Velvet Belly

This was so fun. What a great date night. We tried four different cocktails, shishito peppers, the poke bowl, and the steak frites. All had wonderful and distinct flavors. Some I didn’t love but understood. Tried the ice cream cake for dessert. Definitely a fun place. A bit on the expensive side. Bar tender was out of this world and she made some great choices for us. Parking was easy. Decor is fun.

What a great dining experience. The food is obviously seafood focused and they did a great job with that. We had a few appetizers that were delicious. Then I had the nigiri which was exceptionally good. The drinks were awesome. The highlight was our waitress Sara. She was a sweetheart and really made great suggestions for us. Final thought they have excellent Tequila options that are not common in Rochester!

Excellent food and service! Rochester has so many restaurants and we tend to keep going back to our favorites. We've overlooked this one and were recently shown the error of our ways. A chef friend mentioned how great the happy hour menu is so we had to find out for ourselves. The creative craft cocktail menu is impressive and the one we selected was divine. I had a glass of the house pour rosé from Provénce which was delicious and a split of Môet Champagne which was offered at a special price with a dozen oysters. We feasted on dollar oysters, spicy edamame, a yellowtail roll, raw fish "nachos" and a couple of yellowtail "tacos" which are a sort of deconstructed sushi, the fish wrapped in a nori "shell". Dessert was a sublime olive oil pistachio cake with burnt honey ice cream and orange. I'm normally unimpressed by most restaurant desserts but this one was exceptional. Our bartender/server was Antonio and he was friendly, knowledgeable and unobtrusive. In other words perfect. This place gets my vote and we will definitely be back.

Absolute must-visit. Top class sushi and seafood in a warm modern setting. The TNT roll was incredible, as was the smoke gouda and cauliflower gratin. Macadamia crusted scallops also excellent. Burger looked great, fries were great. Flavorful drink menu. Limited seating in an open, well-lit dining room, but has a large bar for extra seating. Very friendly staff. Parking available.

If you haven’t been to Velvet Belly I suggest you get there as quickly as possible. The service is amazing, only to be outdone by the food. From the sushi to the Wagyu steak and sides to the absolutely delicious drinks and dessert this is an experience! Best flavors I’ve experienced in years. This will be our new go to restaurant, unbelievable atmosphere, Unbelievable fresh food, unbelievable service.

Went here for the first time back in August to celebrate on my birthday. It exceeded my expectations! Service, presentation, drinks, food, atmosphere, I loved it all. They even gave me my dessert for free. I can see myself coming back a lot for their happy hour in the summer! I am going to the NYE prix fixe and i am really looking forward to that experience.

What an experience! I had such a great time I went back twice in one week! Your taste buds will be dancing whether you order just a cocktail or a meal. The salted caramel tirimisu is hands down top 5 of all time desserts!

Out of this world good!!! The mocktails, appetizers, and mains were just amazing. The service was on point. Everything was just perfect!

The Service is not only Good the food was great The My Family and Friends enjoyed every thing.. Every thing was nice including the fun things the the kids to do

missed happy hour oysters and drinks so i will definitely be back . but food was amazing if you or anyone you know likes seafood this is the place to bring them . tried the livorno fish + shellfish stew and pan roasted scallops , both delicious . oysters were phenomenal as well . nice ambiance inside good for date nights and friendly service :)

Came here for happy hour around 6pm Wednesday. Bartender super nice and attentive. I had the shark bite drink. Wow so good and love the spice level. I normally don't drink sugary drinks like this. Sad they didn't have wine or couldn't just get a vodka soda for happy hour price. My man had a medelo. We ordered charred edemame and spicy tuna roll. Both were really good. Most spicy tuna they don't add a lot of spice. This one hit just right and the rolls were cut perfect size. Charred edemame was excellent texture. Will come back when hungrier especially for happy hour. Plenty of parking and very cute atmosphere. Large bar that didn't filled crammed like you would at most places on park Ave

Great food, drink & ambiance w/ fun staff. The bartenders were the best. I'm not a fan of oysters, but the calamari was fantastic and the rest of the food was worth writing home about.

Ambiance is great--the place is spacious and well-decorated. We did have to wait about 20 mins or so for our table even though we had a reservation. When it was time to be seated, the hostess pointed in the direction of our table and said "the last one over there" instead of walking us to the table, so that was a bit off putting. Our actual waitress was excellent. We had the oysters which were served with a yummy champagne mignonette. The oysters themselves were fresh--nothing extraordinary. The roc city roll was packed with flavor and a nice kick of wasabi. The monkfish special was flaky and tender, although I did not really taste the spice or flavor of the sambal butter that we were told it was served with. It was still pretty good. The tataki was excellent--steak was tender and flavorful and served with what seemed like risotto. Overall it was a yummy surf and turf dinner!

The food was amazing! I love the calamari and the octopus. The soup is good. They also had a great dessert. The ambiance is so classy and the service was swift.

Everything we ate was delicious! We got the salty bread appetizer (yum), three sushi rolls and an order of fries and my husband and I left full but not stuffed. The ambiance was very trendy, but there was a good mix of people here. Our server was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant is more on the expensive side, so we definitely enjoyed it for our anniversary. A good spot for a special occasion.

We had a lovely dinner tonight on the patio at Velvet Belly. Everything that we tried was interesting and fantastic. One item stood out as the best -- the Oxnard Roll (salmon, pickled strawberries, shiso, scallions, strawberry gastrique). This was so unique and "out there" but the combination just works. It was seriously crave-able. Everyone should try it. The SFG roll was fantastic as always. Not pictured but also yummy was the VB Burger with a nice blend of meat cuts and addictive fries. As always, service at Velvet Belly was outstanding. We never wanted for anything. Our server was very friendly and helpful to guide us. We'll definitely be back again!

This was my first visit to Velvet, and it won't be my last. Located in the Rochester public market grounds, the atmosphere is modern, bright and airy. While their specialty is fresh fish, sushi, and rolls, you'll also find a 16oz prime strip and a 1/2 pound burger. We started with some yellow tail and tuna sashimi. Served with the standard soy wasabi ginger combo. Extremely fresh with excellent texture. The jumbo scallops entree was outstanding. Huge plump scallops seared to perfection with braised bacon, sweet corn succotash, fingerling potatoes, and a miso beurre blanc. The seared yellow fin tuna entree also impressed. Paired with sesame miso rice, charred asparagus, and sweet soy garlic ponzu. Didn't find a dessert that I was interested in, so an after dinner drink was in order. They have some great whiskey on menu , but unfortunately they were out of many. Service was friendly and attentive. Ambiance was warm and inviting. The daily fish specials sound excellent and something I'll come back for. Tonight they had an arctic char and whole roasted Bronzino that sounded amazing. Highly recommend.

Love the look of the place right when you walk in. Kind of unexpected but in a nice way. The lighting was perfect and seating was comfortable, cute pictures on the walls and I wonder if they are family members of the owners. The waiters are nice informative and attentive. You know it's a fancy place when they offer three different kinds of waters. Ended up getting the grilled oysters for appetizers to split and wish we had more than 6 to share. The cocktail I had was refreshing just forget the name of it. The entree i got was the sfg sushi roll and come to find out it was one of the popular items on the menu. I could see why with all the flavor. I love like lobster so I'll probably get the lobster roll next time. We got desert and since it was my birthday they offering a scoop of free hazelnut ice cream!

Fantastic meal and excellent service. Portions are small but delicious- which works for me. Nice wine pours and yummy cocktails

EXCELLENT 10 out of 10! From the second we walked in the door til the second we left. The Servers, Managers, every single person who came by our table was excellent! The foot, a step above, the drinks, incredible, the wine was amazing. I cannot say much more except go to Velvet Belly and enjoy every moment. 10 out of 10!!!!

Everything is excellent! Good service, ambience, the food is outstanding. great place!!

Our go to spot amazing seafood, wonderful cocktails. An all around great vibe! Unique

Food is great! Great sushi. I recommend the sushi nachos. I got the monk fish and it was great

Best sushi in Rochester. Salt bread's crust is crunchy and the inside is pillow soft. Always a great meal. The drinks complimented the menu perfectly

SUSHI NACHOS?! BOMB drinks?! Say no more. First off, the ambiance is top notch. They have bar + dining room seating. The food was incredible. Drinks were delicious as well. We came in on a Friday night (reservations required!!), first time here. The sushi nachos are a MUST. first time ever trying sushi nachos. They have a kick to them which I appreciated. Spicy and delicious. My friend got the lobster roll and the other got sushi. The drinks were good. I tried the "little fishes" and a margarita. They make a good marg here. Staff was attentive. I would definitely come back here when I come back to Rochester!! They also have outdoor seating in the summer months which is a huge plus!!

Tasty seafood with GF options. Located at the Public Market, such a fun place to visit with friends. Service was friendly and knowledgeable. One person in our party had to leave early and ordered a burger to go, which took soooo long to come out. I can't remember everything we ordered, but there was a lot: a few starters, a few rolls of sushi, and the beef tartare! Plenty of parking in front of or near the restaurant.

amazing restaurant. The sushi and the bouillon base and lobster roll were absolutely incredible.Ask for Cynthia she is an incredible waitress.

Fantastic food and friendly and knowledgeable service. Decor was inviting. The restaurant was fairly full but with the high backed booths, you can enjoy your own space. Will definitely be back!

Beautiful restaurant, bright and in a fun location. The food was delicious and cocktails phenomenal. We had a friendly and tentative server. I gave a four star review because the portion size was a bit small for the price, however I would definitely go back and recommend to others.

The ambiance was so great. There was an industrial vibe but they made sure to put sound dampening panels up so it didn't echo like crazy in there. The Brussels sprouts were so delicious and flavorful. The servers were very attentive and the oysters were so fresh and delicious. I will absolutely be coming back again and trying out the sushi.

Went to dinner with friends here. Then sushi is okay. The apps we got were a little underwhelming. I like the ambience but don't understand the buzz around this place or why it's so busy.

Came here on a busy Friday night to celebrate an anniversary (had a reservation, which is a must). This place is really about the ambience (and "vibes"). Swanky well decorated place with a large bar in the middle. We had booth seating. Tried several dishes including the wood grilled calamari, lobster butternut squash soup, a sushi omakase, and prime beef tartare. The food itself was decent. I enjoyed the lobster butternut soup, but felt that it tasted a bit thin (expected a creamier/richer flavor, but it tasted more like mostly blended squash without that extra level of richness). The wood grilled calamari was a generous portion; I personally felt that the smoky flavor was a bit overpowering for my taste. Prime beef tartare was tasty but I felt like it was basically sitting on top of a hashbrown which overpowered the taste. The omakase is actually NOT an omakase, but a sushi/sashimi platter. The fish was very fresh but again, it is NOT an omakase as it is several slices of sashimi with a sushi roll on the side. I really really did enjoy the miso soup that came with it; one of the best I had and probably the highlight of the meal for me strangely enough. Presentation here is beautiful and again, a nice ambience. Service is excellent. Maybe would come here for a date night or girls night out, but everything is pretty pricey and the food is just alright.

Velvet Belly is the new addition to Rochester dining scene, specifically located in the Rochester Public Market (next to Fiorella). I believe VB is the brainchild of the same people involved in Revelry and Branca (Midtown). So it's not surprising that I found the restaurant extremely well-polished for an opening week experience. The outside of the restaurant is understated and belies its opulent interior. I asked my wife upon arrival, "is this place really open?" The tinted glass hid the restaurant's interiorly nicely and I was a bit taken back to see a packed restaurant. The restaurant is quite visually appealing. The wood flooring, high skylit ceilings, unique pendant lighting and the dark turquoise bar panels really give Velvet Belly a luxurious and nautical feel. The service was friendly and attentive. The menu was pretty varied, but there's definitely a predilection for seafood. Our server also mentioned that a lot of dishes are meant to be shared tapas style, so I imagine it would be good for group. Highlights for me included the drinks, the roasted east coast oysters and the burger. I got the Bell Bottom, which consisted of vodka, yuzu, St. Germain, lemon, cranberry and rosé. It had a good combination of acidity and sweetness. It was quite refreshing without tasting too alcoholic. The favorite dish of the night for both my wife and I was oyster dish. It's the VB version of Oysters Casino consisting of oysters topped with dashi butter, parmesan, smoked bacon and breadcrumbs. There's also a charred fresno chile hidden, which gives it a bit of kick (so beware to those that don't like heat). For a seafood joint, the burger was surprisingly good. One of the best burgers i've had in Rochester to be honest. It was cooked to order and was very juicy, which I attribute to the short rib and brisket blend. I also loved the pillowy brioche bun it was served on. Now for the negatives. I thought the sushi was mediocre. The portions were small and quite overpriced at $19 for our California King Crab Roll. I liked the fancy chopsticks and dish-ware, but I probably wouldn't order the sushi again (although the yellowfin tuna crudo was quite edible). The fries and kale sides were also undercooked and bit difficult to eat. I am an old man now, but I also thought the music (aka noise) level was a bit too high. Overall, there were far more positives than negatives at Velvet Belly, especially for an opening week. The physical space is very pretty, especially the large rectangular bar that serves as the restaurant's centerpiece. Velvet Belly definitely seemed like the happening place to be at last Friday. I'm sure i'll be back soon.

Made a dinner res about a month ago since they are new. Parking is at the farmers market which is easy enough after hours. The vibe inside is industrial loft apt meets NYC night club. The bar is large with comfortable seating and you likely can get a walk in easy enough with full menu at the bar. The music is loud so this isn't a spot for quiet conversation. The menu is a sharing menu with a selection of drinks, sushi, small plates and large plates. Unfortunately, they were out of the salt bread when we ordered and offer no other bread to go with the seafood dishes. We ended up sharing the chorizo stuffed calamari, sword fish, burger, and the cauliflower gratin. Plus a few drinks. Contrary to other reviews, my drink (sharkbait) was zingy and strong enough. The cauliflower gratin was cooked well but not seasoned. The burger came with hot sauce which I used on the gratin and that was helpful. Both of us left full and satisfied. This would be a great spot to bring a group so you can try multiple small plates.

The food is amazing and the selection is never boring. The menu is updated seasonally and everyday there are off menu specials. The staff is also the best we have ever experienced it is a team effort to ensure your time at Velvet Belly is top notch. The bar is very popular with many drink specials that will delight any and all. We would highly recommend the Velvet Belly for your next night out!

Amazing service! Food was fantastic! Loved the raw oyster special! So fresh, sweet! Octopus was amazing! Mussels were wonderful. Our Birthday Boy had a beautiful steak. Cocktails were creative and strong. We were a group of five celebrating a birthday. 2 desserts were comped. Highly recommend!!

Absolutely wonderful. Exciting menu. Great wait staff (shout out to "Tony" who served our table of 5 efficiently and gave great advice). Ambience: check. Tableware/flatware: check. But what stands out here is the cuisine. Simply perfect. Scallops perfectly prepared. Short ribs exquisitely seasoned and textured. The sushi was fresh and ingredients compiled in perfect proportion. The Brussels Sprouts scrumptious. Eggplant spicy and tender. The burger was amazing. The mixed drinks spot on. This is a rare instance in which I award 5 stars on a first visit. We will be back.

One of Rochester's pretty, and most "happening" rooms. A fish forward restaurant with unusual and imaginative preparation and presentation. A vibrant bar with many craft cocktails, and a strong wine list. There are so many appetizers, and sides, and small plates, all shareable, that it is possible to taste many of the dishes, when sharing with an agreeable foursome. Terrific service too.

The food was so amazing. We had a crispy tuna and char octopus. The bar was nice and the place is laid out great. Great staff ?

I was hoping for a better dinner for the amount of money I paid ($235) for 2 people to dine here. The oysters were dried up, literally no liquid left. The drink I ordered tasted like juice, though it was supposed to be bourbon-forward. The sushi was the worst in my opinion. The wasabi had no flavor and the rolls were so tiny but so overpriced. I have had better sushi rolls from Wegman's, and that is not an exaggeration. The tartar was pretty good but could have used a little salt. I did think that the desserts were good (key lime semifreddo and panna cotta). Maybe we didn't order the right things or it was an off night, but I don't think we will be returning here anytime soon.

An absolute jam, the food was amazing, the cocktails even better. Service was on point. The ribeye was cooked perfectly, fantastic sides, and the cocktails were well above average. My only complaint was that we came into the restaurant and almost all the tables were empty but they wouldn't let us sit inside because they supposedly had reservations, but no one showed up in the entire time we were there. It was pretty hot outside and it would've been nice to be able to sit inside.

Omggggg .... Omgggggg ... this was one spectacular dinner!!!! My friend and I both have birthdays in December, so we decided to double-date and splurge with a Birthday Dinner with our husbands at Velvet Belly! Everything was DELICIOUS!!!! We decided to get a Seafood Platter for the table as our main meal to share among the four of us, and then tried several appetizers to supplement: the chorizo stuffed calamari; the salt cod croquettes; smoked Hudson Valley steelhead trout rillete; and the omfg sushi roll. Wow .... just wow! What a lovely spread, and our velvet bellies were FULL! The night got away from me before snapping too many pictures, unfortunately. Love this capture of the super cool cocktails! Hope you get to clink glasses and sup on seafood at Velvet Belly!

The food was flavorful and delicious, it all came out room temperature though. Our wait staff, or I should say all the waitstaff cause people come out of nowhere with food and to clean up were attentive and friendly. The peach creme bruele, Cauliflower gratin and I thought the grilled calamari stole the show. I wouldn't call their version of sharing plates a sharing size.

Had the best time here on a Saturday night! My friend and I came in at 7:00 and parked ourselves at the bar until close! When I first walked in, I could not believe how beautiful this space was. It's perfectly curated, with beautiful decor and a great casual but upscale atmosphere. Starting with drinks - y'aaaaaaaaaaaall. I tried the Shark's Bait, Bell Bottom, and Palomar. Every single one was fantastic, but the Shark's Bait is just next level. The bar manager Becca is amazing, and knows exactly what she's doing. Honestly, my favorite cocktail in Rochester. And then the FOOD. I was super duper happy with everything I got. Started off with the salty bread (super yummy) and then had the Tanuki and A-mei-zing rolls. As a self proclaimed sushi connoisseur, I was very very happy with both of the rolls. They were extremely balanced, and the flavors really got to shine. I would definitely order both again! We rounded out the night with creme brûlée, matcha cake, and a chocolate dessert that I can't remember the name of But all three were lovely! The creme brûlée was my personal favorite. The staff here is kind, attentive, and fun. I never felt rushed or like we were stressing them out, even when they were very busy! I really loved my night here and will definitely be coming back!

What a cool vibe and delicious food. The seafood tower was awesome. Hands down the best calamari that I have ever had, and the rest of the tower was great too. Was well worth the visit and I highly recommend it.

We decided to hit VB at 5pm on a Friday night and sit at the bar; it worked out. Immediately you notice the enormous skylight letting the Rochester sun pour into and fill the entire restaurant. The waitstaff and hostesses were very friendly and welcoming. Now that the good is out of the way. The food showed well and tasted very good. The issue you'll run into here is needing to order a lot of food to feel full. Drinks were also pretty and tasty, but I ordered 4 cocktails and had zero buzz, hallmark of a very light pour. Seafood can be expensive and less filling so when prices are high this can be inefficient on the wallet/stomach ratio. The pasta special was exceptional, but at $34 a pop it should be larger. Long story short, $200 later, it was a big bill. We'll know better next time what to order to keep it more reasonable. Another issue was the staff were clearly told to save two seats at the bar for "a special guest". That guest was late and they had to turn away multiple people waiting for seats. I felt this was in poor taste on the owners part and felt embarrassing for both the servers and the people looking for a seat. It may be a while before I return for seconds.

An interesting new addition to Rochester and the Public Market. My favorite thing about this place was the style - lots of bright fun colors and clean lines similar to Radio Social. FYI - The term Velvet Belly actually comes from a shark by the same name that has a neon purple stomach. The neon sign at the front ties that in nicely - so well that I wish there were a few more bits of neon around the restaurant, like in the mood lighting. The drink options were great, both in wine and mixed drinks. The Shark Bite drink was the standout for me, the perfect balance between sweet and savory. The food was also very good. They have a lot of unique dishes you really don't find elsewhere. That said, despite this being a fish restaurant, my favorite dish was the Beef Carpaccio. It had the best flavor, really subtle and beautiful, whereas I felt the fish dishes could have been elevated in flavor more than they were. Overall, a good stop, and I can't wait to see how they improve as time goes on.

First time here and wont be the last! Food and drinks were fabulous. Definitely recommend.

The parking lot was great and plenty spots to park. Velvet Belly is located at the downtown of Rochester public market. I would recommend you to make a reservation because the tables do fill up very quickly. Their food was very good and did not expect that. Their drinks were good, but I would like it if they offer more varies of sweet alcoholic drinks then it would be great! The place itself is a gorgeous and very classic bar type along with sushi. Definitely different!

One of the newer places to open here. I was impressed with the drinks and food. If nothing else do try the smoked fish dip, it is excellent. The atmosphere was surprisingly casual in a very good way. As some have mentioned, it is on the more pricy side but I believe it is worth that price for at least one visit.

I was so excited to dine at Velvet Belly for my birthday, and it did not disappoint! We did need to book a reservation a few days out, and weekends fill up fast. But upon arrival, the service was impeccable. The server was knowledgeable and friendly and very attentive, and he helped us decide how many dishes to order. Between two people we shared 5 dishes- the nduja stuffed calamari was my absolute favorite. We ate up every last drop of the sauce. We also ordered two sushi rolls, shrimp "tacos" (a special that day) and the eggplant main dish. Everything was delicious and the perfect amount of food. They even brought out some homemade toffee with a candle since we told them we're celebrating. I can't wait to go back!

Velvet Belly is the most hopping place in Rochester! Because it was so busy, we asked to sit outside. We honestly thought we would be forgotten about, but our waitress was very attentive and seemed to anticipate our every need. We loved all of the food we got! Everything was very fresh and the flavors were really unique. I also liked the drinks but they were a little too sweet for me. My only real complaint was the price: the sushi rolls were quite small and one of them was over 30 dollars, and the miso soup was 9. Because of the price I'd probably only go for a special occasion, but we did love the meal a lot!

Fantastic food and service. I really appreciated the attitudes of the waitstaff, with the exception of a singular gentleman manning the sushi counter who kind of kept staring at our table for much of our evening, which was a little off putting. As many others have commented, the pricing is a bit high for several of the items available, but for some you are getting a great presentation and flavor experience. I would certainly come back, but only occasionally, and probably only for select items. For $150 I'm confident a table of two can get a larger meal with the same quality and experience at another venue. I appreciated the mocktail items being available. It was very enjoyable though and I recommend trying it at least once.

Delicious! Juicy! Fun! You won't be disappointed when it comes to the food or the drinks that's being served here. Service was phenomenal. Food was great!

I can't say enough about how great the food and service are here. Waitress was great with drink and menu suggestions and which foods paired well with others. Everything we ordered was great from the stuffed calamari, salty bread (bread is not automatically served, have to buy it) We had thought about getting the shishito peppers but our waitress advised us that they were pretty spicy (usually it's only one or two in a whole serving and the rest are fairly mild) As one off the people in our group is not a fan of spicy we held off. We ordered 4? small plates and the Branzino (fish) which is an entree special. Everything was great! I normally would recommend people go and try it but don't...I don't want all of the reservations taken when I want to go back!

The service of the bar staff, mainly a bartender by the name of Jay, was unprofessional at best. Hot temper and poor attitude. My family and I will not return to this establishment again and will discourage others from visiting.

Had a pleasant time here when I went with a friend for happy hour and a light dinner. We sat at the bar and were met with fast and attentive service. We tried a couple cocktails and then ordered a small plate and house sushi roll. Come here for the quality of the food, but be warned that the portion size is a bit on the small end (at a higher price point too). Overall, this is a great dining option if you're looking to treat yourself to a nice meal. If you're a seafood lover too, I'd add it to the top of your list.