmon and had a bit too much tomato for my taste.

Cassoulet of housemade sausage, white beans, housemade duck confit, garlic and herbs, $6.25. The cassoulet was wonderfully rich; it's worthy of seconds and highly recommended.

Warm spinach salad with black olive vinaigrette, feta cheese, walnuts and oven-dried tomatoes, $6.00. Good balance of flavors.

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