The Memorial Art Gallery will host its second annual Devour Rochester Wine & Culinary Classic this Saturday, May 30. More than 25 regional wineries, breweries, distilleries, restaurants, food trucks, and vendors will be on hand for sipping and sampling, including Heron Hill Winery, Cider Creek Hard Cider, The Owl House, Eat Me Ice Cream, and Le Petite […]
Laura Rebecca Kenyon
Posted inCulture
Veramente bello
Even on a Wednesday night, the parking lot at Branca is packed. Waiting for my friend to arrive, I watch the lot’s traffic from my car — for every car that pulls out, another zips in. By the time my friend and I go inside, it’s 7:45 p.m. The hostess apologetically says there are no […]
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DINING REVIEW: On a Roll
Let’s get something out of the way: Part of the appeal of Orbs Restaurant & Bar is that you can make a lot of testicle jokes. “Mmmm! I cannot wait to grab some balls!” Orbs is in on the fun. Meatball sandwiches are called “Balls and Buns,” a meatball sampler is “Bits and Pieces,” and […]
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DINING REVIEW: Warmth and Waffles
If you’ve never been to The Arnett Café my guess is that, on your first visit, you’d find it familiar and welcoming. Sunshine floods the front dining room through its storefront windows. The staff welcomes you with megawatt smiles. And the menu has lots of comfort foods: burgers and fries, grilled cheese, and pancakes. Many […]
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ROUND-UP: Lighter bites
After weeks of holiday feasting on cookies, cakes, eggnogs, and ham with all the trimmings, I like to reset my palate in the new year by eating lighter foods. That’s not code for dieting; it’s seeking out foods that are lighter in flavor, the way Swiss cheese is more delicate than Parmesan, or lighter in […]
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DINING REVIEW: City Grill
I can’t help but think of big, brash song standards when I think of City Grill. I can hear Frank Sinatra, fedora hat cocked just so, belting out an upbeat tune. City Grill, which describes itself as a contemporary American restaurant, strikes me as having a Rat-Pack-takes-Vegas sort of style. The menu is expansive, with […]
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DINING: The edible gift guide
If you’re looking for gifts that are out of the ordinary and will fill the stomachs of your friends and family, City Newspaper’s dining team has gathered a selection of its favorite food and food-related items to help you shop for all the names on your gift list. The editorial team stands behind each of […]
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DINING REVIEW: Village Bakery and Cafe
A well-made sticky bun is a beautiful thing. It should be tempting but looks like trouble: tall and dark, with promises of something sweet. Shaped slightly like a cone with the point lopped off, it should be covered in deeply-colored caramel and topped with fat pecans that hold on tight. The dough should pull apart in […]
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Best of Rochester 2014: Critic Picks
City’s critics weigh in with some of their favorites from around town
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DINING REVIEW: Better with age
I was excited to try Next Door when it opened in late-2009. But on my visits over the course of its first year, I was disappointed. Though it had plush decor and an attentive wait staff, I found Next Door’s food disappointing, particularly compared to its forerunner, Tastings. I hadn’t been back until recently. If […]
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DINING REVIEW: Balsam Bagels
How are the bagels at Balsam Bagels? They are good — and not just by Rochester standards but by NYC-bagel-capital-of-the-world standards. If Balsam Bagels served its coffee in Greek-styled paper cups, it might be hard to remember which city you were standing in. Balsam’s bagels are dense, tanned circles with a glossy, almost shiny, exterior; […]
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DINING REVIEW: Atlas Eats
The most delicious scallops I’ve eaten in a long time were cooked in a small, mom-and-pop storefront in Irondequoit. Caught wild off the coast of New England and a little over an inch tall, the scallops had been seared until their tops and bottoms developed a light brown crust. On the tongue they tasted sweet […]
