Best Restaurants in Rochester (2025)

A defining Rochester dining room since 2008, Good Luck pairs shareable, seasonal plates with one of the city’s most influential cocktail programs. Often cited by local critics and active in the Rochester Cocktail Revival, it’s an essential experience.

Chef Richard Reddington’s homecoming restaurant delivers polished, globally influenced plates in an airy East End space. Recognized on USA Today’s Restaurants of the Year list, it’s the city’s go-to for special-occasion dining with serious skill.

At the Public Market, Fiorella channels Italy with naturally leavened pizzas, handmade pastas, and market-driven plates. Praised by local food writers and named Best Italian by CITY Magazine readers, it feels woven into Rochester’s everyday rhythm.

Tiny, energetic, and deliciously Park Ave, Vern’s turns out sprightly salads, house pastas, and craveable pizzas alongside natural-leaning wines. Frequently praised by local critics and readers’ polls, it’s the neighborhood spot everyone talks about.

A seafood-forward stunner in the Market District, Velvet Belly serves coastal-inspired dishes, raw bar items, and playful cocktails. It reflects the city’s creative dining momentum and draws steady praise from local media and diners alike.

A lunchtime rite for generations, this German butcher-deli serves schnitzel, sauerbraten, and housemade sausages at communal tables. Celebrated by local editors for decades, it’s pure Rochester culture—tight hours, huge hospitality, and big flavor.

The city’s vegan mainstay balances comfort and freshness—think bakery case treats, hearty plates, and gluten-free options. Consistently praised by local publications, it’s where plant-based dining wins over vegans and omnivores alike.

Beloved for hand-crafted noodle bowls, dumplings, and Chinese street-food staples, Han delivers value and flavor in equal measure. A frequent pick in local best-of lists, it’s an anytime favorite with deep community roots.

A mezcal-loving Mexican restaurant near the Public Market, Bitter Honey presses its tortillas in-house and pairs tacos with a strong agave program. Local editors have highlighted it for years, and weekend nights hum with energy.

Sixteen seats, all at the bar, and a tight seafood-and-wine menu make Rella one of Rochester’s most distinctive rooms. Praised by local critics, it’s intimate, chef-driven, and perfect for oysters, chowder, and a glass of something crisp.

This playful spot helped put Detroit-style pies on the local map and earned Best Pizza honors from CITY Magazine readers. Expect craveable squares, creative toppings, and a sense of humor that’s very Rochester.