50 Best Italian Restaurants in Rochester

“Two Words…. Absolutely Delish…❣️❣️“

“I need to make you aware of a wonderful diamond in the rough on Rochester’s west side. My wife and I visited this quaint Lower Manhattan style eatery with my brother-in-law and his wife. This unassuming place from the outside pleasantly surprises once you enter with its quaint bar area, blacked out ceiling and twin open kitchen stations. First litmus test is the quality of bread with a full complement of spices to prep your own dipping oil. Check! Special of the day, Seared Halibut on a bed of risotto, didn’t disappoint, nor did my samples of homemade Rigatoni à la Bolognese (just like Mom’s Sunday sauce) or the Chicken Milanese! Completed the meal with an ample slice of homemade Ricotta Cheesecake with Berry Compote. The owner checked in with us several times. The table service was perfect. The glass enclosed wine cellar in the middle of the dining area completed an impressive ambience and dining experience. Run don’t walk to this most pleasant gastro treat!“

“10/10! I was blown away. Absolutely hands down one of Rochester’s best restaurants. Friendly and quick staff and the food… 🤤 oh the food. The food was DELICIOUS! Cooked to perfection, and as 2 chefs on a date who are highly critical of others cooking, we were BOTH impressed. Atmosphere was warm and inviting, and presentation was impeccable. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! I took some pics & vids and have a smaller social media of 22K that i plan on directing to go to this extremely good restaurant if they are in the Rochester area. The cocktails are presented with class and flare as well. If you’re looking for that perfect place for a romantic date night dinner, business meeting or just a foodie… this is a MUST-GO! Thanks to the amazing chef who was so accommodating! We will definitely be back!“

“Our first time here and we will be back. This was one of the best restaurant experiences we have ever had. Thank you for the delicious meal, hospitality and the lovely environment. 🤍“

“One of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a long time. The menu is brief but everything was perfect (and we had a party of 6 so we got to try many of entrees and drinks). The waitstaff was attentive and very kind. Already planning a return visit.“

“Excellent food and service! New food addiction acquired it’s definitely a must try 🤤 😊“

“Late night arrival into Rochester on a Tuesday evening and I chanced upon Branca Midtown via Resy. We took a chance and I am so so glad we did. This place was divine. The host and the servers were impeccable. Sassy, funny, and attentive to a T, we were incredibly impressed and immediately relaxed with the atmosphere and the people. The ricotta appetizer was incredibly and reminded me of a favorite dish in Florence Italy, and the swordfish was perfection. Drinks were delicious, so thank you to the obviously talented bartender, as those were very much needed after our long drive. We will definitely make a point of stopping back then next time we are in town.“

“Ann was an exceptional waitress. We will definitely request her on our next visit. On point with great service.“

“The food was top notch! And customer service was wonderful!“

“Best food in town! Never a bad meal. Love this place!“

“Your food went way way down the way outside is so long it's ridiculous then the food is cold doesn't taste like it should taste you should get back to cook she had there when you opened the ones who came from fornataros. Got to go food for Thanksgiving no one touched it the the artichoke French looked like chicken nuggets terrible look like it was baked not sauteed the clams casino were as big as to Wegmans water bottle caps I took a picture was going to even send it to them but you know they don't do anything anyways we got 25 clams casino maybe a total of those clams were four clams that's all small they were nobody even ate them I'm going to be calling to take them back but someone said don't bother they don't care about their food coming out they think because they had a name that they were good you got to keep up that good food otherwise people stop coming“

“I took my elderly mother here for lunch with my 15 year old because she has been craving Italian and it was close to where my mother lives. We couldn't stop talking about how nice of an atmosphere it was!! There was road and parking lot construction and since we weren't use to the area , we didn't know there was a ramp to help my mother, but every staff member was so courteous and friendly helping my mom and my 15 year old get them both in (while I went to park the car). The excellent customer service didn't stop there......... throughout our meal, water was filled up and they especially made sure my mother was comfortable! We were all also impressed how wonderful the food was! We stopped there on a whim, but you definitely have some new customers!“

“Very good food and excellent customer service“

“Best ravioli in town! My family's been dining there since they opened thank you mark and Andrea for taking me there last Thursday! It was nice to see Lisa too,excellent waitress!“

“We celebrated a family dinner and was very pleased with the remodel which none of us had been aware of. We had an amazing waitress , food was fantastic.: wine went down well.. and even the bread was delish. We can have a critical family but tonight everyone went home very satisfied . We will be back SOON. Thank you so much.“

“Good location, cozy interior, with great food choices, reasonable prices & very nice staff. Highly recommend = 2 thumbs up/5 stars“

“the Philly steak was cheap cheese with green peppers that ruined the taste. the turkey sub little turkey not as good as Wegmans. Caesar salad sub mush salad and ok chicken not worth the money.“

“I had my 50th Birthday party here and the staff was very friendly and helpful the venue was beautiful the food was amazing and everyone had an amazing time. We will definitely hold future events at La Luna. Thank you for everything!!!“

“Thank you, Veneto, for hosting our company holiday party this weekend! The ambience was amazing, food was delicious, and service was wonderful. Coordinating the event was easy, and our team had a really great time! Thank you for a memorable night!“

“Absolutely one of best Italian restaurants ever frequented. Exceptional“

“Amazing food. Way better than Bella pasta“

“Absolutely fantastic food, service, quality and the photos on the wall are a whole lifetime! It’s wonderful! ♥️💕“

“Rizzi’s was the perfect place to host my bridal shower. From the moment we arrived, everything felt warm, welcoming, and effortless. We were greeted by the beautiful Tevis, who was behind the bar serving everything herself, which made service fast and seamless. Guests enjoyed bright, fun mimosa options including classic, pomegranate, and pineapple, along with perfectly crafted Bloody Marys garnished with jumbo shrimp, olive and lime skewers, bacon, and celery. The drinks immediately set a fun, celebratory tone and made everyone feel taken care of right away. The ambiance was cozy, intimate, and full of classic Italian charm, creating the perfect setting to celebrate and capture meaningful moments without feeling overwhelming. The food was outstanding. The charcuterie spread was delicious and paired with an olive tapenade I am still craving, along with thoughtfully selected accompaniments. While I chose classic, simple entrées, they truly shined. The rigatoni with red sauce was rich and comforting, the chicken cutlets were perfectly tender, and the seasonal vegetables were fresh and beautifully prepared, all served in generous portions. Everything was flavorful, satisfying, and exactly what you hope for when hosting a special event. The service was impeccable. The staff was attentive, kind, and incredibly accommodating, allowing us to fully enjoy the day without worrying about a thing. What truly stood out was how affordable everything was for the quality, presentation, and level of service. Rizzi’s delivers an elevated experience without feeling overpriced. I am so grateful we chose Rizzi’s for such a special milestone and would highly recommend it for any bridal shower or intimate celebration. 🤍“

“Very good food very friendly makes you like family“

“We love eating at The Lamplighter Restaurant, Always a great meal & friendly service .“

“Best catering service I've ever experienced“

“it was good service was great“

“We recently celebrated our anniversary at Pane Vino. They provided us a very quaint seat overlooking the river. They have done a nice job masking the noise level of their beautiful interior that is full of character. We interacted with 4 staff that were all very personable, professional, and efficient. The food was all exceptional and the wine list very nice. We were impressed that the owner checked on us several times, he definitely cares and pays attention to detail. We plan to return here on our next visit to the area.“

“They catered our 100 person baby shower and the food was amazing. The price was great and so easy to order. They let me know exactly what we needed and were so kind and helpful. 100% recommend!!!!“

“The best pizza I've ever tasted in Rochester and nearby areas. It's worth every penny. You can feel the good quality of the products.Definitely my new favorite pizza spot. Continue with the tremendous service and your good quality products.“

“Great menue choices and lunch and dinner specials home made soups 🍲 and drinks at the bar 🍸 😋 daily lunch and dinner specials home made pasta dinners.😋“

“great food, great people THANKS“

“Great food and service. Always a fun night.“

“Great 🇮🇹 food , Great Atmosphere!!“

“Ordered delivery the other day and had the manicotti. It wasn’t what I ordered, but mistakes happen, especially with delivery service so no big deal. The food was phenomenal and I will DEFINITELY be dining there again.“

“Absolutely delicious pizza and the nicest person behind the register! My wife and daughter LOVE the pizza, my only hope is they some day carry vegan pizza, so I can love it as much as they does (wink wink)! I pick the pizza up monthly, and it NEVER disappoints the family.“

“Food was great. We enjoyed the very relaxing atmosphere without any televisions blaring in the background“

“I don't know if, behind the curtain, Olive Garden is the Chick-fil-A of sit-down restaurants and they run it like the navy. But the service has been consistently great, the servers are incredibly friendly, and the portion sizes are almost too much for my poor soul. But there's always boxes!“

“We had a great time at this Olive Garden! The place was clean and inviting, and the staff was super friendly and attentive the whole time.

We got there a bit later in the afternoon, but they still took great care of us and we never felt rushed. The salad was fresh and yummy, and everyone in our group loved their soup. Everything tasted great and came out fast.

And of course, the breadsticks were awesome, warm, soft, and perfectly buttery!

All in all, this is a great spot with excellent service and delicious food. We'd totally go back!“

“A classic Italian family pizza spot that is clearly doing something right.

I ordered a half cheese, half peppers and onions large pizza for a family birthday and it came out smelling exactly like the pizza my mom used to make when we were kids.

Everyone who works there clearly has decades of history between them, communicating in quick glances, jokes about family members, and sharing a warmth that you can only get in a place that is doing something well. Definitely want to try more of their specialty menu at some point and will be back for more.“

“We had a retirement party for.my sister 5/6/22.The service was top notch,the menu was bold and the kitchen put a nice spin on all they presented.THE OWNER STOPPED AND GREETED THE TABLE.WEwere able to bring in our special dessert's and they didn't push us out the door . Bravo from top to bottom.*****“

“This place... is special. I just had a fantastic meal and got a chance to chat with one of the partners and someone else working there. I wish I got their names, because they made me feel like I knew them forever and they were just wonderful. anyone should make it a point to head down there, try whatever they recommend, and have a chat!“

“I had Ciaccia’s cater a work event today with Boxed lunches to make it easier for those traveling. Boxed lunches isn’t something they typically do, but when I asked if they could, they did not hesitate to say yes! All I can say is they KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK!! You could see the thought and time that was put into making these lunches and everyone was very impressed! Lots of compliments on the tastiness of the food and presentation of the boxes! Extremely happy as always with Ciaccia’s and their team! Highly recommend!!!!“

“Enjoyed a relaxing, delicious dinner in a quiet atmosphere where we didn’t feel rushed for the table to be turned over! Great atmosphere; servers were attentive; food was good; ambiance was chill!!“

“Another great visit to Gusto. I remember to take a picture of the menu. They have a delicious meatball panini that goes great with a glass of wine. They sell wine by the bottle here too. Tasty food, good drink selection and the staff is always friendly.
Today they opened 25 minutes early and fired up the grill. That was so nice of them. They offer their full menu all day. I got the meat ball panini again. Like I said, I love that thing with some red wine, even if it's 9am.“

“Pollo Guisado was fantastic. Great flavor and value. Will definitely order again and highly recommend.“

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

“Went for my birthday dinner with my family, none of us had been there before, and it was an overall great experience, both the service and the food. I wish I had gotten the waitress’s name, because she did an excellent job and definitely deserves the kudos“

“Love football Sundays at MicGinny's...Angie is the best bartender!! Love the place!!“

“Check it out! Super friendly service where there’s a face that’s not recognized! Check out the Steak Hoagies, Sloppy plates, wings and blue cheese!“