Old World Cafe (1 W. Market St, Corning, NY) is my staple lunch spot in Corning. Located smack-dab in the middle of Market St (in Centerway Square), you really can’t miss it. On a weekday lunch hour, it is swarming with locals looking to grab a homemade sandwich and cup of soup.
The Food here is top notch. They are probably best known for their daily homemade soups. Almost always on the menu is their Stracciatella. Even though they usually have other great sounding daily soups, the Stracciatella is almost always what I end up getting. It’s an Italian egg drop soup with thin noodles, a chicken broth base, and a pile of parmesan cheese. Perfect for the winter. And a cup goes great with a sandwich. Let them know ahead of time if you’d like it to come with your sandwich. I prefer it this way because I’m a dunker. Otherwise it will probably come out beforehand.
The portions are pretty big. A bowl of soup may be enough for lunch. I usually end up getting a cup of soup and splitting a sandwich (or vise versa). They do have a soup and sandwich combo, but the sandwiches that come with it are half-sized and quite basic. Which is fine. I go that route once in while. But don’t sell yourself short, go for a one of the specialty sandwiches.
My favorite sandwhich right now is the Chicken Bruschetta – baked chicken slices, tomato herb salsa (it’s sweet, literally and figuratively), lettuce, and feta cheese dressing. All sandwiches come on your choice of 5 or so different breads. The croissant is usually what I go with, but 7-grain takes a close second. They always give you multi-colored vegetable chips. I like they that don’t just give you basic potato chips (though some are usually mixed in), because it adds color and makes them just a bit more unique.
Another favorite of mine is the South Street Sub. It’s huge. That goes for their grilled paninis as well. They are huge. Take a moment to imagine a panini…. Got it? Now double it in size. I have NEVER been able to finish one on my own.
You can’t go wrong with a Salad here. They have 4 big salads to choose from. The one in this picture is the Chef’s Salad – ham, turkey, cheddar, cucumber, tomato, olives, and a boiled egg. I mean just look at that thing. Tell me you don’t want a salad after seeing that. You can read their full menu here.
The atmosphere here is awesome; “a Victorian Ice Cream Parlor” as their menu accurately states. In fact, the ice cream bar (which is also lined with old fashioned candy) is the first thing you will see when you walk in. There are booths and tables up front, but you place lunch orders at the counter in the back. You don’t pay yet, just order and sit. They bring your food to your table. The reason they do it this way, is you just might want to purchase some ice cream or treats before your done. They also have a few other things for sale that you might not expect, like coffee beans, cook books, and firecrackers. They don’t really sell firecrackers. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention.
If your new to the area, try to beat the local crowd by arriving before 11:45 on weekdays. Also, their menu is written on the walls behind where your order, and on the side wall. This is a general frustration of mine because I hate standing in front of a cashier staring at the walls behind them while a line forms behind me. I recommend you grab a paper menu (usually found at the front counter), and give it a good look; there is a lot to choose from.
Myles Lasco
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After writing this I can’t help it; I have to get get some soup today.