I'm bumping this place up to a 3 star only because it's on Morikami Gardens, which is beautiful and well worth the price of admission. I could stay there for hours. The cafe itself, however, is quite skippable. Service is OK. The service was competent and food arrived in short order. Almost ... too short order. My one complaint is they brought out my food substantially ahead of my lunch partner's. Makes it awkward to start eating when someone else has nothing. I had the Teriyaki Chicken and it was, frankly, disappointing. The chicken was overdone and almost...mushy. The rice bed was nice, as were the vegetables, but what is a teriyaki dish if the meat isn't good? The lemonade was not particularly good either. Based on this, I decided to skip dessert so can't comment on the green tea ice cream. My lunch partner had a slightly better review of the Dragon Roll, but it wasn't exactly amazing either. For the price, I would expect something better. If you do go here, don't miss the chance to actually walk through the museum and the gardens. The best part of this restaurant is that it overlooks the gardens themselves. Be sure to sit outside if at all possible! read more

This place is lovely! The waitresses are super nice and polite, featuring an all Japanese or Japanese-inspired menu. I got the Crispy Chicken Bowl with a side of Miso, and my dad got 2 Spicy Tuna rolls. I absolutely loved it! The miso tasted divine, I'm not a tofu or seaweed person but the flavors blended so perfectly together. I don't even really like soy sauce either, but the chicken & vegetables with a light coating was so delicious! Rice had great texture and stuck to the chopsticks, just like it's supposed to. My dad loved his tuna rolls too, and to top it all off, you get to overlook a beautiful scenery all while you eat. Great place! :^) read more

After driving up here from South FL to visit Morikami, my boyfriend and I were both starving and in need of sustenance. Just beyond the museum entrance, the Cornell Cafe beckoned and we happily indulged prior to our visit to the gardens. I had the teriyaki grilled chicken, which came with rice and veggies. The teriyaki was sweet but not overly so, and the rice was cooked to that perfect texture. It was a decently sized portion, and just tasty and filling enough to satisfy my hunger without weighing me down for a walk through the gardens later. Prices are surprisingly reasonable for a museum cafe establishment: most entrees are under or around $10 (expect to pay more for the sushi, obviously). Service was unobtrusive, speedy, and efficient, and the staff is Japanese, lending a little bit to the credibility/authenticity factor. The view from the patio overlooking the gardens is to die for. Morikami makes you feel like you've been transported to somewhere outside Florida (if not Japan, California maybe?) and enjoying the view of the lake and gardens as you dine only adds to that experience. Definitely one of the best museum cafe experiences I've had. Bottom line: top off (or start!) a visit to Morikami with a lunch at the Cornell Cafe. It will only add to your day of Japanese immersion. read more

Location: AMAZING Food: um....okay, but not very authentic japanese flavors considering its location in a Japanese Museum and garden! We eat Japanese quite often - and the boyfriend has traveled to Japan several times - so maybe we are spoiled...but...this place is VERY underwhelming, and honestly, the flavors were more like a CHINESE restaurant. Highlights: Eggplant dish and the Green tea. We will come back to the garden - but skip the cafe. Highly recommend The Green Gourmet across the street from the gardens! Which is where we went immediately after our disappointing dining experience at Cornell Cafe read more

The most delicious sushi lunch place in the Palm Beaches and beautiful Japanese Gardens! read more

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Service is erratic, some of the vets are top form but the newbies, particularly in season can be a mixed bag. I'm a regular so I have to disqualify myself on the service as they know me. That being said, their food is excellent and the view off the patio makes a lot of bad days melt away. An oasis with great food? I'll take it. read more

Had a late lunch yesterday at Cornell Cafe with my 3 teenagers . Our order included Dragon Roll, California roll and 2 bento boxes . As a family we enjoy eating sushi and this cafe delivered satisfaction for us all 100%, including the red bean and green tea mochi ice cream balls. My only negative was the service was a little slow to respond but they were quite busy . I'd recommend it! read more

Part of the Morikami Japanese Gardens! They're only open for lunch until about 3pm on the weekdays. Bf and I went to visit the gardens for our 3-year anniversary and we decided to get lunch before we enjoy the walk around. We ordered Edamame, Crab Cake & Bang Bang Shrimp, and the Mahi Mahi with Mango Chutney. We split everything because we weren't too hungry. I loved the crab cake & shrimp. I expected the shrimp to have a kind of hit in the spices but it wasn't spicy or anything like that, it has more of a coconut-flavor than anything. The Mahi Mahi was good too. It was sauteed perfectly! I tasted the light seasoning they used so it was yummy. The mango sauce wasn't what I expected either. It didn't "wow" me but it was okay with mahi. I preferred just eating the mahi by itself with no sauce lol. I wish I tried the crispy pork entree or sauteed tilapia or one of the lunch bowls. I jus wanted to try everything lol. They also have a nice dessert menu too! Everything was okay price-wise as well. Not bad for Japanese cuisine at a Japanse landmark. We sat outside so the view was beautiful, of course :) read more

We had a lovely Valentine's Day lunch here yesterday. The line is quite long and it's first come first serve, you also have to be a member or pay admission to the gardens for restaurant access. We were seated after about 15-20 minutes in line. We both got the classic bento box lunch. They had run out of eggplant and instead of telling us just substituted it for shumai in the box. The teriyaki salmon was delicious, my favorite part of the box. The sushi was eh, shrimp and fried tofu not very good, dumplings were pretty good. We also had tried green tea and red bean mochi for dessert, those were amazing. The mochi and outside view brought this from a 3 to a 4. I am a member here, so I'm sure I will be back to try more on the menu. read more

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Love the park itself. Now with the restaurant renovation, everything are superb. Try the salmon teriyaki, it is perfect. My boss got the classic bento box which I see there are a lot of variety food in there. Service was beyond great. Overall 5 stars for sure. read more

Cornell Cafe - New renovation indoor... - Japanese Near Me - Delray Beach, Florida

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The staff is amazing. I love those ladies over there! I don't know how they make it through Morikami's larger Japanese festivals and events, but boy do they pull through in a big way. Try the Gyoza pork dumplings if you get a chance. I've had them everywhere in South Florida and no one even comes close to the ones at Cornell café. I also highly recommend their teriyaki salmon with steam vegetables. I think this is a great combination and a refreshing way to fill up after a long, tiring stroll through the Morikami gardens. From the outside you also get a great view of the gardens, so if weather permits definitely give it a try. This small little corner of the Japanese museum is a real wondrous find for me. read more

Do not come to this place. You will be charged for admission for the park even though you came to eat only. They don't advertise that you need to pay admission. So be aware. read more

I don't claim to be a Japanese cuisine expert; but this is good food. Been here twice already and both times everything I had was darn good. So far I've tried the pork, chicken and duck as well as the Bento Box. All of it was delicious with the box and the duck being my favorites so far. Desserts are another story. I have tried the mousse cake and the split cake and both were just ok. Your mileage may vary. What makes me like this restaurant so much though is the fact that not only is it a place that offers you great food at a low price (most entrees are $10 or less, desserts $5 or less), but it also offers outside seating overlooking the Japanese garden which is very nice. And when you're done stuffing yourself with the good food you get the chance to have a nice digestion-inducing walk on what is definitely a well kept park/garden. You should know, that as others have said, there is a premium to get in ($12 as of Feb 2011) since the restaurant is actually inside the Morikami's Museum grounds. In the end, this is a small restaurant with great food at a reasonable price that is made all the much better by its surroundings and ambiance. Some additional FYI: - Parking is free. If parking is full, they allow you to park on the grass. - They only open Tue - Sun from 11a to 3p. - If you plan on coming here 3-4 times in a year, membership makes sense. Members get in free and get a 10% discount at the restaurant. - The restaurant's menu can be found online here: http://www.morikami.org/clientuploads/cornell_cafe/Cornell%20Menu%20Website.pdf read more

Become a member of Morikami Gardens so you can eat at Cornell Cafe! We had a Teri chicken, bento box, special, and an azuko ice cream. Russ was a great server and got us a nice sushi for my parents! read more

My lunch of a vegetarian bento box (including vegetable dumplings, spring roll and sushi) with iced green tea was delicious. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful visit! read more

I had the opportunity to visit Morikami museum past Sunday and went to Cornell Cafe for lunch, we wanted the whole Japanese environment experience so we were really excited and hungry. The view is really pleasant and inviting, the service is attentive, friendly and fast. We order the Mahi mahi mango chutney, the dragon roll, spicy tuna roll and the salmon teriyaki. My favorite was definitely the dragon roll OMG it was so tasty, full of flavor! And the Mahi Mahi was also very tasty and good! I love everything and I will come back. read more

Sushi portions are really small and below average quality. Price not expensive but not worth what you get. Go to a sushi place for good sushi not here. Our appetizer bang bang shrimp and crab cakes came our after our sushi was already eaten. Service is similar to a cafeteria or chinese buffet. I give it two stars only because the outdoor patio and the food was still edible. Don't come hungry for sushi I was disappointed. I might even be generous with giving 2 stars read more

The first time eating at this place and let me tell you it was good. I had the teriyaki salmon served with sushi rice and steamed veggies. The taste was delicious and the service was quick and really friendly. Definitely would go back soon. read more

Cornell Cafe - Relax... - Japanese Near Me - Delray Beach, Florida

Love their food. Prices are reasonable and the view into the gardens is awesome. Come here often during cooler months to enjoy the view and have brunch. read more

Cornell Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Delray Beach, Florida

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What can I say, I'm very impressed. Hidden gem in the museum and definitely worth every penny! Prices are reasonable and service is amazing! I had the Classic Bento Box which had salmon teriyaki, chicken teriyaki with rice, red shrimp, eggplant rolls, tofu, dumplings, and some sushi pieces all for under $15.00!!! Let's not forget the iced green tea on a hot day makes all the difference! Can't wait to come back. read more

Cornell Cafe - Classic Bento Box was amazing! A little bit of everything for under $15 bucks. - Japanese Near Me - Delray Beach, Florida

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3.5 stars. A nice lunch spot in the middle of Morikami park with a beautiful view. The cafe was small, but it was inviting. The food was not bad, it had traditional sushi dishes and some kids meals. The prices were affordable considering they had no other competition in the middle of the park. I would go there again. read more

Cornell Cafe - Bento - Japanese Near Me - Delray Beach, Florida

Food is very reasonably priced for a museum cafe. I had the crispy chicken lunch special and hubby had the crispy pork (katsu). Both very tasty. read more

You can't eat here unless you pay $13 per person to get in the front door. They didn't tell us that when we called. read more

Excellent food, excellent service, excellent view. Go for the crispy pork and tender beef then end with bean moschi .... The iced green tea is also refreshing. read more

When visiting a museum, especially one like Morikami I wasn't expecting to find a great place to eat. I was surprised to see how busy the Cornell Cafe was and that their menu was reasonably priced and diverse. I was with two other people when we decided to give it a shot! We were seated quickly but keep in mind they will not seat you unless your entire party is there. We were seated outside in a corner which had a wonderful view of the gardens. We waited awhile for our server being passed by three other employees. Finally our server came and asked for our orders. He seemed a bit frazzled especially when my friend asked if he could substitute something on the menu. The answer was a stern no, which is fine but still seemed strange. Our food came quickly. The first thing that came out was their eggplant. The sauce was delicious but the eggplant itself was dramatically overcooked. We ate it anyway because of the sauce. Our food came with our server giving everyone the wrong meals. There were only three of us and none of our dishes were that similar as to get them confused. The food was good, shockingly we enjoyed all of our meals considering it's a tiny cafe. When we went to pay I asked our server if he could split the check so I could pay for my meal apart from my friends. He got upset about this and walked away. He then came back moments later to confirm my order which was a green tea and a JB roll...I was so taken aback by his attitude about something as simple as splitting a check. I totally understand he may have been having a bad day but I don't believe that warrants his response. The food was good and I would've rated the cafe higher if our customer service was better. Its a convenient spot inside the gardens with good sushi. read more

Cornell Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Delray Beach, Florida

HORRIBLE SERVICE. We went to the Morikami museum for a birthday and grabbed a birthday lunch in the cafe. Wow. Absurd disrespect. The waiters needs a serious course on how to be a waitress. Sadly because we had more than 5 people in our party we got charged 18% for service when she deserved 10!!!!! So rude when asked about the menu. Everything was no. Completely rushed us after ignoring us for 20 minutes after we sat down!!! NEVER coming back here. stay away. Save ur money!!!!! read more

I could not have asked for a better lunch experience than the one I had at the Cornell Cafe @ The Morikami. The Cornell Cafe sits overlooking the Morikami Japanese gardens. The menu is diverse and delicious. All the food is perfectly prepared and well priced. The most expensive item on the menu is the Bento Box which has a good assortment of other menu items in it. The box costs $13 dollars. Every thing else is at or under $10 dollars. If you cannot decide on what to eat or want to eat everything because it all looks delicious then order the Bento Box. The servers are awesome and attentive. I did not go without an iced green tea the entire lunch period. The portion size of food items are not huge or small but just enough to satisfy your appetite. And whats better is that you can walk off the calories after by exploring the Japanese gardens. I highly recommend a day at the Morikami with a visit to the Cornell Cafe. You will not be disappointed. Just a word of warning however, get there early because when the lunch crowd hits you'll be waiting in line for a while. read more

Best Japanese food in the area. Super friendly staff. Reasonable prices. And you couldn't ask for a lovelier venue. read more

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For a breathtaking view of a magnificent lake, and reasonable prices for good food in generous portions, come to Cornell Café. At the suggestion of our waitress, we both ordered the salmon teriyaki with stir fried vegetables. What a huge piece of salmon we both got, and while the fish seemed to me to be fried with the lightest coating of cornstarch,, the fish was cooked perfectly, moist and fresh and not overly seasoned with sauce or salt. It was probably grilled over very high heat, which accounted for the hardened glaze. It was actually one of the best salmon plates I've ever had and my friend agreed. The small side of vegetables it came with was tasty, and the rice was the slightly sticky short grain rice that you get in sushi. The whole combination was absolutely delicious and so filling we opted out of dessert. We didn't get the rude service one Yelper complained about at all; perhaps her server had a bad day. Our service here was lovely, and laid back in the way a cafe in a zen garden should be. You won't get the rushed NY deli lunch service so don't expect it or complain if you don't. Decor here is gray and neon green, an interesting modern combination that somehow works with the more traditional garden. For a better view, definitely opt for the patio. On a busy day, those tables go fast so plan your eating around the standard dining times if possible. We enjoyed the food and ambience tremendously and would definitely come back. This is definitely one of the better museum cafes around. read more

Cornell Cafe - The outdoor patio seating gives a great view of the lake - Japanese Near Me - Delray Beach, Florida

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Food was delicious and the outdoor sitting area is a very pleasant area to have a meal. The green tea is very good and refreshing and I do recommend the rice bowl with seared steak from the lunch menu. read more

Wow, the atmosphere is so relaxing, scenery beautiful, fall or winter is best for the cooler weather, but the pork Katsu has me now trying and comparing to every surrounding Japanese restaurant near me......and non compare!!! When I go back, I will order many pork Katsu to go, it's so freakn good. read more

Classic Bento Box excellent. Ask for Yao, she is awesome. Everything fresh and tasty.

If the Morikami would let us in just to eat here we'd skip the museum. Asian eggplant is fantastic!

Nice view of the entire garden but that was the only good thing. We were greeted with servers at the front table shredding ginger into a large box, not exactly a nice view. $5 for a salad that was a very small portion of lettuce and 3 cucumber slices. The shrimp and crab cake small plate was good but "small plate" is definitely what it was. Previous review someone said service is hit or miss, well they struck out. Food came before our water and server brought 3 tables food after we asked for check. Safe to say this is a One and done experience. read more

I would not even give this place a star! I took my mother there yesterday for Mother's Day. It was a limited menu! It cost 19.95 per person. No free refills. The service was awful! The food had no flavor. They also ran out of most of the food on the limited menu. It was a waste of money. read more

I've eaten here several times before, and have tried most of menu. The food is affordable, always fresh, and the quality is consistent. However, please be aware that servings are far from copious. (Fortunately though, they always seem to be enough.) read more

The vegetable sushi roll was rather tasteless, my husband said the same thing about his chicken teriyaki, the same with my daughter regarding her California roll. The miso soup was fair... The only weird thing was that the seaweed didn't taste fresh. I would skip having lunch here but definitely don't miss the gardens! read more

The Morikami is the place to go to relax, and while you are there, store in at the Cornell for an iced green tea and any of the other lite fare. read more

Vegan? Come here. Yao is the best server, but they're all good. The manager is spectacular. She always comes by and says hello if you ask. This place has treated us well. They will customize anything. read more

Food so good that even the Food Network rated it as one of the best in it's category. The view overlooking the gardens is breathtaking. The only downside to eating here is that admission has to paid in order to eat here unless one has a membership. Go for the Bento Box if its you're first time here. There is a little bit of everything to sample with enough to share with someone else. The sushi can't compare to other restaurants that special in fancy rolls but they're not bad either. There is an "air conditioned" room for those who don't want to wait for a patio seat or if the weather tolerable. Visa and Mastercard are the only credit cards accepted at the cafe. read more