50 Best American Restaurants near East Rochester

“First time here and overall it was a positive experience. It's not a huge space so when it gets busy like it was on our visit people tend to wait outdoors or crowd the entrance. There are 2 chairs to wait at and a bench outside. If you're rude you hang around the register so people have a hard time paying their check and struggle to leave. That's probably the biggest issue. They'd be better off removing the booth closest to the door/register to make more space for patrons to wait. The couple that were seated there were subjected to idiots standing basically right on top of them waiting ro be seated. Moving on, the menu is large and has some new twists on classics. Do you like eggs Benedict, give this place a try. Our waitress was great, attentive and hustling but not rude. Staff were communicating with each other about clearing tables, announcing which tables were available and helping each other. We did wait almost 20 minutes before we got our food but they were packed. The food was very good, not great but worth coming back. Prices were very reasonable for today's standards.“

“SO happy we chose VRock for our little function. I really love the renovations they have made! It is beautiful in there. Perfect for fun or sexy get togethers. And the staff; SO NICE. We had two bartenders and they were very attentive, pleasant, and quite funny. I have not had a chance to try the food yet, but I definitely plan to visit again soon.“

“Great place to sit down for dinner or have a drink at the bar. Menu is expansive. It made it hard to decide what to order. The house old fashioned was delicious and their bourbon selection is through the roof. The draft list is good enough that you should be able to find a beer of your liking. Food was great. Pulled pork, ribs, brisket, corn bread and sides rival any local BBQ place in the area. The bar area is awesome, I'm a sucker for a fireplace. The dining area upstairs was nice. Quiet enough for conversation. Service was great, the only reason for 4 stars was it did take longer than expected for our food to arrive considering that it didn't appear too busy. We will be back!“

“Excellent food quality and so flavorful!“

“Rooney’s hosted my colleagues and I today for an amazing dinner. It was mine, and many others first time at Rooney’s and all said the same thing- WE WILL BE BACK. The food was delicious, service amazing, and ambiance was quiet, chic, and moody.“

“Vibes with flavors, more than food“

“What an absolute gem! 💎 the best food (tapas) and wine selections in the area. They offer local to international wines, and the food is made to order and cooked to perfection! We’ve been twice and are going back with friends to share the experience. Our first time was taking our daughter there before she moved to Spain 🇪🇸 and again for our anniversary 🍾🥂. The shaved asparagus salad, grilled octopus, duck, corn dog and chicken shawarma were all excellent! I can’t wait to go back to try more!“

“Outstanding dinner, the salmon and filet were both perfect! The spinach fritters should be an appetizer if they were so delicious!“

“A++ all around, staff knows what they are doing“

“Incredible sweet potato fries in a historic firehouse!

Hose 22 Firehouse Grill has such a fun and unique atmosphere. It’s a beautifully restored firehouse, and the classic decor throughout really makes the dining experience memorable.

The absolute highlight for me has to be the sweet potato fries—they are truly TOP NOTCH. I still get a vivid memory of that taste every time I look back at our pictures from that visit! The food is consistently good, and the staff does a great job maintaining the historic charm of the building. If you are in the Rochester area and want a great meal in a one-of-a-kind setting, this is a must-visit spot. Don't skip the fries!“

“My husband and I wanted to treat ourselves to a nice dinner with a beautiful view outside and we sure did find the perfect place! The food was amazing, the service friendly and very attentive, and the view was breathtaking. We had the crab cakes and mushroom toast for appetizers, both were scrumptious! For our entrees, my husband got the ribeye with whipped potatoes and their Mac and cheese and wow, I seriously would come back just for the whipped potatoes. I got the orecchiette pasta dish which was so tasty-I loved the vegetables in it. The servings were perfect for the price. Deb, our server, was soooo friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. She definitely helped make our experience there a great one. Everyone was friendly from the host to the restaurant manager. Last but not least! We went during the sunset and the view was so amazing, I was in awe the entire time. Thank you for an amazing night!“

“what a lovely Sunday brunch! wonderful food. crispy chicken with fabulous fries, cream of mushroom soup, cinnamon raisin French toast with real butter and maple syrup, plus pastrami hash. wonderful service from liza, cheerful. a perfect meal. thank you!!!“

“Great food, service and Friendly.“

“Great breakfast and fantastic service.“

“Jess was great adding cinnamon to my wife's apple pie mule when they were out of an ingredient and it was awesome. The food was to die for, it just doesn't get any better. Thank you Jess for making a perfect experience bettrr.“

“Service was phenomenal! Everything is homemade including drinks and is so delicious!“

“Grew up in Rochester and this is was a really good, classic garbage plate. Add a bit more seasoning the mac salad and it would be 10/10“

“so good!!! have ordered from here twice and the food has been amazing. the b.o.b burger is by far the best burger ive ever had and the salad is fresh and topped with a lot! so excited to try new things.“

“Amazing food and even better service. The bar manager was so kind and attentive and made our whole experience that much better. && She makes the BEST mocktails!!! We will definitely be back!“

“Delicious! My wife and I were checking out the menu during the Canal Days when the owner stepped out and introduced himself. He was great to talk to and suggested we try the special. She had the special (turkey BLT wrap) and I had the beef on wick. Food was delicious and the service was top-notch in our book.
We will definitely be stopping in on our next visit to Fairport :)“

“We recently had a surprise 40th birthday celebration for my daughter. There were 14 guests. We had brunch on a Sunday. Everything was wonderful. The General Manager, Webster was great to work with. He was very professional as well as personable. The staff was amazing. Very polite & we had exceptional service. The food was delicious. Everyone was very pleased with what they had. We would highly recommend the Brown Hound.“

“Food, atmosphere, server very good! Bruce picture of mimosas is where it's at. My only reason it's not 5 stars is that we had a weird miscommunication with he server. 2 people at the table asked for a side of churros and the other had chicken and churro entree. The server came over and said that they can't do the churros and so the person with the chicken and churros ordered side of fries instead and they 2 others with the sides of churros asked for sides of bacon instead. Fast forward, all of us got our entress instead of 1 person. They waited 15 minutes longer than everyone else. Then all of a sudden 3 sides of churros came out. The server said ok the kitchen is trying these. So now at this point everyone had their replacement sides and now 3 sides of churros. We assumed they "were testing them" since that's what the server said and they would be on the house since now that's too much food. But when we got the bill we were charged for the curros and the other sides. It was just confusing overall with the communication on that and then also we got charged for sides and the cjurros when we wanted 1 or the other not both. The manager, which I think is the owner was very nice and they comped the churros. It sounded like the server told them that we didn't like the churros, but it was more of the principle of being charged. Would definitely go back, I would never hold a miscommunication against a restaurant, but just wanted to voice a few things. Overall cool new spot“

“Went in with my family for the first time since the new owners opened in December 2024, amazing food & drinks! had an amazing experience with our waitress Nicole! she was so friendly and helpful! she recommended the artichoke & broccoli french appetizer & the brussel sprouts, she was spot on wen she said “it’s the best french sauce you will have” , the brussel sprouts, OMG! absolutely amazing! they were cooked and seasoned perfectly! We also ordered wings & she recommended the Sweet Heat BBQ for the sauce , & it is the perfect mix of heat & sweet ! Cocktails & Mocktails were delicious! Nicole gave us an amazing dining experience! We cannot wait to go back & try the smash burgers & fish fry’s! We will definitely be asking for Nicole as our waitress!!“

“My server Christine was absolutely amazing and attentive throughout my experience, I was impressed with her professionalism and good energy, so much so that it enraged me when I overheard the bartender, Mischa yelled across the bar at Christine to “pay attention to the door” where she looked away for a millisecond. As someone who has worked in restaurants for over 10 years I felt the tension in the employees interactions the moment I walked in and didn’t understand why until I heard Mischa being disrespectful to Christine. I took the time to ask him to come over and I expressed my concerns and he claimed he would apologize however I highly doubt that he will“

“The atmosphere and food is so good. Excellent service and wonderful dining experience all around.“

“Been getting garbage plates from here since I was a kid. I always get the cheeseburger plate with all Mac salad. It’s been about 2 years since the last. Can’t wait to come back and get another plate in June!“

“Went late arrived around 7pm looking for dinner. Had a choice of Kansas city Hot Chicken or 96 BBQ. Chose BBQ and was pleasantly surprised! From the appearance outside unsure if it was take-out only, so had my husband check if they had tables. You immediately are welcomed with the wonderful aroma of good BBQ. Service was good once you got your table. The food came to the table quickly. Excellent appearance and the portions were generous. I found both the ribs and brisket to be tender and well seasoned. Bark on brisket was beautiful with a little of a peppery bite. Ribs (half rack) were fall of the bone tender. Corn bread was a bit sweet but moist. Smokehouse beans were meaty with good sauce. We will return to try more of the menu.“

“Ate here while visiting family in the area. Service was excellent and the food was great. I ordered the Cajun catfish with Harlem potato salad and coleslaw as my choice of sides. A server brought us a plate of BBQ samples to try. Everything was good. On-street parking available plus a nearby parking ramp (for a fee). The place was noisy but had a great vibe.“

“My boyfriend and I had decided to do a lunch date here today. It was our first time. It was a great experience, the food was great, with good prices. The atmosphere was nice and calm, and the restaurant clean. The server was friendly and made us feel welcome (I do not remember her name but it was a blonde woman) We will definitely be back!“

“Recently went for a girls dinner and was happy to find many gluten free options clearly labeled on the menu. Staff was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Food and cocktails were delicious. Celiac approved. Will be back.“

“Hands down the wings are amazing... the owner is very personable and all about his establishment!“

“Late-Night Gem: Hungry in Pittsford, NY

After 9:30 PM, finding a spot for a quick and delicious bite can feel like a challenge, but Hungry in Pittsford delivered beyond expectations. I ordered their Hungry Wrap, Italian Sausage, and Platter Combo, and they whipped everything up in no time!

The Platter Combo was a crispy, indulgent medley of fried treats, cooked to perfection and paired with tangy sauces. The Hungry Wrap was a cheesy, flavorful delight—each bite was a symphony of fresh ingredients and bold seasonings. The Italian Sausage was packed with hearty flavors, perfectly balanced by caramelized onions and peppers in a soft, crusty roll.

Every dish was freshly prepared and absolutely delicious. Hungry not only nailed the taste but also the speed—an ideal spot for late-night cravings. If you’re ever in Pittsford and need a quick yet satisfying meal, don’t miss this place.“

“Ate here on Sunday. Had the Build your Own Burger added cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato, it was cooked perfectly. I also had a Basket of Onion Rings, they were delivered hot, and very crunchy. The best onion rings I’ve had in Rochester.“

“Walk-in, counter service Jamaican restaurant. I ordered a medium Curry Chicken with rice / peas / cabbage as well as a beef patty.

Everything was delicious and tasted homemade. The rice / peas was a standout and paired perfectly with the curry chicken and cabbage. Beef patty had mild spice and very flaky dough.

Island Buzz will definitely be in the lunch rotation moving forward!“

“Today we had a problem with a takeout order at Flaherty's. The order we picked up was inaccurate. We called and the person who answered said to come back in a few minutes. When we returned we were greeted by the manager who offered his apologies for the mishap and offered to give us a free meal for our inconvenience. In summation: A problem resolved! Thank you Flaherty's, see you soon!“

“Absolutely delicious breakfast - beautiful, fresh and so so tasty! Service was fantastic - will definitely return!!“

“Burgers are great. Meat hot sauce is my favorite in Rochester! Dining area needs a DEEP cleaning, especially floors.“

“Great experience for girls night out! We started outside but then when it began to rain we moved inside and the service at both spots was great! Food was delicious, drinks were tasty and loved the atmosphere both outside and inside. Will definitely be back soon!“

“All you can eat, allergy accommodating dining hall that puts it's students first. The staff is really welcoming and always says hello. You can get everything including pasta, the wok station, salad, fruit, soup, burgers and fries, sandwiches, desserts, ice cream, fresh bagels and English muffins, and whatever the hot entree's of the day are. Lackmann is always trying to find new and exciting things for students and loves getting feedback. Overall, a fantastic dining hall on campus!“

“its the best, great way to meet people and talk about your pursuits“

“showed up for dinner and they aren't open anymore“

“When my family is in Rochester we always make a trip to drifters!“

“We ate at the restaurant last night for the first time and it certainly won’t be the last. Very Very pleased with our dinner. The Caesars salad and artichoke appetizers were great. For dinner we had the crab fried rice and the salmon. They were both absolutely delightful. I would strongly recommend making a reservation and exploring this restaurant.“

“Long overdue - needed to get some plates to go - road trip to Syracuse AND the owners (husband and wife) packed everything the way I needed it to go in a cooler. Warmed it all up 7 hours later and the plates were perfect! Portions are huge, taste is fantastic! Grateful customer since the mid 90’s.“

“Service was outstanding. Food was hot and delicious. Our server Christine was the best. We will be back cause the breakfast looked wonderful. So happy we found this pleasant place to dine. Linda, Spike, and Sandy.“

“Super friendly staff with amazing food. I appreciated the diverse menu and had the smash burger. It was PERFECT. I wish I lived closer because I’d eat my way through the menu and The Old Stone Tavern would be a regular spot. If you’re a local that hasn’t discovered this gem, run, don’t walk. If you’re just passing through Rochester and want to try a local place with amazing eats, find the nearest exit.“

“Excellent service Friendly staff“

“Delicious vegan food Can’t wait to go back“