Our family was visiting Rochester from out of town to celebrate our son's college graduation. We booked the private room at Avvino (Meyer's Den), which turned out to be a great choice. While planning our dinner party months in advance, the communication from Janine was excellent. She helped us develop a 4-course menu that was sure to have something for everyone, including vegan and allergy friendly options. Amy was our server for the evening, and she ensured we had everything we needed to enjoy our evening. The chairs in the Meyer's Den are wide and comfortable, the decor is dark and classy, and being in the basement away from the dining room made it very quiet and easy to converse with family. The room is rather spacious for 12 guests, but could also accommodate a few more people without feeling cramped. Out of the appetizers we selected, the Charred Octopus was very popular and everyone enjoyed it...even those that had never previously eaten octopus. The baby cauliflower dish was also a beautiful presentation, and quite large and enjoyable. The salads, particularly the Charred Hurricane salad, were nice light courses before the entree was served. As for the entrees, the filet mignon was a little on the dry side, but we really enjoyed the light and crispy spinach fritters that accompanied the beef. The salmon was a generous portion of medium rare fish, and there was lot going on with that dish - spicy cauliflower and za'atar potatoes that had some mixed reviews. Folks who ordered the duck breast seemed to enjoy the complex preparation, which had asparagus, green beans, and two pureed sauces - cauliflower ginger and cherry-rhubarb. The doughnut bread pudding with apple pieces and vanilla ice cream was a delicious, decadent way to end the meal. We left rather stuffed, and delighted with the overall experience that allowed our family to celebrate together. read more

Avvino - Menu for our private party dinner event - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

I'd say I had a good experience dining here. It was my birthday and I went in with a few friends. We were promptly attended to. I ordered a mocktail to start off and it was pretty good. For appetizers, we got the roasted beets and the bone marrow. Both were good. I got the duck breast for entree and my friends got the carrot cavatelli and lobster bucatini. We all enjoyed our dishes. The duck was succulent and roasted just enough. The Brussel sprouts that came on the side were a disappointment though. For dessert, I ordered ricotta pine nut tart with lemon sorbet. The tart was very subtle in flavor but good. My friends ordered the bread pudding which was great as well. Overall, very satisfied with the food and service. Can be back! read more

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Great place. Super friendly staff. Was thrilled when I looked at menu and saw two of my favorite things.... Duck & Rabbit! Drinks were done well and food was superb! read more

I haven't been here in quite a few years as the menu changes quite a bit, and whenever I looked at the menu I didn't see a menu I liked. I like more of their fall and winter menus. This time around was very good as was my first time the bartender was extremely pleasant and made very good drinks. This place is pretty pricey but the food was mostly worth it. The ambience is cozy even though the dining room is a tight fit. Our Waitress was knowledgeable and helpful. We got the bone marrow for an appetizer- delicious. The hurricane salad was underwhelming, but the squash salad was pretty bad, especially for $17. The squash was dried out and wasn't appetizing. I will definitely pass on the salads next time. they never brought out bread until our dinners were out but that was just a mistake as they were very busy. We ordered the fillet which was perfectly cooked and the salmon which was delicious and had some spicy greens under it which I liked. The fish special was good and my husband got the duck which he liked and he's picky about his duck. To me, this is a place to go to every once in a while, but not in the normal rotation. read more

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Seven years later and I feel an update is necessary as Avvino continues to be one of my all-time favorite dining experiences - not just in Rochester but anywhere. In the two years since I've moved from Rochester to Philadelphia, I've eaten my way through James Beard award-winning restaurants in my new city, travelled and dined through Paris, Italy, Germany, and Amsterdam, and really worked hard to assess what the experience of dining out means to me personally. I love a restaurant that: 1) Knows who they are and what they mean to the community they are situated in. 2) Roots into their chosen cuisine while still leaving playfulness and innovation on the menu. 3) Cares deeply about the person walking through their door. Avvino accomplishes this better than most, and that's without saying that the food is just delicious. I've explored new-to-me flavors here and seen dishes presented in ways you won't find anywhere else. I sometimes feel Rochesterians don't really know what they've got in this gem of a restaurant. I've tried almost everything on the menu at this point, most recently enjoying the ceviche, farmers flatbread (always), and the honestly mind blowing venison curry. We had leftovers for the rest of our stay in Rochester and it brought me great joy to share one of my favorite places with my out-of-towner boyfriend to really show off the best of Rochester's culinary scene. Put Avvino in any major city and I guarantee it still stands out as singular and highly-praised. It's always my first recommendation when people ask me where to try in Rochester, and I look forward to going back time and time again and watching this unassuming fine-dining-in-the-random-plaza-off-Monroe eatery do it's thing. read more

Tasty and fresh bread and butter We got the jumbo shrimp for appetizers which was awesome Food was delicious and beautifully served 10/10 read more

Avvino - Persian Petite Lamb Shanks Avvino Burger - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Service was good and ambiance was nice but this was one of the most underwhelming meals I have ever eaten. I am not a picky eater at all either and I have never once felt compelled to leave a negative restaurant review until now. I am from NYC and was in Rochester only for the day. I will say the meal started off great with a delicious plate of warm dinner rolls and fluffy whipped butter, but it was all downhill from there. We got the charcuterie board and there was genuinely not a single good thing on there. The chicken was cold and the flavors of the peppers and mushrooms did not complement it well and was flavorless and boring (I easily could have made something better at home) the liver spread was undesirable. I had high hopes for the chili honey sauce but the flavors just did not come together well and the mustard just did not go well on the toast. The bone marrow could have been cooked more thoroughly so it could be more gooey, and could've used some sort of seasoning to complement it. The burger was way too big to get your mouth around and used way too much ketchup and is in no way worth 29$. The fries had this gross smell like they had been cooked in meat grease that was unappetizing. Overall I have eaten more flavorful and well put together meals that demonstrated better culinary skill at so many different random pubs/taverns. Nothing about this food made me think it was worth the price. Typically when I go to a place with this sticker price I expect a carefully curated meal where every flavor on every dish is spectacular and compliments every other part of the dish in a delicious way, but I genuinely think I have more culinary skill than whoever crafted this menu. Would recommend finding a different place for your night out. read more

Wow. I honestly didnt have high hopes for this place. The menu seemed very unique. However, the food was fantastic. Not one part of my meal was bad. The rueben sandwich 9/10 (a little salty), leafy green salad with butter herb dressing (10/10), filet minon with spinach fritters (10/10), cranberry sage cheesecake (10/10). I was scared on that cheesecake but the sage flavor was very very mild. read more

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Food was good. Porterhouse steak was cooked well. Service was just ok. Ambiance was good. Might go back

Fabulous restaurant with an elegant atmosphere, delicious food, and stellar service! Wonderful small private room in the lower level. Don't miss the German chocolate cake for dessert. It's huge and absolutely fabulous! read more

The building threw us off for a minute, but once we were inside everything changed. The reception was excellent. we had a reservation and we were seated right away. The service was outstanding and noticed the receptionist was jumping in to help with whatever needed to get done. The service was always positive and noticed that there were a lot of regular customers, which is always a good sign. We ordered the duck and the halibut and both dishes were exceptional. Rochester has a top notch restaurant with Avvino. read more

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Avvino is so beautiful inside and such a hidden gem. The bartender is great and the food is always rotating so I never get bored of their menu. Never had better bread in my life. Also the shrimp app is so good and the chocolate cake for dessert. Plus the plates are unique and collected by the owner, you can really tell everyone who works here cares about their restaurant. LOVE LOVE LOVE read more

After reading reviews we came here for our 25th wedding anniversary and were expecting great service and food and that is exactly what we got. Our server (Rebecca?) was exceptional and went above and beyond to make our anniversary dinner memorable. We started with Ruben sliders. Rolls and butter was added to our table as a comp to our meals. Both were delicious. My husband order the venison curry for his main dish and said it was exceptional. I tasted a piece of venison and it was tender and delicious. I ordered the filet mignon with spinach fritters. The steak was very tender and one of the best I've had and I loved the spinach fritters. True to form when we have an appetizer we usually can't finish our main course. Our server Rebecca boxed everything up for us. We were too full for dessert but wanted to order one to go, figuring we could share it back at our hotel, which had a full size fridge/freezer. So we were able to order the bread pudding. Rebecca packed that up for us along with a container of sauce and a container of 2 scoops of ice cream. She also told us she added in a piece of German chocolate cake. We were staying at our hotel for 3 nights so had some time to finish our desserts and shared the cake that night. It came with a cup of chocolate sauce to heat up and pour over the cake. My husband stated he wasn't fond of German chocolate cake but this was the best one he has ever had. We couldn't finish the generous portion so saved it for a few bites the next day. The next morning I had 1/2 my steak and two spinach fritters for breakfast. We only had a butter knife in the hotel and it melted through the steak as I sliced it. Was glad to be able to eat this meal twice! Our last night in the hotel found us eating the bread pudding for dinner. I don't know if the bread pudding is that large of a serving or if our server put in two servings but there were two servings that I could plate out. Each plate had a slice of bread pudding with warm Carmel sauce, a small dollop of whip cream with a blueberry on top and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was scrumptious and rich. I couldn't quite finish mine. The small dining area is comfy, cozy and decorative. You go thru a back door to use restrooms that are shared with an attached business. That restroom was nicely decorated too. I would definitely recommend this place and would go back again in a heartbeat if we lived in the area. Thank you Rebecca and Avvinos for making our 25th anniversary special. read more

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What an amazing and delicious dining experience we had at Avvino early May 2024! I was in town for bridal shower & wished to treat to soon-to-be bride & groom and some other family members to dinner. So thrilled I chose Avvino. We started at the bar with fabulous bartender Ben who hooked us up with a great non-alcoholic drink called the West End along with his version of a fuzzy navel for my sister. Very accommodating and friendly for how busy he was on a Saturday night. The lovely and personable hostess Brie seated us after being kind enough to take our group photo at the bar. She made us feel so at home, bringing comfy pillows for a couple of us seated on the banquette. I truly felt as if we were dining at a friend's home. Then we had the great fortune and experience to have Katherine (Kathy) as our server. She knows her menu as if she were born reciting the flavor profiles of each dish along with wine knowledge and suggestions I truly appreciated. We began the evening with the Avvino version of charred octopus. One of the BEST presentations I have ever enjoyed looking at and more so, tasting! We loved every bite of the Greek yogurt polenta. Kathy encouraged my other choice of starters-the loaded baked beet. It was unique and exceptional in flavors. A must try for any beet lover! Dinners were all over the board as far as flavors go. Two went with the filet mignon which were to temp perfectly and they exclaimed over the spinach fritters that accompanied each filet. One went with the scallop special and she remarked that was the most incredible scallop entree she has consumed in all her years! Another in our party chose the best nine-gem korma which sports coconut curry lentils & rice, crispy tofu, chickpeas, and more. I was fortunate enough to try it and it was amazing. A nice kick of spice to it and unctuous enough to satisfy. My dinner plate was a WOW-factor plate! I received the Berkshire pork chop that had butter beans as an accompaniment with mushrooms and a mustard vinaigrette. Kathy informed me that the restaurant grows its own butter beans! She also had suggested a beautiful rose wine to match up to the heartiness of my dish. Kathy was spot on with that! Loved that she allowed me to end the meal though with the more delicate rose I had first expressed a desire for. All in all a memorable dining experience I know all five of us will talk about for years to come. read more

Avvino - In the dining room of Avvino with our dinners in front of us! Check out the size of my Berkshire pork chop on the right front side! - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Undoubtedly the finest food and service in Rochester! Wonderful menu variety with some unique items. Small dining room but well appointed. Service was flawless being the entire team ensure our party was always attended to. Book your reservation well in advance because space is limited. read more

The food here is really good! They have a limited menu, which allows their food to be delicious. They even have a vegetarian option, which I feel like you don't often see on limited menus. Our server was very attentive and checked on us several times without being over the top. The inside of the restaurant is nice and quiet...easy to have a conversation. read more

Avvino - Beat appetizer - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

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So I have been here before and did not write a review why who knows. I've been here for a small party and a tour a few years back. We FINALLY got here for dinner. If you did not know where this spot is you would simply drive by it.. it's in an area with shared businesses. The inside is lit well and the floral display in the dining room is a stunner. The color scheme is dark just an fyi. I would strongly suggest a reservation to me at least you just can't roll in yes they have a bar area and places to sit but I would contact them if you wanted to roll in. We had a reservation and the place even on a Saturday night at 6pm was hopping. Service is kind and professional. The food is excellent and to be honest if you leave here hungry that's really on you. They are generous with the portions. They bring out house made bread and butter which is soft and easy to spread. I find it hella annoying to get warm or hot bread and the butter is like a rock. We started with the special charcuterie board this was HUGE and we had no idea it had so much on it and if it was not all house made (this is what they are known for) they have an excellent local supplier I am guessing. We took it home and finished it the next day. I got the double boned pork chop which was delicious and properly prepared. It was so juicy and had plenty of umami. I believe it was topped with a more savory like chutney with a side of brazed greens and I'm not sure what it was sitting on top of but it was a light but tasty sauce. I got a few glasses of Chenin Blanc to go with it and it was an excellent pairing. My husband got the Halibut with a Coconut Curry sauce and I tasted it as well. Halibut to me at least is a fall/winter dish. It was delicious and so flavorful. We ended with a piece of German Chocolate Cake (we took this home too) it's rich and decadent but I wished the presentation was a bit more attractive see the photo.. it is what it is but it's delicious. They also gave us a few glasses of bubbly to toast our wedding anniversary and I was glad they actually acknowledged it as it was put in the special request spot on the reservation page. I'll be frank with you this and a lot of places don't even bother acknowledging it. From when we got to the host stand and checked in we were greeted and told "Happy Anniversary" as well as our server did as well. This was really nice and a lovely touch. Oddly enough we were set to come here last year for our anniversary but due to an unexpected health issue we had to cancel. I am so, so grateful to have FINALLY have a meal here and I will definitely come back. My husband (when we go out for dinner the meal and etc is usually a disappointment) loved this spot and the food and service. He even said you should bring so and so here. They offer private dining and you can order your thanksgiving meal from here too I believe. Parking is shared. Be dressed up or wear nice jeans and a top... If you have a chance seriously go.. it's worth it. I'll be back. read more

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We celebrated our first meal together in years and decided to indulged in the amazing menu from Aveenos. It is really difficult to name which part we found to be the most delectable. It is amazing! It is now the Monday after Thanksgiving and I am back checking to see if they will be offering a Christmas meal and I amZzzz excited to say they are! When they open tomorrow, I will call to find the menu and hopefully make our reservations! Thank you to the good and talented people at Aveenos. read more

It's been quite some time since we last visited Avinno. I can't say that I would be rushing to go back. The restaurant is very popular. 6 PM on a Saturday night and the small dining room was completely full (and as you might expect rather noisy). The dark atmosphere is enjoyable but with such a bustling spot, this is not the place you take a romantic date to, at least not early in the evening. Service was exemplary and spot on. But the food, ehh . . . The coconut fried shrimp were very nice and the vindaloo mayo added a nice spicy touch. The shrimp were firm, but not tough. Yet they were overcooked. And not just one serving, but for all in the group we were with. The charred hurricane lettuce sounded so wonderful on the menu but it's a poor comparison to that offered, say, by Michael's charred romaine. The charred lettuce itself was not charred enough and the accompanying mixed salad with snap peas was not presented well and overdressed. Okay, but definitely not something to have again. The duck breast was presented simply and looked very nice on the plate but again it was overcooked. A tad beyond medium rare. And it's not available rares. A chef should understand that duck is best served rare and offer that option. If you're prepping it ahead of time to finish it quickly, then shame on you. The fennel and spring onion accompaniment were a bit tough and flavorless. There are attractive and well-priced menu items and I'm sure that is part of the attraction and I applaud the restaurant for endeavoring to source and serve local ingredients but overall, just a good solid meal that I could find replicated elsewhere better. read more

I've had a great experience at Avvino in the past before but this time it wasn't great. Service and ambiance were good. But the food was not all of that. The octupus started (a past fave) was not good. The coconut fried shrimp was almost burnt. My duck breast entree was good and had some great flavors. But the gnocchi that some of my friends had was not great. I don't know... I may have to try it again to see if that night was just a fluke. We shall see. read more

When you were a child, hamburgers tasted different. Remember? After the little league game you'd go to the concession stand where the parents were frying up burgers. They were juicy. And real. In the novel "11/22/63," a time traveling diner owner is able to serve delicious food because, as it turns out, he's traveling back to the 50s to get the good meat. He may have been going to Avvino instead. The ambience in this place is like a high class hunting lodge. Dress nice, but sandals are ok in the summer, if you're a man. Maybe the winter too? But don't be that sandals-in-the-snow guy. Peaches an regalia is one of the better Frank Zappa songs. It is also one of the better cocktails. Light and sweet and spritzy. And the burger. You'll be transported back in time to those juicy concession stand ground rounds. It's got double patties. It's got perfectly melted cheese. And if you're an appetizer person, do yourself a favor and get the Reuben sliders, to share. Tangy yet savory. Something to write home about. read more

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Food and service were mediocre at best, especially for the prices. Octopus ap was decent, as was the beet salad. Salmon special and bread were lackluster. Salmon entree was cold and inedible. German chocolate cake, while decent in size, lacked flavor and texture. Atmosphere was enjoyable but the place was empty after 9 pm. Waitress barely came to see us, and felt inattentive. read more

Had this on my list of restaurants to try after seeing all the good reviews. Ambiance was great, and appetizers were good, but my entree was lackluster. I got the cavatelli and it was tough. The pork was dry. The bottom quarter inch of my bowl was oil, like something had separated or sat too long. Bummer. read more

This is our new favorite datenight spot. Great service, ambiance, and food. Not to mention prices were reasonable. Our favs: - Rueben sliders were great and I'm not usually a Reuben fan - bone marrow portion was large yum - Pork chop was fantastic and a generous thick cut - bone in rib-eye was a great price for oz read more

Sat at the bar and it was a 10/10 experience. Ben gave incredible service and had the energy that makes you want to come back. after sitting for a while you can tell he is a fan favorite by the numerous customers that came in so excited to see him. It's obvious why the people love him ! read more

Wow! Out for our anniversary to a place we hadn't been before, and we were not disappointed. Gorgeous dining room, with lovely art and floral arrangement in the center of the room. Beautiful rustic touches including having the plates out on display under the floral display. Service was fantastic. Rebecca is a wonderful server, knowledgeable about everything we asked about. And she talked up the Cajun bbq shrimp to me. More on that in a sec. We started with ceviche, which was good, not great. My wife had a beet salad that she enjoyed a lot. Our daughter had a pasta dish with cavetelli and mushrooms that she enjoyed a lot. And I had a Cajun bbq head-on prawn dish with grits that was spectacular. So flavorful with the prawn stock and Cajun flavors. Perfecto. Then for dessert, we had a fruit tort with rhubarb custard and green strawberry sorbet, which also was incredible. This was really special. Don't miss it. And they gave us a piece of German chocolate cake for our anniversary. Also really great. We took that home. Lovely gesture. And for all the great food, I thought the check would much higher. For a special occasion, I would return anytime. read more

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I had a lovely work dinner at Avvino, an upscale restaurant in Rochester. My Salmon was a great cut and had zatar potatoes. The decor inside is intimate and comfortable. My colleagues enjoyed their meals as well, and my non-foodie colleague opted for the burger. In Rochester this seems like a great date night option. Service is very nice. read more

We went here for my birthday dinner. Amazing! The staff is great (hostess, bartender, server... all friendly and attentive!) The food was outstanding. I had a burger and it was huge! I ate maybe a quarter of it! Many fries with the order. My husband had the duck. It was cooked perfectly! My daughter and her husband shared the steak for 2. They didn't even finish it! I would definitely recommend this restaurant if your in the Brighton area. read more

The coconut shrimp here is BANANAS delicious. That's the headline, but the subtitle is that Avvino does everything right. We had martinis. And parker house rolls. And a seafood pasta of some kind. And salad. And a pork chop. And it was all right. Not alright. All. Right. Everything was cooked well, properly seasoned, and very, very tasty. Although, the coconut shrimp was the tastiest, if we're ranking things. Our server, Amy, was also excellent, and the room is cozy. Even the bathroom is well-stocked with floss picks and mouthwash and all the things that you'd think would make someone want to make out with you afterward (despite the slight overinclusion of raw scallions in the salad), but then she might say she ate too much of Avvino's delicious food, and may throw up on you if you try. read more

Great food and service even the day before end of season. Great dining experience! Could not ask for more!

What an amazing meal we had last night - table of 6 and were treated like royalty. Starting with rosemary bread rolls, the meal was awesome!! I had, what I considered, the duck breast ever - juicy and tasty. Desserts were also awesome - Thabk you for a great experience read more

Food for solid and the atmosphere was cozy and could be considered romantic. They have things on a menu you won't normally see like rabbit. The food was solid but I really like the desserts. Huge portions and more than enough to share. read more

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Easy to find a parking spot. We had a reservation so we were seated right away. The restaurant was very clean and organized. The staff attended to our needs. The food was amazing. We got the charred octopus and duck breast. Duck was very tender and moist. Octopus was a good appetizer, it wasn't too chewy. It was good quality. If you ever see lamb on the menu, get it and make sure it's medium rare. You won't regret it. read more

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The ambiance and decor immediately makes you comfortable. The staff makes you feel like family and the unique dishes are amazing! Highly recommend for a delicious, high quality dining experience. From the filet to the venison, you can't go wrong! read more

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Service very attentive and friendly Food really good but had a 1990 heft to it. Sweet potato gnocchi with short rib delicious and now I'm so sleepy! read more

Cocktails are fun! Food is amazing. Service is excellent. Do yourself a favor and leave room for the Donut Bread Pudding! So good!

Went here for my Birthday. Great food and great atmosphere. I had the Venison Curry which I recommend. My girlfriend had the duck breast which she enjoyed. I would return and is in my top 5 Rochester restaurants. read more

Avvino - Duck Breast - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Came here for a birthday dinner. 4.5 stars. The ambience of this place is more casual and service was a bit disjointed, but the food itself makes up for everything. We had a Friday evening reservation. We were immediately seated. Menu does include a significant amount of seafood which is great for me. Complimentary bread was tasty. I tried the grilled octopus (appetizer/shared plate), ceviche (appetizer/shared plate), duck breast and squid ink spaghetti. The grilled octopus was delicious! Grilled perfectly and really a generous portion (basically entree sized); it would be difficult to share with a group. The ceviche was nicely plated but it seems like the seafood is cooked (bay scallops, fish, etc) and doused in lime/lemon so did not taste as fresh as regular ceviche. In addition, the texture of the fish was a bit soft. Usually, appetizers are the star of the show, but I did not feel it was the case here. The duck breast was so wonderfully unique and a very generous portion. The duck was very gamey but cooked perfectly and the sides really complimented it well. Squid ink spaghetti was also very tasty and the pasta was perfectly chewy. We had leftovers even though we did not intend to, as we felt these items usually do not hold well. We were too full for dessert, but had a good meal here. Generous portions. Service was okay (did not feel necessarily special/waitress was there minimally but we did get everything we needed). Will come back for food alone. read more

Avvino - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

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This restaurant is beautifully decorated. We did feel that the food is somewhat expensive for portion size, and the flavor profile seemed slightly off on a few of the things some of the people in our party tried, including the dips appetizer, burger, and German chocolate cake. The salmon, farmers flatbread, and bread pudding were good. In the dishes that weren't quite right, the flavors were not off enough to make the food inedible, but enough to make you think, "I probably wouldn't order this again." The service was excellent and they had a good drink selection. Overall mixed feelings on the restaurant, hence the three stars. read more

Avvino - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

One of the perks of traveling for work is the dining. This place is a definite perk if you ever find yourself in Rochester, NY. Cozy, warm, great food and service and not pretentious. It feels like a neighborhood bar, full disclosure I ate at the bar and not in the dining room. I started with a Tequila Mockingbird and this is the type of cocktail one wants before dinner. Balanced flavors working harmoniously as if angels were dancing on my tongue. The combo of flavors were smart and quite unique. Next up was the ceviche appetizer and boy oh boy was that a surprise. I was expecting the usual mouth puckering lime forward citrus soaked ceviche that you think of when you order ceviche. Instead this was a delicate blend of light citrus and fish flavors co mingling. Baby scallops and salmon served on greens with pork rinds which offered a texture contrast and light and perfect salty crunch to what felt more like a fish salad and it made me swoon. The menu is so excellently diverse and the addition of specials doesn't make ordering any easier. I was indecisive and being extremely hungry upon arrival didn't make things easy. Against my usual ordering m.o. I went for the salmon and oh my gawd I'm glad I did. First off I was asked if the cook on the salmon being medium rare was ok, even before I ordered it cooked that way. Mind blown on that note alone. So the salmon was crunch first, melt in your mouth perfect and the creamed Swiss chard was fire, as the kids say. But the Berbere cauliflower was the real star of the show, charred and smokey with a hint of spice, nutmeg or cinnamon kind of spice.. mmm.. drool and not burned tasting but pure magic. Perfection actually. I could eat this alone for days at a time. The red wine that Ben the bar tender recommend was a perfect capstone to this dinner. I love a recommendation that pairs perfectly with the flavors in the food but this wine did more. It opened up the flavors of the fish in an unexpected and dramatic way. Kudos to the staff, Ben especially, for having that knowledge. It's what separates the men from the boys as we used to say a decade ago. Dinner was filling, but not being totally full (which is always a great sign with food this good) I went for dessert. Two words Almond cake, one more word, divine. So divine I could write a tome on it alone. Perfect cake texture and moisture, slight not overbearing almond flavor and not overbearingly sweet. The cake would have sufficed on its own but it was topped with figs, some sort of light, not overly sweet creme with a hint of some sort of balsamic reduction sauce that was completely unexpected but equally completely integral. A Muscato that Ben recommended complimented all of the afore mentioned flavors. Again compliments to Ben, whose knowledge only enhanced the wizardry behind the curtain. That wizardry is exactly why you should try this spot if you are in Rochester. The knowledgeable and genuinely friendly staff, warm ambiance and friendly locals at the bar are all just gravy on the most perfectly cooked mashed potatoes. Which in terms of this metaphor are the sole reason to eat here. read more