I just wrote a REALLY long review and it vanished. However, it is crucial that I give a good review for this place, so here's the gist: 1. Great food 2. First non-pretentious place I've been to in Ithaca (besides Felicia's Atomic Lounge) 3. Great drink menu, with awesome descriptions of the drinks and very well-organized (can you tell I am a teacher?) 4. fun outside seating that's pretty and private (for those weird conversations over a bottle of wine) 5. really salt of the earth people (and I really force myself NOT to use that expression) 6. my husband and I finally found our place to bring out-of-towners so they can see how cool we are for knowing about this place. read more

Came here twice in the last 2 weeks. Both times, the staff was weirdly unaccommodating when it came to minor changes in orders (like swapping a side). Dishes came out at totally random times, my girlfriend had almost finished her entree by the time I got mine. The waitress also just forgot part of the order. I can deal with rough service, but unfortunately the food was also pretty underwhelming. Flatbread was dry and almost burnt, their "famous" Mac and cheese was fridge-cold in the center (both times I went there). Couldn't hurt to add another minute when microwaving. They tasted fine but we're really nothing special. The burger the other time also suffered from ice cold tomato slices and lettuce. On the plus side, the place has a nice atmosphere, and drinks are good. read more

Always a treat. I especially love it when the weather is warm so that we can sit outside. It's a great atmosphere. After eating at Northstar, head down the street on foot to Ithaca Falls! read more

We have enjoyed Northstar several times over the past three years. We have always really enjoyed the food. However I had brunch with my daughter today and the food was barely warm. There wasn't any flavor! The service was terrible. We were greeted as if we were bothering the hostess. The waitress never came to see if food was okay or if we wanted a coffee or water refill. Maybe there is a new chef that doesn't want to be bothered like the hostess. I would not recommend this place. If your paying for a meal you want it to be good, hot, and you want to feel welcome. Definitely not the place. read more

Some reviews speak of poor service here. I just wanted to say that the service was great. We were there for the first time this weekend, partly to see just how bad the service was, due to reading Yelp reviews. We had typical Ithaca service; yes they (ie. Ithaca restaurants in general) do sort of act like they are doing you a favor, but yes they really are doing me a favor because where else am I going to get buffalo tofu wings with cucumbers? Still, there was zero snobbery at North Star. And it was a great price for dinner for 2, only $22.00. But we don't drink. The potatoes were too salty or there'd be 5 stars. read more

I've been here probably 7 times over the past 3 years, always brunch. Except for one time, we are ALWAYS ignored at the door-with the host standing right there. The following is what basically happens every time we've gone. Finally we get acknowledged and got on the list for a table. 20 minutes later when we approached to be led to our table, we are again ignored for another 5 minutes or more. Seriously, 5 whole minutes with the hostess babbling about his weekend with a friend. We finally get his attention and we get an eye roll?? 15 minutes to get a drink. I mean really??!! Then another 20 minutes for 2 bland tepid meals. I wanted another drink and waited over a half hour for the waitress to come back. She never did. And she's actually one of my brother's good friends so we were both confused why we were ignored so much. The place is run more like a house party than a restaurant due to all the socializing. Over and over I've been disappointed and this is no longer my "local" brother's favorite brunch spot. I'd rather wait 90 minutes for a table at the Carriage House..at least you're acknowledged and the service is crazy fast and attentive despite how busy they can be. read more

The menu has some excellent vegetarian options, and both entrees we got were very good. We got a rhubarb crisp for dessert that was mediocre. Great local beer specials during happy hour. read more

I don't like a leaving a bad review for a place primarily because of its service - after all, restaurants are about the food, right? - but after a couple times giving this place a shot the poor service was such a turn off that I'd have to get the food free to come back. Which is a shame, because a lot of the food is pretty good, there's something cute about the atmosphere and it's nice that there's (another) place in Ithaca with locally source wines and ingredients. The first time I went it was far from apparent who the hostess was. We waited in the front where there a was general gathering of people more resembling a mob than a line. After several tries we were able to pin down the hostess, who acted like she was doing us a favor by taking down our name. The waiter took forever to come and was slow, even for Ithaca standards, to bring menus, food and the check. The food, however, was good, so I considered going back again, even though the wait left a sour taste in my mouth. The crabcakes were pure crab, very good, the artichoke dip was really well done, the fries well spiced and my friend enjoyed her veggie burger. Next time back the place was half empty, so it was easier to get a table, which made me hopeful that service would be more attentive. It wasn't. Waiter took a while to come, upon which I informed him I had a coupon (which gave him an automatic 20% tip). The drinks and the mussels arrived at the same time, although the mussels were cooked in a really nice wine reduction and, if it weren't the smallest mussel portion I've ever seen (seriously, it came out to almost a dollar a mussel) this would be a definite recommendation. When someone came to clear the plates, she haphazardly pushed the silverware off of them. The burger was fun, although a bit thick for me taste and the cheese had a weird aftertaste I didn't appreciate. Finally, though the cremê brulee was nicely crunchy, though the champagne flavor killed the usual light cremê brulee taste. Throughout the evening the waiter never asked how everything was, never came to refill our water until I asked him (I felt like he was avoiding eye contact...) and, in the end, forgot to add the coupon. I'd consider coming back to Northstar House if you got a new set of wait staff, or at least retrained your current crew. You shouldn't ever feel like you're doing someone a favor by giving them money or that you have to remind them about the basic tenets of their jobs. It's a shame, because the atmosphere is nice and some of the food isn't bad, but leaving a place peeved because of bad service multiple times doesn't win you repeat customers. read more

The food at Northstar House is really bland and poorly executed. I can definitely make better food than what was served here. I will not return here for any reason. I was excited to go check out Northstar House based on the positive reviews. As soon as I get a menu, I was questioning some of the flavor combinations. I was interested in the collard greens and coconut soup with rice because I couldn't see how those flavors would coalesce in to a harmonious and balanced dish. I figured that if this is their house soup, it must be well executed and surprising. After eating it, though, I should have trusted my instincts. Collards need to be slow cooked to develop flavor and decrease the bitterness. I don't see how the bitterness of the greens would work with the rich creaminess of the coconut and it lacked any flavor complexity. I think the only ingredients of this dish were collard greens, coconut milk, and rice. There was no complexity or other flavors at work in the dish. Also, it was mind-numbingly bland, which drew out my frustration with the dish even more. I can see not using proper spices or flavorings to enhance the dish, but a little salt goes a long way to help liven up any meal. This soup was a complete failure in every sense of the word. It does not bode well when the house soup is so boring and bland. The fresh microgreens were a pointless addition as were the soggy crackers. On a final note, it was served in a coffee mug.......... I had the mac and cheese of the day. Much along the lines of the house soup, I figured that the mac and cheese of the day must be a signal of the strengths of the kitchen to do a daily reinterpretation of mac and cheese. Boy was I surprised. This was simply the worst mac and cheese I have had at a restaurant. I was told it came with fresh summer vegetables, but I got canned corn. The cheese was grainy and gummy. It stuck to my teeth like taffy. The cheese was really greasy too. The color was monotonous and, like the soup, no salt. I don't get how the daily mac can be so boring. No panko baked crust on the top. No interesting colors. No synergistic ingredients. Just really poor excuse for mac and cheese. My friend had the fish and chips. The fish has a nice crust, but it was very undercooked with some parts of the filet remaining translucent. The collard greens that came with the dish, to no surprise, were bland, undercooked and chopped very fine. Also, the napkins that we were given had grease stains. They were cleaned, but not very well. If you have any inkling about what good food is, then stay away from this place. You have been warned. read more

Veggie burger tasted like a frozen Morningstar deal. Pulled pork was not just under-seasoned, but tasted completely unseasoned. Fresh squeezed OJ and apple cider were good. Servers were nice enough but food wasn't good enough to warrant a repeat visit. read more

The main reason I'm writing this review is to warn others about the trio of purees. While the pesto-y member of the trio is okay, the smoked hummus dip literally tasted like cigarettes. I would not recommend this to my worst enemy...definitely in the top 5 worst things I've put in my mouth ever. Also it was so...thick. My veggie burger was greasy and the salad was meh. My bf got the mac and cheese which was yum but honestly anyone can make mac and cheese taste good. A note on the service: Walked in, the host seemed pissed to see us. Put our name on the list, went to the bar to order a drink. Bf asked the bartender what was on tap and, without looking/talking to my bf, he walked away and came back and slapped a menu on the counter. Though we were the only ones standing to order (not eating at the bar), we ended up standing by the bar for another 5-10 minutes trying to get the bartender's attention. Rude. Sat down in a reasonable time because other people had left. Problem was, our table wasn't "assigned" a server. So we didn't end up being helped until after the people who sat down at the same time as us had gotten their food, drinks, etc. Perhaps I ordered the wrong thing, or it was an off night for Northstar, but I definitely won't be going back again. read more

This has honestly been one of my worst dining experiences ever: my friends and I (7 of us total) called ahead to inquire about the wait time. One of the female staff members told us that if we got there within 15 minutes, we would only have to wait 10 minutes. What a lie. Turns out, we waited for over 90 minutes to be seated and during the entire wait, the hostess strung us along and kept on telling us that it would be a little while longer. Food was mediocre at best. I ordered spinach cakes and basket o'fries to start and a garlic burger (pasta salad and mac&cheese sides). Spinach cakes were dry and bland. Basket o'fries were acceptable (but it's pretty hard to mess up fries in the first place...). Garlic burger was barely acceptable: not that tasty and was lukewarm - not worth $11.50. Pasta salad was odd and a bit too sour. Mac&cheese was not bad, but the portion was a bit small. Apparently, groups of 6 or more have an automatic 20% gratuity added to their bill. I have never been to any restaurant that automatically charges 20% base for groups. (Granted, our waitress was okay, but not quite deserving for 20%.) Service in general was quite slow and they didn't fully attend to our needs. Worst part: given that my friends and I went to this restaurant on false pretenses and we ended up waiting for 1.5 hours, we believed that we should have been compensated for wasting our time. Now I understand if restaurants have strict policies about discounts/compensation, but as extremely patient customers, at the very least, we should not have to deal with unfriendly staff. The manager tonight (12/15) night came to our table with a big attitude problem: he was abrasive and unwilling to listen to any feedback/reasoning: we calmly explained that we came on false pretenses and had to wait for a very long time. The manager insulted us and promptly said we were "giving him attitude" and told us to just pay the bill. Long story short: food is edible, but not worth the money. Service was horrendous. read more

Food is okay, but service was terrible. We had asked for the manager because we were slightly unhappy and wanted to give our feedback. We were not rude in any way, but the manager's response was completely inappropriate and uncalled for. It made for a very unpleasant experience and I will never go back again. Do not recommend. Food-wise it's okay, but there are a lot of other places in Ithaca with similar food and way better service. read more

Okay, I feel kind of bad writing this, b/c in theory I really like this place. It's great that there's a neighborhood bistro in this location, and I appreciate what the owners are going for. The thing is, the food is terribly uneven. My wife and I have tried many things on the menu, and have mostly settled on the fact that the only sure things are the wings, the fries, and the dip trio. Everything else is a crapshoot. For instance, we went for brunch this Sunday. I got the steak and eggs. The blue cheese grits were tasty but cold, and there were bits of eggshell in them. I worked in restaurants for years--many of them divier than Northstar--and I can tell you that sending a plate out like this is seriously bush league. I didn't send it back b/c, well, I don't know why. I should have, but didn't feel like waiting ten minutes, and had already decided to write this review. That's one example, but we've had several similar experiences there. Also, the highly touted mac and cheese is just bland and bad, sorry. I honestly can't believe some of the reviews here that describe it as "yummy." Yummy, it is not. I hope if one of the managers or owners reads this, they take it in the spirit in which I'm writing it. I'm not just complaining for the sake of complaining--I really want this place to be good. We would happily walk down for dinner once or twice a week if it was, but it isn't. In my opinion, there's a real lack of quality control in the kitchen. I wouldn't even complain if it was just standard bar food, but when you're serving entrees at pricepoints in the mid-twenties, you have to either do better, or stop pretending you're a good restaurant. On the plus side, the bartenders, especially the tall, thin guy with glasses, are extremely nice. The ambience is cool, and the beer selection is good. Northstar, please get it together, kthxbye. read more

Yuck all over. I wouldn't write it here first (it can be passive aggressive) but their website doesn't have any information or way to contact. Really? Went there for brunch. Got tofu scramble, which was mushy and totally gross. It tasted like watered down ketchup and was essentially tofu with very,very little veggies. I asked to sub grits for the roasted potatoes. This was okay, but the grits arrived soaked in butter. Don't you think, for a vegan dish, the waitstaff would mention that the grits were decidedly not vegan if someone asked for a sub? I decided to set my food aside and wait until the waitstaff came over. Except that never happened. Waited until my boyfriend just ate my food so we could get out of there. The only reason this isn't a one star is that my boyfriend thought his food was okay. I'd love to talk to an owner manager; too bad it's not possible. read more

This has the worst restaurant service in Ithaca by far. I tried to sleep off my bad experience but it still nags me days after. We went around 7pm on Thursday night. - Waitress (Lisa) was pretty much absent throughout the entire dinner. Hello? - My friend was sitting by the wall and there was a puddle of water by his feet where they didn't clean the floor. Gross. - The portion of my garlic chicken burger was more like a slider than a real burger. So small for $12 or 13. NOT worth it. - We were a table of four different people, similar ages, and as Lisa served us dessert she also handed us a single(!) bill. We were taken aback and had to chase her down to ask her to split it. Then she gave attitude and said, "You should have said something ahead of time." But she never asked us when we wanted the bill, so she was wrong. WTH? - When she returned with four different bills, Lisa surprised us by saying there was an AUTOMATIC GRATUITY 20% FOR SPLITTING THE BILL - WHEN WE HAD A PARTY OF FOUR NO LESS! This is so ridiculous and unheard of. I've heard of that for parties of eight or more, but not four people. OVER IT. - Then to top it off, Lisa charged my card with the bill for another table ($65!) when my real bill was only $25! #NorthstarSucks read more

I really want to like Northstar, but I am consistently disappointed on several levels. Staff: Primary disappointment. It is very clear that the wait staff is getting drunk in the back. Some of the waitresses just kind of float around looking confused. I'm not coming to hang out with you or be your friend, I'm coming for food and drinks with my friends, and your staff makes that more of a chore. I've sat through entire meals without water. Bar: Prices, please. Nothing like accidentally ordering an $8 beer. It was tasty, but an unpleasant surprise when the check came. Food: Hit or miss. It always feels like you're getting nickeled and dimed for everything. I'm sorry, but burgers should just come with cheese, even if the default price is $1 higher, I'd rather that than feel like I'm getting punished for wanting cheese on a burger. The beet & goat cheese pizza had about two crumbs of goat cheese on it, but inspired me to go home and make one with real toppings. The only things on the menu that feel like you are getting what you pay for (and I'm almost afraid to say it because they'll probably just raise the prices) are the large basket of fries and the spinach cakes. Staff: again, the service is terrible. One time they even tried to kick us out of our table because there was a large group coming in. It would be one thing if we were there for hours, but we were still actually eating and getting drinks. Writing this review, I can't believe I ever actually go there, but something about it makes me hopeful that the next time will be better. read more

While this is generally a pleasant and friendly neighborhood bar/restaurant, you have to be careful to get reasonable value in your food. My friends ordered burgers and wings that were well prepared and good-sized complete with fries, but I ordered the tomato and couscous. It wasn't bad but puny, uninteresting and a little greasy. It was made from about $.75 of ingredients. The tomato was breaded and fried, on top of a cup and a half of couscous. The biggest problem was that this little appetizer was listed as a main entree for $18. read more

Top notch customer service! Everyone was friendly and willing to help. Food was great and timely!

Crimes against sausage are being committed on these premises! I had breakfast here this morning, only to be served a sausage that had been sliced in two length-ways, thus ensuring that all of its porkie goodness had escaped. What does it say about the world we live when the chef at a moderately priced restaurant neglects to provide the loving care that his sausage so dearly deserves? read more

I really want to like Northstar, but they keep making it hard. Went for brunch this weekend and we were completely ignored by our waitress for about 15 minutes after sitting down. She assumed we ready to order our meal when she finally appeared at our table. She didn't write our order down and then predictably got it wrong at least three times. She never came back to our table and we had to flag down another waitress to get more coffee. I ordered the biscuits with mushroom gravy and two fried eggs. The biscuits were good but not biscuits, more like some kind of toast. I ordered mushroom gravy but got the chicken gravy instead. One egg was runny and barely cooked and the other was completely overdone. I would've sent everything back but I feared not getting anything for brunch at all. Again I want to like Northstar but I think they could really use a good manager. read more

Ramen noodle bowl and empanadas were great. Kids gluten free Mac and cheese was delicious for my 2.5 year old. One of Ithaca's hidden gems!

Overall our experience was ok. Our waitress told us the specials for the day and then preceded to say that they were out of two of them as well as another menu option. For such a limited menu I found this odd and a bit disappointing. I chose the burger and I would say it was ok. The description on the menu made it sound as if it was something special when in reality it really was a cheese burger on a bun. The atmosphere was a bit lackluster. In short I would visit again but it would not be my first choice. A-ok. read more

We really want to like Northstar! It's super cute from its parking lot to its patio. But the dozen or so times that we've ordered entrees, the food has been disappointing and the service is slow. Most recently I had a very disappointing run in with the salmon bowl. Salmon was ok but the flavors of the items served with it didn't go together. Our other entree had to be replaced because the chicken was raw. We've found we have to limit our experience to drinks and appetizers. read more

Not so Nice Vibe Lured by the hype of a cozy neighborhood pub I finally dined at Northstar House. After three previous failed visits. We finally made it. The patio seating was pleasant. My mussel bouillabaisse ingredients were fresh but oddly seasoned. The spoon was bent to an unusable flatness. Although the food and service were iffy, I left a generous tip. Unfortunately, the bank charge was significantly higher. I called the restaurant to discuss the bill and was told in a surly tone that although I had detailed receipts that I needed to contest the bill in person, All told, I cannot recommend this establishment. read more

I can't recommend this food enough! Northstar donated food for the local bowl-a-thon I attended this past Saturday and each item I had was more delicious than the next! The Mac & cheese as a favorite as were the baked beans! I live in Brooklyn, NY but would travel to Ithaca to eat at Northstar! And next time I'm in town I'll definitely be making Northstar my #1 stop, especially because they support such important causes! read more

One of my favorite places in Ithaca. A tasty, well-executed menu that changes frequently enough to keep things interesting. Great beer list. Friendly low-key staff and a relaxing, fun atmosphere. The patio is lovely in good weather. Get the Northstar plate with a bloody mary for brunch. Don't miss the artichoke dip, the burger, or the mac and cheese for dinner. read more

Good ambiance, good drinks, and a good selection of food on the dinner menu (including vegetarian options). The reggae music was nice, but we were there for a few hours and it definitely started to repeat noticeably. Everyone's food was very tasty, especially the brie and apple flatbread and house soup (curry/coconut/collard greens). My only food complaint was the espresso creme brulee - I was looking forward to this but it ended up tasting like burnt coffee, and the creme part was kind of a disturbing pate color. I don't recommend ordering it. The service was hit or miss - it seemed like there were a lot of employees walking around but we didn't see our waitress often, when I said I didn't really care for the creme brulee they didn't apologize or offer anything else, and they kept trying to take plates that weren't quite empty. Our food came out pretty quickly though, tasted great with the exception of the dessert, and overall it was a good experience. read more

While Northstar does have a great selection of beer and knowledgable bar tenders, I would never recommend anyone to eat there. We do go on occassion just for drinks, and have tried the food a few times in hopes that we would be impressed and find our new neighborhood favorive. But unfortunately, everytime the food has been over cooked and flavorless. Not to mention the fact that their menu lacks real variety. I have never had a jerk chicken sandwich anywhere else that tasted like it came from a fast food place with no seasoning. If you do venture to Northstar, stick to the drinks! read more

I love this place! Saturday brunch is great. I love their outside seating. The food is incredible. Our only issue is the quality of service. We have been there at least a dozen times and service is always a big issue. Very slow - and often confused! Drinks rarely refilled, waiting forever to be initially waited on and again for the check, sides and such are often forgotten, etc. But the food is so good that we just put up with the awful service. read more

Northstar House - Wonderful food! - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Since an earlier review we've been back a several times. Still good, but a step down. For example, cheese appetizer now has one sauce, not three. Adequate but not wow. read more

Love the atmosphere, staff, and cocktails. The food is OK but my one complaint is it is definitely over priced. $15 for a pretty basic sandwich or burger and around $23 for entrees. Their food isn't that special to charge as much as they do. read more

The food is good, the atmosphere is comfortable, and the house cocktails are tasty. I recommend going after 8 for dinner. They have quite a crowd earlier in the evening. The only draw back seems to be that they are a bit too busy for their own good. The first time we went for dinner, we ate at the counter where people normally wait for tables since the dining room was so packed. The second time we went for dinner, we were seated promptly but then no one came to take our drink or food order for at least 20 minutes. I must have been giving the host the death stare (it was my birthday and I wanted a cocktail!), because he came over, politely listened to me complain, took our order and comped our first round of drinks. We will be going back again . . . read more

My favorite dinner/drinks spot in Ithaca. It has an ever changing diverse menu complete with vegan and vegetarian options. Although there are several places to eat in town for vegan/veggie people, it's nice to know that there will always be something new on the menu here. The menu is comprised of local organic vegetables (and meat if you swing that way!) so you know you're eating well and supporting the local economy. The bar hosts several craft brews and they have an extensive drink menu. I always get the Moscow Mule ...they do them perfectly. It's in Fall Creek, so the crowd is mostly 30- and 40-somethings. No college town vibe. It's very laid back, casual, and craft-food oriented. My favorite items are: Jerked Tofu Wings, Kangaroo Dip (OMG!!) , and the house veggie burger. I went to the dark side a few months ago and ate every Beef Burger I could find in town. NorthStar's is THE BEST. Huge and garlicky and dripping with juice. Oh, and a mac-n-cheese du jour. seriously...a different mac and cheese every day. Need I say more? read more

Wow - was this place lame. We had breakfast there on a Sunday morning. Place was about half full - that should have been the first clue. We ordered the french toast, some sausage, eggs scrambled soft, etc..... along with some coffee. French toast- despite its fancy description of being soaked overnight (which it wasn't) - was pretty generic. The soft scrambled eggs were cooked to death, and so it went. The coffee was pretty crappy too. Not really a single good thing to say about this place except the parking was convenient and easy. read more

Best locally-owned & locally-grown restaurant I know...love music, atmosphere, house soup, size & taste of salads, & mixed drinks as well as bev. selection. Really great if you love reggae, relaxed people, & an authentic, tailored cuisine for under $20/person. read more

We ate there twice the week of May 6th. The first time out the food was good, nothing to rave about. The waitress served the food and never returned. They were not busy while we were there. The second visit was the next day with a much larger group of locals. Same waitress but she couldn't do enough to make the visit pleasant. The food was great and even though we were a large group, everyone's food arrived at the same time and freshly prepared. Will I go back next time I am in Ithaca? Maybe. read more

Northstar is one of our favorites in Ithaca! We've been there several times & they never disappoint. This past weekend was Cornell graduation weekend, and they were super accomodating for us & took a late reservation. They also were flexible when i had to call back & add1 more person to our reservation. Food & service is always amazing. Definitely recommend this place! read more

What a great little place. I discovered this restaurant randomly and I had such a good meal. I had the beet and goat cheese flat bread pizza, and the artichoke garlic appetizer, it was wonderful. A bit pricey for how small it was but definitely worth it. I love sitting out on the patio with a cold beer, such a great ambiance. read more

Interesting food options. Vegetarian friendly. Lots of locally-sourced food. A bit of a hipster atmosphere. Menu changes seasonally. Located in Fall Creek in the old Willow location. Can be a bit noisy. read more