Rochester’s brunch scene has changed quite a bit over the past several years. Many places that used to serve brunch are no longer doing so, and places you might have gone for over-the-top Sunday brunch buffets in the past are now serving them only on special holidays.
Brunch in general has become a more casual outing. And with alcohol consumption on the decline, some brunch spots focus on specialty coffee drinks instead of mimosas and bloodies (although there are plenty of those to be found).
Here are some of the nicer places to go for brunch in the Rochester area. While these distinctions can be fuzzy, I’ve focused primarily on full-service restaurants rather than coffee shops and diners, which no doubt will have their own stories in the future.
Atlas Eats
Atlas Eats Kitchen & Bake Shop, owned by Diane and Gerry Brinkman, is a cozy, charming restaurant tucked in a residential neighborhood in Irondequoit. By night, it highlights a different cuisine from around the world every two weeks. On Fridays and Saturdays it serves an internationally inspired brunch menu that remains fairly consistent over time. Its most buzzed-about staple is its savory whole wheat pancakes laced with kimchi; they are drizzled with spicy dragon sauce and topped with a poached egg. Wash brunch down with coffee, cold brew or a mimosa. You’ll most likely head home with a loaf of bread or a bag of goodies from its in-house bakery. Reservations are not accepted for brunch. 2185 N. Clinton Ave., Irondequoit; (585) 544-1300, atlas-eats.com.
Mendon Brunch on the Brook
Mendon Brunch on the Brook, a breakfast and brunch spot in Mendon, distinguishes itself by making most everything from scratch. They bake homemade bagels and breads, cure their own bacon, smoke their own meats, make their own cream cheeses and even roast their own coffees. Its best seller is French toast, made with thick slices of homemade cinnamon swirl bread, topped with brûléed sugar and adorned with fresh berries, candied orange, vanilla crema and Grand Marnier maple syrup. But you can also stop in for a classic breakfast sandwich. It serves a specialty coffee beverages, but does not offer alcohol. It does not accept reservations. 6 Victor Mendon Road in Mendon; (585) 497-7005, mendononthebrook.com.
Tavos Antojitos y Tequila
TAVOS Antojitos y Tequila in the North Winton Village serves a small but tasty Mexican brunch menu Tuesday through Sunday. Choose from chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, or chorizo-and-egg mini burritos, as well as Mexican-inspired twists on brunch cocktails. Its full menu is available as well. Owner Gabe Guevara serves authentic Mexican fare, much of it drawing from his family’s former restaurant, El Rincón Mexicana in Sodus. Come summer, you’ll find a large patio for outdoor dining. 425 Merchants Road, Rochester; (585) 312-6683; tavosroc.com.
Public Provisions
Public Provisions, in the Rochester Public Market, serves as a quick-service spot for breakfast sandwiches, casual lunches and coffee beverages during market hours. During Sunday brunch it is a full-service restaurant and craft cocktail bar. Brunch brings classic items such as quiche, French toast, eggs Benedict and cocktails. Come summer you’ll find outdoor seating on a colorfully striped area in front. Public Provisions serves brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays but opens at 9 a.m. during Flower City Days at the Market (May 10, 17, 24, 25 and 31). Reservations are accepted. 45 Public Market, Rochester; (585) 504-4617, public-provisions.com.
Brown Hound Downtown
The Brown Hound Downtown is housed within the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts, and some tables overlook the sculptures in the Vanden Brul Pavilion. Large, colorful portraits of dogs line the walls. Bunch, served Saturdays and Sundays, includes classic breakfast fare; chicken and waffles; biscuits and gravy; avocado toast and more. 500 University Ave., Rochester; (585) 506-9725, brownhounddowntown.com.
The Coterie Restaurant
The Coterie Restaurant opened in Gates in 2025. The American restaurant has a casual, eclectic vibe and is decorated with antiques and mismatched furniture. The fun brunch menu includes creative fare like chicken & waffle skewers, a biscuit and gravy burrito and crispy cheddar tacos. Cocktails include a cereal milk martini and a boozy bourbon caramel milkshake. 777 Spencerport Road, Gates; (585) 363-5000, thecoterierestaurant.com.
The Hideaway
The restaurant at 197 Park Ave. has been a fixture in the Park Avenue neighborhood since it was known as Hogan’s Hideaway. Now called The Hideaway, it has been given a facelift that’s maintained its vintage charm, with rustic brick walls and century-old hardwood floors. The brunch menu offers spins on classic American dishes. The crispy Brussels sprouts appetizer, with dried cranberries, bacon bits and a maple sherry drizzle, is a customer favorite at any time of day. Reservations are accepted. 197 Park Ave., Rochester;(585) 434-0511, thehideawayroc.com.
The Gate House
The Gate House, a longtime restaurant in The Village Gate in the Neighborhood of the Arts, always seems to be hopping. The brunch menu includes a lobster Florentine Benedict, a brunch pizza, stuffed French toast, a new Dubai chocolate skillet pancake and lots more. The casual restaurant is walking distance from plays at the nearby West Herr Auditorium Theatre. Reservations are accepted. 274 N Goodman St., Rochester; (585) 473-2090, thegatehousecafe.com.
Crisp Rochester
Crisp Rochester, a trendy restaurant in the South Wedge, is known for its cocktails and casual menu that focuses on comfort food with nods to the South. It serves brunch Sundays and Mondays (yes, Mondays). It has a good selection of gluten-free and vegan options. A must-order if you’re a meat eater: the sweet, smoky and spicy candied billionaire bacon. If you’re with a group, its carafe of mimosas allows you to mix your cocktail to your liking. Reservations are accepted. 819 S Clinton Ave., Rochester; (585) 978-7237, crisprochester.com.
Simply Crepes
Simply Crepes, which has three locations in the Rochester area, has a menu that leans brunchy all the time. The Heroux family, who own and run the restaurant, has a French Canadian background, and their crepes are a family recipe. The menu features sweet and savory crepes as well as shareable appetizers. Its Rugby Crepe, a nod to the McDonald’s Big Mac, was featured on the Cooking Channel’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” Vegetarian and gluten-free items, including gluten- and dairy-free buckwheat crepes, are available. It has a sizable menu of brunchy cocktails. Locations are 7 Schoen Place, Pittsford; 1229 Bay Road, Penfield; and 101 S. Main St., Canandaigua. simplycrepes.com.
The Mad Hatter
The Mad Hatter, near the corner of Park Avenue and South Goodman Street, greets you with a tantalizing display case of baked goods. In its cozy, charming dining room it serves a sizable menu of brunch and lunch fare as well as a separate gluten-free menu. If you love flights that lets you taste a variety of dishes, the Mad Hatter has several: a roasted potato topper flight, soup flight, pancake flight, toast flight and a Benedict flight. It serves high tea Tuesday through Friday and one Saturday of the month. It does not accept reservations except for high tea. 176 S. Goodman St., Rochester; (585) 545-4985, madhatterrestaurantandbakery.com.
Locals Only
Brunch is served every day at Locals Only in the Hiram Sibley Building on Alexander near East Avenue. The modern space has a bright, minimal interior design; its loft that looks out through the curved windows of the 99-year-old building is especially inviting. The menu focuses on sandwiches including creative breakfast sandwiches and lunch creations. Mimosas are made in several fruity flavors and it has a large selection of nonalcoholic beverages. Expect a rather loud upbeat musical backdrop. 311 Alexander St., Rochester; (585) 367-4569, localsonly311.com.
Radio Social
Radio Social, housed in Rochester’s historic Stromberg-Carlson warehouse, encompasses two bars, a Middle Eastern restaurant, a pizza/burger counter and a 34-lane bowling alley. The brunch menu changes frequently but always features Middle Eastern flavors; be sure to get a side of the crispy potatoes, which comes with black garlic mayo and tomato amba. It also features Detroit pizzas, including breakfast pizza, from its pizza counter. It was named to the USA TODAY Bars of the Year list in 2024. It does not serve brunch from July through September. 20 Carlson Road, Rochester; (585) 244-1484, radio-social.com.
Voula’s
Voula’s originated as a Greek bakery on Monroe Avenue. Now it’s located a few miles away and is a combination bakery and restaurant that serves vegetarian and vegan Greek fare with an emphasis on brunch. The cheerful 1950 building is furnished with retro chrome kitchen and scattered with colorful knickknacks, antiques and family treasures. Must-order items are its three Greek spreads (hummus, tzatziki and kafteri), served with cucumbers and soft pita bread. Take home a box of its Greek cookies. 850 Merchants Road; (585) 242-0935, voulasrochester.com.
The Owl House
Brunch has been a major attraction The Owl House for more than 16 years now. It’s housed in a converted Victorian house in Wadsworth Square, just off Monroe Avenue, and has a pleasant patio in back. This restaurant always has had a mission of being a place where everyone can gather regardless of diet, including vegan, gluten-free and omnivore. Chicken (or tofu) and waffles are a perennial best seller and its craft cocktails are stellar. Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays and reservations are accepted. 40 Marshall St.; (585) 360-2920, owlhouserochester.com.
The Peppered Pig
The Peppered Pig is a cozy French and American restaurant tucked into a small strip mall in Penfield. A standout brunch item is its silky authentic quiche Lorraine, but other possibilities include the croque madame, duck hash and French toast made with Cointreau-battered sourdough. It offers several take on mimosas. Reservations are accepted. 1759 Empire Blvd., Penfield; (585) 347-6479, thepigroc.com.
Tracy Schuhmacher is food, drink and dining reporter for the D&C. Own a restaurant doing something special for Mother’s Day? Email her at TracyS@Gannett.com by April 10.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Best brunch in Rochester? These local spots are worth the hype
Reporting by Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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