My wife and I recently went to Polizzi's for the first time. We usually only splurge for nice dinners out a few times a year. No regrets on this one. It's located in Rochester's Neighborhood of the Arts District, which we didn't have time to explore but looked like a pretty cool area. The restaurant was open and inviting. The staff was very welcoming and friendly. We had The Greek combo platter for an appetizer, which was perfect. I got the Steak Frites for my entree. I ordered the steak medium and it was perfectly cooked. The fries were crispy and nicely seasoned. My wife got the Prosciutto wrapped Salmon and loved it. For dessert we got the Fried Ice Cream. I normally don't get dessert but this sounded good, and didn't disappoint. This was one of my favorite restaurant experiences I've had in years. read more

This was the best restaurant experience I've ever had. My partner and I went on Valentine's Day. The staff were extremely welcoming and personable. The environment was small but open, feeling like you had somehow found the nicest little gem. And the food was immaculate. Every bite felt like 3, both complex and yet not overwhelming. We almost enjoyed the sides more than the entree (almost). So much attention to detail was put into it, and yet it was still reasonably priced enough to go again. Will have to make this our new anniversary spot. read more

Fantastic food, ambience, and service. Highly recommended for dates, business, and those all-important occasional Honjok self-care evenings. read more

Went back to Polizzi's to celebrate our anniversary, and we're glad that we did it! Over the years, Polizzi's has remained consistent with their high quality of food, reasonable prices and good service. I have always enjoyed their Beef au Poivre, and even though they were offering tantalizing specials, it was hard for me to alter my choice. And it was as good as ever. The other choice was Steak and Frites, and she was equally happy. We shared Calamari and Saganaki for appetizer and Butterscotch Custard with Caramel Sauce and Crème Brulee for dessert. Everyone was happy and the marriage goes on! read more

Polizzi's - Beef au Poivre, Steak & Frites, desserts - Italian Near Me - Rochester, New York

Went to Polizzi's for the first time with my partner for our bi-weekly date night. I made reservations for 5pm because we wanted to avoid the crowd on a Friday night. On the reservation form (online) it doesn't mention needing to place a comment in the notes for special occasions that you'd like a booth- so unfortunately, even though the place was pretty empty upon arrival we were unable to have a booth - the hostess said "had I known by you placing that request in the comments section online I might have been able to secure you a booth- but it's not guaranteed." - wait, what?? Not sure why they take online reservations then. Started dinner with a salad which was delicious and bread that was pretty basic and unfortunately the oil that they served with it was a simple and nothing special. For our entrees, my partner had the dual filets, which I'm sorry to report were seasoned with so much pepper that it took away from the steaks themselves. I had the salmon wrapped in bacon- which was superb. My partner had wished he had gotten it after trying one compared to his and after tasting his steak I'd have to agree it would have been a better choice. Hoping if we try this again it will be a better experience. Staff were nice, but not very welcoming. Decor could use some upgrades. Not sure if I would recommend. read more

Wonderful higher end location. The food menu was compact but that is a compliment. Great diversity in the menu with some very strong selections. Mouskk was exceptionally flavorful - strongly recommend. Price a bit higher but you get what you pay for. And it is very much worth it. Staff was very friendly and patient (we had a little one). They knew the menu and offered great suggestions. Beautiful inside. Compact but fits the feel of that location. With a nice bar Are that is apart of the space but separate as well. Nice scared parking. read more

Went to Polizzi's on a Saturday night with my boyfriend for a date night, and it was fantastic! We were able to get a same-day reservation, but make sure to select either dining room or bar seating on the website, as they have two separate sections. We chose the dining room. Parking was easy, and we walked up the side pathway to the restaurant in Village Gate. It was very busy when we arrived, but we were seated right away by the window. Our waiter quickly came over with bread and water, and we ordered the Gabbiano Chianti wine, which was so delicious that we ended up ordering two bottles! Service was great - our waiter shared the backstory of the owner, who previously worked at Tournedos before opening Polizzi's. For appetizers, we had the in-house made sausage sampler, and it was amazing. The blueberry sausage was unlike anything I've had before - I would totally buy it to take home! For the main course, we had the Tournedos of beef au Poivre and the cast iron skillet baked cod. The cod was perfectly flaky, and the feta was so creamy and melty. My boyfriend loved the Tournedos of beef au poivre and said it was cooked to perfection. We finished with the espresso pots de crème for dessert, which was delightful! They were out of the butterscotch buddino, so we'll definitely be back to try that next time. Everything was great - the service, the unique menu, and the overall experience. This is a one-of-a-kind spot in Rochester that you won't find anywhere else! Highly recommend! read more

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This place was on point. The food was perfect. Service at the bar was perfect. Attentive & funny everybody they're having a good time. Cool spot in the basement of an old building. I will definitely be back. read more

Polizzi's has the most comfy, cozy meals and has never disappointed me. Don't skip dessert because everything was amazing, especially the fried ice cream sundae. I love the Osso Bucco and Moussaka! They are both cozy, comforting entrees that you can't get enough of. read more

I went here to celebrate my birthday with my family. and we all really enjoyed ourselves! Our waitress was amazing. We all really enjoyed our food. I was thrilled to see that they had oil and bread, as I find that many places do not have that anymore. I love that they have crème brûlée too as that is my favorite dessert. I loved their eggplant parmesan. The eggplant were very thin and crispy, which I really enjoyed and I loved that you get to choose between penne and spaghetti for your pasta. read more

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Great outdoor seating. Visited for Italian night. Nice portions. Diverse dessert choices.

It was our first time there and we will definitely be back. Eileen was our server and she was very responsive and super friendly. We all ordered the salad of the day and it was delicious. Our entree were fantastic with the lamb cops being the best our friend had ever had. Great job Polizzi !!! read more

Food was decent but a little expensive. No tentacles in the calamari which is a point of note for me. Service was good. Nice view if the commons. read more

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POLIZZI'S Had a superb meal at Polizzi's in Village Gate. Great service from Erika who is super friendly and attentive and caring. The restaurant was packed and the atmosphere was electric. Great drinks. Fine food. Excellent service. What more can we ask for? read more

Food was incredible along with their bread. Home made bread was the best I ever had. Great service and I'm definitely going back. read more

First time visit.. let's go! So we decided to come here as they seemed to have an interesting menu and it's the warmer months and I wanted an Aperol Spritz. My friend made a reservation and we arrived a few minutes earlier than our reservation and they were able to seat us. Just so you know this WAS The Gate House. They kept the space as it was before but freshened up the space. Our server was friendly and gave us time to enjoy our meal and gave us info on the specials. He also asked us how we wanted our courses spaced out a nice touch. We got our drinks wine for my friend and the spritz for me. It was refreshing on this warm early Friday evening. We started with the Fried Calamari Greek Style (it had peppers and feta) this was tasty and a little different than just regular calamari. For our mains I got the Baked Cod with Tomatoes, Chorizo and White Wine with a side of Saffron Rice. This was rather tasty and it was also great to use the bread that came earlier (with olive oil)the bread was warm a plus) to sop us the sauce from this. It was flavorful and the fish was delicious. Also this dish I believe was gluten free. My friend she got the Steak Friets and it lacked flavor which is too bad. It was just as if someone forgot to season everything. We did not get dessert, the place was busy though with a birthday party and they also have a nice outdoor seating area. All in all it's a solid place that I've heard about but have never been to. It's like a hidden gem but look over the menu prior to your visit. Prices are moderate but nothing insane. 4.5 outta 5 They have a shared lot as it's in Village Gate. read more

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My family and I had the most wonderful dining experience at Polizzi's last night. The food was amazing! The atmosphere and and the staff were so friendly and gracious! If you're looking for a great dining experience you have to try Polizzi's! read more

We had a reservation for a party of ten, and we were so happy they could accommodate us! We were here celebrating a birthday, and we could not have been happier with the meal! We were seated in front of another large birthday party, so the restaurant itself was quite noisy, but nothing unmanageable. It was a bit hard to locate inside the Village Gate, but we all made our way around. Our waiter was great and explained all of the specials on the menu well and was very attentive. My mother and I shared the saganaki, (flaming cheese). It was yummy and fun, but next time I think we would get another appetizer. For my main, I ordered the steak frites, which was delicious! I loved the bordelaise sauce, it was delicious! And the fries were perfectly salted. I think the green beans could have done with some more seasoning, but I just added some salt myself. While the whole meal was good, the star of the show for me was desserts! I shared two desserts with the birthday girl, the vanilla bean crème brûlée and traditional cannoli. Overall, we had a wonderful time, and we would come back again for another birthday or celebration! read more

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everything was incredible. the pork chop is perfect. i'd you can get it, do it. here's a few more characters to meet the minimum. food was spectacular. service was great. i'll be going back. read more

More girls' night deliciousness and fun. Good food, good friends and good drinks are always a great combo and Polizzi's checks off all the boxes. read more

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First visit! The atmosphere is pretty and homey. The service was amazing! Our server explained dishes and was very helpful . I've never had dolmades before and they were amazing! The crab risotto was loaded with crab lumped right on top. We will definitely go back to try other dishes. read more

Polizzi's - Crab risotto - Italian Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Seriously is the best place for an amazing dinner, great service, and ambiance in Rochester! If you haven't been, you're missing out... read more

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Excellent service and waitstaff. The hostess and waitress spoke to me as if I was a friend and gave me great recommendations for things to do in Rochester when visiting for work. They were extremely friendly! Dining outside on the patio during on a summer night was a relaxing experience. Both the Arugula Salad and Braised Beef dishes were absolutely amazing! I will definitely return to this restaurant in the future. read more

Stopped in Polizzi's for dinner while visiting Rochester and were very impressed. Good food and drinks -- great service. We returned for dinner the next night and enjoyed again! read more

What a great find in the art district of downtown Roc. A well rounded menu with Mediterranean influences from Italy and Greece offers something for everyone. Polizzi's came highly recommended by locals, but finding it on Yelp was quite a chore. Even with the correct spelling I had to find it on google and the link to Yelp. I started with the beet salad. It's hard to get excited over a salad, but this was exceptional. Fresh and vibrant arugula , lightly dressed with balsamic vinaigrette. Tender golden and red beets topped fresh goat cheese to balance the acidity. Just wonderful. My my friend had the soup of the day, cream of potato with Italian sausage and said it was really good. Although they offered several special entrees off menu, I opted for the salmon from the standard menu. This was an excellently constructed dish. Good sized portion of King salmon wrapped in prosciutto, pan seared and finished in the oven and served over a savory white bean ragout. Very impressive although my salmon was a bit overcooked. But I would still get it again. My friend tried lamb chops for the first time in his life, so this pivotal moment was in the hands of chef. They came beautifully seasoned and grilled med rare and served with a bed of buttery mash and green beans. He said he loved the flavor of the lamb, but could have used one more chop on the plate to feel satisfied. There were two and didn't yield much meat. All the service staff including hostess and our waitress were fantastic. Very friendly vibe and a warm inviting atmosphere. The are so many good choices in the area, but Polizzi's is a pretty easy one to make. read more

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I really want to give this place a great 5 star review but it wasn't up to par. But let's start with the good stuff. They have great customer service, we called and let them know we're running late and they were ok with it. We got seated pretty quickly when we got there. The waiter was good other than he was quite slow taking our order and taking the check. The food was ok, the appetizer was decent. Presentation wasn't there, i ordered a tuscan chicken. It was swimming in some kind of liquid, there wasn't much flavor and just overwhelmingly boring. The special was called Trout with similar topping like clams casino but forgot what its called. It was ok, I thought the food was similar to a diner food. Probably will not be back. read more

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It's my first time in Rochester and Polizzi's is the first establishment I went to for a meal - and as previous reviewers have stated, this place, from food to service, is amazing. The hostess was lovely and my server, Kathryn was fantastic. She was professional, kind, and helpful. I began with a wonderful caesar salad with anchovies - the way it should be! My entree: The prosciutto wrapped salmon over white beans with escarole and saffron rice. Do not let my photo fool you. This was a large dish that I almost could not finish - though I did not want the meal to never end. The flavors were neither subtle nor overwhelming but absolutely perfect. I mean that sincerely. I cannot recall having such a well balanced dish. Even better, the prosciutto was not salty and did not require a knife to cut through. The salmon itself was large flawlessly prepared - soft and buttery. And those beans and escarole brought me back to my youth. To finish, though I barely had room, I went for the espresso pot. Once again, that perfect balance of flavors. I hate sweet foods and desserts but the chocolate came through and not the sugar. And their house made whipped cream was, well, dreamy. I have not have a remarkable meal like that in a long time. I cannot recommend this amazing restaurant and its exceptional staff enough. read more

Polizzi's - Prosciutto wrapped salmon over white beans and escarole. - Italian Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Nice choice of options on the menu for drinks and food. Ordered pork chop and wife had shrimp with saffron rice and both were cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. Server was friendly and attentive on busy night. Ambiance was nice - slightly loud but comfortable. We would definitely go back soon. read more

I came to Polizzi's for the first time to celebrate a birthday and was appreciative that they were able to accommodate a 10 person group! It was a bit confusing at first to locate the restaurant inside village gate, but we all made it inside without too much of a struggle. The atmosphere was very classy and the staff were very attentive throughout the night. Since our reservation was in evening and we were seated next to another large party, it was a little hard to hear over the noise inside the retaurant. For dinner I ordered the tuscan chicken pasta and a side of parmesan seasoned house made french fries, which were both pretty good! They also served our party with fresh bread and oil, which were amazing! I would definitely give this place a try if you are looking for a nicer dinner spot to enjoy with friends or loved ones! read more

Polizzi's - Polizzi's tuscan chicken pasta with a side of parmesan seasoned house made french fries - Italian Near Me - Rochester, New York

The service was excellent our server Eileen was friendly and very efficient. I started with the soup a cream of broccoli with fontina cheese, it was really quite good. My wife had the Shrimp Menelaus , she thoroughly enjoyed this dish, shrimp cooked just right , I had the Tuscan Chicken pasta tons of chicken in a tasty broth with tons of veggies and white beans . A great experience!! read more

We received a gift certificate for Polizzi's at Village gate. We had an amazing dining experience from beginning to end. Cara was our server. She was attentive and charming. The food was outstanding the calamari and the steak fritte was exceptional. I would definitely make this our go to restaurant and recommended it highly! read more

WOW, WOW, WOW ... I don't know where to begin ...with the cheese, the service, the ambiance... THE FOOD! I have found my new favorite restaurant in Rochester :D What drew me into trying out this new restaurant is that they are one of the only (if not the only?) restaurant that serves saganaki (cheese on fire for those who don't know). If you have never had Saganaki and you like cheese - you must try it and Polizzi's is a great place to try in Rochester. Their Saganaki has a distinct lemon taste to it though which I am not used to, so note that if you don't like the taste of lemon. Nothing can make a cheese lover happier than someone serving you cheese of fire yelling OPA! I came here for my birthday with my parents and my boyfriend. We all tried different things on the menu and tasted a bite of everyone's. It's not common for everyone to love everyone else's dishes yet still love their dish the best - which is what happened! I got the Cast Iron Baked Cod - It was super yummy and had zero "fish" taste at all too me actually tasted like cheese lol. My mom who hates fish wanted to try because we were raving about it and she even said it was good!! My boyfriend got the Tuscan Chicken which was loaded with a bunch of veggies and perfectly grilled chicken. I'm not a fan of chicken with pasta but this was tasty. My Dad got the Pepperoni pizza which was a big pie and really delicious but would suggest maybe trying their other pizzas that look even yummier (that's what I'm going to do next time). My mom got a special appetizer of the day called ricotta stuffed squash blossoms - they were good sized and just oozy goodness I can't describe. The waitress was phenomenal giving great suggestions, on top of the water and any special accommodations we asked for. The ambiance was elegant yet casual perfect for any occasion! LAST AND MOST IMPORTANT YOU MUST ORDER - GRANDMA CARMELLA'S MINULOTTI!! The best thing I have ever tasted - sausage stuffed bread covered with cheese and dipped in marinara sauce! read more

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What a wonderful place. It is in the former Gate House restaurant at Village Gate. The people were so friendly and knowledgeable. They truly expressed their appreciation for us being patrons. The food was absolutely delicious. Each of us were able to order something different from the menu and each of us loved it. We talked about the meal the next day as well. We are so glad to have found this spot for a family meal. We definitely will visit the restaurant again! Great job Polizzi. read more

Wonderful restaurant, food is excellent and one of the best in the Rochester area...Service, ambiance were wonderful as well..interesting, creative foods at fair prices...highly recommend. read more

A new-to-me restaurant that I'm glad I tried. I was initially put off by the seeming lack of vegetarian options, but my boss assured me I would love it. My husband and I stopped in for a late dinner on a Saturday. We shared the saganaki (flaming cheese) and vegetarian meatballs. For entrees, he had the rucula salad and I had the vegetable Napoleon. Everything tasted great. I truly can't wait to have that Napoleon again, which was a delicious stack of shredded potatoes, mushrooms, spinach, roasted red peppers, and mozzarella. I'm not usually big on meatballs, but Polizzi's version is really good. The flaming cheese appetizer didn't really catch fire and was maybe the least impressive of the things we ordered, but was still tasty. I still wish there were more meatless options but I was delighted with what we had. Jim was an attentive and friendly server. A really nice experience. read more

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We hosted an RIT college graduation dinner here and the owner was a gem from the start. He accommodated my various amendments gracefully and his staff was the icing on the cake. Every single dish killed and the wines were perfectly matched. It's unfortunate that I have no reason to go back to Rochester because I would eat here again and again! read more

Polizzi's - Italian Near Me - Rochester, New York

Love the food and restaurant. Relaxing space with outdoor seating. Never had a bad meal, quality of food is always consistent. Wednesday nights are dedicated to Italian-American plates. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. read more

There are not enough words to express what an amazing dinner experience we had recently at Polizzi's. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with modern furnishings and soft ambient lighting. The tasteful but understated decor creates a welcoming chill vibe that makes you feel like you want to stay a while. My boyfriend and I were warmly welcomed and seated by the hostess shortly after we arrived. Keep in mind we arrived at 6:30 pm hoping we would be able to score seats at the bar because of the dinner rush. We were very surprised and happy when we were told by the hostess that there was a booth for two available. It was just perfect for our long overdue date night because it provided us with the perfect amount of privacy so we could enjoy our dinner and conversation with minimal interruption. Before I get into the food, I have to show the Polizzi's staff some love. When we arrived we were told that they were short a server and that it may be a bit of a wait. Honestly, I felt the kitchen and wait staff timing was perfect. I thought that the entire staff work well together and everyone pitch in to make sure the customers were happy and had what they needed. Shout out to our server Joe B who is just cool like that. I don't think I saw him pause or slow down the entire time we were there. What I appreciated the most about Joe, even though he was putting in work that night he always had a smile on his face, was attentive and friendly to the customers and staff. Disclaimer: before I get into the food (which was amazing), Polizzi's casual fine dining restaurant, so expected it to be on the pricy side. However, our dinner and the entire experience were priceless and worth every penny. Let's get on to the good stuff...the food...YUM! The homemade Italian bread is wonderful, it was a crunchy texture on the outside and a soft and slightly chewy interior that pairs perfectly with the dipping oil. We started our meal off with drinks and their Grandma Carmella's Minulotti appetizer, which is their wonderful bread that is stuffed with Italian sausage and a generous topping of melted mozzarella. Three words "Yummy Cheesy Goodness". For dinner my boyfriend order the grilled Cod dinner special, the cod was grilled to perfection, it was crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. The cod serves with a creamy mushroom sauce, asparagus, and saffron rice. I order the Braised beef short ribs and Truffle Butter Mashed Potatoes. I enjoyed every tender, rich and flavorful bite. The mash potatoes was creamy perfect side to round out the dish. Thank you to Tom, Joe and the team at Polizzi for an amazing evening. We are looking forward to attending your next wine and food pairing events. read more

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Recommend. It's been years since The Gatehouse has been in this space, but I love the feel of the small space. The booths has throw pillows and it's give a comfortable vibe all around. Let's talk food...we loved the flaming cheese with lemon juice and did the stuffed squash blossoms which was on special. So good! The halibut on special was on point and delicious. We are already planning on coming back next week. Cocktails were well done and perfectly balanced. Out server was also the bartender. Great job! We did the dessert sampler- perfect amount to end the meal. read more

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We had dinner there last Saturday night. The specials were outstanding. Our server was very attentive and took care of us. Very nice atmosphere. read more