Here are my recommendations for dining in Rochester and Monroe County, plus a few places worth the drive—from restaurants, diners, cafés, and pubs.
This list draws on more than 40 years of exploring the region’s food scene, plus recommendations from friends, colleagues, and the Day Trips Around Rochester community. You’ll find longtime favorites and newer discoveries that keep us coming back.
City of Rochester
Downtown / Center City
- Bar Bantam
- Branca Midtown
- Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
- Mercantile on Main
- Pane Vino on the River
- Patron Saint Steakhouse
- Peach Blossom
- Sagra Italia
- Shell
- Squatcho’s
- Tapas 177
- Unwine’d
Washington Square, Wadsworth Square & Neighborhood of Play
East End / Gibbs Street
- Albunn Coffee House
- The Alexander
- The Daily Refresher
- Gio’s Prime 26
- Goodman Bakes
- Java’s Cafe
- Jim’s on Main
- Locals Only
- Mamasan’s
- Max Bar & Bistro at Eastman Place
- Murphy’s Law Irish Pub
- Orange Glory Café
- REDD Rochester
- The Richmond by Mortalis Brewing
- Shema Sushi
- Stromboli’s
- ThaiYada Restaurant
Corn Hill
High Falls / Genesee Brewery
South Wedge
- Angelinas
- Boulder Cafe & Lounge
- Crisp
- La Casa
- Martine Kocktails
- Poke Sushi
- Swiftwater Brewing Company
Swillburg, Highland Park & South Clinton Avenue
- Butterjoy Bakery
- Georgie’s Bakery & Cafe
- Highland Park Diner
- Pizza Wizard
- The Playhouse // Swillburger
- Rooney’s
- Shiki
- White Swans Asia Cafe
- Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant
Mount Hope / College Town
- Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant
- Chuy’s Taqueria
- Country Sweet
- Jasmine Restaurant & Cafe
- Mt. Hope Family Diner
- SEA Restaurant
Monroe Avenue / Monroe Village & Upper Monroe
- Aladdin’s Natural Eatery
- Bar Bad Ending
- BB.q Chicken
- Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant
- Crumpets
- Dogtown Hots
- Han Noodle Bar
- Hydra Coffeehouse
- Neno’s Gourmet Mexican Street Food
- SEA Restaurant
Park Avenue
- Ardor Park Artisanal Pizza
- The Bagel Shop by Fox’s
- Cafe Sasso
- The Classic Kitchen & Cocktails
- Dorado
- Furoshiki
- The Hideaway
- Jines Restaurant
- Leonore’s
- Magnolias Deli & Cafe
- Park Avenue Paninoteca
- The Red Fern
- Roam
- Roux
- Sinbad’s Mediterranean Cuisine
- Szechuan Opera
- Vern’s
ABC Streets / Culver Road Armory
Neighborhood of the Arts / University Avenue
- Brown Hound Downtown
- Carnegie Cellars Wine Bar & Kitchen
- Char Steak & Lounge
- Chortke
- Edibles Restaurant & Bar
- Fiamma Centro
- Forno Tony
- The Gate House
- Good Luck
- Hattie’s Rooftop Cocktails
- Lento
- Melo Coffee & Kitchen
- Moo’d Burger Bar
- Mullers Cider House
- Nosh
- Polizzi’s
- Sager-Stoneyard Pub
- Salena’s Mexican Restaurant
- Studio Lounge
East Avenue / Winton–Blossom–Carlson Area
Public Market / Railroad Street
- Bitter Honey
- Cure
- Fiorella
- Flour City Bread Company
- Public Provisions
- Rohrbach’s
- Velvet Belly
- Ziggy’s
North Winton Village, Browncroft & Culver–Empire
- Balsam Bagels
- Donuts Delite
- Jack’s Extra Fancy
- JJ’s Pub
- Lucky’s
- The Silver Iguana
- Tavos Antojitos y Tequila
- Tryon City Tavern
- Voula’s
- Wildflour
- Winfield Grill
Beechwood / Culver–Main Corridor
Maplewood / Dewey–Ridge Area
Jay Street / West of Downtown
19th Ward
Charlotte
- Hose 22 Firehouse Grill
- Mr. Dominic’s at the Lake
- Vine & Tap Wine Bar
- Whiskey River Pub & Grill
- Windjammers
Monroe County
Multiple Locations
- Bill Gray’s
- DiBella’s
- The Distillery
- Ferrari Pizza Bar
- Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn
- JBC Rice Noodles and Ramen
- Jeremiah’s Tavern
- JoJo Bistro & Wine Bar
- Mecate Mexican Restaurant & Bar
- Monte Alban Mexican Grill
- The Original Steve’s Diner
- Taichi Bubble Tea
- Tom Wahl’s
- Village Bakery
Brighton
- Amaya Indian Cuisine
- Avvino
- Basha Mediterranean Eatery
- Carmen’s Cooking
- Cerame’s Italian Villa
- Char Broil
- Chen Garden
- Delmonico’s
- Fox’s Deli
- Juicy Seafood
- Khong Thai Cuisine
- Max Chop House
- The Old Farm Cafe
- Phillips European
- Redd Wood
- Seasoning Thai Bistro
- Seoul Drop
- The Sheffield Tavern
- Thali of India
- The King and I
Brockport
- 58 Main BBQ & Brew
- Barber’s Grille & Tap Room
- Brockport Diner
- Coleen’s Kitchen
- Custom House Bar & Grill
- Grinds Café & Sweet Shoppe
- Java Junction
- Piccolo Fazools Bistro
- The Red Bird Cafe and Gift Shop
Bushnell’s Basin
Chili
- Asia Nation
- Coronas III Authentic Mexican Restaurant
- Leaf & Bean Coffee Co
- REV IT UP Bar and Grill
- Town & Country Family Restaurant
Churchville
East Rochester
- El Greco
- Landmark Family Restaurant
- Lemoncello Italian Restaurant & Bar
- Leo’s Bakery & Deli
- Spritz 146
Fairport
- Bocaccini’s Italian Bistro
- Bonnie & Clyde
- Chakara Sushi & Bar
- Compané Trattoria
- Donnelly’s Public House
- Durf’s Family Restaurant
- Faircraft Brauhaus
- Fairpour Coffee Roasters
- Fairport Village Inn
- Great American Diner
- LULU Taqueria + Mezcal
- McArdle’s Restaurant
- Mulconry’s Irish Pub and Restaurant
- The Porterhouse Steak, Scotch, and Seafood
- Riki’s Family Restaurant
- Rustic Taco
- Salt
- Tin Cup Social
- TK’s Pizzeria
Gates
- Agatina’s
- Ciaccia’s Delicatessen
- Cristo’s Wood Fired Pizza & Pasta
- Levantine’s Syrian Cafe & Cuisine
- Mesquite Grill
- Mr. Beenz Diner
- Papa Joe’s Italian Eatery
- Pura Vida Ville
- Pure Imagination Cafe
- Rohrbach’s Brewpub
Greece
- Asian Street Café
- Bella Pasta
- Bill’s Long Pond Diner
- Blue Ridge Grill
- Bozza Pasta
- BTB Wood-fired Pizza Bar & Grill
- Carbone’s Pizzeria
- Char Broil House
- Cinelli’s Pizza and Italian Kitchen
- Cocina Latina
- Davies Sea Food
- DaVinci’s
- Dell’s Market & Deli
- Etna Italian Pastry Shop
- Ezzy’s at Latta
- Flight West Wine, Whiskey & Kitchen
- Great American Diner
- The Grove House
- Honshu Hibachi
- Kobe Sushi Bar & Steak House
- La Famiglia Pizzeria
- Lamplighter Restaurant
- Los Gallos Mexican Grille
- Masters Seafood
- Mel’s Diner
- Mi Rancho Alegre
- New Roots Coffeehouse
- Olympia Family Restaurant
- Orien’s Café
- Parkway Family Restaurant
- Patti’s Place inside The Shops on West Ridge
- Perri’s Pizza
- Philly Steakout
- Pino’s Deli & Cafe
- The Pizza Stop
- Railway Station Diner
- Red Fedele’s Brook House
- The Retreat
- Ricci’s Family Restaurant
- Ricci’s Italian Imports
- Romig’s Tavern
- Salty Bread Pizza Cafe
- Schaller’s Drive-In
- Silo Brunch Bar
- Soho Bagels and Cafe
- TC Hooligans
- Triano’s Meat Market
Hamlin
Henrietta
- Berlin’s Halal Doner Kebab & East of Chicago Pizza
- Bob’s Diner (no web presence)
- Coco Garden Malaysian Restaurant
- Fireside Grill & Sports Bar
- Haveli Indian Cuisine
- Hyderabad Biryani House
- Island Wraps
- Jay’s Diner
- Just Chik’n
- Layali Coffee House
- Lovin’ Cup
- Mamma G’s
- Mediterranean Kebab House
- Naan-Tastic
- Nathan’s Soup & Salad
- OG Dumpling House
- Osaka Sushi
- Peppermints
- Royal of India
- Seoul House
- Sodam
- Swan Market
- Tandoor of India
- Taisho Bistro
- Tsingtao House
- Youkoso Sushi
- Youngs Korean Restaurant (no web presence)
Hilton
Honeoye Falls
Irondequoit
- Atlas Eats
- Don’s Original
- Fish Face
- Irondequoit Beer Company
- New Ethic Pizzeria & Cafe
- Pasta Villa
- Polska Chata
- Ridge Donut Café
- Rubino’s
- Salty Bread Pizza Cafe
- Shamrock Jack’s Irish Pub
- Sofra Restaurant and Bakery
- Uncle Danny’s Family Restaurant
- Union Tavern
- Wild Elephant
Mendon
North Chili
Penfield
- Bar-Bill Tavern
- Elvio’s Coffee
- Five Mile Café
- George’s Family Restaurant
- Hong Wah Restaurant
- Joey’s Pasta House
- Michael’s Valley Grill
- South Bay Bar & Grill
Pittsford
- Aladdin’s Natural Eatery
- Black & Blue Steak and Crab
- Colliers Cafe
- Erie Grille
- Fattoush
- Favo Pizza and Draft House
- Label
- Monroe’s Restaurant
- Next Door by Wegmans
- Neutral Grounds Coffeehouse
- Olive’s Greek Taverna
- Pane Vino on the Avenue
- Pittsford Pub
- Plum Garden
- Rosie
- Simply Crepes
- Umai Sushi
- Village Coal Tower Restaurant
Scottsville
Spencerport
- Bad Apples Bistro
- Clutch on the Canal
- Galicia
- Sullivan’s Charbroil
- Union Street Eatery
- Union Street Coffee House
Webster
- BC’s Chicken Coop
- Castaways on the Lake
- Charlie’s Restaurant
- Empire Pizza
- Garlic Pit
- Golden Boys Family Restaurant
- Knucklehead Craft Brewing
- La Bella Vita
- Maa’s Diner
- Mama Lor’s Café
- Mario’s Homemade Pasta Kitchen
- Nucci’s Italian Steak and Seafood
- Nutcracker Family Restaurant
- Old Pueblo Grill
- The Peppered Pig
- Proietti’s Italian Restaurant
- T’s Family Restaurant
- WhichCraft Brews
Rochester, delivered
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Worth the Drive
Some meals are worth planning a day trip around. These destinations beyond Monroe County offer a reason to make the drive, whether you’re drawn by a particular dish, a waterfront table, or an evening built around the experience.
- Indian Falls Log Cabin, Pembroke
- The Original Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Stafford
- Caledonia Village Inn, Caledonia
- Ember Woodfire Grill, Livonia
- Galene, Lakeville
- Questa Lasagna, Mount Morris
- Warfield’s, Clifton Springs
- Rheinblick German Restaurant, Canandaigua
- Rio Tomatlan, Canandaigua
- F.L.X. Table, Geneva
- Kindred Fare, Geneva
- Ports Cafe, Geneva
- Roots Café, Naples
- Brew & Brats at Arbor Hill, South Bristol
- Harvest at Bent’s Opera House, Medina
- Mariachi de Oro, Medina
- Charcoal Corral, Perry
- Seneca Farms, Penn Yan
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Food & Beverage Guide
Whether savoring a gourmet meal, enjoying local delicacies, or embarking on a culinary adventure, you'll love Rochester’s dining scene.
What are your favorite restaurants around Rochester?
I’d love to hear from you—please reach out and share your thoughts and experiences.
Help Support My Work
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See you out there!
Debi
Enjoy the Journey Together!
