“Dinosaur Bar-B-Que”byJoe Shlabotnikis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Yelp: 4.5 stars 368 reviews No list of places to eat in Rochester would be complete without a nod to New York favorite Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, so we might as well start off with it. Located downtown in the old Lehigh Valley Railroad Station, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (or just “Dinosaur”) provides its patrons with the 3 B’s: Bikers, blues, and barbecue. Its rustic ambiance, own line of hot sauce, and smoky menu filled with deliciously authentic barbecue has won Dinosaur Rochester’s City Paper crown as “Best Barbecue Restaurant” multiple years, including 2013. Bring a date that isn’t afraid to eat and order the Sweetheart Deal For Two. It comes with a full rack and four homemade sides. But prepare for a moderate wait, since this place is always packed.
“Hotdog”byHajime NAKANOis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Dogtown
691 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 271-6620
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 158 reviews
The menu at Dogtown might be cheap, but the food is anything but. Ridgeback and black bean soup. With over 20 specialty dogs to choose from, burgers, piping hot homefries, homemade soups, and more, Dogtown is much more than a hot dog haven. Of course, you can’t leave without trying one of their amazing dogs, which are served on French bread instead of traditional rolls, and are topped with a variety of sides. The Boston Terrier gets you a bacon, baked beans, and special Dogtown chili loaded hot dog that will have you wondering if you can even finish. But the really brave need to order the “Junkyard Plate,” a variety of specialty hot dogs piled together and buried under a mound of fries.
“bacon”bybptakomais licensed underCC BY 2.0
Good Luck Restaurant
50 Anderson Ave
Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 340-6161
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 171 reviews Located in the cool Neighborhood of the Arts, Good Luck is far from a hidden treasure. It’s got a hip crowd, amazing food, a variety of drinks, and superb service. You really can’t go wrong ordering from the menu. You could probably just close your eyes and point and end up happy. But when Good Luck has soft-shell crab, kumquat marmalade, bacon, and house made chips on special, do yourself a favor and order them.
Sticky Lips Pit BBQ
625 Culver Rd
Rochester, NY 14609
(585) 288-1910
Yelp: 4 stars, 109 reviews Another barbecue joint? Yes, but Sticky Lips has earned its fair place among giants like Dinosaur. Unlike other barbecue restaurants, Sticky Lips cooks with charcoal year-round, packing its food with tons of flavor. Sticky Lips also crafted a food challenge sandwich for the show "Man vs. Food Nation," The Atomic Bomb. It’s made up of a pound of hamburger, a pound of pulled pork, a pound of fries, ¼ pound cheese, eight strips of bacon, and toppings on an oversized bun. Since The Atomic Bomb’s creation more than two years ago, almost 300 people have attempted to take it on, but only a handful have succeeded. For those not wanting to fight their food in the ring, the pulled pork sandwich packs a mean punch, but not one you’ll want to dodge.
The Owl House
75 Marshall Street, Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 360-2920
Yelp: 4 stars, 144 reviews
Specialty health concerns or dietary needs? It’s no problem at The Owl House. Vegans, vegetarians, and anyone on a gluten free diet has a huge variety of menu options. They offer crispy tofu nuggets, vegan nachos, and vegan coconut cake with buttercream frosting among many other options. But the highlight at Owl House is that they take the frustration out of being a vegan or gluten free in Upstate New York among all the wing lovers. Order the Buffalo Cauliflower Wings and you can join in watching the game with everyone else without starving.
Tony D’s Coal Fired Pizza
288 Exchange Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14623
(585) 340-6200
Yelp: 4 stars, 83 reviews When you’re jonesin’ for some pizza, look no further than Tony D’s. Their coal ovens make for a well done and crispy crust, just the way New Yorkers like it. Their topping combinations accent the crust with an explosion of flavor, making for a perfect slice. You can’t go wrong order the Margherita pie, but definitely consider the specialty pizza of the day, especially if it includes unusual meats and cheese. But even though pizza is the star at Tony D’s, it isn’t the only reason to go. Their calamari salad is surprisingly delicious and their wings, cooked in the coal oven, are extremely popular.
Lento
274 N Goodman Street, Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 271-3470
Yelp: 4 stars, 116 reviews Lento is another voice in the growing anti-fast food movement. Their food is all made fresh and in-house from local, seasonal, fresh, and sustainable ingredients that are immaculately transformed into imaginative and delicious dishes. The meat is all pasture-raised from local farms and butchered, smoked, and cured in-house. It doesn’t matter if you’re chowing down on the Gansz Farms Grilled Butcher Steak or diving into a mound of perfectly seasoned shrimp, you’ll always know that what you’re eating is as fresh as it gets.
Highland Park Diner
960 Clinton Avenue South, Rochester, NY 14619
(585) 461-5040
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 56 reviews The feel of Highland Park Diner might be old-fashioned, with its rail car frame and traditional menu selections, but that’s not a reflection on the food. All-day breakfasts are always a favorite of the diner crowds, and Highland is no exception. You won't be disappointed with any of their breakfast wraps or pancakes, but the reason reason to eat at Highland is for their hand dipped milkshakes. Sip the Cheesecake Shake, with its smooth cheesecake batter and crunchy graham cracker crust crumbles to truly redefine your diner experience.
Gate House
274 Goodman Street North, Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 473-2090
Yelp: 4 stars, 114 reviews The only thing better than a good burger is a good gourmet burger and, lucky for you, The Gate House has them in spades. Voted by Rochester’s City Paper as the “Best Gourmet Burger” in town, The Gate House offers a variety of American and Italian selections that don’t disappoint. Start your taste buds off by ordering the appetizer special of wood-fired roasted garlic, olive tapenade, and jalapeño onion jam, served with grill focaccia. Then, move onto one of the gourmet burgers named after local celebrities, like “The Hoffman,” a Cajun blend burger with caramelized onions and the perfect amount of bleu cheese and wash it all down with a hand squeezed minty lemonade.
Tournedos Steakhouse
26 Broadway Street, Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 269-3888
Yelp: 3 stars, 28 reviews Beef lovers rejoice. Your savior has come and it’s shaped like a T-bone. From the valet parking, to the ambiance and comfortable booths, to the preciseness of their meat temperatures, it almost seems as though Tournedos can do no wrong. The bread is soft and hot, the wine menu is plentiful, and the portions are much larger than you might expect. Order yourself a steak cooked to your liking (because they’ll get it just right) with a side of roasted Brussels sprouts and maple bourbon sweet potatoes.
2 Vine
24 Winthrop Street, Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 454-6020
Yelp: 4 stars, 59 reviews 2 Vine is high-end dining for those with a fine palate searching looking for a place with a contemporary feel without trekking into New York City. Seafood stars on both the special and standard menu, but there’s a little bit of everything to satisfy almost everyone, since you’ll get your meal in a series of courses. On the pricier side, but worth every penny. For your main course, order the Mixed Grill for a dish fused with Hangar steak, sausage, and shrimp, rounded off with frisée, roasted red peppers, corn salad, and sauce pepperonata.
Rochester Tap Room
284 Exchange Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14608
(585) 319-3388
Yelp: 4 stars, 6 reviews Tap And Table struggled to find its niche in Rochester. That is, until the owners reinvented it as The Rochester Tap Room, a high-end, trendy sports bar with a satisfying menu of food and craft beer. The highlight of The Tap Room is their six different varieties of house made sausages with a ton of toppings. The Tap Room also makes their Swedish meatball and crab dip appetizers in-house too, to offer a fresh taste to their new concept.
Tapas 177
177 Saint Paul Street, Rochester, NY 14604
(585) 262-2090
Yelp: 4 stars, 58 reviews If you’re craving Spanish flavors and ambiance, go straight to Tapas 177 Lounge. Happy hour at Tapas 177 is the happiest in town with their chips and salsa made fresh in-house and amazing hors d’oeuvres like prosciutto wrapped artichoke hearts and salmon and mascarpone mousse in puff pastry. Order the five spiced seared ahi tuna over cucumber slaw with mango purée and pickled ginger on a Thursday night and stay for the salsa dancing lessons!
SEA Restaurant
741 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 473-8031
Yelp: 4 stars, 154 reviews Forget that fake Chinese buffet loaded in sugary sauces. If you want a taste of real Asian cuisine, head to SEA restaurant for their mix of Vietnamese and Asian fusion dishes. Start your meal off with the fried squid and a bowl of perfectly balanced pho. Anyone who lived off of Ramen in college shouldn’t pass on the Crispy Noodles With Chicken And Vegetables. It’s the upper-end, more sophisticated version of the favorite comfort food of students everywhere.
Harry G’s NY Deli & Café
678 South Avenue. Rochester, NY 14620
(585) 256-1324
Yelp: 4 stars, 51 reviews Sometimes all you need is a good sandwich and a bag of chips. But if a good sandwich is what you’re looking for you’re out of luck because at Harry G’s, the sandwiches aren’t good—they’re mind-blowing. And you get a lot for your money, with overflowing sandwiches and huge portions. Order the Chicken Artichoke and Spinach Panini when you stop by. It’s grilled chicken, spinach and artichoke dip, provolone cheese, onion and tomatoes stuffed into sourdough bread and topped with a delicious pesto mayo. And voilà, the perfect lunch.
