365 Highly Recommended Restaurants, Diners, Cafes, Pubs, Bakeries, and Bars Around Rochester

This list represents 40+ years of experience dining in the Rochester area, as well as highly recommended restaurants from friends, colleagues, and YOU!

I had originally planned to stop at 52 (a new place to try every weekend) but passionate recommendations kept coming in. Now, we have recommendations for every day of the year!

Rochestarians frequent these establishments because the food and atmosphere is consistently amazing. These are places the locals go several times a year, if not more, and recommend them to friends and visitors.

Some of these food destinations are well-established, loved by generations, while others are quickly becoming favorites as Rochester’s culinary scene explodes.

And some have been featured on the Food Network or Travel Channel.

Highly recommended restaurants in the City of Rochester

1. Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant
2. Aladdin’s Natural Eatery
3. Aş Evi Turkish Cuisine
4. Balsam Bagels
5. Bitter Honey
6. Black Button Distilling
7. Boulder Cafe & Lounge 
8. Boxcar Donuts & Fried Chicken
9. Brown Hound Bistro
10. Caribbean Heritage Restaurant 
11. Cafe Sasso
12. Captain Jim’s

1. Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant
2. Cheesy Eddie’s
3. Country Sweet
4. The Cub Room
5. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
6. Dogtown
7. Donuts Delight
8. D’Mangu
9. Edibles Restaurant & Bar
10. El Latino
11. Flavors of Asia
12. Fiorella
13. Flight West Wine & Whiskey Bar

1. Frog Pond
2. Genesee Brew House
3. Golden Fox
4. Golden Port
5. Good Luck
6. Harry G’s NY Deli & Cafe 
7. Hettie’s Delites Cafe
8. Highland Park Diner
9. Hose 22 Firehouse Grill
10. James Brown’s Place
11. Java’s Cafe
12. Jay’s Diner

1. Jeremiah’s Tavern
2. Jim’s on Main
3. Jines Restaurant
4. Joe Bean Roasters
5. John’s Tex Mex
6. La Casa
7. Living Roots Wine & Co.
8. Magnolias Deli & Cafe
9. Mamasan’s
10. Mark’s Texas Hots
11. Max’s Chop House
12. Misfit Doughnuts & Treats
13. Mr. Theo’s Restaurant & Lounge

1. Mt Hope Family Diner 
2. Mullers Cider House
3. Neno’s Gourmet Mexican Street Food
4. Nosh
5. Old Pueblo Grill
6. Orange Glory Café
7. Owl House
8. Pane Vino
9. Park Ave Pub
10. Peppa Pot
11. Pizza Stop
12. Pomodoro Grill & Wine Bar
13. Railway Station Diner

1. Red Fern
2. REDD
3. Ridge Donut Café
4. Roam Cafe
5. Roc City Ramen
6. Rocco
7. Rocky’s
8. Roncone’s Italian Restaurant
9. Rooney’s
10. Rubino’s
11. Salena’s Mexican Restaurant
12. SEA Restaurant
13. Sinbad’s Mediterranean Cuisine
14. Tap and Mallet
15. Voula’s Greek Sweets
16. Whiskey River Pub & Grill
17. Zoc’s Gourmet Burgers and Shakes

Highly recommended restaurants with multiple locations

1. Abbott’s Frozen Custard
2. Benucci’s
3. Bill Gray’s 
4. Core Life Eatery
5. DiBella’s
6. Itacate 
7. Monte Alban Mexican Grill
8. Mr Dominic’s
9. Schaller’s Drive-In
10. Six-50 
11. Tai Chi Bubble Tea
12. Texas de Brazil
13. The Distillery
14. Tom Wahl’s
15. Village Bakery

Highly recommended restaurants in Monroe County

Brighton

1. Amaya Indian Cuisine
2. Basha Mediterranean Eatery
3. Cerame’s Italian Villa
4. Char Broil
5. Chen Garden
6. Delmonico’s
7. Grinnell’s Restaurant
8. J B Quimby’s
9. Phillips European
10. Plum Garden
11. Ristorante Lucano
12. Sodam Korean Restaurant
13. Sweet Mist
14. Thali of India
15. The Beer Market
16. The King and I

Brockport

1. Brockport Diner
2. Jimmy Z’s Plates & Shakes

Chili

1. Acropolis Family Restaurant
2. Leaf & Bean Coffee Co

Churchville

1. Stone’s Countryside Tavern

East Rochester

1. Guacamole Authentic Mexican Taqueria
2. Landmark Family Restaurant
3. Lemoncello Italian Restaurant & Bar
4. Leo’s Bakery & Deli
5. Silverball Salloon

Fairport

1. Chakara Sushi & Bar
2. Donnelly’s Public House
3. Durf’s Family Restaurant
4. Fairpour Coffee Roasters
5. McArdle’s Restaurant
6. Mulconry’s Irish Pub and Restaurant
7. Riki’s Family Restaurant

Gates

1. 585 Rockin’ Burger Bar
2. Agatina’s
3. Edoya
4. Fatso’s Bar & Grille
5. Mesquite Grill
6. Mr Beenz Diner 
7. Shmeg’s Restaurant

Greece

1. Bernard’s Grove
2. Orien’s Café
3. Patti’s Pantry

Henrietta

1. 110 Grill
2. Bob’s Diner
3. Coco Garden Malaysian Restaurant
4. Lovin’ Cup
5. Mamma G’s
6. Naan-Tastic
7. Pi Craft
8. Tandoor of India
9. Taisho Bistro

Hilton

1. Jo’s Diner

Irondequoit

1. Atlas Eats
2. Don’s Original
3. Eastridge Family Restaurant
4. Pasta Villa
5. Savoia Pastry Shoppe
6. Shamrock Jack’s Irish Pub
7. Thai Mii Up

North Chili

1. North Chili Family Restaurant

Penfield

1. Five Mile Café
2. George’s Family Restaurant
3. The Original Steve’s Diner

Pittsford

1. Back Nine Grill
2. Burger Bar by Wegmans
3. JoJo’s Bistro & Wine Bar
4. Label 7 Napa Eatery & Bar
5. Next Door by Wegmans
6. Pittsford Farms Dairy & Bakery
7. Simply Crepes
8. Village Coal Tower Restaurant

Scottsville

1. Artisan Coffeehouse
2. Salvatore’s Saloon 
3. Scottsville Diner

Spencerport

1. Sullivan’s Charbroil
2. Union Street Eatery
3. Bad Apples Bistro

Webster

1. Barry’s Old School Irish
2. BC’s Chicken Coop
3. Castaways on the Lake
4. Charlie’s Restaurant
5. Empire Pizza
6. Garlic Pit
7. Jade Palace
8. Maa’s Diner
9. Mama Lor’s Café
10. Maria’s Mexican Restaurant
11. Mario’s Homemade Pasta Kitchen
12. Monte Alban Mexican Restaurant
13. Nucci’s Italian Steak and Seafood
14. Nutcracker Family Restaurant
15. Proietti’s Italian Restaurant
16. T’s Family Restaurant
17. The Waffle Factory

Greater Rochester
Nine County Region

Genesee County

Batavia

1. Bourbon & Burger Co

Darien Center

1. Johnny Bear’s Restaurant

LeRoy

1. D & R Depot Restaurant
2. Farmer’s Creekside Tavern & Inn
3. Mooney’s Sports Bar & Grill

Pembroke

1. Indian Falls Log Cabin

Livingston County

Avon

1. Avon Inn
2. Peppermints
3. Village Restaurant

Caledonia

1. Caledonia Village Inn
2. Cozy Kitchen
3. Reminisce Soda Fountain

Dansville

1. Scovill’s Grill
2. Sunrise Restaurant

Geneseo

1. Aunt Cookie’s Sub Shop
2. Bar-Eat-O
3. Cricket’s Coffee Company
4. EuroCafé Real Food & Deli
5. Intermissions Bar & Grill
6. Kelly’s Saloon
7. Mama Mia’s
8. Village Tavern

Lakeville

1. 3 Legged Pig BBQ
2. Lakeville Family Restaurant
3. Hook & Spoon

Leicester

1. Gatherings at the Depot

Lima

1. American Hotel
2. Lima Diner
3. Fanatics Pub

Livonia

1. Ember Wood Fire Grill
2. Livonia Inn (1/25/20 – still closed during construction)

Mount Morris

1. Borikén Restaurant
2. Brian’s USA Diner
3. Charred American Bar + Grill
4. Questa Lasagna
5. Suzea’s Gluten Free Cafe
6. Zeppo’s Ice Cream Parlor

Nunda

1. Kish-a-wa Creamery

Piffard

1. Yard of Ale

Ontario County

Canandaigua

1. Charlie Riedel’s
2. Eric’s Office Restaurant
3. Green Front
4. Macri’s Deli & Café
5. Ray’s Restaurant
6. Rheinblick German Restaurant
7. Simply Crepes Cafe

Clifton Springs

1. Warfield’s Restaurant, Lounge & Bakery

Farmington

1. El Jimador
2. Park Place Restaurant

Geneva

1. Beef & Brew 
2. Char Burrito Bar
3. Deluxe
4. El Morro Restaurant
5. F.L.X. Table
6. Kindred Fare
7. Ports Cafe
8. Torrey Park Grill
9. Water Street Café

Honeoye

1. Mill Creek Café

Naples

1. Bob & Ruth’s Vineyard Restaurant
2. Brew & Brats at Arbor Hill
3. Redwood Restaurant
4. Roots Café
5. Sawmill Restaurant

Victor

1. Chit Chat Café
2. Lucca Wood Fire Bistro
3. Otto Tomotto’s

Orleans County

Holley

1. Sam’s Diner

Medina

1. Country Club Family Restaurant
2. Mariachi De Oro
3. Shirt Factory
4. Zambistro Restaurant

Middleport

1. Alternative Grounds Caffe

Seneca County

Seneca Falls

1. Downtown Deli
2. El Bajio Mexican Restaurant
3. Gould Hotel
4. Parker’s Grille & Tap House

Waterloo

1. Abigail’s Restaurant
2. Connie’s Diner
3. Mac’s Drive-in
4. Star Diner

Wayne County

Lyons

1. The Caboose
2. William Street Tavern

Macedon

1. Flaherty’s Grill & Tap Room
2. Log Cabin Family Restaurant

Newark

1. Bee Tee’s Drive-In
2. Craft 120
3. Parker’s Grille

Ontario

1. Heintzelman’s BBQ Pit

Palmyra

1. Chill & Grill
2. Yellow Mills Diner

Sodus

1. El Rincon
2. Hots Point

Williamson

1. Orbakers Drive In
2. Original Candy Kitchen

Wolcott

1. Skipper’s Landing Restaurant & Marina

Wyoming County

Attica

1. Morluski’s Polish & Italian Cuisine

Castile

1. Castile Cider Mill

Perry

1. Country Kitchen & Pizzeria
2. Charcoal Corral

Warsaw

1. Silverlake Family Restaurant

Yates County

Penn Yan

1. Andy’s BBQ Shack
2. Penn Yan Diner
3. Skyline Trading Post

Outside the
Greater Rochester Area

Angelica

1. Black Eyed Susan Acoustic Café
2. Cartwright’s Maple Tree Inn 

Auburn

1. Hunter’s Dinerant

Baldwinsville

1. B’Ville Diner
2. Canal Walk Café

Bath

1. Chat-A-Whyle Restaurant 

Belfast

1. Ace’s Country Cupboard

Buffalo

1. Amy’s Place
2. Bertha’s Diner
3. Daisies Café
4. Kenmore Village Restaurant
5. Lake Effect Diner
6. Swan Street Diner

Clarence

1. Emily’s Family Diner

Corning

1. Donna’s Restaurant

Cuba

1. Moonwinks

Derby

1. Super Freeze Drive In

East Aurora

1. The Bar-Bill Tavern
2. Elm Street Bakery
3. The Griffon Gastropub
4. Rick’s on Main
5. Riley Street Station
6. Roycroft Inn
7. Taste Bistro & Coffee Bar

Fulton

1. Blue Moon Grill

Hornell

1. The Texas Café

Ithaca

1. Lincoln Street Diner
2. Moosewood

Jamestown

1. Johnny’s Lunch

Lewiston

1. Apple Granny
2. Brickyard Pub & BBQ
3. The Silo
4. Syros Restaurant

Liverpool

1. Heid’s of Liverpool

Lockport

1. Aguacates
2. Lock 34 Bar & Grill
3. One-Eyed Jacks
4. Sunny’s Family Restaurant
5. Tom’s Diner

Montour Falls

1. Classic Chef’s

Olean

1. Beef’n’Barrel
2. Chuck Wagon

Oswego

1. Dahls Diner
2. Rudy’s Lakeside Drive-In
3. The Coffee Connection
4. Mom and Pop’s Soda Shop

Painted Post

1. Jelly Beans Restaurant

Portville

1. Sprague’s Maple Farms

Sanborn

1. Tina’s Place

Skaneateles

1. Blue Water Grill
2. Doug’s Fish Fry
3. Johnny Angel’s Heavenly Burgers
4. LakeHouse Pub
5. Sherwood Inn

Sylvan Beach

1. Canal View Café

Syracuse

1. Mother’s Cupboard
2. Stella’s Diner
3. The Gem Diner

Tonawanda

1. The Dockside Bar & Grill

Watkins Glen

1. Curly’s Family Restaurant
2. Jerlando’s Ristorante & Pizza Company
3. Seneca Harbor Station
4. Thai Elephants
5. Tobey’s Donut Shop
6. Wildflower Café
7. World’s Smallest Diner

Weedsport

1. DB’s Drive In

Wellsville

1. Texas Hot

Wilson

1. Sunset Bar & Grill
2. Wilson House Restaurant and Inn

Youngstown

1. Youngstown Village Diner

Where are your favorite restaurants around the Rochester area?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!