Fresh menu and fresh food at Lansing's Rogue's Harbor

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Close your eyes at Rogue's Harbor Inn, and you can just imagine travelers and townsfolk of an earlier era relaxing over a thick-cut steak, a steaming bowl of soup, and a tankard of ale. Open your eyes again, and a look around the dining room -- which features lots of wood and period decorations -- will reveal travelers and townsfolk relaxing over a thick-cut steak, a steaming bowl of soup, and a tankard of ale.

This 1830s landmark (just minutes from Pyramid Mall or downtown Ithaca) features a porch that's perfect for dining on a spring evening, a spacious bar that often has live music, and a comfortable restaurant that we're pleased to see is offering a refreshed menu with a blend of old favourites for regulars, with new items for those in the mood to explore.

I admit I almost always get one of the same two things when I visit Rogue's, most often the signature Chicken Riggies (chunks of chicken with pepperoni, red onion, and olives in a cream sauce, high on my "comfort food" list), but I made a point on this visit of branching out and trying some new menu items.

Owner Eileen Stout gave us some suggestions of what to try, and we were very happy with the Finger Lakes stuffed grape leaves... the sweet raisins were a nice counterpoint to the tangy leaves, and the creamy lemon yogurt sauce made the dish. But even better were the baked bleu cheese and bacon puff pastries, light and flaky and creamy.

Hot, fresh multigrain bread came out with the salads, and I was reminded how much I enjoy the ginger soy dressing... and the warm bread was just as good dipped in the dressing as spread with butter.

I chose the balsamic duck entree, simple, unadorned slices of grilled duck breast over greens with a balsamic reduction, perfect with the outstanding chunky mashed potatoes and bright green al dente broccoli. It was a true modern-age "meat and potatoes" meal. Meantime, my dining companion was delighted with her Beef & Brie, rich cheese, shrimp, and wonderfully tender filet married in a puff pastry.

None of the seafood dishes I remember enjoying when we last reviewed Rogue's Harbor are still on the menu, but they've been replaced with some tempting new ones I'm looking forward to trying, such as Scallops Solera. There's a small selection of vegetarian items, ranging from a garden burger to zucchini parmesan.

The meal wouldn't have been complete without one of the freshly made desserts, and we shared a wonderful Belgian chocolate truffle, a dense wedge of rich chocolate topped with fresh whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce... then heartily recommended it to the folks at the next table. Rogue's offers a selection of wines from the Finger Lakes and beyond, and a great lineup of beers on tap, including Wagner maple porter and Southern Tier's new seasonal, Phin & Matt.

Plan on spending 12 to 25 bucks for a meal. Rogue's Harbor is at the corner of Routes 34 and 34B in Lansing, serving dinner from 4-10pm Monday through Saturday, and 3-9pm on Sunday. The pub is open until midnight weeknights, 1am Friday and Saturday. Call 607-533-3535 or check out roguesharbor.com and tell them you heard about them here.