Branca Midtown

Italian restaurant · Rochester

Branca Midtown

Italian restaurant · Rochester

1

280 E Broad St #100, Rochester, NY 14604

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Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null
Branca Midtown by null

Highlights

Pizza, cocktails, spinach pasta, and grilled octopus served  

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280 E Broad St #100, Rochester, NY 14604 Get directions

brancamidtown.com
@brancamidtown

$1–10 · Menu

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280 E Broad St #100, Rochester, NY 14604 Get directions

+1 585 434 5243
brancamidtown.com
@brancamidtown

$1–10 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 28, 2025

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Modern Italian downtown: house-made pastas, fresh cheeses, and a sharp cocktail and Italian wine program. The restaurant notes its role in the area’s resurgence, and locals love the polished yet lively vibe.

https://www.brancamidtown.com/about-us
Italian Restaurants in Rochester (2025)
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Andrea

Google
Came here after a 12 hour shift on a work trip and it absolutely hit. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the spinach pasta I ordered but I was really pleasantly surprised it was really good I demolished that. My coworker said his pizza was fire too. Good vibes, would definitely recommend if you’re in Rochester.

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Google
My wife and I met friends here for dinner. Not our 1st time, not our last either! I highly recommend trying the grilled Octopus 🐙 I had the Ribeye, my wife always orders the pizza! Great evening, super nice staff all around.

Rob Reed

Google
Incredible flavor and texture, European portions. Their cocktails are inventive and tasty. Other options in the plaza if you're looking for a date night really round out it's location too.

Jan Prescott

Google
Everything we ordered was delicious. Two of the walls were mostly windows and we enjoyed the views. The servers were very attentive and friendly.

Sana A

Google
Amazing restaurant with a gentle atmosphere. Staff was friendly and attentive and food was delicious. Highly recommend the Mushroom Pizza, it was incredible!

Amanda El

Google
I seriously loved this hip and pretty little spot. We came in last minute with no reservation and were able to sit at the bar. Service from the bartender was excellent, as were the cocktails, the wine selection, and the truly excellent food. Would love to come back and definitely want to check out their sister restaurant that's opening across the way. Manager checked in on us a couple of times as well. Great service and overall experience

Layla Tabatabaie

Google
Broccolini, ricotta (ask for honey and more bread), calamari, and Chicken Milanese was delicious. Would definitely get again and will be back for these. Meatballs were super salty and we were already 2 drinks in. Pizza and dessert was just ok and probably wouldn’t reorder.

Jeremy Kumin

Google
I visited this restaurant as part of a large group for a business dinner. So we had a private area all for ourselves. There were at least 2 and maybe more servers dedicated to us. We were a group of 20, not east, and they did a fantastic job. The atmosphere was warm and inviting but also very classy. I enjoyed a number of really delicious starters shared amongst the table. I think my favorite was the smashed fingerling potatoes. For a main, Chicken Milese was delicious, maybe a little too crunchy in spots, but compared to the taste and presentation that was minor. I'd definitely go back.
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Michael H.

Yelp
Normally when I leave reviews, I love to leave pictures... this place was so good, I couldn't resist eating right away and completely forgot to. This is by far the best quality dinner my partner and I have had in the Rochester area in a long time. I had the gnocchi (add italian sausage) and he had the Orecchiette. Both dishes had spectacular flavor, the perfect balance of spicy and savory, and you could tell the team there puts time and attention into each dish they push out of their kitchen. If you're looking for an upscale-casual date night destination in the heart of ROC, this place is THE spot!
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Frank D.

Yelp
First time at Branca and won't return anytime soon. The good. Our servers were very friendly and we loved the atmosphere. The food, not so much. The meatballs had way too much salt. My wife's rigatoni was so spicy it was barely edible. My entree was the spinach pasta...incredibly bland. Very disappointing.
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Jen K.

Yelp
I have been here twice for business lunches. It has been fairly busy both times. The food is pretty good. They used to have a sandwich that I loved. It was off the menu this time so I got a pizza. The pizzas are big and we shared them. I don't prefer a thin crust, but it was fine. They are pretty good at getting you in and out on your lunch hour. I'd definitely go again, and I'm sure I will.
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Susie T.

Yelp
Ambiance of the restaurant was different with a mixture of some guests dressed up and others in sweatpants. The food was decent. Tried the calamari that was unseasoned but was decent in portion size. The Chicken Milanese was a 3.5/5. The mushroom pizza was 5/5. Service was slower, if you're looking for a quick bite to eat, this is not the restaurant. Overall, restaurant was average. I can see it as being a good place to meet up with coworkers for drinks and food after work.
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Alex D.

Yelp
Restaurant is very simple and clean but is in a great location! Recommend to dine outside on their patio if you get the chance when the weather is lovely! Service was great! Staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and makes great recommendations! The food was great, only got to take a couple of photos before we started devouring. Pizzas are delicious, the Pepperoni Honey is a big fave! Goes great with some drinks. Chicken Milanese was a great portion and didn't feel so heavy. One of their drinks, The Cleanse, is super delicious! Literally taste like candy with some nutrients. Great place for lunch and dinner and a place to share with friends.
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Kathy K.

Yelp
This upscale sophisticated restaurant located in the Midtown Downtown Rochester offers a variety of Italian options. Our large group tried the appetizers, salads, pastas and pizzas. I had the Charred Broccolini Salad $14. It was chopped in smaller pieces with a variety of ingredients. It was very flavorful, healthy and delicious. Our server was very friendly and efficient.
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Amanda L.

Yelp
I seriously loved this hip and pretty little spot. We came in last minute with no reservation and were able to sit at the bar. Service from the bartender was excellent, as were the cocktails, the wine selection, and the truly excellent food. Would love to come back and definitely want to check out their sister restaurant that's opening across the way. Manager checked in on us a couple of times as well. Great service and overall experience
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Kathleen M.

Yelp
We visited about a year after they first opened and it was a lovely visit. Great ambiance, Smokey cocktails, lovely decor and waitstaff was attentive but not overly. Looking forward to returning!
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Brenda O.

Yelp
The ambiance was great. It was very elegant, clean, staff were polite and our waiter was so nice. Today is my birthday and at the end of the meal he brought me vanilla ice cream with a candle. However the food was extremely disappointing. We started with the ricotta and crostini. The ricotta had no flavor and tasted like plain cream cheese. It would have been so much better if it was seasoned. Even if it was just blended with garlic. I wanted to try the meatballs because I'm half Sicilian and they were just ok. Not much flavor to them at all. My boyfriend got the ribeye. It was a big size but it wasn't cooked the way he asked, it was seasoned very little so that was just ok. The purée spinach underneath was disgusting. I love spinach but that was not good at all. I got the Chicken Milanese. I don't know if the oil they fried it in was bad or the breading was stale but I took 4 bites and couldn't get past the horrible taste. We definitely won't be coming back. The 2 stars was for our wonderful waiter and the ambiance.
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Marissa M.

Yelp
I had sky high expectations for Branca and they fell short. The Pizza wasn't what I hoped it would be. It looked much better than it tasted. We also tried the honey pepperoni pizza and it was mediocre, I could barely taste the honey. Which is why I was so disappointed because everyone raves about that dish. Cocktails are good here. The music is a little loud and night clubby. Service is always pretty good and fast. Overall it's a good spot, but nothing I would rave about. Pizza reputation is a bit overrated in my opin.
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Olivia C.

Yelp
This place had quick and helpful servers! And this ricotta dip was absolutely fantastic!! Been thinking about this dip all week and will be going back to get more.
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Jason T.

Yelp
Nice restaurant in midtown with views of the city and park. Had a client meeting here and ordered the brocollini salad with grilled shrimp which was tasty. Main dish was a pepperoni pizza with honey which I have never heard of or tried before. It was really a good balance with the spiciness of the pepperoni and sweetness of the honey .

Kayla B.

Yelp
I ordered the Rigatoni that was coated in a spicy vodka sauce and added shrimp on top. It was excellent!

Paul R.

Yelp
Trendy restaurant downtown that has nice selection of food and drinks. Service was excellent as staff all helped each other very often. Tad pricey but worth the visit. Can be a bit hard to enter if not familiar with location!
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Mercedez S.

Yelp
The food was outstanding, and the service was outstanding as well friendly, clean, and a nice environment. Great for celebration, dinner and anniversary, or just over all in general. I recommend making a reservation of course.
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Kristen H.

Yelp
We tried Branca Midtown for the first time yesterday where we had booked the private dining room for a retirement party. This is a great idea if you're looking for a smaller place to gather with a group of friends and have some privacy. We were able to use pocket doors to close our room off from the rest of the restaurant which was probably good as we were loud! Having never been it was a bit tricky to find - GPS takes you to 280 Broad St. which is a high-rise building and you walk through the lobby if you would glance to your left about halfway down you will see Branch but there is not clear signage inside the lobby anywhere Beautiful marble bar it was quiet when we arrived but by the time we left it was very busy throughout the bar and restaurant. Decent amount of outdoor seating although construction is going on right next to you. The food was pretty good although the pizza was very salty and the Caesar salad had a very strong anchovy flavor. Loved the shaved brussels sprouts salad would love to know more about what was in that - our hostess had pre-ordered everything so we never did see a menu to check ingredients. Not much in the way of options for anyone who is gluten free- maybe they are more accommodating if you're not part of a private function but when a member of our party inquired there wasn't really anything offered for her. Cocktails were fabulous!
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Richard H.

Yelp
Everything we ordered was good. Tasty. Portions just right. Both our cocktail and wine were perfect complements. Dessert, which came with a side of the Rochester skyline, was a nice touch. Service struck the perfect balance. Place was a hive of activity, but lighting and spacing made it perfect for a special dinner for two. All told, we loved it.
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Jaclyn F.

Yelp
Ymmmmm ask for Justin and you'll be in excellent hands! Everything was superb. I personally loved the pappardelle - and a New York City snob, this place did not disappoint whatsoever! Great for groups. Also for drinks, I recommend the hazel eyes! They are so accommodating, hands down better than Good Luck!
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Tammra S.

Yelp
Cute place downtown Rochester. Limited menu, but great cocktails and other beverages. Service was acceptable. Parking was ok, but hard to find if unfamiliar with the area.
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Tish H.

Yelp
Great desserts and ambiance. Even for a vegetarian it was a wonderful experience because we had great service
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Shauna R.

Yelp
Get the ricotta app. Literally the most delicious ricotta I've ever had! This is the cutest place in Rochester and the food was amazing. Our service was perfect on our weeknight dinner and I want to come back next time I'm in the area! Their cocktails were also top notch. Love this spot!
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Jessy G.

Yelp
I've been to this Branca a few times now and I'm finally ready to write this review. I've found that you really can't go wrong with most of the menu. I've gotten the ricotta appetizer the last two times because it's amazing. If you eat dairy, get it. It's delicious ricotta drizzled with a little olive oil and served with warm toast. It's what they serve you when you get to wherever your heaven is. I've tried the gnocchi, the steak, and the pappardelle. My personal favorite was the pappardelle, the slow cooked pork and whatever that dreamy sauce is, is just so good. The saffron noodles are a perfect texture. I will be craving this for a while. I've had the gnocchi before and it was very good, to quote a friend who was with me, "it's like eating little pillowy clouds." If you like pillowy cloud texture, I suppose the gnocchi is for you! Service was excellent two of the three visits. This latest time included. They got busy quickly so come early if you want to snag a table without a reservation. Oh and the ambiance and views of the city here are really nice. Enjoy!
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Olivia B.

Yelp
I think I would give this place 3.5-4ish stars. We made a reservation here for a weekday night online. We were immediately seated and given menus. It did take a bit for dinner to come out but our servers were very nice. Overall the food was okay. The artichoke pizza I got was pretty bland and dry and the steak dinner was not too filling for the price. I think the food is a little pricey for the quality and amount of food.
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Noheli R.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I have come to this place twice and each time had great experiences! The waiters are very nice and super helpful. The ambiance is perfect for a date nice. Not to mention the food is amazing! We've never had a bad experience and we will definitely be back.
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L P.

Yelp
The pepperoni & honey pizza maybe the best I've had in Rochester. It was amazing will return over and over again for this alone. The pan Italian beef is a close 2nd.

Delaney D.

Yelp
This place never disappoints! Whether it's for a date night or girls night, Branca Midtown the perfect location for delicious food, top-tier drinks, and a beautiful atmosphere! With plenty of windows. It also offers nice views of downtown. The staff are always friendly and make dining here that much more enjoyable. My favorite cocktail has to be the Juice Cleanse - a refreshing and bright citrusy drink that is always amazing. To start, we also order the Ricotta. It's my favorite thing on the menu. I also love to get the Caesar salad and top it with a chicken cutlet. (Their chicken cutlets are amazing - thinly cut and extra crispy). You also cannot go wrong with the Pan Red Stripe Pizza (we love to add pepperoni and put some of the ricotta from the appetizer on there as well)! Definitely recommend to anyone who has yet to visit!
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Suzanne C.

Yelp
What a cute, trendy place! Took my husband here for his birthday dinner & we were not disappointed. We were lucky and found an on street parking spot close by (we went around 7:15PM on a Thursday.) We started off with the Ricotta appetizer, which is delicious! Flavorful ricotta with some toasty crostini, simple but amazing! I also had the Blood Orange Marg and my oh my was that tasty. Highly recommend! I ordered the pepperoni & honey pizza because that is literally my favorite pizza of all time. It was so good, I even added a bit of the ricotta app onto my pizza and woweeee was that good! Husband had the Lamb Agnolotti (this is like a lamb ravioli) and he said it was delicious, but he wished he had a little bit more. We topped off the night with the ice cream sandwich cookies - maple gelato in between 2 oatmeal raisin cookies. I was a bit skeptical at first because I'm not a huge oatmeal raisin fan but wow - these did not disappoint! The maple flavor mixed with the cookie was just a flavorful concoction! All in all we had a wonderful experience, our waitress was super attentive and friendly & the vibe in there was just so relaxing and cool. We will be back!
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Natalie S.

Yelp
This place is one of my go-to favorites. The space is beautiful, the drinks and food are great, and it still manages to be reasonably priced for something at the high end of the Rochester restaurant scene. The service has never failed me here. They check on you often enough to be helpful without being overbearing. The wines and mixed drinks are also some of the best in Rochester, and the bar is large and a perfect space for a girls' night out. In terms of food, I've never had a bad plate here. They offer some typical dishes alongside others you wouldn't find many other places (like octopus or watercress pesto pasta). I tend to love their appetizers the best, and have been known to make a meal just out of those. My personal favorite dishes are the homemade ricotta, burrata, and calamari (which is gluten free!). Two minor downsides to consider are that the place is popular, so it tends to fill up quickly, and the new building next door eliminated the parking lot, so only street parking is available.
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Adina S.

Yelp
So I've been here twice recently. First of all the atmosphere here is on point. It's a nice ambiance for dinner and the bar area is also really nice. The menu has a good variety of app, small plates and larger ones. There is a decent wine list as well. I'm pretty sure Branca is known for their pizzas. But I honestly wasn't super impressed with the one I tried. It was definitely good, but nothing out of ordinary. The broccolini salad however was delicious. It's a great portion and I've never had anything like it. Would definitely order that plate again. I didn't try any of the pasta, but they looked delicious too
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Katy H.

Yelp
Wow, we had planned to go to another downtown restaurant but after having cocktails there and sitting at our table we quickly realized that it was understaffed, loud and we were seated in a semi indoor-outdoor location that was starting to get chilly. We called Branca and they said they had room for us so we went over and this was my first time there. I loved the bright, upscale vibe and immediately thought this would be a great bar to sit and have dinner! As we were a party of four we preferred a table. We were first seated in a back room with three total tables, one loud group that was obviously enjoying themselves and it quickly became apparent that w would not be able to converse very easily. Our wonderful waitress responded quickly and got us to another table which absolutely made the evening!!!! Her name was Rebecca and she was top notch! I had a signature Moscow mule (strawberry) and clearly they mixed with a high end vodka, thank you! Two of our party ordered the spaghetti carbonara (or something like that) and both licked their bowls clean. I had the pork chop special and it was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy and accompanied by a great mashed potato and assorted greens. Absolutely delicious. Thanks Rebecca for being on top of the customer service game..... you rocked it! She recommended a dessert that we all shared, a peanut butter pie type thing with a dense sweet crust, chocolate layer and marshmallow topping. It was like nothing we could have imagined and while we shared it 4 ways, I wished we had gotten two! Thanks so much for a great evening! Can't wait to come back!!
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Sema T.

Yelp
I am so so glad we chose to stop in before the Nutcracker. What a lovely interior, paired with excellent service and delicious food. I even enjoyed the calamari - which is typically not my favorite appetizer. Our server gave great recommendations and took care with every interaction. What a great experience!
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Rose V.

Yelp
I've been to Branca Pittsford and loved it. I had the same expectations coming here also. I made a reservation prior to coming. The hostess informed my husband and myself it would be a couple of minutes before our table would be ready. No one left while waited and the place didn't seem busy at all. Once we were seated, I noticed there were less than a handful of tables with patrons. We ordered the calamari, gnocchi, and ravioli. While we waited for our food the table next to us was seated. We waited and waited and the table next to us got their appetizer before us. Then our calamari arrived, it was okay, nothing special. Now we are waiting for our entrees, the table next to us got theirs before us again. What the heck is going on?!?! Our waitress informed us pasta dishes were taking awhile tonight. Weird, the table next to us also got 2 pasta dishes as well. By the time our entrees arrived, the table next to us had already paid and left. My lamb gnocchi portion was small, it was alright, not flavorful. My husband's ravioli was bland and the pork belly was so dry. We were both disappointed with our meals. Aside from the nice view of downtown and parking which is rare to find downtown, this location doesn't have much to offer. We will be returning to the Pittsford location.
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Lea H.

Yelp
Decided to check our Branca for our date night. Definitely make a reservation because it fills up but we got lucky and got a table. Service was friendly but unobtrusive. There is outdoor seating but it was snowing (in April). Parking is street parking but there is plenty in the area. I will say that some of the portion sizes are on the small side but everything tasted great. The charred octopus appetizer should have 2 pieces of octopus, for example. For an Italian spot, there are several non-carb options. I had the branzino with cauliflower risotto which also could have used a bit more fish and cauliflower but the taste was spot on. The drinks are good as well as the desserts. They have a dark chocolate flour less torte that was a great low carb option. I'd ask for less caramel next time and a chocolate gelato. We would definitely return in the future! We saw a few pizzas being served and they looked good as well.
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Alina B.

Yelp
we always love to come to branca it's super romantic and nice inside and the food is always wonderful definitely recommend.
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Stephanie K.

Yelp
Branca Midtown is a great place to meet up with friends or have a swanky date night. The location is great being din the old Midtown Plaza and the atmosphere is beautiful. Their one drawback is a limited menu, so check ahead to ensure they have something you like. I wish they would bring back their fish fry on Fridays - it was amazing!
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Caitlyn R.

Yelp
I came here on a Wednesday night at 6:59 - and it was quite busy due to Wednesday night Happy hour pricing and a big party they were hosting. I had a bit of a wait before I was seated by the hostess at a high top. I explained to her that I was there for the happy hour deal and got there is time but by the time I was seated it was 7:09. She said she apologized and would allow part of the happy hour menu to me. I waited a bit longer until the manger came over with water and apologized about the wait and if she could do anything until my server came. I told her what the hostess said and she explained they do not normally do that but allowed it any way. I was able to order a Margarita Pizza and wine for happy hour pricing. The pizza should have being $14 I got for $6 and the wine $6 too which should have been $12. Both were super delicious and the pizza was big enough for two meals for me, being $3 per meal! What a great deal and an accommodating Manager! I will definitely be back for another Wednesday happy hour to explore more of their menu.
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Frankie N.

Yelp
I loved this pizza! They also had good drinks. Such a cute little place downtown. It was a little hard to find, but the restaurant made up for it. I got a pepperoni pizza and my sister got the carbonara pizza. We would definitely come back for more! For Rochester, this place was a little on the expensive side, but worth the splurge for quality food.
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Danielle S.

Yelp
I've heard a lot of good things about Branca Midtown so I was excited when I finally visited for dinner tonight. The interior is very nice. Modern and upscale but still has a down to earth feel. It still seems like a place you could wear jeans to and people wouldn't mind (which is good, in my opinion). I guess I'd call it upscale casual. Service was a little slow but very friendly. We ordered a bunch of food, including the burrata and ricotta apps. Both come with a few slices of bread, but if you run out just ask for more and they'll happily bring some out. The burrata was so good! The ricotta was also great but the burrata comes with a strawberry jam that adds a nice complement of flavor. I got the Lumanche pasta for my entree. When it came out the bowl seemed small, but it was deceptively so. The portion was actually the perfect size. The pasta was great, with a tangy tomato and lemon flavor. It was cooked perfectly al dente, too. I'm giving this place three stars instead of four because while the food was good, nothing really blew me away. The prices were higher, considering it's more of a trendy upscale place, and I just feel you can get a similar meal elsewhere for less. That being said, it's a fun place to hang out and get a good meal when you want to treat yourself!
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Arvid Y.

Yelp
Just because I live upstairs, I promise I am not biased. It's taken me awhile to review this place, since for longest time i've only had their pizza. Now that i've sampled other items on their menu, it's safe to say that Branca is a solid choice for Italian food in Rochester. Their pizza is good. Neapolitan-ish style pizza that's thin and crispy, but quite generous with toppings. It's a little heavier and less airy than its competitors from Fiamma's and Tony D's, but still very good. I am a mushroom lover so, I really like their mushroom pizza that's heavy with ricotta and truffle oil. As far as appetizers go, their ricotta dish is quite good. It's fresh and gigantic, good to share among 3-4 people. Others have mentioned the Brussels sprout salad, but it was a little too fibrous to me (rabbit food). I am a fan of the salted rolls that they serve with meals. I sampled a friend's pappardelle, which was excellent. The thick and wide noodles were cooked al dente and had the perfect texture. The accompanying truffle mushroom cream sauce really paired well with the pasta. I also tried my girlfriend's squid ink linguine. Again, the pasta was cooked well, with a lot of texture in each bite. I was pleasantly surprised to see 4 huge shrimp with the dish. I suppose that is appropriate, being a $26 dish (one of their pricier plates). I enjoyed it as well, but I thought it was too citrus-y for my taste. There must have been lemon zest or lemon in the breadcrumbs. Overall, Branca Midtown is solid restaurant. The food is good and their cocktails (which I failed to mention) are well-crafted. Service is attentive and pricing is appropriate for their portion sizes and for the upscale dining environment. I still prefer Rocco and Fiorella for "upscale" Italian food, but Branca is another good option.
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Rob G.

Yelp
Stopped in with the wife and daughter for dinner on a frigid Dec Tues night. Got there at 6- we were one of 2 tables- so we got our choice of spots! By the time we left every table was filled - mostly a 20's/30's crowd. Wife and I ordered the Caesar salad- plenty of anchovies in here which I like- but the dressing has anchovy in it too- so if you aren't a lover of the salty fishes- tell them to hold them. You will still get plenty of the important flavor in the dressing. We split the Branca Wood fired pizza- red sauce, mozzarella, basil and pork sausage. Delicious! My daughter got the Salmon - which had apple butter on top and was served on a bed of roasted Brussell sprouts. Our waiter was Brandon- he was fantastic- attentive and friendly. Not many options for a nice dinner right in the middle of the Center City- but this one is great!
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Tom P.

Yelp
Server Meghan set the tone of our evening with her friendly, prompt, and diligent attention to detail and excellent service! Branca is a beautiful space in an awesome location. The food is Italian cuisine and it is done so very well. Fresh ingredients prepared with elegance and style. Highly recommend Branca Midtown. And Meghan
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Paula J.

Yelp
A great spot for a nicer lunch downtown! The restaurant has fantastic outdoor seating in the warm weather, and inside has an upscale feel, without being pretentious. I came with a group of 7 and our food was delivered quickly. We started with a burrata appetizer. It was delicious mixed with sweet factors, on the salty, buttery toasted bread. What a lovely combination! I ordered the lobster bisque to start, which I have had before. It is creamy and has large chucks of lobster claw in it. Personally I think they could've served it hotter. The soup of the day was a lemon chicken orzo soup. I tasted it from a friend, and it was really delicious also. The veggies and orzo were still firm, as soups can make these factors get mushy. I then had the roasted beet salad. This is something I wouldn't normally go for, but I loved the way the flavors blended together. The beets and clementines perfectly complimented the strong Gorgonzola cheese, tangy dressing, and finally the pistachios were a nice touch! And points for presentation of course. I also tried my friend's Duck Confit Pizza. WOW I am ordering this next time I am there! It was delicious and played with similar sweet flavors. Some fresh ground pepper on top complimented that well. The dough was incredible, soft (I don't like it crunchy) and the duck was delectable. I highly recommend this dish. Plus, it is a whole personal pizza, so yay for leftovers! Our group finished with the zeppoles. They were light with a sugary sweet crispier outside. What a classy take on a carnival food! The sauces that came with it were sweet too, one was caramel and the other was strawberry. The meal left me full, but not stuffed, and satisfied me for the rest of the day!
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Megan C.

Yelp
I always recommend Branca Midtown to anyone in need of a good business lunch. BM does it better than anyone in the vicinity and offers up the largest wealth of option for varying palettes. Their bar staff is always serving up fresh cocktails and the ambiance is the perfect mix of bustle and brightness - allowing folks to have important conversations while still feeling comfy. I have enjoyed their sammies, soups, apps pizzas, and cocktails - all of which has been fab. The burrata is a must, and the most bang for your buck is going to be with the pizzas. They are delish and filling. I find the price point for almost every dinner entree that isn't pizza to be $5 - $7 too high for what is being presented. I am almost always a sharer-diner when I go out to eat (forcing everyone around me to share so I can try as much as possible) and this spot is great for that style of experience. The space is stunning and I don't know why they aren't featured more heavily in my bar rotation. To be fixed ASAP!
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Valerie C.

Yelp
What started off so well ended so badly. Food was amazing, service, or lack of, so bad it mired the whole evening! Snotty host/Maitre D - being extremely sarcastic not sure if it was intentional or if he's just wrapped up in smugness!
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Sammy G.

Yelp
This is the perfect spot for an intimate date night to celebrate whatever occasion. We came for an anniversary dinner to treat ourselves and boy were we happy with the outcome. The atmosphere is classy, intimate, and airs on the romantic side with dim lights and little table candles. It's perfect. We started with the fried burrata and I wish it was bigger or came with more because we devoured it. We definitely needed to order two. The charred broccolini was way more than I thought would be on the plate, but you can't complain about more! We ordered the gnocchi and the scallops and my mind was blown at how delicious it all tasted. I don't eat red meats but tried a gnocchi that wasn't covered in bolognese and I wanted more so badly! The scallops? Let's just say they know how to cook scallops here. WOAH. Also, the drinks? On point. Milan Mule, yes please and I don't really drink! The only thing we weren't thrilled with was the dessert. It was good, but nothing that compared to the dinner. Pumpkin gelato - I should have gone with classic chocolate but tried to be seasonal, meh. The apple dish was okay. I could have the scallops again for dessert and been happy. Overall, a must visit if you're looking for a date night.
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Wendy B.

Yelp
The mushroom pizza and caesar salad are amazing. Great vibe and fun place to each. This was my first meal and Rochester and a favorite during my weekend visit.
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Brenden S.

Yelp
Environment was good (classy). Some tables are a little close but not ridiculous. Food was delicious my steak just wasn't as tender as I would like. Prices where fair. Service was great.
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Tasia D.

Yelp
It was alright. Ambiance was great and service was good! Food wasn't my favorite but it looked pretty. For Rochester NY, this would be a top 5.

Amit N.

Yelp
Fun place to meet with friends with cool bar scene. Drinks were good and we liked our order (pasta and gnocchi). One complaint was my parking ticket wasn't validated by restaurant