Expensive, pretty, terrific food, friendly service. RESERVATIONS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. We had reservations for 4 PM Sat afternoon - some people who arrived at same time without reservatios could not be seated. Parmesan Walleye was great, as was asparagus, lemon martini and roast beef. So was chocolate cake & ice cream. Prices are high. We were initially seated in bar where music was very loud. We asked to be moved to a quieter table. that was much better. read more

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A group of us dined in for Easter dinner. The menu was limited as they don't serve their full menu on holidays. The salmon benedict was very good and others ordered more traditional breakfasts. Everyone liked their food but no one loved it. More menu choices would have been better. Service was a little slow but they were packed. read more

The service was amazing! Very kind, helpful, courteous. Matgo went above and beyond with my dietary needs. Food was superb! Had the Turkey Avacado with lettuce bib as the bread. And the Racho with goat cheese & bbq on side. Which is a burger, with short rib on a gluten-free bun with my goat cheese. We were both very happy with our meals. Note they do have a build your own burger not on the menu which is fabulous to be able to choose. We would very much come back here. It is very easy to get to with the subway and skyway system. You csn always ask if you need help. It is inside the galleria mall. read more

Chester's Kitchen and Bar - Burger with short rib and goat cheese - New American Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

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My mom and I found Chester's when we were walking around Mayo. Chester's is located in the mall. They have lunch, dinner, and a pretty good happy hour. We came for happy hour and dinner. We definitely indulged in some yummy food. Off the happy hour menu we tried the Thai flatbread and the fried walleye fritters. Good size portions especially for happy hour. My mom got a cocktail and I enjoyed the beet margarita. If you like beet juice, this is your jam! For dinner, my mom got the taco bowl with grilled walleye and I got a cup of chill. Did we have room for dessert? Probably not. Did we want carrot cake? Absolutely! So we ordered it! So delicious! Good thing we had to walk back to our hotel! Service was good. Everyone that we encountered was kind. Chill vibes too. read more

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I'll be honest, the entire meal was a major disappointment. We came for the Mayo Clinic and we've tried a few eateries in town so far and this is the worst one, even below fast food. We spent $100 and got: 1: lobster Mac and cheese that tasted like the ocean / fishy smell / taste. 2: Brie cheese curds. I love Brie and I love curds but the two together wasn't the most pleasant experience, and why would we pair it with a sweet sauce, that honestly made it a little more unappealing. 3: potato soup. This was the only half way decent item. 4: mushroom soup, tasted like it was from a can, not really bad but not restaurant quality. It's like something I'd crack open on a budget evening at home. 5: desserts , ice cream melted etc. There's special other places use that melt more slowly but this wasn't meant for pickup orders. 6: chicken minute, was just okay. Noodles were bland, chicken itself wasn't bad. read more

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Driving through Rochester on Labor Day, we decided to get something to eat. In the downtown area, close to Mayo there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. It was a little more limited because of the labor day holiday. We picked Chesters because we liked the lunch menu selection. It was a little afternoon, and there were several others small groups already there. The place is nicely laid out. Plenty of seating areas available, offering both tables and booths. Got greeted by a friendly hosted, seated, and then offered waters by our server. It didn't take us long to decide on the Big Mac Burger with fries, and the Cranberry Walnut Salad with Shrimp. Food came out in a short order, and everything tasted very good. The burger was done to order (pink), and the fries were hot. The burger had been put together with care, and all the parts were well presented. The salad was fresh, and the shrimp were a nice addition (although it would have helped to have a couple more). The service was efficient and helpful. Plenty of refills on the water. A decent meal with good service. I would stop back for another meal. read more

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Had the roasted half chicken with Parmesan broccoli in substitution for the mashed potatoes. The meal was divine! I would eat here weekly if I lived closer! Chocolate cake was very good but huge! read more

Oh my their food is AMAZING! Everything tastes so fresh and the ambiance was great too!

Overall: solid place with a variety of seating options - can easily accommodate small to large groups. Service is attentive. Ambiance is nice and casual. Great place for the Rochester area, which has an incredible amount of delicious food! Dishes we tried: - Crab cakes: dry and not flavorful, would not recommend - Cioppino *great dish*: 5/5 I've had this in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the dish is from, and I felt like this wasn't "authentic" cioppino because it did not have much broth but honestly I thought this was delicious and would highly recommend. Nicely cooked scallops. The bread was also delicious. - Salmon entree with asparagus: not flavorful and would recommend the Cioppino above this. This entree was ok. Others in our party tried the salad (too much dressing was the review) and the burgers (all delicious reportedly). read more

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Chester's is a great restaurant and one of my favorite spots in Rochester. Every time I am in town, my mom and I make a point to stop by. I have tried many things from the menu, but my favorite is the prime rib roast. I always get the extra large cut with mashed potatoes, and it has never disappointed. They have a strong list of appetizers too, from weekly specials to dependable classics. One appetizer I had before that was especially good was the cornbread skillet, though I did not see it on the menu this time. If it comes back, I highly recommend ordering it. The drinks are solid, and the desserts are excellent. I usually get the chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, but their dessert flight and other options are great as well. Definitely worth checking out if you are in Rochester. read more

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We were in and out in 30 minutes! Had appointments all day at Mayo and you can take the sky walk to this place which entrance is in a mall. We started with the cast iron corn bread. Get the whole thing. 1/4 slice is $4.50 and the whole thing is $11.95. It is so moist and has a different texture than I'm used to, but delicious. Add the butter on the hot cornbread and you are set. My mom got the walleye tacos and liked them (she said they had some spice). I got the rotisserie chicken sandwich - delicious! Especially the au jus gravy dipping. It came with fries that reminded me of better McDonalds fries - a good thing. Waiter was quick and helpful. Food came out hot and fresh and quick! read more

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Great food, great service, local ownership! The carrot cake was truly amazing! Every time we're in Rochester, we're gonna stop by.

Another good find in Rochester! My surprise is getting old at this point. In town for a quick weekend trip and needed to force ourselves out for a quick lunch and errands. It was a windy, frigid day but had to be done! Having a gift card also helped Admittedly, my expectations were low but I was wrong. To start, we got the Brie cheese curds. Brie has been a pretty recent revelation for my partner so we definitely had to try this is a fried form. The breading was so light yet had a delightful crunch. It was airy and pleasant especially with the boysenberry (?) sauce. For the main dishes, we got the roast half chicken, and fish and chips. The chicken was so good! I'm usually cautious with chicken at restaurants for fear of it being dry but that was not the case here. Even the chicken breast was pretty moist. The mashed potatoes and asparagus complimented it all well. Couldn't get enough of the gravy so had to get more of that. This all reheated pretty well as well. The fish and chips were also good. I LOVED the tartar sauce. The chips were so good! Nice, fresh, crisp, and perfectly salted. We were raving about those the whole time. Dessert was the banana crème pie. It was an overwhelming amount of whipped cream. The caramelized bananas were really good. The atmosphere was pretty relaxed and casual. Service was prompt and friendly. Food arrived within a reasonable amount of time. read more

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Tasty tasty tasty minute chicken. The capers. The mushrooms. And the juicy chicken was to die for. You're not gonna get smiley, Customer service but at least you know the food's good. read more

Chester's Kitchen and Bar - Minute chicken - New American Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Great meal , special accommodation on a healthy bowl and we split between us no problem. Lobster bisque came reccomended as did the carot cake . The carot cake was probably one of the best ....it was accompanied by a warm carmel praline sauce and ice cream . Our waitress was kind and attentive...we had pressed coffee , and as it was steeping she heated our coffee cups to keep our coffee nice and hot . Who does that any more ..what a nice touch . Only slight issue was the person expediting food would let out a sharp call to whoever's order was ready to pick up for delivery. Typically in a busy restaurant thats barely noticed . * our waitress let us know the pastry chef has been with the restaurant for a long time and takes great pride in her deserts, as she deservedly should . read more

Chester's is my favorite restaurant in Rochester! The ambience, food, and service is always top notch. During our last visit, Margo was our server and was friendly and provided wonderful service. My favorites are their roasted chicken, minute chicken pasta, and the dessert flight. read more

This was fun. Nice night quick and friendly service. The food was presented and prepared nicely. We had a quick bite before a movie and this was perfect. This place never disappoints and the service is great . We'll be back read more

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The lunch was very good. We had their soup and split a large sandwich. The service was fantastic. We were treated as soon as we sat down, asked what we'd like to drink. We enjoyed our lunch we were not rushed even though they were busy. It didn't seem like there were many people around us. Just a very pleasant experience. read more

Every entree ordered by our party of six was exquisite. The blueberry and strawberry lemonades were just as good. From the moment we walked in to the time we left, the service was on point. We never had to call our server, as he was always coming by to make sure we were taken care of. The ambiance was pleasant and soothing. I will be back whenever I'm in town again. read more

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Always been one of my my favorite places when visiting Rochester. Realized how much I miss its ambiance and quality food when asked AI what was something with a vibe like Chester's Kitchen in Dallas. Nope....haven't found one like it. read more

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Came with a large party, service was quick and friendly! The restaurant is dimly lit which was a great setting for our dinner outing. We ordered apps which were very good and the entrees came out hot and delicious! The entire table left full and happy. This is a great place to stop in if you're in Rochester! read more

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It's good but a bit overpriced for the food and experience. I get it's been around and has a good reputation in the area but I feel like they could do better for the image they put out and what they charge. read more

I feel like I've practically lived at Chester's for the last year as my mom has spent a lot of time at Mayo Clinic and we always go there for lunch or happy hour. The space is large, but feels inviting and cozy once you get settled in a booth. Very friendly and accommodating staff. My mom can't eat dairy and she asked for a dish without cheese, but didn't realize that they used milk in the dish's base. Even though it wasn't their fault, the staff member immediately took away the dish and brought my mom something without dairy and didn't charge us for it. Everything I've had here is good. I usually get the tuna bowl or cranberry walnut salad. They have good deals for happy hour. read more

Chester's Kitchen and Bar - Sage Sunflower - New American Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Visit to Rochester, MN led us to a visit to Chester's...and it was good ... with a couple of opportunities for improvement. TL/DR: WONDERFUL host and server team, diverse menu, and food that's solid but not outstanding. Speed of service was fast -- almost too fast as we felt rushed -- but that might be a benefit for some. First off, know that this restaurant is in the mall, so it's not visible from the street...although it is as soon as you walk in. And it's good, especially for a "mall restaurant." Street parking is challenging; but there's a garage (or "ramp" as they call it locally) just across the street, and it was free of charge for us at night. Lovely room and buzzy vibe, and a pretty impressively diverse menu including apps, appetizer and dinner salads (including the hilariously named "I Just Want A Small Salad"), sandwiches and burgers (rant: when did restaurants start calling them "hand helds" or, in this case, "two hands"?!), chicken, steaks, and pasta. There's something for everyone. Service was friendly and lovely...if a little too slow and a little too quick all at once (I'll explain). It took a surprisingly long time for a couple of glasses of wine to arrive -- perhaps the bar was busy, which certainly happens, and we were there at a peak hour. That's the slow part. The too quick: our server returned before the wine came and asked "are you ready to order?" We felt hurried as a result. More on that to come. No bread -- not sure if that's standard or not. We started with the brie cheese curds (we were, after all, in Minneapolis and had driven through Wisconsin, so curds were required by law, we think). They were wonderfully lightly battered fried -- almost tempura style -- and very tasty, if only lukewarm, a surprise considering how quickly (almost shockingly quickly) they arrived. For entrees, we had the tuna poke bowl and the angel hair pasta with pulled chicken. These, too, came surprisingly fast -- almost too fast -- as though the restaurant was trying to turn tables quickly. Entrees were well-presented (poke was colorful; pasta was plenty hot) if a little on the bland side. The poke bowl would have benefitted from some soy sauce and perhaps more of the creamy wasabi. The pasta, similarly, was hot and good...but some crushed red pepper, some more garlic butter, and perhaps some more red wine might have made it more flavorful Nice enough meal with nothing wrong -- but an opportunity to be better for us at least. We speculated it's a combination of being in a small town in Minnesota where cuisine isn't likely to be as competitive of adventurous (sorry locals) and in a town that brings people in from all over the US (Mayo Clinic is here). So, probably safesr to cater to the a more bland palate rather than go big with tastes and spice, and safer (and oddly impressive, if a little off-putting) to bring things quickly and not keep people waiting. We finished off at our server's recommendation with their chocolate cake, which is served with vanilla ice cream (predictably?) and a kahlua chocolate sauce. Huge and good...if not quite over-the-top-have-to-have-all-of-it-and-I'll-fight-you-for-the-last-bite great. More than enough for two after nice portions of dinner. So to summarize, WONDERFUL host and server team, diverse menu, and food that's good if not write-home-because-it's great. And while we found the speed of the service TOO fast...that may be a benefit to some. read more

I've never been in a women's bathroom when a male came in and used it. Rochester is a terribly liberal city to its detriment. The night we went A staff person - the host- who is a male came into the bathroom while I was there. It was the most uncomfortable thing I've ever experienced as a woman. I get now why women are upset about it. That is a safe space for biological women and should be. So Im not going back. It was their employee and they clearly encouraged it. So to me they don't care about their female customers. read more

Service & food were great. When in Rochester we always make it a point to go to Chester's

Amazing service and the food is great! Got crab cakes that were yummy and Jim's fish and chips were so darn good

Chester's was the best place to dine in Rochester. Our server Gavin, was top notch. He offered excellent suggestions, he was quick, chatty, and even offered us new seats in the shade, out of the blazing sun. If this doesn't tell you how wonderful of a waiter Gavin is, I'm not sure what will. The menu at Chester's has everything. I wanted to go light. I got the Melon & Prosciutto salad. My companion got the Jambalaya. For my cocktail, I got the Sunflower Sage. The Sunflower Sage was a refreshing, but tart blend of gin, st. germain, lemon juice and sage. My Melon & Prosciutto salad was absolutely delicious, and I love the way it was styled! Everything was in little balls, the watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, were all cut into balls, with the addition of colorful cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls. It was topped with delicately cut pieces of prosciutto. This was super summery, light and delicious! The Jambalaya was a huge serving that thrilled the senses and the appetite. I could not leave without dessert. The banana cream pie called my name! Get it? My name is in it twice?! First of all, Gavin never told me, what a large serving this was! Oh my gosh! This was so, so delicious! The banana cream is so fresh, and I was in heaven with each spoonful! The crust was walnut based, not at all hard, but so flaky and divine. This was so large, that we couldn't have it all, even shared. Gavin kindly packed it for us with spoons, so I had it (for breakfast) the next morning. Every single aspect of Chester's was outstanding. From Gavin's service, to my tasty cocktail, to my colorful salad, and of course that absolutely heavenly Banana Cream Pie! If you're in the Rochester, Minnesota area please stop by Chester's. read more

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The food and service were wonderful. Especially the mushroom soup on Tuesdays! Then you can go shopping at the Galleria.

Too loud Chester's covers All the rules I do not like about a restaurant. Ambience-flashy Music-too loud when asked to turn it down declined. My No to CKB read more

Entrees near $30 that didn't meet foodie hopes. If you're on Yelp, you either want to know the food won't kill you, or you want to be wowed. If you're looking for a pretty room with friendly service, read on! If you want a place worth driving out of the way to try... well... ummmm. We sat at a booth in the bar area and the bartenders who took care of us as a team were very friendly. They recommended the parmesan walleye and the rotisserie chicken. We tried both and were underwhelmed. The $28 chicken portion was HUGE and could have fed two. On the other hand, it tasted a lot like a $6 chicken from Costco. The walleye looked great but tasted somewhat flat. Sadly, our foodie hopes were dashed. I have one family member in mind who would have been thrilled with the half rotisserie chicken, until they saw the price. read more

Chester's Kitchen and Bar - Huge portion of rotisserie chicken. The mashed potatoes were the best part. - New American Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

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Clean and friendly!! Good choices on menu - some fun combinations of flavors. Ordered fish tacos and the salmon healthy bowl with my mom for lunch. Reasonable prices too! read more

Chester's Kitchen and Bar - Fish tacos - New American Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

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This was the best French dip sandwich I've ever had. The flavor was incredible and the bun was perfectly toasted, crunchy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. My father-in-law ordered the corned beef and said it was the most tender he's ever had. We ended the meal with the dessert flight. The banana cream pie stood out, the bread pudding was rich and comforting, the chocolate cake was excellent, though the ice cream was just average. Staff was friendly, food came quickly, and the atmosphere was great. read more

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We had a nice lunch here during the Rochester heat. Starting outside, we moved indoors due to some annoying flies that just wouldn't leave us alone! The skillet cornbread was absolutely delicious and complimented by a honey butter. YUM! Lettuce chicken wraps were also very good. The salmon healthy bowl, as well as turkey avocado sandwich were both very good. Fries were AMAZING! Great spot located near the Mayo Clinic buildings! read more

Chester's is my favorite restaurant here in Rochester. We went there today for their thanksgiving special. The food was excellent, with very generous portions. Service was impeccable and the prices were incredibly reasonable, under $22 for a full Turkey dinner. I've always enjoyed the atmosphere. Even though the restaurant was crowded and all reservations were taken, we were never rushed by our server. If you want a truly enjoyable dining experience, give Chester's a try. Highly recommended. read more

Sat at the bar, great service, fantastic holiday decorations, enjoyed the nice happy hour food menu. Great location when staying downtown Rochester! read more

Went there again and the food was as good as we remember! I ordered the mushroom burger again while hubby ordered the french dip sandwich. Both were really good, but we both agreed that the burger was slightly tastier. The servers were good, and the restaurant is family, work, or date appropriate. read more

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The food is excellent, the service is fantastic and the ambiance is 10 out of 10. We were in Rochester for a week and after 3 days we were incredibly disappointed in the restaurants we tried. We asked a nurse at Mayo for recommendations and she suggested Chester's. Thank goodness, because it is a treasure. Needless to say, we ate there 4 times in the next few days and had a wonderful meal each time. We will definitely be back! read more

Very good waiters, very good prime rib, steak and lobster rolls it's also a nice building read more

Chester's Kitchen and Bar - Great prime rib - New American Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

I only go here during lunch hours because it's pricey, but man is it delicious! My mom is literally obsessed with the burger! Don't get me wrong it's really good, she just won't shut up about it and every time I'm in Rochester harasses me about getting one for myself! Pretty sure she's even had dreams about it. Ha on Tuesday they serve mushroom soup which is what I'm obsessed with. This time I got my burger with a big side of the soup and I was in food heaven! I usually half the burger because with the bacon, red meat, greasy bun, fried curds it's a lot of grease! The cornbread was different. Sweet almost tasted like it was baked in bacon grease. read more

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