Pub 235 has some shoes to fill 

Having grown up in Webster, I felt a pang of sadness and nostalgia when I heard the news in 2014 that Hank's Ice Cream and Grill had closed — some places you just expect to always be there. Needless to say, when Pub 235 opened its doors in the old Hank's location at 235 North Avenue on October 1, people involved knew they had some pretty big shoes to fill in the minds of locals who had grown up with the former Webster institution.

I'll get this out of the way right off the bat, Hank's famous roast beef sandwich ($8) is still on the menu. Co-executive Chefs Kurt DeJac and Nathaniel Wilkins roast the beef daily and use the original recipe. "We'll sell well over 50 to 60 roast beef sandwiches during lunch," Wilkins says. In addition to the roast beef, corned beef and turkey are roasted daily as well, and are used in Pub 235's corned beef sandwich ($9) and roasted turkey ($8), the latter served with lettuce, tomato, and a spicy mayo.

Both DeJac and Wilkins are culinary graduates with 50 years of experience between them. DeJac worked at the Flaherty's Webster location for 18 years, while Wilkins served as sous chef and catering manager at St. John Fisher prior to coming to Pub 235. The pub is owned by the Horeth family, who also own Kittelberger Florist, and is managed by Bill Horeth.

Pub 235's menu is a mixture of standard pub fare and more refined entrees like the French-cut pork chop ($24), seasoned and pan-seared with a marsala demi glaze, or the Maryland crab cakes ($15), made with fresh blue crab, pan-seared and served with a lemon-infused remoulade. All sauces and soups are made on premise daily.

The pub is open for lunch and dinner and features a full bar with a 12-tap beer line — a few selections will rotate seasonally. Look for a cocktail menu in the coming months. Daily specials are available for lunch and dinner.

Pub 235 is located at 235 North Avenue in Webster, and is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; and closed on Sundays. 216-1750. For more information visit pub235.com.

Quick bites

The New York Wine and Culinary Center (800 South Main Street, Canandaigua) will host a Winemaker Dinner featuring selections from Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards. The six-course meal and wine pairing will take place on Friday, November 6, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $79 and reservations can be made online at nywcc.com or by calling 394-7070.

The Harvest Brew Fest will take place on Saturday, November 14, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Dome Arena (2695 East Henrietta Road). More than 35 breweries and cideries will offer more than 100 choices to sample. Tickets are $30 in advance or $40 the day of the event. VIP tickets with early access are available for $40 in advance or $50 the day of the event. Tickets can be purchased at harvestbrewfest.com.

Calvin Eaton, author of the Gluten Free Chef blog will host the Make Ahead Gluten Free Feast on Sunday, November 15, 1 p.m., at East Ridge High School (2350 East Ridge Road). The Thanksgiving cooking class will teach participants how to make three simple and gluten free sides for turkey day. Tickets are $25 and available by searching for Make Ahead Gluten Free Feast at eventbrite.com. Call 732-0002 or email [email protected] for more information.

The November lineup at the Rochester Brainery (274 North Goodman Street, Village Gate) features classes on how to make your own cranberry orange marmalade (November 10 at 7 p.m., $30), how to incorporate more ancient grains into your diet (November 11, 7 p.m., $25), and how to transform your food idea into a food business (November 17, 7 p.m., $15). To register for a class or to find out more information, visit rochesterbrainery.com.

Openings

It's All Love Family Restaurant has opened at 366 Thurston Road.

Closings

Sheridan's Pub (1551 Mt. Hope Avenue) has closed.

Prepps (655 Monroe Avenue) has closed.

The Mendon House (1369 Pittsford Mendon Road) has closed.

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