One of the most frequent questions that I’m asked – after “what’s your favorite restaurant? – is where to go out for lunch in the Rochester area.
To that end, I recently compiled a story listing 50 places for lunch. They were places I’ve visited myself and had an overall positive impression. I focused on locally owned restaurants that were geographically diverse and represented a variety of cuisines.
Knowing that 50 restaurants didn’t even scratch the surface, I opened the door for readers to send in their suggestions. Here are a dozen recommended by our readers.
River Street Sandwich Makers is a casual counter-service restaurant at 678 South Ave. in the South Wedge. It serves creative sandwiches, soups and salads. The reader who recommended the restaurant liked the Caprese sandwich, served on ciabatta. I like the Aloha chicken sandwich, with crispy fried chicken tossed in huli-huli barbecue sauce, topped with jalapeño slices, kewpie house slaw, pickles and red onion, all piled on toasted King’s Hawaiian hamburger buns. It is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday.
Olives, a Greek restaurant in Pittsford’s Schoen Place at 50 State St., is open for lunch daily except for Sunday, when the restaurant is closed. It serves homey Greek food; for lunch, I’d likely order the spanakopita and the melitzanosalata (a chunky, garlicky blend of eggplant, tomatoes and onion), along with warm pita bread. But they have a large assortment of Greek and non-Greek gyros, a haddock fish fry and an all-American kids menu. The reader who suggested Olives recommended the bread pudding.
Bad Apples Bistro, 42 Nichols St. in Spencerport, is a casual eatery that serves is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday. The reader who recommended it called it a “hidden gem,” saying it’s “small, intimate, and delicious.” She raved abouth the Moroccan Spiced Vegan Stuffed Squash, roasted acorn squash filled with Israeli couscous, grilled zucchini, craisins and chickpeas, served in a warm spiced tomato/coconut broth, noting it was just $12 for lunch.
The Winfield Grill, 647 N. Winton Road, has been a mainstay in the North Winton Village for decades. Its 1933-era building features rustic wood floors, exposed brick walls and shiny tin ceilings; the tables in the dining room are made of bowling alleys reclaimed from the Olympic Bowl. It also has a large, inviting bar area. The menu runs the gamut from bar food to salads to sandwiches to mostly Italian-influenced entrées. It is open for lunch daily.
Locals Only, at 311 Alexander St. downtown, is a bright, airy eatery that serves coffee, cocktails, breakfast and lunch. It is open for lunch daily. Its concise menu includes a burger, sandwiches, soup and Buffalo chicken nachos. The reader who recommended the restaurant mentioned it has parking next door.
Edibles Restaurant & Bar is an upscale bistro at 704 University Ave., in the distinctive 1850s-era Flatiron building. It’s hard to not be charmed by its creaky wood floors, high tin ceilings, exposed brick walls, and large windows that look out onto two bustling streets. In the summer there’s inviting outdoor seating. The reader who recommended Edibles said it’s her go-to for their grilled cheese and tomato soup, as well as the bread pudding. It is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday.
Fairfield’s Bar & Grill, at 2600 Baird Road, is an unassuming restaurant in Penfield near Fairport. There’s a bar in front and dining room with high-backed booths in back. It has an extensive menu of Italian and American fare and has a large following for its fish fry, which comes in two sizes: minnow and jaws. It is open for lunch Monday through Saturday.
TP’s Irish Restaurant and Sports Pub, 916 Panorama Trail in Penfield, has been a fixture in the area for more than 30 years. It combines an Irish vibe with sports bar elements like large screen TVs and dart boards. The menu is primarily standard bar fare, some dishes given Irish monikers, but you can get Guinness, Harp and Smithwicks on tap. I’ve always liked its O’Reuben, made with coleslaw instead of sauerkraut. It is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday.
Open Face was originally a popular South Wedge restaurant; in 2021, it reopened as the restaurant within the George Eastman Museum at 900 East Ave. It serves specialty sandwiches, soups, salads and baked goods. One of its signature items is the open-faced corn mash sandwich, based on roasted corn that has been seasoned, mashed and mixed with red bell pepper. It is served hot with melted cheddar, apricot barbecue glaze and French fried onions. It is open for lunch every day but Monday; museum admission is not required to dine in the restaurant.
One reader recommended Rochester’s casual waterfront restaurants, which are known primarily for outdoor dining; it would be advisable to call ahead for hours at this time of year. Pelican’s Nest, next to the Historic Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse at 566 River St. in Rochester, is open for lunch daily during the summer. Castaways on the Lake, overlooks Lake Ontario at 244 Lake Road in Webster. During the summer it is open for lunch daily. Schooner’s Riverside Pub, a seasonal bar and grill at Shumway Marine, is closed for the season.
Tracy Schuhmacher has been food and drink reporter for the D&C for the past 10 years. Notice an eatery open or close near you? Email her at TracyS@Gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 12 places to go out for lunch in the Rochester area. See the list
Reporting by Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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