Northstar Public House

This was our first restaurant during a 4 night visit to Ithaca and area. I say that because we wanted to return later but unfortunately it was closed for two nights for a private event. My wife is celiac and she ordered the fish and chips with sides of mac and cheese and fries. She found the order plentiful and excellent. The fish was lightly breaded, properly cooked, and VERY tasty. The fries were excellent and the mac and cheese also tasty. It was a real treat for a celiac to be able to order delicious gluten-free fish and chips. I ordered the blackened fish and grits and it too was delicious and plentiful. Unfortunately, I gave this restaurant 4* because of the very long wait for our meals to be delivered and then for the bill to arrive later. And this despite the fact that the place was less than half full. However, the three staff were all moving very quickly and our server was quite helpful when we placed our order. So I suspect that maybe the restaurant was short-staffed that day or unable to hire sufficient staff. In any case, even with the wait we were willing to return if we could.

Love, love, love this place! Can't wait to come back when it's warmer and we can sit outside. There's lots of Gluten-free and locally sourced options. I would say the only negative was music was kind of loud for a casual dining experience, so perhaps they could turn that down so people can converse more. The other thing was the tables were a little small for all the delicious food we wanted to order lol. We had the Gluten-free Mac n cheese which had an exquisitely creamy cheese sauce with a nice sharpness to it. The Gluten-free fish was crispy and moist inside (we switched out the fries or rather "chips" to side of coconut rice) which was a nice contrast so that it wasn't a completely fried plate. Also had the locally sourced wings, which were HUGE. We recommend the Baltimore style wings.

Mac and cheese was not very tasty at all. However the fish and chips was pretty good. Service was nice and the atmosphere was very chill and relaxing.

Everything at brunch can be gluten free! Few places in town have GF pancakes or waffles, and they not only have them but they are good. The brunch menu rotates but everything we've had there for brunch and dinner has been awesome. Highly recommend if you have celiac or just want to avoid gluten and be a little gluttonous.

While visiting Ithaca for a music festival, we happened upon this place accidentally while looking for parking. We decided to get brunch here the next morning! It has a cozy local vibe, mixed with a contemporary and rustic touches. The food was outstanding and they serve food primarily sourced from the area. The menu was concise. Overall great find!!!!

I went to Northstar with a group of friends, and we adored the outdoor seating. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere with signs making operation smooth. We had waited over an hour to get our food, which was probably the only bad thing about this place. When we did get the food, it looked delicious and tasted scrumptious. Would go again.

In town for work and looking for a local place. Food was very good, some of the best fish and chips I’ve ever had! All the staff was very courteous and polite. Will definitely check them out again if I find myself back up here.

Food is decent-ish. The fish and chips were good but both our burgers came with cold patties and burnt buns. Also one of the burgers got served with the wrong side. The food itself took a long time to be served and we were already hungry/annoyed to do anything about it. Perhaps just an off day. One positive is that they were very kind to the pets.

Friendly bartender, tasty cosmo, yummy pizza made vegan. I suppose the service was a little on the slow side, but our server was congenial and the food was good! Many vegetarian options & a few vegan and/or able to be vegan-ized. Everyone in our party was pleased with our cocktails (though on the pricey side to be sure). Magical looking outside area with lights strung in the trees -- too bad it was raining. Walls are colorful. Funky artwork. Lovely glass mosaic table. I'd come back again and maybe try the vegan burger!

The food was edible, but for the price, it should have been more. The restaurant was busy so we decided to order takeout and sit at the backyard area. It still took 45 minutes to get food. My two dining companions and I all ordered burgers; they both got fries and I got coleslaw as a side. The companions ordered their burgers medium and mine was supposed to be medium well but all came out well done. They were very dry and bland. There was nowhere near enough aioli sauce to help with the dry meat patties or the lack of flavor. The gluten free bun was not the worst I've ever had but it was barely mediocre. The fries were decent. The coleslaw was the best part of the meal. I've had better burgers at Shake Shack and Five Guys. I would go back if someone else was paying, but I have no desire to go back otherwise.

The food was not good save for the burger patty. Fish and chips had a hard layer under the pale soft breading. The fish inside was watery. One of our party never got her side salad and the server didn't bring the ketchup we asked for. The restaurant wasn't very busy but the order still took a long time to show up. Also no excuse for the absent server. We've been coming here for years and are very disappointed at what it's become.

food was good until I found a fly baked into my macaroni and cheese... we also saw a roach running across the floor.

Horrible service. Food came before drinks. Fried fish had no taste and was expensive.

Great food! I had an arugula salad with salmon and it hit the spot. Accommodating of gluten-free (celiac) and dairy-free dietary restrictions - items on the menu were labeled gluten-free or vegan.

Food was great. NA cocktails and lemonades were really nice. Service was a bit slow -- it took a long time to take our order and then for food to come -- otherwise good. Pretty quiet and casual. Nice location to stop in after visiting Ithaca falls.

Northstar is a fav for locals and a hidden gem. Their food and drinks are incredible, they use a ton of local ingredients, and their fryer is completely gluten free--we love having a go-to spot for fish and chips and wings that are crispy, delicious, and safe for celiacs. We come here all the time with our toddler, and though it's not a kid-focused restaurant, you can totally bring your babies here. Servers are very kind and welcoming. They just got a new chef as of a few weeks ago, so go and try their food! I hope they bring back the beergarden this summer (it has the best vibes). Even without the beergarden/backyard, they have a really nice patio.

I enjoy eating here. When my family from Canada comes to visit we sometimes go to Northstar. The last time we were there they served this white chocolate cake that left us wanting more...unfortunately that was the last piece. The food is pretty good, as was the service, very nice folks, so I'd recommend this place if you want a pleasant dining experience.

Friends in visiting from out of state. We thought that Northstar would be a great place to take them for local food. We talked up the Mac and Cheese. We hadn't been at this Restaurant since before Covid and remember it was amazing. So disappointing. No flavor and cheese was watery. It tasted like it was out of a box. The rest of meal was Ok not great. We discussed this with the waitress and they didn't charge us for dessert and one serving of Mac and cheese. We would happily pay full price for a good meal. Also Fix the wobbly tables! Come on guys. Don't just put pieces of wood under them.

I had the Northstar Plate with sausage, potatoes, and French toast. The portion size was kind of big. I really liked the potatoes, which were not overly oily or salty. However, the sausages were too stiff (not sure if this is the right word). Because the sausage skin was really thick, it was difficult to cut the sausages and hard to chew. Other than that, everything else was on point. French toast was larger than I expected and it's not overly sweet, which is great. My friend had a beet salad, and we really liked the beets, which tasted fresh and sweet in a natural way!

Don't let the nondescript exterior and goofy side entrance fool you, the North Star restaurant serves fine microbrews and excellent creative (often veggie) cuisine. Not a college crowd here, the place is just a little too spendy for the children, it's a fine choice for adult dinner & conversation. About 8 beers on tap for about $7 a pint, a mix of local NY brews and imports from California and elsewhere. Full bar too, the house margarita for $8 is a solid choice. Avoid the fry basket appy for $7. The local potatoes are fried perfectly crisp, generously salted and accompanied by 3 dipping sauces with garlic, chipotle, and basil respectively. Utterly irresistible and they will totally spoil your appetite. Don't say I didn't warn you! A daily mussel special was awesome, rich wine broth and some nice bits of fennel, accompanied by toasted bread, $12. I had to get a spoon to finish every drop. We split a regular roast pork entree, accompanied by rice and a gently spicy curry squash sauce, so yummy, fairly priced at $19. Alas no room for dessert. The food definitely took a little while to come out but we were deep in conversation so I didn't really care. If you're in a hurry this might not be your place. Vegetarian rating: 5 stars for the many choices. These are your people. Haven't tried their brunch.

One of the nicest things about this restaurant, I can recall from my time living in Ithaca, is that the staff didn't turnover as often as other restaurants, so there were always familiar faces. Their tofu wings are legendary, and there's a reason they're renowned for their Mac and cheese. The menu is very local and changes often. The locale is off the beaten path, nestled back in a more residential neighborhood. Check it out next time you're in the area.

I should have taken my own advice but I was with a group that wanted to go there. So, they added the Impossible Burger to their menu and bastardized it by putting it on brioche bun. They offered a vegan version of it which had me optimistic. I had just had one at Harvest in Philadelphia and Harvest even asked what temp I wanted it cooked! Here's the unimpressed Northstar version which they obviously cooked in a fryer because they don't know how to prepare food correctly! My wife also should have recalled her previous posts because she ordered a $14 salad that only filled half the bowl! Service was unimpressive as I wasn't even offered a second drink which may have helped my attitude toward this restaurant.

This was my first time dining at Northstar since the Pandemic began. Eating in the outside space there felt Covid-safe, comfortable and, well, a little joyful during these strange times. Families, neighbors and others contributed to the cheerful atmosphere on a late-summer evening. The garlic burger was terrific (yay, Autumn Harvest beef!) and my friend's gluten free fish and chips got a rave review. We split a g/f ice cream sandwich that was big enough for two and tasted delicious. It also felt good to support a local place that clearly put effort into bringing people together while serving up quality food.

Was very disappointed with my brunch experience. The restaurant was empty and there were at least 6 waitresses. The service was dreadful and we spent about 45 minutes of our entire meal excessively waiting for a server, whether that be to take our order, bring us the bill, or return the credit card. When we were served we were served by 4 different people all of which offered us attitude. The food was great but the service needs improvement. I would suggest elsewhere if you're on a time crunch!

Visited North Star last week while on vacation. I wanted to support a black owned business and try the food. I was not disappointed, the drinks were good and strong, the chicken wings, oh the chicken wings. They were SO GOOD. The burgers are good too. Outside seating was still in effect and the set up was lovely. Only suggestion would be some bug repellent candles or something. The mosquitoes wanted in on us, while we wanted in on the food. I will be back!

Had quite a few issues with my most recent meal at Northstar. The service here has always been spotty but now the food has gone downhill too. Was there the other night with my SO and our 2 year old. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was a large sign saying we stand with Planned Parenthood. I don't go out to an establishment because I want to hear about their politics. Next we ordered a root beer for our son. They gave him a paper straw. Based on experience we knew it wouldn't last more thank a minute so we asked for a plastic straw and the only other option was a long metal straw. This would have been fine for an adult but it was too long for a small child and it was a total pain. We had the chicken wings for an app and they were very mediocre though probably the best thing we had there. We ordered the Mac & cheese for our son and it was completely bland and he wasn't into it. My SO and I shared the fried chicken and mushroom ravioli for our entrees. Fried chicken was bland and dry and the ravioli dish just didn't work. It was in a broth and the dish lacked balance. Had 2 sides with the chicken. One was edamame which I'm not a fan of so didn't have and my SO thought they were awful. Also had the coleslaw and it was way too much carrot and that's all you could taste. Not sure how you can mess up coleslaw so bad. And for the bland, boring food the prices are very high. I've been somewhat happy with the food in the past but there was just nothing to write home about with anything we had. This is sad because this place has potential.

We went to Northstar on a Monday night for dinner. There were 6 of us and the restaurant was pretty empty. The service was dreadfully slow. We were seated for over 30 minutes before the waitress took our orders. The food was actually really great, we all really liked our dishes, but the service was terrible. I couldn't find anybody to bring us more water. I felt like I was always searching for our waitress and couldn't even find her in the restaurant. She was pretty blasé about serving us. It seemed like waitresses were hanging out in the restaurant with friends and not attending to their tables. It took us forever to get our hands on a dessert menu and then even longer to get the dessert. By the time we flagged down our waitress to bring us the bill, we'd been in the restaurant for over 2 hours. We put our credit card down, and again - she was nowhere to be found! It took another 25-30 minutes just to pay the bill and get it back. Norhstar automatically includes a 20% tip for gratuity, but the service was so terrible, we felt it was pretty unfair to be charged so much for an inattentive server. We were all pretty exhausted and upset by the time we left. We got to dinner at 7 and did not leave the restaurant until 9:30! It's a shame, because it seems like the kitchen and back of house are doing a great job, while the front of house isn't creating a great experience for diners. I hope they can get their act together!

The best gluten-free options I've had in quite a while! So many choices for me as a celiac; this place really gets gluten-free right. I had the gf chicken tenders and bbq pulled pork sandwich with gf bread and both were excellent! Will return!

Delicious but expensive and the service is hit or miss but definitely worth it for the experience!

This is easily my favorite brunch spot in Ithaca. The food speaks for itself. They offer unique dishes yet nothing completely outlandish. Salmon eggs Benedict, French toast with a blackberry syrup, Korean pancakes, etc. I've been here about 6 times and only once have they messed up my order & the service took a long time to get my food out however I forgave them because looking around me I could tell they were very busy. (These things happen at every restaurant, some of you people need to give places a second chance) In fact, I'm going there again today and I know it shall be a wonderful experience filled with good company and excellent food.

I've been there for brunch a couple of times. Brunch is only available on Saturdays and Sundays. They Draw a good crowd especially on Sunday. But not much of a wait. The wait comes when you're trying to place an order, or get a coffee refill, or get the check. You're practically have the flag down a wait person and ask them for what it is that you want. I've tried a couple things on the menu and they were quite good but pricey.

Went here for dinner and got the mac and cheese - a little lacking in flavor, not the best mac I've had Came for brunch and loved it! The service was a little slow but the atmosphere and food quality was good. Would recommend

When visiting My daughter in Ithaca we always try a new restaurant. Northstar was our worst experience thus far. We had a reservation and arrived on time. Waited over five minutes to be acknowledged at hostess stand. Menu is uninteresting . we ordered two fried chicken dinners and two Steak frites. Waitress returned to tell us they only had one fried chicken left so I ordered large ( 2 pieces) fish and chips. Biggest observation was the very small portions we all received when food arrived. Fried chicken came with three tiny pieces of dark meat, wing didn't have the drumet, breast was dry. Everyone's fries were cold and the 2 piece fish and chips had one piece. The steak frites looked like a kids meal. We are not huge eaters but the portion were so small we were very turned off. Waitress brought hot fries for table and another piece of fish when we pointed out the problems. Too many places to try . Will not return.

Lovely outdoor setting. Casual service, on point, not slow, not overwhelming. Good coffee. Better bloody Mary's. Tofu scramble huevos rancheros totally worthwhile even if a bit of a small portion. Chicken and donuts. Well, I don't eat chicken but the donuts were from heaven. I could eat a dozen. BLT with an egg, French toast and eggs with vegan sausage and rye toast. We were all very pleased and would definitely return

This place pleased a lot of different palates. There were some more eclectic, modern items, with vegetarian options. But there was also absolutely amazing mac&cheese (with the option of bacon, the good kind) and amazing burger choices. I had the garlic burger, which did not disappoint! My husband kept remarking that it had been a long time since he had ordered a burger that was actually cooked medium rare when he requested it. The fries were a hit. Great beer selection. Cute ambiance. Would definitely eat here again, if I'm in the area.

Awesome food!! The macaroni and cheese is to die for, and the tofu/vegetarian wings are also delicious. My friend got the fish and chips and said it was also good. Also there is a great beer selection. The only reason I give this 4 stars is because it can be a tad on the pricey side. However, I plan to come back multiple times before leaving Ithaca!

Atmosphere and food was great! Very COVID conscious - sat out in the grass and had a blast.

Small place with a focus on healthy fare. Having said that, we were a group of 8 (stretches the place a bit) and most people got burgers. A lot of the vegetables, wine, etc... is locally sourced - which gives a freshness and uniqueness. So, yes, there are a lot of healthy options on the menu - yet... there's also your burgers, fries, beer, etc... that you'd expect. Service was decent; food was above average; portion sizes were above average; atmosphere was more "quiet" than "raucous" - decent number of choices at a reasonable price.

I have been her multiple times and never had a bad meal. Anything you get on the menu is great. My personal favorite is the House Curry.

Seated almost immediately. Our table was wobbly and promptly fixed. Waitress took our drink orders soon after we sat down and told us the specials. Drinks arrived in no time. Food arrived quickly too. BTW the 'On the Go burger' is plenty to eat at 5oz. And served with lots of fries. The coleslaw is wonderful too. Love eating there.

Came to the north star house on a Sunday for brunch. Ordered the eggs Florentine on a cheddar biscuit and would rate it 8/10. No complaints and very yummy. My friend ordered the French toast and rated it a 4.5/10. Came soggy and fat. Extremely slow service overall.

Awesome hidden gem. Tons of veg and local options, excellent sides and entrees, and a great booze list. With six other friends, we sampled half the menu and loved it all. Ambience is very casual and basic, and doesn't reflect the food quality. GF dishes were really well done and a hit with the bread eaters, too. Definitely recommended! Top dishes: tofu curry, mac and cheese, ravioli, fries, naan pizza.

Was super excited to try this place. We went for brunch and unfortunately it was not all that people say. We ordered out food and when it came out it was cold and lacked flavor. So here we sit eating a cold flavorless $14 a Pearson breakfast and then the bill comes. They over charged us $4 for our drinks, menus said $9 and they charged $11. So I paid $60 for a cold flavorless meal that they cheated extra for.

The neighborhood is really residential, so it's great to have one of these places for the folks to enjoy a night out. Two stars for the beer selection...which included some local stuff plus Utica Club in a can (that alone is worth two stars for availability in this part of the state). The food a bit meh...I had a caesar salad that had some generic caesar dressing...added some spiedie chicken (local Binghamton twist..), but the chicken was sort of dry shoe-leathery and pretty paltry for the portion size. The staff was on the hipstery side of things with a couple with those silly pseudo lumberjack beards.,,mixed with Fitzy McBro and his ethnic prider cohort with the Guiness shirt. For drinks alone it's a nice little stop...

One of the best restaurants in Ithaca! Not quite as well-known as other restaurants simply because it is not located in the commons, but the food is amazing! The garlic/aioli burger is really great, as well as the Mac n cheese. I've also tried the pierogi appetizer which was wonderful- and great to see pierogis on a menu in ithaca! North star is especially great in the summer/warm months because there is a porch area to sit outside. I love this place, and so do all my friends and family! Highly recommend!

We went here for brunch this morning after hearing two phenomenal reviews, and were not disappointed! I ordered the North Star Plate (or something like that), which included one piece of French toast (the best French toast I've ever had), North Star potatoes, vegan sausage, & eggs. It was great! The coffee was also very good. The service wasn't as good as I've had at some other places, but the quality of the food was good. I liked that they support a lot of local Ithacan places! Will definitely come here on my next trip to Ithaca, and want to try it for a different meal besides brunch!

This place got not so great reviews, but it was recommended by coworkers. We came for Sunday brunch and there was no wait. The cheesy hash was pretty big, and the sauce is really delicious. Service was pretty good, despite the bad reviews about service. They have happy hour on Fridays, so I will have to check it out sometime!

I visited Northstar last week with a few friends. We ordered food and drinks at the bar inside and then sat outside in the beer garden. (The bar in the beer garden wasn't open. They said this was fine.) When my food came out, it was incorrect, so I went inside and let the bartender know. He then became very annoyed with me and said I ordered something else, which I definitely didn't. After that, I went back outside to wait for my food, and when he came out again, I asked if it was possible to turn out the outdoor lighting. He just said "NAH" with a pissed off/straight face and walked away. He was SO rude. Also, the food was very mediocre and not worth the money. Go somewhere else!

Delicious food, great atmosphere, and friendly servers!!! What more could you ask for. Not to mention lots of great options on the menu for those who care about where their food comes from. The service is always timely and it's awesome that they take reservations, since I know many places don't in Ithaca. It's one of my favorite places in Ithaca for dinner or brunch, or even a casual drink or snack in the courtyard during the summertime.

Brunch here was good. I had the chicken and donuts, which were good, but not amazing. The donuts were the best part - light, but with sufficient glaze to be pleasantly sweet. And the breading of the chicken was amazing. It had a great spice level and was nice and crunchy. Unfortunately, the chicken itself was a little greasy, which put me off a bit. In my party, two people got the sausage special from the menu and found it to be not exactly what they expected. It ended up being basically a sausage sandwich with a huge dollop of hollandaise sauce on top. Both of them said that the sausage was too thick for a sandwich, and they didn't like that the sandwich dripped sauce as they ate it. They said the flavors were good, but the setup of the dish just wasn't great. Everyone seemed to like the drinks they got, and the staff were really nice to us. Overall, it definitely has promise as a brunch venue. Would surely go back, and just try some different things next time.

I have only been to Northstar for Brunch...but don't let that deter you from reading further. I love this place and will go back time and time again. The first visit I ordered Fried Chicken and Donuts. Both of which were A+. The donuts were a nice alternative to waffles too! The second visit I tried the French Toast. I wasn't a fan of the "du jour topping" I think it tasted like pumpkin spice or squash? But other than that I enjoyed it. The french bread alternative was great. I was worried the toast would be a little soggy but they cooked it in such a way that it has a nice balance of crunch and softness. I've also been to their new "Casita" a few times and have always enjoyed their drinks and the appetizers that were there (although I'm not sure if the apps are made by them). This is an Ithaca fave for me so I hope they're around for a while.

We went there on a weeknight a few weeks ago. We were the only two people in the restaurant, which I though was a bit surprising considering how popular the place was during previous visits. Food was delicious! Can't remember exactly what we ordered because this was a few weeks ago. We have been to Northstar many times before and this is one of our favorite spots in Ithaca. Great atmosphere, one of the best selections of beers on tap in town, food is almost always good. I recommend the dinner menu, have not been here for brunch.

Met friends for dinner at Northstar on Saturday, April 28th. This was the second time I've been since moving from Boston to Ithaca last July. The first time was over the summer, for just drinks at the bar. First, let me say, I really want to like this place. I've heard good things about the food and the menu is somewhat electric and appealing to me. I owned restaurants several years ago and also because I am a cook, I am picky about the way my food is prepared and cooked. The food this past Saturday was good - macaroni and cheese was tasty, quinoa salad was fresh, the burger came out rare even though I ordered medium, but that's ok, it tasted fine. The food is quite good, the service is horrendous! The manager/bartender that waited on us the first time I visited several months ago was the rudest server I've ever encountered (trust me, I've met a few over the years). He was actually angry for having to wait on us. He openly discussed his distaste and dissatisfaction for "people" in front of us and was all and all just a nasty person. We were so upset, we left and went to the outside patio. I asked the outdoor bartender what was the problem with the indoor bartender and was told he is in fact the manager. Lovely! I vowed never to go back. Fast forward to Saturday evening. Work friends talked me into giving Northstar another shot. While waiting to be seated for our reservations, I ordered a glass of wine at the bar. Different bartender this time, same bad attitude. The bartender on Saturday was almost as rude as the manager. This time, I gave it right back. Our waitress at the table was surly and acted as though she was doing us a favor. I always tip big but in the case, I just left 15%. I will not give Northstar my money again. If the owners don't care who they hire and how their servers treat their patrons, they don't deserve to stay in business. Here's a tip for you guys...don't hire anymore hipsters with attitudes. You have a decent business but it won't be long before your servers ruin it. It doesn't matter how good the food is, if the service sucks, people won't come back. You can rest assured, I will spread the word.

Great concept and good food. This is a great way to see the spirit of Ithaca away from the college scene. During dinner hours, it gets very packed and usually tables take a while to turn over because it's a small kitchen so plan your time accordingly. Food is very creative, fresh and sourced local ingredients. Not overly seasoned or spicy so it's good for a sensitive palate. Overall would recommend if you plan ahead with a reservation!

Pros: Decent number of vegan options, service was good, food is locally sourced. Cons: Food was not very good and was over-priced. Also, atmosphere isn't the best. My wife and I are vegans and dined here just once. The Northstar House definitely has potential, but it needs some improvement. I had the vegan Buffalo "wings" (actually, fried tofu wedges) for an appetizer. The waitress told me that the normal dairy-based blue cheese dip would be replaced with a creamy curry sauce. The wings arrived with a very thin coating of hot sauce - much thinner than I would have liked. The scarcity of sauce made for unexciting, bland tofu. The curry sauce was not very good - and, in any case, it made for an odd and jarring combination with the Buffalo sauce. I left most of the curry sauce unfinished. A side of plain Veganaise would have been better (or, better yet, some kind of vegan version of the blue cheese dip). I had a veggie burger as my entrée. The burger patty was crumbly and dry. The French bread was really not the best choice for use as a "bun". The bread was too crusty and thick, and the bread-to-burger ratio was too high. The ketchup was served on the side, in a small metal cup. I really prefer getting a bottle of ketchup, since the small cups usually don't contain enough ketchup. I ordered a side of mixed greens sautéed with garlic. The side was unremarkable (and fairly small). The waitstaff were friendly and attentive, and were very knowledgeable about which items were vegan or could be veganized. However, the restaurant atmosphere left something to be desired. It was very dark inside. Maybe some candles on the tables would have helped. Also, the hostess wanted to seat us at a small table-for-two that was wedged between two larger tables that were already occupied by other diners. If we had sat there, we would have had very little privacy. Luckily, my wife spotted another small table near the back corner, and we were able to sit there. Our dinner-for-two came to over $60, a price that I felt was too high given the quality of the food. (For the record, my wife enjoyed her dinner more than I enjoyed mine.) I think I'm being generous with three stars, and I hope that the restaurant improves over time. I do like the fact that there are vegan options here, and that much of the food is locally sourced. Also, one more thing: In viewing the other Yelp reviews, I see that the owners/management rarely reply to any of the negative reviews. I always consider such lack of replies to be a bad sign.

Always stop here for dinner when in Ithaca. An ever-changing and always great and inventive menu, local ingredients. Friendly and efficient service, good value. Sometimes the tables feel a little close together, but it's essentially a small place. Great atmosphere.

This is an update. We used to really love Northstar House, but the brunch game has really lost its touch. For instance, we ordered the avocado toast this Sunday and my wife and I were super disappointed to find that the avocado toast was really, what appeared to be, day old guacamole on bread hidden by a heaping of greens. This actually tasted fine to her, but she found at least one jalepeño piece despite the menu not mentioning this. I think some of their fare has really decreased in quality when executed.

Always a treat. I especially love it when the weather is warm so that we can sit outside. It's a great atmosphere. After eating at Northstar, head down the street on foot to Ithaca Falls!