Written By: Reilly Coleman and Spencer Dunn

Edited By: Retna Arun

Photos By: Spencer Dunn

Tres Leches, Ithaca’s newest speakeasy, is located beneath the iconic Mexican restaurant, Dos Amigos. After opening “the first upscale fast casual Mexican restaurant” in 2015, owners Jorge Bouras and David Farahi ventured downstairs for their next project. Tres Leches, which was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was finally brought to Collegetown this fall! This modern and upscale bar adds diversity to the local nightlife scene as it transports diners away from the usual hustle and bustle of Collegetown.

Ambiance (8/10)

We arrived at Tres Leches at 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday, so we were a little on the earlier side. Initially upon entering Dos Amigos, you are welcomed with the aromas of fresh tortillas and warm spices. As we headed downstairs to Tres Leches, this ambiance completely shifted. The bar was overall dim but calming, transportive, and incomparable to other Ithaca spots. It presents a modern aesthetic with light Latin American touches on the floor tiles, candle holders, and menu. Despite its innovative decor, the layout was strange. While there were a few comfortable spots scattered around, there were multiple pillars cutting the flow through the room, making it awkward to get to and from the bar. A pillar by the corner of the bar made it feel more crowded as well as making interactions with the bartender harder.

Service (5/10)

Once we entered the bar and sat down at one of their tables, we had to go up and ask for the menu ourselves. It took even longer than expected to get our drinks after we ordered them at the bar counter, especially given how quiet it was at the time. Upon receiving the drinks, roughly twenty minutes later, the first thing we noticed was that one of the glasses was dirty. This took away from the overall presentation of the drinks, which was quite nice.

Drinks (7/10)

We sampled two drinks: Study Session and La Casa Azul.

Study Session is a house cocktail with mezcal, coffee liqueur, and campari. With the first sips, mezcal is prevalent and predominant. The drink smells like and has a lasting endnote of citrus, although the coffee is stronger on the palate – two flavors which clash in the drink, though some may prefer it. It is fairly sweet overall, almost like maple. More similar to an old-fashioned, it wasn’t particularly refreshing.

Next we tried La Casa Azul, a house cocktail with pisco, grapefruit, and creme de violette. Light, airy, and fresh, the drink tastes like it doesn’t have alcohol. It has a visually-pleasing presentation with a bright blue gradient and a layer of egg white foam on the top. The drink is grapefruit forward, although there is subtle sweetness and floral hints of lavender. Compared to Study Session, the flavors here seem to be more cohesive.

Value (6/10)

The Study Session was $13 and La Casa Azul was $17. While this might be the standard price for a drink in Manhattan, this is a step-up compared to other bars in Ithaca. The presentation is certainly better than many of the cocktails you would get at other bars, but that difference might not make up for the price point.

Overall Score (26/40)

Tres Leches is a fine stand-in for an upscale bar experience that you wouldn’t find otherwise in Ithaca and the steep prices reflect that goal. However, the dining experience falls short of what is expected of upscale bars. Tres Leches’ biggest strength is its convenient location on College Ave, although that doesn’t necessarily make up for these drawbacks.