Highest-rated restaurants in Rochester by diners
Highest-rated restaurants in Rochester by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans said they rarely, if ever, try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, and 5% say they never do, according to a survey of more than 2,600 diners from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—56% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.
Some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established spots that customers have been visiting for decades, but some may be brand new. More than 10,000 new restaurants opened in 2023, up 5.7% from 2022, according to a report from BentoBox. The states that saw the most new restaurants open up in 2023 were Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but new locales are popping up all over the U.S.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Rochester, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily reflect each restaurant listed.
#30. Polizzi's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 274 Goodman St. North Ste D-108 Rochester, New York
- Categories: Italian, Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1015 South Clinton Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Ethiopian, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Grass Fed Rochester
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 980 Monroe Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (449 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 746 Monroe Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Lebanese, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Rella
- Rating: 4.5/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 181 Monroe Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Seafood, Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Zoc's Gourmet
- Rating: 4.5/5 (52 reviews)
- Address: 975 Chili Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Burgers, Vegan, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Voula's Greek Sweets
- Rating: 4.5/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 439 Monroe Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Desserts, Greek, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Goodman Bakes
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 248 East Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Bakeries, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Youkoso Sushi
- Rating: 4.5/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1455 East Henrietta Road Rochester, New York
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#21. DiPisa Subs
- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 196 Court St. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Sandwiches, Soup, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Peach Blossom
- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 9 East Main St. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Babylon Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (79 reviews)
- Address: 1475 East Henrietta Road Rochester, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Halal
- Read more on Yelp
#18. BROTH on main
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 240 East Main St. The Mercantile on Main Rochester, New York
- Categories: Soup, Vietnamese, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Kamara's African Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 777 South Plymouth Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: African
- Read more on Yelp
#16. ThaiYada Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 315 Alexander St. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Carnegie Cellars Wine Bar and Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (56 reviews)
- Address: 247 North Goodman St. Rochester, New York
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#14. New City Cafe & Roastery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 441 Parsells Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Chortke
- Rating: 4.5/5 (257 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 352 Goodman St. North Rochester, New York
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Master Falafel
- Rating: 4.5/5 (80 reviews)
- Address: 519 Monroe Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Levantine's Syrian Cafe & Cuisine
- Rating: 4.5/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 750 Elmgrove Road Rochester, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Halal, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Swan Market
- Rating: 5.0/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 231 Parsells Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Meat Shops, German, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Railway Station Diner
- Rating: 5.0/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 836 West Ridge Road Rochester, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Caramel Bakery and Bar
- Rating: 5.0/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 647 Park Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Bakeries, Bars, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Carmen's Cooking
- Rating: 5.0/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 1855 Monroe Ave. Brighton Commons Mall Rochester, New York
- Categories: Latin American, Puerto Rican
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Halal-N-Out
- Rating: 5.0/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 740 East Ridge Road Rochester, New York
- Categories: Halal
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Peels on Wheels
- Rating: 5.0/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1157 Culver Road Rochester, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Seasons' Noodle
- Rating: 5.0/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 50 Chestnut St. Ste C201 Rochester, New York
- Categories: Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Falafel Aleppo
- Rating: 5.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 3240 Chili Ave. Ste A1B Rochester, New York
- Categories: Falafel
- Read more on Yelp
#2. CRUMPETS
- Rating: 5.0/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 441 Monroe Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Happy Gut Sanctuary
- Rating: 5.0/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 229 Mill St. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Kombucha, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 331 metros.
