5 PM reservations to beat the rush. Small place, maybe 6 tables in the eating area unless there was another area we did not see. The bar was hopping! Small as well, a couple of standing tables, rest was 2-3 deep at the bar. It was Negroni night, free samples and $10 cocktails. Tried a couple of the flavors, but Campari is not for me. As for dinner, the excellent server (Chris) provided multiple choices of water. Hubby liked the house wine which was Alex Valley Vine according to the bill (also named Monroes Restaurant at the top of the bill). Three warm rolls arrived. We both had the Lobster Bisque which came with sherry on top. Best we have had in a long, long time! Hubby had the Filet (perfect) with Truffle butter and Truffle fries (never enough truffles I guess!). I had the Seafood Tagliatelle, asking for the chef to make it spicy. Great flavor and large scallops, shrimp and lobster. We enjoyed everything very much except maybe the fries as they were more like huge potato wedges, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Hubby used some truffle butter on what he ate as he said the inside did not have much taste. Pricey, so review online information before going. Chairs were firm but very comfortable. read more

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My NY Strip was very average. My wife ordered the 8 oz filet. Average. Mashed potatoes. Outstanding Mac and cheese with cracker crust AMAZING! Service. Very good. Overall, I probably wouldn't come back but we had enjoyed the "speak easy" experience. read more

Oh boy.....I probably wouldn't be writing this post so negative if I couldn't hear the laughter from the staff. Horrible horrible experience here. Server was nice but it was really off set up. Tables by bar, tables to the left when you walk in other smalls rooms with tables. We were sat alone (not complaining about that) just weird that no one else was sat in there the rest of our dinner before things got bad. Place was dead on a Saturday night. Over priced by far. Crispy shrimp was good. The wedge salad was good and it was big portion cut in 2. Baked potato was on steroids lol. Seriously it was HUGE that's why I'm giving 2 stars and not 1. Seabass wasn't great. My husband thought it was over cooked. I like it being cooked more on the well done side personally. It just felt blah with the tomatoes and olives. More capers would've been better. Now for the steak and when it got ugly. Let's go back to the beginning though. It's LAUGHABLE whoever made the specials menu ‍ when you priced the items separate it was $42 CHEAPER!!!! Huh? Simple math here guys. Like are you TRYING to rip people off? I'm dead serious when you add the salads entree and desert on regular menu it was $42 CHEAPER than the so called "special". We told the waitress and she said she couldn't wait to tell the owner. Btw the waitress was also the hostess? Just weird. My husband went to culinary school for 4 years. We both were in service industry for many years before opening our legal consulting firm and real estate company. We know how hard it can be in service industry. We think everyone should work at a restaurant before they are allowed to eat at a restaurant (our inside joke). My husband ordered the 24oz bone in ribeye medium rare. The waitress didn't run her own food it was a food runner each time that was not personable at all and not the fine dining I expected. She walked out as he was cutting into the steak that was cooked medium well on the outside and saw him shaking his head. We NEVER send food back. When you pay that kind of $ for a steak though it needs to be cooked perfect. She took it back. Where we were sat you can hear the staff in the kitchen......about 5 minutes later she came back with the same steak trying to explain what the chef said. Huh? What? Cut it in the middle? Ok cut in the middle it was still at best medium. Tell the chef to come out. Tell the chef to not be a coward and send the server out to explain. Let me explain this to the chef and owners. The steak should be cut EVENLY then it won't be cooked different temperatures in different spots!!!!! Seriously she asked if we wanted a different type of steak. HUH? Looking back today and replaying the dining experience I doubt the server cares since gratuity is already included. Who the heck brings the steak back out to try to explain and resell it to us? My friend asked how dinner was. Told her it was horrible and she sent me a review almost exactly what our experience was. In business you should inspect what's expected. I'm guessing absent owner's since the waitress made comment she couldn't wait to tell the owner about prices on special menu. Get it together guys. We will not be back and not recommend. Sad too because I was suggested this place in the I am foodie Rochester Facebook page. read more

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I wanted to like Rare 3001 but it didn't happen. This is a very expensive restaurant so you expect exceptional service and food but that wasn't the case. The filet mignon was ordered rare and it was medium well, dry and room temperature. The sides were OK but nothing special. The service was slow and none of our entrees or sides came out at the same time. Wait times, we were there for 2 and a half hours most of time spent waiting for drinks and food. The setting was nice and clean but save your money and go somewhere else. Definitely not worth what it'll cost you. read more

We didn't have food but the dim upscale vibe was really cool. The drinks were so cute and delicious read more

Rare 3001 - Steakhouses Near Me - Rochester, New York

Small, clubby, swanky atmosphere. Best cocktails in Rochester. Intimate setting, and a typical steakhouse menu, with everything done well. A good selection of craft cocktails, expertly made, nice wine list, and a pretty good steak. Although pricey, the value is here. read more

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A new steakhouse in the Pittsford Brighton Monroe Avenue area Behind the old Springhouse It will be interesting to see if there's enough space for yet another steakhouse in that specific area given the fact that there is Max's Chophouse, Black & Blue Steak and Crab, as well as the Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse Good Luck ! read more

We were greeted warmly and had our waters filled quickly, which started things off well. We ordered a bottle of wine, and while our server poured the first glass, that was it -- the rest was left to us. Not a huge deal, but unexpected for a restaurant trying to provide a high-end dining experience. The restaurant sits below another, and the constant dragging and banging of chairs from above took away from the ambiance. It gave off more of a "speakeasy" feel than the upscale steakhouse experience we expected. The oysters were delicious the first round, but the crab cakes and later oysters were just average -- nothing special. The $88 bone-in steak was also underwhelming. It definitely wasn't the 24 ounces advertised -- more like 12 -- and we had to ask for steak knives. We didn't receive them until we were more than halfway through, cutting with a butter knife in the meantime. The flavor was okay, but not memorable or worth the price tag. Our server barely checked in after the food came out, and when we finished our meal, they brought the check without asking if we wanted dessert. To top it off, gratuity of $67 was automatically added to our bill without any mention, and we were still prompted to leave an additional tip. Overall, the space has potential, but the service and food didn't meet expectations or justify the price. Unfortunately, we probably won't be back. read more

Stopped in after a work networking event that was down the road. A small group of us were still hungry and someone suggested Rare 3001. So glad they did. The service was great, the drinks divine, and the food delicious. Especially the lobster bisque. We ordered the bisque, lobster Mac n cheese, shrimp, and broccolini. All was a hit with the group. All bartenders we worked with were beyond friendly. read more

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I am always on the hunt for new restaurants in Rochester, and I was actually pretty excited about Rare when it first opened. I'll be honest, though, the low rating here made me nervous when I read the reviews. We decided to chance it last night, and I can say without a single hesitation that it was the right decision. First, the ambiance is beautiful. It is a very lovely dining space - it is smaller, but it feels intimate, not cramped. Someone had previously complained about the bar being loud. I did not find this to be our perception, but asked for a table in the adjacent room anyway, and they were more than happy to accommodate. Our waitress was exceptional. Warm, prompt, helpful, attentive but not pushy. The food was quite possibly the best I have had at restaurants of this type. We shared the baked Taleggio, pork belly, onion soup for starters, and we found everything to be delicious. The onion soup was a little bit rich for me after half a bowl or so, and we both felt it could have used a tiny bit more broth to dilute the concentration, but this is me being picky. It was easily the best onion soup I've had from any restaurant. The Taleggio was the top favorite, though. That was one of the best appetizers I've ever had in my life. For entrees, we had the filet bolognese, as well as bone in rib-eye, with the Mac and cheese (seafood on the side, which they were more than happy to accommodate), and the creamed spinach. Everything was outstanding. The steak was perfect, the Mac and cheese was creamy and rich, the spinach was exactly what I had hoped for. 10/10. Easily one of the best steaks I've had from a restaurant. We visited Redd about a year or two ago, and left disappointed - this meal was 100x better. And we left with enough food for another 2 meals, easily. No one is complaining. We finished with crème brûlée, and again, just perfect texture, consistency, and flavor. If I were to nitpick, I'd say the sugared layer was a wee bit too thick in places, but it didn't stop us from inhaling it. I will end with this. During our dinner, we were sat next to a group of women. When it came time for them to order, they asked for the short ribs, to which the waitress responded that unfortunately they did not have the short ribs available that night. Now, I don't know this woman's story, and I am hoping that she was just having the worst day of her entire life, or was going through something horrific, and all she wanted was one short rib and it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I really do. Because she became *incredibly* rude to the staff, and actually stood up and stormed out of the dining room for a few minutes in a huff. When she returned, the manager came to talk to her, apologized profusely and explained that the order of short ribs they received that day had been inedible. I can only assume they meant they received spoiled meat, so obviously they couldn't serve it. This did little to pacify her. She continue to be sharp and snappy. The manger left for a few minutes and returned again, informing the woman that he had sent a staff member to the adjacent restaurant upstairs and found out that they were serendipitously running short ribs as a special that evening, and he was going to procure some from them for her. Say what you will, but that level of customer service is far beyond what is even "above and beyond." Is this restaurant pricey? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. In service, experience, and food, you get what you pay for here. Don't let the low reviews here scare you off - Rare 3001 is absolutely worth a visit. read more

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It was ok. The service was a little less than ok. Overall value based on price and quality , my opinion, much better options.available.

Love this newer higher end spot! Very historic mixed with some modern remodeled features inside. The menu is top notch and the wine paired with the small plates and entree options was also solid! I always sit at the bar when I travel for business so the service was phenomenal too! I'll be back! read more

Rare 3001 - Alexander Valley Vineyards Cab Sav 2021 - Steakhouses Near Me - Rochester, New York

This was a great experience from start to finish. The food was very high-quality, delicious, prepared perfectly, and service was exceptional . Nice ambiance , pretty space . read more

Great cozy, speak-easy type of restaurant. The tables and ambiance are great for date night. Started with the oysters they were 4/10. Taste 10/10 freshness/cleanliness is where they lacked. NY strip with sauces was great. Spicy Broccolini and Seafood Mac was amazing. Seafood Mac had the best lobster, scallops and shrimp. Not rubbery and cooked perfectly! Definitely coming back to try more! Service was great. read more

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I came here on a Thursday night and had the best meal I have had in a long time. Everything was amazing and the customer service was impeccable! The oysters were fresh! The French onion soup was the best I have had, the steak was perfect and the sides were amazing. Oh and finally a place that serves wine in real wine glasses! Can't speak highly enough of this place. I had the prime rib and the mashed potatoes rivaled my mother in laws and the prime rib was perfectly cooked. My husband steak had a ton of flavor and cut like butter. The lobster Mac and cheese was really good and the Brussels were a must have. read more

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Had very high hopes based on a friend's review. Very nice ambiance, service was excellent, and the raw oysters were phenomenal. However, the Sea Bass was beyond disappointing. It had ZERO flavor and, not sure how, but they manage to overcook parts of it but was rare in the middle. I didn't finish it of course. For the price and considering other restaurants in the area, I wouldn't rush back. read more

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Been here a few times and the food service atmosphere is the same every time we go. I'm glad I live an hour and a half away or outside I'd be there more often. read more

They sat us in the middle of the bar. Very unpleasant location to be seated for a dinner. Appetizer was so so. The grilled oyster was poorly done. The oyster selection was subpar. For the price it should be excellent. Ordered Wagyu steak. They said it was a highest grade from California. When it arrived it was a tenderloin. I told the server and she said this was the wagyu. Either she brought someone else's steak or this restaurant doesn't know what wagyu is. It is absolutely not acceptable for a steak house to not know the difference between tenderloin and Wagyu. This is a mediocre restaurant charging same price as Tournedos and even more then Black and Blue. *response to the response* That was not Wagyu. If it was, then it was the worst quality I have ever had. I decided to not bother discussing the experience with the management because I just wanted to go home. The responses by the management to above review seems to blame me for not bringing up the issue to the management. I actually did complain to our waitress and she dismissed it. Also I don't believe I need to make a scene and complain to multiple people. I wouldn't do it at burger king let alone in a such expensive restaurant. read more

Overall, this is a decent addition to the lackluster Pittsford food scene. The vibe is modern, cozy, suburban speakeasy. I do wish they would play something other than elevator music. The ceilings are low, but the tables are spaced well, so you don't feel too claustrophobic. You'll definitely have more space than the other steakhouse up the street. On the night I went, it was mostly an older clientele. On to the food! Portions and plates are massive. The small seafood tower included a large king crab leg (insanely fresh and juicy), a lobster tail, 4 huge shrimp cocktail, and 4 oysters. The mignonette was overly sweet, but the seafood was on point. My medium prime rib arrived...seared and charred? I've been ordering prime rib all my life and I've never seen prime rib like this, especially at an establishment named Rare. Not much flavor on the meat or au jus, and apparently the kitchen defines medium as rare plus. The broccolini lacked seasoning, the hash browns had way too much sour cream (rendered inedible for this reason), but the truffle fries were perfect. The presentation throughout the entire night was wonderful. The staff seems very eager to make this a successful venture. Never in Rochester have I been greeted so warmly and sincerely by a host/hostess. Our waitress was also extremely pleasant and helpful. I'll definitely give Rare another try, but will explore other options on the menu. read more

Rare 3001 - Prime rib comes seared and charred - Steakhouses Near Me - Rochester, New York

AMAZING food, superior service! Cool restaurant, I felt like i was in a 30-40's NYC/Chicago jazz club read more

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Rare 3001 provided a great experience for our first time in. We thought the servers were knowledgeable, the food was well cooked and seasoned and the portions were amazing for the price. I loved the look and feel of the restaurant. Only note I had, you could tell the restaurant was new and was still learning. Please be patient because they will impress! read more

Rare 3001 - The rack of lamb cooked medium rare - Steakhouses Near Me - Rochester, New York

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The drinks were good, and the staff extremely friendly. The atmosphere is kind of dim but we enjoyed it. We were super excited to eat here based on photos. French Onion and lobster bisque were good. From here it all went downhill. Shockingly for a place that calls itself rare, we found that our steaks were anything but. The Bone-in Ribeye was more like a sirloin. No marbling, way overdone, and pretty much tasteless. It was probably the worst steak I can remember having out at a restaurant and for $88. I've never seen this before either but when a la carte charging $10 for a plate of caramelized onions how do you run out of onions? Wife ordered 12 oz tenderloin and result was the same, both of them were so tough they weren't at all easy to cut with knife. Again really loved staff and atmosphere but for a dinner for two with a few cocktails that lands over $400, the food fell flat on its face! read more

Yaaa it's a streak house with steak house prices... nothing comes with side so expect to pay a lot. The plates are huge and the portions are small. What made this great was everyone was super nice and helpful read more

Amazing termite and AMAZING food!!! Will definitely be back!! Not from around here but will be worth the 1.5 hour drive for dinner!! read more

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Wanted to try this place as we are always interested in new options. Husband ordered rack of lamb - medium rare. A couple of things went south. The lamb was very poorly cooked with one side being raw and the other being almost well done. Then there was the fact that it was impossible to cut. Impossible. If you are a rack of lamb eater you know once you cut between the bones, the meat should just pull apart. Not happening. We asked for a better knife and that didn't help. The waiter was fantastic and we know this issue is not his doing. Eventually someone else came over and actually made us show her how tough the meat was to cut. My husband said he would like an adjustment on the bill, not another rack (which was offered.) So, we wait...and wait...and wait for a bill. When we grab the woman who required us to show her how tough the meat was to cut, she said, "Oh, the manager wanted to cook another rack for you to take home." 1. She never informed us of this while we were waiting. 2. We would not want to take rack of lamb home to eat cold. She might have offered us something else to take home. In the end, the lamb was removed from the bill but we never did get the impression that anyone truly cared. We expect more from a high end restaurant. read more

Good Food, Great Service, Beautiful Establishment! I enjoyed myself. My friends and I ordered multiple sides dishes to try which are shareable. My fav is broccolini. They are still fine tuning things, but believe they'll do great! I recommend read more

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This is a gem for Rochester NY. Elegant yet comfortable atmosphere, attentive staff, and decadent menu. Highly recommend the grilled octopus, and the broccolini and of course the steaks are phenomenal. We actually tried all of the steak sauces and they were all delicious- the Au Poivre was my favorite. read more

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The staff was friendly, courteous, and attentive, kudos to them. The food, while tasty, was small in portions, as well as notably pricey. I have to be honest, I didn't examine the tab closely, but in retrospect, I did think it was rather high. After reading another review on this site, I came across the mention of a "fee" for sharing a plate, which, in our case, might have been applied to a salad that we ordered. For God's sake, a second salad could have been ordered for $20, and if this was indeed added in, it could explain why the tab didn't seem to "add up". In that respect, I think that our server could have alerted us to this possibility. Bottom line, we didn't feel that the meal, while decent, just isn't worth the money....especially when the venue's "sister restaurant", located in the same building, consistently offers a better meal, at a better price. read more

Although the food was tasty and the wait staff polite and knowledgeable, the service was extremely slow and the restaurant management has MUCH room for improvement. It was not a super busy evening, yet it took an hour to receive our appetizers, and one soup order was significantly delayed. It was nearly 1h 45 min before our entrees arrived. One member of our party ordered a rack of lamb and requested it to be rare, but half of it was overdone. When we pointed this out, the manager indicated they would see what could be done, but they simply brought back the overdone lamb in a to-go box. When the bill came it reflected a side we ordered but never received, and had no adjustment (even partial) for the lamb. We pointed this out, and they removed the side but still made no adjustment for the lamb. We were extremely disappointed and would not return based on the management alone. read more

It was our first time dining at Rare 3001 and we will definitely be back. We ate at the bar and Tom was very attentive and awesome. Interesting starter menu options. Our NY Strip was cooked to perfection and was very flavorful. Atmosphere is cozy and unique. Nice wine selection. read more

Excellent service, food was very tasty. Tenderloin cooked exactly as requested. Brisket ravioli simple amazing. I could have used a larger portion. Tim the host was very attentive. read more

Who charges $20 for a sharing plate fee? This isn't 1920. Meat is NOT exceptional quality and can get much better quality at black & blue or max. Wouldn't return! read more

went for my daughters 21st birthday. Bill was 1,000. Food was cold...was told we could not complain or send back our food. Manager was racist. waitress informed us she had to ask the manager if she could provide us with extra napkins. the waitress gave us our food and never returned. will not be going back. read more

Went to dinner here with four of our friends, everything was PERFECT from drinks to apps to the delicious steaks!! I highly recommend Rare if you enjoy great food and great service!! I'll be a regular at RARE! read more