Cafe DeWitt

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Cafe DeWitt Voted Best Brunch of Ithaca 2005, 2008 & 2010 - Ithaca Times; Voted Best Breakfast in Ithaca 2015 - Ithaca Journal
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Cafe DeWitt opened in 1973 as a small coffee shop for the residents of the then newly repurposed Ithaca High School building. The Cafe is the legacy of William Downing who had the vision to turn an old school building into a lively community of restaurants, stores, offices and apartments. Over the years the Cafe has expanded to offer an extensive breakfast and lunch menu featuring many locally and regionally sourced ingredients that are lovingly prepared by Chef-Owners Denise O'Leary and Benjamin Roach. We are well known for our 3-time Best of Ithaca awarded weekend brunch that is bolstered my many rotating specials. Our staff is the heart of the business, they are constantly striving to deliver a welcoming dining experience that reflects the desire that we share to cook and serve with love.

It’s October’s First Friday! (Already?!?)We’re welcoming back Immigrant Solidarity for their Busking for Justice series,...
10/01/2026

It’s October’s First Friday! (Already?!?)

We’re welcoming back Immigrant Solidarity for their Busking for Justice series, this time with live music by Six Mile Craic.

Keeping in theme, we’re making a whole Irish spread for you – shepherd’s pie, both vegetarian and with Schrader Farms Meat Market beef, plus Irish soda bread!

Come join us at the cafe from 5-7pm tomorrow, 10/2
Music starts at 5:30!

Apple fest is here and so is our new crop of cafe specials! Apple butter & roasted apples making star appearances, plus ...
09/25/2026

Apple fest is here and so is our new crop of cafe specials! Apple butter & roasted apples making star appearances, plus the very first glimpse of pumpkin spice muffins…. But don’t sleep on the drink specials this week! Local grape soda, sparkling raspberry shrub, and chai-der – so many autumnal drinks, so little time. Just kidding, you’ve got two weeks to try them all!! We love you! Happy apple fest 🍎🍏🍎

🧀 QUINN (GF) - cheddar crust quiche with roasted apples, fennel, leeks, and cheddar

🍎 SONYA - woodpepper sesame toast with ricotta, roasted apples, tahini, honey, and pistachios

🥪 OLLIE - pressed sandwich with choice of roast pork OR roasted oyster mushrooms, red cabbage slaw, cheddar, whole grain mustard, and apple butter on french bread

🍰 DESSERT SPECIALS
- Apple Butter Coffee Cake
- Strawberry & Chocolate Chunk Scone
- Pumpkin & Pepita Muffin (GF)
- Rocky Road Cookie - chocolate cookie with almonds, chocolate chips, marshmallow

🍹 DRINK SPECIALS
- Grape Jam Jelly Rock Soda 🍇
- Raspberry Shrub - tart & refreshing raspberry syrup made with apple c***r vinegar, mixed with sparkling water
- CHAI-DER - Chai-spiced Apple C***r 🍎

🫐🌽 SWEET CORN BUTTER MOCHI 🌽🫐chewiest bounciest butteriest mochi cake by Benjamin Roach made with sweet corn from Eddyda...
08/14/2026

🫐🌽 SWEET CORN BUTTER MOCHI 🌽🫐

chewiest bounciest butteriest mochi cake by Benjamin Roach made with sweet corn from Eddydale Farms and a shower of Crystal Amethyst Calabrese blueberries. naturally gluten-free!

super limited quantity, come and get it

An update on our hours of operation at the cafe! As the summer begins to wind down, we’ve made the decision to close the...
08/14/2026

An update on our hours of operation at the cafe! As the summer begins to wind down, we’ve made the decision to close the cafe on Wednesdays and Thursdays, starting August 19th. We’ll still be open 9am-2pm on all other days.

This change will allow us to make some much-needed improvements to our staffing schedule, which in turn means we can provide you all with the best cafe experience possible.

Our hope is that we’ll be able to return to 7/7 service in a few months’ time, and we’ll absolutely keep you updated! In the meantime we’ll keep making you breakfast, lunch, and brunch packed with love and locally-sourced products.

We so appreciate your support over the years! Restaurant biz can be rough and tough, but y’all make it worth it. ❤️

🌞the CURTIS chicken salad sandwich special - with carrot chutney, field greens, dijon, house mayostunning fresh red onio...
08/09/2026

🌞

the CURTIS chicken salad sandwich special - with carrot chutney, field greens, dijon, house mayo

stunning fresh red onions from Plowbreak Farm

layer cake supreme w/ olive oil cake, raspberry rhubarb jam, pistachio buttercream

Benjamin Roach + double blueberry french toast, w/ hazelnut oat crumble & fresh whip (made with Crystal Amethyst Calabrese blueberries of course!)

Paul Allen always knocking it outta the park - oysters / shiitakes / lion’s mane

layer cake 4eva

the LEO frittata special - with lion’s mane mushrooms, zucchini, fennel, apple, carm onions, Lively Run Dairy ‘Interlaken’ goat’s milk cheddar

the best to do it!! missing the days of SOLAZ at the Dewitt Park Ithaca Farmers Market but we’ll go anywhere to get our fix 🌞

Time for another FILIPINO FRIDAY!Come join us tomorrow evening for a night of beautiful music from 14Strings! and a flav...
08/06/2026

Time for another FILIPINO FRIDAY!

Come join us tomorrow evening for a night of beautiful music from 14Strings! and a flavor-packed Filipino menu from Denise O'Leary. We’ll have menu favorites like crisp lumpiang gulay and tangy-sweet chicken adobo, and new stuff too! Fresh mango sago, anyone?? Swipe for the full menu ➡️

📍Friday, AUG 7th • 5-7pm

The Dewitt Mall
215 N. Cayuga St, Ithaca NY

No reservations, walk-ins only! 🇵🇭

We’re so back – with summer produce in full force, luckily. On our menu for the next two weeks you will find a hyper-loc...
07/25/2026

We’re so back – with summer produce in full force, luckily. On our menu for the next two weeks you will find a hyper-local frittata, double blueberry french toast, a curried chicken salad sandwich, and much more. Emmy Palmer still going strong, plus a new seasonal herbal iced tea with fresh lemon balm and mint from High-Ground Gardens. And come enjoy our beautiful flower arrangements from Caitlin Mathes! Summer time for real woo yeah!

🍄‍🟫 LEO (GF) - Frittata with lion’s mane mushrooms, zucchini, fennel, apple, caramelized onions, and ‘Interlaken’ cheese (aged goat, cheddar-style)

🫐 INDIGO - French toast with fresh blueberries, blueberry coulis, whipped cream, hazelnut oat crumble

🥪 CURTIS - Curried chicken salad sandwich with carrot chutney, mixed greens, mayo, and dijon

🍳 VEGGIE HASH - Yukon gold potatoes, sweet potatoes, roast zucchini, shiitake mushrooms, and caramelized onions with two eggs & toast

🍨 DESSERT & PASTRY SPECIALS
- Currant Scone
- Chocolate Chip Muffin (GF)
- Layer Cake - olive oil cake, raspberry-rhubarb jam, pistachio buttercream

🍹 DRINK SPECIALS
- Emmy Palmer - iced hibiscus tea & limeade 🌺🍋‍🟩
- Herbal Iced Tea - Mint & Lemon Balm tea 🌿
- Salted Honey Cold Brew Latte 🍯

cafe summer 🌞1. Burger Thursday supreme - dilly pickled peppers, ‘Interlaken’ aged goat cheese from Lively Run Dairy, ho...
07/22/2026

cafe summer 🌞

1. Burger Thursday supreme - dilly pickled peppers, ‘Interlaken’ aged goat cheese from Lively Run Dairy, house mayo, Finger Lakes Local Beef beef patty, brioche bun

2. Eton Mess pavlova - meringue, fresh whip, Silver Queen Farm strawberries

3. Cole DuMond Stearns + rhubarb ginger shrub soda

4. French Toast and Potato Pile 🤝

5. Most beautiful bouquets from Caitlin Mathes

6. House jam in progress 🫐🍓

7. Denise O'Leary + gorgeous lion’s mane mushrooms from Paul Allen

8. Fresh mint summer !!! From Plowbreak Farm ofc

9. The BEAU omelette special, with curried potatoes, peas, bell peppers & coriander-mint chutney

10. Pink currants, black currants, gooseberries, oh my… at Ithaca Farmers Market

11. The TERRY french toast special with sour cherry compote, fresh whip, toasted almonds

12. Pre-bake pavs for Eton Mess - swirled with strawberry powder by Mikaela Gould’s expert hand

13. Pizza Rossa focaccia for Cafe Delite™️

14. Our rock, the blackberry soft serve from Sweet Melissa's Ice Cream & Bakery

We are OPEN normal hours Thursday 7/2 but with a few changes 🥵 We’re turning off the griddle to keep things cooler for o...
07/02/2026

We are OPEN normal hours Thursday 7/2 but with a few changes 🥵 We’re turning off the griddle to keep things cooler for our kitchen crew… however, we’ll still have plenty of eggs, breakfast sandwiches, toast & potatoes, plus non-pressed sandwiches and salads.

We’ve also got our full beverage & pastry menu available, plus some savory pastry specials – feta & dill scones, savory vegetable focaccia, and more.

Come visit us and enjoy the cool comfort that only a subterranean lagoon in a 112-year-old stone building can provide. We’ll keep the lemonade flowing.

Address

215 N Cayuga Street
Ithaca, NY
14850

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 2pm
Tuesday 9am - 2pm
Friday 9am - 2pm
Saturday 9am - 2pm
Sunday 9am - 2pm

Telephone

+16072733473

Website

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