What's even better than a Mamma G dinner? It's their lunch! We arrived without reservations on a…read morebusy Friday, but were greeted cordially and seated shortly. Our server, although very busy, greeted us and said he'd be over soon. We both started with a glass of wine and house salad. Entrees were saltimbocca and chicken parm, both delicious. The highlight of the meal was a puff pastry filled with berries and cheese and topped with whipped cream. Amazing. The outstanding thing about Mamma G's is that every employee makes you feel welcome from the time you step in the door.

Went to the Monroe Ave location today to stop in for a gift card. The place was so busy! What a…read morewonderful thing!! Everyone seemed to be enjoying their food. The ambiance was casual with a sophisticated and dim lit atmosphere. There are plenty of tables and a full service bar. The servers seemed to be hustling! I will return to try thr food soon.

An interesting on-site restaurant inside Hilton Garden Inn Rochester (near medical center). Tall…read moreceiling, lots of natural light. Came here for dinner. Calamari is quite good; not industrially produced "rings" but real calamari. The mussel is also quite good. As soon as they seated us they served bread, though it was cold, not fresh and warm. That's a bit off for an Italian restaurant.

Grappa offers a decent happy hour, although it was difficult to fully enjoy it because our server…read morewas so busy. The restaurant was quite crowded during Friday happy hour, and one server was responsible for both the tables and the bar. He was clearly overworked, so we were not attended to as consistently as we hoped and we only had time for one round of orders. The food took a long time to arrive, while the drinks came out almost immediately. *Cosmopolitan Bianca: was very heavy on the gin. I could only taste the lime, with no hint of cranberry or hibiscus. The hibiscus reduction added a pretty purple color but did not provide any tart or floral flavor. *Sweet Potato Fries: were not perfectly crispy, but the portion size was generous. The honey could have used additional spices, since the dish leaned heavily toward sweetness. *Pepperoni Pizza: This was a good shareable option, although it lacked a proper char and crust even when fresh. The dough sat in a noticeable amount of salty oil. The pepperoni cupped nicely and added a slight bit of texture, but the rest of the pizza was rather soggy. The happy hour menu was serviceable, but nothing was executed particularly well. It is not a bad spot for small bites after work, but I would not go out of my way to dine here.

Awesome spot in the South Wedge. Great food. Excellent and relaxed service. The cocktails being…read moreback on the menu are awesome. Sit at the bar, get a table, go for brunch. Just go. You won't be disappointed.

The food was absolutely delicious. I would recommend this place to anyone. The service was…read morefantastic we had Noah as our server he was very attentive. The setting was superb very romantic. Very classy restaurant in downtown ROC!

Vern's is definitely one of those spots that's worth a visit! They don't take reservations, and…read morewhen we arrived around 7:30pm on a Sunday evening, it was packed. We were quoted about a 40-minute wait for a table, but told bar seating might open up sooner (around 30 minutes). They took my number and we stepped outside to take a walk around the block while we waited. We ended up getting a text about the bar seat availability in about 15 minutes. Once we got seated at the bar, things turned around quickly. The space has a really cozy, intimate vibe with dim lighting, warm atmosphere and overall it feels thoughtfully put together. We ordered hot toddies to drink, which were perfect for the weather, and for food we got the Japanese sweet potatoes and the cavolo nero pesto. Both dishes were incredibly delicious - flavorful and well-balanced. Just be prepared for a wait (and maybe stay nearby instead of wandering off), but once you're in, it's a great experience!

We tried out Vern's for the first time on a Thursday evening! We made it there by about 5:00 PM and…read moreit was easy enough to get a table for 2 with only indoor seating available. It's a small space inside but it's designed well enough to manage a flow of traffic for customers and staff. We sat in the back greenhouse area. I think the least enjoyable part of our experience was how loud it was in the restaurant. Definitely not a good spot if you're trying to catch up with someone and your voice doesn't carry. I couldn't actually hear the specials the server was telling us. I want to try out Vern's again, so I may wait until there's an outdoor table or ask to sit in the second level to see if that's quieter. We tried one of their spring menu appetizer items, the Japanese sweet potatoes with kimchi ranch and dill. One bite and I was addicted, these were so so good. We then moved on to the classics for entrees -- bee sting pizza and the ragu-- and we were amazed at how good everything was! The only note we had was about the pizza, it was very soggy in the middle but still edible if you rolled it over in itself. We also had a few cocktails, and while they were somewhat small, you could tell they weren't watered down in any way. Two drinks was more than enough for me. Overall it was a great experience and we want to try it again. If you're someone who struggles to enjoy a meal out where you can't hear much, maybe wait for outdoor tables.

Birthday celebration gathering, we were seated in a private room towards the back and had a great…read moretime. Baskets of warm bread were the first tantalizing morsels for our hunger. Drinks from wine, beer, sodas. I shared the Delmonico Steak with a friend. A 24 oz Center Cut Rib Eye paired with Angel Hair Aglio Olio. I ordered a side of Caesar Salad. My friend got Broccoli. The steak, delicious, cooked as ordered, well seasoned. We all got something different; Chicken Sinatra, Veal Parmigiana, Frutti Di Mare, pasta with Vodka sauce and Meatballs, Pasta with Marinara. Everyone enjoyed their dish. Desserts: I tasted the Cheesecake and Tiramisu Pie. Both were both very good. Service was excellent. Love all those caricatures of famous people around the room.

Cold, tired and starving..Delmonico's was so close to our hotel. After checking reviews, decided to…read morecome for dinner. Menu looked great, as well as reviews. Friday night in early December. Walked in to be warmly greeted by waitstaff in santa hats. Restaurant and bar is full Christmas spirit with lights, trees and decorations. Very festive! The walls are adorned in caricatures of famous italian americans: actors, athletes, singers, politicians etc. There's also a room dedicated to fake italians, for actors who played iconic italian roles but are not in fact of italian dissent. We were in that room, which was fun for us because 2 our all time favs were in there: the Barones of Everybody Loves Raymond and some Soprano's characters. Normally I am not a fan of chain restaurants for italian food, but this place is special. The food was bellisimo! Absolutely delicious. The shrimp cocktail, were like small lobster tails they were so huge & fresh! The stuffed peppers appetizer itself could be a meal (and for me, it was) The peppers practically melted in your mouth, stuffed with ricotta, sausage, gorgonzola and crusted breadcrumbs with balsamic glaze drizzle. To DIE for! The one pound lasagna is EPIC. Yes it's huge, but it's also cooked and stuffed to perfection. Comes with a pitcher of extra sauce without having to ask! We were too stuffed for dessert. Loved it here. Hope they expand include a Long Island location someday.

Boss Fights and Bites Review - Pane Vino on the Avenue…read more "Welcome back to Boss Fights and Bites -- where we take on the battles of flavor one bite at a time. Today, we're stepping into Pane Vino on the Avenue, and this one was special because we came here to celebrate my wife's birthday." "Right away, Pane Vino gives you that intimate, date-night kind of feel. The lighting is low, the atmosphere is calm, and it feels like a place where you're meant to sit back, take your time, and enjoy the moment. It's not loud or chaotic -- it's relaxed, comfortable, and welcoming." "The service matched that same energy. The staff was friendly, attentive, and never rushed us. They checked in when needed, made sure everything was good, and let us enjoy the night. When you're celebrating something important like a birthday, that kind of service really matters." "Before the food even came out, they brought the bread to the table -- and honestly, that deserves its own mention." "The bread was warm, fresh, and soft on the inside with a nice crust. Paired with the butter, parmesan, and olive oil, it was one of those appetizers you keep reaching for without realizing it. Simple, but done right -- and that's always a good sign." "Now let's talk about the food -- because that's the main fight." "We ordered the chicken parm, and presentation-wise, it came out looking exactly how you want it to. A generous portion, nicely plated, and you can tell right away this isn't something that was thrown together." "The chicken itself was thick and cooked properly. The breading had a nice crisp to it without being greasy, and the inside was tender and juicy -- not dry at all. That balance is key with chicken parm, and they nailed it." "The sauce was well done. Not too sweet, not too acidic -- it complemented the chicken instead of overpowering it. You could taste everything working together instead of one flavor taking over." "And the cheese? Melted evenly across the top, good coverage, no burnt spots, no rubbery texture. Each bite stayed together and felt intentional, which tells you the kitchen takes pride in what they're putting out." "Overall, the chicken parm was classic, comforting, and executed well. No gimmicks -- just solid Italian food done right." "So here's my verdict: Food quality -- strong. Service -- consistent and professional. Atmosphere -- perfect for a date night or special occasion." **"Now let's put some numbers to it. Food: 8.5 out of 10. Service: 9 out of 10. Atmosphere: 9 out of 10. Overall rating for Pane Vino on the Avenue: 8.8 out of 10."** "That's my take -- now I want to hear from you. Have you been to Pane Vino? What's your go-to Italian dish? Drop it in the comments, and don't forget to like and subscribe for more reviews, only on Boss Fights and Bites."

I went with my 15 year old niece here prior to going to the RBTL for a show. I had made our…read morereservation for 5pm (earliest reservation time) and upon arrival we were the only ones there, with the exception of one patron eating and drinking at the bar. We were greeted by the hostess, that I believe was either the owner or part manager of the restaurant. She sat us down and gave us menus (didn't mention the specials) and then proceeded to go and turn on all of the Christmas decorations in the restaurant and tell us about her deals when purchasing all of them. Finally upon her return the waitress took our drink orders and when I asked she gave us the listing of specials for the evening. My niece had a specialty mocktail that was described as having a "hint" of lavender- turns out the other items were done with a hint and all my niece (and I tasted) was the strong presence of lavender. For appetizers we ordered fried calamari that came with the typical red sauce- the fried calamari was good, but nothing special. We also ordered the lamp lollipops for an additional app and let me just say- they were the BEST part about our dinner! Perfectly cooked to medium rare and seasoned and grilled to perfection. It was my neices first time trying them and she said she couldn't wait to have them again. For our main dishes, my niece had the penne vodka- which was "okay" but really lacked on favor, nothing really special about it. I honestly think she makes it better at home. For my entree I had the Salmon- which came with a very thick strawberry sauce over the top of it. My fish was cooked perfectly and tasted great- without the thick "strawberry like" sauce over the top of it (I ended up scraping it off of the fish. I also wasn't a fan of the black rice-it had a very off putting smell and after having my first taste decided one bite was enough.

Every popular Italian restaurant was packed at night. Thankfully Tony D's has a spot by the bar and…read moreit has good reviews. Service is excellent and bartender checks on you constantly . Portion is huge. Meatballs appetize is like baseball size. I usually can finish appetizer and a main course by myself but I can't this time. Chicken Parmesan can feed a small Italian village. The tomato sauce they have is ok to me, taste like something you can get from the store. Maybe not enough herd or garlic, just not enough depth. I definitely will come back though; pizza and other pasta dishes look good.

Such an amazing visit for my first time at Tony D's…read more First things first, it was super easy to make reservations. The restaurant checked in 24 hours prior to confirm. The parking was good-the lot was scraped well and easy to navigate, an added bonus for someone not used to traveling in snowy conditions. My party of 4 arrived and was immediately sat. The hostess checked out coats (great provision). Our waiter was really knowledgeable and friendly-the perfect balance of checking in without us feeling awkward. We ordered and our food arrived quickly. The chicken parm was great-well seasoned and I loved the basil sauce on top. There was pasta included which I could have easily done without-the chicken was the star of the meal. The space is great for intimate dinners as well as large groups. The atmosphere is very balanced in that way. I would definitely visit again if I'm in the area.

First time at this Cartabbas. It's set up was different than our local restaurant but it was just…read moreas good as ours. Employees were very patient as we needed to peruse the menu. Wanting to try something different than our usual. Our food was excellent and cooked to perfection. Our drinks were awesome. When back in the area, we will be back.

We went for an early Sunday dinner and enjoyed the experience. To satisfy our hunger, we promptly…read moreorders a mussels appetizer to share. A good portion could have had more seasoning. Four shells were inedible as they had not opened, we showed the server and got a $5 refund which was fair. She said the kitchen explained they receive them pasteurized and should be safe. Never heard this before. So they are not fresh shellfish. Chicken soup was good. Caesar salad was drenched in dressing. Bread and oil dip was delivered immediately and warm and tasty. Entrees of an Italian platter and Champaign chicken were both good and plentiful. We had a great server, except it took a while to get the check at the end. On a Sunday, most local Italian restaurants are closed, so we settled for a chain which turned out good.

First time I'd been here in years. Just as good as I remember. Great food from the salad to the…read morepizza and amazing dessert. Service was great too. Have recommended to friends & will definitely go back soon.

Thank you, Veneto, for hosting our company holiday party this weekend! The ambience was amazing,…read morefood was delicious, and service was wonderful. Coordinating the event was easy, and our team had a really great time! Thank you for a memorable night!

Fresh and quality food. Good portion size. Nice owner. Small and nice inside. Would recommend.read more

Excellent place for pasta! Great portions and fresh ingredients that don't break the bank!read more