We had lunch at Moosewood in August 2025 after at least ten years since our last visit. We were *very* pleased with the food: Excellent, flavorful and just the right sized portions. I'll come back more often. (My only complaint is that we ate outside (pleasant) and the waitress assigned to us did not speak loudly enough to be heard over the modest street noise.) read more

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

See all

Bucket list item for us. Moosewood did not disappoint! Wow. The flavors and combinations were amazing. We asked for a recipe that was new and not in their cookbook. The chef came out to our table with a printed and detailed recipe and talked us through the prep. So thoughtful. read more

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

Moosewood Restaurant - Kale and mushroom salad - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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

See all

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

See all

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

Moosewood Restaurant - green summer curry - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

See all

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

See all

Moosewood has a beautiful setting -- the outdoor seating is truly lovely, and the cocktails are excellent. I especially enjoyed the stone fruit spritz, which was refreshing and well-balanced. That said, I was really disappointed by the food, which lacked flavor and creativity, especially given the restaurant's reputation. For the price point, I expected much more in terms of seasoning, texture, and overall taste. It felt like style over substance. I wanted to love it, and there are definitely bright spots, but I can't justify the cost for such underwhelming food. Hoping they revisit the menu soon, because the space and drinks deserve better pairings. read more

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

Moosewood Restaurant - Entry from street - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

See all

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

Moosewood Restaurant - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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

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

Moosewood Restaurant - Chickpea stew - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

See all

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

Moosewood Restaurant - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

See all

Have been cooking from their books for 20 years so was excited to come. We weren't disappointed! Lentil soup, lasagna, and brownie were special standouts, but everything was good. The Kochi margarita was also popular. Service was pleasant and we didn't feel rushed. The setting is casual but still lovely. read more

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

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

I will never forget how they ruined our Thanksgiving holiday. We were initially excited to purchase the "Vegan Feast" for our family, and I called weeks in advance. I was told I need to book through their "third party vendor" Resi, which is an American Express owned entity which harvests and sells personal data so that other corporates can spam you endlessly. It got worse from here. Turns out that Resi will not accept our $250.00 digital gift certificate and there's no other way to pay with the certificate bought and paid for. I emailed several times, called more than three times, and even went there in person to try to pay. I was told it's impossible to buy it this way, in other words their gift certificate would not be honored. After I called, wrote, and complained about this in person, I was told that their finance officer would be consulted. Finally, a week before the holiday, they told me I would be allowed to use the gift certificate and I gave the information over the phone, checking the amount to make sure all was covered. I was told it's all set and to pick up the food on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving between 3-6 PM. As I am in the car on the way there, at 4:00 PM I get a call from them saying there's a zero balance on my gift card, and I need to come up with a different form of payment. I never used the card and asked them to verify when the card had been used, to find out if perhaps the card was stolen, or something else. I was told, AGAIN, that the cards are handled through a "third party vendor" (no name given) and I would have to take it up with them, or talk to their lawyer. Mind you, this is on Wednesday before Thanksgiving at 4:15 PM. They acted like I was some kind of a crook trying to defraud them out of a dinner for 4 people, instead of a valued loyal customer. They didn't even try to help, claiming that they are not accountable, some other nameless, undisclosed faceless corporate entity handles their gift cards and was to blame and I need to go to them about it. In the end, they threw our food in the trash and I had to rush out and buy everything (with a sick kid in tow) and at the last minute cook an entire family dinner, exactly what I was trying to avoid by buying the prepared food. I've been going to Moosewood since they opened (yes, I am that old) and I can tell you that like the legendary Cabbagetown on Eddy Street, the Moosewood of old no longer exists. Food is unexceptional, it's cheap ingredients prepared by untalented people, arrogantly served in a mediocre atmosphere, and at fine-dining prices. They could never survive in a bigger metro area and only survive here because of their cookbooks, which are fine, and the parcity of restaurant offerings. The worst thing about this place is their total lack of accountability, relying on third parties owned by behemoths like American Express who harvest and sell our date. God only knows which hrrific bank handles their gift cards. It's a total Uberization of everything that used to be personal. I spent my career in customer service and I know food; I can tell you what SHOULD have happened. What they should have done was to take ownership of the problem, and show a bit of understanding about the situation. They should have said, don't worry, come get the food and we can look into it and find out what happened afterwards. If it was found that I owed them money, they could have sent me a bill. After all, I eat in the restaurant before paying, right? (As for the zero balance, why didn't they tell me that when I gave them the info the week before? There would have been time to sort it out that way, at least.) As a customer who has dined there for DECADES, to make a big problem over a dinner (value: $200) on THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING at 4:00 PM, and completely destroy a customer's family holiday, is truly unforgivable, and shows an astounding lack of care about people in general. The bottom line is that they just DO NOT CARE. This is one more evil entity that runs on GREED and lacks any heart, soul, or even a modicum of care about the community they serve, and especially those who have kept them in business for decades. They should be in an airport, it would suit that mentality better. This unfortunate situation was mishandled and an opportunity was lost to do right by the customer. It would have cost them nothing, and now they have lost lifelong customers (and potentially you, dear reader, who might choose to spend your hard-earned dollars elsewhere after reading this, and especially avoid the trap of buying gift cards that may be dishonored). They clearly do not understand what it means to care for the customer, or even to care. read more

I had the loveliest meal with my family last night! Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The produce was impeccable. Our server was wonderful. Great evening in a warm, inviting space! read more

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

See all

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

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

Moosewood Restaurant - Broccoli, rapini and sweet pea hummus - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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

Moosewood Restaurant - Leftover Pasta Cavolfiore Casserole - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

See all

I went to Cornell decades ago and Moosewood was already iconic, but I wasn't into vegetarian dishes. While not a vegetarian, I certainly enjoy the food and this was excellent. The Thai curry was packed with flavor. The roasted broccoli app was perfect. Add in a local IPA and friendly, attentive, quick service and you have it all. We were able to sit on the patio, with our dog, on a beautiful autumn day. I'm so glad I went back to Ithaca and, finally, to Moosewood. read more

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

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

Moosewood Restaurant - Coconut curry - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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

Moosewood Restaurant - Vegetarian pie. - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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

Moosewood Restaurant - Birthday brownie for Bryon! - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

See all

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

Moosewood Restaurant - The exterior of the mall - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

See all

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

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

Entree was ok, salad was excellent. Dessert (Panna Cotta) was inedible. I spit out the 1st bite- seriously tasted like a bar of soap! Not sure what happened there. It was taken off the bill w/ no argument. We were given a decanter of warm (!) tap water w/ our meal...ugh. read more

honestly maybe it's just the menu being the same 30 years in a row but my Thai inspired tofu and veggies was so lacking in spice flavor way too little bok chow like three mushroom pieces and loads of bland sauce. uninspired dish and the rice was just eh. Spice it up, put more ingredients of substance, and then call it a good dish. read more

If you see our smiles before we went in, you'll see we were excited. The staff was pleasant, but alas, that was the only positive point. My review will mirror many others, and looking back it would have been better to follow those than the advice others told us second hand. The menu was extremely limited. Only one option was planned vegan, but the waitress struggled to sell it, so I went with the black bean burger without cheese. The coleslaw was flavorless, and the burger was plain. The saving grace was the aioli, the only flavorful part. The potatoes were decent, but as others have mentioned, rather dry. I saved my pickle until the end, because it is impossible to have a fault with a pickle. In over three decades, countless pickles, I've never turned one away. Somehow this had the sourness of old milk to it. As a weirdo, it isn't uncommon to eat a jar of pickles as a serving, and homemade are always the best. This is the first pickle I've ever not finished. But their chocolate cake is legendary, right? When Icarus flew too close to the sun, he must have brought this cake. I'm impressed with how dry this cake could be, being fresh, and how unflavorful it was. My wife was astonished that after a few small bites I had stopped. She powered through, but her face made it clear her stance. It isn't that this place didn't live up to the hype. And it isn't even that the food was subpar for the price. It was a disappointment for a meal, and it's sad that the best part of the experience was a raspberry on the side. read more

See all

Great vegetarian restaurant. I walked in early on a Saturday night and had no problem being seated 30 mins prior to my reservation time. The Polenta Cakes and Lemon Tahini Broccoli were both great starters. Each dish (besides the Strozzapreti Al Tartufo Nero) was extremely flavorful. The Red Bean Jambalaya was delicious. Definitely the best vegetarian restaurant I have been to. read more

See all

The good: All of the food is vegetarian and a lot is vegan. Everything I had was far better than I expected. The hummus with warm pita was fantastic, I could have eaten three servings of it. The crepe, filled with red quinoa, sweet potato, and topped with a creamy cheese sauce. It was incredibly flavorful and filling. The room for improvement: The seating process was very chaotic and inefficient. We had reservations and had to wait 15 minutes just to talk to the hostess. The ambiance is very dated, and the plates are mismatched. The white wine and beer selection was rather limited. The waitress didn't ask if we wanted drinks and jumped right into asking if we wanted food. Then when we wanted a refill it was difficult to get her attention. Everything was very very expensive. read more

See all

Demonstrate what is inflation to your kids at this popular spot...Lol. Also, if your party is between 5 & 7( as their auto tip/service charges kick in with party of 8 and most tables are set up for 4 or less), be ready to wait like forever. I highly recommend taking some snacks with you to survive the wait..;). Food is reasonably tasty depending on the dish. Service is terrible, especially the check in desk. Great-clips has better check in system and process. read more