Tom M.

Really small place where everyone has to sit at the bar. Attentive service since you're always literally facing the server. Not the most comfortable seating but it does have a certain ambiance. Food was good but not distinctive. Foie Gras was very rich but not as flavorful. Seemed like it was prepared previously. But the presentation was nice. Seafood chowder had plenty of white fish and some salmon, potatoes were nicely sliced but the chowder wasn't very thick and more runny. Disappointed at the limited menu and had expected more.

Kristen H.

Amazing... I felt like I was in a big city! All the seating is at the bar... You are able to make a reservation. We had at the corner, which was nice because we could face each other sort of. The food is all shareable and portions are generous Service is low pressure but smooth Drinks were great We chatted with a couple next to us and ordered more food based on their recommendation. You will not be disappointed!

Jessy G.

Really cool ambience in here. Great food. We went at 9:15 at night on a Saturday and had the whole place to ourselves. If you're not going late, you need reservations, it's very small. We got oysters and risotto. The sausage risotto was incredible!! We split it between two of us and ate the whole thing. The cocktails were beautiful and delish too. Highly Recommend this place. Even if you don't like seafood they had some good options.

Andrew D.

First off, the Shrimp Sliders are excellent. They feature sweet and tangy rock shrimp on a fresh buttery roll. You would be remiss to go without a try. The rest of dishes are solid. And I'll be honest, I have not had the oysters so I can't speak to them. The atmosphere leaves a little to be desired, with some clashing decor, but the service was friendly and timely. Definitely worth a stop if you like seafood!

Kathryn T.

Their food was very good! They are perfect for appetizers! I love the way how they did with sauce for both appetizers. Absolutely delicious! The service was friendly and enjoyable!

Megan C.

Echoing the thoughts of my fellow reviewers and Rochesterians that have been lucky enough to enjoy this beautiful haven's food, vibe, hospitality, and ambiance. Whatever you hope to get out of a perfect dining experience, you can come to Rella to find it. It's no shock that the team that brought us Rocco is also delivering in a big way in this new venture - the commitment to incredibly well-crafted food and humanized service is as apparent here as it is at it's sister restaurant. Let's start with the food! It's just...flawless? Everything that came out somehow topped the thing before it. My dining partner and I were there to get AFTER it, and we did just that. 6 oysters, sliders, chowder, risotto, and a bottle of prosecco later, we were stunned by the thoughtfulness of each dish. The chowder is the most surprising and delightful! Packed with flavor, a nice kick, and made to order. The slider rolls are next level. The prices are all VERY reasonable and the experience left us feeling like ~ballers~ without a huge hit to the wallet. Everything here is exposed and curated to fit their "open kitchen" (the restaurant IS the kitchen and the kitchen IS the restaurant so does that still count as open kitchen...?) You see it all happening as it is happening! The space if beautifully appointed with vintage flair and the kind of individuality that gives you a glimpse into the spirit of the person who put it together. Special vibes and a lot to look at! My last piece of advice on making the most of this experience is to save room for dessert! We tried a bite of Chef's cornbread ice cream and I almost passed out. Next level creamy/flavor goodness. I will never go anywhere else for delicious seafood again, and I can't wait to continue supporting this intimate and beautiful space for years to come. Open for takeout and dine in! Make a reservation!

Wenqi Z.

Service: Incredible service! The waitress put our information down for walk-ins and called us when spots opened up. She was also patient and welcoming, and very willing to give recommendations & explanations about the different dishes Ambience: The restaurant was pretty small and the decor felt romantic and intimate. Perfect for a date night. Only issue is that due to the space limitation, you can be a bit too close to people sitting next to you and it wasn't the most comfortable. Food: the bread rolls was very delicious! However the rest were just okay. I ordered the clam pot roast and the clam wasn't thoroughly cleaned. There were sand particles in some of the clams. The taste of the pot roast was also just okay. The spaghetti my sister ordered was a bit better and the shrimp was really fresh. Still it wasn't among the best I've had.

Marissa N.

I'm not gonna lie I miss the old Rella with the original chef's creative menu. I thought I'd give the new Rella a try. The food was good and well prepared but the creativity and energy of the experience were missing. Instead of rock shrimp sliders there are now smoked salmon sliders, the rolls were denser. There was an absence of creative salads. We did get the shrimp louis which was a salad but the wedge of iceberg was not awe worthy. The oysters are still good as ever. We ordered the chocolate pie which wasn't completely set in the center but had nice flavor.

Lea H.

Little local spot that I found out about from friends. No reservations, no website, and no sign on the window. A rotating seafood based menu, wine and beer (no cocktails) and a 15 seat bar setup. We got there right at 5pm, when they opened, and grabbed two seats. We tried several menu items and we were happy with everything. Sometimes, with seafood in the Roc, portion sizes are disappointing for the price. Not so here, we found the portions generous and filling. They also had a few dessert options not on the menu. And we split a flan with cornbread ice cream (which was strangely yummy). I will say, get here early if you want a seat! And come with an empty stomach!

Aimee F.

We had a really good time at Rella! You CAN make a reservation, although I think most people in the community don't realize this! We made a reservation which was very helpful since they have very little seating (just at the bar where you can see in to the kitchen). The menu is very small and I think, changes frequently. The food was really really good. Sort of like upscale bar food. Our favorites were the oysters (and oysters with tuna), the shrimp louie salad, and the egg salad sandwiches with smoked salmon. I know it doesn't sound special, but it is very elevated. My one complaint is that I don't feel like that they are great with allergies. The waiter didn't seem to know 100% or feel like he needed to ask the chefs, which would have been helpful. I will say though everything we got was really good and the experience was really unique!

Carolyn N.

The first time I went here, and let me tell you I was not disappointed at all! In this tiny 18-seat restaurant, the food can and will blow you away. Everyone knows that seafood is only good when it's fresh and stored properly. No soaking in water nonsense, you store it properly so it doesn't lose its flavor. Rella was absolutely doing it correctly. Everything was seasoned perfectly, the dressings and the sauces were made to compliment the seafood, not fight with it and not overwhelm it. I was so obsessed with the oysters that I bookended my entire meal with them. A few at the beginning and a few at the end. Everyone should come here at one point or another, and try as much of the menu as possible. Everything was very reasonably priced considering the quality and I will be returning again and again.

Marie M.

This is a very small venue with bar seating only. You should definitely make reservations to ensure a seat. Finding the number for reservations is a little difficult but you end up calling Rocco's which is next door. The chowder was the best I've ever had! Filled with huge chunks of seafood and amazing flavor. We ordered 3 plates for the 2 of us and each one was delicious.

Hannah L.

I've never had a dining experience quite like this before! I was in town to celebrate my friend's birthday and she really wanted to come here for dinner; she raves about how good it is so we decided to give it a go. Normally, seafood is not my first choice but I ventured out of my comfort zone with the Portuguese clam chowder and the seafood salad fra diavalo. Both were excellent. The flavor profiles of both were out of this world, I would never normally order either of these things but the way in which they were prepared made me so happy I gave them a shot. My friend ordered some vegetarian-friendly options: the butternut squash salad and the accompaniments that came with the salmon dish (veggies, curry potato salad, and yogurt sauce). I snagged a bite of each and, again, they were delicious. Just something to note: they currently do not take reservations and since it is exclusively bar-style seating, they seat everyone on the list at once and do a full service. We weren't able to get in right when they opened at 5 but snagged a spot in their 6:30 service. I don't know if the three services a night are exclusive to weekends, but I might suggest coming when they're less busy during the week to ensure you get a taste of all the deliciousness!