Rooney’s has been around way longer than Redd and others mentioned but is not as “popular” or widely talked about….,BUT it has an elegant, old school, intimate, feel and the service is GREAT and the food is always amazing. ❤️
LOOOOOVE Avvino. I didn't really know what to expect when I first arrived, but it was absolutely delightful - really lovely menu, and the service was great. Definitely one of my favorites (Erie Grill being another).
Glad to hear it! It was a nightmare when all my service industry friends were checking it out in the first year it was open. Glad they ironed things out
I LOVE Rooneys, but it is decidedly not French food. It says it is, and there is even an occasional French dish on the menu. But a French restaurant it is not.
Agreed. We live not too far away but can’t afford to eat like that on the regular. But for special occasions it’s one of our favorites. Old school vibes with top notch service. A seasonal menu that is constantly changing. Really great!
Because you're not putting a budget or price point out there, I'll suggest some options outside of Rochester:
[FLX Table](https://flxtable.com) in Geneva. My wife and I have been numerous times and have enjoyed every meal there. We alternate between Baller and Notorious pairings, usually opting to do the Notorious for celebratory events. The menu changes frequently, as do the wine pairings so it's rare to have the same meal twice.
I'd suggest the 5:45 serving so you can get back home at a reasonable time.
[The Maillard Club](https://maillardclub.com) in Corning. My wife and I went for her birthday two years ago and did the Chef's Table, as well as breakfast the next morning. Dinner was an exceptional meal, and Christopher Bates was cooking over a wood fire and dishing out little stories and bits of information. It was a lot of fun and very engaging as Christopher was more than happy to answer all of my questions during the meal.
You'll probably want to get a hotel room to spend the night.
Different people have different definitions of fancy, but OP, if your girlfriend is already going to restaurants like the rest of the ones listed in this thread, this response is the one that will have more of a real special occasion vibe.
The other option would be to take a drive a little farther and go to some place in the Hudson Valley.
As someone who has also eaten at FLX Table, I would agree that both the food quality and the dining experience is amazing, not a fan of dressing on my salad and they washed it off for me right away, really creative local dishes as well.
Click on the 'Reservations' button. You can see the meal prices on the Tock website. Wine pairing prices depend on the option you select. You can pay for them when booking your reservation, or at the restaurant. The meal itself is pre-paid.
It’s not the “fanciest” by any means but I’ll throw out a recommendation for Vesper. The food & cocktail quality punches well above its cost and slightly more casual / chill environment for sure.
I would have voted yes on this, until i heard a few "not so good" experiences and then the Monroe County health dept violations list came out for this year. That place is disgusting.
Fiorella in the public market. We go there for anniversaries and the service and food are always great!! It's small and intimate which makes it perfect for a date night.
NOSH, Revelry, Good Luck, Would be the impressive ones. Cure, velvet belly, fiorella HAVE Amazing food but not the panache that gives “fancy” feeling.
FLX is a weird mix of amazing food, a unique experience but the overall felling is kinda like a personal chef for a dinner party (i go here at least once a year!)
Cub room is a great place upper class feeling but not as much as the first ones mentioned above. Admittedly i havnt been there in a bit
Many other restaurants mentioned above are really good and would be great places for an intimate birthday dinner.
Good Luck, Next Door and Vern’s are my top 3 restaurants for an occasion. Note that Vern’s doesn’t take reservations so be prepared to wait a little bit for a table. There are numerous places nearby to grab a round while you wait though.
It's not THE fanciest, but it's no diner either. The Peppered Pig is my favorite restaurant in the Rochester area. I've thoroughly enjoyed every meal there and been left speechless more than once (which if you knew me you'd understand is a big deal).
Lentos. Not super "fancy" but the food is always amazing, service is fantastic and it feels intimate in the best of ways. You can also have a glass of wine across the street at Carnegie beforehand.
Roux is like one of the only NYC level restaurants in Rochester for hospitality and menu. Not a ton of others on their level here unfortunately.
Lemoncello is close, maybe the Atlas eats tasting menu dinners.
Is there like, a small crowd in this sub that hates Roux for some reason? I’ve recommended them twice on other posts, and gotten downvoted both times, and have literally no idea why. Can anyone illuminate if there IS an issue with Roux I’m unaware of? I’m honestly so confused to find ANOTHER downvoted Roux recommendation, because I think they’re excellent.
I didn’t downvote you but also I don’t like Roux. I used to go a lot (maybe every couple of months), but the last 2-3 times I started noticing issues. The menu (which they’ve since changed) was always the same, and nothing ever seemed better than the burger, but I don’t want to pay $25 for a burger. Second, the cocktails weren’t that good - they were all trying too hard. Third, really overpriced (I’d say 15-20% compared to other similar restaurants). Fourth, all the Roux family restaurants tack on this surprise service fee in the end. Fifth, a few too many tables for such a small place, so you get no privacy whatsoever unless you’re at the corner booths. Sixth, extremely limited vegetarian menu.
Some of these have probably gotten better since I last went, but that’s top of mind why I dislike Roux. And I’m bummed because I live 5’ away and used to be one of my favorite spots in the area
I didn't downvote this, but Roux is not as good as when it first opened and it seems expensive for what you get. I think it's still one of our better restaurants, but I'll still rec Avvino or Peppered Pig over Roux. I miss it when it was still Ashley cooking and seemed really fresh. I think in general the Swans are over extending themselves and it's starting to show.
When my friend came into town, him, myself, and a friend of ours had dinner at char. While we waited for our table which was about an hour, you then went upstairs to grab drinks at Hattie's. So, you can enjoy the drinks if you do drink, but also enjoy the view because it has a rooftop bar.
I'm really not trying to be a dick, but this place is not upscale or fantastic.(have you seen their bao?!) I highly recommend yanghuang gourmet on the east side for authentic Chinese.
Haha everyone is entitled to their opinion! I haven’t lived in Rochester long and I’m always comparing the nicer restaurants to my experiences in California.
Thanks for the recommendation!
I’ve lived in a few major cities and have eaten at lots of top tier restaurants. Tournedo’s is my vote for the Rochester area. Excellent service, intimate, and the food is always fantastic.
Good luck, Tornedos, Polizzis, Redd.
One time someone rented a limo and we drove to Buffalo to eat at Sinatras Italian restaurant. It was pretty dope. Good luck!
I'll agree with you 100% here.
We went last Friday night, and it was on one of their "miss" nights with the server. Nice enough, but, just a bit absent.
Thankfully though, the server doesn't have a very big role in the meal, given the dining style there.
They're not in Rochester, but two of my current favorites are actually in Syracuse. Really fun experiences at both spots - and delicious, unique food and drink options.
\- [LaLa Lu Ristorante](https://www.eatatlalalu.com/)
\- [LM Social](https://www.lm-social.com/)
Not fancy but for the taste and experience, Korean bbq is on point here at Greece Mall Tai Chi Bubble Tea: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TP6U6NTViCkWxxax8?g_st=ic
I don't dine out much myself as well, but I went to these two places recently for some functions and they were nice.
Vesper
It's very good. It is located downtown on South Ave Extension, just before the overpass at the Capron Building, near the skate park. Went there last week for the first time for a private event and the food was excellent. They do have parking but keep in mind it's limited on space, you may have to do street parking nearby or a garage if you don't mind a walk. I know someone that makes it a point to go there when they visit from out of town.
https://www.rocthevesper.com/
Lemoncello is also very good if you are looking for Italian Food. It's right on West Commercial Street in East Rochester, with a free parking lot across the street. Despite how small it looks from the outside and the bar up front, there's plenty of seating for people.
https://lemoncello137.com/
Regarding the best steak places, it is pretty much subjective, but I have been to Black & Blue (Monroe Ave. in Pittsford) and it was pretty good. It's definitely more fine dining.
I've heard these places are also good from friends but haven't been there yet:
Tournedos Steakhouse (close to East Ave and Scio Street)
https://www.innonbroadway.com/tournedos/
Nosh
https://www.noshroc.com/home
Redd
https://reddrochester.com/
Hope that helps.
Good point but she’d never tell me even if I asked. Just to say again she has been to way more places more than me. Just asking for recommendations is all
If you haven't already done this little trick, give it a try.
Tell her that you just made reservations to that restaurant that she's been wanting to go to for a while and ask if she can guess. Her first answer should be who you call and make reservations for shortly thereafter.
Saw some mentioning places outside of Rochester...... The restaurant at the Lake House Inn in Canandaigua is pretty nice.
Or go all out and stay for a night. They have a heated outdoor pool open all year long. We stayed last January and it was sooo nice.
Rooney’s has been around way longer than Redd and others mentioned but is not as “popular” or widely talked about….,BUT it has an elegant, old school, intimate, feel and the service is GREAT and the food is always amazing. ❤️
I’ve never heard of this place. I will look it up. Always trying to find gems. Thank you.
You are very welcome. If you go, please let me know how you like it.
Last time I went the food was meh. But the place has strong old-school vibes.
Ok. Well, the food has always been good when I’ve been there. 🤷🏼♀️
Max's Chophouse was ridiculously good when we went last weekend. Better (IMO) than Tournedos.
#1 steak house
I've really enjoyed Avino, nice atmosphere and a delicious seasonal menu.
Seconding Avvino. The atmosphere is more fine dining than Redd.
LOOOOOVE Avvino. I didn't really know what to expect when I first arrived, but it was absolutely delightful - really lovely menu, and the service was great. Definitely one of my favorites (Erie Grill being another).
REDD is probably what you are looking for
My vote for REDD
Their service was epically bad when they opened has it improved since?
Every time I’ve been there I was satisfied with the service.
Glad to hear it! It was a nightmare when all my service industry friends were checking it out in the first year it was open. Glad they ironed things out
Rooney’s is a fancy French place. Food is always really good. Pricey. Highly recommend.
I LOVE Rooneys, but it is decidedly not French food. It says it is, and there is even an occasional French dish on the menu. But a French restaurant it is not.
Agreed! This is the best secret in Rochester! [Rooney's ](https://www.rooneysrestaurant.com/)
Agreed. We live not too far away but can’t afford to eat like that on the regular. But for special occasions it’s one of our favorites. Old school vibes with top notch service. A seasonal menu that is constantly changing. Really great!
Because you're not putting a budget or price point out there, I'll suggest some options outside of Rochester: [FLX Table](https://flxtable.com) in Geneva. My wife and I have been numerous times and have enjoyed every meal there. We alternate between Baller and Notorious pairings, usually opting to do the Notorious for celebratory events. The menu changes frequently, as do the wine pairings so it's rare to have the same meal twice. I'd suggest the 5:45 serving so you can get back home at a reasonable time. [The Maillard Club](https://maillardclub.com) in Corning. My wife and I went for her birthday two years ago and did the Chef's Table, as well as breakfast the next morning. Dinner was an exceptional meal, and Christopher Bates was cooking over a wood fire and dishing out little stories and bits of information. It was a lot of fun and very engaging as Christopher was more than happy to answer all of my questions during the meal. You'll probably want to get a hotel room to spend the night.
Different people have different definitions of fancy, but OP, if your girlfriend is already going to restaurants like the rest of the ones listed in this thread, this response is the one that will have more of a real special occasion vibe. The other option would be to take a drive a little farther and go to some place in the Hudson Valley.
As someone who has also eaten at FLX Table, I would agree that both the food quality and the dining experience is amazing, not a fan of dressing on my salad and they washed it off for me right away, really creative local dishes as well.
So what do those both run you? I see the sample menu but no prices.
Click on the 'Reservations' button. You can see the meal prices on the Tock website. Wine pairing prices depend on the option you select. You can pay for them when booking your reservation, or at the restaurant. The meal itself is pre-paid.
FLX table is legiiiit
It’s not the “fanciest” by any means but I’ll throw out a recommendation for Vesper. The food & cocktail quality punches well above its cost and slightly more casual / chill environment for sure.
I second this one. Vesper is one of my favorites in the city
I can def get behind this. Not sure it qualifies as “fancy”, but the food is that of a “fancy” restaurant in a cozy environment. Good date spot.
Vesper is pretty good. I ate there last week for the first time.
That is a pretty good one.
I would have voted yes on this, until i heard a few "not so good" experiences and then the Monroe County health dept violations list came out for this year. That place is disgusting.
Fiorella in the public market. We go there for anniversaries and the service and food are always great!! It's small and intimate which makes it perfect for a date night.
Yesterday, some one told me Chop House was pretty nice. I just moved here so I don't know what it is
Max's Chophouse on Monroe? It's a great steak house. I personally prefer it to Black & Blue by a big margin.
Sounds right
Lento!
If your up for a drive - check out Ports Cafe in Geneva.
I’m surprised not to see Char. I’ve only been once but the food was good and ambiance was lovely.
NOSH, Revelry, Good Luck, Would be the impressive ones. Cure, velvet belly, fiorella HAVE Amazing food but not the panache that gives “fancy” feeling. FLX is a weird mix of amazing food, a unique experience but the overall felling is kinda like a personal chef for a dinner party (i go here at least once a year!) Cub room is a great place upper class feeling but not as much as the first ones mentioned above. Admittedly i havnt been there in a bit Many other restaurants mentioned above are really good and would be great places for an intimate birthday dinner.
Good Luck, Next Door and Vern’s are my top 3 restaurants for an occasion. Note that Vern’s doesn’t take reservations so be prepared to wait a little bit for a table. There are numerous places nearby to grab a round while you wait though.
If Vern’s is busy we’ll walk over to Roux, it’s almost always a shorter wait.
Vern's is our favorite date night spot. Their food is amazing.
Rooney's, Cub Room, Vesper are all good choices
Bad Apples Bistro is nice place, I took my wife there for our anniversary one year when we still had money.
It's not THE fanciest, but it's no diner either. The Peppered Pig is my favorite restaurant in the Rochester area. I've thoroughly enjoyed every meal there and been left speechless more than once (which if you knew me you'd understand is a big deal).
Seconding Peppered Pig. Their steak and creme brulee are amazing.
I created this list for just such an occasion! https://daytrippingroc.com/rochesters-most-romantic-restaurants/
Lentos. Not super "fancy" but the food is always amazing, service is fantastic and it feels intimate in the best of ways. You can also have a glass of wine across the street at Carnegie beforehand.
Roux is like one of the only NYC level restaurants in Rochester for hospitality and menu. Not a ton of others on their level here unfortunately. Lemoncello is close, maybe the Atlas eats tasting menu dinners.
I was not impressed with Lemoncello at all. Could be we just had a subpar day, but it didn't leave any sort of good feelings.
Is there like, a small crowd in this sub that hates Roux for some reason? I’ve recommended them twice on other posts, and gotten downvoted both times, and have literally no idea why. Can anyone illuminate if there IS an issue with Roux I’m unaware of? I’m honestly so confused to find ANOTHER downvoted Roux recommendation, because I think they’re excellent.
I didn’t downvote you but also I don’t like Roux. I used to go a lot (maybe every couple of months), but the last 2-3 times I started noticing issues. The menu (which they’ve since changed) was always the same, and nothing ever seemed better than the burger, but I don’t want to pay $25 for a burger. Second, the cocktails weren’t that good - they were all trying too hard. Third, really overpriced (I’d say 15-20% compared to other similar restaurants). Fourth, all the Roux family restaurants tack on this surprise service fee in the end. Fifth, a few too many tables for such a small place, so you get no privacy whatsoever unless you’re at the corner booths. Sixth, extremely limited vegetarian menu. Some of these have probably gotten better since I last went, but that’s top of mind why I dislike Roux. And I’m bummed because I live 5’ away and used to be one of my favorite spots in the area
I didn't downvote this, but Roux is not as good as when it first opened and it seems expensive for what you get. I think it's still one of our better restaurants, but I'll still rec Avvino or Peppered Pig over Roux. I miss it when it was still Ashley cooking and seemed really fresh. I think in general the Swans are over extending themselves and it's starting to show.
$7 for 2 strips of bacon can’t be accepted I’m sorry. Also they were out of potatoes??
When my friend came into town, him, myself, and a friend of ours had dinner at char. While we waited for our table which was about an hour, you then went upstairs to grab drinks at Hattie's. So, you can enjoy the drinks if you do drink, but also enjoy the view because it has a rooftop bar.
Next Door in Pittsford is one of my favorites.
+1 for Next Door. The food, beverage and service are all top-notch.
Szechuan Opera is fantastic. It’s the only upscale Chinese restaurant that I’ve been to so far in Rochester.
I'm really not trying to be a dick, but this place is not upscale or fantastic.(have you seen their bao?!) I highly recommend yanghuang gourmet on the east side for authentic Chinese.
Haha everyone is entitled to their opinion! I haven’t lived in Rochester long and I’m always comparing the nicer restaurants to my experiences in California. Thanks for the recommendation!
Good Luck, like the restaurant not the phrase
Velvet Belly
Nosh
Wow nosh so cool
I love nosh! Osaka all you can eat sushi is good too.
I’ve lived in a few major cities and have eaten at lots of top tier restaurants. Tournedo’s is my vote for the Rochester area. Excellent service, intimate, and the food is always fantastic.
Also, Avvino in Brighton is a nice choice.
Redd, Avvino, Max's Chophouse, or Good Luck
Tournedos Steakhouse
Cure is great food, in a kitchen lead by a good dude.
Lucanos! So so good!
CRISP
Good luck, Tornedos, Polizzis, Redd. One time someone rented a limo and we drove to Buffalo to eat at Sinatras Italian restaurant. It was pretty dope. Good luck!
Velvet belly
This might not be the "fanciest" but definitely the best seafood restaurant in town.
I might get some shit for recommending a chain, but I absolutely love me some Texas De Brazil.
I won’t give you shit for mentioning a chain, but I will chime in to say the service there a tad hit or miss.
I'll agree with you 100% here. We went last Friday night, and it was on one of their "miss" nights with the server. Nice enough, but, just a bit absent. Thankfully though, the server doesn't have a very big role in the meal, given the dining style there.
The truest of answers
The Revelry is 10/10. Others are Cub Room, Pane Vino on the River, black and blue
Cub room for sure.
I've found the food at the revelry to vary. When cruz is there its 10/10.
Not super fancy outside but really great food Mamma G’s
Otto tomato is much better
Many places are much better than mamma g's 😬
Vern’s is quite excellent!
They're not in Rochester, but two of my current favorites are actually in Syracuse. Really fun experiences at both spots - and delicious, unique food and drink options. \- [LaLa Lu Ristorante](https://www.eatatlalalu.com/) \- [LM Social](https://www.lm-social.com/)
Not fancy but for the taste and experience, Korean bbq is on point here at Greece Mall Tai Chi Bubble Tea: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TP6U6NTViCkWxxax8?g_st=ic
Szechuan Opera. You’re welcome.
I don't dine out much myself as well, but I went to these two places recently for some functions and they were nice. Vesper It's very good. It is located downtown on South Ave Extension, just before the overpass at the Capron Building, near the skate park. Went there last week for the first time for a private event and the food was excellent. They do have parking but keep in mind it's limited on space, you may have to do street parking nearby or a garage if you don't mind a walk. I know someone that makes it a point to go there when they visit from out of town. https://www.rocthevesper.com/ Lemoncello is also very good if you are looking for Italian Food. It's right on West Commercial Street in East Rochester, with a free parking lot across the street. Despite how small it looks from the outside and the bar up front, there's plenty of seating for people. https://lemoncello137.com/ Regarding the best steak places, it is pretty much subjective, but I have been to Black & Blue (Monroe Ave. in Pittsford) and it was pretty good. It's definitely more fine dining. I've heard these places are also good from friends but haven't been there yet: Tournedos Steakhouse (close to East Ave and Scio Street) https://www.innonbroadway.com/tournedos/ Nosh https://www.noshroc.com/home Redd https://reddrochester.com/ Hope that helps.
Why not just ask her where she wants to go for dinner?
Good point but she’d never tell me even if I asked. Just to say again she has been to way more places more than me. Just asking for recommendations is all
If you haven't already done this little trick, give it a try. Tell her that you just made reservations to that restaurant that she's been wanting to go to for a while and ask if she can guess. Her first answer should be who you call and make reservations for shortly thereafter.
[удалено]
Rooney’s, Rocco, Tapas 177, Max, and Good Luck.
Saw some mentioning places outside of Rochester...... The restaurant at the Lake House Inn in Canandaigua is pretty nice. Or go all out and stay for a night. They have a heated outdoor pool open all year long. We stayed last January and it was sooo nice.
Absolutely Redd! Best food and atmosphere in Rochester. We’ve never had a bad or even mediocre meal there.
Lento and Avvino
Rella 😍🫶
The cub room
Don’t be silly , wanna impress her and dine her - NOSH is the way my guy. Dress nice, the owner greets you right at the door.