North Star Dining Room - Ithaca

Say it again, these kids eat really well. Food is very impressive.

The price is reasonable while the food is high quality

Boneless wings were awesome with the rice. Vegetables were also superb :

Boneless wings were awesome with the rice. Vegetables were also superb :

Those who have experienced pre-renovation Appel may join me in commiserating the loss of a quaint and comfortable dining facility. While the food has remained almost entirely the same, the experience of dining at Appel (North Star) is nowdrastically different, and far less appealing. Appel was essential to my freshman year at Cornell. I would be up bright andearly to have my morning omelette (still available) and watch the sun rise in the quiet leisure of the dining area. Even duringmy most challenging moments in the semester, in which I would drag myself to Appel in my pajamas, I still felt like I had acomfortable place to start my day and still feel like I was home. Now, the bright white lights, walls, and floors make thelocation less inviting. I no longer feel like I could be comfortable at Appel in my pajamas, which, while silly, I consider tobe an important point to note when creating a space for students to engage with and feel at home in. And while yes, they haveadded some new amenities such as their Bowl station (think Chipotle with less), they have also drastically expanded theseating options (cramming the place to the brim) and completely removed the allergen-safe preparation area. I used tovehemently defend Appel as the best dining hall. The staff were kind, the food was good, and the place felt like home. The staffare still kind, and the food is still good, but the place no longer feels like home to me.