I visited "It's Only Natural Market" and then crossed the street to pick up my food that I had ordered over the phone. The host, dressed in all black with red makeup around their eyes, was rude to another guest. While waiting in the restaurant lobby with my soda water I got at "It's Only Natural Market," the host smiled at me but later told me I couldn't stay with the drink. I respected their request but felt they were unnecessarily harsh. Despite this, the food was cold when I finally received it, although it had good flavors. It seemed they were short-staffed and the restaurant was busy, which might explain the situation, but I believe that poor behavior towards customers isn't acceptable. I hope this feedback helps improve the experience for future guests. I'm unlikely to return if the service remains rude. read more

I recently visited the new location of ION for the first time (shamefully, it's been far too long since I've been to ION!). I like the big, open room although in hindsight there may be fewer tables than the old spot. It didn't matter to us as we were quickly seated at a table towards the middle of the room. The natural wood tables are gorgeous and a focal point of the location. It made a little awkward moment for us choosing where to sit as there was one short end of the table and the widest spot had a big divot missing. Our waiter was amiable and took our order quickly. I went with the swiss mushroom wrap, one friend had the cheeseburger (I think) and the third had the pierogis as she had regretted NOT ordering them at her last visit. My order was big enough that I ate half there and half at home and wish I had another order for lunch today (it was so good even cold that night!). Most entrees are $16, which was a bit much for lunch. I would have liked a smaller order for $12 for lunch and the bigger order for $16 for dinner but I understand it's easier to just keep it all the same. read more

ION Restaurant - Mushroom Swiss wrap - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

This is for the "GF" menu here. Terrible, I literally had a bowl of beans with some potatoes and ketchup, it was not dope. In fact, it was lame! There were no fresh veggies or anything! No salsa. ION is apparently more about vegan sauces & cheese made of nuts and so forth than tasty GF stuff. No GF bread nor pancakes here! Not recommended for GF peeps. (This place is great for vegans, though, evidenced by my boy and his GFs delight.) read more

We love Ion and go there for dinner every time we visit my mom in Middletown. We have loads of vegan restaurants here in Los Angeles, but there aren't so many to choose from in Connecticut. Luckily Ion is awesome. I love the nachos. My mom always gets the southern fried tofu. The brunch is great, too. read more

I had a great dinner with some friends at ION and I can't wait to go back to try it again. Their menu has so much variety, between the sandwiches, soups, salads & entrees. I ordered the chili which for an appetizer could easily be a meal, it was so filling. I had to get a side of corn-bread with it. It was delicious, but honestly a little over-priced at $5 for two pieces. My friends also felt that a lot of things on the menu seemed over-priced, but we all enjoyed are meals. Even my friends who are vegan/vegetarian food cynics were pleasantly surprised at how tasty everything was! The dessert menu looked delicious, but sadly I was too full. Next time I'll have to make it point to get something sweet! Our waitress was so sweet and down-to-earth, she answered all of our questions with so much patience and had a lot of good recommendations for us. read more

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Very tasty vegan option in Middletown, CT. They were not serving the Chickpea Parmesan so I opted for the Southern Plate. My meal took a while to come out although there weren't many people in the restaurant. However the southern fried tofu was seasoned well and dare I say felt like fried chicken as far as the texture. The baked black beans were tasty and I was satisfied with the sautéed greens. The cornbread tasted like it was made from the cornmeal as the fried tofu. Overall I was satisfied with my meal; just wish it came out a little quicker. read more

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Food was amazing! Our waitress was so sweet and so helpful with all of our food allergies. The cutest little spot in Middletown- definitely will be coming back! read more

Came in just for Bloody Mary and it was by far one of the best bloody Mary's in CT I've ever had! Perfect blend of spicy and horseradish.also just beautiful to look at. The menu looked too good so we ordered the sriram and beet/mushroom burger to go and delicious!! The burger was so savory and yes savory to describe a vegan meal!! Can't wait to go back and try more of the menu read more

ION Restaurant - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

ION...oh how my entire fam loves thee! Our daughter is a vegan and insists on eating at ION every time she's in town. The meat eaters in the family are always presently surprised and wonder if only for an hour why they aren't Vegan as well! Thank you for offering the most Unique, savory and sweet dishes, beverages and excellent service around, the space you've created is transcending as well as grounding! Can't wait for our next dine-in or take out! read more

So happy to have found this spot. Refreshing libations. Unique food options. The cornbread was the size of a brick - bigger even. Good flavors. Will definitely return. Kind of expensive, but totally a treat. read more

I love ION! I recently moved out of Connecticut and I will miss this place so much. I lived nearly an hour away but my honey and I would make the trip often and have never left there disappointed. Every single staff member is friendly, courteous and always make you feel exceptionally welcome and cared for. The food is always fresh and tasty and I'm often left wondering just how the heck they do it. For me, the desserts are where ION truly shines and their carrot cake is by far the best I've ever had the pleasure of eating. read more

My sis told me about them and she was right. These are meatless Cajun nuggets amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

ION Restaurant - Cajun nuggets (tofu) ‍ - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

This place is amazing! The food was made with thought and detail, and it really comes through in its taste. Probably the best sweet potato fries I have ever had from any restaurant (vegan/ non vegan), and their Mac n cheese with fried onion, vegan bacon is one I wish I could make on my own so I could eat it all the time. The staff were also so lovely! I'm not vegan but this place inspires me to want to incorporate more vegan foods into my life. read more

ION Restaurant - Beet burger, sweet potato fries, and Mac n cheese - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

I had been trying to come here for the longest time and I'm so glad I made it. We came in the afternoon so I just got a brownie rather than a full meal, but it was so fudgey and delicious. They were kind enough to put it with some whipped cream and blueberries (usually they just come wrapped but since my friends got plated food they put it on a plate for me). I also tried my friend's carrot cake (very good) and my other friend's nachos (phenomenal). I love that this restaurant makes such delicious, completely plant based food - it's really helping to change the food culture of the area. Our server was also so nice and I liked the vibe of the restaurant. Even if you're not vegan or vegetarian, I think this is a place that people of almost all diets would enjoy! read more

ION Restaurant - Brownie - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

This has to be one of my favorite restaurants I've been to in a while! I came here to celebrate my first vaccine dose and staff was incredibly kind and helpful! Our waiter told us all about the specials and was sensitive to all dietary restrictions. The ambiance of the restaurant is another aspect that drew me here. If you choose to be seated indoors, all the tables are spaced out for social distancing and the greenery and decor will make you feel as if you are dining at a 5-star location. Outdoor seating is just as comfortable with the canopies overhead to shield you from the sun while you are still able to enjoy the wonderful weather. As for the food, I highly recommend their vegan cheeseburger and kale salad, both were complex dishes that left me completely satisfied. I recommend getting a small salad, as their portions run large, but that's never an issue :) I highly recommend coming here, it was cleanly, safe, and had wonderful food. I hope to return soon. Thank you to Jared for the wonderful service!!! read more

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The staff is phenomenal. Everyone greets you with a smile. My taste buds explode with flavor every time I come here. Brunch is amazing. I can't ask for a better experience. The music is fun and I found myself dancing at my table by myself. I just love everyone that works here and I appreciate how they make it such a fun environment and a good vibe. I had the breakfast bowl: scramble, beans & avacado w "cheese" sauce. Added buffalo hot sauce to it. SO GOOD & filling. Also the carrot juice - AMAZING! Thank you ION!!!! read more

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I literally drove an hour and half to come visit this restaurant. I found out that ION has been rated the number one vegan restaurant in Hartford for years so I had to go for my birthday. The ambience in this restaurant is so great! It's actually quite massive and the decor is very hipster. The food itself is amazing! I got Cajun Gumbo which has vegan andouille sausage and chicken. I had never seen this as an option on other menus so I was excited to try. The dish was very well seasoned and I would definitely recommend it. We also ordered 2 of the seitan bacon cheeseburger because it was just that good!! It's a house made burger that blew my taste buds and I couldn't get enough of it! Sadly my double burger order filled me up too much to try the desserts so I guess I'll just have to go back! Such a shame (I say this sarcastically because I'm obviously super excited to go back!) read more

ION Restaurant - Great variety! So many options! - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

This is a difficult review for me to write. It is so hard for me to separate the restaurant of today from the restaurant that I grew up with. Like some, I have been a patron of ION for over 30 years. I was almost 10 when my mom became a vegetarian and discovered It's Only Natural. I was privileged to have had food prepared for me by Chef Ken Bergeron and Chef Mark Shadle. Over the years I have seen each of the owners bring their own spin to the restaurant. Sure, in the beginning the menu was simple. If Ken ran out of something, he could just walk over to the store for the missing ingredient. Some of our favorites were the Gado-gado, pizza, egg rolls, herbal salad dressing and of course the fresh breads with carrot spread! A new owner, new location and a new favorite dish! When ION moved into the Marketplace, Mark expanded the menu and included more desserts and drinks. This is when my current favorite, Southern Fried Tofu, was born. The restaurant became increasingly popular with the Wesleyan crowd as well as people looking to live a healthier lifestyle. Fast forward to 2018. Hipsters and young professionals fill the seats. My visit yesterday was not as pleasant as it could've been. The new menu had so many interesting things to chose from. Since it had been a while since my last visit, I opted for the Southern Plate. I just couldn't pass up the chance to have the Southern Fried Tofu. The plate comes with Black Bean Baked Beans, Garlic Greens and Cornbread. My mom ordered the Cobb Salad and my son had the Chickpea Tuna Salad Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries and Smoked Ketchup. The wait for our food was ridiculously long. It's possible that our ticket may have been forgotten. My cornbread was hard as a hockey puck, by the time I was served. The tofu pieces seem to have gotten larger over the years. Unfortunately, there's more breading now than tofu. Maybe this is for the benefit of the meat eaters. That being said, everything still tasted great. ION continues to be one of the best vegetarian restaurants in CT. read more

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

I LOVE this restaurant for all my vegan needs. I have even had my friends who aren't vegan try food and they always enjoy it. While I have dined in, I prefer takeout whenever I go and always get the nachos! They make it fresh as soon as I get there so it's still hot once I get home. If you haven't tried this place, it's def worth a shot read more

Yea definitely I like everything it's delicious . Just have 1 disappointed we wait the food around 45min

This place is adorable, the menu is extensive and the staff was friendly and attentive. I had a latte to start off with as well as the fried tofu and grilled broccoli, they were all fantastic. I ordered a sampling of items for my main entree planning on taking them home (I drove 7 hours to enjoy a meal here) unfortunately an allergic reaction put the brakes on my meal and I had to leave suddenly. Up until that point this was an amazing experience and everything was delicious. If you have a nut allergy, double check with your server before ordering your meal. Overall I would absolutely recommend this place, it was pretty awesome! read more

ION (It's Only Natural) is a great spot for vegan/vegetarian food that provides a host of interesting options. First off, we came in on a chilly night and the setting is reasonably cozy even if the door is not particularly well shielded. If you can, try to sit in a bit and you will be fine. The decor feels homey and natural with natural wood accents and soft lighting. To be honest, I picked this spot because we had a vegetarian food need that night and I figured it would be worth trying. When I looked at the menu, I was a bit confused because I did not realize I could just assume everything was meat free even if it did not specify. We started with the buffalo cauliflower and then I ordered the gumbo as a main. The cauliflower - while nothing at all like chicken wings - was incredible. The heat is mixed in to the breading and so each pieces is light, crispy, and dry. I was quite impressed with it. The gumbo was very impressive. It managed to pack all the flavor of a meaty stew without any of the meat. The "sausage" in it was good enough to fool me into thinking it could be meat. It was a wee bit salty for my preference which may just be how gumbo is anyways. The service was adequate and left nothing lacking. Overall, a good spot and I would not mind coming back. read more

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The first thing we noticed was the wonderfully attentive and patient staff. Thank you guys for an exceedingly pleasant experience! We adored the thick sweet potato fries with the smoky homemade ketchup we ordered on the side. We alsosplit four entrees: enchiladas, mac+cheese, bella, coconut curry. The entrees were very clean and flavorful--there's a great whole foods focus here. Comforting in a wholesome way. Since dishes don't get very heavy or super-seasoned, some food could be hit or miss for some people. But ours was definitely an enjoyable experience. Other notes: lovely lovely interior (essentially slices of CT trees) and selection. Vegetarian, and I think each dish can be made vegan. $13-$16 per dish. They were more than happy to accommodate our preferences. read more

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This is such a Queer ass space- AND we are so here for it. The staff was uber friendly and celebrated my half birthday with me! The food per usual was amazing , fresh and leftovers gone by the next morning! Ask for Stephen read more

ION Restaurant - Empty Plate, the food was great! - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Dropped by to check out the new location for dinner and I was impressed. ION moved a few blocks up Main Street and reopened within the past year. I came here for dinner with my uncle recently and I really like what they've done with the place. Although the dining area might be a touch smaller than before, I think it fits just right. Our server was great and took time to give us details about special offerings. The Southern Fried Tofu is a must, so we started with that. It never disappoints. The main meal was a vegan "mac and cheese" dish. It was decent, but a little dry for my liking. Otherwise the dinner was good and so were the drinks. All in all, I have to up my rating to four stars for the atmosphere with the redesign/relocation. It's like they stepped it up a notch. I will be coming back! read more

Went here for lunch today while in Middletown, and wow! We could not have had a better experience. The decor was fun and chic, and the whole atmosphere was very trendy. Our server, Savannah, was awesome too. I ordered the "To Pimp A Butterfly" cocktail, which had an interesting blend of flavors and was beautifully made. I thoroughly enjoyed it. For lunch, I ordered the mac and cheese, and couldn't believe that it was fully vegan. I've tried other vegan mac & cheeses before, and they don't come close to how delicious this was. I had to double check with the server to make sure that it was actually vegan (it was, just like everything else in the restaurant - I was just in disbelief)! My friend had the southern plate which she also couldn't stop raving about. Our dessert was the peanut butter chocolate cake, and we savored every bite of it. I highly recommend this restaurant, best vegan meal I've had! read more

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I really love the food at Ion, but the past two times I went here (a Tuesday night and a Saturday night) the service was unacceptable. It took over an hour to get my entree on Tuesday night and the restaurant wasn't even packed!! Additionally, people that arrived after us and ordered after us got their food first which was ridiculous considering I ordered a salad... When I went on Saturday, the restaurant again, was not really packed. Despite this, it took 15 minutes for a server to even give us a menu and then another 7 minutes for them to even give us water and cutlery. I ordered a mojito which came out after our food had come out and we were already done and it was terrible (not worth the over an hour wait). I wanted to cancel my mojito order after we already got our food and it still hadn't come, but the staff would not respond or make eye contact with me at all so I couldn't even ask! It's really frustrating because their food is pretty delicious and it's one of the only places in the area to get good vegan food. I almost feel like because of this, they don't care about service or the customer experience because they know they are the only restaurant like this on Main Street and in the immediate area... I've had such a disappointing and unacceptable experience these past few times that I'm not sure if I'll be coming back. I'd much rather go to Tibetan Kitchen (which has some vegan options by the way!). read more

ION Restaurant - Ginger blossom cocktail. Contains rose liquor and roses. - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Have eaten here for many years, but was very disappointed in recent visit, loud disco music was blaring so it was difficult to talk, also no paper menus anymore,(even on request) , nor free wifi to look at menu online. No paper receipts for the bill. Two of the meals we ordered were quite salty, and the temperature was turned down so far that we had to wear coats thru out the meal. (January) This used to be such a great place, very sad to see it going downhill . read more

I went in for brunch and Josh was my waiter. He made a few suggestions and I decided to take his advice. The eggs Benedict was delicious and the drink was a perfect compliment to my meal. Josh went above and beyond to making my dining experience a perfect one. My compliments to the chef! Thank you ION! I will come back and recommend this to my friends! read more

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One if my favorite restaurants in CT. Usually it is a little bit of a wait but its because everything is made fresh and their meals are always thorough and made with care. I can just tell. Every meal I've had was delicious. Im OBSESSED with the corn bread. All staff is super sweet. Very chill, relaxed vibe. I highly recommend. read more

ION Restaurant - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

My palate has been introduced to a world of culinary spoil I never knew existed. This restaurant offers all one may ask for: a dedicated staff, food that STANDS for a cause, an inviting and comfortable atmosphere with food deserving of Michelin accreditation. I proclaim "this meal is so good I want to eat it in bed" read more

As a person who has recently become intolerant to both gluten and dairy, I can express how much I appreciate having a place nearby that I can get delicious gluten and dairy free Mac and cheese! I've gotten their Mac and cheese multiple times (with jalapeños) and it's incredibly flavorful, so much so that you don't even miss the gluten and dairy! I've gotten takeout and dined in and both have been great experiences. Love ION! read more

Where do I start? First of all I would like to say that the food in this place is phenomenal. My wife and I got the nachos for our appetizer. Best nachos I've ever had! The Mac n cheese and the beet burger were excellent as well. The staff is amazing! Stephen was our server and has such great customer service skills. Stephen was also efficient and great at communicating. They made sure everyone was happy with their meal and checked up often. I would definitely recommend it to everyone including non-vegans. Give it a try. read more

If this review was based on food, I would give 5 stars. If this review was based on service I would give 3 stars. I've been dying to come here for awhile now. We visited on a Wednesday evening at 7:30. When we walked in, we walked up to the host stand and stood there for awhile. Servers passed us but no "hello" or "I'll be with you in a moment." We were both very confused and wondered if we should seat ourselves. I walked up to the coffee counter to ask and was told there was a wait list for a table. Finally a server came over to the host stand and wrote my name down. We waited over 30 minutes for a table. The restaurant was busy but there were a few open tables that the servers ignored. Toward the end of our wait time, three tables were empty but just needed to be cleared. The servers ignored those tables for a good 10 minutes until I complained. Finally we were seated after my complaint. The service after that got much better and the servers were all very nice. The food was EXCELLENT. My friend ordered the buffalo Cauliflower appetizer and loved it. They were perfectly fried and had so much buffalo flavor. It paired great with the side of ranch. We both ordered the Seitan Bacon Cheeseburger and were not disappointed. The burger was meaty and had a great cheesy bacon sauce. The meat flavor actually reminded me of meatloaf. It was super delicious. The sweet potato fries and chipotle ketchup were awesome too! I had to get dessert, come on. I ordered the Chocolate Peanut Butter Teasecake. Ooooooh it was good. I loved the chocolate + pb combo and the graham cracker crust. I was so stuffed by the end. I would love to come back for another culinary experience but wow the service better improve. I think this restaurant is understaffed at the moment and needs more employees. read more

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Always good food! Desserts are my favorite - chocolate peanut butter cheese cake. I have had brunch there too pancakes were fluffy and delicious! Def a spot for good plant based options Bit pricey but generally with large portions! read more

Awesome plant-based meal, thanks Eric for great service, very friendly and a comfortable atmosphere! The food choices are excellent and flavors quite delicious. read more

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Was looking for a place to grab lunch while I worked at a covid testing sight in Middletown. What a great find. I am vegetarian but this vegan food was amazing! The inside feels like my home, plants everywhere and fun boho atmosphere! The food was amazing, read more

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No words can describe how amazing ION is. Hands down my favorite restaurant on earth. If I could eat here every single day, I would!! Everything on the menu is incredible but my favorites include the potato and spinach pierogis (served with apple butter and kale), the sweet potato fries, egg rolls, and of course the desserts (yes, every dessert). Their new location is trendy yet casual and the servers are the best people in town. Yes, I'm a vegetarian so I may be biased, but my meat eating friends love it here as well. After dinner, go check out the market across the street for some local organics to go! read more

ION Restaurant - Potato and spinach pierogis - Vegan Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Great place! The decor is awesome and the staff is excellent. Stephen is awesome. The food was delicious. The appetizers were delicious and the main course was on point. The portion sizes were generous. A definite recommendation. I will definitely be back. read more

Where to start...this restaurant should be in every town! Their food is amazing and delicious, the staff is very dedicated and the service is outstanding. It's the second time I've been here with my husband, and the ambiance and environment is great! read more

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

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