I asked the Day Trips Around Rochester, NY community this question presented to me by a new Rochesterian: “Do you know of any Rochester-area restaurants that are great for date night and kid friendly but not kid centric? A place that has a nice atmosphere, diverse menu, and maybe offers a play space or something interesting or entertaining for the kids?”
And here is what you said!
Please suggest more family-friendly—and pet-friendly—restaurants in the comments.
I’ve also added a list of restaurants at the bottom that serve international and ethnic cuisines, perfect for experiencing new foods together.
Cafes
Food + Fun
Bill Gray’s Skyliner Diner (inside Strong Museum)
And, while it opened on Nov 9, 2022, in the Neighborhood of Play, there’s a strong desire to check out Nerdvana.
Traditional Restaurants
Many of these recommendations came with a note that the staff and the environment make them feel comfortable taking the littles out for a delicious meal.
Squatcho’s (vegan)
Plus, dozens of international and ethic cuisines to try listed blow.
Breweries & Cideries
Again, these came with notes about having a family-friendly environment, often including games families can play together and fun-themed events.
International & Ethnic Cuisine
I also received a question about where to take kids starting from a young age to experience varied cuisines. Start with these!
There are several cuisines/kitchens to choose from at Mercantile on Main.
British
Caribbean/Jamaican
Cajun
Chinese
Ethiopian
German
Greek
Indian
Irish
Italian
- Garlic Pit Pasta House
- Mamma G’s
- Pasta Villa
- Restaurant Fiorella
- Ristorante Lucano
- ROAM Cafe
- Rocco
- Tony D’s
Japanese
- Furoshiki (Raman)
- Kobe (Sushi)
- Plum Garden (Sushi, Hibachi)
- Plum House (Sushi)
- Sakura Home (Hibachi)
- Sogo (Sushi, Hibachi)
- Sumo (Sushi, HIbachi)
- Taisho Bistro (Sushi, Raman, Hibachi)
Jewish/Kosher
Korean
Latin American/Spanish/Puerto Rican/Dominican
Mediterranean/Afghan/Persian/Syrian/Turkish
- Aş Evi
- Bamiyan Kabobs
- Cedar
- Chortke
- Falafel Aleppo
- Levantine’s Cafe & Bakery
- Master Falafel
- Mediterranean Kebab House
Mexican
Polish
Thai / Vietnamese
Please suggest your favorite places to enjoy international and ethnic cuisines around Rochester in the comments, and I’ll happily add them to this list!
International Food Markets
Have fun trying new ingredients, desserts, prepared foods, fruit, and vegetables. Years ago, we took our Girl Scout troop to Wegmans Calkins Rd, where they each selected foods from the hot bar they had never tasted. Then, we visited the various food markets so they could purchase something unique to bring home and try. To this day, it’s one of our most memorable field trips.
Regional Markets
Sauder’s Store, a Mennonite family-run grocery market in Seneca Falls
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Where are your favorite family-friendly restaurants around Rochester?
Please share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments. Your insight and experience are invaluable!
