Awful experience. Worst birthday restaurant experience ever. The waiter refused to split bills. Friends purchased steak and cocktail flights while another got a single salad and I got one single pizza. Ended up spending 3-4 times as much becuase the waiter said they don't "itemize bills." A total scam. The pizza wasn't even something to be crazy about! Cocktail tasted cheap. 1/2 of us were so let down and disappointed. We spent way more money becuase of this waiter and I have never felt more upset at a restaurant in my life. We deserve a refund.
Alina B.
we always love to come to branca it's super romantic and nice inside and the food is always wonderful definitely recommend.
Gianna Dioguardi
if i could put 0 stars, i would. my friends and i made a reservation for 10 people, they took down my friends card number over the phone and name.. they said my friends card would be charged if we didn’t show up. when the time came they said there was no reservation and they couldn’t find my friends information or the reservation. this is absolutely ridiculous. i sure as hell HOPE my friends card doesn’t get charged… if it does, it isn’t going to be pretty. it was for a birthday. great job screwing it up! do better.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
MD062010
Overall, a nice option for a night out. Service was friendly and fast.The food is quite good. Highly recommend the wedge salad and brussels sprouts. I rarely order pasta when dinning out- however, their "Black Garlic Pappardelle" was delicious- I've honestly been craving it. Their swordfish special was perfectly prepared.Cocktails were also quite good- the "Basil Instinct" and "Jalapeño business" were well prepared and well balanced.My only critiques (and these will not deter me from going back or recommending Branca)-- the overall atmosphere was a bit lacking... Although it was clean--the interior seemed somewhat generic. The dinning area was quite loud and the tables were rather close together.I also felt the menu was slightly limited- nothing really jumped out at us- however, we were very happy with our selections.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lori
Over priced, tiny portions and not many options. I have dietary restrictions and found there was not many options to choose from on menu for my dietary needs. The waitress was very nice and accommodating to our table.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baguette with Fresh Ricotta
Sean McNeill
Great food and cocktails
Corey Capstraw
Everything from the service , drinks , food , atmosphere was great . Plan on spending a decent amount of money here , but not an unreasonable amount for what you get. We will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Cake, Gnocchi Bolognese, Baguette with Fresh Ricotta
Kimm Friedemann
We ordered the marguerita pizza and black garlic pasta with rock shrimp and it was incredible . By the way, the house cab > Malbec .That being said, Marisa our server was awesome and the pasta is homemade, the pizza is neopolitan style with the flame brick oven, absolutely outstanding.The black garlic pasta was spicy, which I absolutely loved, shrimp was tender and not over cooked . Exceeded my expectations in every way.There is a 3% admin fee which was added, which I think may be a New York thing. We are from Oklahoma and never saw that, but we also had lots of closed restaurants after COVID . So. Don’t skimp on your server bc of the admin fee ! I hope they take that off . Other than that it was absolutely excellent and we highly recommend .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Margherita Pizza
Mohri Hime
This is the third or fourth time to visit here after Pandemic. The menu has changed quite a bit after pandemic but still keeps some good ole classic. The server was very attentive. Great urban atmosphere- will be great when it gets warmer. Still one of my go to places around Rochester.Parking: Many options all around.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Charred Broccolini Salad
Delaney D.
This place never disappoints! Whether it's for a date night or girls night, Branca Midtown the perfect location for delicious food, top-tier drinks, and a beautiful atmosphere! With plenty of windows. It also offers nice views of downtown. The staff are always friendly and make dining here that much more enjoyable. My favorite cocktail has to be the Juice Cleanse - a refreshing and bright citrusy drink that is always amazing. To start, we also order the Ricotta. It's my favorite thing on the menu. I also love to get the Caesar salad and top it with a chicken cutlet. (Their chicken cutlets are amazing - thinly cut and extra crispy). You also cannot go wrong with the Pan Red Stripe Pizza (we love to add pepperoni and put some of the ricotta from the appetizer on there as well)! Definitely recommend to anyone who has yet to visit!
I checked online before going to make sure they could accomodate me as a gluten free vegetarian. The menu I saw said they have GF pasta and pizza crust. However when we arrive I was told they didn’t have those things.Apparently this Branca and the one in Bushnell’s Basin are owned by different people and have different menus. If you’re gluten free, skip Midtown and go straight to the Basin locationDietary restrictions: Wait staff was knowledgeable but not many options for GF vegetarian
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Benjamin Dlin
Pepperoni and honey pizza is all the rage these days. But Branca has been doing it well for years. Love this place!
Matthew Vercant
Branca is one of my favoriterestaurants. Came here for an event, and I enjoyed the cocktails and the atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamari
L P.
The pepperoni & honey pizza maybe the best I've had in Rochester. It was amazing will return over and over again for this alone. The pan Italian beef is a close 2nd.
Rose Harrell
Went for NYE & the food was ok. The waitress was excellent. Past 12am my husband & I move from the tables to the bar. I ordered 2 glasses of Champagne & they gave me Prosecco. After I confronted the bartender he literally said to my face that Prosecco & Champagne were the same. How do 2 different wines made in 2 different regions, countries, & 2 different procedures the same?! Either their bartenders are the most ignorant ones in the world or the restaurant is a scam playing to be 5 stars.
Awful experience. Worst birthday restaurant experience ever. The waiter refused to split bills. Friends purchased steak and cocktail flights while another got a single salad and I got one single pizza. Ended up spending 3-4 times as much becuase the waiter said they don't "itemize bills." A total scam. The pizza wasn't even something to be crazy about! Cocktail tasted cheap. 1/2 of us were so let down and disappointed. We spent way more money becuase of this waiter and I have never felt more upset at a restaurant in my life. We deserve a refund.
we always love to come to branca it's super romantic and nice inside and the food is always wonderful definitely recommend.
if i could put 0 stars, i would. my friends and i made a reservation for 10 people, they took down my friends card number over the phone and name.. they said my friends card would be charged if we didn’t show up. when the time came they said there was no reservation and they couldn’t find my friends information or the reservation. this is absolutely ridiculous. i sure as hell HOPE my friends card doesn’t get charged… if it does, it isn’t going to be pretty. it was for a birthday. great job screwing it up! do better.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Overall, a nice option for a night out. Service was friendly and fast.The food is quite good. Highly recommend the wedge salad and brussels sprouts. I rarely order pasta when dinning out- however, their "Black Garlic Pappardelle" was delicious- I've honestly been craving it. Their swordfish special was perfectly prepared.Cocktails were also quite good- the "Basil Instinct" and "Jalapeño business" were well prepared and well balanced.My only critiques (and these will not deter me from going back or recommending Branca)-- the overall atmosphere was a bit lacking... Although it was clean--the interior seemed somewhat generic. The dinning area was quite loud and the tables were rather close together.I also felt the menu was slightly limited- nothing really jumped out at us- however, we were very happy with our selections.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Over priced, tiny portions and not many options. I have dietary restrictions and found there was not many options to choose from on menu for my dietary needs. The waitress was very nice and accommodating to our table.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baguette with Fresh Ricotta
Great food and cocktails
Everything from the service , drinks , food , atmosphere was great . Plan on spending a decent amount of money here , but not an unreasonable amount for what you get. We will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Cake, Gnocchi Bolognese, Baguette with Fresh Ricotta
We ordered the marguerita pizza and black garlic pasta with rock shrimp and it was incredible . By the way, the house cab > Malbec .That being said, Marisa our server was awesome and the pasta is homemade, the pizza is neopolitan style with the flame brick oven, absolutely outstanding.The black garlic pasta was spicy, which I absolutely loved, shrimp was tender and not over cooked . Exceeded my expectations in every way.There is a 3% admin fee which was added, which I think may be a New York thing. We are from Oklahoma and never saw that, but we also had lots of closed restaurants after COVID . So. Don’t skimp on your server bc of the admin fee ! I hope they take that off . Other than that it was absolutely excellent and we highly recommend .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Margherita Pizza
This is the third or fourth time to visit here after Pandemic. The menu has changed quite a bit after pandemic but still keeps some good ole classic. The server was very attentive. Great urban atmosphere- will be great when it gets warmer. Still one of my go to places around Rochester.Parking: Many options all around.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Charred Broccolini Salad
This place never disappoints! Whether it's for a date night or girls night, Branca Midtown the perfect location for delicious food, top-tier drinks, and a beautiful atmosphere! With plenty of windows. It also offers nice views of downtown. The staff are always friendly and make dining here that much more enjoyable. My favorite cocktail has to be the Juice Cleanse - a refreshing and bright citrusy drink that is always amazing. To start, we also order the Ricotta. It's my favorite thing on the menu. I also love to get the Caesar salad and top it with a chicken cutlet. (Their chicken cutlets are amazing - thinly cut and extra crispy). You also cannot go wrong with the Pan Red Stripe Pizza (we love to add pepperoni and put some of the ricotta from the appetizer on there as well)! Definitely recommend to anyone who has yet to visit!
Restaurantji Recommends
I checked online before going to make sure they could accomodate me as a gluten free vegetarian. The menu I saw said they have GF pasta and pizza crust. However when we arrive I was told they didn’t have those things.Apparently this Branca and the one in Bushnell’s Basin are owned by different people and have different menus. If you’re gluten free, skip Midtown and go straight to the Basin locationDietary restrictions: Wait staff was knowledgeable but not many options for GF vegetarian
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Pepperoni and honey pizza is all the rage these days. But Branca has been doing it well for years. Love this place!
Branca is one of my favoriterestaurants. Came here for an event, and I enjoyed the cocktails and the atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamari
The pepperoni & honey pizza maybe the best I've had in Rochester. It was amazing will return over and over again for this alone. The pan Italian beef is a close 2nd.
Went for NYE & the food was ok. The waitress was excellent. Past 12am my husband & I move from the tables to the bar. I ordered 2 glasses of Champagne & they gave me Prosecco. After I confronted the bartender he literally said to my face that Prosecco & Champagne were the same. How do 2 different wines made in 2 different regions, countries, & 2 different procedures the same?! Either their bartenders are the most ignorant ones in the world or the restaurant is a scam playing to be 5 stars.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3