Big Red Barn
135 Presidents' Dr, Ithaca, NY
Crema's Take
“This beloved Ithaca institution is a sprawling, comfortable gathering spot where grad students and locals converge for legendarily cheap Friday happy hour beers and surprisingly good sandwiches, all served up in a historic barn space that doubles as an occasional dance venue. The staff's genuine warmth and the place's generous atmosphere make it ideal for long study sessions or catching up with friends, though you'll want to call ahead since their event schedule can catch visitors off guard. It's the kind of place where $1 beers and community matter more than cutting-edge coffee, making it a true neighborhood anchor rather than a specialty coffee destination.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
food is good, the place is large and comfortable. Employees are really kind!
You have to buy a $20 gift card to get a beer. Beers are only $1-2 so that means you either need to get incredibly drunk or you have to keep track of a card until the next time you frequent this poorly run establishment. Also they random kick you out for 15 min and then let you back in. So don't come here if you are working on an assignment with a deadline. Good thing they have a monopoly in the area of they would probably go out of business.
Great meeting place for grad students during their happy hour specials on Friday afternoons. Hard to beat the $1 beers and free finger food. Also, a surprisingly good dance space for the monthly salsa night and semi occasional dance party.
An amazing place for cheap beer with colleagues (usually Friday). During the school year, it also is a nice place to grab a sandwich or soup around lunchtime. The BRB also hosts a good variety of events (swing dance, trivia, and more) that are always fun.
The food is average but the building is great and has a fantastic atmosphere. Problem is that they sometimes hold events there without warning and kick you out very rudely. Has happened to me like 4 times and I've asked and they don't have a public calendar for people to see so you just gotta get kicked out and accept it..... It's really annoying.
Crema Reviews
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