I am always on the hunt for new restaurants in Rochester, and I was actually pretty excited about Rare when it first opened. I'll be honest, though, the low rating here made me nervous when I read the reviews. We decided to chance it last night, and I can say without a single hesitation that it was the right decision. First, the ambiance is beautiful. It is a very lovely dining space - it is smaller, but it feels intimate, not cramped. Someone had previously complained about the bar being loud. I did not find this to be our perception, but asked for a table in the adjacent room anyway, and they were more than happy to accommodate. Our waitress was exceptional. Warm, prompt, helpful, attentive but not pushy. The food was quite possibly the best I have had at restaurants of this type. We shared the baked Taleggio, pork belly, onion soup for starters, and we found everything to be delicious. The onion soup was a little bit rich for me after half a bowl or so, and we both felt it could have used a tiny bit more broth to dilute the concentration, but this is me being picky. It was easily the best onion soup I've had from any restaurant. The Taleggio was the top favorite, though. That was one of the best appetizers I've ever had in my life. For entrees, we had the filet bolognese, as well as bone in rib-eye, with the Mac and cheese (seafood on the side, which they were more than happy to accommodate), and the creamed spinach. Everything was outstanding. The steak was perfect, the Mac and cheese was creamy and rich, the spinach was exactly what I had hoped for. 10/10. Easily one of the best steaks I've had from a restaurant. We visited Redd about a year or two ago, and left disappointed - this meal was 100x better. And we left with enough food for another 2 meals, easily. No one is complaining. We finished with crème brûlée, and again, just perfect texture, consistency, and flavor. If I were to nitpick, I'd say the sugared layer was a wee bit too thick in places, but it didn't stop us from inhaling it. I will end with this. During our dinner, we were sat next to a group of women. When it came time for them to order, they asked for the short ribs, to which the waitress responded that unfortunately they did not have the short ribs available that night. Now, I don't know this woman's story, and I am hoping that she was just having the worst day of her entire life, or was going through something horrific, and all she wanted was one short rib and it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I really do. Because she became *incredibly* rude to the staff, and actually stood up and stormed out of the dining room for a few minutes in a huff. When she returned, the manager came to talk to her, apologized profusely and explained that the order of short ribs they received that day had been inedible. I can only assume they meant they received spoiled meat, so obviously they couldn't serve it. This did little to pacify her. She continue to be sharp and snappy. The manger left for a few minutes and returned again, informing the woman that he had sent a staff member to the adjacent restaurant upstairs and found out that they were serendipitously running short ribs as a special that evening, and he was going to procure some from them for her. Say what you will, but that level of customer service is far beyond what is even "above and beyond." Is this restaurant pricey? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. In service, experience, and food, you get what you pay for here. Don't let the low reviews here scare you off - Rare 3001 is absolutely worth a visit.
Amanda Piccarreto
Phenomenal. Excellent management, because this place did everything right. I’d suggest loading the table with appetizers before dinner to share so you can taste a little of everything, because it’s exceptional food. The service was amazing as well. The waiter even thought of my little one when we ordered Brussel’s sprouts, he informed us that they add spice and asked if we wanted them made special. The atmosphere brings you back to another time. So classy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Scott M.
Love this newer higher end spot! Very historic mixed with some modern remodeled features inside. The menu is top notch and the wine paired with the small plates and entree options was also solid! I always sit at the bar when I travel for business so the service was phenomenal too! I'll be back!
Tanya V.
Rare 3001 is perfect for a special occasion or upscale romantic dinner! The food is excellent in quality: the guys at our table who ordered steak were raving about how it was cooked exactly as they ordered, with just the right amount of pink on the medium rares. The sourdough bread with the honey butter was perfect. We also were impressed with the chocolate sourdough bread in the dessert (I think it was called Chocolate Pinot Noir, which was sort of like a dessert charcuterie board that included chocolate sourdough bread, a cannoli filling ricotta spread, and shaved almonds). The raw oysters were the special of the day, and were enjoyed by all who tried them. We ordered various sides to share with the table: Brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, hash browns, sautéed onions, and mushrooms- all were great sides to the steaks and fish that were ordered. The beet salad had a great sweet glaze to it, as did the mushrooms, both of which were delicious! I also had the tagliatelle bolagnese, which was a filling portion and featured their scrumptious home made pasta. The creme brulee was a wonderful finishing touch! The atmosphere was pleasant, dimly lit, and inviting. We were able to hold conversations with our party of 6 without feeling like the background music was too loud. The aesthetic is very classy and definitely sends fine dining vibes. The seats are comfortable. Our server, Alona, was very attentive and quick to answer any questions and bring whatever we needed. The manager was also checking in periodically, making sure everything was to perfection. We had a great time! The only suggestion we would have to improve the experience would be different coffee. We had some coffee connoisseurs with us who prefer fresh locally roasted coffee beans, though I'm not sure what coffee/beans are used at Rare 3001. However, that was the only part of the dining experience that we'd recommend addressing. Everything else was perfect in quality and taste! This dining experience is on the more expensive side, but definitely worth the price! We have already been here twice in one month, and look forward to coming back again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrew Phillips
Amazing experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
CJ
After visiting several steakhouses, I have to say, this one didn't live up to the hype. The appetizers--pork belly, steak tartare, crab cakes, and bone marrow--were lackluster, with the pork belly lacking flavor and the crab cakes being overly fishy.While dinner was better, it still wasn't worth the steep prices. The steaks, lamb, and short rib were just okay and didn't impress. Dessert was a mixed bag; the crème brûlée was good, but the chocolate cake was dry and crumbly, and the bread pudding lacked flavor.Overall, if you're looking for a steakhouse that's worth your money, I'd suggest trying Max's Chophouse or Black and Blue instead.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Jessica Maneiro
Service was outstanding, they had a larger party that slowed service down but our waitress let us know and apologized to us in advance which we were fine with. Plan on about 1.5 hours for dining here from being seated, ordering drinks & 3 courses.All of our food came out hot and fresh.Cocktail: Lady Scofflaw was sweet but not overly sweet, very good if you like fruity flavored cocktails. Would order this again just wish there was more or a bigger size option!Appetizer: Calamari, the most tender fried calamari I have ever had, light and crispy, the peppers and the blush sauce paired nicely with the slight salty bite of breading.Bread: homemade loaf with jalapeños and cheddar served with whipped butter and a side of olive oil/balsamic/herbs and spices. Very good if you like spice!EntreesHalf Chicken: Honey glazed, was a bit bland and needed a little seasoning the chicken didn’t wow me. I chose the mashed potatoes and it was served with asparagus which were amazing, could have easily just eaten a plate of vegetables.Rack of Lamb: I was blown away, presentation, taste and value. Added truffle butter and chose to upgrade to mashed potatoes, the portion was huge! Easily the best tasting rack of lamb we have ever had.SidesSeafood Mac and Cheese: PHENOMENAL! This should be offered as an entree! Rich cheese sauce, lump pieces of lobster and shrimp broiled for a slight crunch on top.Onion Straws: great flavor but was lacking the crispness you get from being fried which was expected using green onion. Probably would not order it again.Our overall everything was great, the food is outstanding and would recommend to anyone looking for an upscale relaxed dining experience! We will definitely be returning!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Renee Spells
Well, I attended the restaurant one evening with a group of friends. We go out once a month to different upscale restaurants. This month was Rare’s turn. As a result of an odd turn of events, we meet the owner, Kathy. IMPRESSIVE! Any restaurant in her operation gets 5 STARS in my book. Why? Because sometimes you meet someone and you just know that anything they put their hand to deserves a look see. She’s a real. How did I get all that from such a short visit? Just trust me. I can’t wait for Crescent Beach! I know it will be impeccable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tyrees Cray
The customer service at this restaurant is absolutely horrible!! They do not want Black people in their establishments the owner even expressed this. His exact words were "We are not a good fit for this establishment" I REPEAT, DO NOT GO HERE! This is a racist establishment!!!!!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Tel Grif
Manager is racist and continued to only come address our table none of the other parties around us. Had my daughter 21st birthday dinner there. Bill was over $1,000 and paid without any issues. Manager arrived to our table said he was notified a drink was sent back to be remade and an appetizer due to allergies and that we are not able to send things back or complain and mentioned the cost of the items. We never asked for the items to be removed from the bill nor been to a restaurant where you are told you. Any send things back when you don’t like it. Our food took forever and came after everyone else who arrived after us. The waitress was asked several times for paper napkins she told us she had to ask her manager. I never knew a napkin request had to go through the manager. Our food was cold when it arrived. The waitress never returned after she served us cold food. It’s very racist and they don’t like to service black parties. We were so unhappy we took our food to go. No one had an appetite after the poor service. $1,000 just to end up taking it home to eat. Very unwelcoming to African Americans!!!!!
Poor customer service a blind man can see they dont want brown people support
L J B.
The staff was friendly, courteous, and attentive, kudos to them. The food, while tasty, was small in portions, as well as notably pricey. I have to be honest, I didn't examine the tab closely, but in retrospect, I did think it was rather high. After reading another review on this site, I came across the mention of a "fee" for sharing a plate, which, in our case, might have been applied to a salad that we ordered. For God's sake, a second salad could have been ordered for $20, and if this was indeed added in, it could explain why the tab didn't seem to "add up". In that respect, I think that our server could have alerted us to this possibility. Bottom line, we didn't feel that the meal, while decent, just isn't worth the money....especially when the venue's "sister restaurant", located in the same building, consistently offers a better meal, at a better price.
Kim P.
It was our first time dining at Rare 3001 and we will definitely be back. We ate at the bar and Tom was very attentive and awesome. Interesting starter menu options. Our NY Strip was cooked to perfection and was very flavorful. Atmosphere is cozy and unique. Nice wine selection.
Lucin C.
I came here on a Thursday night and had the best meal I have had in a long time. Everything was amazing and the customer service was impeccable! The oysters were fresh! The French onion soup was the best I have had, the steak was perfect and the sides were amazing. Oh and finally a place that serves wine in real wine glasses! Can't speak highly enough of this place. I had the prime rib and the mashed potatoes rivaled my mother in laws and the prime rib was perfectly cooked. My husband steak had a ton of flavor and cut like butter. The lobster Mac and cheese was really good and the Brussels were a must have.
Derek M.
Rare 3001 provided a great experience for our first time in. We thought the servers were knowledgeable, the food was well cooked and seasoned and the portions were amazing for the price. I loved the look and feel of the restaurant. Only note I had, you could tell the restaurant was new and was still learning. Please be patient because they will impress!
I am always on the hunt for new restaurants in Rochester, and I was actually pretty excited about Rare when it first opened. I'll be honest, though, the low rating here made me nervous when I read the reviews. We decided to chance it last night, and I can say without a single hesitation that it was the right decision. First, the ambiance is beautiful. It is a very lovely dining space - it is smaller, but it feels intimate, not cramped. Someone had previously complained about the bar being loud. I did not find this to be our perception, but asked for a table in the adjacent room anyway, and they were more than happy to accommodate. Our waitress was exceptional. Warm, prompt, helpful, attentive but not pushy. The food was quite possibly the best I have had at restaurants of this type. We shared the baked Taleggio, pork belly, onion soup for starters, and we found everything to be delicious. The onion soup was a little bit rich for me after half a bowl or so, and we both felt it could have used a tiny bit more broth to dilute the concentration, but this is me being picky. It was easily the best onion soup I've had from any restaurant. The Taleggio was the top favorite, though. That was one of the best appetizers I've ever had in my life. For entrees, we had the filet bolognese, as well as bone in rib-eye, with the Mac and cheese (seafood on the side, which they were more than happy to accommodate), and the creamed spinach. Everything was outstanding. The steak was perfect, the Mac and cheese was creamy and rich, the spinach was exactly what I had hoped for. 10/10. Easily one of the best steaks I've had from a restaurant. We visited Redd about a year or two ago, and left disappointed - this meal was 100x better. And we left with enough food for another 2 meals, easily. No one is complaining. We finished with crème brûlée, and again, just perfect texture, consistency, and flavor. If I were to nitpick, I'd say the sugared layer was a wee bit too thick in places, but it didn't stop us from inhaling it. I will end with this. During our dinner, we were sat next to a group of women. When it came time for them to order, they asked for the short ribs, to which the waitress responded that unfortunately they did not have the short ribs available that night. Now, I don't know this woman's story, and I am hoping that she was just having the worst day of her entire life, or was going through something horrific, and all she wanted was one short rib and it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I really do. Because she became *incredibly* rude to the staff, and actually stood up and stormed out of the dining room for a few minutes in a huff. When she returned, the manager came to talk to her, apologized profusely and explained that the order of short ribs they received that day had been inedible. I can only assume they meant they received spoiled meat, so obviously they couldn't serve it. This did little to pacify her. She continue to be sharp and snappy. The manger left for a few minutes and returned again, informing the woman that he had sent a staff member to the adjacent restaurant upstairs and found out that they were serendipitously running short ribs as a special that evening, and he was going to procure some from them for her. Say what you will, but that level of customer service is far beyond what is even "above and beyond." Is this restaurant pricey? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. In service, experience, and food, you get what you pay for here. Don't let the low reviews here scare you off - Rare 3001 is absolutely worth a visit.
Phenomenal. Excellent management, because this place did everything right. I’d suggest loading the table with appetizers before dinner to share so you can taste a little of everything, because it’s exceptional food. The service was amazing as well. The waiter even thought of my little one when we ordered Brussel’s sprouts, he informed us that they add spice and asked if we wanted them made special. The atmosphere brings you back to another time. So classy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love this newer higher end spot! Very historic mixed with some modern remodeled features inside. The menu is top notch and the wine paired with the small plates and entree options was also solid! I always sit at the bar when I travel for business so the service was phenomenal too! I'll be back!
Rare 3001 is perfect for a special occasion or upscale romantic dinner! The food is excellent in quality: the guys at our table who ordered steak were raving about how it was cooked exactly as they ordered, with just the right amount of pink on the medium rares. The sourdough bread with the honey butter was perfect. We also were impressed with the chocolate sourdough bread in the dessert (I think it was called Chocolate Pinot Noir, which was sort of like a dessert charcuterie board that included chocolate sourdough bread, a cannoli filling ricotta spread, and shaved almonds). The raw oysters were the special of the day, and were enjoyed by all who tried them. We ordered various sides to share with the table: Brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, hash browns, sautéed onions, and mushrooms- all were great sides to the steaks and fish that were ordered. The beet salad had a great sweet glaze to it, as did the mushrooms, both of which were delicious! I also had the tagliatelle bolagnese, which was a filling portion and featured their scrumptious home made pasta. The creme brulee was a wonderful finishing touch! The atmosphere was pleasant, dimly lit, and inviting. We were able to hold conversations with our party of 6 without feeling like the background music was too loud. The aesthetic is very classy and definitely sends fine dining vibes. The seats are comfortable. Our server, Alona, was very attentive and quick to answer any questions and bring whatever we needed. The manager was also checking in periodically, making sure everything was to perfection. We had a great time! The only suggestion we would have to improve the experience would be different coffee. We had some coffee connoisseurs with us who prefer fresh locally roasted coffee beans, though I'm not sure what coffee/beans are used at Rare 3001. However, that was the only part of the dining experience that we'd recommend addressing. Everything else was perfect in quality and taste! This dining experience is on the more expensive side, but definitely worth the price! We have already been here twice in one month, and look forward to coming back again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
After visiting several steakhouses, I have to say, this one didn't live up to the hype. The appetizers--pork belly, steak tartare, crab cakes, and bone marrow--were lackluster, with the pork belly lacking flavor and the crab cakes being overly fishy.While dinner was better, it still wasn't worth the steep prices. The steaks, lamb, and short rib were just okay and didn't impress. Dessert was a mixed bag; the crème brûlée was good, but the chocolate cake was dry and crumbly, and the bread pudding lacked flavor.Overall, if you're looking for a steakhouse that's worth your money, I'd suggest trying Max's Chophouse or Black and Blue instead.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Service was outstanding, they had a larger party that slowed service down but our waitress let us know and apologized to us in advance which we were fine with. Plan on about 1.5 hours for dining here from being seated, ordering drinks & 3 courses.All of our food came out hot and fresh.Cocktail: Lady Scofflaw was sweet but not overly sweet, very good if you like fruity flavored cocktails. Would order this again just wish there was more or a bigger size option!Appetizer: Calamari, the most tender fried calamari I have ever had, light and crispy, the peppers and the blush sauce paired nicely with the slight salty bite of breading.Bread: homemade loaf with jalapeños and cheddar served with whipped butter and a side of olive oil/balsamic/herbs and spices. Very good if you like spice!EntreesHalf Chicken: Honey glazed, was a bit bland and needed a little seasoning the chicken didn’t wow me. I chose the mashed potatoes and it was served with asparagus which were amazing, could have easily just eaten a plate of vegetables.Rack of Lamb: I was blown away, presentation, taste and value. Added truffle butter and chose to upgrade to mashed potatoes, the portion was huge! Easily the best tasting rack of lamb we have ever had.SidesSeafood Mac and Cheese: PHENOMENAL! This should be offered as an entree! Rich cheese sauce, lump pieces of lobster and shrimp broiled for a slight crunch on top.Onion Straws: great flavor but was lacking the crispness you get from being fried which was expected using green onion. Probably would not order it again.Our overall everything was great, the food is outstanding and would recommend to anyone looking for an upscale relaxed dining experience! We will definitely be returning!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Well, I attended the restaurant one evening with a group of friends. We go out once a month to different upscale restaurants. This month was Rare’s turn. As a result of an odd turn of events, we meet the owner, Kathy. IMPRESSIVE! Any restaurant in her operation gets 5 STARS in my book. Why? Because sometimes you meet someone and you just know that anything they put their hand to deserves a look see. She’s a real. How did I get all that from such a short visit? Just trust me. I can’t wait for Crescent Beach! I know it will be impeccable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The customer service at this restaurant is absolutely horrible!! They do not want Black people in their establishments the owner even expressed this. His exact words were "We are not a good fit for this establishment" I REPEAT, DO NOT GO HERE! This is a racist establishment!!!!!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Manager is racist and continued to only come address our table none of the other parties around us. Had my daughter 21st birthday dinner there. Bill was over $1,000 and paid without any issues. Manager arrived to our table said he was notified a drink was sent back to be remade and an appetizer due to allergies and that we are not able to send things back or complain and mentioned the cost of the items. We never asked for the items to be removed from the bill nor been to a restaurant where you are told you. Any send things back when you don’t like it. Our food took forever and came after everyone else who arrived after us. The waitress was asked several times for paper napkins she told us she had to ask her manager. I never knew a napkin request had to go through the manager. Our food was cold when it arrived. The waitress never returned after she served us cold food. It’s very racist and they don’t like to service black parties. We were so unhappy we took our food to go. No one had an appetite after the poor service. $1,000 just to end up taking it home to eat. Very unwelcoming to African Americans!!!!!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Poor customer service a blind man can see they dont want brown people support
The staff was friendly, courteous, and attentive, kudos to them. The food, while tasty, was small in portions, as well as notably pricey. I have to be honest, I didn't examine the tab closely, but in retrospect, I did think it was rather high. After reading another review on this site, I came across the mention of a "fee" for sharing a plate, which, in our case, might have been applied to a salad that we ordered. For God's sake, a second salad could have been ordered for $20, and if this was indeed added in, it could explain why the tab didn't seem to "add up". In that respect, I think that our server could have alerted us to this possibility. Bottom line, we didn't feel that the meal, while decent, just isn't worth the money....especially when the venue's "sister restaurant", located in the same building, consistently offers a better meal, at a better price.
It was our first time dining at Rare 3001 and we will definitely be back. We ate at the bar and Tom was very attentive and awesome. Interesting starter menu options. Our NY Strip was cooked to perfection and was very flavorful. Atmosphere is cozy and unique. Nice wine selection.
I came here on a Thursday night and had the best meal I have had in a long time. Everything was amazing and the customer service was impeccable! The oysters were fresh! The French onion soup was the best I have had, the steak was perfect and the sides were amazing. Oh and finally a place that serves wine in real wine glasses! Can't speak highly enough of this place. I had the prime rib and the mashed potatoes rivaled my mother in laws and the prime rib was perfectly cooked. My husband steak had a ton of flavor and cut like butter. The lobster Mac and cheese was really good and the Brussels were a must have.
Rare 3001 provided a great experience for our first time in. We thought the servers were knowledgeable, the food was well cooked and seasoned and the portions were amazing for the price. I loved the look and feel of the restaurant. Only note I had, you could tell the restaurant was new and was still learning. Please be patient because they will impress!