Here are six of the city of Rochester's six best new restaurants as voted on by Rochester Magazine's readers!
Fresh-Made Focaccia. Golden Beets. A 3D Printed Burrito Holder.
Our Paladar | Photo Credit: Rochester Magazine
Our Paladar
A FITTING NAME.
Paladar, from the Spanish for "palate," is used in Cuba to refer to a family-owned restaurant often run out of a home. Our Paladar is no exception: It started in chef Nick Diaz's house serving just eight guests at a time. This intimate dining experience continues at the more permanent location with a new downstairs dining area available for private events.
FRESH AND LOCAL.
Our Paladar makes bread in-house daily, including focaccia with herbed butter and polenta bread which is served alongside their burrata. Their pastas, including their Gnudi-a gnocchi-like pasta which was a runner up in our Best Italian Dish category-a re also made fresh in-house.
ALL IN THE FAMILY.
The Croquetas are one of Our Paladar's most popular dishes. They are made according to Chef Nick's grandmother's recipe, all the way from Cuba, which calls for a mixture of chicken and rice to be "formed into balls, breaded, fried, and served with an avocado cream."
ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
Our Paladar prides itself on providing great food and great atmosphere, paying attention to "the music, the lighting, [and] the flowers on the table."
Marrow | Photo Credit: Rochester Magazine
Marrow
WINE NOT.
Voted one of our Best Places for Wine, Marrow offers a wide selection, from bubbles (Jacques Chaput Champagne) to whites (Oro de Castilla Verdejo) to pinks (Ostatu Rosado) to reds (Aia Vecchia "Sor Ugo"). Looking for something different? They also offer an orange wine from Germany called Fio "Glou Glou" Orange. Unlike its name suggests, the wine contains no orange. Instead it gets its color from leaving the skin and seeds on the grapes while they ferment.
CAN'T DECIDE WHAT TO GET?
Marrow has a tasting menu that offers five courses (including dessert) for $75. Current options include Golden Beets (served with brown butter, pomegranate, and goat cheese), Danish Donuts with hazelnuts and foie-tella (a foie gras and chocolate spread), and Pork Coppa (served with white hominy grits, rock shrimp, and molasses). Guests can also add a wine pairing with a wine specially chosen to complement each course.
EXTEND THE NIGHT.
With a full after dinner drinks menu of digestifs, coffee, and hot tea it's easy to keep the night going. House-made Limoncello, coffee from Colorway (a Rochester-based company), and Henriques and Henriques are all on offer.
A LOCATION WITH A LONG HISTORY.
Rochester's oldest brick building, built in 1858 by Dr. Lewis Halsey Kelly, still stands today. And houses Marrow. In 1858, Kelley spent $5,000 on the bricks alone, which were baked in a kiln on the east side of town. Dr. Kelley, one of Rochester's first doctors, lived in the upstairs of the original building and practiced medicine there.
Boxcar Hippie | Photo Credit: Rochester Magazine
Boxcar Hippie
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
Boxcar Hippie also secured the honor of being voted Rochester Magazine's Best Place for Vegetarian Food. Alongside traditional protein options like carnitas and steak, they offer four vegetarian protein options: Chili Lime Vegan Chicken, Vegan Barbacoa Pulled Oats, Plant-Based Chorizo, and Peppers & Onions, all of which are also vegan and gluten friendly.
(UN)OFFICIAL MASCOTS.
If you're not up to date on your '70s and '80s pop culture you may be wondering "Who are those two guys whose pictures are everywhere?" (on the website, on their menu). Those guys are legendary hippie comedy duo Cheech and Chong. Real fans (of Boxcar Hippie or Cheech and Chong) will also note their influence on the menu ("My dog ate my stash, man") and a website design credit.
CHAMPIONS.
What do Boxcar Hippie, Hot Chip Burger Bar, and North Mr. Pizza have in common? They're all part ofChampionship Dining, established in 2016 and run by Lindsay Zubay and Justin Schoville. Championship Dining even has its own TikTok (a video sharing platform for anyone not part of Gen Z) where Zubay frequently stars in videos.
THEY HAVE A 3D PRINTED BURRITO HOLDER.
Seriously, how cool is that? Plus it'll keep your hands free for eating some of their ''Churro Chips" or scooping up some house-made salsa with tortilla chips.
Bebap | Photo Credit: Rochester Magazine
Bebap
CHINESE ZODIAC.
The Year of the Dragon is the perfect time to try Dragon Peace. This "specially-crafted yuzu rice lager" was designed and produced in collaboration with Little Thistle. Everything about this drink was crafted with care, including the label, designed by local artist and Bebap's creative director Tiffany Alexandria (aka choochoocachew). The label features a yellow Yuzu fruit, dragon, and grains of rice designed to look like raindrops. It's available at Bebap Korean Eats as well as Ootori Sushi and 1928 Cocktails and Bites, two of owner Sammi Loo's other restaurants.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Here, quite a lot. The restaurant's name, Bebap is actually pronounced "be-bop." The name, they say, "can be read as both onomatopoeia and bi-lingual pun; bibimbap is a Korean mixed rice dish."
INSPIRED BY TV.
Sammi Loo attributes the creation of Bebap Korean Eats to K-dramas of all things. While watching these shows she would find herself craving Korean food and with no Korean restaurants in Rochester, she did what anyone would do ... start a Korean restaurant of her own.
POPULAR CHOICE.
Kimchi is the national dish of South Korea and Bebap gives diners several ways to enjoy it. Options include Kimchi Pajeon, a kimchi pancake, Gimbap, a sushi-like dish filled with kimchi and vegetables, and Kimchi-Jjigae, a stew made with kimchi and pork.
Latitude 44 | Photo Credit: Rochester Magazine
Latitude 44
CASTLE DINING.
Latitude 44 is housed in The Castle, which served as Rochester's armory from 1916 to 1970. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was bought by owner David Arnett in 2023. Arnett's wife, Aynsley, helped bring light and energy into the space without getting rid of its historic charm adding chandeliers, new flooring, and a neon Latitude 44 sign. They were runners up for the Coolest Looking Restaurant in Rochester, so the hard work definitely paid off!
ROLLED FRESH.
Every day. The homemade gnocchi, one of Latitude 44's most popular items, is rolled fresh every day.
THE LONG-AWAITED BRUNCH!
Brunch-newly offered as of February-is available every Saturday from 10am-2pm. Food options include Deep Fried French Toast, Chilaquiles, and an Espresso Brulee. And what brunch menu would be complete without cocktails? Options include the Breakfast Club (bourbon, maple syrup, black walnut bitters) House Bloody (vodka, house made bloody mix, and a beer back), and Carajillo (Reposa do tequila, espresso, Licor 43).
SEAFOOD DIET.
Latitude 44 has several great seafood options including their Crab Salad (with jumbo lump blue crab) , Skuna Bay Salmon (with a panko pecan crust), and Scallops (served with cheesy polenta ). Don't eat seafood? Try their Jackfruit "Crab" Cakes, one of their best sellers.
507 Pub(lic) House | Photo Credit: Rochester Magazine
507 Pub(lic) House
AROUND THE WORLD.
Part American food and part just about everything else, 507 Pub(lic) House's current menu features dishes from Irish Meatloaf to wings with sticky Korean sauce to Chicken Tikka Masala. They're also not afraid to mix cuisines, serving French Croquettes with the not-so-typical Yum Yum and Thai peanut sauces. "About 50% of the menu will be American comfort food and the other 50% will be a variety of dishes from around the world," owner Tim Ross said just before opening. "There will be something for everyone."
THAT NAME SOUNDS FAMILIAR.
Chef Youness Bojji (and his wife Amber) were the minds behind Casablanca and Chez Bojji, and now Bojji brings his ta lent to 507 Pub(lic) House. Bojji brings experience and a diverse culinary background from his time spent in Morocco, France, Spain, and the US.
SHARING IS CARING.
Every weekday between 3:30 and 6:30pm, 507 Pub(lic) House offers guests the choice of California Chardonnay or Cabernet, an appetizer to share, and two entrees for just $65.
ALL DAY EVERY (WEEKEND) DAY.
Join 507 Pub(lic) house for brunch with options ranging from traditional (Farmers Omelet, Steak and Eggs) to the more adventurous (Moroccan Eggs Shakshuka, Crab Fritters Benedict).