De Tasty Hot Pot Restaurant

First off, I will say for authenticity, the food is pretty good. I ordered the fish dry hot pot, my wife ordered a spicy beef stew. Both dishes were excellent. The food was also served fast, which was also nice. But that was about the only good thing. Food is not enough to make me want to come back. The service was non-existent. Aside from bringing us the menus and the food, they did literally nothing. When we asked for the drink menu, they pointed to a cooler near us, and said help yourself. Mind you, there are two ladies doing the ordering and bringing the food, a chef cooking ..and several grown men sitting around talking to each other or playing on their phones. Not cleaning, not organizing, not bringing the food or asking about the service. That is why the place had zero customers aside from us. When we were there, only two take out orders, and no dine-in customers. Also, rice should be a given. I should not have to order it separately or find someone and ask for it. Also, when my wife says not to make very spicy, that doesn't mean "throw as much pepper as you can on top, and dose it with a whole bottle of chili sauce". The worst service I have ever had in a restaurant, worldwide. If they can fix that, and add more lights, and add more traditional Chinese decor, they can make money. The food is excellent, just need to touch up the environment and actually have people working there. Very lazy people working there, and you can thank the four guys sitting and playing on their phones who should be working. Get off your butts and clean the place and add new lights. If you want to force a 15% tip on the bill, at least provide an actual service.

Wow I was really impressed by this place! All the dishes we ordered were delicious. I especially love the lamb dish and the pork belly dish was also good. The string beans were also really flavorful. We went during a weekday for an early dinner in the summer so there wasn’t a lot of people and the service was prompt and the food came out fast. The restaurant itself is at the bottom of some stairs so you might miss it if you’re not looking for it. The inside has lots of seating and it feels like your typical Chinese restaurant with a somewhat of a dark interior.

Detasty is a great place in collegetown, they have good chinese food but at a bit of a price. Do remember I compare these with Indonesian restaurants which have crazy low prices. Try the chilli fried pork/chicken. The food here actually has spice for spicy food lovers

Delicious and authentic Chinese food! Great portions for the price, and some of the tastiest food in Ithaca regardless of cuisine. We didn’t get the hot pot. The spicy chicken with peppers, cumin lamb, and bok choy were flavorful and came out hot and fresh.

Solid hot pot + amazing Sichuanese. De Tasty is a staple for Cornellians and Ithaca folks alike. The hot pot is comforting and consistent. The broth could be more flavorful. Garnishes (veggies, noodles, mushrooms) are a bit sparse but adequate for a small solo pot. They have a small sauce bar on the side for $2 as well. Sichuanese here is always a hit. Highly recommend the Mapo Tofu or spicy fish stew. Large family style portions that are perfect for sharing. Would recommend the entrees here over the hot pot. Prices are reasonable given the portion sizes and quality. HEADS UP: There is a 15% service charge automatically included in the check. Perfect place for large family/friend outings and cold snowy days. Will definitely be coming back 🍲🫕