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Hazelnut Kitchen

4.4 (246 reviews)
PriceyNew American
Updated 1 week ago

Hazelnut Kitchen Photos

Business Info

HAZELNUT KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Hazelnut Kitchen

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Reviews With Photos

Chicken liver profiterole.
M.B. K.

Another amazing meal on Thursday night with Matt as our server. Hazelnut Kitchen is truly an outstanding restaurant with an innovative chef and a welcoming vibe. We had oysters and chicken liver profiteroles for appetizers and both were outstanding. Then burgers for dinner, which were literally the best I've eaten. Eat here, you won't be disappointed.

Mollie E.

Hazelnut Kitchen is an absolute gem that turned our last-minute getaway into an unforgettable experience. From the moment our server welcomed us and personally guided us to our seats, the tone was set for an exceptional evening. Little did I know, my boyfriend had planned a surprise proposal. With Etta James' "At Last" playing in the background, he popped the question, and time stood still. The restaurant staff expressed genuine joy, and the immediate champagne celebration added an extra layer of magic to the moment. The chef specially prepared an engagement dish which was an absolute masterpiece-- hand-drawn pasta adorned with magnificent truffles. The dish truly showcased the farm-to-table commitment. Speaking to the chef personally, facilitated by our server, was a delightful touch that elevated the entire dining experience. As we reveled in the celebration of our engagement, the intimate setting of Hazelnut Kitchen provided the perfect backdrop. From the carefully arranged tables to the soft lighting, every detail contributed to the overall warmth of the restaurant. The staff's warmth and enthusiasm, from congratulations to capturing our joy in a photo, made Hazelnut Kitchen feel like a home away from home. Even without the engagement, this restaurant would have been the highlight of our culinary adventures. We're already planning to return, drawn back by the incredible food, exceptional service, and the memories of a perfect night. Hazelnut Kitchen comes highly recommended for anyone seeking a truly special dining experience.

Champagne toast for our mini-honeymoon!
Sarah H.

Had an amazing meal at Hazelnut Kitchen! The service was so friendly and they even helped us celebrate our honeymoon with a champagne toast, which was such a thoughtful gesture. I absolutely love anything farm to table, which is exactly what you get here. Everything is locally sourced and well prepared. This was the perfect meal to start our mini-honeymoon in the Finger Lakes! Absolutely worth a stop if you are in the Ithaca/Trumansburg area!

Craft beer that was very good but cannot remember the name of it. And First Aid Kit, yummy!
Amy U.

We arrived for our reservation and were seated immediately. A cozy front window table. Our server, Matt, was really attentive and was happy to answer our questions as this was our first visit to Hazelnut. The drinks.... Ohhhh so good. I ordered First Aid Kit, very good. The bread was served warm, on this blustery cold day, was perfect. The meal, ohhh the meal..... Chicken Schnitzel & Wagyu Burger...words cannot describe. The potatoes that accompanied the burger....perfection! Tender on the inside but crispy skin on the outside. The burger was rare and delicious. Chicken schnitzel.....tender, juicy, crispy, flavorful.....and throughout dinner, staff was attentive and polite. We truly enjoyed this experience and plan to definitely eat here again. Dessert: Honey Panna Cotta ~ smooth, creamy with a hint of honey.

Let the chef decide (chicken thighs)
Lisa H.

This place is just lovely and the food is delicious. I read about difficulties getting seats but i had no reservation and no trouble - was seated as soon as I walked in. It was a Thursday night around 7pm. I read abt the menu item "*let the chef decide*" and couldn't help myself. It feels wrong telling you what was in it but I appreciated having read some examples of what I was in for from previous Yelp reviews so here it goes: chicken thighs (2) on top of faro mixed with sautéed veggies, in some kind of delicious gravy and pickles on top. It was delicious! I'm really glad I ordered it. I also enjoyed the bread bc it came with whipped butter with herbs. Finally I ordered the hazelnut butter cake bc the yelpers and it didn't disappoint. I think it was a tad overpriced but seeing as its locally sourced maybe that's why. Happy to support the local business once as it was a nice experience but probably will not be back too often.

Course 1 of the 3-course pre-fixe menu: savory crepe filled with crab salad
Jen P.

Wonderful group dinner experience at Hazelnut Kitchen! This was a recommendation from a friend who used to live in Ithaca, and it was backed by a friend who is a chef/owner of a great eatery in Rochester, NY. So we made reservations for our group of 5 for 7:30 pm on a Saturday night, and then basically fasted all day so we could fully enjoy!! We arrived a couple minutes early and were immediately seated in a big booth towards the back of the restaurant. The place was totally packed, but the din was really reasonable considering 7:30 appeared to be peak dining hour. Two of our party had the 3-course pre-fixe menu for $35. This included a first plate of savory crepe filled with fresh crab salad - a generous portion for a first plate, this was easily a meal unto itself! Both eaters thought it was delicious, though the fact that it was cold was a little unexpected (but didn't really deter from the enjoyment...) That was followed by a bowl of seafood pasta in a tomato saffron sauce - house made (casarecce) pasta with calamari, scallops and shrimp, the sauce was really tasty and the dish was a generous portion. Course 3 was dessert, which was a nice slice of their hazelnut cake with salted caramel ice cream. The eaters didn't have any room left for this dessert, so our server boxed up the two portions, with ice cream separated, for us to take home. Another of our party had the steak frites. When we were seated our server let us know there were only two servings of this left, so our friend asked to have one serving reserved while the rest of us looked at the menu. When it was served, the steak was seasoned and cooked perfectly, and the fresh cut frites were really fantastic, and a generous portion. Every bite was devoured. Two others in our party had the winter vegetable pot pie, which contained a nice mix of root vegetables in a savory gravy, topped by a crust made with cheese. It was beautiful to look at, and delicious. Total comfort food. The serving was also so large that those of us that got it thought we probably should have just ordered a single serving and split it, but we each managed to stuff it in....which unfortunately meant no room for dessert.... To complement our meal, we had a bottle of red wine which was split by 3 of us: our friend who ordered the steak knows wine, so ordered for those of us drinking, and we were very happy with it. One person got a single glass of a dry white wine, and our designated driver got a non-alcoholic beverage. We felt well taken care of by our server and one other person supporting the server. We were all very impressed with the whole evening - the atmosphere, food quality, menu variety, service, and portion size/value - this is a special place that goes on our list of the best of the best in the central NY area. Definitely looking forward to going back during a future visit! Final tip: there is street parking in front of the restaurant, and just down a little and across the street is a public parking lot.

Restaurant.
Pam H.

Great food, interesting menu, and wonderful service. Thoroughly enjoyed.And great staff!

Braised Rabbit
Maurisse J.

We stayed locally for a few days mostly hiking and seeing the falls. I booked the reservation about a month in advance and really looked forward to the email based on the reviews I saw in various places. I have written a few reviews praising chefs and the meal. This review will encompass those parts, but let me start by saying that I love this restaurant. Farm to table is a common theme in big cities across the US, especially in CA, TX, and NY. Hazelnut Kitchen brings the truth to those words with the menu catered to what they're able to source, locally. And by locally, I mean across the street, down the block at the actual farms where they're getting the veggies, meat, and milk from. Many restaurants say it, but veggies don't taste the same when the farm is 6 hours away from the table it's being served from. The menu was short and sweet, which I believe more restaurants should adhere to. No foodie I have ever met respects a kitchen or chef that claims they can make 30-40 entrees + apps and sides at a high level. This kitchen (open-air) delivers food at an expert, master level that features locally sourced foods that they highlight in their menu choices. If that doesn't get you salivating then not much in a restaurant will. I had decided before going that I was going to have the "let the kitchen decide" entree. I can eat mostly everything except avocados, so after informing the wait staff (also fabulous) that caveat, I waited with anticipation for a few apps and wine. I had the apple & roasted grapes to start with and a fabulous chardonnay. My wife had the squash soup, which she loved. The granola as part of the dish was homemade and tasted like this should be boxed and served as a breakfast cereal, it was that good. The idea of roasted grapes is something that shouldn't be a surprise to me, knowing how often raisins are incorporated into meals, but somehow the roasted grapes in this dish surprised me, delighted me is probably more accurate. For the entree, the surprise was this wonderfully cooked braised rabbit with this homemade pasta and local cheese that came together in such a pleasant way. The braised rabbit was clearly cooked with a red wine that made the flavor burst and created a wonderful smell and gravy for the pasta. I can still smell it. I had the hazelnut butter cake for dessert and asked after tasting it if I can have one to go, yes for breakfast, don't judge me. Hazelnut Kitchen is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. The fact that they serve locally sourced food exclusively is like a win-win for everyone. From the nuance of the small menu to the wine selections (locally sourced) to the small and mighty wait staff this will be one of the best meals you will ever eat period, no matter the state or country you are in. I plan on coming back - braving the 6-hour drive from NYC again. But, I have no limits in cost or distance for food. You should make reservations now if you are considering this place. Cheers to everyone who created this place, it's amazing.

Strawberry mezcal cocktail

Our experience was wonderful! The menu was small but varied. Our food was all very tasty, including the unique drinks. The overall bill was surprisingly lower than we expected with the level of food we got. Service was quick and the house manager was helpful! The restaurant is fairly small but quaint. You can dress nicely but casual and feel comfortable. We would come here again!

Delicious ice cream!
Tacy C.

We celebrated our anniversary tonight with an exceptional special tasting menu that the chef prepared for us. The scallops were truly the best I ever had. Service from Sean was terrific. If you like creative food served with care, go!

House made sourdough bread with chives butter and sea salt

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3 years ago

Everything was lovely!! Service was fabulous and food was delicious!! Sat outside and enjoyed the lovely weather.

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4 years ago

Great for party of 7. Rib-eye with Rösti the best I have had. New ownership. Better dining than in Ithaca.

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3 years ago

A sweet surprise gem in a tiny town. Excellent food. Good service. Interesting cocktail menu. Better to have a reservation in busy season.

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Great place to watch sports. Excellent crab cakes and…read morejalapeño poppers. The deep fried mushrooms were just so-so. The happy IPA on tap was delicious. Order at the bar. Bus your own table. Enjoy the view of Cayuga Lake.

Hazelnut Kitchen - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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