This is a review for the Virtual Cocktail parties you can schedule with Donny & Cure during the pandemic. In a few words: SO MUCH FUN! We were super lucky to be invited to attend one of these -- our friend celebrated his birthday this way, and we were some of the lucky invitees. What you get for the party: a bag filled with all of the ingredients to make THREE cocktails -- for our party this included Whiskey Sour made with Cure's homemade sour mix; an Old Fashioned made with Cure's homemade peach bitters made by using a centrifuge(!!!); and a Gin & Tonic which involved more science than I could take in but is far and away one of the best G&Ts I've *ever* had -- so effervescent & delicious and a party in your mouth, I promise. Spending 40 minutes on a Zoom call with Donny was super fun -- he is SO into his craft and his enthusiasm is hugely contagious. To say we have new appreciation for the cocktails at Cure and Good Luck is a vast understatement. Highly, highly, highly recommend booking this kind of event with Donny & Cure -- a unique and fabulously creative memory from very strange pandemic times. Hats off to Cure for coming up with this! read more

Cure - Shrimp and citrus salad ... and the last sips of one of our "Community Coffees" - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

Favorite spot in Rochester. We find ourselves here sometimes once a week. The drinks are well thought out and tasty AF. Donnie and Dara are amazing!! great conversation and great cocktails. Both super talented cocktail crafters. :) Beautiful cured meats and french comfort food at it's best... Best beef tar tar in town. Bahn mi, pate and bone marrow toasts are our favorites and you can never go wrong with their specials. Friendly service and Warm ambience. We truly love this place and everything about it! Also..Their brunch is tha bombb! read more

Absolutely amazing evening at Cure. From the food to decor to staff... Everything was absolutely divine! We had the terrine and camembert to start with and were amazed by the quality and perfection of these appetizers! We then ordered the Branzino and venison braised shank! Cooked and seasoned to perfection!! We are happy to have discovered Cure and cannot wait to go back! read more

See all

Enjoyed great cocktails, amazing food and awesome staff. With 3 couples we enjoyed all of their cocktails & white wine (Goat Hill, Pivot Step, Like a Shark, Velvet Collar, The Stori, Go Tell Sprewell, Boom Vang and No Zoo Dude) & started with small plates (Rabbit-Mushroom Pate, Foie Gras - Bone Marrow Toasts, Camembert Ruti, Beef Tartare, Fried Anchovies). Large plates (Cassoulet-Duck Confit, Ratatouille, 2x Duck Breast, Korean Fried Chicken, and Steak Frites). Finished with creme brulee & goat-cheese-cake All were wonderful and service was outstanding. read more

This place is PURE PERFECTION. Atmosphere, ample parking, great bar staff, delicious cocktails, house-made EVERYTHING, superior service, and really really delicious dishes, made with local, seasonal veggies and meats. The only way you can go wrong here is if you don't order anything! On our most recent visit, it was pouring outside and we were hopeful to get a table for 3 on a Friday night for a late dinner (around 9 pm). No way. They were packed, so was the bar, and they had reservations expected all night with no windows where we could sit. So, we patiently sidled up to the bar where some very friendly patrons graciously made room for us. Decided to start with cocktails to 'get the party started' and meanwhile watch as the dishes came out of the kitchen to see what might strike our appetites. Now, my husband and I have eaten here many times in the past (usually we plan ahead and do have a reservation!). We've had their 'famous' fingerling potatoes with camembert, their steak, the whole branzino, all manner of tapenades with bread, the charcuterie plates (always changing) and so many different cocktails. But we had never tried the duck rillette or the house-made sausages. We started with those and wow, I am in love with rillette! Basically it's like a combination between pure fat, butter and confit - decadent, savory and just heaven (you probably cannot eat this very often or you would have a heart attack, but once in a while, it is so worth the splurge!). The sausage we had was their saucisse de toulouse served with olive bread and a soft-boiled egg. A generous portion, nicely charred, and with the egg yolk spilling over the plate....well, it was awesome. Now, mind you, three people (two of whom were men) were splitting these dishes, so we had to get something else....and the winner was the braised lamb shank. Not a huge portion, but it was delectable. And, there was just enough space between our last bites of the sausage and when the shank came out that we weren't starving any more, and were happily sated after cleaning the plate. Cure is sort of known for 'small plates' and I hear people talk about that a lot, but I would say if you go with the mindset that everything is high quality, rich and meant to be savored (and not gulped down in two bites), you will definitely have an enjoyable experience. read more

Cure was on my list to hit and I was able to experience it for brunch in the middle of fall. The food presentation is beautiful, but the portions themselves are smaller than anticipated given the pricing. Additionally, some of the staff can be a bit stand offish, perhaps it is because we had a party of 6, but nonetheless. The drinks are also pretty good. read more

Cure was definitely one of those next level restaurants that I wasn't expecting at all. They took our reservations super last minute which was appreciated, and when we arrived to the restaurant we never had a reason to question our service. The servers were great actually and extremely observant. Just a warning this is going to be one of the priciest options around Rochester but... you will sure leave with an amazingly true foodie experience! read more

See all

I have friends who swear by this place and are literally there every weekend, chatting to the bartenders behind the bar. So I've been here a few times by now and have tried a pretty wide smattering of the drinks and food that they have to offer. Their food is very good, but their options are rather limited and prices are on the higher side. If you're not planning to order a sausage, most other entrees on the menu are $30+. I've had their scallops, which were excellent. They also have this one melted cheese dish that is killer and highly recommended! Their drinks are good, and they do this fun thing where they give you a card and you can circle things that you like in a drink and a celebrity for inspiration. They will then use this to make you a drink. E.g.,I circled David Hasselhoff one time, along with gin, and ended up with a fizzy negroni. These are fun, but I'm not sure it's worth the price tbh... It's somewhat hit or miss, and I definitely think that their cocktail menu drinks are better. read more

We are totally understanding this restaurant is opening up post pandemic and under certain restrictions. That being said, our brunch meal took over 1.5 hours to arrive. The food was solid, but not sure why it took so long. Even the drinks took an excessive amount of time. Ideally, the server or manager would have communicated that things were on delay, or even offered to take something off the bill (i. e. some kind of acknowledgement) to keep up returning patrons. read more

So, why Cure? -Cocktails: There are always six cocktails listed on the back of the (roughly seasonal) menu. These sometimes include some out there ingredients (the Might and Main includes kale juice), and offer you a good starting point in addition to the traditional cocktails. However, the bigger selling point to me is that the bartenders here know what they are doing with both the traditional spirits and more uncommon ones. The last time I was here, we got a chance to talk with Caitlin, the bar manager. In addition to being really nice, she told us about where they got the Rough Rider bourbon and created a cocktail with both Root and egg white. She also made what my friend said was the best Manhattan he'd ever had and he's drank "a few thousand." Keep in mind that Cure lists some of the more "unusual" spirits on the menu so don't be afraid to ask for something out of the box when ordering your drink. While the price point may be a turn off to some, from what I've seen here all the bartenders put a lot of effort into crafting drinks so it's worth the risk! -Atmosphere: Tucked away in the Public Market, I still know people who have no idea this place is there. It has sort of a rustic, hipster-y feel to it. Mismatched tables, fun light fixtures, a black and white bathroom painted with homeopathic "cures" to common ailments - including a hangover. (Which you might need if you have too many cocktails!) It is a small space without a ton of walking room, but I like it. It has more of a big city feel and less of a loud, club like one like I've seen at certain other restaurants in town. -Food: French inspired, farm to table food. It's a meat heavy menu, so it may not be everyone's cup of tea. That said, it's also really easy to fill up on the Flour City Bread. I'm not sure exactly HOW they pull it off...but every single piece of bread I've had here has been toasted to perfection: slightly warm with olive oil drizzle. I didn't think it was humanly possible to toast bread like this, but somehow they pull it off. Between the various spreads and sides (cheese, meat, and veggie), it's hard to save room for any entrees. I've split any entree I've tried here and have never been hungry, but I see from the other reviews that not everyone agrees. Out of everything I've tried so far, the duck confit was by far my favorite...I hope they bring it back some day! I've also had good experience with the desserts here: house made candy bars, ice cream by the Eat Me Ice Cream girls, and pineapple-bacon upside cake. -Special Nights: 5 dollar craft punch on Fridays. Choose your own cocktails on Saturdays. A hot dog (which is a footlong more akin to a sausage) with a round of shots on Sunday. Wine dinners. With the lack of foot traffic, it makes sense that they find other ways to ensure people come in the door. And frankly, I wish more places around town did as well. In TLDR; terms: Looking for craft cocktails in a busy atmosphere and are in the mood for something other than traditional bar food? Cure is the place for you. Come for food, then hope there is room to sit at the bar later to enjoy a few more. Looking for something more traditional in terms of French cuisine, meat, or presentation? Or do you prefer roomy spaces and Genny light? Your mileage may vary. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could, but I'll round it up to 5 mostly because I really appreciate nice, friendly bartenders who can teach you a thing or two about what you're drinking. read more

See all

*Brunch Review* Glad we decided to come here! It's really cute inside I enjoyed the atmosphere and the little touches like the dishcloth napkins and small water glasses. The menu is limited which is understandable considering everything is homemade and fresh. Love that they use Java coffee and bread from Flour City. I definitely recommend a pamplemousse mimosa. read more

Cure - Chilaquiles - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

Been meaning to come here for a while now. Had a reservation at 6pm and glad we did. Place fills up quick around 7. The decor is very typical trendy of the time, which I'm sure will look ridiculous in 5 years. Anyways, the food was great. I highly recommend the steak, but probably would not order the lamb meatballs again. Only gripe is the menu is fairly small and no chicken options (how is this possible?). Would come back. read more

Cure - Been meaning to come here for a while now. Anyways, the food was great. Highly recommend the steak! Pass on the meatballs. - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

A cool little spot right in the Rochester public market! I've heard many good things about this place and they most definitely met my expectations. I made a reservation for 7pm for just my boyfriend and I on a Sunday just in case. (Always make reservations anywhere lol) we got there on time and it wasn't busy at all. We were seated near the windows next to the door. Luckily it was a nice day out. Oh and there is outdoor seating. The restaurant says French and Vietnamese but I say more on the French side since there isn't much of Asian flavors coming through. We ordered the banh mi which is of course the infamous Vietnamese sandwich. It was grilled pork, pickled cucumbers and red cabbage and cilantro and I believe carrots as well. With Vietnamese ham. I liked their take on it it was different. We then ordered the beef tarte which is raw beef combined with many spices and and a fried quails egg on top served with bread. I would recommend it if you don't mind raw beef. Another appetizer was the salt cod which was like a spread and was so good..its even good without the bread. And our last entree was probably the best. The pork roast. It was a good slab probably about 10 pounds for only $24. It does take a while to cook but its so worth it. Our waitress told us they keep it in a water bath for over an hour beforehand. And it is served in a cast iron pot and fingerling potatoes. The lilac ice cream was super original too! A little florally not too much. Only here in Rochester, NY read more

See all

Fun place to go with girlfriends or a more romantic setting with a partner. Would recommend going with a group to be able to do a "family style" meal to try more options. Also really enjoyed the make your own drink concoction - the bartenders really knew how to tailor the drinks to your preferences. We also requested no nuts due to an allergy and they were very attentive and careful. Only reason it's not a 5 Star is portions were a little small for prices paid overall. read more

See all

I was going to leave Rochester in a couple of weeks. Before leaving, I wanted to go to some good restaurants that I've been wanting to go and hadn't got a chance. Cure was one on my list. I'm glad that I went there. And I was glad to find out that they have Grenache Syrah on the menu, but unfortunately they don't sell it by glass, only by bottle. So I picked another one with Syrah: Cabernet-Syrah-Merlot. I liked it. We had oven-roasted camembert, garlic sausage and whole branzino. Everything was so good. The fingerling potatoes were well-cooked and cold, perfect with hot camembert. The duck confit in garlic sausage was delicious, so were the white beans and crunchy bread crumbs. The most amazing was the whole branzino. It was steamed and very fresh. I don't know what the greens on top of branzino are, but they were so good with fish. I felt I was in the ocean lol. We also had lavender panna cotta. To be honest, I didn't taste lavender lol, but it was still good. Who can say no to italian custard haha. The service was good too. Our waitress was friendly and patient. read more

See all

This place is my absolute favorite restaurant of all time. Everything, the ambience, the cocktails, the food is always completely on point. It's an intimate space that really makes you feel like you are in a French bistro, with its own modern spin. The chefs here have a way of turning the most simple dish into one of the best things you have ever tasted. It's not exactly cheap, but you get an incredible value for the price (a similar meal in NYC could easily be twice as expensive). I would give this place 1,000 stars if I could. Please, don't ever close. read more

Run, don't walk to Cure! Innovative and delicious. We started with an order of the house rillettes with on local bread and stone ground mustard and an order of the roasted garlic, served with butter and an olive paste, again with local bread. The portions were generous, so for two people we didn't need to do both, but each was absolutely delicious. We then had "moules frites" (mussels and French fries) and the surprise of Sunday nights is a hot dog...but not just any hot dog! This Sunday it was a house-made beef hot dog with chicken liver pâté and sweet and sour rabbit! Yup, rabbit. The combo was surprisingly amazing. For desert we had French toast with blueberry sauce, whipped cream and a few nuts on top. Actually nice and light. Cocktails were delicious with nice wine choices as well. To top it all off we sat outside on a beautiful night and our server was a ton of fun. Definitely put Cure on your Rochester dining list! read more

So decided to try something new.. and I was not disappointed. Cocktails were delicious. We decided to ask the waitresses opinion on favorite dishes; ended up going with the fruit and cheese appetizer ( cranberry cheese and the ham were so good), and the steak&frites plate to share. Very happy with these choices. Steak did have a bit too much fat for my liking but that's okay. I would recommend this place read more

Cure - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

Yummy, but overpriced. We visited Cure with a couple of friends one weekday night. We all started with a different cocktail (all four were crazy good, if not very plentiful), and moved on to some charcuterie. We started with the duck rillette and house pickles, which paired well together-- we needed some vinegar to cut through all the delicious fat in the rillette. The next thing that showed up was the beef tartare, and OMG, you guys. My husband and I religiously order beef tartare or carpaccio when we see it on a menu, and the tartare was among the best we've had anywhere. SO yum. Our entrees (the day's sausage special, steak frites, and coq au vin) arrived next, and while the sausage was spectacular, we were less impressed with the steak frites and downright disappointed with the coq au vin. While the cast iron pot it was served in was charming, the breast included was almost inedibly dry, and it desperately needed salt--which was not on the table. We stopped eating it at the restaurant and brought it home (I knew I could doctor it with salt and salvage the $24). When I ate it for lunch later in the week, I was glad I hadn't eaten more at the restaurant; not only was it better with salt, but there were so many little pieces of bones and cartilage that I didn't want to eat and definitely would have missed in the darkness of the restaurant. Overall: we'd go back for a bite and a drink if we were feeling spendy, but I'm not sure what we ate and drank was worth about $175 for 4 people. read more

How have I not rated this place yet?! This is by far my favorite bar/restaurant in the city. This is the place I bring people from out of town when I want to brag about Rochester. The drinks are exceptional, the service consistently goes above and beyond. The last time I brought a group (7-8 people?) here I fed them to bursting (3 courses) and bought all their for slightly over $200. Glancing at the menu you might think this place is pricy, but you get every penny's worth and then some. The atmosphere is great, but folks are warm and accepting, which is probably most important. I can't say enough good things about this spot! read more

Cure - Mamhattan! - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

This is always our go to fine dining place. It's one of the best restaurants in Rochester. Food is off the wall phenomenal. I love the intimate setting which works well all year. Service is impeccable and they have great wines to go with those fabulous entrees. Must visit! read more

Cure - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

Cafe by day, fine dining by night. Am I back in New York? I love coming by Java's when I visit the market, so coming back for Cure was cool as they transform the small space into a romantic, candle-lit dining room. For starters, we went for their charcuterie plate. Fun fact: Cure name comes from the fact they cure some of their own meats. We were able to sample a few of them on our starter. The bread to meat ratio isn't that great but selection was worth the try. We then went for the cauliflower salad and merguez frites sausage. The salad was a fun combination of flavors. The chilled cauliflower and broccoli were cooked well, and the pine nuts provided a nice textural change. While fairly basic, I thought it was well done. The sausage was also quite tasty. Served on a bed of fries, the lamb sausage had a bit of heat to it but was mellowed out by tomato and romaine bed. For a main, we split the coq au vin. Served in a beautiful cast iron pot, the chicken stew was something else. The depth of broth was unreal, and I swore they must've cooked it for hours before dinner service. The ingredients themselves were quite simple, but they all melded together in a rich, slurp-able soup. I don't love white meat and potatoes in stews, as they typically are dry or dense, and that was true with this dish. I opted for more dark meat and the other veggies at the bottom. I would've asked for the leftover broth to-go, but we ended up scraping the bottom clean. I put a note on the reservation about my dad's birthday, but forgot to remind our server when we arrived. Luckily, she remembered and our flourless chocolate cake came out with a candle. I didn't love the dessert as every bite I had contained trace flavors of dish soap. I assumed the baking dish wasn't rinsed properly but my parents convinced me I was crazy because neither of them had that same experience. All in all, visit Cure for both a romantic night out or if you just wanted to treat yourself. The cocktail list is quite comprehensive and the mixologist made me a fine drink. read more

Nice little spot, wouldn't know it was there if you weren't looking for it. Inside is simple and beautiful. The service was very attentive and welcoming. I had the duck l'orange with parsnips and an iced tea. The duck was delicious, could have been a little less done, but duck can be finicky. Was delicious nonetheless. The iced tea was unique and I should have asked what it was. The menu is short and sweet, I assume they stick with what they do very well and don't dilute the menu with filler just to provide more options. Will definitely return. read more

I know it's foolish to walk into one of Rochester's most popular restaurants without a reservation on a Saturday night. But, we did it anyway; and, in addition to enjoying a great meal, it turned out to be a great lesson in how to cure the customer service ills that infect many companies. I've been on a rant about lousy service lately. First, there was my experience with American Airlines (F-Bombs over Charlotte), followed by my open letter to the CEO of Delta. I got lots of responses to these posts, many of which brought to mind that it isn't just major airlines that are afflicted with this disease. Throughout, I have espoused a model of empowering employees first outlined for me by my good friend Cara Holland (Great Thinkers Who Are Also Great Leaders). It goes like this: in order to be empowered, one must 1) know how to, 2) be allowed to, and 3) want to. Training... delegation... motivation! Got it? So, let me get back to my restaurant experience. My wife and I waltzed into Cure, which "features seasonal, locally-sourced interpretations of French Farm cuisine", at about 6:30 p.m. clueless of its popularity. With no place to put us, the hostess apologetically offered seats opposite the bar on a half counter facing the wall. Curious and too hungry to say no, we perched on the stools hoping that better seating would magically appear. It did! One of the bartenders noticed our discomfort and offered to set up a "chef's table" in the hall connecting the bar and the kitchen. My wife -- a foodie -- didn't wait to gauge my reaction. She jumped at the chance. The food was fresh, well prepared, and wonderfully presented. The service? Well, the service was so attentive to our needs that we jokingly asked the young waitress for her mother's address so we could write a note, thanking her for raising such a good daughter. Following a few seconds of fun banter, the young woman crouched down so she could speak to us at eye-level. She told us she had moved away from Rochester but returned when she learned that Chuck Cerankosky (who also owns the Good Luck restaurant) was opening a new place. Why? Because Chuck's encourages his employees to do whatever they can to ensure their customers have a good experience. This, of course, is a perfect example of my friend's empowerment model. And, it works because Mr. Cerankosky apparently trusts his employees to do what's right. It's challenging for larger organizations to delegate such trust. Often, the brand promise is, in part, consistency of customer experience. So, large corporations - like airlines, your Cable Company, and Wal-Mart - limit the discretion of their employees. You won't have the 'Cure' experience when dealing with one of them. Their competitive advantage derives from their vast pool of capital to advertise and to deploy technology. So, this brief anecdote about Cure should serve as a model for small businesses endeavoring to compete in a global economy. And the best way to beat the competition is to empower the front line to do what's right. Bon Appétit read more

Tonight's dinner at Cure was stellar. The menu change was a pleasant surprise, and because it was Wednesday, BYOB night:D I was also pleased with the fact that they take reservations. Good Luck is Cure's cousin resto, but that place was packed last Weds. Cure is a lot more quaint, very quiet and intimate. The hundreds of tea lights are cozy and romantic. We ordered the foie gras toast (black truffle and bone marrow). It was delectable. All of their plats principaux are made to share, so we got the beef bourguignon, and the coq au vin. To compliment the sharing aspect, at Cure they emphasize to their guests that they will bring out your food as soon as it is ready, even if your dinner companion's order isn't finished. It helps with a nice pacing, promotes sharing and trying different stuff, and it stays warm. I like knowing that my dish hasn't been sitting in a warmer until my company's dishes are done just to bring it all out at the same time. Some things just need to be plated and ated (right away!) The beef came with cavatelli pasta, mushrooms and baby onions. The beef was perfect, and melts in your mouth, so tender and flavorful. I wish they put in more of the 'shrooms. The coq au vin was the same sitch, the meat was tender, falling off the bone. The chicken came with haricots verts and a few potato wedges as well. Caitlin was our waitress, and she is also a fabulous bartendress. With 15+ years of experience, she knows how to make a mean cocktail, and can answer any questions with clarity and poise off of the top of her head. My friend inquired about a specific liquor and she was able to rattle off all of the sister beverages, and how they could be prepared to satisfy his craving, with a taste on the house. I agree with previous yelpers such as Laura, in regards to the fact that Cure is definitely pricier restaurant, but I can honestly say that you get what you pay for. read more

Love it. Their banh mi is nothing short of delicious, although I wish the baguette they used was a bit softer and a tad smaller. Might be my favorite dish that I've had at Cure. Pork rillettes are good, crab rilettes are amazing. Camembert with roasted fingerlings is solid, but I think bread would be a better pairing. No big deal though, just ask for more bread. I've been happy with each of the daily sausages I've tried, my favorite being the wild boar variety, and their terrines have been consistently good. Charcuterie spread is always a nice accompaniment. Love the variety of pickles on the board On the cocktail side, I wanted to like the Rearden Metal and I do, but only on principle. Never been a big fan of St. Germaine's liqueur. Girl, you have no Faith in Medicine, but you should. Not a bad drink. If you don't like the first one, just have three more. Get it in you. How can you go wrong with meat, fat, bread, and booze? . read more

We went to cure for BYOB night on Wednesdays... It was my first time here and will not be my last. We were able to sit right on the makeshift patio, surrounded by cute wood pallets and flowers. Our waitress brought over a chilled ice bucket to place our wine in right away. First we decided to do the bread and butter and olive tapenade. This wasn't clear that bread or cracker came with the tapenade, so we had/ ate a ton of bread. The homemade butter was delish and bread was toasted, yet could have been a bit warmer. I love olive tapenade, but this one aired on the salty side. For our meals, we decided on the banh mi and the short rib meatballs. Both were Amazing but the banh mi was the best I ever had. Perfectly pickled and the meat was so tender. All of the flavors combined for an epic sammy. Will definitely be back for booze your own adventure on Saturday nights! read more

Lovely food at very affordable if not downright cheap prices for what you get. Eclipses almost every other restaurant in Rochester without the prices. New favorite go to place ! Outstanding food, inventive cocktails that compliment and pair with their food menu nicely and great prices for what you get. read more

See all

Dining at Cure, a French restaurant located in Rochester, NY was without question, one of the worst culinary experiences I have had in all of my travels. The meal began with a watered down cocktail which featured an interesting ice cube (truly a cube) that managed to occupy most of the space in glass. This left just a bit of room for the cheap vodka and mostly water, which was featured in this cocktail. The artichoke appetizer was flavorless and had the tenderness of a stalk of bamboo. The main course was a 'crispy half chicken'. Indeed crispy on the outside and undercooked on the inside for that nice gamey flavor. Also undercooked were the beans upon which the crispy chicken was perched. I really resent being charged $25.00 for a $4.00 piece of undercooked poultry that doesn't taste good at all. A complaint to the waiter was met with: 'Sorry. I hope you will come back so we do better for you.' I told him that was 'highly unlikely'. A quality restaurateur would have come to the table and done SOMETHING to make it right. In case you wonder what the chicken dish came with, I can tell you.....severe vomiting and diarrhea. This is an establishment to AVOID AVOID AVOID!!! read more

My first review of Cure was after going there once for drinks and once for a meal and although I really liked it, I thought it could honestly go either way -- end up becoming a really cool, unique restaurant or else end up being overpriced, a tad pretentious and gimmicky. I'm really pleased to say that I've been about 7 or 8 times since my initial visit, and each time I've left feeling really happy and, on my most recent visit, buzzing with the haze of a very tickled palate. The food was soooo good. Like melt-in-your-mouth-endorphins-flying-this-tastes-michelin-star-worthy happy. Despite being the lone ranger at off-hours in the public market, Cure has a following. Never empty, it's always incandescent with tealights and that dimly-lit bistro ambiance. My favorite time to visit is on Sunday nights. And my favorite place to sit is at the bar. You're never waiting for a server and there's usually more than enough of a buzz in the place to keep you interested and happy without feeling cramped. I think these feelings of being a participant and a voyeur at the same time help to make this a great and unique experience. On this most recent visit, we started with the rillettes, a dish on the appetizer menu that changes daily. As mentioned by other reviewers, rilletes is meat cooked and salted in its own fat and then cooled so that the lipids can form a buttery paste that you slather it onto thick slices of bread (make sure your Lipitor is handy). Cure makes their own rillettes in-house and all of them - we'd tried duck, rabbit, salmon prior to this - are delicious. This time they had eggplant rillettes, which is an interesting and creative deviation from the norm. It was NOT disappointing. Further, the PERFECT Flower City Bread that was sliced, buttered with salted butter (key!) and then grilled to an outside-crisp-inside-soft state of bliss was an ideal accompaniment. Next we had the Banh Mi sausage, as Breanna so rightly recommended. House-made sausage on two baguettes (quite a large portion) with pickled carrots and cilantro and all the glorious accompaniments. It was spectacular. Our final dish was a special of the night and it was astounding: a skillet-made omelette/frittata concoction of eggs, butter, milk and tender savory pork belly. You know how in French bistros when the whole place just smells of eggs and butter and cheese but nothing ever tastes quite as good as that smell? This dish TASTED like it, and more. A small but satisfying portion, very rich, but ridiculously good. Cure has stepped up to the plate with a vengeance. It's certainly a place to try for a night out if you're a little adventurous with the palate and like the European-styled bistro atmosphere. I hope it keeps it up! read more

See all

Beautiful restaurant set in the public market district. If your a foodie this place is for you! Tasty cocktails, great menu and by far the best service I've experienced in a long time. Can't wait to go back read more

Cure - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

One of the best meals I have ever had. We went with a group of (4) for dinner last weekend. Ordered the charcuterie platter to start. A choice of salami, prosciutto, lamb, mushroom rabbit pate, pickles, zucchini and bread (although I did not partake in carbs that night). Great start. We each ordered a meal... the two men ordered the steak, my friend ordered the mussels and frites and I ordered the whole branzino. The food was to die for. The steak (which I stole from my husband) was AMAZING. Perfectly cooked with a dollop of herb butter on top that melted perfectly into the meat. The whole branzino was grilled and filleted to perfection and was topped with greens with a grilled lemon and sea salt to accompany it on the side. The table ordered dessert and I can say that the almond cheesecake won rave reviews from the entire table and even the table sitting next to us - admiring it! You have to go to Cure. I am impressed and can't wait to go back! read more

What an absolute disappointment. I took friends to Cure based upon the reviews I read here. Clearly, we either visited a different restaurant than the reviewers here or they were on a differen planet. We had just returned from Charleston, SC, and dinner at the Planters Inn which is regarded as one of the top restaurants in the U.S. Maybe our expectations were too high but Cure failed in all respects. First of all, this is a bar with a limited menu. You simply cannot enjoy a full meal here. The selection of items on the menu, quite frankly, is a bit bizarre. I'm not a fan of the owners other hot spot in Rochester but at least their selection of foods is better than you find here. On a Wednesday evening, there were only four occupied tables in the restaurant and two servers. Shouldn't have been an issue except the two of them spent more time conversing with each other than attending to us. They were young, and clearly in reading the reviews this is a place that young diners favor. I've come to the conclusion in reading many reviews on Yelp that the palates of the younger set are not as sophisticated as I have come to expect. I think there's a lot of mediocre food out there and in dining many times at places like Cure that some of the reviewers here have noted they have, they simply have low standards. Sorry, but the evidence seems to bear that out when I read their other reviews. Giving everyone 4 or 5s doesn't help differentiate between the good and bad and this was not a good experience. Then there was the air conditioning, or lack thereof. The restaurant is stuffy and the fans overhead insufficient. I've been waiting to come to Cure for a long time and unfortunately, this is a place that might be good for the winter but terrible in the summer. As for the drinks, a major disappointment. Ruggy J notes NYC style drinks. Well, maybe Ruggy should visit some different NYC restaurants and bars. The Rubberneck, uninteresting. The Faith in Medicine, also without taste. I tried the Rearden Metal. Better, but nothing spectacular here. While down South we visited a little place in Charleston called Toast. Mostly a breakfast place but with a small bar and a bartender who really understood his craft. They make their own vermouth and bitters at Toast. I understand that Cure makes their own Vermouth a well. Let me just say that the art of mixology is missing here unlike the South. As to the menu, what a strange collection of items. I recommend passing if yo uconsdier the house-made rillettes. The trio of tapenades was good, but that was the only item worth eating on this menu. The Boudin Blanc was the most tasteless piece of sausage I have ever had in my life. Surpassed only perhaps by the chicken meatballs. For a place that makes its own sausages, they really don't know how to prepare meat. The assorted Charcuterie was good but definitely not worth the $16 charged. There were a few pieces of good sausage there, but let me stress, only a FEW. The bread is good, but you can't make it on bread alone when you're supposed to be a small plate restaurant featuring meats. The only item we liked as a group was the cold rice noodle salad. Very good, but then again, I've had better at Vietnamese restaurants in and around town. Nothing to bring me back here. We left without having desert. What's the point when the entire experience was so bad. We went to Chocolate and Vine instead and had some great sorbets, wines, and a luscious Strawberry Ale. I wish we had gone there for nothing but Chocolate and Wine. Cure has indeed become the overpriced and gimmicky restaurant that Hope C. said she hoped it wouldn't become. It would NEVER be on my recommendation list. read more

Great food, not average. Atmosphere is good. I recommend if you want to try somewhere different. We will definitely come back!

We gave Cure a second shot. We went there about a year and a half ago on a really stormy February night. Snow was blustering off of the pavement and into the restaurant each time the door was opened. We were seated right.....next....to.....the door.... So last night we decided to head back for dinner and drinks. We didn't make a reservation but sat at the bar. Sitting at the bar lately seems to be our preference. My only complaint about the seating here is that the bar stools don't have a foot rest on the seat so your legs just dangle. Donny Clutterbuck was our bartender. I've known Donny since those dreadful and forgettable nights at Flaherty's on Elmwood in Buffalo. Donny is a true professional and he is worth 2 of the stars out of the 3 in this review. You can give him an idea of what you are in the mood for and he will concoct something extraordinary. Donny is an artist, and deserves a raise. The food left something to be desired. It is a french menu and googling the names of the dishes seemed to be a common theme. I went with the mortadella which is like a massive puck sized piece of bologna that sat atop a brioche mini loaf. It was just OK; I wouldn't order it again. However the presentation was nice. My fiancé ordered the crepe. This was almost like a french lasagne. 10 layers of sweet potato, crepe, cheese, and other veggies. I am a true carnivore, it left me wanting more from her dish. With so many other options in Rochester, I doubt this would be a place we would visit again. Needless to say, we went to Wegman's afterwards and grabbed some of the pre-made meals to satisfy our need for some comfort food in which we originally set out for. read more

The restaurant is in severe need of a heated portico entrance. In this small venue if you dine there in the winter be dressed warmly as the artic chill will freeze you every time the door opens. There are very limited offerings. Our waitress for the evening- Allison was quite aggressive telling us specials before she even took our drink order. She came back to our table no fewer than 5 times to try and move along our ordering of dinner. The restaurant was not even full. Part of the blame rests upon management for not training her properly- part of the blame is hers for not taking social nor verbal cues that we were not ready to place our order. The food was decent- not sure if it is enough to bring us back. read more

Eating at cure is practically a sensual experience, especially if you get the charcuterie board and the cheeses. To die for. Super hip atmosphere without pretense, talented crew in the kitchen and behind the bar. Definitely go on Saturdays for booze your own adventure to receive mystery cocktails crafted based on your preference in different categories you fill out. It's so fun!! I moved away from Rochester last year and cure is always the first stop when I return, followed by Good Luck!!! Favorites on the menu are: Rabbit rillette Bahn mi read more

My boyfriend and I had a date night here, we heard great things and finally wanted to try it for ourselves. I was very impressed- the food, atmosphere, drinks, the service- everything was great!! We had a salad to start, and then split the scallops and pork special. By the time each dish came out- it was gone in 2 mins :) we will def be back! read more

Cure - Awesome drinks, atmosphere and food. Overall great experience at Cure. We will def be back! - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

Now that I've been here more than once, I'm ready to dish about the joy that is Cure. The first time I came here for Yelp's Elite event and was very impressed by the knowledgeable and super friendly staff as well as the cocktails and food. I came again over the weekend and still enjoy Cure but feel as though it is a little bit of a limited experience. I had the Banh Mi sandwich with in house pork sausage ($16). Delicious. Absolutely incredible. I love the hip twist on the sammie while keeping the traditional flavors. Yum. I also got my favorite drink- Bleed the Monkey (it has pineapple salt- just do it) for $9. My main complaint is that Cure's food is SO EXPENSIVE. $16 for sandwiches? $7 for cheese? I know, I know... it's DELICIOUS... but I do wish there were more budget friendly options so I could enjoy Cure more often. read more

Cure is a really great, intimate restaurant. The shared plate style allows you to try lots of different foods. The Camembert is unreal delicious, I definitely recommend it! The drinks are great and inventive - plus they have a shot and beer special on the menu! Cure would be a great place for a date, but is also great with a group, cause then you get to try more dishes! I haven't made it for brunch yet- but I look forward to trying their brunch menu! read more