The 50 best casual restaurants in Rochester (2024)

One of the BEST BBQ places I have had, super amazing! Loaded nachos, platter with ribs, wings, chicken, mac n' cheese, corn, and cornbread. ALL of it was AMAZING. Seriously, it would be hard to pick what to get next time as it was all perfect. Finished off with deliciously creamy NY style cheesecake. Bonus points for SUPER fun atmosphere and décor. Busy but we made a reservation on Google an hour in advanced and got in no issue.

I love this place and the food as well, first time i tried at the Syracuse and now this place.The aged beef was amazing and so was the chicken along with the sauce.I love the ambiance feel like as if living in some past time, had great time there.The service was warm and amazing again.Highly recommended ..!!!

Excellent lunch with friends. Short wait at the bar, loved our barmaid, full of personality, then on to lunch, with our delightful server, Maria N. We had ribs, pulled pork & brisket, all of which were juicy & delicious. Sides were beans, black beans & rice, mac & cheese (especially yummy), potato salad and cornbread. Enjoyed all of them. Coleslaw, today, was a little bland. Maria was super attentive & a ton of fun. Adjourned back to the bar, greeted nicely by our former barmaid & finished up a great lunch in a terrific spot.

Worth the short wait for a table! Wait staff was great with suggestions and super quick with drinks.All the meats were perfect. Ribs were fall off the bone, brisket was so tender (near melt in your mouth!), the pulled pork and half chicken were all so tasty. By the way, the half family platter that feeds 3 to 4 is plenty for that size of a group.We really enjoyed our visit there and added it to a must stop when we are up visiting.

All I can say is WOW,,, our waitress Kira D. Was awesome, we had a party of 13, and she handled it above and beyond. Our appetizers came out quick, our food was on time and PERFECT !!! I ordered a half rack of ribs with Cajun Corn which is really good, I highly recommend getting that side or doubling that side and french fries with my order.We did not wait long to be seated, we were waited on perfectly, from hostess to our waitress and she was not mad that we asked for separate checks, Kira D. was highly attentive to all of our needs, she really rocked it.My ribs were cooked to perfection, french fries were good the cajun corn was really good, next time I am doubling that side, I highly recommend you try it out if you like a little spice in your food. From hostess to waitress we were taken care of and all involved went above and beyond to make sure our experience was nothing less than 100% perfect. We showed up when it was prime time around 5:30-6:00 and the restaurant was jam packed and we were taken care of,,, I have nothing negative to say at all.Kira D. Thank You for taking care of us and the rest of the staff thank you for making our experience a great one, we will be coming back when we are in the area, Thank You Again 🤘😎🤘🇺🇲

If you love bbq this is the place for you! It’s located right on the river! Family friendly and a unique atmosphere. The brisket is a MUST. The fried green tomato app is also delicious but anything here is incredible. It’s a crowd pleaser for sure - especially with carnivores.

I traveled through Rochester for work and after finishing the job, I asked a local where to go eat. I didn’t ask for a specific type of food because I wanted to see what everyone loves here. He recommended Dino BBQ, and at first I’m thinking “Great, another BBQ joint” but then I remembered when a local makes a recommendation, often times, it’s a hit right on the nails head. And of course, that local was accurate, this is one of the best BBQ places I’ve been to. I travel in my camper all over the country and have tasted thousands of different BBQ places from LA to KC to DC, and this place trumped them all. Just wow. The cornbread is on a whole different level. I asked for extra pieces to take with me. The brisket, so tender you didn’t even need a knife. Their simmered greens in turkey broth was a much better alternative to your traditional collard greens in pork brine, at least for me.Their ribs, on point; smoky, tender and falls apart without having to use a knife.Overall, I was really impressed with the fact This quality of BBQ exists outside of the Southwest United States.Highly, highly recommend!

Delicious BBQ! The best ribs in my husband’s life. Anything smoked is delectable. Don’t sleep on the Mac and cheese, but be warned it has a kick!Cornbread is fantastic!The atmosphere is a backyard bbq!Service is fast and accurate.5/5 highly recommend.

Have been going to this place for years. Moved out of Rochester nine years ago but always try to stop by here for a meal. Usually in the mid afternoon to beat the crowds. Really can’t go wrong with anything. Smoked wings are excellent. And you won’t walk away hungry. Nice selection of beer and great bar area.

We tried on a Saturday night and was told 1.5 hr wait so we decided to try the next day Sunday. Sunday, no wait at around 4pm. We are a family of five with three kids under 10. We ordered the 1/2 family dinner and two kids meals plus wings.All the food was lukewarm, not one items was warm enough. It was tasty but think if the food was warmer would've been better. Wasn't particularly busy either.The waitress seemed annoyed from the start. Maybe an off day. She did seem to warm up to us by end of dinner but not by much. We ordered the kids bottled drinks and I had to ask for plastic cups as they came in glass bottles. Little details that an experienced waitress (as she was) should've been attentive too.Parking is brutal! I knew from reading reviews parking was terrible. But be prepared.Would not eat at the Rochester location again. Coming from Canada, would give the Buffalo location a try but not this one. Too many CONS.

Got here Friday just before 6 had to wait almost an hour to get a table for 8. We ordered meat combo plates and kids meals. The mac and cheese had a little kick that the kids didn't love but the adults did. Food was very enjoyable and got a thumbs up from all ages and stages. Brisket is great, many yummy sides (Mac and cheese, applesauce, rice and beans, mashed potatoes and gravy,French fries, corn bread) and service was friendly.

I loved this place. The waitress was awesome, atmosphere was great, loved the music, & affordable prices for the amount of food you were served. My 7 year old son gave it 10 stars. So we are definitely coming back.

Great location in downtown. My son says this is the best barbecue he has ever had. The ribs were falling off the bone. He loved all of the sides as well. I ordered the Impossible BBQ sandwich which was also very good. Prices were reasonable and the service was great. A definite must try when in the area.

The food was amazing! The prices were very reasonable considering that the BBQ just melted apart from being smoked perfectly. Our waitress was super nice and doing a great job while they were busy. It was noisy inside but it was great to see families having supper together. What a lovely time!

I was referred here while in the area for work and I'm happy I went. The whole experience was great. I ordered the 2 meat combo plate with Brisket and pulled pork. Both were good but the brisket had alittle more fat than I like. My sides were mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. The Mac was great and had a bit of spice to it, perfect. The potatoes were alittle dry even with gravy but had good flavor. I would definitely come back again.

Really good portion for a build your own salad. It was delicious I just wished they cut up the brisket and bacon into somewhat smaller chunks so you can just eat the salad.This was the base salad (no radish no cornbread), brisket, thick bacon, NYS cheddar, and honey mustard vinaigrette.

The restaurant was lively and the atmosphere was just right. Service was fine, althought a bit slow but it was also pretty busy.I got the combo plate with 3 meats and 2 sides. For $28 the portion sizes weren’t bad, but I’d order more for 2 people. The food was underwhelming and the brisket was dryer than I expected. The sause was mediocre and I found myself reaching for the ketchup bottle more than I liked to.Overall this place isn’t bad but given a choice, I don’t think I would go back again.

My husband and I stopped for a bite to eat before watching a show at Geva theater and this place was awesome! It was my first time there. The service was great, our waitress was super friendly and attentive. We shared an appetizer of brisket nachos and shared a Cuban sandwich with two sides and our meal. The french fries were excellent and we tried the rice and beans which were good. I definitely would go back to try other items on the menu!

Nothing special, definitely not special enough to demand the prices they do.The poutine was not salted properly yet the pulled pork plate had a pound of salt in it. The draft cider was mediocre. The redeeming qualities of this place are the staff and the premises.

So if you read my profile this is my jam and well I have been to all of the locations except this one so when the opportunity popped up to go here why not. So as you would expect it’s a packed joint when something is going on at Blue Cross Arena. So pick you time to go as they reservations. So go to the bar and grab a drink. Food as service was great and the table Sturm very quickly. So be patient, did I mention grab a drink!Ok so now for what you want to know. I love brisket and the sandwich was awesome along with the Mac n. Cheese , for my drink it was sloop juice bomb. Rob’s pork and brisket platter was also reported as delicious. The chili and corn bread were also good. Wife had the burger, yes I know why. Hey we can’t be barbecue loving people. Point of the story is well worth going to.

The place is just as awesome as the rumours suggested. Food was amazing and came in really big portions. Theme was nice and the kids really enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

We visited during lunch on a Friday and it was fairly packed, but we were seated right away and our food came out quickly. Our server was also friendly.We got a combo plate of brisket, jalapeno cheddar sausage, and ribs; the brisket and sausage were the standouts for me. As noted by other reviewers, the mac 'n cheese was delicious. The kids menu is also fairly extensive, with lots of options and generous portions.Street parking is available, and a larger paid lot is also down the street. If you're planning on going for dinner or ordering takeout, best to do so early because they do sell out (we were originally going to order takeout the prior evening but things like brisket were already sold out by 6-7pm).

Food is great. The 3 Meat combo is awesome. Mac nd cheese with potatoes is definitely a great dish plus at an affordable price. Atmosphere is welcoming and positive. The windows booth views are an added bonus. Staff is friendly and always helpful.

Finally came here after hearing about it for years. Food did not live up to the hype. I've had worse and I've had better. The brisket was overcooked to the point of being mushy. Good brisket should still be pink. Mine was completely grey and falling apart. The ribs had a very dry crust like jerky. I suspect a result of reheating. Lastly everything was way too salty. Especially the cajun corn.

Dinosaur BBQ is THE BBQ joint in Rochester, with well-executed dishes, a large variety of tasty sides, and great vibes. It's definitely clear why they consistently win best BBQ in Roc City Mag's annual list!I got the tres niños, which was a sampler plate including brisket, pulled pork, and St. Louis ribs + 2 sides (mac and cheese and potato salad). The meat had a noticeable smoke ring and was remarkably tender without being mushy. I liked that the sauce wasn't particularly sweet and let the meat shine. I'd order any meat again, but the brisket was my top pick.I also got a side of deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes. The deviled eggs were a classic with a good mustard bite. And I liked dipping the red cabbage they served it on in the dressing served with the tomatoes (also excellent)!

Some of the best mac & cheese I have ever had. The service is super quick and the food is absolutely worth the wait. You will have a wait on the weekend I suggest reserving a table online. Of all the food we tried, their chicken is the best. They also have a sweet tea.

I recently stayed downtown Rochester and had the pleasure of dining at Dinosaur BBQ. Despite being packed on a Friday night, I managed to snag a seat at the bar. I opted for their Trace Niños platter, which offered a delicious sampling of brisket, St. Louis ribs, and pulled pork. Accompanied by sides of greens with turkey and baked beans, as well as a side of cornbread, it was a feast to remember. To wash it down, I tried their Red Donkey Punch, a delightful mix of rum and tropical juice. The staff were incredibly friendly, adding to the overall positive experience. This gem was conveniently within walking distance for me, so I didn't check the parking situation, but it seemed like there were plenty of cars parked along the streets nearby. I highly recommend Dinosaur BBQ to anyone visiting the Rochester area.

We were in Rochester for the night & decided to eat here. What a brilliant decision on my part if I do say myself! Food was incredible!! I can testify that the chicken, brisket, & ribs were smoked perfectly. My surprise was the mac & cheese, never had better! True story. Its busy so make reservations & fyi the do not take same day reservations, so call ahead the day before.