When news came that Jim’s Restaurant would be shutting down in order to make room for Aldi, a supermarket chain, the popular diner’s regulars were shocked. Campaigns to save the restaurant popped up on social media and local news outlets covered the emotional last day. Elena Knapp has owned Jim’s for 14 years; she started […]
Rochester Restaurants
Posted inCulture
Roux turns to the French classics
Although the foundations of modern restaurant cooking — especially in the fine dining world — rely on French techniques, restaurants that focus heavily on that style are a rarity in Rochester. And I tend to lack interest in a lot of typical French bistro-like fare; the idea of encroaching on new territory and exploring less […]
Posted inCulture
Renovated gastropub opens in North Winton Village
After three months of renovations, the Blossom Road Pub has opened at 198 North Winton Road at the location formerly occupied by Winton Bar & Grill. Co-owners Drew Nye, Marcus Lenear, Maurice Kusminsky, and Max Gordon took over the spot and did all of the renovations themselves. Nye and Kusminsky own Roam Café on Park […]
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Shh … Scofflaw speakeasy opens on Monroe Avenue
In the 1920’s and 1930’s, the historic building at 3001 Monroe Avenue was rumored to have been a brothel and speakeasy, long before the days of People’s Pottery and Pittsford Wegmans. The building was built in 1820 and later served as the location for the Spring House restaurant for many years. When Katherine Mott and […]
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Burgers, beers, and (arcade) battles at The Playhouse/Swillburger
As anyone who has opened a business knows, the best-laid plans often go awry. This held true for Brian Van Etten and Jeff Ching, co-owners of The Playhouse/Swillburger (820 South Clinton Avenue). “We’ve both opened restaurants. We thought we had anticipated all the pitfalls and delays. We spent two years planning this,” says Van Etten. […]
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Full cider house opens on University Avenue
The last few years have seen the rapid expansion of the craft beer market, and a similar trend has begun with hard ciders. Supermarkets like Wegmans and smaller businesses such as Nathaniel Corner Store now carry a wide selection of ciders — and most bars and restaurants have at least one cider available. Patrick Jaouen […]
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Asian warmth
When a warm bowl of soup is needed to help fight off the cold, check out one of these Asian dishes While soups find a place at the table in all seasons, they can be particularly spirit-lifting during Rochester’s typically frigid winters. And really, there is no shortage of restaurants in our area that offer […]
Posted inCulture
The Cub Room goes for old-school NYC charm
The growth that the South Wedge has seen in the last few years hasn’t slowed down; in fact that momentum has carried over to the bordering Swillburg neighborhood. The new interest has brought the opening of three businesses each trying to establish their identity in this transitioning area: The Playhouse/Swillburger, and the parking-lot-sharing duo of […]
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Wood-fired pizza comes to Merchants neighborhood
The space at 564 Merchants Road has seen its fair share of turnover the last few years — Luna Piena Bistro to Merchant’s Pasta House, then Porcini Bar & Bistro. New owners Steve Costanza and Donna DiMarzo — who has been in the business of wood-fired pizzas for 15 years — opened Merchants Wood Fired […]
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Effortlessly Healthy successful on the road, at the café, or at home
You may have seen Effortlessly Healthy’s blue and pale green truck at the Public Market’s food truck rodeo. Long lines have snaked back from the truck, filled with people hungry for seared ahi tuna-topped salad, chicken pesto and Portobello mushroom wraps, or the number one seller: the chicken, bacon, and avocado healthy trash plate. “People […]
Posted inCulture
Fresh bread and care put Shmeg’s up a level
Shmeg’s hits just about every note that would make it a perfect stop if Guy Fieri’s signature show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” came to Rochester. For better or worse, that list would start with the portions. From what I had heard about the Gates restaurant before eating there, the sheer quantity of food was one […]
