Rochester Restaurant Tips by davecallahan

Restaurant Name: DaVinci's Restaurant

Traditional Italian cuisine.
Quality and quantity is built into each and every meal.

From the menu: artichoke hearts, eggplant, calamari, escarole, zuppa, garlic bread, julienne insalata, cappelini, linguini, pasta al forno, ravioli, lasagna, chicken caccitori, gnocchi, sausage pizziola, and on and on.....

So if your mouth is now watering, then take a ride to DaVinci's (but get there before six or you stand in line).

Portions are large (I always get a doggie bag to take home) and rather expensive, but not overpriced.

Favorite Dish: chicken parmigiana is my favorite, with plenty of garlic bread

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: 1550 West Ridge Road
Directions: Stone-Ridge Mall (mall at Stone Road and Ridge Road)
from I-490 go to I-590 north or I-390 north.
I-390 exit to Ridge Road, go east to Stone Road
I-590 exit to route 104, go west (5 miles)....(route 104 turns into Ridge Road) until you get to Stone Road

Restaurant Name: Abbotts Frozen Custard

They began in Rye, NY but they sure are big in Rochester (23 stores in the major Rochester area). And one taste will tell you why. We even get one in the dead of winter.

Frozen Custard..... what the heck is that?
It's a catchy name for whipped ice cream with a few secret ingredients added.
I have had Dairy Queen and Frosty Teddy and a few other smooth ice creams but there is only one Abbotts (Kline's in Staunton, VA is a close second). It has a unique taste and texture, a little like sweet whipped ice. Originally it was just chocolate and vanilla but nowadays you can get all kinds of flavors (pistachio even) with all kinds of toppings (even chunks of Snickers Bars).

So when you visit Rochester, look at the web page below and choose any one of the Abbotts locations and ENJOY!

Favorite Dish: I go for plain old chocolate especially on a hot day at the beach.

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Theme: Dessert
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: see website below for locations
Directions: see website below for directions and locations
Website: www.abbotscustard.com

Restaurant Name: Pelican's Nest Restaurant

This is a seasonal restaurant, open in the summer month's when there is a flow of people to the Charlotte Beach and pier area. There are indoor and outdoor tables with views of the Genesee River and Summerville across the river. The decor is typical water-theme and the staff are friendly.

The food is traditional American, meat and potatoes, salad and beer. They have a decent hamburger plate with fries and salad bar for reasonable price. For Friday fish-fry I go to another favorite restaurant so am not sure how good the Pelican's seafood is.

There is also a night crowd of thirtiers that frequent the bar.
(caution for late night drinkers..... the railroad tracks cross River Street at a shallow angle and people have been known to go down the tracks)

Favorite Dish: Burger and fries.

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Theme: American
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 566 River Street
Directions: take Lake Avenue north to the defunk Ferry parking lot and bear to the south end of the lots where you will see the restaurant signs
or take Lake Ave. north to Latta Rd then east to River Street then north to restaurant
Website: www.pelicansnestrestaurant.com

Restaurant Name: Crescent Beach Hotel

When is a Hotel not a hotel.... when it is the Crescent Beach Hotel.

About 35 years ago, the Crescent Beach Hotel was really a hotel. But then it burned to the ground and the building that arose from the ashes was a party house popular for special events (weddings, anniversaries, business events, after-the-prom parties). It became a place noted for good food and enlarged its business to be a general dining room.

The feeling of the place is still large scale: chandeliers, plush carpeting, staircases. You enter in through the large glass and white metal front doors into a foyer area that leads to the bar on one side and the entry into the dining area on the other. The feeling of old fashioned style and grace is prevelant as you walk into the huge dining hall. It is very high-ceilinged with staircases on either side leading up to more dining areas on an open second floor that overlooks the first floor area. Across the large floor space, you can see the large windows looking out onto the formal garden and dining patio which borders on the beach. In summer, there is a second bar out in the patio area.

The menu is formal and traditional favorites: duck ala' orange, surf and turf, chicken french, lobster and crab cake. The prices are a bit above the local fare (but look at where you are!).
The food is served by Emily Post waitresses and waiters who expect you to be properly attired and to have your napkin in place and use the correct fork for the salad. Everything tasted good. BUT...... for all the atmosphere and catering-to and lah-de-dah, I have had chicken french at much cheaper prices at less fancy restaurants and it tasted the same.

So if you are into fanciness for fanciness sake then you will enjoy Crescent Beach.
One time or two every few decades is enough for me.

Favorite Dish: chicken french with a large salad with thousand island dressing

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Theme: American
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Address: 1372 edgemere drive
Directions: route 104 (Ridge Road West) or Lake Ontario Parkway to Longpond Road, south to Edgemere Drive then east to the resaurant
Website: http://www.crescentbeachinn.com/

Restaurant Name: Schaller's Restaurant

This is like the Happy Days (movie/TV show) restaurant of Rochester.
They have three locations:
Irondequoit,NY http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d6398/cd193/2/
Charlotte,NY http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d6398/cc976/2/
Henrietta,NY http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d6398/cd07d/2/

Each location has a bit of local history but basically they have the same venue.
Come-as-you-are whoever you are. Eclectic customer base, everyone looking for a tasty, fast, freshly-made meal. You step up to the counter, place your order, they yell it to the chef (about 5 feet away) who has six hands making as many meals simulataneously. And by the time they ring up the cost and you get your wallet out, the helpers are putting your food on the tray. You go to the booths or the tables inside or to the picnic sets outside. You enjoy a hot, somewhat greasy steak or hamburger or italian-sausage sandwich.

Favorite Dish: I could go for a shaved beef sandwich with fries right now.

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Theme: American
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: see the individual town pages mentioned above
Directions: see the individual town pages mentioned above

Restaurant Name: DiBella's

(this is my niece's place so my opinion is definitely biased)

DiBella's submarine sandwiches are unique. The buns are a patented (or is it copyrighted) recipe and have been franchised out to places like Wegman's Supermarkets and Wendy's.

The bun flavor is mouth-watering; they are firm and chewy; the special sauces (another secret recipe) are great. They serve up maybe a dozen different meat combinations and a philly-steak sandwich that is as good as ones you get in Philadelphia.
They also have cookies and pretzels and potato chips and salads for accompaniment to your sandwich meal. And all your favorite beverages as well.

If you are in the Rochester area (or other northeast city that has a DiBella's Sub Restaurant) and you don't stop in and get one of these subs, then you will die an unhappy person (just kidding.... but they are great sandwiches)

Favorite Dish: philly-steak; hot meat and cheese and special sauce please.....

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Theme: Fast Food
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 1882 East Avenue
Directions: see website below for directions
Website: www.dibellas.com

Restaurant Name: Mario's Via Abruzzi

We had my daughter's wedding reception here and the place is so large that the rest of the customers probably didn't even know we were in the north alcove.

Fried calamari that's to die for. Crab cakes crisp on top and flakey inside. My grandmother used to make minestrone for Easter like they serve at Mario's.

This is a very upscale restaurant without any pretenses or snobbery. The owners often walk around the dining area, weekend nights, just checking things out and chatting with the customers. The staff is A-one; friendly, efficient, anticipating your needs, giving prompt service with a smile.
The decor is provencial Italian with dark woods and highlighted arches, rugs on the floor and paintings on the wall. The tables are setup so that your line of sight gives you a sense of privacy even in the open area. There are plants and pillars placed to break up the sound so you don't get all the echos of a space this large.

My wife likes the Dover Sole and I go for the Filet Mignon medium-well, light-menu-portion. Salad and rolls, pre-dinner drink, soup, entree and dessert of lemon cake with a cup of coffee. Everything is done just right and served without a rush. For all this and the ambience, you get to pay about $30 per person.

Put on your coat and tie and fill up your wallet and spend a nice evening at Mario's: "when you are there, you are family" (that's their motto)


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Theme: Italian
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Address: 2740 Monroe Avenue
Directions: I-590 to Monroe Avenue exit, then go south a block or two and see the signs.
Website: www.mariosviaabruzzi.com

Restaurant Name: Dinosaur BBQ

The old Lehigh Valley Depot, on the Genesee River, is now the newest home of one of the locally famous Dinosaur BBQ restaurants.

Their menu is filled with pork items which I have a hard time with so I generally go with the spicey beef sandwiches or the huge chicken club sandwich they have. Add a side order of paprika potatoes and a couple dill pickles and I am good to go. A nice ice cold tea to wash it all down and I can use a $20 and get change back.

They have added call-in, take-out so you can get a regular dinner to go if you are on the run.

Dinner entertainment is a given on almost every night. This fact is a pretty big drawing card for this popular restaurant. It is always busy at dinner time and it is first-come, first-served.

The clientel can seem a bit rough on some weekends (bikers love the hot stuff) but the restaurant has a good reputation and fights are few and far between.

see the website below for feeding times and the full menu.
the website also list upcoming entertainment.


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Theme: Barbecue

Address: 99 Court Street
Website: http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/

Restaurant Name: Papa John's Pizza

You are sitting in your downtown Rochester hotel room and you really don't feel like getting spruced up to go out and eat.
Well, no problem my friend; just give Papa John's a call and they'll deliver. You can even order over the internet.

27 different pizza combos. And there are usually coupons in the local newspaper that the hotel leaves at your door in the morning.
Side orders of wings or cheese sticks or chicken strips or sweet treats. A sprite or coke to wash it all down. And they can have it all at the hotel in 20 minutes.

This pizza shop has won Rochester's Best Choice Award for three years.
You can't go wrong; give them a buzz.


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Theme: Pizza

Address: 1673 East Main Street
Directions: Corner of Main Street and Culver Road
Website: www.eatpapa.com

Restaurant Name: Salenas

If you like Mexican food then you must stop in here. I am not a fan of Mexican food but my father really enjoys it here.

This family owned and operated restaurant makes all the ingredients and breads for their tortillas and burritos, by hand, fresh every day. The lunch menu features several kinds of enchiladas, tacos and burritos with optional hot sauces (enough to breathe flames).
The lunch menu items plus tostados are offered as ala carte dinner fare. The main entrees for the dinner menu are comidas and chicken breasts and combinations of ala carte items. Again they offer optional hot sauces with a flammabilty warning.

So, if you really enjoy that burning stomach and breath that is smoking and watering eyes, then you'll love this place like my dad does.

They have specials and events that run on Cinco de Mayo and Dieciseis de Septiembre as well as coupons in the advertisement section of the local papers.


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Theme: Mexican

Address: 274 North Goodman Street
Directions: in Village Gate Plaza