I just wanted to resolve a lot of confusion swirling around on the web ... NorthStar's closure is very recent in fact, just within the past couple of weeks or less ... The confusion is because they have posted a typo on the website linking here -- listing the closing as end of Apr. '25 when they meant to write end of Apr. '26 of course ... My rating reflects always having loved the experience there -- even sticking with them in the pandemic when they'd come out in masks to drop your food off in the yard -- & all the years before & since ... I'd only just very recently learned that it was an African-American business picking the name for their Fall Creek establishment to reflect the Guiding Light for escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad ... Knowing this makes their closure now even more regrettable of course read more

One of my favs in Ithaca. I'm reluctant to even review as it is one of the off the beaten track that is not always crowded. iTH. But we love it. I feel there is a lot of thought and care put into their simple menu items and prep. Check em out, but don't tell too many peeps. read more

We were in the mood for fish and chips and found Northstar Public House, one of the few places in Ithaca with a Gluten Free option. So glad we did! Hands down the best dinner we've had during our visit. The fish and chips were amazing, the mac and cheese was super tasty, and the mocktail Shy Violet was spot on. Our server was wonderful and made the whole experience even better. The vibes are great too--reggae music playing when we walked in set the tone right away. If you're looking for a spot with delicious food, friendly service, and Gluten Free options that don't compromise on flavor, this place is a must! read more

I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich. It arrived barely warm, with a beautiful but very cold heirloom tomato slice and tired lettuce. I tried 3 times in different places to bite into the fried chicken sandwich and found gristle, breading or nothing I wanted in my mouth. It was inedible. The fries that came with it were greasy, limp, not crispy and not appetizing in appearance. My host had Tofu Wings which were ok. Both the Tofu Wings and Fried Chicken Sandwich appeared to be prepared and packaged for sale off site. My host was embarrassed and kept telling me to mention the inedible Fried Chicken Sandwich to the waitress, but the waitress would not make eye contact with me and I decided not pursue it. I will never go back to this place. My sense is that they support vegetarian/vegan diners and not omnivorous diners. read more

Love the atmosphere in this restaurant even though it can get a bit noisy. Great service. There are lots of choices for vegetarians and meat-eaters. read more

The garlic burger was amazing. Kale and popcorn salad was interesting and delicious. Great wines on tap. Will return!

The food was not good save for the burger patty. Fish and chips had a hard layer under the pale soft breading. The fish inside was watery. One of our party never got her side salad and the server didn't bring the ketchup we asked for. The restaurant wasn't very busy but the order still took a long time to show up. Also no excuse for the absent server. We've been coming here for years and are very disappointed at what it's become. read more

Northstar House - Couldn't stop laughing at the seriously under-sized gf bun. - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

I had the Northstar Plate with sausage, potatoes, and French toast. The portion size was kind of big. I really liked the potatoes, which were not overly oily or salty. However, the sausages were too stiff (not sure if this is the right word). Because the sausage skin was really thick, it was difficult to cut the sausages and hard to chew. Other than that, everything else was on point. French toast was larger than I expected and it's not overly sweet, which is great. My friend had a beet salad, and we really liked the beets, which tasted fresh and sweet in a natural way! read more

Northstar House - Front: Northstar plate (2 eggs, sausages, potatoes, French toast) Back: Beet salad (plus an egg) - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

The food was edible, but for the price, it should have been more. The restaurant was busy so we decided to order takeout and sit at the backyard area. It still took 45 minutes to get food. My two dining companions and I all ordered burgers; they both got fries and I got coleslaw as a side. The companions ordered their burgers medium and mine was supposed to be medium well but all came out well done. They were very dry and bland. There was nowhere near enough aioli sauce to help with the dry meat patties or the lack of flavor. The gluten free bun was not the worst I've ever had but it was barely mediocre. The fries were decent. The coleslaw was the best part of the meal. I've had better burgers at Shake Shack and Five Guys. I would go back if someone else was paying, but I have no desire to go back otherwise. read more

Friendly bartender, tasty cosmo, yummy pizza made vegan. I suppose the service was a little on the slow side, but our server was congenial and the food was good! Many vegetarian options & a few vegan and/or able to be vegan-ized. Everyone in our party was pleased with our cocktails (though on the pricey side to be sure). Magical looking outside area with lights strung in the trees -- too bad it was raining. Walls are colorful. Funky artwork. Lovely glass mosaic table. I'd come back again and maybe try the vegan burger! read more

Northstar House - Vegan-ized pizza. - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

One of the nicest things about this restaurant, I can recall from my time living in Ithaca, is that the staff didn't turnover as often as other restaurants, so there were always familiar faces. Their tofu wings are legendary, and there's a reason they're renowned for their Mac and cheese. The menu is very local and changes often. The locale is off the beaten path, nestled back in a more residential neighborhood. Check it out next time you're in the area. read more

I enjoy eating here. When my family from Canada comes to visit we sometimes go to Northstar. The last time we were there they served this white chocolate cake that left us wanting more...unfortunately that was the last piece. The food is pretty good, as was the service, very nice folks, so I'd recommend this place if you want a pleasant dining experience. read more

Friends in visiting from out of state. We thought that Northstar would be a great place to take them for local food. We talked up the Mac and Cheese. We hadn't been at this Restaurant since before Covid and remember it was amazing. So disappointing. No flavor and cheese was watery. It tasted like it was out of a box. The rest of meal was Ok not great. We discussed this with the waitress and they didn't charge us for dessert and one serving of Mac and cheese. We would happily pay full price for a good meal. Also Fix the wobbly tables! Come on guys. Don't just put pieces of wood under them. read more

Visited North Star last week while on vacation. I wanted to support a black owned business and try the food. I was not disappointed, the drinks were good and strong, the chicken wings, oh the chicken wings. They were SO GOOD. The burgers are good too. Outside seating was still in effect and the set up was lovely. Only suggestion would be some bug repellent candles or something. The mosquitoes wanted in on us, while we wanted in on the food. I will be back! read more

Great food! I had an arugula salad with salmon and it hit the spot. Accommodating of gluten-free (celiac) and dairy-free dietary restrictions - items on the menu were labeled gluten-free or vegan. read more

Northstar is a fav for locals and a hidden gem. Their food and drinks are incredible, they use a ton of local ingredients, and their fryer is completely gluten free--we love having a go-to spot for fish and chips and wings that are crispy, delicious, and safe for celiacs. We come here all the time with our toddler, and though it's not a kid-focused restaurant, you can totally bring your babies here. Servers are very kind and welcoming. They just got a new chef as of a few weeks ago, so go and try their food! I hope they bring back the beergarden this summer (it has the best vibes). Even without the beergarden/backyard, they have a really nice patio. read more

Horrible service. Food came before drinks. Fried fish had no taste and was expensive.

Food was great. NA cocktails and lemonades were really nice. Service was a bit slow -- it took a long time to take our order and then for food to come -- otherwise good. Pretty quiet and casual. Nice location to stop in after visiting Ithaca falls. read more

I should have taken my own advice but I was with a group that wanted to go there. So, they added the Impossible Burger to their menu and bastardized it by putting it on brioche bun. They offered a vegan version of it which had me optimistic. I had just had one at Harvest in Philadelphia and Harvest even asked what temp I wanted it cooked! Here's the unimpressed Northstar version which they obviously cooked in a fryer because they don't know how to prepare food correctly! My wife also should have recalled her previous posts because she ordered a $14 salad that only filled half the bowl! Service was unimpressive as I wasn't even offered a second drink which may have helped my attitude toward this restaurant. read more

Northstar House - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Don't let the nondescript exterior and goofy side entrance fool you, the North Star restaurant serves fine microbrews and excellent creative (often veggie) cuisine. Not a college crowd here, the place is just a little too spendy for the children, it's a fine choice for adult dinner & conversation. About 8 beers on tap for about $7 a pint, a mix of local NY brews and imports from California and elsewhere. Full bar too, the house margarita for $8 is a solid choice. Avoid the fry basket appy for $7. The local potatoes are fried perfectly crisp, generously salted and accompanied by 3 dipping sauces with garlic, chipotle, and basil respectively. Utterly irresistible and they will totally spoil your appetite. Don't say I didn't warn you! A daily mussel special was awesome, rich wine broth and some nice bits of fennel, accompanied by toasted bread, $12. I had to get a spoon to finish every drop. We split a regular roast pork entree, accompanied by rice and a gently spicy curry squash sauce, so yummy, fairly priced at $19. Alas no room for dessert. The food definitely took a little while to come out but we were deep in conversation so I didn't really care. If you're in a hurry this might not be your place. Vegetarian rating: 5 stars for the many choices. These are your people. Haven't tried their brunch. read more

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Was very disappointed with my brunch experience. The restaurant was empty and there were at least 6 waitresses. The service was dreadful and we spent about 45 minutes of our entire meal excessively waiting for a server, whether that be to take our order, bring us the bill, or return the credit card. When we were served we were served by 4 different people all of which offered us attitude. The food was great but the service needs improvement. I would suggest elsewhere if you're on a time crunch! read more

food was good until I found a fly baked into my macaroni and cheese... we also saw a roach running across the floor.

We went here for brunch this morning after hearing two phenomenal reviews, and were not disappointed! I ordered the North Star Plate (or something like that), which included one piece of French toast (the best French toast I've ever had), North Star potatoes, vegan sausage, & eggs. It was great! The coffee was also very good. The service wasn't as good as I've had at some other places, but the quality of the food was good. I liked that they support a lot of local Ithacan places! Will definitely come here on my next trip to Ithaca, and want to try it for a different meal besides brunch! read more

Had quite a few issues with my most recent meal at Northstar. The service here has always been spotty but now the food has gone downhill too. Was there the other night with my SO and our 2 year old. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was a large sign saying we stand with Planned Parenthood. I don't go out to an establishment because I want to hear about their politics. Next we ordered a root beer for our son. They gave him a paper straw. Based on experience we knew it wouldn't last more thank a minute so we asked for a plastic straw and the only other option was a long metal straw. This would have been fine for an adult but it was too long for a small child and it was a total pain. We had the chicken wings for an app and they were very mediocre though probably the best thing we had there. We ordered the Mac & cheese for our son and it was completely bland and he wasn't into it. My SO and I shared the fried chicken and mushroom ravioli for our entrees. Fried chicken was bland and dry and the ravioli dish just didn't work. It was in a broth and the dish lacked balance. Had 2 sides with the chicken. One was edamame which I'm not a fan of so didn't have and my SO thought they were awful. Also had the coleslaw and it was way too much carrot and that's all you could taste. Not sure how you can mess up coleslaw so bad. And for the bland, boring food the prices are very high. I've been somewhat happy with the food in the past but there was just nothing to write home about with anything we had. This is sad because this place has potential. read more

Small place with a focus on healthy fare. Having said that, we were a group of 8 (stretches the place a bit) and most people got burgers. A lot of the vegetables, wine, etc... is locally sourced - which gives a freshness and uniqueness. So, yes, there are a lot of healthy options on the menu - yet... there's also your burgers, fries, beer, etc... that you'd expect. Service was decent; food was above average; portion sizes were above average; atmosphere was more "quiet" than "raucous" - decent number of choices at a reasonable price. read more

Lovely outdoor setting. Casual service, on point, not slow, not overwhelming. Good coffee. Better bloody Mary's. Tofu scramble huevos rancheros totally worthwhile even if a bit of a small portion. Chicken and donuts. Well, I don't eat chicken but the donuts were from heaven. I could eat a dozen. BLT with an egg, French toast and eggs with vegan sausage and rye toast. We were all very pleased and would definitely return read more

I've been there for brunch a couple of times. Brunch is only available on Saturdays and Sundays. They Draw a good crowd especially on Sunday. But not much of a wait. The wait comes when you're trying to place an order, or get a coffee refill, or get the check. You're practically have the flag down a wait person and ask them for what it is that you want. I've tried a couple things on the menu and they were quite good but pricey. read more

We went to Northstar on a Monday night for dinner. There were 6 of us and the restaurant was pretty empty. The service was dreadfully slow. We were seated for over 30 minutes before the waitress took our orders. The food was actually really great, we all really liked our dishes, but the service was terrible. I couldn't find anybody to bring us more water. I felt like I was always searching for our waitress and couldn't even find her in the restaurant. She was pretty blasé about serving us. It seemed like waitresses were hanging out in the restaurant with friends and not attending to their tables. It took us forever to get our hands on a dessert menu and then even longer to get the dessert. By the time we flagged down our waitress to bring us the bill, we'd been in the restaurant for over 2 hours. We put our credit card down, and again - she was nowhere to be found! It took another 25-30 minutes just to pay the bill and get it back. Norhstar automatically includes a 20% tip for gratuity, but the service was so terrible, we felt it was pretty unfair to be charged so much for an inattentive server. We were all pretty exhausted and upset by the time we left. We got to dinner at 7 and did not leave the restaurant until 9:30! It's a shame, because it seems like the kitchen and back of house are doing a great job, while the front of house isn't creating a great experience for diners. I hope they can get their act together! read more

Delicious but expensive and the service is hit or miss but definitely worth it for the experience! read more

Northstar House - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

This is easily my favorite brunch spot in Ithaca. The food speaks for itself. They offer unique dishes yet nothing completely outlandish. Salmon eggs Benedict, French toast with a blackberry syrup, Korean pancakes, etc. I've been here about 6 times and only once have they messed up my order & the service took a long time to get my food out however I forgave them because looking around me I could tell they were very busy. (These things happen at every restaurant, some of you people need to give places a second chance) In fact, I'm going there again today and I know it shall be a wonderful experience filled with good company and excellent food. read more

Went here for dinner and got the mac and cheese - a little lacking in flavor, not the best mac I've had Came for brunch and loved it! The service was a little slow but the atmosphere and food quality was good. Would recommend read more

Northstar House - This is what I had for brunch! - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

This place pleased a lot of different palates. There were some more eclectic, modern items, with vegetarian options. But there was also absolutely amazing mac&cheese (with the option of bacon, the good kind) and amazing burger choices. I had the garlic burger, which did not disappoint! My husband kept remarking that it had been a long time since he had ordered a burger that was actually cooked medium rare when he requested it. The fries were a hit. Great beer selection. Cute ambiance. Would definitely eat here again, if I'm in the area. read more

This was my first time dining at Northstar since the Pandemic began. Eating in the outside space there felt Covid-safe, comfortable and, well, a little joyful during these strange times. Families, neighbors and others contributed to the cheerful atmosphere on a late-summer evening. The garlic burger was terrific (yay, Autumn Harvest beef!) and my friend's gluten free fish and chips got a rave review. We split a g/f ice cream sandwich that was big enough for two and tasted delicious. It also felt good to support a local place that clearly put effort into bringing people together while serving up quality food. read more

Atmosphere and food was great! Very COVID conscious - sat out in the grass and had a blast.

I have been her multiple times and never had a bad meal. Anything you get on the menu is great. My personal favorite is the House Curry. read more

Northstar House - House Curry: SO delicious! - New American Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Seated almost immediately. Our table was wobbly and promptly fixed. Waitress took our drink orders soon after we sat down and told us the specials. Drinks arrived in no time. Food arrived quickly too. BTW the 'On the Go burger' is plenty to eat at 5oz. And served with lots of fries. The coleslaw is wonderful too. Love eating there. read more

The best gluten-free options I've had in quite a while! So many choices for me as a celiac; this place really gets gluten-free right. I had the gf chicken tenders and bbq pulled pork sandwich with gf bread and both were excellent! Will return! read more

Hey Northstar! Get some non-surly waitresses. You were super busy tonight, I tried to go there, stood for 15 minutes before trying to flag down someone's attention as it was not clear who the host was. The waitress whom I asked was so condescending that I walked out. This is not the first time I've felt alienated by your staff. Addendum: I went back a few nights ago and I had a MISERABLE time. 1)Over an hour wait from seating (6:25) to getting our main courses (7:40). 2) Mushroom stroganoff was really bland - it was like they forgot to add an ingredient or two. Additionally, the "grilled" toast that came with it was burnt. 3) My husband's fries were way too salty and way past done. Even though this place is across the street from my house, I'm not sure I'll be returning for more than just a beer anytime soon. read more

I was sent here by Ithaca Brewing Co. for some good food at a restaurant that served some of their brews... boy were they wrong. Ordered the kangaroo dip... way overpriced, over salty, and gross. Ordered the roasted vegetable gazpacho... flavorless. Gross. My partner's burger was ordered medium rare and was served well done, and was just an "average burger" according to him. My advice? SKIP THIS SPOT. read more

It's been a few years now and I've had good and bad experiences following my first visits when Northstar first opened. Overall, I think the food is still OK, and while the prices have gone up, it's still pretty well priced. Brunch is great! What compells me to update the review and dock the star is the fact that I'm so sick of the service that I think I'm probably going to pass on Northstar for future visits. More than once I've been made to feel like I'm a huge inconvienence to the bartender and I just plain don't get it. It's literally painful to watch him schmooze and chat up other patrons, and then watch his eyes roll when I order a 2nd drink. It's so freaking embarrassing! I like to sit at restaurant bars because it's fun to chat up the bartenders and other people around - too bad Northstar finds me totally intolerable. read more