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Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
American
International
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Non-veg
Serves fish, vegan options available. Restaurant est. 1973that offers plenty of clearly labeled vegan items. Sunday nights are ethnic cuisine nights; vegans please inquire. Reported to serve fish April 2024. NOTE: Please verify if fish is still offered. Open Wed-Sun 11:30am-8:30pm. Closed Mon, Tue.
67 Reviews
First Review by amysaundersbigelow
EKC
Points +211
Excellent! - Edit
Not a fully vegan restaurant but fantastic options – my non-vegan husband and I had the pumpkin mushroom soup and street corn hummus and we are still talking about it! Highly recommend! 
Read moreGuest
DecibelDave
Points +92
Classic Vegan Option in Ithaca - Edit
Only went here once while I was a student but knew I had to drag my partner here for dinner on a trip back to Ithaca. There were very good vegan friendly options on the menu. The service is great and everything was super yummy.
Read morePros: Vegan options, Service
Cons: No vegan dessert options at latest visit
Guest
gogreenwithannagene
Points +844
Moosewood Restaurant Ithica - Edit
This dining experience was certainly memorable for me. I loved all of the vegan menu options. I decided to try the Moroccan stew veganized, and it came with couscous, chickpeas, potatoes, veggies, apricot-date chutney, almonds, and house-made harissa. It did not disappoint! For dessert, my friend got the chocolate orange cake with a coconut cream base for us to split. I absolutely adored it! I also particularly loved their little shop that is connected to the restaurant. It’s pretty dangerous to go into though, if you don’t have the money to spend😉
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-10-14
Guest
happyveganyogi
Points +56
Top notch service and great options - Edit
Everything was perfect when we visited Moosewood. I had the soup of the day which I believe was an apple cider miso. Delicious! I get so excited when there are several vegan options, and there were. Even for dessert! Our server was super helpful and friendly. The atmosphere and ambiance were lovely.
Read morePros: Atmosphere, Service, Vegan options
Guest
mingleman
Points +318
Thai Green Curry, Mexican Street Corn Hummus, Lasagna - Edit
Thai Green Curry was amazing.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-09-14
Guest
HappyFunfetti888
Points +60
Delicious Curry! - Edit
I ordered the Green Curry and don’t regret the decision whatsoever! It was a perfect portion, wasn’t too salty, and was very nourishing! The presentation was great and I was happy that the service was a lot quicker than when I went a few months ago. The only caveat was that I only had a couple pieces of tofu in my serving, which was too bad since it was cooked to perfection! (Not overly hard-but nicely firm- and not soggy either). Loved it!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-06-24
Pros: The food was delicious and healthy. , The seating was very comfortable. , The waiters were very friendly.
Cons: Skimped a bit on the tofu. , Lighting was dim by the evening.
Guest
VSnail
Points +492
Elegant Night Out - Edit
I knew about Moosewood from its cookbook as a teen, but it was fun to actually eat here. It was elegant but not overly fussy for our family with elementary aged kids. The pot pie and the curry were very good, but our favorite was the potatas bravas.
Read moreWe didn't eat here on our last visit to Ithaca because the vegan options seemed limited and not overly interesting, but I am so glad we tried it this time. Even with the limited options, the flavors shown through. I look forward to coming back in the future.
Updated from previous review on 2026-06-12
Pros: Long History of Veg-Friendly Cooking, Elegant Dining Area, Good Flavors
Cons: Limited Vegan Options
Guest
Aly&Sean
Points +2044
Good, but not amazing - Edit
There are several vegan options and items that can be made vegan. Tried the chickpea stew which seemed popular and it was ok, the apricot date chutney was the best part but otherwise the flavors were pretty bland. The tahini broccoli was very tough for some reason, the sauce was good but there wasn't much of it. The orange chocolate cake was very good.
Read moreOverall didn't think it was exceptional but maybe there are better items on the menu, still worth it
Guest
rhubarbstew
Points +908
deceivingly dreadful - Edit
we came last summer and were sourly disappointed by our experience. the salad was alright and the stew was bland. all dishes had a glaring lack of salt and seasoning. we tried to give the menu an honest shot by also getting a vegan chocolate cake for dessert, only to find that it followed the same pattern of being mild and unexciting.
Read moreif the problems were limited to blandness, i wouldn't rate moosewood as low. despite being cordial, the service we received was absymal and the worst we've had. our waitress was nothing but passive aggressive, snearing at our mention being vegan, and only bringing dining necessities like napkins, silverware, and water refills when requested. despite being a vegetarian institution, it no longer holds the same weight.
Updated from previous review on 2026-02-27
Pros: labeled vegan local options, good presentation, central location
Cons: mean service, offensively bland, unexciting options
Guest
philahealthia
Points +580
Great food - Edit
As others have noted, service is slow. But the food was delicious - the vegan salad nicoise with baked tofu was especially good.
Read morePescatarian with many clearly marked vegan options available.
Guest
NilayS
Points +304
Delicious dishes, lots of vegan options - Edit
A group of us split several dishes, and everything was very good, especially the Moroccan stew, veganized. Many of the dishes can be made vegan and I think it's an all-vegetarian place.
Read morePros: Great ambience, very nice venue, Great service , Very tasty
Cons: On the expensive side
Guest
LaurieGiannetti
Points +40
Delicious - Edit
Food was amazing. Service was a bit slow but still worth the visit.
Read moreGuest
veggivet
Points +186
Hanging on by its name...updated to 4 stars June, 2025 - Edit
I had a sense the dinner wouldn't go well when I was informed by the person in charge of seating that they had no record of my reservation. It was made the day before, but somehow wasn't in their 'system'. Reminded me of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry reserves a rental car but one isn't available when he shows up at the counter. Moosewood TOOK my reservation, but didn't KEEP my reservation. Fortunately, a small table was available outside, (where I specifically requested to eat the day before). I knew what I wanted before I was seated, and ordered right away, but despite that, it took at least 15 minutes for the salad to arrive. This was not during the evening rush; in fact, it was early, around 5 PM. OK, no problem, I'm thinking they're going to bring out this beautiful salad with all local veggies and olives, as the menu describes. Well, some chopped dark green lettuce (not mesclun mix or arugula or anything tasty) formed the base of the salad, with a generous mound of freshly grated carrot on top. On top of that was one, I repeat ONE, olive. Four slices of cucumber and four cherry tomatoes completed the salad, along with some miso dressing. Fortunately, I smuggled in a huge heirloom tomato from my garden, otherwise the salad would have been even more disappointing. Their cherry tomatoes didn't even taste like they were local. [Edited to say that the tomatoes were indeed local; they just didn't taste like it.]
Read moreOK, I took a deep breath and said to myself the entree will make up for the lackluster salad. The Indian cashew curry came out just as I was finishing my salad, and my first impression was that I thought the last time I ordered this it was plated in a larger bowl. I could be wrong, but in any case, the portion size was barely adequate, and not worth the price. Flavors were OK, but only a couple of pieces of tofu in the entire dish. No fresh cilantro garnish, either, and I don't recall any pieces of cashew, though some may have been in the sauce, all ground up.
I decided to forgo dessert, and I had asked for the check as I started my entree. It had not arrived by the time I finished, so I did some math in my head and left $24. I'm glad I didn't order dessert, because I may have been there for another hour or so if I did. I scored a gorgeous peach/strawberry pie at the local coop that is to die for.
One final complaint:Why no gazpacho on a perfect late summer day? Ithaca's winters are long enough.Save the hot soups for those 9 months
Updated from previous review on 2020-09-04
Pros: Excellent, flavorful dishes, Chef accommodated special request , Impeccable service
Guest
Claudiak11
Points +489
A staple - Edit
Lovely restaurant with so many vegan options, plus gluten-free options which are all clearly labeled on the menu. Such a nice place for a special occasion! Treat yourself!
Read morePros: Countless vegan options, Lovely atmosphere, Friendly service
Guest
Elaine525
Points +218
Delicious - Edit
Mushroom pasta , curry pumpkin, beet hummus, mushroom lentil pate with chocolate cake for dessert. Everything was fantastic. The lavender lemonade was yummy too
Read morePros: Flavors were outstanding, Friendly staff very attentive , Cozy atmosphere
Cons: None
Guest
matchaoatmeal
Points +297
GREAT wholesome delicious food - Edit
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). They do serve fish in a few dishes; I suspect they are in the process of phasing it out since the only fish I saw was an optional add-on (and I think salmon etc. used to be featured more prominently on the menu). There is still a good amount of dairy in various items. However, the vegan options are abundant and excellent. In addition, 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 morePros: Macrobiotic/unprocessed foods are emphasized, Delicious flavors without being overly salty, Super accommodating service
Cons: Small amount of vegan dessert choices
Guest
BillB
Points +114
Wow, big improvement!! - Edit
I have been a patron of Moosewood since it's inception in 1973. I have seen the menu and quality of the food and service go through many ups and downs. I am happy to report that my latest experience was excellent: both service and food. The food had taken a steep downturn in recent years, to the point where I was reluctant to go there on my annual visit to Ithaca. But much to my surprise the new owners/chef brought flavor and creativity back to this iconic restaurant. And even nice presentation (which it was never noted for). Kudos to the new owners for giving us a high quality veg restaurant once again and living up to it's name!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-08-22
Pros: Delicious food!
Guest
HandsOffMyHummus
Points +495
Vegan GF options!! - Edit
All of the food was absolutely delicious. Love that the menu clearly labels which items are vegan and gf. The whole menu was vegetarian -- deserves 5 stars but Happy Cow wouldn't let me. Extensive list of adult beverages. Cute outdoor dining area and great service. Definitely recommend it!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-09-01
Guest
mnaganov
Points +101
Nice food and atmosphere - Edit
The food is tasty and there are lots of vegetarian/vegan options.
Read morePros: Quality of food, Service, Atmosphere
Guest
Liliths
Points +156
Lang gehegter Wunsch - Edit
Nachdem ich schon seit vielen Jahren die Moosewood Kochbücher sammele, war ich total begeistert, wie gut es dort schmeckt. 1x Abendessen 1x Mittagessen. Hat sich komplett gelohnt. Salat, Sandwich, Hauptgericht, Nachtisch. Alles vom Feinsten
Read moreGuest
gabandtonic
Points +3152
Very cute - Edit
I liked this restaurant more for the vibes than the food. I thought the salad and soup were good but I LOVED the ambiance of the patio seating. I would definitely go back, hopefully on a day with a wider vegan selection.
Read moreGuest
LisaJax
Points +69
Great food and service - Edit
The lunch menu was small, but the food was amazing. The server was friendly and agreeable when I asked if a dish contained onions, which I dislike. He advised that the curry did contain a small amount of onions, but said that they are pureed into the sauce, and not easily noticed. He said with confidence, "this dish is so good, I would hate for you to miss it." I loved his confidence, and he was right, it was delectable! Our group all loved their meals, including the lentil soup, tofu salad, chickpea stew, and black bean burger. I love the history of Moosewood and love that they continue to serve veggie forward dishes, and clearly identify what is vegan.
Read morePros: vegan and veg options, quaint location, good food and good service
Cons: small menu, not great for a group with picky eaters
Guest
Desh
Points +1539
Good - Edit
I don’t remember it being amazing but it was definitely good
Read moreGuest
ChristopherDawes
Points +231
Actually. They did have fish on the menu. - Edit
Very few vegan options & a lot of dairy. It was challenging to order vegan for two. Even the salmon was cooked in so much dairy that they declined to make it vegan. The wait staff made us feel like nuisances for asking questions. Very underwhelming. Nothing I couldn’t easily make and make better at home.
Read morePros: The restaurant space is nice and airy, Bookstore, Local
Cons: Wait staff attitude towards vegans, Lack of vegan options , No Parking
Guest
TheDiplomat
Points +1110
Food right out of the cookbook! - Edit
This place has the reputation (and James Beard awards) to warrant a five star review. There’s even a kids menu with vegan options and a gift shop. However, while I enjoyed the food and found it exceptionally prepared for what it was (essentially a soup, salad, Thai curry, and vegan chocolate cake), it didn’t overly wow me. It’s nice healthy dishes, but servings are moderate and the price high. I don’t want to complain as I enjoyed the peaceful ambiance and the chill vibe of the staff, but I was expecting more and that’s too bad. Additionally, I don’t understand why this place hasn’t made the move to being a fully vegan restaurant. It should. It’s about time and, honestly, the food would be better and the limited menu more extensive for a vegan if they did. Come on Moosewood! Keep leading the way!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-07-20
Guest
samantha84
Points +113
Beyond expectations - Edit
I’ve wanted to come here since going vegetarian at age 9, 30 years ago. Surpassed all expectations. They’ve somehow kept it contemporary, vegetable-forward, in season.
Read morePros: Delicious bean burger, Great local beer, Amazing sides
Guest
brittcatt
Points +46
Creative and Delicious! - Edit
Such a lovely restaurant! The staff was so incredibly sweet and helpful. Cora was the best! We had the mint pea hummus, lemon tahini broccoli, and shared the spicy coconut curry. Everything was so well prepared and perfectly portioned. Vegan options are clearly marked and they even provide clear edits that can make vegetarian items vegan. They do the same for gluten free offerings as well. Highly recommend if you’re in the area!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Clearly marked menu, Kind staff!
Guest
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