Moosewood

The restaurant was a find during my impromptu visit to Ithaca. I read up on the place and saw that it was one of the pioneers in promoting vegan forward cuisine. Even though I love my meat, the menu was so interesting that I had to try it out. And I will say this place did not disappoint. The food was amazing, it was just what I expected. Vegan forward with some amazing ingredients and really tasty. What was a surprise were the amazing craft cocktails, they were banging! Shout-out to the bar folks they have created an amazing menu and the drinks are good! All in a great place to unwind with some great food and cocktails.

If you, like many vegetarians of a certain age, learned to cook from the Moosewood cookbook, you need to stop by if you are in Ithaca. The staff was pleasant, the restaurant homey, the food was decent but uninspired and something you can get at many mainstream restaurants. There were six entrées on the menu and I think I’ve seen all of them at suburban restaurants in other places.With such an amazing reputation, it would be nice if the special of the day was something that you can’t usually get everywhere else. Salmon salad? The veggie pot pie was deconstructed, with some veggies and a sauce in a bowl and a crescent of crispy puff pastry on top. The curry dish has some spice to it, and the cauliflower was delicious, but a little scant for the price.

I was glad to visit Moosewood. The lentil soup was decent, sort of made in a way to please anyone, but not to rave about. I also had the nicoise salad. That was good. Coffee here is great, too. Bathrooms were clean. So, overall, this is a great place for vegetarian, healthy meals.

Had a wonderful lunch at the Moose Wood restaurant. I was so looking forward to the experience and it didn’t disappoint. The salad and dressing were bright and crisp, the curry, a perfect blend of spice and not too hot, the soup was wonderful and the vegan chocolate cake amazing!

Even though I’m not a vegetarian, I really enjoyed my meal at Moosewood in Ithaca. The place has an inviting and sophisticated vibe. The dishes were super creative and packed with flavor. Everything felt fresh and well-thought-out, and I was honestly impressed. If you’re not a vegetarian but want to try something different, this place is definitely worth a visit.

Had a fantastic evening with my family here. We were quickly greeted by friendly people and were seated quickly. We had a reservation but showed up early and it wasn't a problem. Quickly got recommendations from our server and she had a lot of great things to say. We tried 4 different craft cocktails and they were mixed up deliciously and paired well with everything. I liked the Gibson and Paloma the best, by my Side car was fantastic too. My wife loved her Bloody Mary. For the apps we had polenta in a wonderfully delicious sauce, olives, and grilled cauliflower. The cauliflower was a wonderful treat with golden raisins for pops of sweet, and a nice crunch from pistachios! I had a salmon special which was perfectly cooked. Moist, with good flavor, but the crunchy topping really was the star of that plate. It came with some tasty Brussels sprouts seasoned with mustard and a cauliflower puree surrounding it all. The puree reminded me of an aioli; it added a richness that brought it all together. My wife had tofu in curry, I really enjoyed the rich flavor, spice, and sweet salty coconut goodness..... Of the one bite she allowed me. The kids were treated well. My son was not planning on eating, but changed his mind when the rest of us got our food. Our server and the kitchen made a plate is food appear for him like a magic trick. Their lemonade was fresh and zingy, and the cola was a high quality NY made soda. Desserts were wonderful. I was very sad that there was no sticky toffee pudding (my favorite) but our server recommended the vegan chocolate with coconut whip. OMG was that a brilliant dish. The coconut whip was something to fight over! I forgot to get a picture until my last bite. Whoops! We also had ice cream: vanilla and maple pecan...I think. I was only able to steal one bite of each. We can't wait to go back!

We tried this place based on the high ratings, but it didn’t live up to the hype. For drinks, we had the Pickle Martini and Messenger Dove — both were decent but nothing memorable. Food was hit or miss. The green pea hummus was just okay, the black bean burger had good flavor but was quite dry, and the Thai curry was a complete letdown. It was supposed to include baby corn, tofu, and carrots, but all we got was one small piece of baby corn, one piece of tofu, and the rest was just carrots. It didn’t taste remotely like Thai curry either. Service was also underwhelming. We arrived 15 minutes early for our reservation and were told the table wasn’t ready. Oddly, there were empty tables in plain sight. After waiting 20 more minutes, they finally seated us at one of the tables that had been empty the whole time. Overall, the experience didn’t justify the ratings or the hype. Wouldn’t recommend.

The food was obviously incredible, as to be expected from a household name in vegetarian cooking! We were there on a very busy Thursday night and they had our server split between too many tables - we enjoyed the leisurely meal, but the pacing could have been better. That won’t stop us from coming back every time we’re in Ithaca!

I heard about Moosewood when my SIL sent us a Moosewood postcard from Ithaca (you'll get one with your check at the end of your meal, check it out)- we got to check out the restaurant when we went to visit recently. If you're planning on going, make sure to make a reservation- when we walked in on a Friday night soon after opening, it was already pretty packed! We got lucky and got a table outside. Moosewood seems to be a vegetarian/vegan restaurant, but they did have a salmon special that evening so guess they do fish too? For Appetizers, our group of 4 shared the polenta cakes, the green pea hummus and the mushroom lentil pate. The hummus was served with crudités and some whole wheat pita- while delicious, the earthy flavors of the the whole wheat pita overpowered the green pea flavor of the hummus. My husband was raving about the polenta (it WAS really good)- crispy triangles of cornmeal goodness served in a tasty romesco sauce. For mains, my SIL and I got the lemon parmesan pasta topped with crispy leeks and breadcrumbs (one regular, one vegan)- the vegan version doesn't have the parmesan so didn't have the creaminess factor but was still delicious. SIL's partner got the Thai red curry (which I was eyeing too!)- topped with lots of vibrant veggies, it looked just as good as it tasted it seems! My husband got the black bean burger with sharp Cheddar and he happily finished off his plate. Make sure to leave room for dessert- we shared the vegan chocolate cake and seasonal panna cotta (matcha flavor)- perfect way to end a really good meal. Our server was attentive and kept checking in on us- she had a full patio but she kept it moving! Definitely recommend if you're visiting!

Came here for a Sunday date with my girlfriend. I had a cold. She was starting to get one. So basically, we were two humans in slow health decline... but Moosewood was our safe haven. We split the black bean burger and red curry -- both were great. The burger was cozy and satisfying, and the potatoes were hearty. The red curry was veggie-packed, gently spicy. The honey lemon tea was actually magical. It soothed my sore throat and my soul. This place is basically a wellness retreat disguised as a restaurant. Perfect for when you're in love and low-key falling apart. PS: We did see a centipede. Not part of the meal, thankfully. Just a little forest creature making its guest appearance. Honestly kind of on brand for the crunchy nature-core aesthetic.

The first time I came to Ithaca was specifically to eat at Moosewood!! Somehow fate brought me to live here many years later, and I have come to Moosewood on occasion over the years. What can I say? A lot of the dishes on the menu, which changes daily, you may recognize from your various cookbooks. Sometimes it seems like, "Ph, I could've, and have, made this at home..." Other times it's wonderfully comforting. The portions are never too large, but they're always just right. The cocktails and wine list are wonderful, and if you sit next to a window or on the terrace on a beautiful day, your experience can be memorable. (Of course it's overpriced!) I really like the service. You get the sense that some of these folks have been here for a while, and they know what they're doing. They don't need to try very hard, being a pilgrimage site. In some ways, that's a disadvantage.

Had the most fantastic lunch experience at Moosewood! Thank you to the staff for being so family friendly. My husband and I could enjoy the beautiful and elegant atmosphere while our kids colored with crayons presented to us when we first sat down. There is a kids menu that includes delicious sparkling lemonade. Their alcohol menu is also fantastic. The food really blew us away, everything was delicious. The sourdough bread with smoked butter, green pea hummus, black bean burger, Moroccan stew and the Thai curry. All around wonderful! So glad we stopped here in Ithaca.

I'm not vegetarian but this place was amazing! I was worried because some of the reviews are a little iffy but I loved the food and the ambiance. The Thai curry was delicious and I would get it again! My friend loved the pot pie as well! No complaints at all!

Another reviewer said it well - Moosewood feels like fancy home cooking in a lovely setting. Almost every dish had an amazing element - the pita in the hummus appetizer was pillowy but had a crispy outside, the tofu on the salad was baked perfectly, and the date chutney on the Moroccan stew was otherworldly. Other elements felt less refined, like the crudités with the hummus or the level of dressing in the salad, but overall still solid dishes. Then came the brownie.... Wow, what a brownie! Elevated flavor, fudgy yet crumbly, nice balance between sweet and salty. Just amazing - one of the best brownies I've ever had! The local vanilla ice cream was a perfect accompaniment. If you are looking for a seat on the patio, I suggest coming after 8 as many spots opened up then. If you are wondering, the patio was waterproof (it poured while we were there). Service was friendly but was a teeny bit slow because the restaurant was so busy but sped up as the evening went on. I would definitely recommend checking out this institution on your next trip to the area.

We didn't think the small plates was necessary for our table cloth napkin. We loved our wine and we ordered three times since the waiter named Jude came around three times before the menu was picked up. We did not understand why our salad was called Spring Nicoise since we asked specifically for the Summer Nicoise Salad on the Summer Menu. And the cook was sick because they call his prepared potatoes January new potatoes. they did have pink skin on them on our plates! the dressings on our greens were exceptional! Best experience ever. Funny enough the potatoes were January potatoes and the Host called herself Autumn in retaliation!!!! Love the dining salon!

Would be a five but the Moosewood salad was weak. Dressing was benign, needed salt and pepper, and there were a few pieces of browning lettuce that is off-putting. Server was very patient and helpful. She gets a 10. Entrees were creative and delicious. Veg lasagna and the Moraccan chickpea stew. We enjoyed our meal and we love our well used two cookbooks.

I try to go to Moosewood every time I visit Ithaca. Menu items have a unique way of feeling both like a home-cooked meal and fine dining. Its ingredients are always fresh and unique, packing a lot of flavor through the use of native ingredients. The ambiance is very relaxing and the service is great. As an iconic and historic vegetarian restaurant, it is worth trying at least once! Who knows, you probably wont even miss the meat.

It's hard to find a good vegan or vegetarian restaurant no matter where you live let alone one that's reasonably priced. We come to the Moosewood every time we're in Ithaca. We've been visiting Ithaca on and off for the last forty some years. Recently we went there for dinner. I don't know whether I'm getting tired or they are. The ambience seems stale and stuck in another time. The food too. The cooking is far from delicate. It's vegetables that fill your bellies not tickle your senses. My Moroccan stew was definitely a stew but Moroccan? Meh. It's not just what and how many spices and herbs you use it's when and how long they get to play together. The sweet pea hummus and pita were adequate and acceptable. My wife's pot pie had vegetables and mushrooms that were entirely too big. After a couple of forks full the chunks of carrots and the monstrous mushrooms were all gone and she was eating the rest with a spoon. Our server was personable and helpful. Please reengineer the food or be a lot more careful. Oh, the couscous was steamed perfectly, if I recall. Dinner was a little overpriced, all things considered.

Primarily vegetarian restaurant with some fish. Good food with a seasonal-ish menu. An Ithaca staple restaurant. A bit evolved from the small 1970/1980s veggie diner which featured changing, daily menus (hence the renowned Katzen cookbook) and communal tables. Now has large indoor and outdoor spaces in pleasant environent. Also included is a bar, expresso and smoothies.

I love this place! The past few times I've been in Ithaca, my family and I have always been sure to come here. The setting and ambiance of the restaurant is relaxing and cozy. The food sometimes takes a little time, but it's not too long of a wait. Waiters are always kind and helpful. The Moosewood store is also a nice part of the restaurant to look around while you're waiting for your food. The food here is proof that vegetarian meals can be of quality, delicious, and filling! Dishes that have stood out to me are the beet humus, zucchini bisque, and vegetable lasagna. The beet humus is so tasty and unique. The pita triangles it comes with is also very good as well. The vegetable lasagna is delicious! It is a generous and filling portion of pasta, cheese, and veggies. The ricotta in it is the best I've had. I would recommend getting a side of bread with it, to dip in the tomato sauce and ricotta. The only complaint I would have is the Thai Curry dish. I would have liked it to be more filling and there could have been more rice, but otherwise it was still tasty.

People all over the world have heard of Moosewood. And they travel all the way to Ithaca to try it. The restaurant brought the idea of fresh and healthy vegetarian meals to households everywhere. In the 1970s and 80s I was raised on recipes from the iconic book. (It's similar to Alice Waters' fresh-food movement of the late twentieth century.) The restaurant was owned for decades by the staff who ran it, but has recently changed its structure and is now run by one former owner, I'm told. I worked here during college and ate my way through every item on the menu multiple times over. The food is delicious, and there is now a bar section as well as an outdoor patio. The juice bar has been moved or removed. Definitely make reservations if you can. The five of us loved our meals, even though not all were vegetarians.

Moosewood Cafe is one of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in the country and with the quality of the food, it's not hard to see why. Known for their cookbooks as much as the restaurant, the "farm to table" menu sources from local dairies and farms for simple but tasty fare. We made a lunch reservation in the sunny dining room on a Saturday afternoon. We split a cheese board and a salad, while each of us got a soup (vegan split lea and creamy red pepper bisque). The split pea was a little heavy on cumin but tasty, while the bisque had a deep, rich flavour. The salad was bright and colorful: mixed greens, shaved beets, red onion, carrots, and pumpkin seeds in a lemon tahini dressing. The star of the meal was the cheese board: crackers, almonds, honey, and pickled vegetables with three cheeses: a camembert, a smoked gouda, and a truffle ewe cheese. The camembert was the best of the three, creamy and just enough of a mushroom funk, though the subtle smokiness of the gouda and the subtle tang of the ewe cheese were great as well

The waiter forgot my beer and ordered the wrong entree for me. As I watched my wife eat her entree he did eventually bring my beer, which he comped. The strozzapreti pasta when it finally came, was a soupy "Mac and Cheese" with some crispy leeks on top. The pasta was very soft and over cooked. Not good. And a poor value at $27.

After struggling a bit to find vegan food in Ithaca that wasn't deep fried or overly salty, we were thrilled and grateful to find Moosewood Restaurant. They are not fully vegan but the majority of the menu is vegan or vegan-possible (and clearly labeled). We loved the macrobiotic/whole foods/plant-based approach glorifying local seasonal vegetables and legumes. We loved the green pea hummus (served with whole wheat pita!) and the mushroom lentil pate. The Moosewood salad with the addition of baked tofu was one of the highlights of the meal. The black bean burger with its housemade patty was delicious. It's served on a "vegan brioche bun" with Chao vegan cheddar and accompanied by delicious rosemary roasted potatoes and excellent housemade ketchup. We also loved the Moroccan chickpea stew which had such a diversity of different vegetables in it that I could hardly find any repeats. For dessert, they unfortunately had run out of the vegan apple crumble. We were also disappointed that they didn't offer a nonalcoholic kombucha option, especially with so many great local ones in the region (Redbyrd, Katboocha). The service was really excellent and accommodating throughout our meal and also when we asked to change the time of our reservation after arriving early. One of the other highlights of our visit was browsing the shop, which is full of their cookbooks as well as fun handmade items like wooden cutting boards and cloth napkins. Moosewood Restaurant is really a destination that shouldn't be missed if you're in Ithaca or anywhere nearby.

Moosewood is still a great restaurant. Healthy food in a clean, simple environment. Vegetarian food is not just rabbit food and Moosewood has cookbooks for sale so you can duplicate your meals at home. This restaurant is a long time resident of Ithaca.

The food sometimes takes a while to come out and for larger parties, the orders can potentially be slightly wrong if you make modifications. As for the food, it is a unique cuisine and flavors are great. The ambiance inside also caters to a unique experience, one that someone will remember. The desserts were quite average.

Warm , inviting atmosphere...excellent service....excellent food...I don't think you can go wrong at this place...the staff care about your food and your experience. Beautiful, excellent job. Thank you. See you next time around.

Moosewood is a classic Ithaca dining experience for health conscious and vegetarians. I've been going there for many years and have always left satisfied. The interior feels cozy and warm. The staff has always been amazing and the food... the best in Ithaca. You can buy one of their cookbooks on the gift shop area along with other local gifts and food items.

I have been a patron of Moosewood since it's inception in 1973. I have seen the menu and quality of the food and service go through many ups and downs. I am happy to report that my latest experience was excellent: both service and food. The food had taken a steep downturn in recent years, to the point where I was reluctant to go there on my annual visit to Ithaca. But much to my surprise the new owners/chef brought flavor and creativity back to this iconic restaurant. And even nice presentation (which it was never noted for). Kudos to the new owners for giving us a high quality veg restaurant once again and living up to it's name!

I was vegetarian/pescatarian for many years so I'm very open to trying new vegetarian/vegan places because I believe you don't need meat to have a good meal. I was excited to see there was a well-reviewed vegetarian place near where we were staying so I had high hopes. We started to drink with ginger beer and an immunity booster. For entrees we ordered the Moroccan chickpea stew and strozzapreti al tartufo nero (truffle pasta). Both were just okay. The chickpea stew could've used more seasoning but I liked the variety of ingredients used, felt very healthy. The truffle pasta was better I like the type of pasta used it was unique but I don't think it was anything too different than what you would find at a standard Italian restaurant. The interior is cute and aesthetic it would be a great date spot for people with dietary restrictions or prefer healthier meals. I'm glad I tried but I personally would not return.

Upon arrival from the outside it looked very modern and upscale. I use a walker and did not see any signs regarding handicap entry in the rear of the building around the block. That is an important thing to know considering stairs heading down are the only way into the restaurant from the main entrance. Our server was friendly I'm not sure what her name was. We were offered drinks and they came in a timely manner. We ordered the ginger tea both hot and iced some mixed drinks, and a glass of wine. All tasted delicious! We ordered bread service which was delicious! A cheese board with a nice selection of cheeses, the zucchini appetizer also very tasty and a black bean burger which tasted good. We enjoyed our meal there. Definitely worth a try if you are in Ithaca NY. Again if you are ADA the entrance is behind the building.

I usually insist on having some meat in my meals but Moosewood completely changed that for me. I love that they make vegetables the star of the meal and you don't even notice there's no meat. The standout dish for me was the summer vegetable curry. It wasn't soupy like most Asian curries but had a curry flavor on the veggies. It was so flavorful and the rice was perfectly done. The bread was also so fluffy and was a perfect side to the lentil soup. We have one of their cookbooks and look forward to trying to recreate some of the dishes at home

Really good food upon return after a few years. Sweet pea hummus was the best I've ever had. High quality ingredients with all our orders. Salad was great, as was the tomato bisque. So lovely to come back and have the same high quality food in a relaxed atmosphere with fantastic service .

I've heard about this restaurant and seen their cookbooks for years and was finally in the area so we decided to check it out. First thing to note: the lunch menu is TINY. I'm sure the dinner menu is similar, but I felt like I didn't have many options. I get that's the appeal of seasonal menus but I think having a little more variety would be great. The menu options are also quite expensive, with most reaching nearly $20. Portions aren't bad. My wife ordered the summer curry and I got a baby kale and mushroom salad. The curry was fine, if not a little mild for my taste (not in terms of spice, but overall flavor). The salad was decent but was overwhelmed with cheese (which I cannot believe I'd ever say that). I'd expect the salad to have a bit more greens than it had. The sauce on it was tasty. Service was pretty good, they weren't slammed at the time so the servers were able to get to use quickly. I think I wanted a little more out of this restaurant for the price we paid. It's a vegetarian restaurant and usually with that territory comes fairly inventive dishes but these were just middle of the road to me. I'd be interested in coming back for a different menu.

Food was incredible marinated olives and batatas are 100% worth it. Service was good and so was the environment

Disappointing! I've owned the cookbook for 30 years, love the recipes, and expected less chic and more substance. While the restaurant is cute, it's nothing special, there are many like it in most cities. Pluses: service was good and very friendly. The drinks were excellent, as was the bread, along with a tangy dipping oil. The signature Chickpea stew and Polenta cakes appetizer, also excellent. Minuses: They were out of a signature appetizer at 6 pm; the pasta with truffle oil was too heavy on the pasta, with little truffle flavor; the kids menu was unoriginal, with no veggies; and the leftovers were packaged in plastic containers. I get far better vegan food from my local health food store! All in all: meh.

Moosewood seems closer to old-time earnest vegetarianism than the exclamation point-laden, Brooklyn gochujang jackfruit version. I reckon my review is incomplete since I haven't really sought out their curries and other more international-sounding efforts. Even if "Nettle" turned out to be part of a farm name rather than an ingredient, the cheese plate is still notable, with accompaniments that include sour cherry jam. Does it make me lowbrow that I wished the salad had tomato in it? The potato-fennel soup was compelling, and a surprise showstopper was the corn on the cob. Not a typo. Partly because I'm a city dweller who relates to that speech in "The Heartbreak Kid" about getting back to the land, but also because it had sumac.

We were traveling through Ithaca so thought we try the fabled restaurant. Waiter was pleasant but stretched. I believe he had the whole first section by the bar. He kept forgetting our drinks. Food was okay but not memorable. However I was happy we got to try it out. We used the cookbooks for decades when we first were married so it was still fun!

The food here is amazing and swings between vegetarian and vegan. There might be meat options on the menu, but for once I didn't struggle to find somewhere to eat. There's indoor and outdoor seating in the DeWitt Mall, which looks like a repurposed apartment building. I got a vegetarian lasagna last time and listened to the rain pound the pavement over a glass of wine. What started as a way to hide from the weather turned into an amazing dinner. I booked reservations this time for when I'm in town for a Cornell conference. I can't wait to take myself out again.

I haven't been to a vegetarian/vegan restaurant for a long while, but my friend suggested to try this one so we went on a Sunday night. We shared the daily soup which is a curry (and carrot I think) soup - very interesting as I never thought curry can go into a soup that is directly eaten, but it actually tasted really good with loads of curry flavours but not too strong to feel irritating. The zucchini is really well paired with the tomato sauce and cheese. For the mains we got the mushrooms and truffle strozzapreti, and the green summer curry. The pasta is pretty good though not much surprise. The curry again is quite interesting and I loved how the potato, zucchini and other ingredients mix well together. A nice vegetarian place to visit!

Without reservation one of the best vegetarian meals of my life! I've always been a fan of the cookbooks and was delighted to know there was a restaurant as well. The space is very cool, really homey with lots of wood. The tables are pretty close together so it does feel a little cramped when it's busy. The food is of course fantastic, all local and really fresh. You know a lot of care goes into every dish. The service is also fantastic, the servers are really familiar with the menu even though it changes frequently, and are able to answer questions and make suggestions. It's definitely on the pricier side so it's more of a special occasion restaurant. If it's on the weekend, parking might be difficult to find, but drive around a bit and you should be able to find something on a side street. It's in a great spot right downtown.

My family really enjoyed our visit to this wonderful vegetarian restaurant. We found all the food delicious and comforting. We enjoyed the unique drinks. Excellent service. Very clean restaurant. Would definitely come again.

Went here for dinner on a Saturday around 5pm. The space has expanded extensively over the years but the quality is still very high. I started with a lintel curry soup , which was so enticing that everyone at my table decided to dip bread into. It was a subtle curry flavor, so those looking for extreme spice might be disappointed, I was not. My entree was a curried rice dish that also did not disappoint. Dessert was a chocolate cake that was delicious. The staff was friendly and courteous but maybe a bit green. Can't wait to return.

Came here on a Sunday, definitely pretty full I would recommend getting a reservation. I always love a good cocktail and By Any Other Name was super delicious. Food was yummy as well. I do wish they had more vegan options for apps, but we got the Marinated Olives and they were good enough for a before dinner snack. Unfortunately they were out of the curry when we went but thankfully there were other options that were just as good. Portions were generous, I had to take leftovers but I wasn't complaining to be able to have this pasta again another day! The decor was very chic and had great vibes. Definitely the kind of restaurant I love to visit. Highly recommend!

Food here is okay. Not as good as I would expect for somewhere so famous. Drinks are also alright. Service is great though, the waiter was very kind. Ambiance outside is too close to the street, I would prefer indoor.

Take out, first timer. We've been cooking with the Moosewood cookbooks for years so when we moved to Ithaca, this visit was towards the top of our To Eat list. Veg, Vegan and Gluten-free dining is hard to find. Finding excellence in the genre is a rare thing. One needs to be devoted to the craft and art of spinning meal designs with a robust gracefulness that other eateries can cover over with gravy and nonsense. Moosewood did not disappoint! We picked three entrees and two beverages. The Chickpea stew, a pasta dish and the stalwart Black Bean Burger. All three were creatively crafted with seasonal (and I assume local) veggies. Flavors were bright and distinct without being sharp on the palate. The burger was basic and nicely boring: it's a staple that doesn't need fanfare or hoohah. The pasta was hearty and reminiscent of macaroni and cheese of our childhood in mouthfeel and satiation. The stew was a conglomeration of middle-eastern styles that sit comfortably in the bowl and balance perfectly on the tongue. Try the ginger tea! Really special. Local root beer is now my favorite drink. We're looking forward to a Thanksgiving feast to go to cook to eat at home.

Disappointing. I have been following this restaurant for years and couldn't wait to come. Service was mediocre and they don't answer the phone. Very difficult to communicate with them. Food was ok and over priced.

Extremely limited vegetarian menu. Expensive for what you're getting. Nice but no longer the classic is apparently used to be.

Soon to be celebrating 50 years. A feat not many dining establishments can claim. I just love this place and they have perfected preparation for an amazing vegan or vegetarian meal. Even my meat loving boyfriend enjoyed his meal and said he would eat it again and again. When you get it right as they have folks will just continue to eat here again and again. Amazing is an understatement! You just keep getting it right!

Very different from my last visit 10 years ago. I recall unique ingredients and combinations. So tasty, I went back 3x in 2 days. My black bean burger was bland and lacked seasoning. The accompanying little container of ketchup was delicious. Very warm dining room on a 90 degree day with no a/c or fans. Pleasant hostess & server. Moosewood relies on its history. Time to start innovating & not rest on past reputation. Smaller plates with creative ingredients would be a start. My review won't matter to their booming business. But I'd never return.

Consistently one of the best restaurants anywhere we travel and definitely in our favorites. We love dining on their patio under the big awning. Service is great. Wonderful specials with very creative cuisine. Every time we eat here we talk about the meal for days. Dog friendly patio, as well. And they do have great options for picky kids/teens, so if you've got a less adventurous eater, don't worry.

Everything we got was amazing!! The peanut salad was so fresh and crisp and amazing. It felt so healthful and refreshing. The mushroom lentil pate was another favorite! Perfectly savory and delicious! We also ordered the garlicky greens, the tostada, and a Buffalo tempeh they had on special. We were able to order all of it vegan and gluten free. Everything was really cooked perfectly and with love and care. And service was excellent! The restaurant space is cute and has a little shop filled with a variety of beautiful things from soaps to pottery, books and more. I highly recommend coming here!

Last October a group of friends and I had an unpleasant dining experience at the Moosewood. I've had a busy fall and holiday season and as time passed, I had let it go. But I was recently reminded of it back home after dining with a large group of friends. I along with eight friends had dinner at the Moosewood on Monday , October 7, 2024. All of the hard surfaces in the restaurant make for a very loud space. We asked to have separate checks and the server was visibly distraught at the request. To appease the server, there was some back & forth among our group about how to split the bill to make it easier. The waitress appeared to be open to splitting the check evenly 4 ways. She was still not happy about it , but began taking our order, albeit with noticeable difficulty. With 9 of us, we were at a long table. She began taking drink orders and had moved to the opposite end of the table from me. The couple to my left had not heard that the check would be split evenly. When I informed them, they strongly objected and said "Absolutely not!" Upon hearing this, I jumped up and went to the far end of the table to inform the server that we would actually need separate checks. As I noted previously, it was loud -- the restaurant was nearly full. She was already visibly disturbed about something, I can only assume waiting on a table of 9 was distressing for her. I walked to the right of the server and she did not appear to notice me. In order to get her attention, I touched her on the top of her right shoulder with my left hand as I started to say "Excuse me..." She immediately and violently turned toward me, using her right hand to swat my hand and arm away. She then backed away several feet, with a disturbing expression on her face. The whole scenario appeared as if I had done something in appropriate. I had done nothing but attempt to get her attention and explain that we needed separate checks. I was shocked and uncertain of what had happened. Members of my group were also startled and confused. I said something to the effect that she was acting as if I had done something wrong or inappropriate, but had done no such thing. I turned to look at the waitress who was still backing away, as she then turned, going off to the kitchen or who knows where. I then sat next to a friend who was sitting on the long bench that runs along the wall. For about 5 minutes or more, several of us discussed what had just happened. As I headed back to my seat at the far end of the table, I crossed paths with a different waitress who was sent to serve our table. For context, the Moosewood is a quirky vegetarian restaurant in a quirky town. the first server was a petite 20 something with long ponytails, and if I remember correctly, shorts with nearly knee-high tube socks. Like those worn to gym class in the 1970 -- the ones with 2 or 3 colored stripes near the top. This new waitress was visibly quirky as well as color-coordinated. She had a green dress, kind of like food coloring green. Her dress, eyebrows and short cropped green hair all matched. Her eyebrows were manicured in a memorable way. They were wide at one end and tapered to points at the other. Kind of like the Angry Birds, but more like Uncle Leo's drawn on with a Sharpie eyebrows in that episode of Seinfeld. Some of our group at the end of the table where the incident occurred were quite disturbed by the whole incident. The incident put a damper on what was to be a fun celebration. The evening was really ruined for me. I was very offended by the first server's behavior. Her actions implied that I had acted inappropriately. Then all of us, but especially me, had to endure the Angry Bird scowl of the replacement server as she took over and served our meal. For me, that was just further insult. I can only assume the 1st mentally / emotionally fragile waitress had falsely passed along a fabrication of what she thought was my inappropriate behavior. The second server must have felt she had to supply an appropriate amount of indignation. Now for the food review. I had the lasagna, it was ok, but nothing really special. And you have to order bread, 4 of 5 slices of tiny bread for $5 dollars. Bread like you get most anywhere for free with a meal. Most of the others in the group said their food was good. No one said it was great. The overall experience at the Moosewood is a vegetarian restaurant that wants to be fine dinning with an over priced à la cart menu. But hey, you get to say you dined at the famous Moosewood.

One of Ithaca's most classic go-to spots. Vegans/vegetarians, this restaurant's especially for you! Pics are of my leftovers but the plating was also nice. The restaurant's vibe is very cozy but it can get crowded when it's busy.

The decor in this restaurant was cute and delicate with candles on the tables. I came here with 2 friends and none of us were vegetarian but the food was surprisingly very filling for all of us. I got the squash soup and the spicy coconut curry and could barely finish half of it! Unfortunately, our waitress was not the most attentive and we waited a long time for our check. In the beginning, we had also requested a larger table and the host was not very accommodating, saying that those tables were reserved were larger parties but the three of us barely had enough room on the table for our food & drinks and were essentially sitting at a table that would be suited for 2 people at other restaurants.

We had a lovely time celebrating my fiancés birthday here. The drinks and food came out quickly - I suppose because it was also Valentine's Day and we had a relatively early (5:45pm) reservation. We slowed down the dinner with a bottle of bubbly from Lakewood Vineyards, a complimentary birthday brownie (OMG you HAVE to try the brownie), and a cobbler dessert that was also tasty. Our meals - lemon risotto and lasagna - were unique, fresh, and delicious. Our drinks were equally as exciting. We cannot wait to come back! In fact... I think we may come for lunch today before we leave Ithaca :)

It has been years since we dined here. With a reservation in hand (they use Resy and they claim they will charge you if you don't cancel 24 hours in advance - also they are relentless reminding you of your reservation). We were seated promptly and our group of four ordered some bread and burrata as a starter. Both were good especially the cheese on the bread. Oh yeah we also ordered a few beers - all of which were OK. I got their jambalaya which had very good flavor though I prefer the non- vegetarian version with sausage, etc. Two got the spicy yellow curry - which was indeed spicy and good. Another ordered the spinach soup which was very good. She also got the barley and Brussel sprouts salad which she gave a thumbs up to. Prices were OK. One downside was the waiter was always trying to upsell throughout the meal. It actually was pretty annoying. Haven't seen that in a nice restaurant in years.