We booked a table for Thursday night and were seated right away -- even had our pick of sitting inside or out on the patio. A glass of Pét-Nat from Osmote made for a great start; I'm a huge fan of this winery. Service was decent, and the food came out impressively fast. The patio was lovely, if a touch noisy thanks to the busy street nearby. We shared the broccoli to start, and it didn't disappoint. Naturally, the Thai Green Curry was a must-try -- and a good call it was. Only downside: the portions ran on the small side. read more

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Fresh, healthy vegetarian recipes. Smallish menu. Whenever we are nearby, we try to make time to stop into Moosewood restaurant, for old-times sake. This time (Jul 2026) was like our visit a couple of years ago. The menu was rather short, and we didnt see many middle-of-the-road or ordinary comfort-food offerings. Their local sourdough bread appetizer was fresh and nicely flavored, and we chose the fresh olive oil side just because it's so luscious. We could have had chive-butter. The marinated olives were flavorful and a little spicy. Their NY-cheese board had a tasty selection of soft and hard cheeses. The salads had choices of a chutney-paneer based mix, which was refreshingly creative. And we liked the Farmstand berry-cherry goat-cheese almond salad. These were all appealing. Chickpea salad or stew, tofu or salmon over steamed veggies, or smoked-trout open-face tartine sandwich, each sounded good, but we didnt bite. None of the mains called to us. I guess we just felt that none of those menu items screamed out we-gotta-come-to-this-restaurant. The food tasted like just homemade and fresh, but not exceptional. The food was ok, no complaints, but not a big thrill. read more

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After decades of waiting, I finally ate at the Moosewood Restaurant last night. I won't say I was disappointed but I will say I was underwhelmed. I ordered the tofu green curry and the man ordered the Moosewood burger. Neither dish was hot upon arrival at the table - more like lukewarm. The man says the burger wasn't particularly flavorful, although the roasted potatoes it came with were very good. The curry was flavorful and spicy, although the curry sauce was on the thin side. We didn't order appetizers (other than the olives) or dessert, so I can't comment on either. The service was friendly and efficient. When I mentioned that the food hadn't been served hot, the server removed two of our drinks from the bill as compensation, which was appreciated. I would give it another try before leaving Ithaca, but my expectations will be tempered on a second trip. read more

Moosewood Restaurant - Tofu Green Curry - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Yummy vegetarian goodness! The legendary restraurant did not disappoint. Cozy atmosphere and friendly service. I had the corn chowder and a salad. Really fresh and satisfying. My table mates had the chickpea salad sandwich and enjoyed it thoroughly. One of my table mates had the beet martini---I tasted it. Interesting with a tart flavor and a good amount of vodka. Good time with friends and excellent healthy food. read more

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Food is okay. We tried the lasagna and strozzapretti- I wish the pastas were homemade, but at least they were prepared well. Al dente and good flavors. I would eat these again. We also tried the thai curry, burrata, peach salad. The peaches were not ripe, but the crunch was a nice textural component. Burrata and curry were fine. I wish the curry was spicier. I liked the thin ribbons of cucumber in the burrata dish though. Maybe I am being too harsh... I had rather high expectations coming into Moosewood, and the food wasn't bad per se, but nothing really wowed me. I would eat here again, but I wouldn't seek it out. read more

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I loved my lunch at Moosewood! I grew up learning to cook vegetarian meals with the Moosewood cookbooks, so I was excited to visit the legendary restaurant. I had an iced latte to drink that was really good and strong. Based on the server's recommendation, I had the Moosewood burger - a black bean burger with potatoes - on a gluten free bun. It was fantastic. I saw some people say the sauce and onions were too much, so I asked for no onions. The sauce, to me, was perfect and necessary to cut through the richness of the beans. I loved the vibes of the place and the shop they have is so cute! read more

Moosewood Restaurant - Moosewood Burger - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Such a warm and welcome restaurant. We were greeted and shown to our table and it felt like a lovely warm spot. We had a great server and he explained the menu to us. We shared the cheeseboard which was delicious. I had Moroccan stew and my husband had the black bean burger. Both were very good! My cocktail was also delicious. read more

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After 30 years of cooking recipes from their cookbooks I finally made it to the iconic vegetarian restaurant in downtown Ithaca. I was not disappointed! To start we shared a watermelon feta salad which was so fresh and delicious. Then for entrees we chose theThai curry and the vegetable pot pie. Both were outstanding. To top it off dessert was almond cake with fresh nectarines. The cocktails were slow coming out and two of them were wrong . But they were sent back and corrected. Candlelit tables were a nice touch to the space which was neutral with artwork lining the walls. So happy I finally got there. read more

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I heard about Moosewood when my SIL sent us a Moosewood postcard from Ithaca (you'll get one with your check at the end of your meal, check it out)- we got to check out the restaurant when we went to visit recently. If you're planning on going, make sure to make a reservation- when we walked in on a Friday night soon after opening, it was already pretty packed! We got lucky and got a table outside. Moosewood seems to be a vegetarian/vegan restaurant, but they did have a salmon special that evening so guess they do fish too? For Appetizers, our group of 4 shared the polenta cakes, the green pea hummus and the mushroom lentil pate. The hummus was served with crudités and some whole wheat pita- while delicious, the earthy flavors of the the whole wheat pita overpowered the green pea flavor of the hummus. My husband was raving about the polenta (it WAS really good)- crispy triangles of cornmeal goodness served in a tasty romesco sauce. For mains, my SIL and I got the lemon parmesan pasta topped with crispy leeks and breadcrumbs (one regular, one vegan)- the vegan version doesn't have the parmesan so didn't have the creaminess factor but was still delicious. SIL's partner got the Thai red curry (which I was eyeing too!)- topped with lots of vibrant veggies, it looked just as good as it tasted it seems! My husband got the black bean burger with sharp Cheddar and he happily finished off his plate. Make sure to leave room for dessert- we shared the vegan chocolate cake and seasonal panna cotta (matcha flavor)- perfect way to end a really good meal. Our server was attentive and kept checking in on us- she had a full patio but she kept it moving! Definitely recommend if you're visiting! read more

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Fantastic atmosphere. I celebrated my graduation here and am vegan, it was an amazing experience with wonderfully professional service.

Came here for a Sunday date with my girlfriend. I had a cold. She was starting to get one. So basically, we were two humans in slow health decline... but Moosewood was our safe haven. We split the black bean burger and red curry -- both were great. The burger was cozy and satisfying, and the potatoes were hearty. The red curry was veggie-packed, gently spicy. The honey lemon tea was actually magical. It soothed my sore throat and my soul. This place is basically a wellness retreat disguised as a restaurant. Perfect for when you're in love and low-key falling apart. PS: We did see a centipede. Not part of the meal, thankfully. Just a little forest creature making its guest appearance. Honestly kind of on brand for the crunchy nature-core aesthetic. read more

The first time I came to Ithaca was specifically to eat at Moosewood!! Somehow fate brought me to live here many years later, and I have come to Moosewood on occasion over the years. What can I say? A lot of the dishes on the menu, which changes daily, you may recognize from your various cookbooks. Sometimes it seems like, "Ph, I could've, and have, made this at home..." Other times it's wonderfully comforting. The portions are never too large, but they're always just right. The cocktails and wine list are wonderful, and if you sit next to a window or on the terrace on a beautiful day, your experience can be memorable. (Of course it's overpriced!) I really like the service. You get the sense that some of these folks have been here for a while, and they know what they're doing. They don't need to try very hard, being a pilgrimage site. In some ways, that's a disadvantage. read more

Moosewood Restaurant - The view from the table on a lovely, fresh spring day. - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Went to Moosewood for the first time a year ago and found myself reminiscing today about how good it was. I have since bought 3 of their cookbooks and have yet to be disappointed!! Moosewood was one of the pioneers of inventive vegetarian cuisine for decades and they are still putting out delicious, comforting, quality, and healthy dishes for the world. My praise for this place and their work couldn't be higher, I only wish I lived closer! read more

Moosewood Restaurant - cheesy lemon bread crumb pasta (special) and the Moosewood burger - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Ambiance - great. Service - excellent. Food - awful. What HAPPENED? Moosewood used to be amazing. I'd tell anyone who would listen about the mushroom pasta. After last night, I will not go back. Not a single thing we ordered had any seasoning on it. The hummus, which used to be perfection, tasted like mealy grass. The new cavatelli on the menu had the flavor profile of jarred baby food. The burrata was the same consistency as a rubber handball. The broccoli cheddar soup was just sad. Honestly the only decent things we ate were the patatas bravas and the pita chips that came with the hummus. I truly have no idea what happened to this once culinary gem but it's truly unfortunate. read more

Had the most fantastic lunch experience at Moosewood! Thank you to the staff for being so family friendly. My husband and I could enjoy the beautiful and elegant atmosphere while our kids colored with crayons presented to us when we first sat down. There is a kids menu that includes delicious sparkling lemonade. Their alcohol menu is also fantastic. The food really blew us away, everything was delicious. The sourdough bread with smoked butter, green pea hummus, black bean burger, Moroccan stew and the Thai curry. All around wonderful! So glad we stopped here in Ithaca. read more

Moosewood Restaurant - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Was hesitant with such mixed reviews. But overall glad we went. Service and ambiance were very nice. We started with the local bread with olive oil. Not the best bread I've ever had but pretty good. Also got the patatas bravas which for me was my favorite dish. Super flavorful. We got two dishes the Spring cavatelli and the moosewood burger. The burger was really good but the pasta is where I could see why some people threw around the word bland. I don't want to say it was bad, it just was very light and didn't have a rich flavor like most pasta dishes. We got the matcha panna cotta to go which was also pretty good. Overall I think it just depends on the dish you get but I was fully expecting straight up bland food based on other reviews but that wasn't the case. The cavatelli could use a little work though. Overall it was nice. read more

1/4 of the menu is food, the rest us booze. What is available for dinner are five vegetarian entrees, all increasingly less appetizing. The black bean burger would be okay if it weren't covered in a slimy combination of raw onions and mustard. I'm thankful for the two people it took to figure out where to seat us in an empty restaurant. Cheerful service when a server who wasn't ours finally got around to taking our order because they noticed we had been sitting in an empty restaurant at a crammed three top in the corner. The ambience was nice, lots to look at in between bites of slimy mush. I think my wife got four pieces of tofu in her entree. Nope. read more

Another reviewer said it well - Moosewood feels like fancy home cooking in a lovely setting. Almost every dish had an amazing element - the pita in the hummus appetizer was pillowy but had a crispy outside, the tofu on the salad was baked perfectly, and the date chutney on the Moroccan stew was otherworldly. Other elements felt less refined, like the crudités with the hummus or the level of dressing in the salad, but overall still solid dishes. Then came the brownie.... Wow, what a brownie! Elevated flavor, fudgy yet crumbly, nice balance between sweet and salty. Just amazing - one of the best brownies I've ever had! The local vanilla ice cream was a perfect accompaniment. If you are looking for a seat on the patio, I suggest coming after 8 as many spots opened up then. If you are wondering, the patio was waterproof (it poured while we were there). Service was friendly but was a teeny bit slow because the restaurant was so busy but sped up as the evening went on. I would definitely recommend checking out this institution on your next trip to the area. read more

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Would be a five but the Moosewood salad was weak. Dressing was benign, needed salt and pepper, and there were a few pieces of browning lettuce that is off-putting. Server was very patient and helpful. She gets a 10. Entrees were creative and delicious. Veg lasagna and the Moraccan chickpea stew. We enjoyed our meal and we love our well used two cookbooks. read more

Moosewood Restaurant - Moroccan chickpea stew. - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

I try to go to Moosewood every time I visit Ithaca. Menu items have a unique way of feeling both like a home-cooked meal and fine dining. Its ingredients are always fresh and unique, packing a lot of flavor through the use of native ingredients. The ambiance is very relaxing and the service is great. As an iconic and historic vegetarian restaurant, it is worth trying at least once! Who knows, you probably wont even miss the meat. read more

Moosewood Restaurant - Moroccan Chickpea Stew - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

I was hesitant about this place as I find a lot of vegan restaurants to either be overpriced, or lacking in quality. But Moosewood was a great experience that served quality at a fair price. I got the bean stew, and you wouldn't even knew it was vegan, had a bit of heat as well. Gorgeous outdoor seating area, and outstanding service as well. I recommend this restaurant for everyone, vegans and meat eaters a like! read more

Moosewood Restaurant - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Moosewood Cafe is one of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in the country and with the quality of the food, it's not hard to see why. Known for their cookbooks as much as the restaurant, the "farm to table" menu sources from local dairies and farms for simple but tasty fare. We made a lunch reservation in the sunny dining room on a Saturday afternoon. We split a cheese board and a salad, while each of us got a soup (vegan split lea and creamy red pepper bisque). The split pea was a little heavy on cumin but tasty, while the bisque had a deep, rich flavour. The salad was bright and colorful: mixed greens, shaved beets, red onion, carrots, and pumpkin seeds in a lemon tahini dressing. The star of the meal was the cheese board: crackers, almonds, honey, and pickled vegetables with three cheeses: a camembert, a smoked gouda, and a truffle ewe cheese. The camembert was the best of the three, creamy and just enough of a mushroom funk, though the subtle smokiness of the gouda and the subtle tang of the ewe cheese were great as well read more

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Went with my daughter for dinner. Host was nice and attentive. Geneva, the server was just lovely with all steps of service. Food was good. Lovely experience. read more

The food was amazing. The atmosphere was wonderful and the service was great. We ordered a few items to share and then each had an entrée. read more

I'm not vegetarian but this place was amazing! I was worried because some of the reviews are a little iffy but I loved the food and the ambiance. The Thai curry was delicious and I would get it again! My friend loved the pot pie as well! No complaints at all! read more

Moosewood Restaurant - Pot pie - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Loved lunch today! Sunflower Cesar salad dressing was amazing! The salmon bowl was so tasty. And the soup of the day was delightful. The servers were so sweet and attentive. We had a fun and tasty lunch! read more

We recently (4/15/2026) dined at the Moosewood. I selected the Mushroom Tart as my entree. The word that best describes the entree is abysmal. Dry, tasteless and chewy. The meal tasted like it was reheated. I've dined at the Moosewood in the past and I have never been as disappointed. read more

People all over the world have heard of Moosewood. And they travel all the way to Ithaca to try it. The restaurant brought the idea of fresh and healthy vegetarian meals to households everywhere. In the 1970s and 80s I was raised on recipes from the iconic book. (It's similar to Alice Waters' fresh-food movement of the late twentieth century.) The restaurant was owned for decades by the staff who ran it, but has recently changed its structure and is now run by one former owner, I'm told. I worked here during college and ate my way through every item on the menu multiple times over. The food is delicious, and there is now a bar section as well as an outdoor patio. The juice bar has been moved or removed. Definitely make reservations if you can. The five of us loved our meals, even though not all were vegetarians. read more

We had lunch at Moosewood in August 2025 after at least ten years since our last visit. We were *very* pleased with the food: Excellent, flavorful and just the right sized portions. I'll come back more often. (My only complaint is that we ate outside (pleasant) and the waitress assigned to us did not speak loudly enough to be heard over the modest street noise.) read more

Moosewood is still a great restaurant. Healthy food in a clean, simple environment. Vegetarian food is not just rabbit food and Moosewood has cookbooks for sale so you can duplicate your meals at home. This restaurant is a long time resident of Ithaca. read more

Moosewood Restaurant - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Bucket list item for us. Moosewood did not disappoint! Wow. The flavors and combinations were amazing. We asked for a recipe that was new and not in their cookbook. The chef came out to our table with a printed and detailed recipe and talked us through the prep. So thoughtful. read more

I love this place! The past few times I've been in Ithaca, my family and I have always been sure to come here. The setting and ambiance of the restaurant is relaxing and cozy. The food sometimes takes a little time, but it's not too long of a wait. Waiters are always kind and helpful. The Moosewood store is also a nice part of the restaurant to look around while you're waiting for your food. The food here is proof that vegetarian meals can be of quality, delicious, and filling! Dishes that have stood out to me are the beet humus, zucchini bisque, and vegetable lasagna. The beet humus is so tasty and unique. The pita triangles it comes with is also very good as well. The vegetable lasagna is delicious! It is a generous and filling portion of pasta, cheese, and veggies. The ricotta in it is the best I've had. I would recommend getting a side of bread with it, to dip in the tomato sauce and ricotta. The only complaint I would have is the Thai Curry dish. I would have liked it to be more filling and there could have been more rice, but otherwise it was still tasty. read more

I usually insist on having some meat in my meals but Moosewood completely changed that for me. I love that they make vegetables the star of the meal and you don't even notice there's no meat. The standout dish for me was the summer vegetable curry. It wasn't soupy like most Asian curries but had a curry flavor on the veggies. It was so flavorful and the rice was perfectly done. The bread was also so fluffy and was a perfect side to the lentil soup. We have one of their cookbooks and look forward to trying to recreate some of the dishes at home read more

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Moosewood seems closer to old-time earnest vegetarianism than the exclamation point-laden, Brooklyn gochujang jackfruit version. I reckon my review is incomplete since I haven't really sought out their curries and other more international-sounding efforts. Even if "Nettle" turned out to be part of a farm name rather than an ingredient, the cheese plate is still notable, with accompaniments that include sour cherry jam. Does it make me lowbrow that I wished the salad had tomato in it? The potato-fennel soup was compelling, and a surprise showstopper was the corn on the cob. Not a typo. Partly because I'm a city dweller who relates to that speech in "The Heartbreak Kid" about getting back to the land, but also because it had sumac. read more

Moosewood Restaurant - Cheese Plate - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Moosewood is a classic Ithaca dining experience for health conscious and vegetarians. I've been going there for many years and have always left satisfied. The interior feels cozy and warm. The staff has always been amazing and the food... the best in Ithaca. You can buy one of their cookbooks on the gift shop area along with other local gifts and food items. read more

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Upon arrival from the outside it looked very modern and upscale. I use a walker and did not see any signs regarding handicap entry in the rear of the building around the block. That is an important thing to know considering stairs heading down are the only way into the restaurant from the main entrance. Our server was friendly I'm not sure what her name was. We were offered drinks and they came in a timely manner. We ordered the ginger tea both hot and iced some mixed drinks, and a glass of wine. All tasted delicious! We ordered bread service which was delicious! A cheese board with a nice selection of cheeses, the zucchini appetizer also very tasty and a black bean burger which tasted good. We enjoyed our meal there. Definitely worth a try if you are in Ithaca NY. Again if you are ADA the entrance is behind the building. read more

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Without reservation one of the best vegetarian meals of my life! I've always been a fan of the cookbooks and was delighted to know there was a restaurant as well. The space is very cool, really homey with lots of wood. The tables are pretty close together so it does feel a little cramped when it's busy. The food is of course fantastic, all local and really fresh. You know a lot of care goes into every dish. The service is also fantastic, the servers are really familiar with the menu even though it changes frequently, and are able to answer questions and make suggestions. It's definitely on the pricier side so it's more of a special occasion restaurant. If it's on the weekend, parking might be difficult to find, but drive around a bit and you should be able to find something on a side street. It's in a great spot right downtown. read more

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After struggling a bit to find vegan food in Ithaca that wasn't deep fried or overly salty, we were thrilled and grateful to find Moosewood Restaurant. They are not fully vegan but the majority of the menu is vegan or vegan-possible (and clearly labeled). We loved the macrobiotic/whole foods/plant-based approach glorifying local seasonal vegetables and legumes. We loved the green pea hummus (served with whole wheat pita!) and the mushroom lentil pate. The Moosewood salad with the addition of baked tofu was one of the highlights of the meal. The black bean burger with its housemade patty was delicious. It's served on a "vegan brioche bun" with Chao vegan cheddar and accompanied by delicious rosemary roasted potatoes and excellent housemade ketchup. We also loved the Moroccan chickpea stew which had such a diversity of different vegetables in it that I could hardly find any repeats. For dessert, they unfortunately had run out of the vegan apple crumble. We were also disappointed that they didn't offer a nonalcoholic kombucha option, especially with so many great local ones in the region (Redbyrd, Katboocha). The service was really excellent and accommodating throughout our meal and also when we asked to change the time of our reservation after arriving early. One of the other highlights of our visit was browsing the shop, which is full of their cookbooks as well as fun handmade items like wooden cutting boards and cloth napkins. Moosewood Restaurant is really a destination that shouldn't be missed if you're in Ithaca or anywhere nearby. read more

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I've heard about this restaurant and seen their cookbooks for years and was finally in the area so we decided to check it out. First thing to note: the lunch menu is TINY. I'm sure the dinner menu is similar, but I felt like I didn't have many options. I get that's the appeal of seasonal menus but I think having a little more variety would be great. The menu options are also quite expensive, with most reaching nearly $20. Portions aren't bad. My wife ordered the summer curry and I got a baby kale and mushroom salad. The curry was fine, if not a little mild for my taste (not in terms of spice, but overall flavor). The salad was decent but was overwhelmed with cheese (which I cannot believe I'd ever say that). I'd expect the salad to have a bit more greens than it had. The sauce on it was tasty. Service was pretty good, they weren't slammed at the time so the servers were able to get to use quickly. I think I wanted a little more out of this restaurant for the price we paid. It's a vegetarian restaurant and usually with that territory comes fairly inventive dishes but these were just middle of the road to me. I'd be interested in coming back for a different menu. read more

Moosewood Restaurant - Kale and mushroom salad - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Moosewood has a beautiful setting -- the outdoor seating is truly lovely, and the cocktails are excellent. I especially enjoyed the stone fruit spritz, which was refreshing and well-balanced. That said, I was really disappointed by the food, which lacked flavor and creativity, especially given the restaurant's reputation. For the price point, I expected much more in terms of seasoning, texture, and overall taste. It felt like style over substance. I wanted to love it, and there are definitely bright spots, but I can't justify the cost for such underwhelming food. Hoping they revisit the menu soon, because the space and drinks deserve better pairings. read more