497 Highly Recommended Restaurants Around Rochester

Including Diners, Cafés, Pubs, Bars, Bakeries, Tap Rooms, Ice Cream Parlors, and more!

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, offering a wide variety for dinning in or ordering to go.

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 food destinations are well-established, while others quickly become favorites as Rochester’s culinary scene explodes.

Table of Contents

1. City of Rochester
2. Multiple Locations
3. Monroe County
4. Greater Rochester
5. Surrounding Areas

This list is constantly growing, and sometimes, sadly, shrinking. I review it often and do take recommendations from you! If you have a suggestion or knowledge of a closure, feel free to let me know.

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. BB.q Chicken
6. Bitter Honey
7. Black Button Distilling
8. Bodega
9. Boulder Cafe & Lounge 
10. Boxcar Donuts & Fried Chicken
11. Brown Hound Bistro
12. Bubby’s BBQ
13. Caribbean Heritage Restaurant 
14. Cafe Sasso
15. Captain Jim’s

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

1. Frog Pond
2. Genesee Brew House
3. Golden Fox
4. Good Luck
5. Hedonist Artisan Ice Cream & Chocolates
6. Heroes Brewing Company
7. Hettie’s Delites Cafe
8. Highland Park Diner
9. Hose 22 Firehouse Grill
10. Iron Tug Brewing
11. James Brown’s Place
12. Java’s Cafe
13. 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. Kainos
7. La Casa
8. Living Roots Wine & Co.
9. Magnolias Deli & Cafe
10. Mamasan’s
11. Mark’s Texas Hots
12. Max’s Chop House
13. Melo Coffee & Kitchen (PKA Matilda)
14. Mercantile on Main
15. Mr Dominic’s at the Lake
16. Mr. Theo’s Restaurant & Lounge

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

1. Red Fern
2. REDD
3. Rella
4. The Revelry
5. Ridge Donut Café
6. Roam Cafe
7. Roc Brewing Company + F.L.X. Wienery
8. Roc City Ramen
9. Rocco
10. Rocky’s
11. Rooney’s
12. Rubino’s
13. Sager Beer Works
14. Salena’s Mexican Restaurant
15. SEA Restaurant
16. Strangebird Brewery
17. Swiftwater Brewing Company
18. Tapas 177
19. The Sheffield Tavern
20. Sinbad’s Mediterranean Cuisine
21. Sol Burrito
22. Three Heads Brewing
23. Tryon City Tavern
24. Velvet Belly
25. Voula’s Greek Sweets
26. Whiskey River Pub & Grill

Highly Recommended Restaurants with Multiple Locations

1. Abbott’s Frozen Custard
2. Benucci’s
3. Bill Gray’s 
4. Byrne Dairy Ice Cream
5. Core Life Eatery
6. DiBella’s
7. Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn
8. Itacate 
9. Monte Alban Mexican Grill
10. Rohrbach Brewing Company
11. The Original Steve’s Diner
12. Schaller’s Drive-In
13. Six-50 
14. Tai Chi Bubble Tea
15. Texas de Brazil
16. The Distillery
17. Tom Wahl’s
18. Village Bakery

Highly Recommended Restaurants in Monroe County

Brighton

1. Amaya Indian Cuisine
2. Basha Mediterranean Eatery
3. Boomtown Cafe
4. Cerame’s Italian Villa
5. Char Broil
6. Chen Garden
7. Delmonico’s
8. Fox’s Deli
9. Grinnell’s Restaurant
10. Phillips European
11. Plum Garden
12. Ristorante Lucano
13. Rita’s Italian Ice
14. Sodam Korean Restaurant
15. Thali of India
16. The Beer Market
17. The King and I
18. Trio

Brockport

1. 58 Main BBQ & Brew
2. Brockport Diner
3. Jimmy Z’s Plates & Shakes
4. RG Brewery
5. Stoneyard Brewing Company

Bushnell’s Basin

1. Agave Express
2. The Basin Pub
3. Branca
4. Fruit & Salad Co.
5. Richardson’s Canal House

Chili

1. Acropolis Family Restaurant
2. Leaf & Bean Coffee Co
3. Russell’s Ice Cream
4. Sprinkles Ice Cream

Churchville

1. Naughton’s Johnson House

East Rochester

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

Fairport

1. Chakara Sushi & Bar
2. Compané Trattoria
3. Donnelly’s Public House
4. Durf’s Family Restaurant
5. Faircraft Brauhaus
6. Fairport Brewing Company
7. Fairpour Coffee Roasters
8. Ice Cream Factory
9. Iron Smoke Distillery
10. LULU Taqueria + Mezcal
11. McArdle’s Restaurant
12. Mulconry’s Irish Pub and Restaurant
13. Moonlight Creamery
14. Riki’s Family Restaurant
15. Royal Cafe Gelato
16. Smokin’ Hot Chicks BBQ
17. Triphammer Bierwerks

Gates

1. Agatina’s
2. Edoya
3. Fatso’s Bar & Grille
4. Mesquite Grill
5. Mr Beenz Diner 

Greece

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

Henrietta

1. 110 Grill
2. Blue Toad Hard Cider
3. Bob’s Diner
4. Coco Garden Malaysian Restaurant
5. Just Chik’n
6. Lovin’ Cup
7. Mamma G’s
8. Naan-Tastic
9. Pi Craft
10. Sweet Mist
11. Tandoor of India
12. Taisho Bistro
13. Youkoso Sushi

Honeoye Falls

1. Dipper Dan Ice Cream

Hilton

1. The Arlington
2. Blue Barn Cider
3. Jo’s Diner
4. Wood Kettle Brewing

Irondequoit

1. Atlas Eats
2. Don’s Original
3. Eastridge Family Restaurant
4. i-Scream for Ice Cream at I-Square
5. Irondequoit Beer Company
6. Netsins Ice Cream
7. Pasta Villa
8. Savoia Pastry Shoppe
9. Shamrock Jack’s Irish Pub
10. Thai Mii Up

Mendon

1. Cottage Hotel of Mendon

North Chili

1. North Chili Family Restaurant

North Greece

1. The Front Porch Ice Cream Shoppe

Penfield

1. Five Mile Café
2. George’s Family Restaurant
3. Joey’s Pasta House
4. Michael’s Valley Grill

Pittsford

1. Back Nine Grill
2. bluHorn Tequilariao
3. Burger Bar by Wegmans
4. Copper Leaf Brewing Company
5. JoJo’s Bistro & Wine Bar
6. Label 7 Napa Eatery & Bar
7. Lock 32 Brewing Company
8. Next Door by Wegmans
9. Olive’s Greek Taverna
10. Pittsford Farms Dairy & Bakery
11. Seven Story Brewing
12. Simply Crepes
13. Village Coal Tower Restaurant

Scottsville

1. Artisan Coffeehouse
2. Golden Harvest Bakery & Cafe
3. iKON Ice Cream
4. Salvatore’s Saloon 
5. Scottsville Diner

Spencerport

1. Bad Apples Bistro
2. Brindle Haus Brewing Company
3. Griffs Brewery
4. LuGia’s Ice Cream
5. Sullivan’s Charbroil
6. Union Street Eatery
7. Village Ice Cream Shop

Webster

1. Barry’s Old School Irish
2. BC’s Chicken Coop
3. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
4. Castaways on the Lake
5. Charlie’s Restaurant
6. Empire Pizza
7. Garlic Pit
8. K2 Brothers Brewing
9. Knucklehead Craft Brewing
10. Maa’s Diner
11. Mama Lor’s Café
12. Maria’s Mexican Restaurant
13. Mario’s Homemade Pasta Kitchen
14. Monte Alban Mexican Restaurant
15. Nucci’s Italian Steak and Seafood
16. Nutcracker Family Restaurant
17. Proietti’s Italian Restaurant
18. T’s Family Restaurant
19. The Waffle Factory
20. WhichCraft Brews

Highly Recommended Restaurants in the Greater Rochester Nine County Region

Genesee County

Batavia

1. Alex’s Place
2. Blondie’s Sip-n-Dip
3. Bourbon & Burger Co
4. Rancho Viejo Authentic Mex
5. Main Street Pizza Company
6. Miss Batavia Diner
7. Pok-A-Dot
8. Settler’s Family Restaurant
9. Sport Of Kings Family Restaurant
10. T F Brown’s Restaurant
11. Town & Country Restaurant

Darien Center

1. Johnny Bear’s Restaurant

LeRoy

1. D & R Depot Restaurant
2. Farmer’s Creekside Tavern & Inn

Pembroke

1. Indian Falls Log Cabin

Livingston County

Avon

1. Avon Inn
2. Peppermints
3. Avon Village Restaurant
4. Sprinkles Ice Cream Parlor
5. Tom Wahl’s
6. Duffy’s Tavern
7. Avondale Pub
8. Fratelli’s

Caledonia

1. Caledonia Village Inn
2. Cozy Kitchen
3. Reminisce Soda Fountain
4. Angry Rooster Deli

Dansville

1. Angie’s Ice Cream Shoppe
2. The Coffee Cup
3. The Sugar Bowl
4. Caffe Tazza
5. Sunrise Family Restaurant
6. Battle Street Brewery
7. Ice Cream Island
8. Jack’s Place Gaslight Grill
9. Java Jungle Cafe
10. Middleton’s Frozen Custard
11. Macfadden Coffee Co.
12. Scovill’s Grill at Brae Burn Golf Course
13. Tony’s Pizzeria

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
9. Finger Lakes Cookie Company
10. Sunset Scoops
11. Deer Run Winery

Lakeville

1. 3 Legged Pig BBQ
2. Galene
3. Lakeville Family Restaurant
4. Minnehan’s Restaurant and Fun Center

Leicester

1. Gatherings at the Depot

Lima

1. Lima Family Restaurant
2. Fanatics Pub

Livonia

1. Ember Wood Fire Grill
2. Livonia Inn
3. Twisters Ice Cream Shop
4. Wanda’s Family Restaurant

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
7. Country Mouse Tea Room

Nunda

1. Kish-a-wa Creamery

Piffard

1. Yard of Ale

Ontario County

Bloomfield

1. Shark’s Ice Cream

Canandaigua

1. A’s Diner & Desserts
2. Casa Italiana
3. Charlie Riedel’s
4. Cheshire Farms Creamery
5. Eric’s Office Restaurant
6. Green Front
7. Macri’s Deli & Café
8. Ray’s Restaurant
9. Rheinblick German Restaurant
10. Simply Crepes Cafe

Clifton Springs

1. Warfield’s Restaurant, Lounge & Bakery

Farmington

1. El Jimador
2. Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters
3. 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. Caruso’s Cafe
4. Lynnie Lou’s Homemade Ice Cream
5. Naples Valley BBQ
6. Neapolitan Pizzeria
7. Redwood Restaurant
8. Roots Café
9. Sawmill Restaurant

Victor

1. Lucca Wood Fire Bistro
2. Otto Tomotto’s
3. Papa Jack’s Ice Cream

Orleans County

Albion

1. Tinsel Sweets

Holley

1. Sam’s Diner
2. Holley Falls Bar and Grill

Lyndonnville

1. The Hojack Ice Cream Shack & Snack Shack Grill

Medina

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

Middleport

1. Alternative Grounds Caffe

Seneca County

Interlaken

1. Cayuga Lake Creamery

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. 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. Mr. Coolee’s Ice Cream Shop
4. Parker’s Grille

Ontario

1. Heintzelman’s BBQ Pit
2. Mamia’s Island

Palmyra

1. Chill & Grill
2. Yellow Mills Diner

Sodus

1. El Rincon
2. Hots Point

Williamson

1. Orbakers Drive In
2. Original Candy Kitchen
3. Yia Yia’s Ice Cream Shoppe

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
2. Yummies Ice Cream

Yates County

Penn Yan

1. Andy’s BBQ Shack
2. Penn Yan Diner
3. Seneca Farms
4. Skyline Trading Post
5. Spotted Duck Creamery

Highly Recommended Restaurants in Surrounding Areas

Angelica

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

Atlanta

1. The Mountain View Inn

Auburn

1. Hunter’s Dinerant
2. New Hope Mills
3. Reese’s Dairy Bar

Baldwinsville

1. B’Ville Diner
2. Canal Walk Café

Bath

1. Chat-A-Whyle Restaurant 

Belfast

1. Ace’s Country Cupboard

Buffalo

1. Bertha’s Diner
2. Daisies Café
3. Kenmore Village Restaurant
4. Swan Street Diner

Clarence

1. Emily’s Family Diner

Corning

1. Dippity Do Dahs
2. Donna’s Restaurant
3. Nickel’s Pit BBQ
4. Old World Café & Ice Cream

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

Hamburg

1. Nick Charlap’s Ice Cream

Hornell

1. The Texas Café

Ithaca

1. Lincoln Street Diner
2. Moosewood
3. Purity Ice Cream

Jamestown

1. Johnny’s Lunch

Lewiston

1. Apple Granny
2. Brickyard Pub & BBQ
3. Hibbard’s Custard
4. The Silo
5. Syros Restaurant

Liverpool

1. Heid’s of Liverpool

Lockport

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

Montour Falls

1. Classic Chef’s

Olean

1. Beef’n’Barrel
2. Brother’s Bistro
3. 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

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
4. Mello Velo

Tonawanda

1. The Dockside Bar & Grill

Watkins Glen

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

Weedsport

1. DB’s Drive In

Wellsville

1. Chelsea’s Catering & Confections
2. 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?

Please share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments. Your insight and experience are invaluable!