Been here several times with my husband. We usually get the backpackers lunch (cheese and charcuterie board) along with something else. The food is always delicious and the wait staff super knowledgeable about the menu. I love the emphasis on local sourcing. We don't drink alcohol, and I really appreciate the handcrafted drinks; they are delicious. My only complaint is that it can get pretty loud. It's difficult to find a restaurant where everyone speaks softly to their table mates, and all the hard materials in this restaurant with super tall ceilings does nothing to dampen the sounds. Overall, wonderful place for a special occasion or date night. (Just wish it were quieter!) read more

Well, i got the idea of the place! Delicious, small portions, Europe type of dining. But why would you put amazing fish in that thick type of batter? And then fry it in oil? Just cook it in the stove. Steak? Way too small. Amazing sauces with dishes, food has the taste compare to typical american! Beets with goat cheese is delicious too! Little bit overpriced, but understandable due to effort that was put into cooking. read more

Loved the food our server was great very friendly and informative had a great evening read more

Motus - Falafel - Gastropubs Near Me - Utica, New York

See all

All of the food was great, the service was wonderful. Everything was very flavorful and tasted fresh. One of the best filets I've ever had. Also really enjoyed our specialty drinks. The only negative I could possible say is that the dark chocolate cheesecake seemed like something I could have gotten from the grocery store. Just compared to the rest of the meal it just fell kind of flat. read more

Had an excellent meal. My wife and I choose the Fixed Price menu with 4 courses and the beverage pairing. The bartender Patrick was very skilled and fun the chat with. The food was really outstanding. read more

We were looking for something new to try in Utica for my wife's birthday dinner and had heard about this new restaurant opening downtown. What a beautiful space, it's bright but cozy! We started off with a slice of their homemade bread and butter. The bread was soft but had a nice crunch to it. The butter? Out of this world. For an appetizer we tried the mussels and they did not disappoint. Beautiful presentation and fresh tender mussels in a very flavorful sauce. I had the burger and the wife had the fish and chips. Both of our entrees were cooked perfectly. Her fish was fresh and the burger is now my new favorite locally. The hand cut fries tied both of our meals together quite nicely. We will be back! read more

Motus - The Burger - Gastropubs Near Me - Utica, New York

See all

Great spot, and not just for Utica standards. Excellent, well-crafted food and very attentive service. Prix fixe is very generous and gives a great feel for the menu. read more

Working in the Utica area gives little variety for dining options, so I was pleasantly surprised to find this gem. It's a farm to table restaurant that gives off a rustic vibe. The menu varies from seafood dishes to meat dishes with plenty of fresh vegetables. I had the burger and it was good, nothing over the top but just good. I'll be back here. Tip - Sit outside if you can, there is a nice patio area with nice lights and music. read more

We've been wanting to try this place on one of our visits and we're glad we finally made it. The restaurant is absolutely amazing all around. The inside decor is clean,modern,and has nice wall art. The drinks and spirits are plentiful and top notch as well. We had the pork special,and steak for dinner. Both were cooked to perfection! Meals here come with salad and bread. Portions are on the large side. This restaurant would hold up in any major city! Definitely a welcomed addition to the growing Utica scene! read more

Thanks to my coworkers, finally I got to try Motus. The restaurant has a very low key storefront but the inside looks decent. I ordered a pre fixed meal with 4 courses, no alcohol. Price was reasonable. The free bread was warm and house baked with house made butter. The texture of the bread was very nice, dense but not "deadly dense" and you can taste the freshness. The salad was interesting, fresh leaves with cheese at the bottom and some dates and sunflower seeds. You can tell they are homegrown vegetables. The special for today was braised rabbit with Chinese broccoli. The meat was braised long enough to fall off the bones easily and the flavors were in. Though I may prefer a deeper flavor profile. The roasted potato was very dense and I enjoyed the roasted texture. I feel it is rare to have some potato like that. Dark chocolate cheese cake was my choice of dessert. Again, dense! Smooth and dense cheese cake with blood orange as decoration. The coca nibs used added a layer of texture to the cheese cake and improved the eating experience. Overall a decent meal with reasonable price. My coworkers ordered custom smoking beverages- they even made a non-alcoholic one for one lady! Will come back. Compared to tailor and cook, I may prefer this one for the price and environment. #thisisutica #braisedrabbit read more

See all

Fabulous space in our ever growing downtown scene. Menu is ever changing (except burger & fish/chips) so if you like something, you have to get there soon!! Appetizers are more like small plates-plenty to share!! The butter steak is killer!! Drinks are on point & their bourbon/scotch selections are increasing rapidly. Decor is different than any other place around-love it!! They have put their hearts into this place!! You need to get here !! Ok.... update on my favorite place... still amazing, even more than before! The seasonal drinks are inventive and fantastic!! The food, well, it just keeps getting better (if that is at all possible). The bouillabaisse that is on the menu currently is so delicious!! I could drink the broth. Everything is great & the waitstaff/ bar staff are perfect. Really a must try if you haven't had the pleasure. Kudos to these young chefs... keep it up guys!! You are killing it! read more

This great, casual farm to table spot is both a weeknight destination as well as a special occasion place. The service is thoughtful, prompt and knowledgeable without being overbearing. The food is prepared with great attention to flavor and presentation. The decor is unfussy and the ambience is a great combination of reliable neighborhood restaurant (slightly campy art on the walls, rustic wooden tables) with touches of an upscale venue (banquettes, handsome bar and light fixtures). The cocktails are well thought out and created by bartenders constantly tweaking the line up. We have eaten here at least 10 times and consider it our first choice in the area for food, drinks and service. Great for date night or group dining. A real win for Utica! read more

We held our wedding rehearsal dinner at motus in September 2018. We did most of the planning and coordination for our wedding remotely; we live in SF but were planning a Central NY wedding. This made it challenging to work with some vendors but was not an issue with motus. Emmie was our primary contact and was amazing; she was incredibly responsive, easy to communicate with over email, clear about expectations, and very organized. We had the restaurant to ourselves ahead of them opening for their normal business hours for a Friday evening service. The staff was pleasant and accommodating. The food was INCREDIBLE; we had a prix fixe menu for the rehearsal. We loved the food for the rehearsal more than on our wedding day! If only motus was open at the time we were looking for caterers for our wedding... We dined at motus on our own ahead of the rehearsal dinner which was what made us think of them as a rehearsal dinner venue. We love farm-to-table restaurants and are happy to see more of them popping up in the Utica area. We plan to go back to motus the next time we're in town! High quality service and food! read more

Checked out Motus for my girlfriends birthday. It's really nice here and the food was great. They started us off with this amuse bouche they called celeriac with a sesame vinaigrette. I was a little skeptical upon arrival, all it was, was just a little teaspoonful of what looked like micro greens and what I thought looked like a dried mushroom and never even heard of celeriac before. But when we tried it we were very surprised it was like an explosion of flavor in ur mouth with many layers to it. Next we ordered drinks I had the sugar shack and she had the nor'easter. They were awesome. I tried the Motus sour II, it was also good but the sugar shack was my favorite. I need to figure out how to manufacture that at home, for sure. For the appetizers we had the scallops on hoecakes and smoked beef rib pierogi. The scallops were probably my favorite thing we got. On paper I was apprehensive because it didn't seem like these things would go together well but it was amazing. The pierogis were good to they were like Smokey and barbecuey but subtle. It wasn't an overpowering, like, smokehouse taste. They also brought out the house made bread and butter with house salads too that were nice. For the main she had the bouillabaisse and I got the pan roasted fillet. We also ordered the risotto and charred carrots for side. This was all way too much food for two people but we wanted to try a little of everything. There were leftovers too we did not eat it all in one setting like gluttons lol. She thought hers was just ok and that the bouillabaisse made everything all taste the same. But I though it was pretty good. For the tenderloin I can't say it was the best I ever had. That is the only reason I couldn't give it 5 stars. I ordered it medium rare but it came out more like medium well. There was not as much pink in the middle as I would like but I mean it was still good. With that said I would still be looking forward to go back again. There's a few more thing on the menu I would have liked to tried plus it's always changing so there is always something new. This is another great place for utica. read more

See all

Really enjoyed dinner. Did the pre fixe menu. Everything was great: the service, our food, my drink, the ambiance. I now what you bring other friends and family here! read more

Great food but expensive. Dishes were very different but good. I would definitely recommend it at least once. Service was excellent. The interior space is impressive. Very elegant eating I would highly recommend!! read more

Food was amazing. All new types of foods and tastes so don't be surprised if there are things you have not heard of on the menu. Not over the top huge portions either. For example, they will bring each of you a SLICE of local fresh bread instead of a basket. If you are a traditional American eater needing over the top portion sizes, this restaurant may not be for you. But, if you can savor the less is more mindset as I do, you will love the authenticity of the tastes and textures here. The restaurant also has a great atmosphere. It is low lit and Great bar area what you can sit have dinner. Will definitely come here again read more

A nearly flawless culinary experience. The environment is casual yet aesthetically appealing. From the professionally crafted cocktails to the well thought out, beautifully presented and extraordinarily delicious appetizers, entrées and desserts this place fires on all cylinders! I strongly suggest the Backpackers Lunch (their outstanding locally sourced charcuterie) and their Motûs Burger (topped with a caramelized shallot jam, house smoked bacon, homemade 3-year cheddar on a fresh baked sesame brioche bun). I was also impressed by their warm, friendly, knowledgeable and professional bar and waitstaff. Make sure that you check out this amazing local farm to table eatery the next time you're in the Utica area. Locals and visitors alike can look forward to a memorable dining experience. read more

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii really liked this place. Firstly, another high end local spot which is the most important. I enjoyed the decor. Not overpowering like most places these days. Say it with me, simplicity is key. Bathrooms are very clean, and have high ceilings. The women's room was equipped with perfume and hand lotion as well. The service was fantastic, friendly and knowledgeable wait staff and speed was ideal. If you think you're going to be in and out in under 40 minutes then don't come here. This place is for those who truly enjoy dining and don't like to be rushed. I had the scallops dish, and grilled watermelon for dessert which is seasonal of course. The one thing I need to rave about is the drink I ordered. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name (smoke something), but it's a bourbon drink that they put in the smoker, and it is amazing. I crave this drink every day now. There's not many bartenders around here that can get bourbon and whiskey drinks right, but this place can. I highly recommend just stopping in for this drink if anything. The only thing I could say that I didn't enjoy as much was the sauce that came with my scallop dish. It was over large noodles but the sauce was just too spicy and not the best pair with a scallop. Otherwise, I cant wait to go back! Keep up the great work guys! read more

See all

The scallops are amazing the pork is amazing try a variety of things. The mahi-mahi is unbelievable. Some of the best food in the entire area read more

Delicious, expertly prepared food made from local ingredients, combined with excellent service. We came here for our anniversary and had a lovely time. They have a forager on staff, so we were treated to an amazing spring appetizer platter with ramps, pickled fiddleheads, and (I'm not making this up) delicious asparagus ice cream! The price fixe was $60 and felt like a steal. I believe this is the best food I've ever eaten in Central New York. read more

We went for dinner last night and all agreed - our meals were absolutely amazing! The service was great too. Looking forward to our next meal at Motus! read more

Had an amazing meal at Motus to finish off restaurant week in Utica. The staff couldn't have been more helpful and the food was excellent. From pre-dinner drinks to after dinner espresso everything was spot on. For those looking for fine dining in Central New York, this farm to table experience is a must. read more

Excellent cocktails -- some of the best in the area. Patrick and the rest of the crew behind the bar are always friendly and accommodating. It's a farm to table, but I appreciate their creativity and willingness to experiment w dishes not typically seen at restaurants like this. A great addition to the Utica food scene. read more

This is now my favorite restaurant ever. The food was the most amazing I've ever had. Great beer selection. And AMAZING service. The environment is incredible. There are no words for how great this place is. read more

This place was excellent! We ate there last Saturday night and what a fantastic meal. The drink selection is great, with a cool little bar in there and the decor was on point. We tried the cheese plate sampler for an appetizer and it was delicious! Salads were next and super tasty and not over dressed. I had the scallops as a main course and they were cooked perfectly. I highly recommend this place, it was an all around exceptional meal. read more

Three of us were only planning on having drinks at the bar before catching a movie up the street at Munson-Williams, but we all arrived hungry. We enjoyed it so much we came back after the film and ate and drank some more. The house-made weisswurst (a starter) is amazing, as is the housemade kimchi in the fried rice side dish. A great new option in downtown Utica. Go there! read more

Seemed over priced for a burger with a long hair in it, overcooked and soggy bacon. For the money, there are far better places in town. read more

Local ingredients. Craft cocktails very knowledgeable staff. Food is out of this world. Need I say more?

I have always loved this restaurant and have visited them numerous times and recommend them to everyone I know to the point where people are sick of me talking about them lol However my experience there last night prevents me from doing that ever again or for that matter going there ever again. The food and service was amazing. Our waitress Lexi was the best! After paying our $300 bill we were enjoying coffee and after dinner drinks when the manager oh so politely informed us that she needed to seat 2 people at the bar behind our table and that we needed to leave. The table near us seated 6 and there were plenty of other tables to accommodate them but yet we were treated like freeloaders who needed to vacate the premises. I understand what the new rules are and though I don't agree I respect them. This however was rude and disrespectful to people who have continually supported this restaurant as I do all local businesses during this difficult time. I will no longer visit this establishment and will spread the word to others read more

My fiance and I were delighted to get a table here the day before Valentine's Day (they had a prefixed menu on V Day and we just wanted to eat from the standard menu). We both ordered reasonably priced drinks. They were out of the IPA I wanted but were knowledgable enough to suggest other types of ipa's. I had the pan seared scallops pasta. Everything was cooked perfectly! However, the entree was a little soupy for my taste so I may try something else next time. The atmosphere was romantic and it was good to see a lot of young professionals in there. I am excited to return to this restaurant or even just to the bar! There is only street parking but we had no problem finding a spot right outside the door. read more

Really exceptional food and outstanding service. My daughter attends college near Utica and we took her and a friend to Motus last weekend. We had reservations and were seated promptly with our drink orders taken. We shared the Charcuterie (cheese plate) for the table as well as an order of the hand-cut fries. I had the Nashville style fried chicken, my wife had the berkshire pork chop and my daughter (vegetarian) had the cauliflower steak. It was all outstanding. I could not get over how moist the chicken was and the pickles and cabbage were an ideal accompaniment. We didn't have time to stay for dessert, but hopefully will next time. We will be sure to be back. Utica is very fortunate to have a restaurant of this caliber. read more

Best restaurant in Utica. Incredible food and great staff. If you can afford it, you should come.

Holy smokes, what a place! Excellent service, incredible food, and great experience! New, exciting menu that changes almost daily. Can eat at the bar, with full service, or table seating. Hostess was quick to respond to coats and seating. Street parking is not a problem. Nice to have yet another great dinner option in the area! read more

Absolutely loved everything! Atmosphere, drinks, food, service. Tonight was my first time. I came with my girlfriends and can't wait to come back with my husband! read more

Four of us ate at Motus last night. We tried six entrees - fried chicken and waffles, pork chop, shrimp and grits, rabbit and two filet mignon. All were excellent. I never had rabbit before so that was a new and delicious experience. Desserts were very tasty. We had creme brulee, bananas foster bread and dark chocolate cheesecake. Service was outstanding (as always). All in all a fantastic dining experience. read more

Had an excellent meal here last night. The concept is farm-to-table and you can really taste that everything is extremely fresh. It's slightly pricey but the meal includes a salad so it's not too bad. I had the half chicken which had a delicious sauce and some very interesting root vegetables.The chicken was moist and cooked perfectly. My husband had the pollock fish and chips which was fresh, crispy, and delicious with a homemade tarter sauce. We shared a side of charred carrots which were also great. Very excited to have another delicious non-italian option in the Utica area! read more

This place is the bomb. You must go if you like tasting the passion of the chef in every bite. Well worth the trip and great value. You won't beat it anywhere in Utica and for many Miles beyond. read more

What a find. "Farm to table" and "fresh" can be abused terms, but not here. Outstanding selections for both first and second course. Smoked chicken, short ribs and cheese plate were first class. This restaurant can compete with any restaurant in any big city. Fine wine list and wonderful drink and beer selections. Utica is very fortunate to have a restaurant of this caliber. read more

Phenomenal first time experience. Had excellent service from the second we walked in, staff was friendly, service was fast and efficient especially for a busy night like Valentine's Day. A+ rating the food was the best in the area by far. Can't wait to come back soon. read more