Nerdvana is a great, comfortable place to go with a group of friends or to go to a nice dinner alone. I have been to Nerdvana multiple times and everytime has been a wonderful experience. The atmosphere is spectacular. The food and drinks keep you coming back for me. read more

Nerdvana Rochester - Nerdvana menu. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Overall, the experience here was just okay. The vibe of the place was great, the decor was fun, and our server was super nice. At our table, there was a game console built into the wall with about 20 games. We had fun playing, but we did fumble a bit with figuring out some of the games... although that might have more to dk with our age then the games. Food was the weak point. The bruschetta was the best dish, beyond that, everything else was kinda underwhelming. The poutine lacked flavor, the spinach and artichoke dip was bland, and the quesadilla and flatbread were just okay. It wasn't overpriced, but it wasn't a great value either. If someone asked me to go back, I'd do it for a chill game night and maybe a drink or two. But for the food, I'd choose somewhere else. read more

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The idea of the restaurant was cool. you get to pick between a few video game consoles. We chose switch. The food was okay. I was excited for the poutine fries but the fries were stale. When my husband mentioned it to the waitress her response was "they are different fries because of the poutine." No mam, I'm not an idiot your fries suck. She didn't offer to switch them or give us any resolution just insinuated we were dumb. What a turn off. Kids got burgers. They were mediocre. Husband got a steak sandwich (after they ran out of steak frites). Again it was eh. I got a chicken parm something. I would have been okay without it. It was nice to see families playing together but don't go expecting a gourmet meal. read more

Nerdvana Rochester - Poutine fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

Main reason for coming this place is it is a- gamers heaven for gammers! My grandson loves this place! So different from my last visit here much better food, and our service was excellent! Amber was great. She was not only attentive, but made sure our game worked. Xbox game worked ! Coconut, shrimp, burger, chicken nuggets, brussels sprouts, and loaded french fries! Good food Nice service Better than average food! read more

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LOVE the concept. Game themed menu, video game consoles at the table, and plenty of board games to choose from. They do have a minimum spend for each party, of course, so you can't just stop by to play video games without paying for the service. The food was pretty good! The service was ok-- we had a hard time getting the waitress's attention. Highly recommend checking it out! Had a great time! read more

Nerdvana Rochester - Loaded fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Probably the only place in the world where I can find my favorite drink named after my favorite video game character (G-man whiskey sour) This was truly a 10/10 experience. read more

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A really fun concept and great spot if you're looking for an activity with dinner or drinks air a place for kids. Didn't order any food but did have some drinks. There's a large menu with cleverly concocted named drinks. I had two of the NA options, one was more up my alley than the other. Had a switch table for 5, and we had a blast. Our server was so charasmatic and gave us excellent tips for the games we were playing and recommendations for drinks. At least when we were there it seemed like the switch was the most popular, so just be aware read more

Good food and good times! lots of games with the newest systems. staff is friendly and place clean and contemporary read more

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This place is amazing. After a long day at strong museum of play this place was the perfect dinner before the long drive home. Each booth has like a tv with any gaming console you would want. This was perfect for the kids while the adults got to play some board games. The food was amazing and everything we had was a hit. My husband got the beef stroganoff which he said was amazing and I got the chicken and shrimp pasta which had a little heat but was perfect. The grilled cheese and buttered pasta were hits for the kids. The service is a tiny bit slow which is where they lost a star but it feels pretty impossible with how big this place is and all the nooks and crannies read more

Nerdvana Rochester - Cards against humanity - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Pretty cool place. I'm not much of a gamer but it was fun seeing other have fun. Food was ok, variety. Drinks were fantastic, very taste. I'd come back here when my kid is older. read more

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My friend and I went here before seeing a show downtown. I found it a little odd they ask you when you arrive to spend $15 per person. With the prices on the menu, if you order anything, you're pretty much at $15. I had the Nightshade cocktail. It was very small and not that sparkly. I was fairly disappointed or I'd have tried another one. My friend had a mocktail that was much better and prettier. I love pretty drinks. I had the Mac and cheese balls. They were ok, but nothing special. They do have an Impossible burger. It's kinda hard to see the way they have the burger listed on the menu. We played Mario Kart at our table, which was the highlight. We were at a 2 seater, and I think the TV is a little too close. But it was fun and I would go back just to play games again. They validate your parking to make it $5, so keep in mind that's added to your bill if you use the garage. read more

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Quick Take: Don't be intimidated by the widely pushed electronic games if you are not into that, plenty of other options. Decent food options, and large drink menu. Vibe: Very clearly catering to the gaming clientele, which my husband and 5 yo are not. However they have a great set up of very high booths with personal TVs, so you aren't bothered by anyone. We chose the board game route which was a big hit. It was a great way to pass the time while waiting for food. Tons of options from kid games (Chutes and Ladders) to more advanced adult games. Food: I wouldn't say the menu was super ground breaking. I enjoyed my fruit and goat cheese salad, and my family enjoyed their pasta dishes. I'm not usually a dessert person, but my 5 yo and I were REALLY tempted. We might sneak back over just for dessert. (Photo included) Drinks: Very good drink menu. Quite a draft menu as well as some cans and bottles listed. A few pages of cocktails too. I also enjoyed the "kids mocktail" section in with we ordered a layered fruit juice concoction. We happened to hit on happy hour which was half off drafts and $6 margaritas (although I couldn't find a list of margaritas, only martinis, so many I was just being dense). read more

Nerdvana Rochester - Board game library. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

Great environment, with okay food and good drinks. This is a concept restaurant and can be enjoyable for families, We met after a long day at the museum. The prices are probably a little higher than typical Rochester restaurants, but worth it considering the area and target demographic. Will this be in our regular rotation? Probably not, but on the rare occasion, this is a fun experience. read more

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Great family restaurant right next to the Children's Museum. Don't let the concept scare you away; the food is a great palate cleanse after an exhausting day across the street. After visiting the Children's Museum, we were famished from exploring all the attractions. While the museum has several places to eat, they felt more like cafeteria food. This restaurant and bar, on the other hand, is definitely worth checking out. The concept involves playing Xbox or PlayStation games while you eat, but don't let that gimmick deter you from trying the food. We sampled the quesadilla, cheesesteak, chicken tenders and tots, and finished with a shake. The food hit the spot. The service was a bit scattered, likely due to growing pains of the new restaurant, but we weren't in a rush and ended up getting everything we needed. They even let us take shakes to go. Overall, if you're in the area and looking for a place to eat after the museum, I definitely recommend giving them a shot. read more

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Fun fact : I am a huge nerd . So, of course, when I came across a restaurant that was lovingly named Nerdvana, I just had to try it. This restaurant has such a cool concept. They have taken family game night to the next level. Each booth has a gaming console. You can choose between Xbox, Playstation, or Nintendo games There is tons of fun for the kids and even some of us adults who are still kids at heart. Parents, if you're looking for a way to get your gamer out of their room and socialize, Nerdvana may do the trick. If you're not a huge fan of gaming consoles but enjoy a good board game, no worries, Nerdvana has you covered there as well. They have a nice variety of board games to choose from. Don't think for one second this "gaming restaurant" isn't serving up good eats because they definitely are. Their menu consists of scratch made appetizers, brunch, lunch, and dinner entrees. As well as a full beer and cocktail menu. It was a great time for the entire family If you're ever in the Rochester area and are looking for a "cool" way to kick back and enjoy dinner, definitely check out Nerdvana. *Everyone was extremely friendly, especially the hostess, and I believe the manager (gentleman). Thank you both for taking the time to explain the owners concept / vision of Nerdvana to me. I wish you all continued success!* P.S. Parents, this restaurant is located across from The Strong Museum. If you have the time, make it a day trip and visit both places read more

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Recommended by a very close friend of mine. Drinks and food were good! They had a really cool selection of drinks, some stuff I've never seen before. I was super excited to come here, having had a good recommendation from my friend. However, service was very disappointing tonight. I didn't catch a name but the bartender had a hot pink shirt, dark hair, and black glasses. Everything was good until we were waiting almost 30 minutes for another drink, and a box. We came in at 8:30, they close at 10. As a bartender, I understand it's an hour before close and you want to go home. I GET IT. But when you ignore a table for 20 minutes and we have to get up from our table and go to the bar to ask for another drink? Thats unacceptable. Shortly after close (about 5 minutes), the bartender came up with his tablet in hand and goes "sooo technically we're closed.." (Rude, and yeah we know, but you didn't check on us so now we're finishing our drinks). I said "oohhh. Okay. Well, would we be able to have a box?" (He NEVER ASKED. I had our to go food piled up on one plate, and the empty plates stacked up on another). Then, he tells us the total and stands there staring at me, waiting for me to pull out the cash. I feel awkward, and at this point, I'm honestly annoyed, so I ask if he can get the box and I'll have the money for him when he gets back. Again, I'm a bartender. I get it. It's mid week, and you want to go home. But you simply cannot ignore a table, and especially one that's drinking!!! Thats where your sales and tips come from! Disappointed and probably won't be back for awhile. The food/drinks never outweigh a bad service experience. read more

Nerdvana Rochester - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Great bruschetta appetizer! Will go back for it , they also deliver if you're not up to going out

The concept of this place is really cool, especially if you love videogames. You get to choose what videogame system is at the table you sit at and controllers are brought to you! There are also board games you can borrow. There is a $15 minimum spend on food and drinks per person, which makes sense because you don't have to pay to play. The food, however is not very good in my opinion and is pricey for what you get. They also didn't have many vegetarian options other than salad. I am giving this place 3 stars as an average. If I was basing my review just on the concept and gaming portion, I would do a 4. If I was ranking just on food, I would give it a 2. read more

Nerdvana Rochester - About Nerdvana - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

super great first experience here! management was unbelievably accommodating in retrieving & honoring a digital gift card we had purchased years ago. the cocktails were unique & the dragon eggs were bangin! looking forward to coming here again after a movie at the little read more

10/10 will be back. I love that this place is modern enough for dates, but also families. Obsessed with the way it's laid out in your own cozy pods with what feels like seclusion. It's busy, but not annoying. The food options were pretty vast across the board. I would definitely check the menu before going so you know what you might want- especially if you're bringing kids. You can choose between Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo switch. The dessert options (in the spirits menu pack) were awesome. Next time I'm definitely trying the PB shake with mini Pb cups on it! *We went at 6pm on a Saturday evening. Must have been before the rush because we didn't have to wait.* read more

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Great service and poutine was delicious. Some poutine I've had have been too soggy but the fries were still crispy here with the right amount of cheese for my preference. The short rib was also yummy and flavorful. They had Mariokart at the booth we were at so that was fun. Haven't been to a concept like Nerdvana before where there were video games at the table. My group ordered drinks and the bartender was really nice. We ordered lemon drop shots and for our second drink we told him to make us anything sweet. He asked if we liked bananas. Gave him creative freedom and he came back with a drink that tasted like a banana split. Wasn't on the menu but it should be! My friends got loaded fries and a vegetarian flatbread which they both enjoyed. Thanks Nerdvana for a fun night! read more

Nerdvana Rochester - GSQ Short rib poutine - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

Came here with a group of friends. Even if you don't game, it's still fun. We played Mario kart as we had drinks and dined. Food menu is amazing, unique and the signature cock tails were out of this world .I got the Boba fet cocktail with bubbles in it and it was the best cocktail I have ever tasted! read more

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Video games at every table! Clean, friendly staff, good food and good prices. Definitely recommend

We went a few weeks ago after we went to the Strong Museum. I'm going to start with the service for a change because the servers not only have all the responsibilities of a traditional server, but they have to provide IT services as well. I wish I remember the name of our server. He was great. Very patient and helpful. For some reason my kids picked the playstation. The selection wasn't the greatest, but the kids were otherwise impressed with the concept. There's also tabletop games people can borrow. The drinks are pricey but strong. I tried the nightshade, a strong berry flavored cocktail, and the moonstone, a more subtle lavender lemonade cocktail, both with edible glitter. They were as tasty as they were pretty. I also enjoyed my poutine. My husband was a little disappointed with his steak sandwich. It wasn't bad just not the best he had. My sons ate most of their chicken and fries. There's several single occupancy restrooms with lights to indicate whether or not they are occupied, and music. Very cozy. Worth checking out. read more

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Went this evening with a group of my friends. Overall, it was a fun experience and I would go again! As far as price, there were some pretty expensive options, however there were some cost-effective options as well. My burger was delicious, but it was incorrect the first time they brought it. I hate bringing that stuff up, but they were super nice about it and fixed it no problem! Ended up playing a board game after we realized video games may not be the best bet. They ensured us that there was no rush and the service was very friendly Overall, I enjoyed myself and I would come again! read more

Literally the best place to eat in Rochester without question. The people are the nicest, the food is easily some of the best you will ever eat, they gave games for everyone both on the screens and on the tabletopbs and pretty much everything there is perfect, safe and welcoming. Nerdvana is the best place to eat in rochester hands down read more

I wanted this to be a 5 star review, but sadly this is not a 5 star experience. We are really into gaming and have everything this place offers at home, but have been wanting to check it out since it opened. We had a group of 6 and fit comfortably at the table. We were given a choice of console and we chose the Switch for the selection of party games. The controllers mostly worked but one had some drift issues. We had a lot of fun with the games and its a great concept, and nice to make a night out of it instead of staying in like usual. The food was good....but WAY overpriced in my opinion. We did enjoy the cocktails. Our waitress left us without water refills after we paid the check, which was not great especially given how much money we all spent. She also never came back to pick up a bunch of the empty dishes and glasses and we had an hour left of gaming after the check closed. You are allowed 2.5 hours for gaming even if you continue to spend money, which is odd to me...I think the concept would work better if you were limited by time. That being said, our time was up at 10:30 but no one kicked us out before they closed at 11. The vibe is cool, the video games choices are average, but it is still fun. 3 stars due to the food, service, and overpriced menu items while limiting time of paying customers. read more

This restaurant definitely needs more love! Been here a few times and always a positive experience! The food is excellent (actually some of the better dining out meals I've had recently) and cocktails are also super good. The vibes are great too-everyone who works here so friendly. Highly recommended! Casual atmosphere-and you can play video games! read more

What a fun place to be! I came here after visiting the strong museum of play and boy was this great for the video game lover in me! Good: - Loaded fries were AMAZING - lots of flavor and crunchy fries - Boss monster milkshake was crazy large and almost too much for me - You can play video games as you eat! They had 4 person tables available and we played Mario kart on the switch. You can also rent out board games - Love the video game theme - so fun and memorable Bad: - Service can take some time - Ziti was good but the chicken was a little too burnt for me Overall I wish this was in my city! read more

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The food was HORRIBLE, and so was the service. Grits was thick and heavy, the chicken was chewy and slimy. Had to ask the waiter to put our order in 25 minutes after he brought drinks. read more

Such a fun place to gather with friends & have fun while you eat! The salads were two thumbs up by the whole party but that banana pudding...wow!! There aren't enough thumbs to rave about that! Don't miss it! It really is next level! read more

Nerdvana Rochester - Woohoo! We made it! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

My friends and I came here Saturday night for drinks and games. They had a round of drinks and I had a diet coke. I'm not quite sure what the issue was but when we tried to get more drinks the waitress told us we could not order another as we were "too inebriated" in her words. It was a little weird as we were being polite and not being too loud (even though the place was packed). We were pretty locked in on Mario Cart and not even really talking during the actual racing. I understand the staff has a right to refuse drinks and I'm not sure if this is primarily a family friendly establishment or something but it put a huge damper on the mood for friends just trying to hang and play some games. We ended up just going to a bar after for Karaoke and there was no issue. read more

Wow this place was so ridiculously cool! Each booth has a built in tv that you can play video games on! We got to play mario kart, super smash and a ton of other games all while having a meal. My boyfriend and I both ordered the parmethea sandwich (he's a copy cat). It was fantastic! Just like a chicken parm but with different bread. I love that they give a marinara dipping sauce with it. What an amazing experience! My only complaint would be about our server. Forgot to bring drinks and refills all throughout our time here, and then on top of that, she tried to charge us for drinks we didn't even order! She definitely seemed like she was on something... read more

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Super fun place to play board games, get drinks, and enjoy some good food. They have a beyond burger option and tasty fries. The margaritas at happy hour and red wine were great. We played Dune and the staff was super friendly. read more

Nerdvana Rochester - Margaritas and wine for happy hour with the Dune board game. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

This is such a fun and cool place! We brought our friend from town here and she had a blast especially her being a gamer! 10 out of 10 recommend read more

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3.5 stars overall, but rounded up because I like the concept. Some friends and I came here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. There were 6 of us, so we were expecting a wait. However, they weren't too busy and we were seated right away. Before you're seated, they ask what console you would like t play. We chose the switch to play mario kart and smash. The restaurant gives off an arcade vibe without being an arcade. Every table is set up with a monitor with a console. They give you four remotes, regardless of your party size. That kind of sucked for the 6 of us, but we just rotated who was playing. Food: The food here is pretty standard American fare with some fun gamer names. I ordered the impossible burger, and it was ultimately okay. Food wasn't bad, but nothing spectacular to write home about. Service: Service was a little shaky. Our server was super friendly and nice, but ultimately not around often. This made it difficult to get water refills or ask for anything. Our table was filling up with empty glasses from drinks and empty plates, but someone didn't really come around to clear off the table. This made it difficult with the controllers on the table. The food came out in a timely manner though. I hope over time, they get their stride and things get better. TL;DR - great concept of gaming with eating & drinking, but got some service kinks to work out. read more

I so badly wanted the bad reviews to be a growing pain for them but after going and receiving terrible service, 1 star is all we can give. It was super busy when we went in a little after 8 on a Saturday night, a ton of people waiting. We decided to sit at the bar. We ordered two cocktails which we really good, waters which we had to ask for numerous time and we placed an order to split. After waiting for quite sometime we saw what we ordered go to another couple sitting further down the bar and you could tell by their face that it wasn't their order but they took it anyways. We just cancelled the food and left. Things happen, I get it! But overall, the bartender was incredibly rude, condescending and is the reason for such a low review. She was snapping at everyone who tried to order "if you can't tell I'm in the middle of something" "I've been working since 8 am" "there's only on of me and a lot of y'all!!".... Very uncomfortable and couldn't wait to leave also had to ask for the controllers so we could play a game while we waited for drinks. Isn't that the whole draw to coming here? With proper staffing I'm sure it'll be great! read more

Nerdvana Rochester - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Nerdvana is a great idea, poorly executed. Video Games: The video game library is very limited, and depending on the console you choose, even fewer selections for co-op. We wanted to play Marvel Rivals, but couldn't hear the game so we asked our server how to adjust the volume. She told us that all game tables are muted so as not to impede on anyone else's enjoyment. If you're visiting a gaming restaurant, surely you understand you're going to hear gaming audio? Have you ever been to an arcade? The magical din of gaming sounds would be preferable to the loud Muzak that was blasting above the tables. Board Games: Since the video game experience sucked, we took a look at their board game library. The shelves didn't look as extensive as the list on their website. We didn't see anything we were interested in. Drinks: There were four of us, and we each tried a themed cocktail. Not great. We each got a second drink of our choice, and they also were just not good. My husband asked for an Old Fashioned. The server told him they couldn't make one, but they could make their version called an "Olde Skuul." Was it the winner? Nope, also bad. And with 16 bourbon/whiskeys listed on their website, why couldn't they just make him what he wanted? Food: It's billed as upscale, but is mostly the same as what you'd find at any other place in WNY. We wanted to try a little of everything, so we got a few appetizers. They were fine. Nothing special. Then we each ordered an entrée. Here's where things got really weird. They have an Impossible patty listed on the menu under burgers ("handhelds"). It's a $5 upcharge - which is a lot. It's usually $2-3. But what I wanted was a salad, (none of the salads automatically come with protein). I chose the Stardew Salad and asked to add an Impossible patty for $5. The server looked flummoxed and said they couldn't do that. I showed her that the Impossible patty was on the menu, and said I just wanted to add it to a salad instead of a burger. This threw her for a serious loop, and she insisted it couldn't be done. My friends and I all looked at each other like we were in the Twilight Zone. I said, just give me the burger then. When she brought it out, she said she checked with the powers-that-be and to add the already overpriced Impossible patty to a salad would be a $13 upcharge. $13 for one Impossible patty. LOL! $28 for a basic spinach salad. Staff: Including our perplexed server, it felt like none of the staff had any knowledge or passion for gaming. It seems like that would be a prerequisite to work at this kind of themed restaurant. I really wanted to like this place and make it a regular haunt. Sadly, the bonkers policies and lackluster service will keep me from returning. read more

This place is such a cool concept. They have really good food and cool drinks to go along with it. We sat down with our group of 6, with very fun staff serving us as well. When I had questions about the drinks, they were very helpful because they have tried them all. It seems the bartenders were very experienced and knowledgable. I just wish this place wasn't as pricey, which is why it is a 4/5. In the end, I guess it does make sense since they have to pay for the games/experience. It is definitely worth a try when you have some more money to spend! With tip included, me alone was $75 at the end of the experience. I had about 3-4 drinks and a dish of pasta. read more

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We visited this new venue with my boys. They enjoyed the games at the table. They offer a wide selection of games. The service was exceptional. Our waitress was attentive. The Shrimp & grit was cheesy grit with sausages and shrimp. I like their sauce. Their chicken and biscuits was so so. I wish the breading stayed on the chicken. It was falling apart. Overall, It was a good experience. Parking was on the street so make sure to allocate extra time for looking for space and arrive early. read more

Nerdvana Rochester - Shrimp and grits - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York