The Rongo's kitchen & bar are temporarily CLOSED for renovations!

The Rongovian Embassy invites you to join us on facebook. "The Rongovian Embassy" page is oriented toward the restaurant side of things & becoming a fan will give you an inside track to weekly specials and other food related information. Joining "The Rongo" group will convey information about upcoming events in the venue. Chat, network, tell a Rongo story ... be a part of us.

During this time of rejuvenating transformation, we feel it's important that our community still has a place to dance, laugh, and drink in the wonders of the talented artists surrounding us. So, with this in mind, we're featuring a few exciting events every so often to keep us on your minds & in your hearts.
Come to these shows - talk to us - meet your neighbors - support the talent.

Here are some of the answers to most of your questions.

The Kitchen. Yes, the kitchen is going to be open. Right now the kitchen is receiving a "gynormous!" facelift including a new hood system, new sinks & plumbing, new gas lines, a new floor and all new cooking equipment. If you were in love with any of that gear ... well, sometimes that's how love goes.

The Menu. Our eyes are on delicious whole foods, homemade house soups & salads, and quality service in an atmosphere unlike any other eatery. The Rongo has always been about a whole world culture - far before that idea was the trend (it's an embassy for cryin' out loud). We'll bring that same approach to the selections coming from the kitchen. Yes, Mexican food will be an important part, but also expect the influence of Central America, Asia, India and the Middle East.

Yes, Sunday morning brunch will be returning to the Rongo. You want it, we want it ... let's have it!

The Building. Yes, the owners of the Rongo own the rest of the building as well. The same attitude of renewal continues upstairs in the apartments. Safety issues and aesthetic character have been our primary focus so far. A building-wide fire detection system has been installed, rooms have been rebuilt and pride is being restored to this lovely local landmark.

The Music. Yes, we are committed to the local music scene and all it brings to our town. This commitment includes a larger stage & sound booth to accommodate the needs of a venue like the ours. Supporting the old-time scene, the touring & local singer/songwriters, brings integrity to our room & joy to our neighbors. With our new performance space, we plan to expand this idea to include theater & children's events like story time, sing-alongs & puppet shows.

The Bar. It's true, we are not yet in possession of our liquor license. This is not the result of anyone's actions (or in-actions), but the fallout of having to bring our building up to modern safety codes. As we fulfill our legal obligations in this matter, we have been having our events catered with beer and wine by our friends at Aladdin's Natural Eatery in Ithaca's scenic Collegetown.

The Owners. Tom & Cheryl Covell are Tompkins County natives, Trumansburg & Danby respectively. We have 3 beautiful little gurlz who do, or will, attend Trumansburg Central Schools. Tom's efforts focus on the embassy building, while Cheryl's attention is directed toward her career in educational based analyses.