Fiamma Centro

Italian restaurant · Rochester

Fiamma Centro

Italian restaurant · Rochester

1

4 Elton St #1216, Rochester, NY 14607

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Fiamma Centro by null
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Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null
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Fiamma Centro by null
Fiamma Centro by null

Highlights

Classic Italian fare, outstanding rigatoni, prosciutto, and pizza  

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4 Elton St #1216, Rochester, NY 14607 Get directions

fiammarochester.com
@fiammacentro

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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4 Elton St #1216, Rochester, NY 14607 Get directions

+1 585 471 8917
fiammarochester.com
@fiammacentro

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 28, 2025

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Neighborhood of the Arts favorite featuring Monroe County’s first true Neapolitan wood-burning oven, blistering pies in seconds and turning out hearty Campania-inspired plates. A reliable pick for pizza lovers and pasta traditionalists alike.

https://fiammarochester.com/
Italian Restaurants in Rochester (2025)
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Ray Rivera

Google
Make sure to get a reservation. Food is to die for. I wish I could've taken the sauce from the mussels home with me. I can't wait to go back to try their pizza.

Nora Peters

Google
Unfortunately, this place has gone downhill. The cocktails were great, but everything else was basic and boring at best. The pear and goat cheese cheese salad was fine but pears were under ripe, the parmigiana appetizer was just okay (not enough sauce, pretty bland overall), the pizza was soggy, and the garganelli cauliflower pasta with pancetta was basically inedible I had to send it back and I never do that - the bechamel sauce was thin and flavorless and the pancetta wasn’t cooked properly. You’re supposed to render the fat and crisp it up and instead it was kind of cold and chewy. Service was slow, but our server was okay and she offered to take the pasta off the bill without me asking which I appreciated. Also the bread they threw on the table was stale! I hope they can improve.

Micha Mros

Google
Our server Roberto was great! The food needed seasoning. The parmigiana (eggplant and zucchini) was bland, the sauce tasted like straight crushed tomato and the eggplant was tough. The salad and risotto were both good. The pizza was a disappointment, bland and soggy. The best part of the meal was the cappuccino.

Shawn McCarthy

Google
Excellent authentic Italian. They slice the prosciutto right in front of you. This place is legit, with an extensive wine list. Would recommend. A+

Anna Brooke

Google
Pretty disappointed overall, service was fine but the food was not good and especially for the price. Definitely will not be going back. The calamari was bad, we couldn’t even eat half of it. The pasta was WAY too thick (approximately 1/4 cm thick). I like pasta cooked al dente, which is what this was supposed to be. But the pasta they served me was literally crunchy uncooked. I couldn’t eat much of it at all. My partner ordered a pizza and he said it was fine. But yeah, the best tasting thing we had there was the moscato wine which they don’t even make and we can get anywhere.

Nithil Harris

Google
Pretty good for the price and depends on what you get. The grilled octopus was delicious and the napoli pizzas were some of the better ones I've had. The tiramisu was not good - it felt frozen.

Erin Roellke

Google
Delicious meal at Fiamma Centro. From appetizers to dessert, everything was top notch. Rigatoni was outstanding. Warm atmosphere and attentive service from well trained staff. A gem.

Robert Gingher

Google
Occupying a last century foundry, the ill-conceived dining space is upstairs, where insufficient HVAC can leave you overheated after eating a meal during the summertime. They should move the pizza oven /kitchen upstairs and reuse the stack, and put the dining space downstairs. The food, however, was excellent. Service was great.
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Ruth C.

Yelp
Went To Fiamma Centro with my daughter and sat at the bar. Bartender was friendly and attentive. We shared the Rochester Pizza - mozzarella and prosciutto...It was delicious. The pizzas are on the smaller size, but a good portion for 2 people. They had some delicious looking desserts (cannolis and more) but we were full. Will definitely have to go back and try some.
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Daniel F.

Yelp
My partner picked Fiamma as a surprise for my birthday, reserving us a table for 6PM. The recommendation came from a coworker. Service was fair, drinks came out promptly and our waitress ran us through the specials which we ended up ordering to share and for our entrees. She was as attentive as I would hope for throughout, no notes. The appetizer was a lobster dip, and our entrees were the chicken and pasta specials which were both generously portioned, and enjoyed thoroughly. I particularly enjoyed the sausage crumbles that came on top of the pounded chicken, they really complimented the red sauce. I took the waitresses suggestion to order a side of pasta to mix into the sauce and Im glad I did, it gave the meal some bulk. We ended on the ubiquitous lava cake that I associate with nostalgia more than novelty at this point. We dined on a Saturday evening, and the ambiance was brighter than I would expect, very loud, and somewhat busy. Our table was on the first floor next to the entrance, and a large party came in to attend the bar until they were seated. They trended younger than the crowd already seated, and after getting drinks were seated upstairs. Overall enjoyable, but I wasn't left with a desire to return.

Matthew S.

Yelp
Just wanna preface this with the fact that I never leave reviews and really want to like this place. Made a 6:45 reservation this past Saturday for 3 people. Was seated quickly when we arrived. Waited 45 minutes to even be acknowledged. This was during the dinner rush on a Saturday I get it, but there was definitely some kind of miscommunication. I hate complaining so one of our guests had to flag down a server in order to place our order (which we had completely because of waiting so long). Waited another 15-20 minutes to be awkwardly served wine. Food was really good, definitely really nice family style Italian American food and perfectly cooked steak. Meatballs were dry and served with an ice cold sauce which was strange but everything else was good. It's such a bummer to let shitty service overshadow really good food and an otherwise nice experience. Train your waitstaff.
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Kenneth E.

Yelp
Came here for a birthday dinner. They served some really fresh bread and the service here was super friendly. I opted for the chicken special of the day. The chicken was tender and flavorful but they didn't mention that it has blue cheese on it which took me by surprise. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it. I feel like they need to mention a polarizing ingredient like that. Overall a really nice place for a special occasion or just a dinner. Next time I might try to chill at the bar!
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Scott W.

Yelp
Tonight we enjoyed dinner on Fiamma Centro's patio. The menu had so many interesting choices that we wanted to try that it was hard to make our selections. We decided to share a number of things. We started out with the Insalata Della Casa, which was a unique mix of veggies that were dressed wonderfully. This would easily be large enough for four people to share. We then moved on to the Parmigiana appetizer, which was more entree sized. It was layered eggplant and zucchini -- which was divine. The Stracciatella do Zucchine soup was amazing, albeit a portion so large we're not sure who could finish it (easily two could share it). Finally, the Risotto Pescatore Al Nero which was perfectly cooked seafood, risotto, and a delicious sauce. Everything was perfect -- the food and the service. We'll definitely be returning here and adding it to our regular favorites.
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Bill R.

Yelp
3.5 stars. I really like the trattoria style menu offerings at Fiamma and was excited to it out. Bit of a hit and miss for me. Started with polipo y fagioli grilled octopus and cannelini beans with diced tomatoes. When I get an app, the expectation is that I'll be able to eat most of it without ruining my appetite (unless it is stated as shareable). This thing had enough beans to fill six bellies. The octopus itself was massive and looked good, but it was to tough and chewy I had to give up after a few bites from exhaustion. The Saltimbocca allan Romana veal scallopini with prosciutto, provolone, in marsala was actually pretty good. Veal was tender and marsala sauce was flavorful. Honestly, my appetite was wrecked after the octopus and decided to call it quits. So no dessert for me. The ambiance is pretty rustic inside and looking aged. Service staff were friendly and excellent.
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Costas S.

Yelp
Disappointed by the experience and food (again). I don't know why we decided to come back? We sat at the bar to have a drink and eventually ordered some food before heading to a show. We ordered a couple of drinks and a charcuterie board for two - to start with. When it arrived, we were surprised by the presentation of random cheeses and thickly cut Italian meats on a piece of wax paper covering a charcuterie board. The prosciutto was sliced too thick to enjoy. I asked our server/ bartender if they can slice the prosciutto thinner, but he said that it was set to the correct setting, which was a bit confusing to me because it was thick; which is not how it should be prepared. He refused to take it back and replace the prosciutto - and was adamant that it was prepared correctly because he prepared it. My 30 years of preparing Italian foods (which I didn't share) was immediately discounted by someone half my age with "I'm never wrong attitude," was perplexingly odd? Bottom line, too thick, moist, and it tasted like an uncooked bacon. The random cheeses selected appeared to be left overs from the night before - with a slight foul odor. Bottom line, we understood from the bartenders initial response to our question about the prosciutto, that it was best to pay our bill, politely say thank you, and goodbye, and never come back. Such a disappointment.
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Jamila S.

Yelp
The service is ok. It did take a while for our server to get to us but it was somewhat busy. The ambiance is nice and rustic. However one thing I am noticing about smaller independent restaurants is they tend to treat people of color differently. They expect we don't have a refined palate at all. Pasta, not al dente but too hard. Tomahawk steak, good but the sides came out when my husband and son were just about done. I wish it were better and I am going to try with my friends of various backgrounds.

Anne T.

Yelp
Solid dinner. Service was excellent! The atmosphere was a lot of fun. Big beams. I guess it was an old warehouse fun lighting. Our waitress was fabulous. We enjoyed the fried fish appetizer, calamari, smelt, and shrimp. Everyone had pizzas. My cosmopolitan was on point. Totally frosty. Decent prices for everything. The espresso was absolutely delicious. Not a complaint just an observation, but the molten chocolate lava cake was not molten at all. That did not stop anyone from eating it. We will definitely be back.
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Gayathri M.

Yelp
Amazing amazing place! So warm, cozy and ambient. The people are nice and kind. If you're confused they walk you through the menu and specials. They know their booze well and will suggest appropriately. It's a bit pricey but worth it for the amazing food and service you get! Great for date nights too

Donna F.

Yelp
We had a 6 PM reservation. Out table was upstairs in the second room. I'd been here before but never had been seated in this room. With a relatively small storefront, this restaurant is a remodeled warehouse that goes on forever. Or server was Kaila who spoke very fast but was very sweet and attentive. There were several specials for the main course. I chose the lasagna and my daughter had Kaila's recommendation of a pasta dish with cauliflower in a light but tasty béchamel sauce. It was amazing! While waiting for our entrees, our server brought out a basket of hard crusted bread which could have been better had it been warmed. Traditional olive oil, cheese and red pepper flakes were in the table for the bread also. We split a dessert of tiramisu. It is homemade which attracts me but it really was disappointing. No traditional lady fingers and very small portion. For the most part it was a wonderful dinner though and I recommend it here
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Akira S.

Yelp
I had never heard of this restaurant before but went for a small event and loved it! The space upstairs was nicely decorated and all of the food we had was delicious! The pesto pasta with asparagus, meatballs, and peso chicken in particular were amazing! I will definitely be going back for dinner to see their whole menu!
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Alex P.

Yelp
Last night me and my friends went out to dinner for a girls night. We wanted to Italian food so we chose this place. Ambiance: Off of first appearances, it was very aesthetically pleasing, the furniture was rustic and cute, and the hanging lights definitely made the place warmer. However, I would say the fact that they were playing club music did ruin the vibe a little and it made a bit loud. We were all in agreement that it could've use some light jazz or something a more mellow. Service: Our server was kind and quick with getting us our drinks and food. Drinks and food: One of my friends got a glass of red wine, and then my other friend and I got the mambo Italiano cocktail, which was very yummy. We started with a meat board which included three cheeses, light and dark olives, and three meats, and there was also truffle honey in the middle. Then came our entrées. Both of my friends got the rigatoni forno and I got the ribeye steak. I asked for medium well, however my steak came almost rare, but once I told the waiter, he was quick to bring me out a hot skillet so that I can continue cooking it, which was very nice. I other than that I will say the steak was absolutely phenomenal. It was seasoned really well and I'm still kind of thinking about it, haha. My friends did let me try their plates as well. However, both of them were a little dry, which was disappointing. In all fairness I guess the noodles are quite large, and I believe that it was probably cooked in the oven, but it definitely needed a significantly larger amount of sauce because of this. I was a little disappointed with the raviolis.
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Sara M.

Yelp
Keeps getting better and better every time we come. The staff so nice and the more stuff we try the more we want to come back. I'll miss this place

Sandra R.

Yelp
Unfortunately the food was just not that very good. The risotto was clumpy, sticky and under seasoned (with a gigantic portion of rice topped with seafood that was actually well cooked). The two pizzas we got were soggy in the middle and when the pieces were lifted the topping slid off. This dish should be nailed for an Italian restaurant. The broccolini side was well cooked and kids enjoyed the meatball appetizer. The fondue appetizer was tasty- but strangely watery in some parts. On top of that- the bill for two appetizers and five entrees was over two hundred not including tip. No alcohol and no desserts. This would be ok if the food was good - but given how poor the food was - it was disappointing. Staff was very nice and efficient.
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Adina S.

Yelp
Can't believe it took me this long to try this place out. It instantly has become one of my new favorite restaurants. The atmosphere was on point. We came early on at opening on a Sunday - can't even imagine how great the ambiance would be on an evening. We split the cauliflower side as an app. So good. The margharita pizza did not disappoint either. It was huge and the touch of being served your own pizza cutter with it was awesome. Definitely had leftovers for the next day. I'll be back soon!!
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Lida K.

Yelp
Great Sunday dinner! We got seated fast. The food was outstanding! They were fairly busy for a Sunday and it was nice to see it. Our waitress was a little unexperienced . She needed to not come as often and keep asking questions. She was friendly & did a good job on her service. Overall it was a great experience!

Anna B.

Yelp
Pretty disappointed overall, service was fine but the food was not good and especially for the price. I will not be going back. The calamari was bad, we couldn't even eat half of it. The pasta was WAY too thick (approximately 1/4 cm thick). I like pasta cooked al dente, which is what this was supposed to be. But the pasta they served me was literally crunchy uncooked. I couldn't eat much of it at all. My partner ordered a pizza and he said it was fine. But yeah, the best tasting thing we had there was the moscato wine which they don't make and we can get anywhere.
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Derek M.

Yelp
We went to Fiamma for a birthday dinner. We had an amazing server and I thought the flow of the meal went well! We ordered several courses and the food all tasted very fresh. I really enjoyed my main pasta dish the most. It has homemade pasta with fresh seafood. I would recommend this dish to anyone! We were seated upstairs and it was very nice room. I do wish they put us at two long tables and not two circle tables. It made it harder for conversation with the whole group.
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Sandra L.

Yelp
We've been coming here 3-4 times a year with wonderful reviews. Food is always top notch. Fresh, delicious and seasoned perfectly. Staff is attentive and friendly. I have to ask though, why did you change your house salad?? Where is the shaved parm? Where is the eggplant? It's such a wonderful array of roasted veggies and you've depleted the best part of the salad. The parm! Your menu states "shaved Parmesan " and roasted eggplant. Our salad had 5 pieces of crumpled parm and about 5 tiny squares of pickled eggplant. Please bring it back to perfection!
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Mike M.

Yelp
I can't even say how long this place has been on my two visit list! My mom's spontaneously offered to take 18-month-old baby tonight and we decided to have a date night and check something off the list! An Italian place that doesn't give you bread is just weird right? It's like practically a staple! And if you're in a church people for each individual soda three and a half bucks is a bit steep! Actually it's outrageous. They charged us over $10 for maybe 15 ounces of Coke. You're not going to find anything on the menu under $18. Including a cup of soup lol. We got the eggplant and zucchini parmesan which was actually a lasagna with no ricotta. It was okay but it needed seasoning and bread. We also got the 16 oz ribeye steak which was overcooked but not bad. Not going to say it was my favorite steak in Rochester though. Lastly we got the cauliflower pasta with pancetta. The sauce in the pasta was good. Pasta was cooked well. Cauliflower was okay kind of a little bit too much of it though. The pancetta though was this big chunks and they were chewy and not at all crisp like you expect pancetta to be. All in all for a hundred bucks take your business elsewhere. And who doesn't cut their Pizza???
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Karen S.

Yelp
I am updating my review. I used to love this place a lot but I feel like it has really gone downhill. The last 2 times I have been here-once about 6 months ago and again last night, it was pretty disappointing. Six months ago, 2 out of 4 meals were basically inedible and the other 2 were just ok. The service was fantastic that time. Last night, the food was just ok and the service was too but bordered on annoying. Between the server and the busser, we were interrupted at least 12-15 times for things. I think even though the restaurant wasn't closed they wanted us out the door. I understand you don't want to be there all night, but there were still other people in the bar area abd they were also cleaning up from a very large gathering. Plus, the restaurant didn't stop seating until 10 and it was 9:30. Then the busser actually asked us if we are going to leave because they were closed but again there were still others in the restaurant. The worst part though was the food. The risotto was overpowered with pepper and whole cloves of uncooked garlic. The Pollo Siciliano was pretty good but when I've had it before it was much more flavorful. Also, they gave us a sample of wine on tap that was made for the restaurant. I know wine pretty well because of my background and their wine had gone off. It smelled like vinegar and tasted worse. I hope they can get things back on track because this used to be my favorite restaurant in Rochester.

Joy H.

Yelp
Not great. Everyone says it used to be better. They didn't serve bread last night because waitres said they didn't think they would have enough customers?!. Red sauce is very underwhelming. Octopus appetizer was huge and tough.
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Dave S.

Yelp
Absolutely one of the best Italian restaurants I have ever been to, international or domestic. We started with the meatball appetizer which was perfectly spiced in a sauce that was just tangy enough. Then to a prosciutto and mozzarella salad with olives and greens that was flavorful and perfectly dressed. Finally we split the marrow, scallops and pork belly dinner and the veal parmigiana, both good enough to prompt this glowing review. We ate at the bar and waited perhaps 5 minutes between ordering and food delivery. The bartenders D and D were knowledgeable and friendly. Fabulous restaurant!

Bob D.

Yelp
Have been here three times. Food has been consistently excellent as has the service. Really cool decor and ambiance.
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Tara M.

Yelp
I feel like Fiamma Centro is hit or miss. I have come here a few times. Some times it's been great and others it's been mediocre. I love their margarita pizza. The service at 6 PM on a Saturday was in and out. We only had a group of 3. They also told us we needed to order everything at once. Appetizers and main course. This seemed strange to me. We were sat upstairs and after 2 larger groups showed up, it was very loud. We could not hear anything, not even the server
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Lea B.

Yelp
I had been to the other Fiammas in Gates and remembered liking their food. But I also remember not being able to alter the food in any way. Back then, the served had explained to me that owner was from Italy and worked hard to create these dishes and would not allow changes. So, heading to the new Fiamma Centro I could really only think of that one tid-bit and made sure to try and order items that sounded great and that I didn't want to alter in any way. For an app the table ordered the Fried seafood appetizer known as "Frittura mista di Paranza". It could certainly use some salt, and the smelt was fishy. Our friends had said this used to be served with an amazing piece of cod, but seems the menu has changed and smelt was subbed in at this location. For dinner I ordered the beer braised short rib special with "polenta" but the served describe it as "mashed potatoes"! I certainly know better!!! Polenta is not mashed potatoes in any way! But, no substitutions... so.. polenta it is. My husband was really confused by the runny yellowish slop on the plate and did not understand the correlation the served made to mashed potatoes. Neither of us enjoyed the flavor of the polenta, and left it there. But, i'll have you know that the braised shirt ribs were delightful! We wanted to order a specific pizza and add a topping. We were told we can take stuff off, but not substitute or add to it. (UGH.... but at least the owner has slightly come around an allowing a tiny change.) Anyway, same for a pasta dish with seafood we were interested in, no changes yada yada. So, we ended up ordering the pizza on special that evening: it came with purple potatoes, cream sauce and duck egg. It was rather blah in flavor.... we didn't finish it and threw away the leftovers. Oh well.... Our friends raved about the "Rigatoni al Forno" dish from the Gates location and decided to order it here. Upon receiving it at this location, they said the portion was reduced in half compared to what they had previously received. They also ordered a chicken dish, "Pollo Sicilino" and enjoyed it. Nothing really stood out as good or bad about our service other than the polenta being described as mashed potatoes) .... The food was decent but I expected a bit better.
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Paula J.

Yelp
Fiamma has quickly become one of my favorites. It's a gorgeous and bit eclectic space if you pay close attention. The service is always top notch! You MUST start with a woodfired pizza. You can't go wrong with a classic but I've also tried the butternut squash and prosciutto pizza, that's incredible! I've had seafood pasta, the pasta with sausage and rapini, steak, veal parm... every single dish has been mind blowing. You will leave with leftovers! This is a nicer place that we reserve for special occasions, but I want to have every birthday dinner here from now on!!
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Gina L.

Yelp
Fiamma consistently never disappoints! It has been my top restaurant in Rochester for a few years now. The food is excellent!!! If you're looking for a great brick oven pizza or authentic Italian pasta, this is definitely the place to go! So many more delicious meat and seafood options as well! My fiancé and I love it here so much that we booked our wedding rehearsal dinner here in a few months. They have a great party room space upstairs that we are looking forward to using!
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E S.

Yelp
This place is a real gem! Busy and loud, like some other reviewers stated. But if you are Italian, you're used to that. The host and servers all had thick Italian accents, and we even had to Google translate a few menu items. But - it was TOTALLY WORTH IT because the food was past amazing. Fresh ingredients, well seasoned, clearly all house made. I want to try everything on this menu!!! A great place for a family dinner. We will be back!
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Carly M.

Yelp
I'd heard great things about Fiamma and was so excited to try it! We made a reservation and got there early, so had a drink at the bar while waiting. It's hectic in that area, but the place has a good ambiance and it was fun to see all of the food come out of the kitchen. We had a glass of rose and the Pinot Grigio on tap - neither were anything special. We were seated upstairs, which was a larger area than we expected. We started with the special appetizer, which was a blend of cheeses in a skillet with peppers and olives. It could've used more bread and mostly tasted like melted mozzarella cheese, but it was good! Now to the entrees - all three were absolutely delicious. The veal was outstanding, packed with flavor. Same with the scoglio, but the pasta was fairly al dente. I don't mind that, but some do. The seafood risotto also had a lot of seafood and great flavor too. As for the service - our server was very attentive and knowledgeable. They put in your whole order at once, and everything came out so fast! As soon as we were done our appetizer, the entrees were hitting the table. We never had to wait for anyone to pay the check or get boxes, etc. However, they checked on us so much at the end that we started to wonder if they were trying to kick us out, even though there were plenty of open tables. Either way, it was a good experience and I would definitely recommend/return!!
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Christiana F.

Yelp
Came here for a friends surprise birthday dinner. Staff were accommodating as usually they wait for the whole party to arrive before seating a reservation but this was a surprise dinner so they sat us early, much appreciated. My friend and I shared the margarita pizza and I had the braised beef fettuccine special. Another friend got the pesto chicken. We also had a great dessert special (forgot what it was called) but it was a a crusted coating with soft cake in the middle. All very delicious.

Kathleen S.

Yelp
Had a reservation table for 6 o'clock they didn't have it down so we had to sit outside. It was hot and when our food came, food was so overcooked that you couldn't even cut it with a knife and I had pork chops that look like they had been through the ringer, I would never recommend this restaurant.
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Michael S.

Yelp
The food and service was great. We made reservations for 3 @ 5:30 on Halloween for my daughter's birthday..we were served fast the food was very good.. We have a new place to eat ..
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Rick G.

Yelp
I've been here once before. It was two years ago. At that point it was a perfectly fine average Italian restaurant one that if I happen to be in the area I might go there. This time, on Mother's Day a little different. We came in right on time but we still had to wait a half an hour for a table. We were at the bar for those 30 minutes. Very nice bartender perfect service not a problem. Finally 30 minutes later the hostess came and told us our table is ready. It was obvious we were all drinking and addition we had a full bottle of wine. Often good service would automatically ask if we would like help to take our bottle if not our drinks, but not here (shrug), it's OK if they didn't but it shows the level of service. I don't want to over complain, but I want to make it clear how it was quite a walk to get to the table after waiting 30 minutes. All of that would've been forgotten if Only things got better. Thus the five of us took all our drinks and bottle of wine and went up the stairs at which point we walked through the main room and then threw a long lobby to yet a different room. Eventually... we went to a very nice bigger room that often is used as a private room. Quickly we started to look at appetizers. This is where the service became more and more limited. We were going to order meatballs as an appetizer we ask how many were in it, the waitress said four. I said is it possible to get five and just charge an extra 25% to the price. No the waitress said the computer does not allow that. Great computer knows all, customers request somewhere less. Another item my wife said is it possible to have that without olives, the waitress said I'm sorry the chef will Never allow to change anything. I understand chefs I understand divas, sometimes the diva's quality of art is worthy of the ego. By the time we ended our dinner we realized that was not the case. Everything was perfectly fine, but nothing was outstanding or even far past average. In fact my wife who was hungry ordered Ziti with among other things lobster for $28. The ziti was not Al dente, it was down-write UNDER cooked. The sauce was with out much flavor. Very unusual for my wife not to complete her dinner and even less not to take it home, she did neither. One thing I thought was incredibly surprising was how expensive one specific steak was, it was with some people call the cowboy rib-eye on a bone, 30 ounces for $60. If you were to go to the very most expensive steakhouse restaurant it would not be one penny more in price. In fact my favorite restaurant happens to be $58! Before we received the entre'e we only were touched by the managing of the restaurants service of needs. It changed when it was time to receive our dinner. My wife and I received out meal first. Then 3-4 minutes later my two adult daughters dinner. THEN 3-4 minutes I see my waitress NOT bringing my daughters boyfriends dinner, but decided to talk to a table next to us that had already was completing there dinner! When I pointed it out to the waitress it was obvious she had forgotten the 5th meal all together, Three to Four additional minutes all were FINALLY arrived! I did not dislike the restaurant but the restaurants form of service was a Major disappointment. With good service I probably would've put up to a 3 1/2 or four star. Too me I am being incredibly generous with three stars, 2 1/2 is probably much more accurate. If you go, I wish you a bon appe'tit, but don't be certain...

Cesare O.

Yelp
As an italian, this is my favorite place for pizza in Rochester. We have been here several time. The restaurant is nice and cozy, servers are kind and quick. We also love the fried calamari and fritto misto. Highly recommended
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Christina M.

Yelp
Overrated, yet I really wanted to like it and gave it a second chance. Big fail which is sad. Place including the bathroom was dirty, service leaves a lot to be desired (very unfriendly female bartender who was also suppose to be our waitress rarely did anything besides text on her phone, never cleared dishes start to finish, left our water bottle empty unless we asked several times and then we were made to feel like we were putting her out), drinks overpriced, food dry and over cooked, pizza charred. The Decor is cool and fun, but I found it annoying that there were window A/C units upstairs, but they either didn't work, or weren't turned on ( it's summer and HOT ). Absolutely absurd that we could all hear the loud clunky dishwasher (or laundry machine?) going while we tried to focus on our educational program.... Very rude, could have waited, and very distracting. I will pass on this place next time.
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Kathy W.

Yelp
The acoustics in the restaurant are difficult because we were having trouble hearing each other at our own table due to the voices carrying from other tables. If you're a vegetarian, you might struggle to find suitable meals. I ordered a pasta dish and asked for the ham to be taken off and could they put mushrooms on instead and I was quickly told the chef would do no substitutions. So, that's pretty of frustrating... I just wanted some thing other than noodles, Bechemel sauce and cauliflower for my main course. I won't be back. My omnivorous table mates were all pleased with their meals and the quality of their meals. I didn't find the servers to be particularly friendly. They were just OK.

John S.

Yelp
Loved the atmosphere but unfortunately not a very accommodating restaurant. We wanted to add a protein to one of the pizzas and were told we couldn't make any modifications. We then decided on a pizza to start with as an appetizer while we thought about entrees, however we were told that we couldn't order any apps until we had decided on entrees. When we decided on entrees, we were told that 3 of the steaks were sold out (which would have been nice to know ahead of time). We then decided on a veal parm which doesn't come with pasta, and were told that we could not order just a side of pasta. We were told we'd have to order a whole entree of pasta instead. Drinks were good and enjoyed the vibes of the restaurant, but poor execution with service and menu accommodations. I feel this place would be so much better if they changed these service issues.
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Mary T.

Yelp
Horrible experience. Menu appears authentic but you cannot do anything different to the dish like omit something or ask for anything extra. The first thing we noticed was the hostess was unbelievably clueless. Let us stand there with no acknowledgement for 20 minutes. When we sat the waitress was snippy when we asked the cost of a certain drink. And of course " we aren't allowed to give any separate checks although she actually did but she made a huge deal that they aren't supposed to do it. We actually didn't even care. Pizza was horrible with almost zero sauce and crust that was pasty tasting. Don't waste your time or money. Just an all around horrible experience.
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Megan C.

Yelp
Not sure how I've gone this long without reviewing Fiamma. I've been at least 6 times now and each time has been more enjoyable than the last. The space is gorgeous, albeit a little bit dark upstairs. It is appointed with gorgeous furniture and a unique aesthetic, with the restaurant being divided up into three floors. Service is always super friendly and top notch and the food comes out at a pretty steady clip. We always order a bunch of stuff to share and I highly recommend going that route to taste as much as possible. A few faves: Bastone: Do NOT skip! Order as an app or as your dinner. It is basically an elevated eggplant parmesan stuffed pizza roll. It used the dough of one pizza and comes with red sauce on the side for dipping. We order basically every single time and every single time it has been wood fired gold. Salads: whatever seasonal spring mix salad they have on the menu is a great start to the meal. When we went this weekend, we enjoyed grilled pear, goat cheese, pine nuts, and balsamic atop yummy fresh greens. Gave me a lot of salad inspo and is really refreshing. Risotto: seafood or mushroom. I've not tried the seafood as we almost always go for the funghi. Great leftover as it is SUPER filling. Really any of the pizzas here are going to be a BIG win but do not sleep on the "other things from the oven" section. The star pizza is also a true love of mine. If you're in the mood for great food in a gorgeous location for date or double date night, this is the spot to go. Prices are a bit high but you won't leave without leftovers. Enjoy!

Marie S.

Yelp
Most of the Food was ass. We got a special that was good. But the Pizza was soggy and had no flavor. Homemade pasta looked like and had consistency of playdoh. Staff was great though and very attentive atmosphere was good but just wish they had better food. Price was too high for food we had so we will not be returning

James C.

Yelp
Can't say enough about how great the food and ambiance is here. Staff can be a little slow but it's authentic Italian. We Americans rush at restaurants, this is meant to be a relaxing non rushed event. The food is phenomenal
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Brianna J.

Yelp
The pizza special was so good! Quality Italian food and the place had a great ambience inside.
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Liz W.

Yelp
Food is awful. That is all. Ambiance is fabulous, it is too bad. Fire the cook. Food was tough, cold and flavorless.
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Beth W.

Yelp
This review is a combination of two visits. The first time my spouse ate here he said the service was poor, they don't allow substitutions or any changes to the menu items, and are snooty about it. They don't have much pasta because "we are a real Italian restaurant". He said the restaurant was so dimly lit they had to use the light on their phones to read the menu. We came together the second time because his coworker invited us. He ordered the same dish as before, which was ok, but not worth the price. He said the rigatoni, though fresh, was crunchy, and not from being baked. I ordered the Saltimbocca all's Romana. The veal was tough. I did not enjoy it. It also looked like one of our party did not like his hanger steak, he kept poking at it and pushing it around his plate. He did not take the uneaten portion home. I tried his mashed potatoes and was not impressed. Cubed ham is not a good addition to mashed potatoes, and I didn't like the flavor of the cheese. The desserts were delicious, but I know they are made by an outside party.
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Nader A.

Yelp
Great ambiance, really nice. We tried two appetizers: combination of smelt, calamari and shrimp (fried) and meatballs. Those appetizers were tasty and good even though I am not much of a fan when it comes to smelt. Who is? Anyway, that's about covers all the nice things we experienced. Service, quality of entrees and prices come under the "not that great" category. Our servers seemed a nice guy but it felt like he wanted to be somewhere else doing something else. Prices are really high for the quality of the food. We tried (in easy English) mushroom risotto, pasta with clam sauce and thin pounded veal. Pasta and risotto were extremely al dente - almost like soft rubber. And I didn't know what to make of the thin pounded veal! And I am challenging to see if you can make something if it. Let's just leave the poor pounded veal alone!

Ryan H.

Yelp
Place is trash. Brought my gf here for a nice dinner and was super disappointing. Waiter literally came over and dropped us our drinks and food a d we didn't see him thenrest of the time because he was so focused on a table of 6 girls. Never once even asked us if the food was good or for a refill. Got our food and my her steak was cold and my pizza was swimming, not to mention the bread was stale and broke apart like a chips ahoy cookie. Never again. Only good service we got was from the downstairs bartender while we waited over an hour for a table even though we had reservations.
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Jennifer J.

Yelp
I am so disappointed reading all of these poor reviews, I went to fiamma back when it was in the small building in gates and it was some of the best Italian food I have ever eaten. I have been looking for a decent birthday dinner place and remembered how much I loved this place but I'm reading the reviews and it seems like it has completely changed. I am so disappointed, in times when restaurants are "hurting" all reviews are sounding as if they staff here can't be bothered. Either way, I won't be going back here at all, reviews truly do speak for themselves. It would be nice if the owners could speak up and apologize for some of the behaviors mentioned in these reviews, you're losing more than you think.