My co-worker and I went to Ion Restaurant for lunch and everything about this place is great. I've been a vegetarian for about 8 month and have not until now, found a vegan restaurant that I enjoy. I was having a difficult time deciding on a meal because everything looked so scrumptious. In order to make a sound decision, I searched reviews on Yelp (Thanks guys). The Sweet Potato Enchilada appeared to be a fan favorite and a recommendation from my server (who was very kind). The Sweet Potato Enchilada was dipped in a delicious mole sauce with cashew and a side of black beans, rice and salsa with a dab of tofu sour cream. I was a little skeptical about the tofu sour cream, however, it was great. I highly recommend this meal. My co-worker ordered the Kale Salad with avocados (Yummy). I will say this dish looked delicious and she literally scarfed it down. This place offers adult beverages such as wine and beer. In addition, they also serve deserts. I'm pretty excited about the carrot cake cupcake and the 3 layer carrot cake with ginger frosting. Maybe for the next visit because I will certainly be returning. P.S The ambiance is fabulous. You'll be dinning in style! read more

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I have recently made the switch to a plant based lifestyle for personal reasons and have been struggling to enjoy food as much as I used to. ION has completely sold me on being able to have flavorful amazing dishes that are fully plant based. The food was delicious and filling and comforting, the service was spectacular and attentive, the ambiance was cute and thoughtful. I absolutely enjoyed every second of this experience and will definitely be back again! read more

My wife and I visited this restaurant for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. The restaurant was not overly busy, but a notice on the specials menu indicated they were short of help. We decided to dine inside due the uncertainty of the weather though the patio was very inviting. My wife chose the tempeh crab' Cakes: with Caesar dressing, sautéed garlic greens & sweet potato fries which proved to be a winner. My sweet potato enchilada: with molé rojo sauce, beans, brown rice, onion, tomato & cheese was equally delicious. All the ingredients were amazingly fresh. We also enjoyed unsweetened peach tea. Overall, I thought prices were almost as high as the quality. I would not hesitate on returning, but would do so only with some form of discount. read more

Stopped by for a little celebration dinner and we were not disappointed. The atmosphere is is incredible and the large glass windows in the front offer a great chance to people watch while you eat. The night started out a little rocky when the waitress, Raina I believe her name was, asked us about our allergies. My girlfriend has a problem with soy, gluten and dairy. Unfortunately her first order wasn't possible because it contained soy, but that didn't stop Raina from trying. She went in the back, had a little powow with the chef, triple checked the ingredients and came back with several modified options. She really went out of her way to make sure we were happy and our meals were safe, I can't stress that enough. For an appetizer we have the vegan nachos, without the chili. Delicious. The cheese is tapioca bases, so it was safe for my girlfriend and she loved it. The corn chips are excellent, the guac is creamy, smooth and very fresh. A great way to start our dinner. For the main course I had the southern plate. Its fried tofu with hot sauce on the side, corn bread, black beans and a kale salad. First, I really don't like kale, but this was to die for. It was tender, yet crisp, and topped with a vinegar like sauce. The beans and the bread were great too, but the real attraction was the tofu. I love tofu. Being a carnivore I get funny looks sometimes when I mention that, but if you cook it right tofu is the best. These little imitation chicken wings did not dissapoint. They have a very hearty, flavorful batter that gives a great crunch when you bite into it. The tofu has just the right texture to mimic chicken and tastes perfect. You still know you're not eating chicken wings, but you won't care. I'd take a plate of these to a football game on any Sunday. My girlfriend got a modified version of the Cali wrap. It was avocados, vegan cheddar, roasted bell peppers and a few other veggies that slipped my mind over a bed of brown rice (replaced the wrap) with a side of sweet potato fries. I only had a few bites from her plate, but what I tasted was excellent. I especially recommend the fries. They are huge, but still crisp and evenly cooked all the way through. Unfortunately we were unable to try the desserts. Also, since they only recently opened (or reopened from the sound of it) they still don't have a liquor license. Its BYOB with a 5$ corkage fee. All around this was an excellent dinner. The prices are great, the food delicious, the atmosphere fun and the wait staff is friendly, diligent and very accomodating. Again a shout out to Raina, excellent job. If you're in the area and are looking for healthier options you owe it to yourself to check out ION. You will not be disappointed. read more

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I finally made it to Ion and I wish it didn't take so long. We started with the nachos which were delicious. I had the jambalaya which was very hearty and it came with a cornbread so it was even more filling. My boyfriend had the burrito which he found tasty and filling as well. He was also amazed by the clear organic grape soda that tasted no different than the purple one. We went around lunch time on a Wednesday and they weren't too busy so we were able to choose where to sit and the service was very prompt. I'll definitely go back again to try other things. read more

ION Restaurant - Nachos are delish - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

So incredibly good! I had a big time brunch craving and remembered how good brunch was at ION. I met my friend there and we started with two huge bloody marys. They were amazing! Nice and spicy and loaded with great things like olives, celery and amazing bacon! I can't stop thinking about them. Next we ordered our brunch plates and I couldn't have been happier. I got the Veggie Benedict. The hollandaise sauce was out of this world! I also got a crab cake on the side because why not? ION always has been one of my absolute favorites. I love bringing my non-vegan friends there because they are always surprised at how great the food is. Always consistent, always great!! read more

ION is awesome. The food is ridiculously delicious, the service is spectacular and both the indoor and outdoor dining areas are chock full of great vibe! As a new practitioner of plant based nutrition, it's great to know that I can get a fabulous meal somewhere other than my own kitchen. Don't think this place is "good for a vegan" restaurant, it's a tremendous place to eat whether you're a vegan or not. Great food is great food, no matter how you slice it! read more

This place is fantastic ! The atmosphere is very nice and casual with that special blend of class and a slight touch of funk feel. So many lovely wooden tables and wood pieces around with beautiful mugs, bowls and plates. Some made by the "Vegan Potter" herself :) The staff is super friendly and helpful. The Menu is loaded with amazing mouthwatering creative dishes that change around now and then to keep you from getting bored. The desserts..oh the desserts..So Delicious! I will post pictures of my latest meal with description labels. You will get the idea that the Chef here is very talented indeed. read more

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This was my first time eating at the restaurant since they moved. It took me a long time to find a tofu/vegan-meal-partner to enjoy this place in the same way I would. I had the Southern Plate which is their signature southern fried tofu with sautéed kale, warm cornbread and beans. My friend had the Phish and chips plate. Their lunch plates are $14 which is a little bit higher than what I usually like to spend on lunch; but you cannot get quality treated/enhanced/manipulated tofu anywhere else in this area. I am not a vegetarian but I love tofu. The greatness of the southern fried tofu is the thick, spicy breading. I asked for additional dipping sauces and our server brought me a cashew sauce and yellow tahini sauce ( I'm guessing it was that color because of yellow curry powder) I tried the phish tofu croquette that came with my friend's meal. They did a great job giving the tofu a thicker texture that came close to a cooked fish filet consistency. The french fries that came with this dish are real thick slices of potato. I like their tables. They are made from trees that were cut down in CT and have history behind them. The tables have a metal plaque that says which city and street the tree used to live on. Service was also good. We had two different servers checking on us. read more

ION Restaurant - The Southern Plate - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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We had a fantastic lunch at ION Restaurant. ION stands for, "it's only natural, and their restaurants are described as, "Globally influenced vegetarian cuisine, plus smoothies, wine & beer, in an eclectic, colorful space." We out that in there because it truly is an accurate description of the food, cuisine and vibe. The space has a positive and casual feel to it, and on the right day (like the day we went) the sun shines in from the massive open windows. The food was amazing, garlic and mushroom risotto and a buffalo tofu wrap with a side of their famous sweet potato fries. Round of applause for ION! We are NOT vegan, but food like this made us feel like being vegan would be EASY. Everything was tasty and nothing was dry. This place will eliminate any misconceptions you have about vegan food, that's for sure. Next time we go we need to try the cake. YES, CAKE! We wanted to take a picture of the cake at the table next to us, but I'm pretty sure most people consider that inappropriate. We did take other pictures though, and we plan to return soon. read more

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Hands down the best Nachos! Add avacado and the beet burger is also very good! Didn't know what to expect but those two dishes are good.

First off, I am not by any means a vegan or vegetarian. But holy wow, this place was good. Super cool looking place, live edge tables etc. the server was also fantastic. We will definitely be back if we're ever in the area again. Delicious! read more

This was my first visit here and I thought it was pretty good! I'll definitely come back soon to try some more of the menu. Nachos and Chilli: SO good and very flavorful. I really enjoyed them. Southern fried tofu: wasn't a huge fan of the fried tofu. I found it to be a bit soggy and didn't like the lemon aioli. NOTE: cash only- no cards accepted. Meter parking outside. And the area isn't the best so lock your doors and be aware of your surroundings. read more

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Wow. Everything is unique, flavorful, and delicious! The ambience and service is great too. Highly recommended! Fire cider is so flavorful! You can taste all the different flavors simultaneously and there's a hot, burning feeling in the throat. Fair warning, it's spicy. This is one of the best and most unique drinks I have had. Yam quesadilla is yummy. It is unlike the usual quesadilla, which are heavy on cheese. This one is light on cheese and had other flavors complementing cheese. Yam adds a chewy texture too. Tempeh crab cakes and mushroom broccoli pizza were tasty too. I especially liked their lemon aioli. The cinnamon carrot cake was soft, sweet, and delicious. It wasn't too sugary. read more

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Holy co- .. uhh, wow! This place was a pleasant surprise. Order the sweet potato fries for an amazing start to your lunch/dinner you are about to enjoy. For gluten free options, I've tried the Black Bean Sweet Potato enchilada and the Almond Tamari Stirfry. Please try one of them for me! ... (or both)! The service is definitely a little on the slow side I must admit. The few times I've gone in whether it was lunch or dinner I had to look around and try to eye down my waitress. At lunch, I suggest to the person responsible for the schedule, maybe have two people working. The bartender one time was doing prepping for the night shift and accommodating two at the bar and took a little while to get to our table for refills and checking in on my guest and I. Seriously though, this place is so nice inside and out. Food is top notch! read more

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Tonight was our first visit to ION, and we were not disappointed. The interior is adorable and soooooooooooo warm and inviting. We sat at the banquet with a very long table. They put another party at the other end but it was like our own table as they were fairly far away. Our server, Matt, was awesome and attentive. We ordered a bunch of things, including the veggie pot stickers and nachos to start. They were beyond delicious, and my foster sons ate three more servings of pot stickers. Strangely enough, the bread with pepperoni butter was a big hit as the butter tastes EXACTLY like pepperoni. For an entree i tried the perogies, which I was not a fan of. I'm not sure what I was tasting, but there an odd flavor that didn't work for me. However, my sister-in-law loved them, so it worked out fine. My son was not a fan of the mac and cheese, but I'm loving it as it has a serious garlic undertone. The garlic greens didn't have anywhere near enough garlic for me, so I took them home to doctor them up a little. One of our party ordered the fried southern tofu which was delicious, as was the corn bread. Another person had the cali wrap and had no complaint on that. The star of the show, however, was the peanut butter chocolate not cheesecake dessert. It was AMAZING...I so want to try other entrees and desserts soon. This is for sure a top-notch restaurant, vegan or not. We cannot wait to go back. read more

I've only visited ION 1-time, but that's because of COVID! I enjoyed the atmosphere and creative choices on the menu! I'm also gluten-free and found lots that worked for me on their menu! Can't wait to visit again after I'm vaccinated! read more

I went to Ion with 2 family members for lunch a few weeks ago, my daughter & my sister who are both young. I was looking forward to it as I enjoy their store across the street. My daughter was so excited so I was. However, upon walking in the door I felt extremely uncomfortable. One of the young waiters stared at me the entire 30 minute wait, which led me to believe he was wondering why I was there maybe? It was not a friendly stare, making it worse, he ended up being our waiter. I felt judged immediately. The atmosphere was very relaxing & zen, however the waiter's attitude not only turned me off to never going back again, but the "rules" here are opposite of a customer enjoying their experience. It took away from the purpose of being there. Its not a place to go if you think they are open minded or care about what you don't like in a drink or don't have in your diet! Very upsetting. We ordered a few apps & wanted to share a "mac-n-cheese" at the same time. We were told flatly NO! You have to have it as your entree! Wtf?! Never in my 49 years of life have I been told at a restaurant where you pay (prices are on the high side!) that no we won't allow you to have what you want a little sooner. I was blown away, shocked & turned off. At that point I wanted to walk out! But I, unlike the restaurant could compromise so I stayed. The food was ok, not exceptional. They serve the cornbread dry! We had to ask for jam. I suggest they offer it, it will save servers a lot of aggravation. I might add one of the drinks I thought sounded great contained soda(I can't drink as I gag & haven't had since I was 8 years old) so I asked if they could substitute the soda, absolutely not! Kept telling me it wouldn't taste the same, exactly, I didn't want to taste soda! It could have Been substituted with water or juice, here's a kid telling me it can't be done. In addition to being around for 49 years, you learn to make moderations to accommodate for customers. Not here! We waited an unreasonable amount of time for a drink including water. Seemed like they don't care if you're thirsty? I had to ask 3 times for water. While finishing our meals & me being irritated by rules, a dog came in & was adorable, he seemed to be well known there, however, with all the rules A DOG IS ALLOWED TO DINE HERE?!! Unreal. Apparently they want you to feel powerless? They do not seem to understand what customer service is. I don't understand the theory. The Food presentation was nice but unfortunately I won't ever go back or recommend it to anyone. As a matter of fact I will share my experience to everyone. Too bad. read more

I've consistently been pleased with the quality selections on ION's menu. I think the pizza and desserts are phenomenal. The chefs at ION are alchemists: they create satisfying, flavorful dishes without meat or dairy that both vegans and omnivores will enjoy. The biggest issue I have with the restaurant is that the service was a little slow in the past. But based on my last two or three visits, the service at ION has gotten a lot better. read more

ION Restaurant - Creamy Ginger Soup (vegan) - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Ate at ION tonight, and it was fantastic!!! I had the southern fried tofu, and a generous helping of moist, delicious cornbread. Oh, and a peanut butter teasecake that was literally God's gift to this planet. Just go and eat it, seriously. read more

ION Restaurant - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

I am so happy that I found ION! They have such a cozy atmosphere, a wonderful staff, and amazing food. Their sweet potato fries are the best I've ever had, and I've had a lot of sweet potato fries. In addition to tasting great, the food is also plated in a way that is definitely picture-worthy. It is great being able to come to ION and know that I can eat anything on the menu without compromising my vegan lifestyle. My only wish is that they served breakfast during the week. I've yet to try their brunch because it never works with my schedule. read more

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What a joke this place is. If you want a "take care of the customer" type experience, don't come here. Sat down, asked for a normal menu, because I didn't have my phone on me (anyone else tired of this new way of going out to eat with no real menus?). They said they didn't have ANY menus, and basically, tough luck (use a friends phone, or a servers phone,.. as if that's normal). So I left, and on the way out, told the host why I was leaving. His response was "it's environmentally friendly". Well, so is writing this review I guess. read more

Yum yum VEGAN meal this spot is and about 45mins away from where I live but it is worth it. My new favorite spot. read more

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Their food is super delicious and healthy! Love that they offer food to vegans, however i am super sad they limited their menu to only a few options. read more

I just ate a salad from ION, vegan restaurant. It is by day the freshest and most delicious salad I've ever had!! I ordered Trumpet Mushroom Risotto with Scallops for dinner later. I took one bite and was in HEAVEN! The kicker? I'm not vegan or vegetarian! read more

I was happy to finally be able to try this interesting restaurant! The food was great! I had an item off their daily specials board! Delicious! It has safer selections for those not as adventurous. ( those afraid of Tofu, etc. ) I loved the table I sat at, a large slab of wood. This restaurant is, for me, a breath of fresh air. Guilt free eating!! I can order anything off the menu!! I want to go back when it gets warmer and sit in their out door area. read more

Been here countless times and they never disappoint! Can get pretty busy but that just goes to show how good the food is. Always fresh and service is super friendly. Food is made to order so it can take a while (but totally worth the wait) just make sure you have time to plenty of time to sit down and eat - you won't want to skip appetizers or dessert they're both absolutely amazing! By far one of the best vegan restaurants around! read more

ION Restaurant - Newest item on the menu: Vegan Meatballs (only complaint - too delicious, sad when they were gone) - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Me and my boyfriend came here a few weeks ago!!! I ordered clam pasta and he orderd the beet burger... for dessert we ordered 2 pecan cookies and a chocolate mousse!!! It was delicious but the cookies were ok... a little oily oh yeah and for the appetizer we ordered the garlic Parmesan cauliflower wings... it was pretty good but next time I think we are going to stick with the buffalo because it was kind of oily... definitely going back the food here is good and very well seasoned!! 4 starss read more

My family has only been eating plant based for a few months and this was our first time dining out. We had an excellent experience last night! Place is chill, everyone was super friendly. Our server was great (killing me I can't remember his name - josh?) he was extremely knowledgeable and attentive. Answered all our questions and had great drink recommendations! Food and drinks exceeded our expectations! We had the buffalo cauliflower, crab cakes, and the burger. We were a little hesitant based off some recent negative reviews, so we were pleasantly surprised with everything. We will definitely be coming back! read more

Delicious meal, awesome vibe of the restaurant. Only thing that was a tad awkward was the "Too many cooks in the kitchen" phenomena. I ordered the yam quesadilla which was fantastic. All it needed was a side avocado and it was perfect. But I had not one (as usual) but three people over the course of about 4 minutes asking "how's it taste?" Very sweet, but I did a double take for the second person thinking "didn't i just answer this question..." and gave a reluctant "good," to my third inquirer. Similar event when my server asked if i needed more water. I said no i'm good, almost immediately a guy with a water pitched walks over and tries to fill my glass. Great food, don't get me wrong, but maybe more checks and balances when it comes to server duties? I realize it's petty but i wouldn't be the only person thrown off by this. read more

Went for my birthday brunch! The food and service was amazing, per usual. The atmosphere continues to be warm and welcoming, with the best decor! I am writing this review because the manager went absolutely above and beyond. My husbands wedding ring slipped off in the bathroom and the staff helped us look everywhere for it. The manager took the trash outside, and with gloves he looked through and found it! We were in tears at the love and caring the team at Ion had to help us find his wedding ring. With that, they made it my best birthday. Every experience I have at Ion is a treat and I will always recommend this restaurant!! So excited for my next visit. Thank you!! read more

Absolutely in love with this place. I am neither vegan nor vegetarian but very much appreciated the care that went into this restaurant. The menu is perfect. I had the general tso's cauliflower, which was incredible. The "cheese" board was delicious, very flavorful. Everyone in our group was thrilled with their food. The restaurant is also gorgeous--spacious, beautiful wood slab tables, lovely décor. read more

It's Only Natural/ION is a world-class vegan restaurant in Middletown CT. Treat yourself & enjoy individually perfected organic vegan food, great coffee & a well-stocked bar! read more

This is definitely the best place to get Vegan food! Their Vegan nachos are unbelievably good and you get so much for what you pay. The atmosphere of the restaurant is awesome, and everyone seemed to be so happy and content with their order. I honestly recommend this restaurant to everyone in the area, and take my friends there when they visit. I have never been let down or disappointed by the service, and the food came out of the kitchen very quickly. I can't wait to go back and keep trying different items on the menu! read more

ION Restaurant - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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ION is a unique place. The tables are all big slabs of wood from a gigantic tree, so they're all different shapes and sizes. The walls are decorated with funky artsy things that you'd expect in a vegan restaurant. :) In my opinion it's very cool and I feel at home here. I've been here about 5 or 6 times over the past 4 years. The service seems to get slower every time. The last visit, we waited more than an hour after placing our order. Thankfully we'd ordered (and promptly received) a plate of sweet potato fries as an app, so we had something to tide us over. As people at surrounding tables came, ordered, and were served, I really began to wonder what was going on. Maybe our server forgot to put our ticket in? Or maybe there was some mix-up in the kitchen? Who knows. Fortunately, they acknowledged their mistake and gave us dessert for free. We all took home huge slabs of carrot cake, so it worked out in the end. Speaking of the food, I've never had a bad entree here, Everything is sinfully delicious. The carrot cake is freaking amazing. Despite the potential long wait time, I will keep going back to ION because the food is great and- let's be honest- there's not that many other vegan options around! read more

This meal was amazing. I had a beet burger with a kale salad. It was so fresh and full of all sorts of delightful flavors and so hearty. I washed it down with a fresh lemonade. I'm so glad I finally tried it here. I will be back soon!! read more

So disappointed with tonight's experience. Not the same as it used to be. Wondering if it is under new ownership or they just dont care anymore. Going by the waitstaff, it seems to be the latter. Food was cold and just shoved down, waiter left without seeing if anything was needed so I had to go find our silverware my self. So sad to see another Middletown landmark sucked into not really caring anymore because they have a reputation of being "the best". Luckily, Middletown has so many other choices with excellent customer service. read more

It's a little on the hipster side, but their food is amazing. Only have been twice, but great both times. I'm giving it a 4 only because of the price and some of the wait staff can be a little judgmental about how you're dressed. Other than that I highly, highly recommend this place to vegetarians, vegans and even carnivores! read more

Amazing food, amazing service and great relaxed vibe with a lot of character! We've been coming here for years, it seems there have been some changes and the menu and cooking are superb. You won't believe it's vegan! read more

Absolutely delicious and there was enough to take a mealsworth of leftovers home. My sister and I shared the White Clam Pasta for which I requested gf pasta, garlic tofu side, side Brussels, side broccolini AND we shared gf cheesecake. My God! That was good. I have been going to ION for years and through its various address changes. It has been a long time since I could say I can't wait to go back. read more