Welcome!

Welcome to the Rochester Restaurant Reviews blog!

This blog is dedicated to reviews of restaurants in Rochester, New York.

I started this blog because I want people who live in Rochester or who are visiting Rochester to know where they can find a good meal and what restaurants they should avoid.

I got tired of getting glowing recommendations from friends and family or reading a good restaurant review---only to be disappointed when I visited the restaurant myself.

I don't like bad food. I don't like bad service. And, I don't like leaving a restaurant feeling that I was ripped off, because the food wasn't what it should be, what it could be.

And, because I am a lifelong foodie in addition to being a professional chef and baker, I have high expectations when I eat out---but, shouldn't we all?

These won't be fancy schmancy, food-critic type reviews. I'm not a writer, I'm a lover of good food. I probably won't say much about the ambiance or the wine list or what the waitstaff was wearing. I'm just interested in the food and whether it's good or not. I'm going to give you the barebone facts---is it good or not? At the beginning of each restaurant review post, I'll give you the name, address and phone number of the restaurant. I'll also include a website link, if they have a website. Then, I will give a very simple rating:

• "Thumbs Up!" (A good restaurant and/or good food and worth checking out.)
• "Thumbs Down" (Don't waste your money or your calories on this one.)
• "On The Fence" (This means there are some good things and bad things about the restaurant. I'll tell you what I think, you decide if you want to try it out or not.)

There is good food to be found in Rochester. But, in my opinion, it's hard to find and the truly wonderful restaurants are few and far between. It is my goal to expose the bad ones and praise the good ones, so you, the reader, can go out to dinner, forewarned and forearmed.

Bon appetit!

Famous Dave's - Reviewed

Famous Dave's
200 Center Place Drive
663-3300

Website/Menu Link

Rating: Thumbs Down (way down!)

This restaurant CHAIN (in most cases, never trust a restaurant chain for a good meal) should be called "INfamous Dave's"!!!

One of THE WORST meals I have ever had, ever.

They say that they have "award-winning ribs" --- I can't believe that's true. Unless the panel of judges had previously lost their sense of smell and taste during some freak accident.

They told me that they do smoke and barbecue the meats on premises, but I tried to get a good look at the kitchen and I certainly could not find a smoker or a barbecue pit anywhere. I could be wrong, maybe they have cleverly disguised a barbecue pit to look like a refrigerator or something---but it sure seems to me that nothing is barbecued at the restaurant.

I tried a sampler plate, so I could try out their brisket, ribs and chicken. The meat was godawful! It tasted like lighter fluid---I am not kidding! It really tasted like lighter fluid! And, what's worse, neither I nor my dining companion could get that taste out of our mouths! It was horrible!

The side dishes weren't much better, either.

No, I cannot recommend Famous Dave's. It's not barbecue. I don't know what it is. I don't even think you could properly label it as "food."

Dinosaur Bar B Que - Reviewed

Dinosaur Bar B Que
99 Court Street
325-7090

Website and Menu Link

Rating: On The Fence

I really do like the Dinosaur Bar B Que. I do go there, on occasion, for lunch. The food is good. Their ribs and pulled pork are both outstanding. Their homemade sauce is delicious. Their side dishes are equally tasty.

I have one big reservation and the main reason I can't give Dinosaur a "thumbs up" rating: the portion size. There's just not much value for the money.

You know, down South, barbecue is all about good food and LOTS of it---big portions.

But once you cross the Mason-Dixon line, I guess, the portions start to shrink. By the time you get all the way up North to Rochester, New York, the portions have become minuscule.

What gives? If a person is going to spend $15-20 on a lunch or dinner, then they should leave the place stuffed or with a doggy-bag in hand.

The portions at Dinosaur Bar B Que are small, but the prices aren't. That's the only reason I am on the fence with this one. I do love the food.......but I can't stand small food.

Old Toad - Reviewed

Old Toad
277 Alexander Street
232-2626
Menu/Website Link

Rating: Thumbs up!

A real British pub, right here in Rochester! That's pretty much what the Old Toad is, a real British pub, plunked right down on Alexander Street.

I usually don't go to bars or bars with food when I eat out. And, I can't believe that the Old Toad has been around since 1990 and I didn't try it out until 2007. But, I'm sure glad that I finally gave it a chance.

Not only do they have a great beer selection (hey, it's a pub, you kind of expect good beer, right?), but they also have hard cider on tap, which is awesome.

But, aside from the traditional pub libations, the food is spot on! It's real British pub fare, prepared by real Brits. There's nothing "fancy" about the food, because it's pub food, duh. But, there are plenty of appetizers, sandwiches and traditional pub dishes to choose from.

If you like British-style chips (French fries), then run down to the Old Toad and order some---you won't be disappointed. If you're with friends, make them order their own chips, you won't want to share. The Bangers and Mash is also very good (British-style sausages with mashed potatoes) and a nice portion. And, if you like lamb, try the Minted Lamb Burger.

Of course, they serve Fish and Chips (oh, those wonderful chips!!!) and other traditional pub food like Toad in the Hole, Shepherd's Pie and a Yorkshire Pudding Dinner.

Check out their website for ongoing specials.

Alexandria - Reviewed

Alexandria's Mediterranean Cuisine
120 East Avenue
232-6180

Rating: Thumbs Up!

If you like Mediterranean food, then forget about Aladdin's and Sinbad's and give Alexandria's Mediterranean Cuisine a try.

I have found the food to be much fresher and much tastier than the aforementioned restaurants.

They serve the absolute best falafel I have had in Rochester. Not heavy, dry and oily, like the falafel found in most other Mediterranean restaurants in the area. Instead, they are light, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

The pitas (served on either whole wheat or white pita) and quite large (compared to other skimpy pitas I've had in town). And, they don't cut corners on the fillings. I have had the chicken pita many times and it is always filled with delicious chicken.

I haven't even tried any of their main dishes yet, simply because the appetizers and pitas are so good. But, if their main courses are as good as the food I've had so far, I'm sure they're wonderful.

If you are a meat eater and like hummus, you should definitely try the hummus that is topped with a delicately seasoned ground beef. (Sorry, can't remember the name right now!) They make the smoothest, creamiest hummus I've had locally. When it is topped with the lightly seasoned ground beef, it's appetizer heaven.

Now, I have heard many people say that the service sucks. Personally, I have not experienced bad service any of the times I've eaten there. Perhaps management caught on and hired some new people. I think even if I did experience bad service, I would still go back (or maybe get take-out), because I really do think it's the best Mediterranean food in Rochester.

Don't be deterred if you enter the restaurant and it's empty or practically empty and you're waiting around for someone to seat you---that happened to me the first time I went there. It's odd, because every single time I've been to Alexandria, there's either no one in the restaurant or just a few people. I'm sure they must have times when they are very busy, or else they wouldn't still be in business....but I've never seen a busy night yet. So, just try and be patient if no one attends to you immediately, I do feel that the food is worth the wait.

Golden Port Dim Sum - Reviewed

Golden Port Dim Sum
105 East Ave
256-1780
Menu Link

Rating: Thumbs Up!

I really like the Golden Port. It is actually one of my favorite place to eat out. Their dim sum is wonderfully delicious, hence the 4.5 stars.

In fact, it is the only place in Rochester where I will eat dim sum.

Some restaurants vary in consistency---but Golden Port is pretty consistent with their food.

Although I mainly stick to the dim sum offerings when I visit Golden Port, I have had some of their main dishes and they were all pretty good, as well.

The food usually comes out pretty quickly once you have ordered (using a method of circling items you want on a menu). And, it's hot, fresh and tasty.

The portions for the non-dim sum dishes have varied a little bit, from visit to visit. Sometimes being a little larger portion than other times. All in all, it's not a bad portion size.

My only "complaint," if you will, is that it's not particularly a "friendly" place. Don't get me wrong---the servers aren't mean or anything. It's just not a "warm and fuzzy" atmosphere, the type of place where regular customers are warmly greeted and known by name, their favorite dishes already being worked on in the kitchen, before they are even circled on the menu. You'd think that if you were a patron of a restaurant every single week, the owners or servers would make an attempt, an effort, at some sort of camaraderie.....alas, not at Golden Port.

But, that's okay.....at least the food is good! And, in the end, that's what matters most.

My favorite dim sum menu items? Roast Pork Buns (some of the best I've ever had, large and fluffy), Gold Port Veggie Rolls (fresh rolls, made with shredded carrot and jicama, plus basil leaves), Turnip Cakes, Edamame, Fried Pork Spring Rolls, Scallion Pancakes.

I also like their Kung Pao Chicken from the "Chinese Dishes" part of the menu. I am a lover of Kung Pao, and it's always how I judge every Chinese restaurant I visit. Golden Port makes a pretty good Kung Pao!

Bon appetit!