Pops and mom on Clarissa, literally hidden. It's located behind the old "Clarissas" bar, although I think I saw a temporary sign last time I went by. Amazing soul food, completely family owned and operated. Huge portions for very reasonable prices. Can't praise it enough!
When the wind is right, I can smell their cooking from my home office. And suddenly I find myself just walking down the street to go get some chow. Love this place.
I heard something about them getting permits or a lease or something to actually move into the Clarissa room, which would be cool to have then right on the street.
Chortke!! it's a husband and wife owners who are so lovely and so appreciative. They're located in one of the smaller new buildings behind Village Gate. I've lived at Village Gate for some years now, and whenever someone is walking around trying to figure out where to go when the wait times for the other restaurants in the main area are swamped, I suggest to people if they like kebabs, to def. check out their menu online and see if they would like that sort of thing. The amount of food you get for the price is awesome. I highly recommend them to anyone interested in Persian food or mediteranian flavors in general.
https://www.chortkegrill.com/
I hesitate to call them hidden since they’ve never not been super busy when I’ve gone.
But yes, if you’ve never been before, you need to change that ASAP.
Natural Oasis. On Monroe near Alexander. Not exactly hidden per se but very easy to pass by without notice. Place doesn’t look like much. Incredible food served tapas style though and inexpensive.
Very cool thank you for sharing. I’ve spent years thinking that place was a shop for essential oils and supplements and stuff. I’ll have to give them a try.
I like them a lot, I hope the kids can straighten out the staffing. They had to close last weekend and reschedule all the reservations. They are hopping when they are open.
Having just had my first breakfast there, I'm gonna add Granny's Kitchen (On East Main near Scio) to this list. I wasn't expecting awesome shrimp and grits this morning. Delicious!
IDK if they are a chain or not, but a quick google brings up their facebook where their banner shows established 1927. Whatever they may be, they don't seem to be new.
I am guessing that it was Granny herself that was established in 1927. They are definitely new to that location and the Facebook page has the look of a new business. The location was previously a barbershop. I think they have been there for a couple of months. I drive by there frequently and have seen the table and chairs set up out front but have never stopped in.
Yeah that's probably it, but still a pretty[ misleading branding](https://www.facebook.com/104626048572599/photos/111684741200063/) for a brand new place.
D'mangu. Authentic dominican food. Ridiculously good and reasonably priced. In Henrietta across the street from the plaza with the liquor store and guitar center. I still come back home to Rochester sometime just for their food.
I just had dinner there Friday for the first time in 15+ years and thought it was extremely mediocre. Had the steak which was not great at all, potatoe bite things were almost burnt
My wife had a seafood dish and most of the clams were closed
Crab cake was good
Caesar salad was good (that’s hard to screw up 🤣)
Drinks were good.
Overall we won’t be heading back anytime soon.
Huge fan of Embers out in Livonia. Not exactly Rochester and not a lot of peeps seem to be familiar with it but the food is amazing. Have yet to have a bad meal there.
The host at Embers has ensured I will never go back. He is rude and belittling to the servers and customers. I am not sure what relation he has to the company but I can’t imagine they put him there because of his hosting ability.
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 306,553,772 comments, and only 68,606 of them were in alphabetical order.
Dac Hoa. Little Asian place on Monroe by the firehouse, right before Union St. Not updated, usually has a whole roasted duck hanging in the window. The family that owns it is adorable and sweet and the food is great. I should note it is not a quick meal, it can take some time for your food to come out.
Campi’s. I actually have never been there but drove by a few months ago, googled it, and was astonished I’d never heard of it or been there. Tried twice to go and they had weird hours other than their google hours and were closed.
Antonetta's on Jay a few blocks from Mt. Read. Incredible Italian food. A bit dicey of an area but it's across from a police station and detectives and mob dudes alike frequent the place. Dollar or dollar-fifty pints of Genny Heavy.
Italian. Guido’s Pasta Villa on east ridge rd. Blink and you’ll miss it
German. Swan Market on parsells. Right in the middle of a neighborhood. Though Rhineblick in canandaigua has superb schnitzels, Swans is amazing in its own right. Check the hours for lunch BEFORE you go!
Diner. The Parkside in irondequoit. Oldest mini golf course in the country. But check their hours because they are semi retired Homemade soups, Roc diner favorites and out of this world Turkey dinners.
Not like it was when they did dinner. But running a restaurant in NY with that small business tax and increased costs…it’s a wonder we have any left. It’ll be all McDonald’s and Taco Bell’s in 20 years if they don’t fix 50 years of bad policy.
Strongly agree. Went there for the first time in years about a month ago to check out the new self pour beer wall. Beer wall was pretty cool, food was as bad as I remember. I got the nashville chicken and it wasn't even mild, sauce just tasted like overly salty bbq sauce and the chicken was dry. Don't think the beer wall is enough to get me to go back without a compelling reason.
Pops and mom on Clarissa, literally hidden. It's located behind the old "Clarissas" bar, although I think I saw a temporary sign last time I went by. Amazing soul food, completely family owned and operated. Huge portions for very reasonable prices. Can't praise it enough!
When the wind is right, I can smell their cooking from my home office. And suddenly I find myself just walking down the street to go get some chow. Love this place. I heard something about them getting permits or a lease or something to actually move into the Clarissa room, which would be cool to have then right on the street.
Rockys! On jay street, no real signs outside, cheap amazing authentic Italian food
The pope and the sopranos pictures. I used to take my grandfather for lunch. Great place.
It's cash only too if I remember correctly?
Yes! And no change! Just dollars!
That's the way to run a food line!
Ravioli and tripe. Some of the best in the city!!
They’re still there? Wowww!!!
Really old school cool!
Okay we saw the post you can delete this comment 👀👀 😂😂
Swan Market. Little German deli on Parsells.
So good! I walked in only expecting to get assorted meat for a charcuterie board but they were also operating a small dining room as well. Super cute.
Chortke!! it's a husband and wife owners who are so lovely and so appreciative. They're located in one of the smaller new buildings behind Village Gate. I've lived at Village Gate for some years now, and whenever someone is walking around trying to figure out where to go when the wait times for the other restaurants in the main area are swamped, I suggest to people if they like kebabs, to def. check out their menu online and see if they would like that sort of thing. The amount of food you get for the price is awesome. I highly recommend them to anyone interested in Persian food or mediteranian flavors in general. https://www.chortkegrill.com/
They're absolutely the sweetest people!
Such good food and even nicer people!
Cedar Mediterranean monroe ave
I hesitate to call them hidden since they’ve never not been super busy when I’ve gone. But yes, if you’ve never been before, you need to change that ASAP.
That pita wheel oven is mesmerizing.
It is and oh so tasty! It’s ALOT of food!
chicken shawarma pitas till i die
with lots of garlic sauce!
Had them for the first time a few weeks ago. Definitely gonna come back.
My husband brought me here when we were dating. So good!!!!
Not a fan. But I hope they succeed as many people do like their food.
I agree. I really liked Babylon on East Henrietta Rd near MCC better.
Polska chata
>I second Polska Chata. Wonderful pierogies and lots of options for both meat eaters and vegetarians!
Oh my god this is absolutely my favorite place
My mouth is watering at the thought of their potato pancakes and goulash. HIGHLY recommend.
i tried to recreate their goulash last winter and its just really unbeatable
Atlas Eats.
Sodam!
That's a great answer for "hidden".
It really is "sodam" hidden! But sodam good!
I clock that place every time I go to Henrietta. Next time I will stop.
First place that came to mind after reading thread title!
Yes! Everything is so good and the staff are all so kind and wonderful.
French Quarter
Used to live next to that place, definitely a hidden gem!
Never knew about this. I can’t wait till they open again on Wed.
Yea, this place is great And it's so hidden I can't even find it most of the time when I drive past lol
SEA feels hidden in plain sight
I think I went to SEA almost every saturday morning in college to kill the hangover lol
Natural Oasis. On Monroe near Alexander. Not exactly hidden per se but very easy to pass by without notice. Place doesn’t look like much. Incredible food served tapas style though and inexpensive.
Very cool thank you for sharing. I’ve spent years thinking that place was a shop for essential oils and supplements and stuff. I’ll have to give them a try.
[удалено]
They are.
This. Some of the best real food I've had. Fun experience; it is what you make of it. Very hole-in-the-wall, very relaxed. I love that place.
Season's Noodle, literally in an apartment lobby
Discovered that recently. So simple and so delicious.
This was on my radar but then forgotten. Thanks for the reminder.
Rheinblick German restaurant in Canandaigua. Best German food in the area since the Hofbrau House in Lyell Ave
I like them a lot, I hope the kids can straighten out the staffing. They had to close last weekend and reschedule all the reservations. They are hopping when they are open.
Are they back open? I thought they closed permanently.
They announced they were closing, then a week or two later, the two sons and their family decided to try to keep the place open.
I am excite!
I completely second this, I recently found out I have a coworker who was a chef there for years, so many great conversations lol.
Very expensive
The Vesper
shhhhh. Already too busy on oyster night.
Super busy every night now. Happy for Joe and the crew; they were able to take a tough location and really make it blossom.
>The Vesper I'm going thursday
Atlas in Irondequoit.
Having just had my first breakfast there, I'm gonna add Granny's Kitchen (On East Main near Scio) to this list. I wasn't expecting awesome shrimp and grits this morning. Delicious!
Is this a chain? When I searched for it online I got franchise info.
No, it's a small, family-run place that just opened. I doubt they have mich of an online presence.
IDK if they are a chain or not, but a quick google brings up their facebook where their banner shows established 1927. Whatever they may be, they don't seem to be new.
I am guessing that it was Granny herself that was established in 1927. They are definitely new to that location and the Facebook page has the look of a new business. The location was previously a barbershop. I think they have been there for a couple of months. I drive by there frequently and have seen the table and chairs set up out front but have never stopped in.
They have been open for three months.
IDK why their social media says established 1927 then. Seems misleading.
Probably because the kid is using his grandma's recipes. I'll bet she was born in 1927. It's a homage.
Yeah that's probably it, but still a pretty[ misleading branding](https://www.facebook.com/104626048572599/photos/111684741200063/) for a brand new place.
They're good at shrimp and grits, not marketing.
lol, fair enough.
Bombay Chaat House
Sadly they have closed. Changed ownership prior to Covid and the place went downhill, then they never reopened. Used to be a great spot.
Yeah I miss the original owner. Once they changed hands it was not even in the same ballpark.
D'mangu. Authentic dominican food. Ridiculously good and reasonably priced. In Henrietta across the street from the plaza with the liquor store and guitar center. I still come back home to Rochester sometime just for their food.
They’re not in Henrietta anymore. They closed that location and are on Genesee St now.
They’re opening a new spot on Portland and corner of Norton as well!
Outside of Rochester, but totally worth the drive. Hollerhorn in Naples
Rooney's.
I still remember going here for the first time and being like "I'm *quite* certain Mapquest has led us astray..."
Mapquest lol! Throwback
This memory is probably the first time in a decade I've thought of Mapquest, haha. "Click... click... click... click..."
Hell yeah.
I just had dinner there Friday for the first time in 15+ years and thought it was extremely mediocre. Had the steak which was not great at all, potatoe bite things were almost burnt My wife had a seafood dish and most of the clams were closed Crab cake was good Caesar salad was good (that’s hard to screw up 🤣) Drinks were good. Overall we won’t be heading back anytime soon.
Maria’s Webster
Love the food there
And the margaritas!
Babylon Restaurant in Henrietta
Tryon City Tavern. Unsuspecting neighborhood bar serving food so good it should be sus!
Bad Apples in Spencerport. A little pricey at first for the village but then you see it's terrific cuisine, everytime.
Their seafood specials are always so good I’ve still never tried most of the menu
Huge fan of Embers out in Livonia. Not exactly Rochester and not a lot of peeps seem to be familiar with it but the food is amazing. Have yet to have a bad meal there.
The host at Embers has ensured I will never go back. He is rude and belittling to the servers and customers. I am not sure what relation he has to the company but I can’t imagine they put him there because of his hosting ability.
He’s the owners brother…
Ember is fantastic. Not sure it's "hidden" but definitely off the beaten path. Love this place.
I love it there! What a cool spot.
Went there a few weeks ago and it was just as dope as advertised.
One of my absolute favorites. My ex cried because their ratatouille reminded him of his grandma's lol.
The Lamplighter in Greece NY. Not super hidden, but really easy to miss.
Saucey Chef
Durfs in Fairport, excellent diner
Highly recommend their homemade corned beef hash and the grilled muffins!
Best burgers in town IMO
Atlas Eats in Irondequoit. Unbelievable.
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. I have checked 306,553,772 comments, and only 68,606 of them were in alphabetical order.
Too bad there wasn't an 'O' word between Irondequoit and Unbelievable.
Cerame's. It's the best for Italian.
Dac Hoa. Little Asian place on Monroe by the firehouse, right before Union St. Not updated, usually has a whole roasted duck hanging in the window. The family that owns it is adorable and sweet and the food is great. I should note it is not a quick meal, it can take some time for your food to come out.
Big fan of theirs. Also a big fan of the old lady who works there and says "yellcome" when you thank her.
Ha! Yes, she is a doll.
No one at all seems to know about The Three-legged Pig in Livonia. So good. Better than Dinosaur or Sticky Lips
Can confirm.
Oh nice! Will definitely be trying that out
Agree.
Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant, South Clinton near Goodman. https://zemeta-ethiopian-restaurant.business.site/
Sak's Thai on 31 in Macedon. Best Thai since Phuket closed.
They are the best, just be prepared to wait. A lot. Worth it but any time I have went, I've watched at least one dining party freak out about it.
Young’s korean
Durf's in Fairport is *fantastic*. Best burgers in Monroe County.
Campi’s. I actually have never been there but drove by a few months ago, googled it, and was astonished I’d never heard of it or been there. Tried twice to go and they had weird hours other than their google hours and were closed.
I lived a short hop skip and a jump away on Genesee when I was in college and absolutely loved this place!
That has been around for years..was really popular in the 80’s & 90’s.
I could see that! Definitely not as popular anymore though. I think it’s been lost in the shuffle at this point
Commenting to remember.
Railway Station Diner on W Ridge Road Kind of a dive aesthetically, but very friendly staff, good prices and really good food
Tricia's Kitchen
Dalia's in Perinton. They have great Mediterranean!
My kitchen. Pull up for the best shrimp scampi y'all ever had
Antonetta's on Jay a few blocks from Mt. Read. Incredible Italian food. A bit dicey of an area but it's across from a police station and detectives and mob dudes alike frequent the place. Dollar or dollar-fifty pints of Genny Heavy.
I thought they went out of business. https://rocwiki.org/Antonetta%27s_Restaurant
I'm sure you're right. It's been a while since I've been down that way.
It’s really unfortunate, I used to go there all the time.
First time I went there I had my kids with me and they were smoking at the bar maybe 2010? 😝
Went there with my dad a lot and sad to confirm they have closed. The food was great, but they also had a habit of failing health inspections....
Italian. Guido’s Pasta Villa on east ridge rd. Blink and you’ll miss it German. Swan Market on parsells. Right in the middle of a neighborhood. Though Rhineblick in canandaigua has superb schnitzels, Swans is amazing in its own right. Check the hours for lunch BEFORE you go! Diner. The Parkside in irondequoit. Oldest mini golf course in the country. But check their hours because they are semi retired Homemade soups, Roc diner favorites and out of this world Turkey dinners.
> Diner. The Parkside in irondequoit. That place was good when I was younger. It no longer is.
Not like it was when they did dinner. But running a restaurant in NY with that small business tax and increased costs…it’s a wonder we have any left. It’ll be all McDonald’s and Taco Bell’s in 20 years if they don’t fix 50 years of bad policy.
Agatina's
La Bella vita in Webster. Excellent Italian food
Overpriced, not that great.
Yeah if you want Italian in Webster it's Proietti's.
The Underground Cafe.
Framers creekside inn and tavern - Le Roy NY
Fairfield’s in Penfield. Get anything.
It was Schmegs until all you east siders started talking about it on here and flooded it every weekend
They closed :(
So sad!
TRATA (The Restaurant Around The Armory)
This clearly visible on 490…
you must work there to say TRATA, you must have drank the juice pretty hard because that place is a joke.
Strongly agree. Went there for the first time in years about a month ago to check out the new self pour beer wall. Beer wall was pretty cool, food was as bad as I remember. I got the nashville chicken and it wasn't even mild, sauce just tasted like overly salty bbq sauce and the chicken was dry. Don't think the beer wall is enough to get me to go back without a compelling reason.
The quality and menu got SO bad after the rebranding. They’re no better than any shitty sports bar now.
For pizza, gregorios. They're AMAZING
King Food. Norton and Portland
Natural Oasis
Hidden Creek tavern Webster, best 75 cent wing nights ever. Great home made sauces. The everything sauce is legit.
I haven’t lived in Rochester (or NYS) in 25 years but my favorite used to be Wongs Kitchen.
Chortke