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!

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!