I've been to Dirt Candy twice, once in March 2023 and once in April 2024. I loved the experience and the food in March and decided to come again this year to taste a new menu. I appreciated the effort and creativity that they put into this new menu, but the execution was lacking.I would probably go back again in the future after they switch the menu again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Gabija Tonkunas
Extremely overrated. Only 2 courses were good out of the 7 we had. Staff was nice and attentive. The decor/ambiance felt super cheap. Why is there a waitlist for this restaurant? No clue what the hype is about. Not coming here again and don’t recommend.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 4
Kiran Singh
I had heard great things about Dirt Candy as it’s a vegetarian tasting and it was difficult to get a reservation; however, we had mixed feelings during the experience. The ambiance was dark lit and the staff were very friendly but the food itself left us feeling unsatisfied. I truly wanted to love this place but I feel the representation of vegetables could have been better and there was no wow moment that elevated any of the dishes. I understand their menu changes, so maybe we got an off menu.Carrot Ceviche – light and refreshing from the ChefChawamushi – I’m an onion girl and was impressed on how they used onions in so many different ways. I think this dish could have used a bit more crunch.Pain au chocolat – This one was so interesting. I love mushrooms and the pastry itself was delicious, flakey, & mushroomy. The “espresso” was good for one or two sips but then got too intense in mushroom flavor. This dish was very unique especially the mushroom espresso.Buffalo collard greens – We had mixed feelings about this one. The kale came with scissors so we can cut our own salad. I enjoyed the craft part of it; however, my dinner companion said “this isn’t my kitchen, why am I cutting my own salad ?”Butternut squash noodles – Freshly made noodles with a perfectly chewy texture, but something was missing in flavor. It could have been less bland.Stuffed cabbage - Very hearty and heavy but extremely bland. Felt like we consumed a waste of calories with this dish.Turnip – Flourless chocolate cake. Not too sweet but the perfect balance of citrus and chocolate.Tater tots - a cute snack from the Chef at the end.Overall ambiance and service were great. We were so dissatisfied even the day after and felt that the prices were not a representation of the experience unfortunately.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Skyler “Sky” Shuler
This was our first vegetarian menu and we all loved it. The tastes were delicious and new to several of us.The atmosphere was fun and energetic but not too much to make us feel like we’re in a scene.The wine selection was superb and we shared a bottle that was exactly what we asked for.The only downside of our adventure to Dirt Candy was the staff.1. Having these reservations a month in advance and knowing the dietary restrictions there were, the kitchen should have been more accommodating in providing a selection to replace something for the one allergy in our party. The staff was very adamant that they would only allow a substitution of one of the other courses in the problem dish.While we understand the chef didn’t want to put something out she wouldn’t like or isn’t good, the allergy and restriction was know again, a month in advance.2. Our servers were S A S S Y, and not in a catty enjoyable way. But making jokes that a long-time friend would make. The first being a comment made about “This isn’t my first time.” When we were just trying to get reassurance for the allergy in our party. And the other was a really unneeded comment about the white dress our party member was wearing which was referred to as “I love your wedding dress” or something along the lines.Tone, time, and place all matter.Other than the service, the food and atmosphere were a hit.Vegetarian options: Good.Dietary restrictions: They will not accommodate, but they will substitute dishes for another.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Vincent Alaimo
Excellent food engineering
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Léandre Houde-Labrecque
Our (me and my wife) experience was absolutely wonderful.The. Best. Meal. We. Ever. Had.We will definitely plan another trip to NYC, clearly as an excuse to come back this restaurant!PS: I still can't wrap my head around the dessert banh mì (with sriracha meringue!), which was one of the craziest and most stunning dish I ate in my life. I will be talking about it for months to come! Haha
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wine Pairing
Cindy Clogston
After getting our schedules aligned, a friend and I were finally able to check out Dirt Candy. I have been following them before there was any inkling of me ever living in NYC and I was so excited to finally go and the experience did not disappoint. Service was absolutely amazing from the moment we arrived. Staff was informative and attentive without being intrusive. I asked a question about a dish and when they didn't know the answer they went and asked the chef. Now let's get to the food. If you follow their Instagram everything they make is absolutely gorgeous. As for taste? I don't have the words to even begin describing the culinary adventure they took us on. They started with the familiar flavor of cucumber but served it in a fun and imaginative way. Each course that followed was somehow even better than the last and got more adventurous as it progressed. The meal was 5 courses with 3 amuse-bouche sprinkled throughout. The star for me out of the savory dishes was the romanesco (4th course) it was fried to absolute perfection while still being maintaining it's integrity (no mushy vegetables here). I loved that it had flavors near and dear to my Mexcian heart but served in such a unique way. Now dessert. Not going to lie, when I read a dessert banh mi with bok choy and Sriracha merengue I had my doubts. Buy oh Dirt Candy made me a believer! It was absolutely insane! None of those ingredients scream dessert to me but they did it. It was the most adventurous and innovative course of the night. My fried and I have decided we will be going every time they change out their menu. Almost forgot, cocktails are amazing! This place is well deserved of its Michelin star.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kylie Walter
The best experience of my life! We may have just gotten lucky with the menu but everything was perfection. Wasn’t use to this level of service and it was a bit overwhelming.Vegetarian options: All vegetarian. Vegan options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alexandra Irvine
The best upscale vegan restaurant in NYC! Been here three times and have never been disappointed. Love how they come out with a new tasting menu every season. If you're in NYC and appreciate vegan food, you must try Dirt Candy!
Totally surprised by the inventiveness, taste and presentation of this well deserved Michelin starred restaurant. I am not a vegetarian but accompanied my friend who is. There’s a set menu $105 (tip is included) of 5 courses and 3 amuse bouches (blacken/charred artichoke with heart of palm and pea greens soup with pea green gnocchi/dumplings and a pea green mousse with mustard) and a tiny carrot donut ? for dessert. Every course was a taste exploration. I liked that each course highlighted that spotlight vegetable without overwhelming competitive flavors (or maybe they were just so masterful that I didn’t notice). I didn’t think I was going to be full as the first 2 courses, even with the 2 amuse bouches, were in the smaller side. After the delicious asparagus lasagna and by the Romanesco course (#4 on the menu), I was stuffed. April 25, 2024Vegetarian options: Vegan options.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wine Pairing
Shawn C
Went for dinner—1 vegan and 1 vegetarian tasting menu.One of the best all-vegetarian places in the city and incredible value compared to similar tasting menus.Every dish is creative, aromatic, and presented well. Personal favorites were the fennel, asparagus lasagna, and the bok choy dessert.One big complaint we both had was with the fried cauliflower dish course served near the end of dinner. The first few bites were good but the dish was drenched in fried oil, which became overpowering and lingered on the palette through the end of the evening. Really hope it is something they can easily fix.Otherwise everything else was perfect.Vegetarian options: Entire menu is vegetarian and all the dishes can be substituted to be vegan
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Molly Lynch
Amazing experience and well priced for all the yumminess. Loved it!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
cristeln Aris
Restaurant to try especially for vegetarians. I really appreciated the tasting menu and the quality of the products. The atmosphere was warm. The only downside was that we had the wine accompaniment and we are not used to drinking sweet wines. We went from shery cider to semblances of port. Maybe coming from France, we weren't able to appreciate it but I would have preferred traditional wines to match the dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Şenay Ünal
I had the best food of my life here. I was there last year in April. I recently visited the restaurant one more time and they are still amazing!!! I am vegan but I went there with two non-vegans who were also amazed by the food. Such a cozy, nice, welcoming place. The staff is kind and helpful. You should reserve this restaurant right away!
Excellent!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've been to Dirt Candy twice, once in March 2023 and once in April 2024. I loved the experience and the food in March and decided to come again this year to taste a new menu. I appreciated the effort and creativity that they put into this new menu, but the execution was lacking.I would probably go back again in the future after they switch the menu again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Extremely overrated. Only 2 courses were good out of the 7 we had. Staff was nice and attentive. The decor/ambiance felt super cheap. Why is there a waitlist for this restaurant? No clue what the hype is about. Not coming here again and don’t recommend.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 4
I had heard great things about Dirt Candy as it’s a vegetarian tasting and it was difficult to get a reservation; however, we had mixed feelings during the experience. The ambiance was dark lit and the staff were very friendly but the food itself left us feeling unsatisfied. I truly wanted to love this place but I feel the representation of vegetables could have been better and there was no wow moment that elevated any of the dishes. I understand their menu changes, so maybe we got an off menu.Carrot Ceviche – light and refreshing from the ChefChawamushi – I’m an onion girl and was impressed on how they used onions in so many different ways. I think this dish could have used a bit more crunch.Pain au chocolat – This one was so interesting. I love mushrooms and the pastry itself was delicious, flakey, & mushroomy. The “espresso” was good for one or two sips but then got too intense in mushroom flavor. This dish was very unique especially the mushroom espresso.Buffalo collard greens – We had mixed feelings about this one. The kale came with scissors so we can cut our own salad. I enjoyed the craft part of it; however, my dinner companion said “this isn’t my kitchen, why am I cutting my own salad ?”Butternut squash noodles – Freshly made noodles with a perfectly chewy texture, but something was missing in flavor. It could have been less bland.Stuffed cabbage - Very hearty and heavy but extremely bland. Felt like we consumed a waste of calories with this dish.Turnip – Flourless chocolate cake. Not too sweet but the perfect balance of citrus and chocolate.Tater tots - a cute snack from the Chef at the end.Overall ambiance and service were great. We were so dissatisfied even the day after and felt that the prices were not a representation of the experience unfortunately.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
This was our first vegetarian menu and we all loved it. The tastes were delicious and new to several of us.The atmosphere was fun and energetic but not too much to make us feel like we’re in a scene.The wine selection was superb and we shared a bottle that was exactly what we asked for.The only downside of our adventure to Dirt Candy was the staff.1. Having these reservations a month in advance and knowing the dietary restrictions there were, the kitchen should have been more accommodating in providing a selection to replace something for the one allergy in our party. The staff was very adamant that they would only allow a substitution of one of the other courses in the problem dish.While we understand the chef didn’t want to put something out she wouldn’t like or isn’t good, the allergy and restriction was know again, a month in advance.2. Our servers were S A S S Y, and not in a catty enjoyable way. But making jokes that a long-time friend would make. The first being a comment made about “This isn’t my first time.” When we were just trying to get reassurance for the allergy in our party. And the other was a really unneeded comment about the white dress our party member was wearing which was referred to as “I love your wedding dress” or something along the lines.Tone, time, and place all matter.Other than the service, the food and atmosphere were a hit.Vegetarian options: Good.Dietary restrictions: They will not accommodate, but they will substitute dishes for another.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Excellent food engineering
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our (me and my wife) experience was absolutely wonderful.The. Best. Meal. We. Ever. Had.We will definitely plan another trip to NYC, clearly as an excuse to come back this restaurant!PS: I still can't wrap my head around the dessert banh mì (with sriracha meringue!), which was one of the craziest and most stunning dish I ate in my life. I will be talking about it for months to come! Haha
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wine Pairing
After getting our schedules aligned, a friend and I were finally able to check out Dirt Candy. I have been following them before there was any inkling of me ever living in NYC and I was so excited to finally go and the experience did not disappoint. Service was absolutely amazing from the moment we arrived. Staff was informative and attentive without being intrusive. I asked a question about a dish and when they didn't know the answer they went and asked the chef. Now let's get to the food. If you follow their Instagram everything they make is absolutely gorgeous. As for taste? I don't have the words to even begin describing the culinary adventure they took us on. They started with the familiar flavor of cucumber but served it in a fun and imaginative way. Each course that followed was somehow even better than the last and got more adventurous as it progressed. The meal was 5 courses with 3 amuse-bouche sprinkled throughout. The star for me out of the savory dishes was the romanesco (4th course) it was fried to absolute perfection while still being maintaining it's integrity (no mushy vegetables here). I loved that it had flavors near and dear to my Mexcian heart but served in such a unique way. Now dessert. Not going to lie, when I read a dessert banh mi with bok choy and Sriracha merengue I had my doubts. Buy oh Dirt Candy made me a believer! It was absolutely insane! None of those ingredients scream dessert to me but they did it. It was the most adventurous and innovative course of the night. My fried and I have decided we will be going every time they change out their menu. Almost forgot, cocktails are amazing! This place is well deserved of its Michelin star.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
The best experience of my life! We may have just gotten lucky with the menu but everything was perfection. Wasn’t use to this level of service and it was a bit overwhelming.Vegetarian options: All vegetarian. Vegan options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The best upscale vegan restaurant in NYC! Been here three times and have never been disappointed. Love how they come out with a new tasting menu every season. If you're in NYC and appreciate vegan food, you must try Dirt Candy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Totally surprised by the inventiveness, taste and presentation of this well deserved Michelin starred restaurant. I am not a vegetarian but accompanied my friend who is. There’s a set menu $105 (tip is included) of 5 courses and 3 amuse bouches (blacken/charred artichoke with heart of palm and pea greens soup with pea green gnocchi/dumplings and a pea green mousse with mustard) and a tiny carrot donut ? for dessert. Every course was a taste exploration. I liked that each course highlighted that spotlight vegetable without overwhelming competitive flavors (or maybe they were just so masterful that I didn’t notice). I didn’t think I was going to be full as the first 2 courses, even with the 2 amuse bouches, were in the smaller side. After the delicious asparagus lasagna and by the Romanesco course (#4 on the menu), I was stuffed. April 25, 2024Vegetarian options: Vegan options.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wine Pairing
Went for dinner—1 vegan and 1 vegetarian tasting menu.One of the best all-vegetarian places in the city and incredible value compared to similar tasting menus.Every dish is creative, aromatic, and presented well. Personal favorites were the fennel, asparagus lasagna, and the bok choy dessert.One big complaint we both had was with the fried cauliflower dish course served near the end of dinner. The first few bites were good but the dish was drenched in fried oil, which became overpowering and lingered on the palette through the end of the evening. Really hope it is something they can easily fix.Otherwise everything else was perfect.Vegetarian options: Entire menu is vegetarian and all the dishes can be substituted to be vegan
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Amazing experience and well priced for all the yumminess. Loved it!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurant to try especially for vegetarians. I really appreciated the tasting menu and the quality of the products. The atmosphere was warm. The only downside was that we had the wine accompaniment and we are not used to drinking sweet wines. We went from shery cider to semblances of port. Maybe coming from France, we weren't able to appreciate it but I would have preferred traditional wines to match the dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
I had the best food of my life here. I was there last year in April. I recently visited the restaurant one more time and they are still amazing!!! I am vegan but I went there with two non-vegans who were also amazed by the food. Such a cozy, nice, welcoming place. The staff is kind and helpful. You should reserve this restaurant right away!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5