A hideaway no longer 

There is a new entrance to Hogan's Hideaway (197 Park Avenue) closer to the thoroughfare on Park Avenue. It's just one of many changes that new owners Max Gordon, Maurice Kusminsky, and Drew Nye have made to once again make Hogan's a destination on Park. The owners will hold a grand re-opening on Thursday, June 29, to debut the renovations to both the space and the menu.

Downstairs, the old booths have been removed, the carpet pulled up to expose hardwood floors, and a brand new, full-service bar has been built. Seating has been expanded with the addition of banquet seating on one side of the dining room.

Chef Mike Love is in charge of the kitchen and the menu's latest additions. "The lunch menu is very characteristic of the old Hogan's," Gordon says. "We love the old Hogan's and did not want to change the classics, like the Hogastrone." Some minor updates were done to the soups and salads available on the lunch menu.

The real change is in the updated dinner program that follows a farm-to-table concept. Proteins are sourced within 50 miles of Rochester, and Love utilizes Headwater Food Hub and Regional Access in addition to trips to the Rochester Public Market for produce and other goods. The Smoked Tomato Bolognese ($20) combines a smoked tomato sauce with bacon, capicola, Italian sausage, and sautéed peppers and onions, and topped with a blend of Italian cheeses.

The specials menu will feature a daily market steak, with different cuts each day. Not to be left out of the party, vegetarians can order the Portabella Steak ($18), portabella mushroom caps that have been marinated, grilled, and topped with red wine steak sauce and garlic and served with fingerling potatoes and carrot crisps.

Hogan's Hideaway now has two bars: the main bar downstairs has eight draft lines, most of them sourced from local breweries, and the smaller bar in the back of the restaurant will feature a selection of higher end whiskey and Scotch. Three sommeliers are currently on staff to provide wine pairing recommendations. "From the minute people walk in the door till the end of the meal, we want to make sure that everything is as well thought out as possible," Gordon says.

Hogan's serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, including $3 mimosas and $6 Bloody Marys. A late-night menu is available Thursday through Saturday until midnight as well as a late-night happy hour that features $4 well drinks and $1 off all draft beers and wines from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Patio seating is available and there is parking in the back of the restaurant in addition to street parking.

Hogan's Hideaway is located at 197 Park Avenue, and is open for lunch Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and for dinner Sunday and Monday till 9 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday until 10 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday till 11 p.m. The restaurant serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 434-0511; hoganshideaway.com.

Quick bites

Pittsford Food Tours launched in May of this year and offers a 3-hour, walking, food tour of seven Pittsford restaurants along the Erie Canal. Stops include The Erie Grill, Label 7, and Via Girasole Wine Bar. Tickets are $57 per person and tours run on Thursdays and Saturdays through November from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. More information at pittsfordfoodtours.com.

The Revelry (1290 University Avenue) along with Gastronauts Academy, will host Tiki 101 on Monday, July 10, at 4:30 p.m. If you have any interest in Tiki cocktails and culture, this crash course is for you. You'll learn about Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic from bartenders Luc Thiers and Patrick Stetzel, and can taste test three Tiki concoctions. Call The Revelry at 340-6454 for ticket information.

What's better: smoked pork or smoked brisket? Muller's Cider House (1344 University Avenue) will try to answer that question with The Great American Smoke Off on Saturday, July 15, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets to the event are $40.95 and include a smoked brisket and a smoked pork slider, chipotle mac and cheese, and coleslaw as well as an appetizer, dessert, and a can of cider. Links to purchase tickets can be found on the event's Facebook page or through Eventbrite.

Openings

Trio has opened at 3423 Winton Place.

Acquatori (4400 Nine Mile Point Road) has opened in Fairport.

Osaka Sushi has opened a second location at 3685 West Henrietta Road.

Closings

BistroSix30 (630 Park Avenue) has closed.

Tavern 58 at Gibbs (58 University Avenue) has closed, but will re-open under new ownership.

Chow Hound is a food and restaurant news column. Do you have a tip? Send it to [email protected].