We had dinner at Crisp for the first time last weekend. The food and service were great.
Jessica Vazquez
Tonight was my first visit but certainly won’t be my last. We were very early for our 7pm reservation and were cheerfully accommodated. Our starters ( Mac and cheese and popcorn chicken bites) were delicious, served hot and were presented beautifully. Entrees ( chicken pot pie & Fried chicken sandwich) were served promptly, tasted amazing and were very fairly priced for the size and quality. Our server Danielle was a newer hire but was knowledgeable, friendly, and most importantly provided amazing service. Thanks for an enjoyable meal.
Tim Duboy (Griffsimons)
Solid food and great place to eat. Ordered their special of the day. Portobello mushroom burger and wife had chicken and churros.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lauren Davis
Great place for a night out! The food is fresh and delicious, and the vibe of the restaurant is always so warm and inviting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Paul Adrian Mabelis
Great service and wonderful food.
Dana Zillioux
Went for a birthday celebration and had a reservation. Food looked and was described deliciously. Cocktails were well done and tasty. Food came out smaller portions than I expected for the price. They were out of the dish I chose before I came from the menu. The special was a NY Strip but came out all grizzly and huge tendon inside. Not the correct cut per description. Overall the meals seemed to be lower quality than the price reflected. Amendment: there was something not to the liking of every member at the table. We discussed after we left. Overall expensive for mediocre meals.
Vegetarian options: Vegan options were small portions and we left still hungry.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
Lyle NYE JR.
Best braised beef I have ever eaten...ever. My wife had the chicken pot pie and liked it. The staff was friendly and attentive. We were seated within a minute. We were in "2nd" seating as it is called on their website while making reservations. It means they have a 2nd Dining room off from the main dining room. We liked it simply because it was quieter. It was definitely busy...and after...no during our meal I found out why. It was because of the food and service. I mention the parking only as a "heads up" to it. The parking is all street parking. The restaurant is on a corner lot. Neat older building but without its own parking lot. So walk if you have to because the food and service were top notch! My only dilemma is when we go back whether I will try the chicken pot pie or go straight back to the best braised beef ever!
Parking: Don't let the parking keep you from going. The comfort food will make the parking issues melt away.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Deviled Eggs
Linda H
The food was fantastic and so was the service. Trendy hot spot, great for a bite with friends or a date. We had the veggie burger with fries, the chicken sandwich with mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, and the jalapeno cheddar hush puppies, followed by a dessert of the churro sundae. I would absolutely recommend this spot for vegetarians or omnivores alike.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fries, Burger
J X
I initially considered giving CRISP a 3-star review for portions, pricing, food quality, and an unusual interaction with the owner/GM. However, after reading the responses from the owner to other members of my party, as well as others' interactions, I feel my experience has been more 2 stars.
CRISP's website states: "After all, what is remembered after any experience is how someone or something made you feel." Unfortunately, I left me feeling disappointed, undervalued, and hesitant to return.
Dining was OK. Our party was seated quickly with a reservation, and drink orders were taken promptly. However, one of our party members was skipped during the drink order and had to wait until the server returned to place theirs. Thankfully, their drink arrived quickly, and the cocktails overall were fantastic—one of the highlights of the evening. However, things began to unravel with the food. Service delays left us waiting long enough for the conversation at the table to shift from lively to awkward silences. Eventually, the owner, Wendi, approached to assure us the food was on its way. While her presence was appreciated, it felt a little too coincidental when she chimed in immediately after a comment about our hunger. It was an early indicator of a pattern that would later feel invasive rather than attentive. When our food arrived, appetizers came out alongside entrees. The experience of the guest of honor—our birthday celebrant—was disappointing. Their New York Strip steak was riddled with a large, inedible tendon, rendering a significant portion of their meal unsalvageable. The steak was comped, and another dish was offered, which was appreciated. My catfish was seasoned well but arrived cold. The collard greens, a side dish I was excited to try, were also cold and drowned in hot honey—a trend that appeared in several dishes, including the wedge salad. The churros were mushy, seemingly frozen before being served. Another member of our party ordered the vegan meatloaf, which came in a surprisingly small portion for its $27 price tag. A thin patty, a handful of green beans, and carrot mash (also cold) left them leaving the restaurant still hungry.
Our interactions with Co-Owner/GM were not OK Mistakes happen in any restaurant, and food issues can be mitigated with good service and hospitality. While Wendi tried to address our concerns at the table, it’s the pattern of responses to critical feedback—ours and others—that left the most lasting impression. The tone of these responses consistently includes passive-aggressive remarks and an undercurrent of defensiveness. While I understand that running a restaurant is deeply personal and customer criticism can sting, the way the feedback is handled often shifts blame or invalidates the concerns raised. For example, suggesting that “most people find the portions large” directly contradicts specific guest feedback and doesn’t help resolve the issue. Similarly, statements like “we tried our best” or “I’m not sure what to say” undermine what could be opportunities to rebuild trust with disappointed customers. In my case, the owner’s interactions felt more about defending the restaurant’s reputation than addressing the root of the problem. For example, when issues like slow service or cold food were raised, they were brushed off as anomalies or countered with generalizations about other guests’ experiences. As a result, I left feeling like our concerns weren’t fully heard or valued.
CRISP has potential—it shines in areas like creative cocktails and its modern ambiance. But the dining experience needs significant refinement & the owner’s(s'?) response to feedback are a major area for growth. People want to feel valued, heard, and understood. Acknowledging and owning mistakes without defensiveness would go a long way toward improving CRISP.
I cannot recommend CRISP for now. I hope this review is taken as an
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
Michael zillioux
Went here for my partners' birthday last night with a small group. Atmosphere was nice, but everyone at the table had an issue with their meal. The "New York Strip Steak" my partner ordered had a huge tendon running through the meat. We suspect it was actually a flank steak. He initially wanted the braised beef sandwich, but it was sold out.... at 6pm on a Saturday. My burger was mid and I did not finish it. I could have gone across the street to Swillburger and had a more satisfying meal for half the price. The fries were cold, bland, and came at an upcharge. They slather everything in hot honey, including for some reason the Collard greens. Wedge salad was missing crumbly blue cheese. The vegan meatloaf was a tiny portion for a large price.
The waitress also neglected to take my drink order (everyone else had their drink order taken). I had to wait until everyone else got a drink to even order a lemonade.
Weirdest of all, the owner and staff kept listening in on our conversation and butting in, making comments when we werent complaining or seeking her help/attention. She seemed to appear out of nowhere, clearly having been listening to the table intently. (Ex: my mom made a comment about the music playing being "gen x" music and she popped up saying "well i'm the owner, so we listen to what i want") We never specifically sought out her attention. She seemed like a nice lady but it felt invasive and strange. I think she was a bit fixated on us for some reason. We joked throughout dinner that they had hidden microphones in the restaurant.
Service was alright but they automatically charged a 20% gratuity, which is fine other than the fact they did not mention this. If I had not seen the gratuity (already $40), I would have paid a compounding 20% tip for an already overpriced meal.
Unimpressed, will not return.
(Advice for the owner: stop being snarky and passive agressive in response to negative reviews. I would not have written this if not for your response to my partners review. Gaslighting everyone with a valid criticism is a really bad look for your business).
Friendly staff, good drinks, diverse menu of well prepared food and comfortable level of background music.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Garrett Brindle
My partner and I dined here for Sunday brunch. Unfortunately the entrees we ordered came in a melody of warm and cold components. I would’ve left a higher review if not for the manager’s snarky comment about me eating most of the my dish. I apologize that some of us were raised not to waste food regardless of the quality. It seemed like the food was a miss on the kitchens part but the handling of the mistake was unsavory. The brisket Benedict (their special for the day): Brisket - Tough and cold. Obviously not cooked long enough to render it tender. Disappointing for the supposed specialty meal. Egg - the only warm thing on the plate, well cooked. Fries - Cold, standard home fries nothing special. Biscuit - Cold, but good texture oddly some char on it. Sauce - Nice chipotle to contrast with the eggs and brisket. The vegan scramble: Tofu - Cold, incredibly wet, oily, and unseasoned. Sausage - There was supposed to be vegan sausage in the scramble but it was absent. Fries - Cold, same standard home fries. The meal was comped but that still does not change the experience. Overall incredibly disappointing for what it is supposed to be and the experience outside of the food left something to be desired. Still left a $20 tip because we felt bad for the waitress.
Parking: 4 spots for parking, otherwise street parking.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
MD062010
First time visiting Crisp- all of our food was good- the catfish was very beautifully blackened and the braised beef and carrot is comfort in a bowl.
I also love that they offer deviled eggs as an appetizer! The harvest grain bowl was quite nice and the churros are the best I have had in Rochester.
My only critique was that cocktails were eh… not terrible. But not spectacular. And the hush puppies would benefit from being a bit softer.
Overall- this place is well worth visiting. Especially if you’re looking for comfort food. Service was friendly and attentive and the restaurant is clean and well organized.
Keep in mind- street parking only- however, locating a parking space was not an issue.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Moss Lugo
We came in without a reservation. To our absolute luck we got seated by the very sweet host. Our server was perfect. The food was 100% worth the price. 10/10 will definitely come back for that brisket sandwich :>
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex Carroll
1st visit. Food and drink was very good. Our server was great.
Parking: There is street parking but you may have walk a block.or two.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Billionaire Bacon, Shrimp and Grits, Popcorn Chicken
We had dinner at Crisp for the first time last weekend. The food and service were great.
Tonight was my first visit but certainly won’t be my last. We were very early for our 7pm reservation and were cheerfully accommodated. Our starters ( Mac and cheese and popcorn chicken bites) were delicious, served hot and were presented beautifully. Entrees ( chicken pot pie & Fried chicken sandwich) were served promptly, tasted amazing and were very fairly priced for the size and quality. Our server Danielle was a newer hire but was knowledgeable, friendly, and most importantly provided amazing service. Thanks for an enjoyable meal.
Solid food and great place to eat. Ordered their special of the day. Portobello mushroom burger and wife had chicken and churros.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place for a night out! The food is fresh and delicious, and the vibe of the restaurant is always so warm and inviting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Great service and wonderful food.
Went for a birthday celebration and had a reservation. Food looked and was described deliciously. Cocktails were well done and tasty. Food came out smaller portions than I expected for the price. They were out of the dish I chose before I came from the menu. The special was a NY Strip but came out all grizzly and huge tendon inside. Not the correct cut per description. Overall the meals seemed to be lower quality than the price reflected.
Amendment: there was something not to the liking of every member at the table. We discussed after we left. Overall expensive for mediocre meals.
Vegetarian options: Vegan options were small portions and we left still hungry.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
Best braised beef I have ever eaten...ever. My wife had the chicken pot pie and liked it. The staff was friendly and attentive. We were seated within a minute. We were in "2nd" seating as it is called on their website while making reservations. It means they have a 2nd Dining room off from the main dining room. We liked it simply because it was quieter. It was definitely busy...and after...no during our meal I found out why. It was because of the food and service. I mention the parking only as a "heads up" to it. The parking is all street parking. The restaurant is on a corner lot. Neat older building but without its own parking lot. So walk if you have to because the food and service were top notch! My only dilemma is when we go back whether I will try the chicken pot pie or go straight back to the best braised beef ever!
Parking: Don't let the parking keep you from going. The comfort food will make the parking issues melt away.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Deviled Eggs
The food was fantastic and so was the service. Trendy hot spot, great for a bite with friends or a date. We had the veggie burger with fries, the chicken sandwich with mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, and the jalapeno cheddar hush puppies, followed by a dessert of the churro sundae. I would absolutely recommend this spot for vegetarians or omnivores alike.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fries, Burger
I initially considered giving CRISP a 3-star review for portions, pricing, food quality, and an unusual interaction with the owner/GM. However, after reading the responses from the owner to other members of my party, as well as others' interactions, I feel my experience has been more 2 stars.
CRISP's website states:
"After all, what is remembered after any experience is how someone or something made you feel."
Unfortunately, I left me feeling disappointed, undervalued, and hesitant to return.
Dining was OK.
Our party was seated quickly with a reservation, and drink orders were taken promptly. However, one of our party members was skipped during the drink order and had to wait until the server returned to place theirs. Thankfully, their drink arrived quickly, and the cocktails overall were fantastic—one of the highlights of the evening.
However, things began to unravel with the food. Service delays left us waiting long enough for the conversation at the table to shift from lively to awkward silences. Eventually, the owner, Wendi, approached to assure us the food was on its way. While her presence was appreciated, it felt a little too coincidental when she chimed in immediately after a comment about our hunger. It was an early indicator of a pattern that would later feel invasive rather than attentive.
When our food arrived, appetizers came out alongside entrees. The experience of the guest of honor—our birthday celebrant—was disappointing. Their New York Strip steak was riddled with a large, inedible tendon, rendering a significant portion of their meal unsalvageable. The steak was comped, and another dish was offered, which was appreciated.
My catfish was seasoned well but arrived cold. The collard greens, a side dish I was excited to try, were also cold and drowned in hot honey—a trend that appeared in several dishes, including the wedge salad. The churros were mushy, seemingly frozen before being served. Another member of our party ordered the vegan meatloaf, which came in a surprisingly small portion for its $27 price tag. A thin patty, a handful of green beans, and carrot mash (also cold) left them leaving the restaurant still hungry.
Our interactions with Co-Owner/GM were not OK
Mistakes happen in any restaurant, and food issues can be mitigated with good service and hospitality. While Wendi tried to address our concerns at the table, it’s the pattern of responses to critical feedback—ours and others—that left the most lasting impression. The tone of these responses consistently includes passive-aggressive remarks and an undercurrent of defensiveness. While I understand that running a restaurant is deeply personal and customer criticism can sting, the way the feedback is handled often shifts blame or invalidates the concerns raised. For example, suggesting that “most people find the portions large” directly contradicts specific guest feedback and doesn’t help resolve the issue. Similarly, statements like “we tried our best” or “I’m not sure what to say” undermine what could be opportunities to rebuild trust with disappointed customers. In my case, the owner’s interactions felt more about defending the restaurant’s reputation than addressing the root of the problem. For example, when issues like slow service or cold food were raised, they were brushed off as anomalies or countered with generalizations about other guests’ experiences. As a result, I left feeling like our concerns weren’t fully heard or valued.
CRISP has potential—it shines in areas like creative cocktails and its modern ambiance. But the dining experience needs significant refinement & the owner’s(s'?) response to feedback are a major area for growth. People want to feel valued, heard, and understood. Acknowledging and owning mistakes without defensiveness would go a long way toward improving CRISP.
I cannot recommend CRISP for now. I hope this review is taken as an
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
Went here for my partners' birthday last night with a small group. Atmosphere was nice, but everyone at the table had an issue with their meal. The "New York Strip Steak" my partner ordered had a huge tendon running through the meat. We suspect it was actually a flank steak. He initially wanted the braised beef sandwich, but it was sold out.... at 6pm on a Saturday. My burger was mid and I did not finish it. I could have gone across the street to Swillburger and had a more satisfying meal for half the price. The fries were cold, bland, and came at an upcharge. They slather everything in hot honey, including for some reason the Collard greens. Wedge salad was missing crumbly blue cheese. The vegan meatloaf was a tiny portion for a large price.
The waitress also neglected to take my drink order (everyone else had their drink order taken). I had to wait until everyone else got a drink to even order a lemonade.
Weirdest of all, the owner and staff kept listening in on our conversation and butting in, making comments when we werent complaining or seeking her help/attention. She seemed to appear out of nowhere, clearly having been listening to the table intently. (Ex: my mom made a comment about the music playing being "gen x" music and she popped up saying "well i'm the owner, so we listen to what i want") We never specifically sought out her attention. She seemed like a nice lady but it felt invasive and strange. I think she was a bit fixated on us for some reason. We joked throughout dinner that they had hidden microphones in the restaurant.
Service was alright but they automatically charged a 20% gratuity, which is fine other than the fact they did not mention this. If I had not seen the gratuity (already $40), I would have paid a compounding 20% tip for an already overpriced meal.
Unimpressed, will not return.
(Advice for the owner: stop being snarky and passive agressive in response to negative reviews. I would not have written this if not for your response to my partners review. Gaslighting everyone with a valid criticism is a really bad look for your business).
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Friendly staff, good drinks, diverse menu of well prepared food and comfortable level of background music.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My partner and I dined here for Sunday brunch. Unfortunately the entrees we ordered came in a melody of warm and cold components. I would’ve left a higher review if not for the manager’s snarky comment about me eating most of the my dish. I apologize that some of us were raised not to waste food regardless of the quality. It seemed like the food was a miss on the kitchens part but the handling of the mistake was unsavory.
The brisket Benedict (their special for the day):
Brisket - Tough and cold. Obviously not cooked long enough to render it tender. Disappointing for the supposed specialty meal.
Egg - the only warm thing on the plate, well cooked.
Fries - Cold, standard home fries nothing special.
Biscuit - Cold, but good texture oddly some char on it.
Sauce - Nice chipotle to contrast with the eggs and brisket.
The vegan scramble:
Tofu - Cold, incredibly wet, oily, and unseasoned.
Sausage - There was supposed to be vegan sausage in the scramble but it was absent.
Fries - Cold, same standard home fries.
The meal was comped but that still does not change the experience. Overall incredibly disappointing for what it is supposed to be and the experience outside of the food left something to be desired. Still left a $20 tip because we felt bad for the waitress.
Parking: 4 spots for parking, otherwise street parking.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
First time visiting Crisp- all of our food was good- the catfish was very beautifully blackened and the braised beef and carrot is comfort in a bowl.
I also love that they offer deviled eggs as an appetizer! The harvest grain bowl was quite nice and the churros are the best I have had in Rochester.
My only critique was that cocktails were eh… not terrible. But not spectacular. And the hush puppies would benefit from being a bit softer.
Overall- this place is well worth visiting. Especially if you’re looking for comfort food. Service was friendly and attentive and the restaurant is clean and well organized.
Keep in mind- street parking only- however, locating a parking space was not an issue.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
We came in without a reservation. To our absolute luck we got seated by the very sweet host. Our server was perfect. The food was 100% worth the price. 10/10 will definitely come back for that brisket sandwich :>
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
1st visit. Food and drink was very good. Our server was great.
Parking: There is street parking but you may have walk a block.or two.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Billionaire Bacon, Shrimp and Grits, Popcorn Chicken
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