One of the nice things about downtown Rochester is that it’s easily navigable by car or foot; it’s all of 1 1/2 miles from one end to the other. That means that whether you’re visiting for a festival, musical performance or sporting event, you’re in close proximity to a variety of restaurants well worth a visit.
But if you’re not in the know, it can be a challenge to find them; many are tucked down side streets, or in office buildings or hotels.
Here are 21 options for eateries with pleasant environments for dining, with a focus on places open for dinner in the area bordered by Route 490, the Inner Loop and South Union Street. Restaurants hours can change frequently, so it’s best to make a reservation or check social media before heading out.
Patron Saint
Patron Saint is a swanky steakhouse at 260 East Broad St. in downtown Rochester. It serves craft cocktails and its menu brings classics along with plenty of indulgences. It is open for dinner Monday through Saturday and for lunch Friday.
Tournedos Steakhouse
Tournedos Steakhouse, at 26 Broadway in the Inn on Broadway, is known for its stately dining room, high-end steaks and seafood and extensive wine selection. It is open for dinner daily.
Redd
REDD, at 24 Winthrop Street, tucked back behind The Little Theater, is an upscale restaurant with a globally inspired menu. In 2024, it was included in the 2024 USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year list. Its outdoor space, tucked away from busy downtown streets, is idyllic during the summer. It is open for dinner Monday through Saturday and for lunch Friday.
Max Bar & Bistro
Max Bar & Bistro is at 25 Gibbs St., directly across the street from the Eastman Theatre. It has been a fine dining destination for the past 24 years, and recently got a contemporary remodel. It is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday and for dinner on Saturday, with the bar open later.
Branca Midtown
Branca Midtown is an upscale, contemporary Italian restaurant and craft cocktail bar that looks out onto Parcel 5. It has outdoor seating in the summer. At 280 E. Broad St., it is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday and for lunch Wednesday and Thursday.
Native Eatery and Bar
Native Eatery and Bar is a modern restaurant and bar on the corner of South Clinton Avenue and Woodbury Boulevard, across from Geva Theatre. It is especially inviting in warm weather, when the patio is open and the indoor space opens to the outdoors. It is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday, for dinner Saturday, and is closed Sunday and Monday.
Capri Wine Bar and Restaurant
Capri Wine Bar & Restaurant is at 140 East Ave., near The Little Theatre and the Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo). As in its namesake Italian town, it invites guests to linger at its outdoor tables, sipping an Aperol spritz. Inside, there’s a full bar on the left and an intimate dining room on the right; a full menu of Italian fare is served. It is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday and for brunch Sunday.
Pane Vino on the River
Pane Vino on the River is an Italian restaurant known for its idyllic tree-covered patio along the Genesee River, but it also has a charming Tuscan vibe inside. At 175 N. Water St., it can be challenging to park when there’s an event at the nearby Water Street Music Hall, so take advantage of valet parking. It is open for dinner daily and for lunch Thursday and Friday.
Elevated Sol
Elevated Sol is set in a sunken space in a historic apartment building called The Rockford, also known as Old City Hall, about a block away from Blue Cross Arena. The address is 30 W. Broad St. downtown but the entrance is off Irving Place. It’s divided into several spaces, including a large bar, intimate lounge seating and a cozy dining room. The menu is seasonal. It serves dinner Thursday through Sunday.
The Vesper Kitchen and Bar
The Vesper Kitchen and Bar is tucked into the Capron Street Lofts building at 1 Capron St., set behind Geva Theater. This gastropub and raw bar focuses on cocktails and shared plates and has a popular $1 oyster night on Thursdays. It is open for dinner every day but Sunday.
Lila’s
Lila’s, set in the Hampton Inn & Suites at 101 S. Union St. near the Strong Museum, is a surprisingly pleasant place for drinks given its setting near the lobby. On nice days it opens to the outside. It is open for lunch and dinner daily; it offers $1 oysters during its happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
La Bola
The Mercantile on Main is a food hall within Sibley Square at 240 East Main St. Most notable from a dining perspective is La Bola, a Spanish and Mediterranean restaurant and bar that also serves craft cocktails. In addition, there’s a food court-style setup with a variety of locally owned casual restaurants, as well as The Commissary, an incubator in which the Rochester’s budding food entrepreneurs serve their fare pop-up style. Each establishment keeps its own schedule but you’ll generally find plenty of options for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday.
Bar Bantam
Bar Bantam is a bar and restaurant housed in the lobby of The Metropolitan at One S. Clinton Ave., a striking building formerly known as Chase Tower. It is open for coffee, lunch, dinner and cocktails Tuesday through Friday, and for dinner and cocktails Saturday.
Chick’n Out
Chick’n Out, at 37 Charlotte St., is a casual restaurant and full bar that serves excellent fried chicken alongside homemade Southern-style sides. Its Friday fish fry was voted best in Rochester in 2023. It is a short walk from the Eastman Theatre and The Little Theatre. It is open for dinner Thursday through Monday, and for lunch Monday, Friday and Sunday.
Tapas 177
Tapas 177, at 177 St. Paul St., serves global small plates from egg rolls to empanadas. Inside is dimly lit; its outdoor courtyard is magical in the summer. Saturdays often bring live Latin bands and salsa dancing. It serves dinner every day but Sunday.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, at 99 Court St. near the Blue Cross Arena, is the Rochester outpost of the popular Syracuse-based barbecue chain. The casual restaurant has operated since 1998 in the former Lehigh Valley Railroad Station, which was built in 1905. It is open for lunch and dinner daily.
Nerdvana
Nerdvana, at 50 Adventure Place near the Strong National Museum of Play, is a Dallas-based restaurant where guests can play video and board games while they sip craft cocktails and dine on scratch-made fare like customizable burgers. It is open for dinner daily and for lunch Saturday and Sunday.
Farmhouse Table Midtown Cafe
Farmhouse Table Midtown Cafe is housed in the glass-and-steel structure at 90 S. Clinton Ave. next to Innovation Square. It serves breakfast and lunch daily – mostly sandwiches and salads – and hosts happy hour with its own menu Wednesday through Friday.
AM:fm
AM:fm coffee cocktails vinyl, at 45 Euclid St. near Parcel 5, serves coffee from Aporia Coffee Co. as well as breakfast and lunch beginning at 7 a.m. seven days a week. Think tricked out breakfast fare, sandwiches, shrimp and grits and mac and cheese. Fridays bring cocktails. It will have extended hours during Jazz Fest; watch social media for updates.
Stromboli’s Restaurant
Stromboli’s Restaurant, 130 East Ave., is a casual restaurant open for lunch and dinner daily. It offers 26 or so varieties of stromboli as well as thin-crust pizzas, subs, wings, salads and vegan items. It hosts live music Wednesday and Thursdays early evenings as well as throughout Jazz Fest.
St. Paul Proper
St. Paul Proper, 187 St. Paul St., is a neighborhood bar with a focus on craft beer and elevated tavern food like pizzas, burgers and wings. Wings are half price on Wednesdays. It is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
Tracy Schuhmacher is food and drink reporter for the D&C. Email her at TracyS@Gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 21 great dinner spots in downtown Rochester: See the list
Reporting by Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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