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. Also great spots for date night!
Some of these food destinations are well-established, loved by generations, while others are quickly becoming favorites as Rochester’s culinary scene explodes.
Table of Contents
Highly Recommended Restaurants in the City of Rochester
- Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant
- Aladdin’s Natural Eatery
- Aş Evi Turkish Cuisine
- Balsam Bagels
- Bitter Honey
- Black Button Distilling
- Boulder Cafe & Lounge
- Boxcar Donuts & Fried Chicken
- Brown Hound Bistro
- Caribbean Heritage Restaurant
- Cafe Sasso
- Captain Jim’s
- Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant
- Cheesy Eddie’s
- Country Sweet
- The Cub Room
- Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
- Dogtown
- Donuts Delight
- D’Mangu
- Edibles Restaurant & Bar
- El Latino
- Flavors of Asia
- Fiorella
- Flight West Wine & Whiskey Bar
- Frog Pond
- Genesee Brew House
- Golden Fox
- Good Luck
- Harry G’s NY Deli & Cafe
- Hettie’s Delites Cafe
- Highland Park Diner
- Hose 22 Firehouse Grill
- James Brown’s Place
- Java’s Cafe
- Jay’s Diner
- Jeremiah’s Tavern
- Jim’s on Main
- Jines Restaurant
- Joe Bean Roasters
- John’s Tex Mex
- La Casa
- Living Roots Wine & Co.
- Magnolias Deli & Cafe
- Mamasan’s
- Mark’s Texas Hots
- Max’s Chop House
- Misfit Doughnuts & Treats
- Mr Dominic’s at the Lake
- Mr. Theo’s Restaurant & Lounge
- Mt Hope Family Diner
- Mullers Cider House
- Neno’s Gourmet Mexican Street Food
- Nosh
- Old Pueblo Grill
- Orange Glory Café
- Owl House
- Pane Vino
- Park Ave Pub
- Peppa Pot
- Pizza Stop
- Railway Station Diner
- Red Fern
- REDD
- Ridge Donut Café
- Roam Cafe
- Roc City Ramen
- Rocco
- Rocky’s
- Rooney’s
- Rubino’s
- Salena’s Mexican Restaurant
- SEA Restaurant
- Sinbad’s Mediterranean Cuisine
- Tap and Mallet
- Voula’s Greek Sweets
- Whiskey River Pub & Grill
- Zoc’s Gourmet Burgers and Shakes
Highly Recommended Restaurants with Multiple Locations
- Abbott’s Frozen Custard
- Benucci’s
- Bill Gray’s
- Core Life Eatery
- DiBella’s
- Itacate
- Monte Alban Mexican Grill
- The Original Steve’s Diner
- Schaller’s Drive-In
- Six-50
- Tai Chi Bubble Tea
- Texas de Brazil
- The Distillery
- Tom Wahl’s
- Village Bakery
Highly Recommended Restaurants in Monroe County
Brighton
- Amaya Indian Cuisine
- Basha Mediterranean Eatery
- Cerame’s Italian Villa
- Char Broil
- Chen Garden
- Delmonico’s
- Grinnell’s Restaurant
- J B Quimby’s
- Phillips European
- Plum Garden
- Ristorante Lucano
- Sodam Korean Restaurant
- Sweet Mist
- Thali of India
- The Beer Market
- The King and I
Brockport
Chili
Churchville
East Rochester
- Guacamole Authentic Mexican Taqueria
- Landmark Family Restaurant
- Lemoncello Italian Restaurant & Bar
- Leo’s Bakery & Deli
Fairport
- Chakara Sushi & Bar
- Donnelly’s Public House
- Durf’s Family Restaurant
- Fairpour Coffee Roasters
- McArdle’s Restaurant
- Mulconry’s Irish Pub and Restaurant
- Riki’s Family Restaurant
Gates
Greece
Henrietta
- 110 Grill
- Bob’s Diner
- Coco Garden Malaysian Restaurant
- Lovin’ Cup
- Mamma G’s
- Naan-Tastic
- Pi Craft
- Tandoor of India
- Taisho Bistro
Hilton
Irondequoit
- Atlas Eats
- Don’s Original
- Eastridge Family Restaurant
- Pasta Villa
- Savoia Pastry Shoppe
- Shamrock Jack’s Irish Pub
- Thai Mii Up
North Chili
Penfield
Pittsford
- Back Nine Grill
- Burger Bar by Wegmans
- JoJo’s Bistro & Wine Bar
- Label 7 Napa Eatery & Bar
- Next Door by Wegmans
- Pittsford Farms Dairy & Bakery
- Simply Crepes
- Village Coal Tower Restaurant
Scottsville
Spencerport
Webster
- Barry’s Old School Irish
- BC’s Chicken Coop
- Castaways on the Lake
- Charlie’s Restaurant
- Empire Pizza
- Garlic Pit
- Jade Palace
- Maa’s Diner
- Mama Lor’s Café
- Maria’s Mexican Restaurant
- Mario’s Homemade Pasta Kitchen
- Monte Alban Mexican Restaurant
- Nucci’s Italian Steak and Seafood
- Nutcracker Family Restaurant
- Proietti’s Italian Restaurant
- T’s Family Restaurant
- The Waffle Factory
Highly Recommended Restaurants in the Greater Rochester Nine County Region
Genesee County
Batavia
Darien Center
LeRoy
Pembroke
Livingston County
Avon
Caledonia
Dansville
Geneseo
- Aunt Cookie’s Sub Shop
- Bar-Eat-O
- Cricket’s Coffee Company
- EuroCafé Real Food & Deli
- Intermissions Bar & Grill
- Kelly’s Saloon
- Mama Mia’s
- Village Tavern
Lakeville
Leicester
Lima
Livonia
Mount Morris
- Borikén Restaurant
- Brian’s USA Diner
- Charred American Bar + Grill
- Questa Lasagna
- Suzea’s Gluten Free Cafe
- Zeppo’s Ice Cream Parlor
Nunda
Piffard
Ontario County
Canandaigua
- Charlie Riedel’s
- Eric’s Office Restaurant
- Green Front
- Macri’s Deli & Café
- Ray’s Restaurant
- Rheinblick German Restaurant
- Simply Crepes Cafe
Clifton Springs
Farmington
Geneva
- Beef & Brew
- Char Burrito Bar
- Deluxe
- El Morro Restaurant
- F.L.X. Table
- Kindred Fare
- Ports Cafe
- Torrey Park Grill
- Water Street Café
Honeoye
Naples
- Bob & Ruth’s Vineyard Restaurant
- Brew & Brats at Arbor Hill
- Redwood Restaurant
- Roots Café
- Sawmill Restaurant
Victor
Orleans County
Holley
Medina
Middleport
Seneca County
Seneca Falls
Waterloo
Wayne County
Lyons
Macedon
Newark
Ontario
Palmyra
Sodus
Williamson
Wolcott
Wyoming County
Attica
Castile
Perry
Warsaw
Yates County
Penn Yan
Highly Recommended Restaurants in Surrounding Areas
Angelica
Auburn
Baldwinsville
Bath
Belfast
Buffalo
Clarence
Corning
Cuba
Derby
East Aurora
- The Bar-Bill Tavern
- Elm Street Bakery
- The Griffon Gastropub
- Rick’s on Main
- Riley Street Station
- Roycroft Inn
- Taste Bistro & Coffee Bar
Fulton
Hornell
Ithaca
Jamestown
Lewiston
Liverpool
Lockport
Montour Falls
Olean
Oswego
Painted Post
Portville
Skaneateles
Sylvan Beach
Syracuse
Tonawanda
Watkins Glen
- Curly’s Family Restaurant
- Jerlando’s Ristorante & Pizza Company
- Seneca Harbor Station
- Thai Elephants
- Tobey’s Donut Shop
- Wildflower Café
- World’s Smallest Diner
Weedsport
Wellsville
Wilson
Youngstown
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Where are your favorite restaurants around the Rochester area?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!
First thought was that this is a desperate list, with donut shops & coffee shops on it. But I understand the reasons. CHURCHVILLE: Stone’s Countryside burned recently. You can add Naughton’s Johnson’s House with about 10 $$ after it. The prices are ridiculous (maybe not as bad as they were?). HILTON: Add The Arlington, a very nice restaurant on Main Street with wonderful food.
Thank you for the recommendations, Sue! This is a list of places I would go or have gone myself and I’m happy to add your favorites to the list as well.
Pixley’s restaurant