Vegan
Buffet
Ethiopian
Ethiopian food. Daytime buffet features 4-5 dishes plus injeera bread and soup and is available til 4pm. Dinner is a la carte menu. Free Wi-Fi. Black-owned. Open Mon-Fri 11:00am-2:00pm, Wed-Sat 5:00pm-8:00pm.
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288 Monroe Ave (at Alexander), Rochester, New York, USA, 14607
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Last update on 16 Nov 2023 by GwenLionhart
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Added by sashwap on 01 Dec 2008
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47 Reviews
First Review by sashwap
KMR607
Points +355
casual & yummy - Edit
I would call the food sort of Ethiopian & southern fusion. We had the lunch buffet, a great deal and each dish had a distinct seasoning & flavor, the cook kept everything stocked. Great for the whole family!
Read morePros: buffet self-serve, kid friendly
Guest
BESA
Points +70
Excellent food! - Edit
I have not tried the Ethiopian lunches yet, but I’ve eaten dinner, which has a more international menu, many times over the years. The food is always excellent! I like that they serve small plates, so you don’t have the dilemma of having to choose between 3 things you really like—you can have all 3! The prices are very reasonable, too.
Read moreThe food is not just very good, it’s distinctive. Some restaurants are good, but the dishes are pretty much like those I can make for myself. Not so for Natural Oasis—the seasonings and sauces, the combinations of flavors, are wonderful. Love the gnocchi, lentils, salad, everything I’ve tried! My only complaint about the food is that they tend to use a bit more salt than I’d like.
My one hesitation in coming here is dealing with the parking. The lot is very small and difficult for maneuvering in and out of spaces. Unfortunately, there is not much street parking nearby. It’s worth that inconvenience, however, to have a truly wonderful meal.
Updated from previous review on 2024-03-10
Pros: Excellent food!, Good prices, Cozy, pleasant atmosphere
Cons: Would prefer a bit less salt in some of the dishes, Parking is difficult
Guest
DrDirk
Points +16
Best Vegan Restaurant in Rochester - Edit
There are many great restaurants in Rochester, but this is the main place that makes food that I crave. Their food is consistently phenomenal and some of the best I’ve ever had. The gnocchi, vegetable, stew, sweet potato soup special, and chai are my favorites. I go almost weekly
Read moreGuest
Taylorvegan
Points +89
Nice service, great food! - Edit
Came on a visit to Rochester and natural oasis was the first place we visited! We have tried to find an Ethiopian place nearly as good near us but have failed. We went for their lunch, which is predictable and tasty. They now prepare it in the back and charge by the pound (different from the last time I visited 5 years ago). But the food is the same, very tasty. I wish I could make my collards even remotely as well as they do. The owner is very nice, and even offered to wash my daughters silicone plate and bib since I mentioned we were traveling. Wish we could have gone for dinner too, since that menu is great. Visit, you won’t regret!
Read morePros: Flavors, Very well cooked food, Cost
Cons: Lunch is no longer an all you can eat buffet
Guest
TessaFarley
Points +95
Favorite Restaurant in Rochester! - Edit
Hands down favorite amongst our household, as well as every friend and family member we bring! Every single item is delicious and fresh. As long as they’re open they have a customer with me.
Read morePros: Tapas style, Extremely affordable ($5/plate), Welcoming staff and atmosphere
Cons: None!
Guest
JudeAnne
Points +26
City vegan oasis - Edit
Close by, affordable, delicious vegan food
Read morePros: All vegan, Great price, Great service
Guest
supabush
Points +741
Incredible food! - Edit
I went here with some friends and it was so amazing! The chai was so delicious, and the a la carte menu items are all priced at just $5. I got three items, which left me full and satisfied, I even had some leftovers to take home! Everything was so good! I can't wait to go back to try more!
Read morePros: All vegan!, Great service, Cheap prices
Guest
lotesote
Points +22
SO DELICIOUS - Edit
I loved the food, it was very filling and flavorful, im so excited to go back and try their dinner menu. #Veganuary
Read morePros: great prices, very flavorful
Guest
beccap
Points +739
Incredibly flavorful - Edit
First time trying this cuisine and it did not disappoint! Food was flavorful. The yellow lentils were amazing. Much bigger inside that what it looks from the outside. Absolutely worth visiting!
Read moreGuest
OscarZetaAcosta
Points +58
A Rochester vegan institution - Edit
Natural Oasis has been around for a very long time. It’s longevity speaks to its quality and favor among Rochester vegans and non vegans alike. I love this place.
Read moreGuest
KadiHarmon
Points +7625
Delectable! - Edit
I love Natural Oasis! They were instrumental at the beginning of my vegan journey which began when I lived in Rochester. The buffet is amazing and I love the small plates for dinner. I will always visit when I’m back in town!
Read moreGuest
VeganFred
Points +89
Great for the soul; Great for the spirit; Great for the taste buds - Edit
Fabulous tasting foods. Owners are the cooks and servers. Peaceful, welcoming atmosphere. My every visit has fed my body and soul. Great food that is good for the body.
Read morePros: Delicious food, Great atmosphere , Feeds the entire person
Cons: Small parking lot
Guest
NativeVegan
Points +24
Delicious - Edit
Lots of delicious flavors in a casual atmosphere. The gnocchi was particularly creative. I will be back and I highly recommend!
Read moreGuest
LishMCC
Points +640
Delicious Food! - Edit
I agree with other reviewers that the food has a lot of oil. The food is very flavorful and it is yummy. The food is tapa style for dinner and it was $5 per item.
Read morePros: Delicious Food!, Good prices for dinner
Cons: Limited parking
Guest
JohnDonald
Points +13
Too much oil - Edit
Amazing food. Just too much oil. Not good for those with heart disease and diabetes. Wish I could eat here but can not have such food. Those without these and other health issue enjoy the food.
Read morePros: Food taste great, Chief and owner very fine people., Relaxing atmosphere.
Cons: Too much oil in food.
Guest
KitMcGrath
Points +270
Excellent food for a good price - Edit
I love Ethiopian food, and this is the best place to have it if you’re just trying it out or can’t afford the standard servings prices.
Read morePros: Buffet-style, Quiet
Guest
veganimalinthewild
Points +712
Consistently amazing, every time - Edit
Everything I have ever had here has been amazing- every single time! No matter what you order, you'll love it. 100% vegan, everything is SO flavorful and fresh, friendly owners, and very a soothing and non-overwhelming sit-in atmosphere. They also offer a chai that is my absolute favorite, which can be served hot or cold. It has the most wonderful unique blend of spices and what I would describe as a perfectly balanced sweetness with just an edge of light, very pleasant smokey notes to it. If you go just to order for yourself it's a true challenge because what you *really* want to do is order one of everything! We are so lucky to have this here in Rochester!
Read morePros: EVERYTHING on the menu is amazing, Very affordable, Off-street parking
Cons: Parking can be tight-the lot is a small, odd shape
Guest
kgriffy
Points +27
Everything was AMAZING! - Edit
Ordered the whole dinner menu, everything was so flavorful and delicious! Great service, no corkage fee, a must try!
Read morePros: All vegan, Soooo good, Inexpensive
Guest
Sisi.vibes
Points +164
My fav vegan restaurant in Rochester, NY - Edit
Fulfilled with flavor and textures every single time!
Read morePros: All vegan , Every dish is $4, Delicious
Cons: N/A
Guest
RachelIngutti
Points +22
One of the best spots in Rochester - Edit
I have been to Natural Oasis many times and have never been disappointed. They generally offer a lunch buffet and also have the buffet on Monday nights. The buffet is AMAZING and usually why I go. On other nights, they have an a la carte small meals menu. It is so fun to go with a group of people and get everything on the menu (each item is $4-$6 making it super affordable). The owner and cook are so friendly and they make you feel at home immediately. Check it out for sure!
Read moreGuest
averyginsberg
Points +78
The Most Wholesome Restaurant in Rochester - Edit
Every dish is worth trying; you truly can’t mess up when ordering, and there’s always an option whether you are feeling indulgent or a bit lighter. Make sure to bring friends who are ready to share! Family owned, service was above and beyond, and the food was honest yet packed with flavor. Both the lunch buffet and dinner menu are way too affordable for what you get in return! One of the biggest reasons I will return to Rochester.
Read moreGuest
fruitiJulie
Points +3282
Dinner Is So Unique! - Edit
The lunch and dinner options are almost like eating at two very different restaurants. The lunch is a buffet with lots of vegetables like beets, string beans, and potatoes cooked in oils. This meal is very filling. The dinner is more of a tapas with many small plates and dishes to try. Each dish is about $3-4, For dinner, I would recommend ordering one of each dish, then seeing which ones you like best and ordering more your favorites. There are 'Ethiopian-Inspired' dishes, very unique options.
Read moreGuest
lizardlucas
Points +1035
Fantastic - Edit
It's always refreshing to be able to order anything off the menu, and Natural Oasis has an ever changing menu with an excellent amount of options. The a la carte menu is $4 for each dish, and I split four dishes (plus injera) and a dessert with a friend, and it was very filling! Amazing amount of food for the price. I've been vegan and in the Rochester area for five years and somehow last night was my first time here - it certainly won't be my last.
Read moreMy only complaint was that they were clearly understaffed last night - one person was serving the entire dining room, so service was slow and our waiter forgot part of our order. May have easily been an off night, though.
Pros: Good selection, Fantastic value, Great food
Cons: Can get busy
Guest
sapientia
Points +1074
Simply Good food - Edit
Old style vegan restaurant with simple furnishings and great food. Low sodium made this among the best Ethiopian food ever.
Read morePros: Quaint environment, Tasty lunch buffet
Cons: Injera was different
Guest
JulieNeild
Points +163
All-Vegan Ethiopian Buffet - Edit
We ate at the Oasis on Friday in the middle afternoon. We were the only patrons there when we first arrived so I wasn’t sure the food would still be fresh, but it was. There were eight dishes from which to choose plus injera. Everything was very tasty, but we most enjoyed the lentil dishes.
Read moreThe only downsides were that the injera wasn’t warm and the water dispenser was a very slow dispenser into small glasses.
The staff greeted us upon arrival and took our empty plates away during the meal. The cost for each person was $9.
Pros: All vegan options!, Nice-sized tables
Cons: Cold injera, Slow water dispenser and small glasses
Guest
XOXO
Points +1784
Blown away! - Edit
Holy cow, the dishes were amazing! Dessert was ok, but omg, the food was incredible. Don’t miss it.
Read moreGuest
Passout
Points +708
Food was great but the service - Edit
My kids and I stopped here for lunch on our trip through the state on the Thruway. It was easy to find. The owner greeted us and very pleasantly instructed us to sit anywhere and briefly explained the buffet. He also allowed me to unplug a lamp that wasn't in use, so I could charge my phone while eating. The restaurant appeared to be clean, orderly, and decorated well enough.
Read moreWe had the lunch buffett and we all enjoyed the food. All of it was very tasty. My only complaint with the food would be that the vegetables had too much oil for my taste. There was a savory brown bread that resembled a crepe, yellow rice, lentils, pureed vegetable soup, beets & potatoes, cabbage & carrots, carrots & green beans, and one other thing similar to the lentils that I believe had potatoes in it.
It was a self serve buffet so I am not expecting to be waited on; however, I do expect to have my dishes cleared from my table and to have items on the buffet replaced when they run out. The owner was the only person working and at no point did he check in on our table to clear the dishes which were stacked about 7 high by the end of the meal. The rice ran out and was empty for at least 10 minutes. He did ask me how the food was when I went up to the buffet for seconds. He appearedto be taking care of some kind of business walking backing and forth while talking on the phone.
After the meal I went to the bathroom which was very clean and pleasantly decorated; however, the stall door lock didn't work and the soap was out.
Pros: all vegan food , 7 different items to choose from, the food was delicious
Cons: No service, some items were too oily
Guest
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