I’d say Bad Apples Bistro is worth the drive to Spencerport, even on these frigid winter days. And that’s saying something considering most people barely want to leave their driveways right now. The apple-themed, green-colored environment welcomed my dining party from the cold into a 50-seat dining area that felt cozy and pleasant. Executive chef […]
Rochester Restaurants
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CHOW HOUND: An edible renaissance
The story behind the new restaurant Mamma Lucia reads like a romantic-comedy script. Boy meets girl in high school, date, but eventually break up and lose touch. They reconnect 20 years later, get married, and open a restaurant together. This is the story of Senada and Orhan Pehlivanovic and Mamma Lucia, which opened in the […]
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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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CHOW HOUND: Nerding out
Approaching Nox Craft Cocktails & Comfort Food in Village Gate, you may think you need a password to enter. The impressive, dungeonesque doorway has eye-level panels that can be opened from the inside to snoop on who is outside. When my friend and I stepped inside on our visit, she immediately gasped, “Oh my goodness, […]
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DINING REVIEW: Fireside Grill and Sports Bar
I heard about Fireside Grill and Sports Bar when one of my day-job colleagues mentioned that it was his go-to local spot for sports bar fare — with a bit of a twist. What got me to make the drive to Henrietta was his description of Chef Martin Paxton’s passion and how he strived to […]
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CHOW HOUND: A culinary combination
Thanks to Hollywood gossip magazines, we now have words like Brangelina and Kimye in our lexicon. Megan Rattray and Shawn Hoock have embraced the combination trend and used it to name their new restaurant, Shmeg’s (3027 Buffalo Road, Gates). If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right? Rattray and Hoock met while both working at […]
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CHOW HOUND: Feeding the workforce
Ted Stiker is a familiar face in the Rochester restaurant industry — he started Rochester’s Top Shelf Staffing, an event planning and service staff provider located downtown. After receiving many requests from clients to add catering to his available services, Stiker opened Tedwards Café and Catering (183 East Main Street) in April 2014. Tedwards serves […]
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CHOW HOUND: In praise of the pig
Americans love their pork. We add bacon to everything, from ice cream to vegetables, and look to discover new and inventive ways to prepare and serve as much of the animal as possible. The pig is featured prominently on the menu at ButaPub (315 Gregory Street), a new casual, American pub located in the historic […]
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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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CHOW HOUND: Something sweet
While Yuting “Tina” Yuan was studying for a Master’s degree in Statistics at Rutgers University, she often found herself distracted when hitting the books. “When I was studying, I was always thinking about baking — it’s my true passion,” Yuan says. Enter Dragon Sweetie, the bakery Yuan opened in September at 389 Gregory Street in […]
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DINING NEWS: East meets West
Fusion cuisine is a common concept for restaurants. It allows for more menu options and an opportunity to blend traditional ingredients from more than one region to make something new and original. The concept for East/West Kitchen (337 East Avenue) is a fusion of Russian, Vietnamese, and American cuisine. Andrea Lanphere, Alex Zapesochny, and Thuan […]
