Whether you’re a student or just someone living in the Cortland area, finding new places to eat out can be tedious. Here is a list of restaurants in Cortland you may not know about that are worth a try.
Yori House
While you’ll have to make the drive over to Elm Street, it’ll be well worth it when you are met with the quality and prices that Yori House has to offer. This Korean style restaurant has pickup, delivery, and dine-in options and are open Tuesday through Sunday (Hours Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday are 11am-8pm, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 11am-9pm). They have a variety of daily deals such as Taco Tuesday, Pad Thai Thursday, and my personal favorite, Fried Rice Wednesday, which is the specialty fried rice + your choice of protein for just $9. This spot is perfect for a quiet, casual sit-down meal or some affordable take-out.
Los Lagos
Down on Groton Ave, Los Lagos is the place to go if you’re looking for Mexican food in Cortland. They are open 11am-9pm every day of the week offering lunch, dinner, and dessert for dine-in or takeout. Some of their menu highlights include the Enchiladas Suizas, Tacos De Calle, and the Lagos Taco Salad. Los Lagos is also a great option for stopping by to grab a drink. The service and seating are quick, the beer menu is plentiful, and they have multiple margarita flavor offerings which never disappoint. Whether you want a sit-down dinner or a place to have a couple drinks, Los Lagos has you covered.
Rex’s Pasta
If you’re in the mood for some comforting Italian cuisine, Rex’s Pasta has just what you need. These homemade dishes are only available for 3 hours out of each day, so be sure to call ahead for reservations or to order takeout. They are open 5pm-8pm Tuesday-Saturday as well as from 11am-2pm on Fridays for lunch. And don’t be fooled by the name, Rex’s serves much more than just pasta. There is a sizeable seafood section on the menu that includes haddock, salmon, and scallops to name a few. You can also get yourself a ribeye or sirloin steak, or choose from chicken, veal, and eggplant parm options. Of course, the pasta is always reliable, and I recommend trying Rex’s Famous Hot Pasta if you’re someone who can tolerate a bit of spice.
Doug’s Fish Fry
Doug’s Fish Fry is the classic go-to spot for fried seafood in Cortland. With a friendly, family atmosphere and high-quality fish fry, Doug’s feels like you’re right where you’re supposed to be when you’re eating there. They are open every day of the week from 11am-8pm except for Sundays, which they close at 7pm. You can’t go wrong with their fish fry dinner, which comes with fish, fries, and coleslaw, or the shrimp fry dinner, which replaces the fish with fried shrimp. They also offer specials, serving fried clam strips on Tuesdays and fried calamari on Thursdays. Doug’s is definitely worth checking out for a change of speed in your eating out options.
These four restaurants are worth trying out based on my experience and have become places that I revisit time and time again. While this list isn’t ranking Cortland restaurants or meant to insinuate that these ones are the ‘best’ compared to others, it hopefully gives you a couple of extra choices to try out if you’re looking for someplace new.