Articles

Mexican fare in North Winton that’s worth the wait

• By Rebecca Rafferty
Tavo’s is open on Merchants Road and is serving authentic Mexican fare. Just don’t come hangry.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Tavo's Antojitos y Tequila, Jose Guevara, El Rincon Mexicano, Rio Tomatlan, Mexican food

Celebrate New Year's Eve without the stress at these 10 restaurants

• By J. Nevadomski
Looking for a New Year's Eve nosh without the black-tie? Get your last supper of the year at one of these spots.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, New Year's Eve, dining, Sodam, Velvet Belly, Lento, Park Avenue Pub, Shiki, Roux, Rocco, Fiamma Centro, The Old Toad, S.E.A.

Quietly cool cocktail hours at Grace & Disgrace

• By Rebecca Rafferty
Grace & Disgrace’s pop-up cocktail hours at Bar Mecca cater to people who want a low-key night out.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Grace & Disgrace, Bar Mecca, Ralph DiTucci, Megan Goodney, cocktail culture

The 'Queen' of State Street

• By David Andreatta
Mary Hallford's Queen J's Diner on State Street is an honest-to-goodness greasy spoon with outsized portions and undersized prices.
• Tags: Dining Reviews

Bring on the happy hours with these creative summer cocktails

• By Rebecca Rafferty
Drinking together is back on the menu, and we’re celebrating with summer-y beverages at peak places for people to gather.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, summer cocktails, mixed drinks, Rufus Cocktail Lounge, Native Eatery & Bar, Bar Bantam, The Daily Refresher, Velvet Belly

Six Rochester restaurants that do vegetables right

• By Rebecca Rafferty
In a city of great restaurants, vegetables are often an afterthought. But these six veggie-centric dishes stand out and sing supper.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, vegetarian dishes, vegetables, GateHouse, Restaurant Good Luck, Lento, Branca, The Vesper, The Cub Room, Rochester resetaurants

The Valentine’s Day hunt for passion through aphrodisiac foods

• By Vince Press
Couples looking to cap Valentine’s Day with an amorous end could do worse than sample the special menus offered by some Roc restaurateurs.
• Tags: Culture, Valentine's Day, aphrodisiacs, aphrodisiac foods, Erie Grill, Del Monte Lodge, The Saucey Chef, Hedonist Chocolates

A brick-and-mortar Bubby’s BBQ is open for business in The Wedge

• By Chris Thompson
After months of pop-ups that helped build a dedicated fanbase, Bubby's BBQ is the star smokeshow on South Avenue.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Restaurant review, dining, Bubby's BBQ, South Avenue, South Wedge, Terrell McLean, Demetrius Ellison, barbecue

Sweet Basil brings flavors of Southeast Asia, southeast of Eastview

• By Chris Thompson
Family-owned pan-Asian restaurant Sweet Basil opened in Victor, offering plates inspired by Vietnamese, Thai, and Cambodian fare.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Food, restaurant review, Sweet Basil, Victor, Jay Chunnwick, Clarissa Chunnwick, pan-Asian food, Thai food, Vietnamese food, Cambodian food

Boomtown Café offers quality, New York-style deli

• By Chris Thompson
The newly opened Boomtown Café boasts hearty, diner-style sandwiches, a welcoming environment, and an inclusive attitude.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Boomtown Café, Rochester, deli, diner

Support black-owned restaurants

• By Rebecca Rafferty
Resources for local restaurants, cafes, and bakeries + reviews from our writers.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Restaurants, dining, black-owned business, BOBRochester, soul food, Jamaican food, Somali food, Ethiopian food, The Arnett Café, Bobo's Chicken Shack, Pan-Cart, Somali African Cuisine, The Sweet Potato Pie Factory & More, Unkl Moe's BBQ & Catering, Zemeta Ehtiopian Restaurant, Zoc's Gourmet Burgers & Shakes

Fast, relaxing food

• By Chris Thompson
Rachel's Mediterranean Grill, a fast-casual Lebanese staple from Buffalo, has expanded to Rochester, with locations in Henrietta and Pittsford.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Dining, Restaurant review, Rachel's Mediterranean Grill

A damn good Sunday dinner

• By Chris Thompson
We got a hot tip that there's a new chicken dinner pop-up event in town called Damn Good Chicken. Chris checked out its inaugural Sunday dinner, co-hosted by Julia K. Caters, and fell in love with the spicy honey.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Dining, Damn Good Chicken, Julia K. Caters, Studio 180, pop-up

A meal made with love on Lyell

• By Chris Thompson
Every once in a while, I want to get spoiled by a big Italian meal made with love and care. Fortunately, Jimmy Paulino and his fiancé Tina Utz have opened Paulino’s Italian Restaurant on Lyell Avenue, right on 390 and Lyell.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Paulino's Italian Restaurant, Jimmy Paulino, Tina Utz, Roncone's, eggplant primavera, gnocchi, fried pizza

A savory, bittersweet lunch

• By Chris Thompson
There is nothing like freshly made food for lunch. Everything at Dumpling House in Henrietta is made to order, and each bite of the soupy Xiao Long Bao literally bursts with flavor.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Dining, Restaurant review, Dumpling House

Going whole hog

• By Mary Rice
Casual French-American bistro The Peppered Pig celebrates rustic, down-to-earth French classics like cassoulet, Croque Monsieur, and the humble roast chicken, as well as American mainstays with a French twist.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Dining, Restaurant review, The Peppered Pig, French cuisine

A Hellenistic adventure

• By Chris Thompson
The mini-Mediterranean escape of Kainos restaurant at Corn Hill Landing can serve as a nice respite from Rochester's howling winter winds. The Athena Blueberry Salad brings summer back, and the Poseidon platter is a mariner's dream catch.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Dining, Restaurant review, Kainos

A melodic match

• By Chris Thompson
Dining writer Chris likens the culinary partnership of Roc City Ramen and Poké Sushi to the melding of individual artists in a music supergroup. When it works, it's gold.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Dining, Restaurant review, Roc City Ramen, Poke Sushi

Inland wharf

• By Chris Thompson
Chris Thompson heads to Seabreeze for some fare that reminds him of summer and his wharf-side hometown.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Dining, Restaurant review, Union Tavern, Seabreeze

Summer in the snow

• By Chris Thompson
Louisiana’s Haitian Restaurant might just be your new favorite spot to get a dose of summer flavors in the dead of winter.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Dining, Restaurant review, Louisiana's Haitian Restaurant

Fine dining in an alley

• By Chris Thompson
The front dining area of bowling alley and social club Radio Social recently rebranded as Ophira, with a menu rooted in traditional Mediterranean cuisine.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Dining, Restaurant review, Ophira, Radio Social, Mediterranean food, Chris Thompson

Apple art

• By Chris Thompson
Located in The Hungerford Building, Seed + Stone Cidery is run by a father-daughter duo.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Dining, Seed + Stone Cidery, cider

A cozy Kodak spot

• By Chris Thompson
Black Bear Pub is a “bro bar.” But in this case, that’s a good thing!
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Black Bear Pub, Chris Thompson

Cutie pies

Rebel Pi Global Pizza

• By Chris Thompson
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Rebel Pi, Chris Thompson

A different type of Southern style

• By Chris Thompson
India is as large and diverse as the United States, and different regions have different palates, flavors, and culinary styles. Hyderabad Biryani House focuses on South India cuisine.
• Tags: Dining Reviews, Dining, Restaurant review, Hyderabad Biryani House