Stephen Rees opened the doors of Relish on 651 South Avenue in the spring of 2017 as a catering business and has recently turned it into a quaint, Parisian dinner restaurant.
Dining Review
Posted inCulture
Swan Dive brings kitschy-chic blend to East End
It’s eclectic in theme, a cross between a dive bar, a Mid-Century Modern living room, an old-school American diner, an Italian restaurant, and a circa-1950 postcard from Miami Beach
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Brooklyn Ramen brings the broth
When Michael Goode was handing out tickets at MCC as a parking enforcement officer, he never would have imagined that within a few years he would be standing behind a counter making ramen for the masses. A chance visit by his mother to a ramen shop in New York City was the beginning of the […]
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Blue Toad makes cider for all seasons
Ciders, while delicious, are not necessarily known for a balance in their flavors. Mass-produced cider can be sickeningly sweet for some palates. On the opposite end, artisanal ciders can be off-puttingly dry to those expecting more traditional apple notes. The “farm license” trend in New York State has grown stronger in the last few years. Notable, […]
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El Basha makes it easy to go vegetarian
How a restaurant does with its vegetarian and vegan options is a strong indicator of the skills of those working in the kitchen. Since you’re not dealing with the traditional meat-starch-vegetable combination, dishes have to be creative; both the restaurant and the patron need to step out of their typical lanes. I’ve started spending the […]
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Finding Old San Juan on Joseph Avenue
Mi Viejo San Juan has stood at the corner of Joseph Avenue and Norton Street for the last three years, serving Puerto Rican fare to the surrounding neighborhood. Similar to other Puerto Rican restaurants in Rochester, Mi Viejo offers a choice of protein — pernil, baked and stewed chicken, stewed beef and steak, and stewed […]
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Kindred Fare puts the Finger Lakes region’s offerings to good use
I don’t spend nearly enough time exploring the Finger Lakes. That statement is one of the more embarrassing things I can say considering I love the food options in the region. The farthest I usually go is Canandaigua, but part of my mission this summer was to spend more time checking out what the area […]
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Merchants Wood Fired Pizza has potential to be a North Winton Village anchor
The location has the ghosts of three previous restaurants hanging around. But the new pizza business could carve out a niche for itself among Rochester neighborhood restaurants.
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Label 7 has impressive dishes, especially for vegetarians
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting going into Label 7. I had heard different perspectives on the food over the years, but I hadn’t been in to try it myself. Right off the bat, I was happy to see that one of the beer taps was reserved for Lock 32 Brewing, a Pittsford brewery […]
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Swiftwater is serving more than standard brewery fare
Rochester’s craft brewing scene has been expanding rapidly over the last few years, especially after the New York State Farm Brewing Bill passed. Through this law, New York has spurred development of new breweries in our area, and now you can find one a short drive away from just about wherever you live in Monroe […]
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Controversy can’t overshadow the food at I-Square
Whenever I-Square is mentioned at this point, most people can’t help but start to parse through the web of politics that has surrounded the Irondequoit development over the last 2 months. Local journalists, including those from City, have done a comprehensive job covering the controversy and resignations. Unlike those news stories, I’d rather talk about […]
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The only Malaysian joint upstate, Coco Garden is for the adventurous
The more I spend time in Henrietta, I’m finding that the town’s true identity is hard to grasp. It is home to some of the most over-developed land in the county, and just generally lacks soul. As I explore the independent restaurant scene though, I see an intriguing dichotomy. Henrietta is home to the majority […]
