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Food & Drink

286 locations in Rochester, NY

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Nosh

Nosh is an eclectic restaurant located in The Factory in NOTA. Their menu is a bewildering mix of American, Hawaiian, Asian fusion, BBQ, Mexican and Tex-Mex, Italian, Korean, Southern, seafood, Vietnamese, gourmet wood-fried pizza, and steakhouse. They sum it up as "honest, hands-on, sociable food & drink." Outdoor seating available. The indoor space is over 4,900 square feet and has an open kitchen. They opened July 1, 2016. References Nosh restaurant opens in Rochester - Democrat and Chronicle (2016-06-28)

Food & Drink

Clarissa Room

The Clarissa Room is a jazz bar on Clarissa Street. Message on website as of 2007.01.23 says "The Clarissa Room is currently closed due to legal matters within the family". There is hope for the venue, as it will be reopening as Clarissa's as soon as it gets its liquor license. Update: A soft opening for friends and family was held on the weekend of 11/10/2007. Simply put, it’s hard to get over Shep’s. It was of those completely unforgettable clubs with fantastic ambience, crowds and music. John Starr (RIP) did an excellent job with the space and always made his customers welcome. That feeling actually has never left. It’s always been a place that is very welcoming, regardless of who owns it. However, I have to say that I prefer the old set-up with the bar and seating downstairs and the “stage” and additional seating upstairs. It really gave you the option of 2 separate spaces to use. Yes there’s the seating in the upper back section now, but it always makes me feel too disconnected back there. Regardless it’s a great resource for our community and I always have a good time when I go. — While the post was on the level then, there was no re-opening during February. Jazz@Rochester has since been told that John Starr's children have not been able to overcome the legal hurdles to reopen and that Clarissa Room will not be re-opened and that the building in fact will be put up for sale. blog will have more news the information is confirmed. I would welcome those who know the real story to contact me on the blog. There's a lot of people out there who miss this venue. — I've been seeing a number of hits on my blog from this page, indicating continued interest in the Clarissa Room and its fate. Currently, we have heard that the Clarissa Room will be re-opening as soon as their liquor license is in place. From what I heard, it will be under new ownership and management. Again, I would welcome those who know the whole story to contact me through the email link on Jazz@Rochester. There's a lot of people out there who miss this venue and I'd like to let them know what's up and when to expect the Clarissa Room to return. —

Food & Drink

Blue Taro

Blue Taro, January 2018 Blue Taro is a Vietnamese Restaurant in the Upper Monroe neighborhood serving vegan and non-vegan cuisine. Located in the old Le Lemon Grass location. Opened December 1, 2017; closed temporarily for renovations in January 2020, remained closed during the pandemic, and reopened in April 2022. On Saturdays, Blue Taro operates a stall in the B shed (the indoor shed) at the Rochester Public Market. The Market location has a smaller menu focusing on appetizers, sandwiches, and bubble tea.

Food & Drink

Lombardi's Gourmet Imports and Specialties

Lombardi's carries the most complete line of Portmeirion pottery, china, and accessories to set your table in style. They also carry Armetale, Alessi Stainless, LeCrueset, Chantal, Magnalite, and Hartstone Stoneware products, etc. Lombardi's imports fine meats and cheeses daily, and makes their own pasta, sauces, bruschetta toppings, and breads. They have a wide-range of Lombardi-made meals and desserts in their freezer section. Don't forget their fresh ground gourmet coffee or expresso! They have coffee and espresso makers galore, too. Lombardi's makes and sends gourmet gift baskets. They can customize a basket with your choice of any accessory, cookware, or tableware from their wide variety of manufacturers. They can also include anything from their imported gourmet food products. Bridal Registry and Wish List available! They offer gift wrapping, local delivery, and UPS shipping anywhere

Food & Drink

Greenhouse Cafe

Coffee Connection at the Greenhouse Cafe was a coffeehouse and cafe in North Winton Village. It was under the management of the Coffee Connection. They hosted Open Mic nights and occasionally feature live music. Grand opening was July 1, 2012. For many years (approx. 1950s-90s) the greenhouse served as the home of Phelps Florists, a neighborhood institution. Coffee Connection has kept the greenhouse and converted part of it into their cafe. A small portion, however, is still used to grow organic fruits and vegetables, which they use in their food. They plan to freeze some of their produce so that they can use it in the winter as well. Seedfolk City Farm has a growing space here. The Greenhouse Cafe had free WiFi.

Food & Drink

Bamba Bistro

Bamba Bistro, at night (04-28-2008) Kobe Beef with Herbed Potatoes; Goat Cheese and Beet Salad (12-31-2007) Bamba Bistro was a casual re-incarnation of its previously formal atmosphere, when the upscale restaurant was called the "Rio Bamba." The chef and ownership was the same, however, the price-point and menu theme was different. Dinner entree prices were between $12 and $32. Lunch entree prices were between $8 and $20. Starting Fall 2005, they started offering lunch Mon-Fri. They took seasonal ingredients into account in their ever-changing menu that included a raw bar. The location made it easy to have dinner before walking to the bars across the street on Alexander. Valet parking was necessary if you wanted to park in their lot for dinner. Their valet had been working there for 10 years. They had two meeting/banquet rooms for 10-80 people. One RocWiki community member said: The food is pretty rockin' - Chef Cohen is a master of presentation, and offers a variety of solid options. A recent visit involved an arugula salad with a very lightly fried block of goat cheese, over cherries, and home made pasta with a shitake mushroom sauce. Both great, but the pasta is atypical - most dishes here are a little heavier, and substantially meatier. I'll update this with some price information soon, but the quick version is that it isn't cheap. Think salads between $5 and $10, entrees around or over $20. Everything is house-made, including their ice cream. Bamba Bistro closed in April 2014. The location is now Ox and Stone.

Food & Drink

Banzai Sushi Bar & Lounge

Banzai Exterior, Jan 2013 Banzai Sushi Bar & Lounge was a sushi restaurant in the South Wedge. They had a full bar and an assortment of specialty rolls, nigiri and sashimi, along with a few soups and other appetizers like edamame. The menu had a variety of craft cocktails in addition to wine and beer. Banzai had the same owner as the late Piranha. They opened in early October 2012. In March 2015 Banzai moved from its original location at 682 South Ave to 503 South Ave, the former home of the South Wedge Colony at the corner of South Ave & Alexander St, a much larger space that allowed Banzai to become more of an entertainment venue than its previous premises allowed. They closed in September 2015. Links Reddit discussion re: closing

Food & Drink

Pollywogg Holler

Main Lodge Sauna Loft Wood Loft New York's only (?) eco-resort, accessible via short 5 minute hike from the road (wheelbarrow provided for baggage). This resort / pizza parlor is totally "off the grid" meaning it relies on traditional methods and solar power. Pizza is served publicly on Sundays 1p-6p & Wednesday evenings and a band plays on the last Sunday of the month. They offer overnight all-inclusive (appetizers, dinner, wine & breakfast) packages ranging for $110 per person and are also open in the wintertime, for the more adventurous. Please call ahead if you plan on bringing a dog with you are approval. As of spring 2007 in order to come for pizza you now need to get a $30 membership (includes family and up to 4 friends). Guests that spend the night are not required to get a membership. We spent a few hours hanging out on the porch of the main cabin chit chatting with the other guests and the hosts. They poured wine until our glasses runneth over, fed us appetizers (shrimp, cheese, crackers & vegetables) then fed us hickory smoked steak & potatoes and chicken & rice. Unfortunately we were too full to try any of the hickory smoked apple pie. Eventually we retired to our loft above the sauna room (those stairs were most precarious). Breakfast was also good and we stayed around for the Sunday pizza. A mother/son came the way from Florida which were on the end of their week-long vacation and the Holler was their final stop before heading back. They were using the book as their guide, which is where I originally heard of the Holler a year before. We tried both the traditional pepperoni pizza /w garlic (home grown) and we tried their specialty dish "Bill's Garlic Pie" which has feta, black olives, red & yellow pepper. Both pizzas, cooked in a wood over, were great. I highly recommend this place even if you can only come for the pizza. Overall this is the best little vacation I've ever taken. —

Food & Drink

Changing Scene

The Changing Scene was a rotating restaurant atop the First Federal Plaza building in downtown Rochester. The restaurant offered a 360 degree view of downtown. It was scheduled to open in August 1977; a July notice from the Democrat & Chronicle offered free rides in its glass elevator as part of the new Riverview Market opening at the Plaza. The restaurant closed October 21, 1988. Articles about its closing appeared in the October 18 and October 27, 1988 issues of the Democrat & Chronicle. 1 The rotating rotunda is now home to 7,000 square feet of office space.

Food & Drink

Mundo Grill

Mundo Grill was a small, bistro-style restaurant in Brighton, next to the Holiday Inn Express that changed its menu with the seasons. Usual fare included a variety of fresh seafood, including raw oysters, as well as grilled entrees, salads and appetizers. It was a small restaurant with two rows of booths surrounding a central set of tables, with large French windows at one end that were usually opened in nice weather. The Mundo Grill also had a relatively large bar and a good wine selection. A few outside tables are available in the summer months, though the view was one of the busiest sections of Monroe Avenue. Pare was also at that location until it closed in January 2010.

Food & Drink

Old Country Buffet

Company Logo Old Country Buffet was a national chain restaurant operating in the Stoneridge Plaza. They offered traditional "home cooking" buffet style. Old Country Buffet was owned by Buffet, Inc which also operated HomeTown Buffet, Ryan's and Fire Mountain in other areas. You could purchase a Senior Club Card for $1 and you'd receive discounts on every adult Buffet meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with monthly renewal. Their breakfast buffet ran from 8AM to 11AM on Saturdays and Sundays, and cost $5.99. History There used be a second location in Southtown Plaza on Jefferson Road in Henrietta as well, but it was removed from RocWiki in Feb, 2008 by PeteB per D&C Article reporting it closed.

Food & Drink

Founders Café

Founders Café is a coffeehouse and café. Located in the Academy Building, Founders Café serves breakfast, sandwiches, salads, soups, and smoothies. All coffee is direct trade, with options including espresso drinks, French Press, AeroPress, and pour-over. There is also outdoor seating, weather permitting, and free wifi. Catering and delivery also available. The interior has a giant mural of city founder Nathaniel Rochester made from a digital copy of his portrait at the Memorial Art Gallery. Another wall lists various other historical Rochesterians, including William Gleason, George Eastman, John Bausch, and Hiram Sibley. Opened May 19, 2014.

Food & Drink

Balsam Bagels

Balsam Bagels exterior 8-2008 Balsam Bagels is a neighborhood bagel shop located in North Winton Village near Blossom Road. They also offer numerous homemade cream cheeses, gourmet soups, salads, wraps, health bread, and bagel sandwiches. They also have phyllo pockets, phyllo dough filled with assorted savory fillings, bagel wraps, assorted meats and cheeses wrapped inside bagel dough, the standard bagel dogs featuring Hebrew National hot dogs, pizza sticks (bagel dough stuffed with a mixture of sauce and mozzarella blend, and many more options. Bagels are produced and baked in an open style bakery were one can view the bagel making process. Parking is available. Delivery available for orders over $15. Balsam Bagels also does catering. The bakery at Balsam Bagels is kosher under the supervision of Rabbi Shaya Kilimnick. Products in the store, such as sandwiches, salads, and wraps are not kosher. Balsam Bagels celebrated its tenth anniversary June 1, 2014. Awards Voted "Best Bagel" by City Newspaper's 'Best of Rochester' Awards in 2015.1

Food & Drink

Flour City Pasta

Former location of Flour City Pasta (Perinton) Former location of Flour City Pasta (Perinton) Flour City Pasta is a bakery that specializes in organic handmade pasta, including gluten-free varieties. In 2012 the owners opened a retail store in Pittsford, which they closed in September 2014 to focus on expanding flavors and distribution. Their products can be purchased at: F. Oliver's Oils and Vinegars Lori's Natural Foods Parkleigh Pittsford Farms Dairy & Bakery R's Market Red Bird Market Schutt's Apple Mill and other regional locations. Controversy In October 2015 Flour City Bread Co. announced that Flour City Pasta was threatening them with legal action over their use of the name "Flour City," which Flour City Pasta says infringes on their trademark within their product category. Flour City Pasta, on the other hand, argued on their Facebook page that "One of the requirements of having a trademark is making sure that other people don’t use our name in our product category. Our category is food products. It’s called 'policing the mark'. It’s designed to protect the public." The bread folks pointed out that Flour City has been a Rochester nickname for over 150 years and some 60 businesses since then have used it. Flour City Pasta countered that "No one, least of all us, has a monopoly on the name Flour City. Anyone who claims that we are trying to make money by controlling the name 'Flour City' is misinformed."

Food & Drink

Pontillo's

Home of the self-proclaimed "finest pizza" in Western New York, Pontillo's is famous for being the largest, locally-owned pizza chain in the area. They offer submarine sandwiches, salads, and pizzas by the pie or the slice. Some locations feature online ordering. Locations Pontillo's is located throughout Rochester in 19 different locations, spanning across the city and into its suburbs: Awards Pontillo's was voted "Best Place for a Pizza Slice" in City Newspaper's 'Best of Rochester' Awards in 2015.1

Food & Drink

Kendall

Town Hall History The Town of Kendall took its name from Amos Kendall, the postmaster general when the town was formed. The town is your standard small rural town. Not much of anything goes on there. One amusing event in recent history was The Cannon Scandal, when Town officials quietly sold a cannon that had guarded the graves of local civil war veterans. The town is easily accessible from the parkway or by taking Rt 18. Notable Attractions The Cannon at Greenwood Cemetery Bald Eagle Marina, which is in the midst of constructing a hotel/resturant type place. Camp Troutburg Kendall Inn, the only bar and restaurant in town Weird Stuff Town shares part of the Hamlet of Morton with Hamlin to its east and part of a different county. Beechwood Cemetery, Which many claim to be haunted after a several horrible events took place near there.

Food & Drink