Me and my husband each ordered 3 plates and ALL were fabulous! Server was very friendly. Ambiance is casual and quiet setting. read more

Small space with lunch and dinner. So amazing. The food was wonderful, the service on point. All vegetarian menu that did not disappoint. Will definitely return read more

Wow! They really hit it out of the park - an unassuming facade with dynamite menu! Everything is served small plate tapas style. Each item is five dollars. It is BYOB with no corkage fee.They do accept reservations. Five of us split one of each dish there are 10 regular items on the menu plus one special. This is more than enough food for five people. Everything was OUTSTANDING! Dishes trickled out a couple at a time which worked well for family style sharing - each time we thought we'd eaten our favorite a new dish came out that blew us away. Definitely a new favorite Vegan and AMAZING! read more

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Listen, I don't need to write much here, because you either get it or you don't. Natural Oasis is simply amazing. It doesn't look like much from the outside, and it's even simple on the inside, but everyone I've introduced to this place has been floored. It's one of my all time favorite restaurants. Be one of the ones who gets it. Go to Natural Oasis. read more

Natural Oasis - Chipotle curry soup, khichdi, vegetables, gnocchi, bhaji, and chai. - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

Most phenomenal vegan food around! So good you'd have no idea and not even miss that type of protein. read more

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Excellent and affordable vegan food. Service is pleasant. Atmosphere is comfortable. My go-to place for a healthy and complete lunch.

Best vegan food I've ever had! Absolutely delicious!!! Excellent service and relaxed atmosphere. Don't even think about it as "Ethiopian food"- it's just amazingly flavorful food. read more

We stumbled into here after the Roc City Holiday Village, and I'm so glad we did. Three of us ordered 7 things, for a grand total of $37. The food was amazing, there wasn't a single thing we didn't like. We ordered the gnocchi (x2), risotto, lentils, pizza, bhajia, and stew. Highly recommend to everyone. read more

Natural Oasis - Bhajia, stew, risotto - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

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One of the best vegetarian meals in the city. It's hard to describe Natural Oasis because it's not traditional Ethiopian fare. I would describe it as Italian-inspired Ethiopian, with Ethiopian-style risotto and pizza. It's also tapas style, as the dishes are portioned smaller, so you will have to order 2-3 per person in order to feel full. However with that said, I really like the variety of dishes and pricing is extremely reasonable at $3-5 per dish. The service is friendly and the pricing is quite reasonable, as I mentioned before. The only negative points I can think about would be the limited parking and also the retail supplement storefront (a little strange IMO). read more

I came here with a group of friends and fellow Yelpers on Friday night. I had never heard of this place before, and I drive by it all the time, and I'd never even seen it. It's the blue building next to Dunkin Donuts. The parking lot is small, and I couldn't turn in when I drove by, so I parked down the street. There was plenty of free street parking, even on a Friday night. Some of the reviews on here had me nervous, but it was nicer inside than I expected. Since everything on the menu is only $4, we ordered one of everything. Everything on the menu is vegan, which is really nice for me because it means I can eat everything they have. And the food came out really quickly. I hadn't had Ethiopian food before, and I honestly don't know the names of a lot of what I ate. The gnocchi and the pizza were my favorites. If I were to go back, I would probably just get those. I also really liked the orange chocolate ice cream, which is strange for me because I rarely like chocolate. There were several other things I wouldn't normally have eaten that I also liked. I have to love any place that is vegan. I'm a pretty picky girl, and this isn't a type of food that I'd have probably even tried without someone telling me about it. I don't think I'll starting eating here regularly, but if a friend wanted to go, I would definitely go back. At $4 a plate, it's really nice to go with someone and share dishes so you can try lots of different things. You can also bring your own wine, which is always cool, but something I never usually think of. read more

I've been in Rochester for 2 years now and I can't believe I haven't been here sooner! I came here for dinner on a weekday with a vegan friend and we loved it. The food was delicious. Everything is vegan and served tapas style. We got the risotto, Ethiopian lentils, bhaji and special of the day chipotle curry. Our favorites were the risotto and curry. Both well seasoned and tasty. Each plate was $4 so at the end of the night, we each paid $10.40. Not a bad way to fill up. I can't wait to come back. Tldr: Natural Oasis is great if you're on a budget (cheap dates!), want a break from meat (meatless Mondays!) or just enjoy good food. read more

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Probably my new top spot for "I'm hungry and need something healthy that won't cost me too much more than cooking dinner for myself." Had dinner plans with my vegetarian gal pal and looking for something new - my Yelpers came through for me with this spot. We ordered 5 dishes for two people, left paying $10.80 each and with a mess ton of leftovers. You cannot beat that for food of this quality. Common theme seems to be that the lentils and gnocchi are the top picks - and I would agree 100%. The only dish I was not absolutely crazy about was the risotto, and even that was tasty just a little lacking in flavor compared to the rest of the dishes. The injera is not as tasty as a Zemeta or Abyssinia type resto that focuses exclusively on Ethiopian cuisine, but the creativity in the dishes themselves absolutely makes up for that. If you're paying with card here, write in the tip on the receipt they give you at the end of your meal, and payment happens up at the counter. Overall, this is a perfect spot for a "something different" date night or din with friends. I feel like I have totally found a hidden treasure and I CANNOT wait to get back here for dinner ASAP. read more

Natural Oasis - Endless noms - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

Love love love! Favorite place in Rochester hands down the gnocchi and vegetables are the best dishes I've had in my life.

Today I returned for lunch buffet and it was wonderful experience. Door bell rang as I entered, I seated myself and was promptly offered menu and water. Food arrived quickly and it was delicious! I really enjoyed the experience and friendly host. I'll be returning again soon. read more

This is my favorite vegan lunch place in Rochester! The exterior is unassuming but, it's an all you can eat vegan Ethiopian lunch buffet that costs 9.72$ after tax! The choice are usually the same most visits, except the soup changes every so often. Basmati rice, bread, cabbage and carrots, collard greens, green beans and carrots, beets, vegetable soup etc. AMAZINGG! Everything is so delicious, its really unexpected. Definitely try it, especially during the cold months. read more

Natural Oasis - Vegan lunch buffet. Cabbage is ahhmazing. - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

4.5 stars. The lentil soup with injera was outstanding. The whole menu is very affordable. A few dishes were too salty, and some were good, but not great. But overall, a wonderful, very healthy and inexpensive dining experience. Definitely one to come back to. Cheap enough for college students, and delicious enough for their parents. read more

I've been here a few times and have always enjoyed the experience. The food is excellent and very affordable. It's all vegan so I never have to worry about what I can eat. I would suggest going with at least one other person because the plates are shareable. The parking is pretty bad. Their lot is very small and awkward. The last time I went was on a Friday night, however, and though there were many customers inside, the lot was fine to park in. Don't let this thought discourage you! As for the food, I don't know how authentic it is, but it's delicious. I tend to dislike dishes because of their spices, but this place balances them out very well. It's $4/plate and there is always a special. My favorites are the gnocchi, Ethiopian, salad, and bhaji. The apple for dessert is also amazing. Honestly, just try one of everything! Every time I've been, there has been the same cook and the same server. Despite how busy it can be sometimes, the service is never too slow. I would say it's just right for how much food we consume. They also have a lunch buffet that's worth checking out. I've brought meat eaters here and they've enjoyed the food as well! read more

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What a gem to have in our neighborhood! Went in for their to-go lunch buffet today. For their safety protocols they ask you to choose what you'd like off a printed menu listing their options, and they approximate the weight for you, and bring it out to you in a few minutes time. The lentils and split peas are just so insanely delicious. The cabbage and carrots were also light and stewed perfectly. Such a tasty, healthy, and filling lunch. Looking forward to frequenting Natural Oasis more often! read more

Thé most yummy food ever AND it is healthy for you. If you want a filling meat free meal this is the place to go! I wish I still lived locally and could go frequently. read more

I worked across the street from Natural Oasis for 2 years and never knew what it was. It looks like a little natural foods shop. Man did I miss out for those 2 years! The food here is fantastic and the prices can't be beat. Every dish was so unique and you could tell they were cooked with a lot of love and pride. Don't sleep on this place for a couple years like I did! read more

My vegan friend introduced me to this place. I only mention that she's vegan because the menu of this place offers vegetarian and vegan options,so it's no surprise that it's one of her faves. Although I am not explicitly a vegan, I love trying out recipes and seeing the clever ways food can be enjoyed! I feel like this place does a good job of showing me just that. When I went with my friends, we got a bunch of different platters to share. We came out with our bellies happy and full! We had some delicioussss gnocchi among other things. If I sit here and write everything we ate, it would be too long haha all I can suggest is go and experience for yourself. The food is great, the atmosphere is nice and quiet (perfect for conversation), and the customer service is nice! read more

Wow, this was a pleasant surprise Nothing fancy but wow, food is absolutely delicious Highly recommend for simple no frills, just good food read more

Love this place. Very chill vibe. Between 4 of us we tried most of the dishes - they list a type of dish - then the ingredients vary depending on the season. My favorites were the stew (bean, turnip, potato) and the lentil dish (a soup). We also had garlicky greens (kale, chard), risotto (pesto, mushrooms), pizza (shiitake, spinach tomato), Bhaji (broccoli), gnocchi. The chai was warm and sweet - perfect after a cool evening walk. The desserts were excellent too - dark chocolate bark with curry(!) and fruit, nuts, ginger (too heavy on the ginger for a couple of my dining friends), perfect baked apple (sauce style), and a flourless chocolate cake that was better than any I've had that had dairy! The staff were lovely - they exude a grace you don't usually see in a less pricey place like this. It closes early - 8pm, so make sure you get there by 7! read more

This is the perfect place to stuff yourself silly; bring your friends and order everything off the menu. Another bonus? Everything is vegan. So that's appealing for all the dietary restrictions out there. Everything tastes mega savory. The gnocchi and the lentils are typically the dishes I love the most. They rotate the menu with different daily specials but the categories never change so there's always an option of the following: - Drink - Greens - Khichadi - Ethiopian - Stew - Vegetable - Risotto (rice dish - not like Italian risotto) - Pizza (small flatbread) - Salad - Gnocchi - Bhaji - Dessert - Ice cream Again, you can't go wrong if you order one of everything and share. It's a super affordable night out too because each dish is $4. The space itself is a small market and sells herbs and other ayurvedic supplements, etc. It adds an interesting element, but takes away from the ambience a little bit. Service can be on the slower side as well so be patient and come when you have time to relax. Also, get the coconut chai! One order serves two. read more

This is my second time trying Ethiopian food, and I wanted to give this restaurant a try. Natural Oasis is 100% Vegan and Gluten Free. I thought I would walk into this place and eat with my hand, guess I was wrong... I came here on Monday, so it was an all day Buffet. The buffet was kinda small, cost $9 for Dinner p/p. There were about ten different dishes. There was only one person working during that time, and some of the tray were empty. But I still manage to leave their buffet with a full stomach. They also have a mini store for herb and vitamin, and Natural Oasis is located right next to Dunkin' Donut with a small parking lot. Overall, this place is really unique and I will come back to try their menu. read more

Natural Oasis - Small buffet - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

If ever you wanted a meal that felt truly homemade - this spot is amazing. I walked in after a long day of trail running, feeling pretty beat and in almost dire need of some nutrition. I stumbled upon this restaurant during a quick search on google and decided an Ethiopian restaurant fit my tastebuds screaming request. It did not disappoint! I had the vegetable stew and the mushroom/spinach flatbread pizza...add in a coconut milk chai and the meal was complete. The people cooking and serving were attentive and kind, the service was quick...impressive how two guys both cooking and serving could outwork and outclass almost every other restaurant I've been to. The entire experience was great. Next time I'm in Rochester - I'm coming back. read more

I love this place! Brought friends who had never tried it before and who have dairy allergies. We ordered one of everything, including their coconut milk chai and the nightly special and dessert. Everything super delicious! I highly recommend doing what we did since every dish is just $4 each. Our total bill for 3 people with tax and tip was $72, so $24 per person. Now, if it was just me, I would not have ordered 6 dishes (6x$4=$24) but this way we all got to try everything! I especially loved the gnocchi, the kale, the brusselsprouts, the lentils (with injera), and the salad, and tonight's desserts - a warm apple and nut dish and peppermint chocolate ice cream made with coconut milk - were awesome. My friends loved it and I am sure they will return. Highly recommend this place. Last note: everything on the menu is vegan, but not the 'everything filled with soy' kind of vegan you get at other places. This is mostly veg, some gluten, great spices, and just yummy wholesome food prepared so smooth and gourmet you won't even miss the meat! read more

This place is refreshing if you are just really looking for something besides your same old paninis, pizza, pasta, and burgers. Sometimes, you just gotta mix it up. I first came here for an International Supper with the Yelpers, and then a few times afterwards. We had some friends come up from out of state, and knew we were going to come here because everything on the menu is vegetarian/vegan. This is perfect for that friend that has like, two choices every time you go out. Everything on the menu is $4. You can order the whole menu, and split everything with your table, and still leave stuffed. That is such a rare and fun experience that you can't get at a lot of places. Even Tapas 177 doesn't make the splitting thing work as well as Natural Oasis does. Last weekend, four of us went here together and the bill was only $25...TOTAL. The Bhaji, Soups and Gnocchi are very good. I would skip the pizza. It's not what you are going to be expecting when you order it. The veggie greens are pretty delicious as well. Everything comes out as it is ready, to ensure that it is hot when you receive it. Service isn't super fast, but this place has that: come in, sit down, talk, eat, and leave when you are ready feel. If you are sick of being rushed out, or given a check when you are still catching up with a friend, this a good place to come and leisurely have conversation with your meal. The tea is fantastic as well. Parking is tight, it is right next to Dunkin, and easy to drive by and miss. If you are carpooling, choose to take the friend's car that isn't a giant SUV. read more

Wow! Came here spontaneously and I will definitely be coming again. The food is delicious, the service is friendly.

One of my favourite restaurants in town! The small plates menu served Tues - Sat is outstanding. They have a list of preparations (eg. stew, fritters, risotto, gnocchi). Each day, they use different vegetables to create those dishes. Do not expect classic renditions of the Italian sounding dishes (the risotto will probably be not accepted in Italy) Some of them are hit (I debated drinking the lentils by itself) or miss (the pizza is not really a pizza..it is more of a bland flatbread with no real chew.), The flavours tend to be more Ethiopian/Indian in most dishes. At $4 a dish, I am okay with the miss-es. Especially since the hits are usually outstanding. Do try the coconut chai - I prefer it chilled whenever possible (as in during the 2 months Rochester is warm). Unfortunately, the Ethiopian dinner buffet on Mondays is not that great (skip it and head to Abyssinia for the veggie combo instead); Come prepared for a long meal with slow but cordial service. read more

Very good Vegan lunch buffet. It is small, but the offerings are cooked well and taste delicious. I had one on the best soups here, the puréed vegetable. Outstanding. read more

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Went to natural oasis with a group of friends for a girls evening out. Frustrated initially with the parking due to limited space and sloppy parking by fellow patrons, so I decided to park on the street. The interior of the market restaurant is simple with decent amount of seating. The menu is simple with the dishes in small portions so most of us ended up ordering 3 items. I got the bhaji, risotto, and greens, all were yummy. I'll be back to try other items on the menu. read more

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Natural Oasis is a uniquely delicious restaurant among Rochester's vegetarian/vegan scene! The Ethiopian restaurant's selections change daily and cost only $4/dish, making it a great spot to share several plates with friends. There is always a salad, a lentil preparation, a vegetable of the day, risotto, gnocchi dish, dessert, and a flatbread offered, among others. In my experience, you can't go wrong with anything you order! The owner and staff are helpful at providing suggestions, and even if you don't like a particular dish, you are only out $4 (but... this has never happened to me!). Since it is Ethiopian, all of the saucier dishes are served with Injera, a traditional, tangy and spongy pancake-like bread. The Injera is mild, and perfect for sopping up the complexly flavored dishes. FYI: the restaurant is BYOB if you're dining in. read more

Natural Oasis - Menu guide - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Came for dinner which is all tapas style. Everything is $4, everything is delicious, and everything is vegan. There's a set list of items (stew, lentils, risotto, pizza, gnocchi, bhaji, salad, dessert, drink, etc.) and each night they serve a different version of each. We ordered everything except dessert which was filling for a group of 4 folks. We also ordered the soup special, which was french onion with crimini mushrooms, sunchokes, and some other things I've forgotten. Everything came out in sucession, so we had time to focus on each dish. We were also given a "snack" at the start - a warm bowl of spiced cashews, raisins, and roasted chickpeas. Delicious. One dish came with injera and the rest we ate with spoons and forks. Everything had great flavor was easily divided into 4 or 5 portions. Don't skip anything because every dish is special. The salad had a great dressing and delicious crisp sweet potato chunks on top. I also recommend the coconut milk chai tea. While I wasn't a fan of the oil slick floating on top, the flavor was strong and wonderful. read more

Absolutey delicious! Also get the chai; it is amazing. The lentils are delicious! Very relaxed atmosphere. The owner, also known as the chef is very accommodating and friendly. read more

I am not a vegan...I am not a vegetarian. Just a short while ago I visited the Duncan Donuts on Alexander and Monroe. I noticed a Ethopian restaurant. I walked in there with some friends and the owner said they did not serve any meat.....we ran out as fast as we could!! After reading some reviews on Yelp I had to try it. I am so so happy that I did! What a wonderful and unique experience. When the waiter/owner brought over the stainless steel cups for water I knew it was going to be a great experience. We went for dinner. It was moderately busy. We started off with roasted cashews, raisins that were warm and nutty! As we waited for our order I tried their coconut milk tea....PHENOMENAL! Put a huge smile on my face! We went with the recommendations on Yelp and ordered the Ethiopian lentils, the vegetables, the bhaji gnocchi. My favorite was the lentils. It was served with injera and was very filling. We ended with their vegan chocolate ice cream and it was on point! I am glad that I got over my prejudice of vegan/vegetarian. I can't wait to go back to try a new dish. read more

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Natural Oasis is almost two restaurants in one. During lunch and dinner on Mondays, they have a vegan Ethiopian buffet, and during dinner time Tuesdays to Fridays they have a revolving selection of small plates. The vegan lunch buffet, have been frankly rather disappointing in terms of flavors and variety. There are many other fabulous Ethiopian restaurants around that offer tasty vegetarian options. But then there's the dinner menu. They offer a different selection of rices, stews and other delicious items all for $4 a plate. The best thing to do is to go with friends and share as many of these small plates as possible. The majority of the dishes are delicious and filling! This is a great place to bring vegetarian/vegan friends, and also to bring meat eating friends so they can try something new! read more

I was in Rochester briefly, on a recent road trip. After visiting the Rochester Museum and Science Center, I was looking for a vegan-friendly place to eat. Yelp directed me here. I was not disappointed. It's fairly nondescript from the outside, although the blue facade is kind of cute. It's also an alternative medicine shop, so at first, I was thrown off, thinking that I'd made a mistake. Once inside, the atmosphere was inviting and the hot buffet in the back (where the small restaurant is located) smelled inviting. I had collard greens that were as good as I've ever had, and I actually know real soul-food. There was a lentil-based soup with curry that seemed counter-intuitive on a hot day (near 90), but was perfectly seasoned and filling. The rice mixture, along with the sauteed vegetables made me glad I'd walked, because I was certainly satiated from the ample portions. The broth from the vegetables was flavorful and perfect for sopping up with Injera, a traditional Ethiopian bread. The buffet is all-you-can eat and it will only set you back $9, so this is a value-added eatery for sure. read more

About 2 years ago, I came up to Rochester for a friends wedding. A few days before the wedding, my friend the bride suggested we go out to dinner to a vegan Ethiopian restaurant inside of a natural foods store. My first thoughts were, "gross", "blech", and "oh hell no". Its not that I am against vegan food, or Ethiopian food (which I'd never had), but what I knew of Ethiopian food from travel shows was that it was a lot of mushy paste like food you eat with your hands and spongy bread (injera). The combination of the two did not sound appetizing. But I kept my mouth shut and soldiered on, full expecting to dislike it. I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived and found it to be nothing but awesome. So fast forward two years, and I'm visiting Rochester again, this time for my college reunion. The first thing I insisted on was visiting Natural Oasis and eating some of their amazing food. This trip around we called ahead, made a reservation and asked if they would be able to hold some gnocchi aside for us, which the graciously did. Knowing now what a treat this place is, we ordered one of everything. I don't think I've ever done that before, but it was pretty awesome actually saying "I'll order the whole menu please". Dishes are served in small plates form, at $4 a plate. This is definitely a place to come with friends with the intention of sharing. I loved having a little buffet of things to sample. My only gripe would be that the tables need to be bigger for people who order one of everything. There are about 13 items, which are all the same kind of preparation, but the ingredients change from day to day. My favorites were the gnocchi, which is better than any Italian style gnocchi I've ever had. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They must grill or pan sear them to get that crunchy outer shell. I also enjoyed the cold coconut milk chai latte, the pizza, the roasted beets, the lentils and the stew. The injera is great too, spongy and a little sour tasting, like sourdough. I was happy to find out when we first came to Natural Oasis that they do have silverware! I did, however, eat a lot of my food using the injera to pick it up. We ordered one dessert to split which was a coconut rice pudding. Ah-mazing. The plates come out as they are ready, and I think one of the owners (Soloman) is actually the server as well. Not sure about that, but its what it looked like. I would highly recommend this to anyone, just don't go alone. Its much more fun to go with friends or family and eat everything they make. As for the vegan part, you won't even miss the meat or dairy. read more

Natural Oasis - This represents only about half of what we ordered. Notice there is no more room left on the table! - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

I 100% love this restaurant! Although, I do feel its best to go when it's the regular menu versus the buffet hours for the full experience (but the buffet option is nice and very affordable). They have a tapas style menu that rotates with different options for each section (ie: risotto, pizza, vegetables, lentils). They have different drinks and even dessert. Plus it's all vegan and DELICIOUS! The staff is all very friendly and attentive. There's even a small market area up front. read more

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