Ken Ellingham describes himself as a laidback person and that
is exactly the type of atmosphere he wants to create at his restaurant, The Tavern at Gibbs (58 University Avenue), which held its
grand opening at the beginning of March. Ellingham has been cooking in and
around the Rochester area for years and was looking for a space to open a place
of his own. When Seven Seas Tavern closed, he jumped at the opportunity to take
over the space.
Ellingham is
excited to be in a neighborhood so close to both The Auditorium Theatre and The
Eastman Theatre and plans to have a chalkboard that will show what productions
are playing around town. He’s already met with his neighborhood association and
plans to be an active part of the downtown revitalization. “I want to help the
neighborhood develop — I hope they want to help me develop,” he says.
The menu at
The Tavern at Gibbs is a mixture of casual fare — like the Beer Cheese Soup
($7) made with Naked Dove Scotch Ale and served with soft pretzels — and veers
more high end with a 30-day dry aged Heritage Pork Chop ($32) that is paired
with an apple raisin chutney and smashed red potatoes. The Tavern Steak Burger
($16) is a perfect example of where the casual and high end meet — the burger
is comprised of steak tail, brisket, and short rib, served on a brioche bun
with a side of fries.
General
Manager Dan Horvath has created a bar program with the intent of freshening up
the classic drinks. All juices are fresh-squeezed and well drinks will be made
with higher end liquors for the same price. The beer program celebrates the
local with offerings from Three Heads, Fifth Frame, and Naked Dove.
Brunch is on
the horizon for after the Easter holiday and will be served on Saturday and
Sunday. “I want to make food that you may not be able to make at home, but
something you can see yourself eating at home,” Ellingham says. He also wants
to offer a family roast night where a whole roast will be brought to the table
to be served family-style, along with all the fixings.
“I want to
be where Rochester is,” Ellingham explains, “an inviting place that is really
growing.”
The Tavern at Gibbs (58 University Avenue) is open
Tuesday through Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, from 4
p.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. 434-4195; tavernatgibbs.com.
Quick bites
Below is a list of some local Easter brunch options; make
reservations early if required. All events take place Sunday, April 1.
The Inn on
Broadway (26 Broadway) will host an Easter
Buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Inn will take reservations for
up to 20 people and reservations are required. Tickets are $39.95 per person
and $19.95 for children under twelve years old. 232-3595; innonbroadway.com.
Temple Bar
& Grille (109 East Avenue) will be offering a Sunday Funday Brunch from 12 to 4 p.m. $7.99 will
get you an all-you-can-eat brunch, along with $2.99 Bloody Marys,
Mimosas, and select draft beers. 232-6000; templebarandgrille.com.
Brown Hound
Bistro (500 University Avenue) has extended seating until 4 p.m. for Easter Brunch. Reservations for smaller parties can be
made online at brownhoundbistro.com;
parties of six or more are encouraged to call the restaurant directly at
506-9725 to make a reservation.
Once you’ve
spent time with your family and gorged yourself on the Peeps that no one else
wants to eat, you can head over to Lux Lounge (666 South Avenue) for its
annual Easter Egg Hunt starting at 11 p.m.
lux666.com.
Chow Hound is a food and restaurant news column. Do
you have a tip? Send it to food@rochester-citynews.com.
This article appears in Mar 28 – Apr 3, 2018.
