Loved it! Great place for vegans and even non-vegans willing to try something different. Very nice people! Will be back there. 4/20/18- Keep getting take-out here lol!!!! 10/4/19- Did they change the formulas?? I ordered sweet potato fries and buffalo cauliflower bites and both tasted completely different than I was used to previously. Not happy at all, such a disappointment after not having it for awhile. (3 stars only for this visit lol) read more

ION Restaurant, It's Only Natural, ION - Vegan Nachos - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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I have been a regular for 2 years at ion restaurant and I'm very disappointed of my last visit. Waitress Rachel L came back to my table and asked me why wasn't my tip higher, then began to badger me on how i am a regular customer and should be tipping more. Since when is it okay to bewray you're customer about tips in front of their significant others/Dates, I'm utterly embarrassed. Yes the food was good but nobody deserves to be treated like that, I will not be returning and I highly encourage you taking a look at other vegan restaurants in the area (Flora, G-Monkey, Fire & Spice) before choosing to spend you money & time here. . read more

Wow!!! This is an amazing restaurant!!! I want to eat here every day of my life. Delicious!!! Thank you Ion Restaurant for being so great!!! read more

There's a natural mystic Blowing through the air If you listen carefully now you will hear (Bob Marley) "Natural" It's Only Natural (ION) takes its eco footprint mission seriously. They recycle, they compost, they don't offer single use utensils and straws (they do use metal straws), and their furniture is made out of unwanted trees cut down by municipalities. Instead of those trees going to a landfill, or getting chopped up into firewood or mulch, they are made into unique table tops. That's pretty cool, isn't it? But ION's commitment to their eco footprint is at its finest when you look at what comes out of their kitchen. They are a 100% vegan restaurant, so even though you'll see calamari, crab cakes, chili, bacon, sausage, chicken, corned beef, and a cheeseburger on their menu, you need to know that these are some pretty amazing vegan versions of the original animal versions. Our dinner for three was mostly great - $92 for three entrees, two appetizers, a beer and a cocktail. It could have been a lot better, but I'll get to that later. The decor and atmosphere in the dining room is terrific. Lots of color, lots of very cool furniture, lots of eye catching wall art and murals. The menu is terrific as well. You see all those meat references in the dinner choices and you really wonder how the kitchen can replicate their taste and flavor -but they have some geniuses back there. Here's an example, my Bloody Mary ($10) came with a big slab that sure looked and tasted like bacon. Of course it was a vegan bacon made out of rice paper, but I'm here to tell you it was excellent in taste, texture, and appearance. Our two appetizers were Ciabatta rolls with Pepperoni Butter (!) for (2 big rolls for $6) and Crab cakes, made out of ground up Hearts of Palm, (3 pieces for $10). What a great start to our meal. Our entrees were a gigantic Cobb Salad (lettuce, carrot, quinoa, onion, tomato, that great rice paper bacon, avocado, cashew parmesan "cheese", and a ranch dressing). This was a tremendous value at ($14 because it looked like it could feed three people. Our friend ordered the Burrito Bowl (roasted sweet potatoes, black beans, cilantro lime rice, avocado, romaine, salsa, and sour cream for $14). She raved about it. I ordered the Southern Plate ($16) with Southern Fried Tofu, baked back beans, sauteed greens and a big hunk of cornbread. The tofu sure did resemble chunks of fried chicken- it was delicious. The beans and greens were a nice accompaniment as was that huge slab of cornbread. We did have some hiccups tonight, and they were kind of serious if you ask me. I can understand that restaurants run out of items, that's normal. I ordered that Bloody Mary because my first choice, a Ginger Beer was sold out. That was foreshadowing of more problems with the food availability. Three of our first choices - mac and cheese, Cajun Gumbo, and General Tso's Cauliflower were not available tonight, as was the Watermelon Tartare. I don't if the communication breakdown was between the kitchen and our server, or solely on our server, but we should have been told about the unavailable choicest at the beginning, (so we wouldn't have ordered them) only to have our server come back to say they weren't available. That happened twice. Twice, we ordered something, the order was taken, our server went back to the kitchen, and twice she had to come back to deliver the bad news. All of the unavailable items should have been mentioned together instead of piece-meal. That's definitely an improvement opportunity for the house. read more

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This is my 2nd visit. The first time I got takeout, so I didn't want to rate it based on that experience. All I remember from that visit is that the cake I had was very dry. This time I had the whole restaurant experience with another couple. I ordered the Southern platter. I really enjoyed the southern fried tofu, but the greens were very salty to the point where I didn't eat them. The black beans were dry and lacked seasoning. My friend got the Cajun chili which was also very salty. The best thing about our meal was the lemon rosemary French fries and cornbread. To be honest, I was disappointed. read more

ION Restaurant, It's Only Natural, ION - Soul food platter - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

We enjoyed a family night out dining with some great service everything we ordered was delicious the drinks was incredible can't wait for another night out at ion read more

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Finally got to check out Ion. While I am not a vegan or vegetarian I was curious to try the food. The restaurants is medium sized with individual and community seating. The decor and atmosphere I would describe as quaint, dark, and cosmic; a very nice vibe. The service was excellent! The host and waitress were friendly, attentive, and welcoming. We sat a community style booth and looked over the menu. Everything on the menu is plant based. Their menu changes based on the available ingredients. I ordered a kale salad and cheeseburger. The kale salad has massaged kale with olive oil topped with quinoa, beets, carrots, lemon. Tahini, red onion, and sunflower seeds. It tasted fresh and flavorful. I was on the fence about the cheeseburger, but very happy I got it. It was really, really good. It was hot and cheese oozed from the sides. The patty was made from beets and mushrooms topped with romaine, tomato, onion, pickle, cheddar maple aioli sanwhiched between a whole wheat roll and served with a side of the largest sweet potatoes fries I ever seen. I definitely recommend stopping in. Note: Metered street parking is available. read more

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My first time being here and I Loved it! The restaurant is very cute and well decorated inside. Such a vibe in there, you feel So Comfortable eating in. A lot of people coming in to eat and also ordering to take out! Plants everywhere, and artwork as well. The food was very good. Had a few options for GF too. Menu isn't huge. They have a couple salad choices, sandwiches , apps and entrees. We just wanted to try everything! We started off with Basil Berry Mocktail( non alcoholic) . It was kombucha infused with Basil. Very refreshing! For apps we ordered the cornbread snd Tempura Cauliflower. That was very tasty! The cornbread pieces were huge and fit it to be GF the texture was perfect and moist. For our main meals We ordered the white clam Pasta and Trumpet Mushroom Scallops. I couldt try the pasta but my friend loved it!! The waiter suggested to Order it with kale and Bacon. It did look appetizing! My dish was just as good. It depends what your in the mood for ! My dish, the mushroom Scallops was just enough amount. I got full pretty fast. It came with Zuchinni, mushrooms with a sauce I tasted like wine and carrot purée. But .. we weren't done yet ordering.. had to get the PB cheesecake, haha! It was a huge piece and we shared it. For the PB lovers, this one is for you. Service was Phenomenal! Always checking in, great recommendations/ suggestions when we asked . I will come back! I really enjoyed it! read more

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I hadn't been here in years, but I decided to meet a friend for lunch since there was outdoor seating here. The person who greeted me and led me to a table was very friendly and pleasant. As they lead me to my table outdoors, I noticed that it was busy inside but looked the same as it always had, so I didn't feel too out of sorts. Despite the fact that it was busy, the servers were attentive and kept coming back to ask if we needed anything or keep us updated on the status of our entrees. I ordered the sweet potato fries for us to share and they were as delicious as they always were. The two different sauces were a nice touch and the portion size was so big that we both had some to take home. I also ordered the burrito bowl, which was also very tasty and allowed me to pack some as leftovers. The service was great and unlike the "old" days, there was an incredible amount of gluten free options! The only thing that hadn't really changed since last time was that it's on the pricey side. I understand that it's because of all the fresh ingredients, etc, but that does keep me from going more often. BUT I will definitely be back at some point to try that gf mac & cheese! Overall I was pleasantly surprised and the food was delicious. :) read more

Amazing food! I was completely blown away! I ordered a bunch of items to sample the menu and was not disappointed. Everything was incredible. Even if you aren't vegan, I highly recommend this! Definitely make a reservation though since it was packed when I went! I can't wait to come back and try more things! I got the lobster bisque, the Buffalo cauliflower, the linguini with clams, and the crab cakes. Everything was fresh and the presentation was astounding. read more

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ION's food is always delicious and staff very friendly! The atmosphere is so warm and cozy with a unique space. The food can take a little longer at times than expected but always worth the wait. ION was one of my first vegan experiences when I first made the change and will forever be a staple. read more

ION Restaurant, It's Only Natural, ION - NACHO'S - black beans, cheese sauce, salsa, sour cream, scallion and the option to add avocado - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Food was exceptional, service was amazing and Ambiance was fantastic. We came for my birthday! I'll be back! I had the Southern plate, and my husband had the veggie burger. soooo delicious read more

I have always heard great things about this place and was looking forward to dining here. That chance came a few weeks ago when my boyfriend and I met up with his parents for dinner. And it was amazing! I ordered the General Tso's cauliflower and my boyfriend had the special for that evening. When my dish arrived I could smell the love that was put into making it. I took one bite and I was sold. The cauliflower were crispy and the sauce was so flavorful. I have always been a bit skeptical of vegan cuisine but you cannot go wrong here. The menus is unique, staff is friendly and the ambiance is so cool and chill. We all enjoyed are meals and will definitely be returning! read more

"Hey, do you think this place is hipster?" I then proceed to point to the wall with shirts hanging on them that were for sale, each with a different message or image pretty much saying "meat was murder," lit by hanging globe lights before our bartender came around pointing at unlabeled bottles of whiskey made to look like moonshine. Instead we got craft beer and a tropical cocktail, just in case you were curious. To state that this restaurant tailors to the "hip" crowd is an understatement, but I have to give credit to ION. It does it well, often times bordering on being a parody of what to expect in a millennial dining experience without pushing the envelope too far into the point of pretentious. Decor aside, it can be hard not to fall for ION's mellow charm. Other than being what many consider being the top vegan menu in the Southern half of Connecticut, ION's menu the night we arrived had some very obvious Southern and Cajun influences. The first dish we ordered was the gumbo plate that I felt had too much rice considering it came with a side cornbread. Although the idea of having too many carbs seems unimaginable to many, this would have been the dish that I would use to show how one could fall asleep instantly after a carbo-load. The gumbo itself was delicious and on par with several homemade recipes I have had in parts of Louisiana. We also tried the "Southern Plate" which was a mix of tofu fried like shrimp, a kale salad, and another slice of cornbread. The fried "shrimp" is a work of art as the texture of each piece was terrific and finishing the pile did not leave me feeling like I inhaled a vat of cooking oil. In this dish's case, the cornbread again will be the target of my critique as I found it a bit too dry considering the side of fried tofu would also eventually leaving my mouth lacking in saliva. Adding vegan butter or maple syrup on the side as an option would be an easy fix, and hopefully not insult the chef's vision of a traditional Southern dish. Overall with two plates and two drinks + tip the meal came out to about $60, although without drinks it would probably come closer to mid-$40's (the cocktail ended up being a bit pricey). read more

ION Restaurant, It's Only Natural, ION - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Out of towner review: incrEDIBLE vegetarian / gluten free restaurant. Our server (Eric) was such a sweetheart. The ambiance is so bright and clean. Pleaaaaase, try the sweet potato fries. They have set the bar so high for all other sweet potato fries and I don't think I'll ever forget them!! read more

I went here for the first time a few days ago and fell in love with the food. Everything was so delicious. The staff was very friendly. I loved all the plants it really added a homey esthetic. read more

10/10 recommend! And I'm not even in the slightest bit vegan. I usually eat way too much cheese and meat in life and one day decided to try somewhere new in Middletown and came into ION. Best thing ever. The ambiance is lovely very comfortable with the red couches, wood slab tables and various plant life. The staff are all super friendly, always smiling and the restaurant has a calm vibe even when packed. I got their kale salad and added the faux crab cake. This crab cake is made with artichoke and is surprisingly creamy. I'm addicted to it now. The tahini salad dressing was creamy also and very refreshing. After the meal I felt satisfied and comfortably full not stuffed. I also got their carrot juice press and it was a good hangover elixir for me lol I'm so excited to finally have given this place a try as it's one of my new favorites in town. I've never had vegan food that tasted so good! read more

ION Restaurant, It's Only Natural, ION - Kale salad with added "crab cake" - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Food price/quality (value) rating 8.5. This is a vegan restaurant (the menu is online only) that has some awesomely creative choices, including several extraordinary and creative specials. The atmosphere is eclectic and inclusive. A full bar with some well chosen beers, but limited wine and liquor choices. An outdoor sidewalk seating area gives you a pleasant view of Main Street in Middletown, which is one of the nicest Main Streets in Connecticut. I came here just to spend an hour while waiting to go to a party down the road, but will definitely be back soon. Service kind of fell apart at the end, but that can happen anywhere. read more

This is probably the best vegan restaurant in the entire state of CT, or all of New England for that matter. Everything they server is delicious, and you won't notice you're eating vegan, other than the fact you'll feel better after your meal. The staff has always been courteous, careful to make sure orders are severed properly, understanding people's dietary needs and wishes. The place also has a fantastic atmosphere, with very old wooden tables, and nice lighting, with plants about to add to your experience. read more

Please please please stay far far away from this place is you value your time. I am here on a Sunday for a nice brunch drove an hour away to get here. We came in and they sat us right away. They took our order within 10-15 min but it took them forever to come by. The restaurant was NOT BUSY. Then after placing our order we waited and waited. Four people had been seated between this time. Another 20 min pass they get their food and we have nothing. They ordered the same thing we did and got their food before us. I asked what happened to our food they said it was being pushed to the front makes no sense because we were there before those other people. As I am writing this we are still waiting and it's been over and hour!! So I drove an hour just to wait an hour. Then they lie to my face saying our food was pushed to the front other meanwhile other people had gotten their food again!!! This place is a F**** joke. Not worth it food isn't even that great to wait a damn hour. read more

ION Restaurant, It's Only Natural, ION - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Was a bit of a wait but it was Saturday dinner time when our group of 3 went. Everything is cooked fresh so it takes a little while but of course the food is divine!! The overall ambiance of the place is so awesome, very vegan-hipster. But everything on the menu was amazing and some of our group are transitioning to being plant based from carnivore, and he said the burger was AMAZING. 'Nuf said :) read more

ION Restaurant, It's Only Natural, ION - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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This is definitely not the Ion I remember from years ago! I don't get to Middletown often- this is my first time at Ion since Mark Shadle was the chef. I visited today and imo this is not even close to as good as it was when Mark was chef. First and foremost- why the hell did they do away with table menus? Seriously they expect you to go online to see what's on the menu? I don't bring a cell into a restaurant when I eat. The wait staff was attentive, but it was not busy in the least when I went and it took 45 minutes to get our food. I had Southern Fried Tofu. Not impressed. Tofu was dry, there was way too much of it...the sautéed Kale was good, the cornbread was good. The beans were ok. There were 2 chunks of overcooked garlic under the kale- and anyone that cooks knows what overcooked garlic tastes like- very unpalatable I didn't like the fact that Ion looked more like a bar than a restaurant now- vodka bottles all over the front counter as well as a myriad of alcohols all stacked up on shelves. I won't be back. It's a shame Ion changed from a down to Earth vegan restaurant into a yuppie/alternative restaurant. I did not like the vibe there at all. I also did not appreciate the painting of a man with some strange animal head and a fully exposed Penis in the painting. read more

This place has a really cool, chill, laid back vibe. It was warm in the restaurant which was nice. It also seemed a little smoky the entire time we were there. I had the ginger devotion drink which was strong and good. Their menus were are on printed paper colored paper. The menu didn't have too many choices but the food tasted quite fresh and light. We ordered some chocolate chip cookies which were the largest I have seen anywhere. Even those tasted light and were really good. I saw on their black board they had tarot reading. There is outdoor and indoor seating. Seating arrangements are good enough for small groups or large groups of people. Since the restaurant is in a small downtown area there is only street parking available. read more

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This is definitely a good place for vegans and non vegans. Knowledgeable staff, tasty food, drinks alcoholic and non were very good. read more

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This place is probably one of the more surprising vegan places. As a vegetarian restaurant like these are really hard to come by and are great to bring your meat eating friends to so they can learn good vegan food exists! Interesting menu and everything was great! We got nachos, the Mac and cheese, can't remember what else but didn't have one thing we didn't like. They had a cheese board special they were considering putting on the menu which i hope gets on the menu bc it sounded fire. Will come back whenever I'm in CT for a work trip from now on read more

I was absolutely amazed how good this vegan meal was!!! I came in because I was hungry and ordered the clam cakes and a Caesar salad. They were both delicious and very filling! The atmosphere was warm and welcoming even to this clearly non vegan! The waitress was very friendly and patient with me! ION will be a normal stop when I am in the Middletown area. read more

Have been wanting to try this restaurant for awhile even though I'm not vegan. The vibe inside is warm and welcoming and had so many plants! We started off with cocktails and appetizers. The corn bread is definitely a win. The desserts are possibly the best! The lemon poppyseed cupcake and the carrot cake are 10/10. Also, we had the BEST server, Stephen C. I left home with 4 propagated plants-the nicest person! Thank you for having us! read more

We found this little gem (on yelp!) and it was like an oasis in the desert. We didn't expect a nice vegan spot in the neighborhood. It's well-worth the visit! The mac and cheese was the only thing that lacked flavor. Everything else was a pure delight and beautifully executed! The menu is seasonal and they change up the offerings. The staff was friendly and helpful. The locale is beautiful and lush. We live 2 hours away but will return. read more

We recently went to Ion for lunch and we're so glad we did. The atmosphere/decor is eclectic and fun. The food is all plant-based and was delicious. We split the nachos (excellent vegan cheese sauce!) and then I had the Caesar salad with garlic tofu and my spouse had the chickpea parm sandwich (which was meatier than we were expecting--in a good way!). The staff was super nice and we are looking forward to our next visit. read more

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Service is great. Food is great! I love coming here. My husband and I go at least once a week! Check it out even if your not vegan! Very tasty! read more

What's not to love about this place? Everything is VEGAN!! The place has such a hippie vibe (plants and earthy things everywhere!) and our waitress was such a great vibe! Their kombucha is so good and their food is even better! LOVE IT HERE!! If you're looking for amazing vegan food and insta worthy aesthetic, this place is a must try! read more

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Came here as a party of six and an angel of a baby for a Saturday lunch. Our server Stephanie? was amazing! Very sweet and patient with our somewhat larger party, explaining all of the menu items. We ordered nearly all of the starters: buffalo cauliflower, seitan fingers, spicy tofu, and tempeh crab cakes. We devoured all but the crab cakes. Stephanie noticed we weren't thrilled about them and took them off without even asking. How sweet! I ordered The Reuben although I've never had an actual Reuben so I didn't really have a reference point. It's sauerkraut powered so keep those flavours and acidity in mind. I wasn't crazy about it, but the sweet potato fries it came with were perfection! The special of the day was the orange tofu with bokchoy and I sampled my friend's and it was delicious and perfect for the cold, wintry day. Another tasty surprise was the sweet potato enchilada. All of the flavors--sweet and savory--complemented each other perfectly. ION also offers wine, beer, a few cocktails and café drinks. Tried a local beer--Dudley Farm Ale and it was tasty. I was visiting from out of state, but if ever back in town I'll definitely be back! read more

Excellent food. Best I've found. Mac and cheese is spot-on. Cauliflower appetizer too. Sweet potato fries are chunks of sweet potato grilled to perfection read more

ION has some of the best Vegan options found in Connecticut. I drive 55 minutes out of my way just to eat their delicious food. I wish they opened a new spot closer to Fairfield/Bridgeport/Stratford area. read more

Looking at the pics, this definitely seemed like a place that i should try! Vegan food outside of the ordinary basic dishes. But when i actually looked closely at the menu, that's when I was somewhat disappointed. A lot of the menu dishes were created using aioli/mayo, which I don't like, or some other condiment like sour cream, ketchup, or a creamy salad dressing, none of which I eat. Location was hip and cool. It was pretty busy for a Saturday afternoon. Wasn't greeted at the door so of course I looked lost. When i was helped, it wasn't the warmest greeting, but the server made up for that! Started with a drink, whatever was 1 of their specials on the wall. It was amazing! Ordered the nachos, no sour cream. It was just the right ratio of toppings to chips. Wish there was a little more salsa since I didn't get the sour cream. I was just about full after finishing this bcuz it was a pretty big "small plate." Cajun Gumbo was my main entee. So enjoyable. Wish i had more of that cornbread, but i was so stuffed I couldn't possibly eat any more... I do want to go back to try 1 or 2 other items. I just wish a lot of the menu didn't have some type of creamy condiment. I don't like changing the menu that a chef worked hard on, but i also dislike having limited options read more

ION Restaurant, It's Only Natural, ION - Nachos, no sour cream - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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I love this place! This is a vegan, LGBT friendly restaurant with the most yummy food. I am not vegan but I am gluten&dairy free and they are very good with both of those allergens. I ordered the Mac & cheese and it's made from brown rice noodles, and obviously vegan cheese. I added on the bacon (a MUST - rice paper) and caramelized onion. Our server (Steven?) was amazing and took great care of us!! My mom ordered the chickpea sandwich, which she said was really good & the sweet potato portion sizes were massive. We also shared the chocolate, peanut butter cheesecake for dessert which is highly recommended. read more

ION Restaurant, It's Only Natural, ION - Mac & Cheese with bacon & caramelized onion - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Beautiful clean restaurant and great 100% plant-based meals! Friendly service and a terrific menu!

30 Bit into a piece of metal and provided it to staff discreetly. The staff apologized and didn't charge us for the dish the metal was found in, but did charge us for everything else. Our entire lunch experience was ruined worried there could be more metal in our food. We will never return. When someone has metal in their food, they shouldn't receive a bill ever! Terrible experience. read more

Friendly service, delicious cocktails.... Nachos were a hit. Will definitely go back to try other entrees. read more

ION Restaurant, It's Only Natural, ION - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

I recently visited the new location of ION for the first time (shamefully, it's been far too long since I've been to ION!). I like the big, open room although in hindsight there may be fewer tables than the old spot. It didn't matter to us as we were quickly seated at a table towards the middle of the room. The natural wood tables are gorgeous and a focal point of the location. It made a little awkward moment for us choosing where to sit as there was one short end of the table and the widest spot had a big divot missing. Our waiter was amiable and took our order quickly. I went with the swiss mushroom wrap, one friend had the cheeseburger (I think) and the third had the pierogis as she had regretted NOT ordering them at her last visit. My order was big enough that I ate half there and half at home and wish I had another order for lunch today (it was so good even cold that night!). Most entrees are $16, which was a bit much for lunch. I would have liked a smaller order for $12 for lunch and the bigger order for $16 for dinner but I understand it's easier to just keep it all the same. read more

ION Restaurant, It's Only Natural, ION - Mushroom Swiss wrap - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut