This is one of our new (to us) favorite spots to go to and to bring our friends and family to that haven't tried it yet! Our first visit was in January and we've been back 2 more times already. The main dining room is down stairs. The bar area upstairs seems very lively and inviting as well, and I've heard there's patio seating we want to try in the late spring. Service was excellent and very attentive. We loved everything we tried. You can do things traditional tapas style or you can go the appetizer and entree route. We had the calamari to start and some cocktails. For our entrees we each ordered the "feature" of the evening -- my fiance got the steak and I got the salmon. My fiance is pretty 50/50 on how good his steak experiences are in restaurants and he was very satisfied with the entree he had. My salmon cakes were SO good, everything tasted very fresh. The server also did a great job recommending a white wine to pair with my meal. We finished off with our dessert, I had the flourless chocolate torte and my fiance had (I can't recall exactly) a banana cream cheese churro I think? The desserts were amazing every time we've gone. We've had more chances to try other tapas items, the arancini is delicious as well. Also of note was that we had a good group dining experience here in February for a family members birthday. Overall if you haven't tried this spot make sure you do! read more

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We decided to check out Tapas 177 during Restaurant Week in Rochester. The food was very tasty. Started with a perfect mojito, enjoyed the fried calamari salad, followed by the tuna bowl and chocolate torte. I throughly enjoyed the salad - crisp greens, perfect dressing and hot, crispy calamari. The tuna bowl followed - flavor was spot on, but the tuna itself was disappointing - tasted thawed and texture was meh. The biggest disappointment with Tapas was just the location itself being down in a dark basement - not my favorite environment. Would try again when the weather is nice and their patio is open. Server was very nice! read more

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Food is amazing! This is a small place in a desolate part of downtown. We made reservations before a concert at the arena and it's a good thing we did. Every table was taken. After waiting a half hour, I flagged down a waitress who admitted we were not assigned by the hostess. She immediately took care of us, rushing our drinks and from there on was a wonderful experience. Tables are so close that we chatted with the couple next to us and learned a lot about Billy Strings. I had the tuna bowl which was fabulous! They have a great beer selection which I took advantage of. A keeper. read more

Tapas 177 Lounge - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Rochester, New York

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We were visiting Rochester for the weekend for a wedding, and this was one of the restaurant stops we made. The place had a cute atmosphere. The upstairs is a bar and you go down to the basement for the restaurant. Our waitress was really friendly and gave us some good recommendations. The food was just ok. The standout dish by far was the Brussel sprouts. They were perfectly crunchy and delicious. We had also tried the avocado rolls, the bulgogi beef, and a scallops dish that were all just ok. Everything also came out at the same time, which is fine but felt a bit rushed and hectic. I would've preferred if things came a bit more paced out. Overall, good atmosphere and staff, but the food wasn't a standout for me. read more

I came here on a Friday night with a large group of 12. It was very nice if you were able to accommodate our party size with short advance notice. However, I was unimpressed with our food. I ordered the lamb chops and they were good however, the portion sizes of the quinoa salad, and the tzatziki dressing were small for the price. My husband ordered the Jamaican chicken curry and it was OK. However, the food came out lukewarm, which was disappointing. Service was friendly enough. I would probably not come back though. read more

Tapas 177 Lounge - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Rochester, New York

Here's what happened. I was working in Rochester and it was dinnertime. So I did my usual Yelp thing and found Tapas 177. I came, I ate and I fell in love. I vowed to return to take more pictures, videos and really put on for this place! Here's why I loved it so much! Atmosphere/Appearance: Right downtown Rochester is this gem. No private parking so good luck finding a place to park. Luckily, I was staying downtown so I could just walk. Lol. There are 2 levels and the upstairs is really... dark. It's intimate, but lively. It's not the kind of romantic setting you're thinking of. It's more of a.. let's keep the lights low to keep this place a secret, but turn up all at the same time. Yeah, that makes sense. Lol. Downstairs let in a bit more light and felt a little more tavern-y. Regardless, I enjoyed hanging out in both places. Service: The bartender Mike took care of me both times and I appreciated him so much. He took excellent care of me and made some great recommendations. Food/Drinks: Mojito, it was quite sweet and I would've ordered another shot to pour into it to dilute it a bit. Caribbean Beef Empanaditas: These are described as having a ground beef peppadew filling, spicy chipotle cream then served with an onion chestnut chutney. These were fantastic. The chipotle cream was definitely the star of the show. I just couldn't get enough of it. Prosciutto Wrapped Artichokes: These are described as being served with a gorgonzola sage cream on a toasted ciabatta slice. When I first read the menu I thought I saw "asparagus" instead of artichokes, but no matter... these were also delicious. The damn cream was OFF THE CHAIN. Super buttery, just a flavor BOMB. I'd take that sauce home and just put it on EVERYTHING. Arancini: Mike said I had to have it... so here goes. It's described as being stuffed with arborio, spinach, mozzarella, then drizzled with marinara, basil, parmesan cheese, and battered with panko crumbs then there's some asiago in these somewhere. That's 3 cheeses and this thing was literally the size of a baseball. Cut it in half and you see all the magic. Also delicious, but crazy filling. Portobello Cream Cheese Wontons: These are described as fried wonton purses filled with sautéed mushrooms & cream cheese. These were very good and very well balanced. Not too mushroom-y, not too cheesy, just the perfect blend. Grilled Rack of Lamb Chops: These are served with organic quinoa tabbouleh, tzatziki sauce, Kalamata, roasted peppers and feta cheese. The tabbouleh was served cold and tasted fresh, grainy and felt healthy. The lamb chops were cooked perfectly. Super juicy and succulent. Easily my favorite thing I've had at Tapas 177. They hardly needed any seasoning at all. I could've stopped here... but did I? Of course not... Spicy Jamaican Chicken Curry: This is braised chicken, onion, hot peppers, coconut, jasmine rice and fried plantains. The rice was warm, moderately sweet, a bit spicy due to the sauce, but it was delicious. The chicken was succulent, tender, hearty, a little salty and the curry shone brightly. Value: It really varies. They call this place Tapas, but they aren't small portions at all. They can easily be meals all by themselves. So bring your wallet, but this place won't break your bank at all. What other restaurant can execute such a wide range at such a high level? Tapas 177 was amazing and deserves the recognition and fame. I loved it here and I hope you can make it here to fall in love too! read more

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Food was alright. Can see people finding things they like but broadly felt disappointing and just okay. Some flavor lacking in some things but well-cooked textures. Menu has many options but seems to lack cohesion, found it hard to select items that would 'go' well together. So it's good if you're looking for a wide range of one-offs that are all over the map (Korean, Italian, Jamaican, Indian), or just want one item, but not a usual tapas experience. Which might be the draw for some! Ambiance was good, the upstairs bar looked like a good mix of folks and lively. read more

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Food was good. Vibe was good. Love how the restaurant is downstairs. It sets a nice mood Our service was great . read more

Tapas 177 Lounge - Salmon and asparagus - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I've lived in Rochester for over 30 years and have always wanted to try Tapas. It did not disappoint! I went there late as their kitchen is open later than most other establishments in Rochester. A huge differentiator for them! Super friendly bar service. I had the shrimp penne with chorizo and fresh mozzarella. The chorizo was flavorful yet not overwhelming. I paired it with a Modelo Negro. One of the best dinners I've had in a long time. I will definitely be heading back there soon! read more

SO good! The brussel sprouts were out of this world (even better than Michael Simon's Lolita from back in the day, in our opinion). The steak was perfectly executed and local. The mussels (curry version) will make you want to lick the bowl. The cocktails were so solid with lots of crowd pleaser options. Everything was great. The vibes were 90s in the best way. read more

so disappointed that the menu has been cut down and prices have gone up for smaller portions! at one time the vegan/vegetarian menu was a major pull but the items never change so they're getting way outpaced by other restaurants offering much more creative veg options. great ambiance for a drink and appetizers but get dinner/dessert elsewhere read more

The ambiance of this place is unmatched. From the decorum, the music, the lighting it really does give off a lounge vibe; rather than a typical restaurant. The food here is to die for, very very good. I ordered two appetizers, the Arancini and the Jerk Jamaican Chicken Curry, both were excellent. I was not expecting the portions to be so massive, especially for an appetizer but they were! I could barely finish the chicken curry, I was so full. They have a great selection of alcohol, great reasonable prices too. I ordered the Tappas spritz and thought it went quite well with my meal. Our waiter was extremely friendly and made sure to consistently check on my group. The food came out in a reasonable amount of time. I really have no complaints! 5/5 stars for Tappas 177! read more

Tapas 177 Lounge - Dining area located downstairs - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Rochester, New York

Everything about our first visit here was outstanding! The host greeted us right away and was very polite and friendly. Our server Jason was the attentive, funny, professional and just all around great. Our table had a variety of tapas - P.E.I mussels, arancini, shrimp naan pizza, tuna tartare, local farm raised beef. Everything was delicious, so flavorful. We loved the soho style and semi open area where we sat. We definitely plan to come back when we're in the Rochester area again! read more

So I took my wife out for a date night tonight and without getting into too many of the details we ended up at Tapas for dinner. I had reservations for 5:45 and we were able to sit right down once we walked in. You do have to walk down a fairly tall flight of stairs to get to the dining room so if you are handicapped or have some issues with mobility this may not be a good choice for you. Parking was also a nightmare and that was with an early reservation. There is very limited on-street parking and there's another restaurant just a few doors down so the competition is pretty fierce. We sat down and my wife ordered a mixed drink I just got a soda We ordered three small plates and one entree to share. The mushroom and cream fried wontons were fantastic although I definitely think they need a sauce they were very good. $12 for 6 I think. We ordered one of the specials which was salmon cakes that came with some guacamole, some pico and Chipotle aioli. These were phenomenal as well, I believe they were $22. They were on the small side, each salmon cake was only about 2 and 1/2 in wide. Next they brought out our entree along with the last small plate. The small plate was arancini for $10 And this was pretty disappointing to me. Traditionally arancini are about the size of a 50 cent piece this thing was like three of those put together in one mega arancini. It was very cheesy and the sauce was good I just felt the size hurt the crust of the arancini and the sauce just didn't compliment the cheesiness as well as I think a pesto would have. $11 Last up was the ribeye which we had sliced for sharing. They came with mashed potatoes and fried brussel sprouts. Fried brussel sprouts were amazing, mashed potatoes were solid and I think there was some pickled onions, as well, those were good too. The steak was great although there wasn't much of a texture on it so I suspect they're not cooking it at high temperatures to get that nice crust. It was still very good although not as good as the steak from Delmonico's when you add in the mashed potatoes and the vegetables for the $5 difference in price I would opt for the Tappas steak.$45 The service was not really phenomenal she wasn't bad she just wasn't great, pretty bog standard. One thing that did really chap my ass was when I asked for a refill on my soda they said no problem and brought me a refill... and then charged me for two sodas on the bill. Now first off, it's pretty much standard that refills are included in this part of the world. Second off, if you're going to charge me or if there is a charge for something that they're normally isn't and at least make me aware of it and don't leave it on the bill to surprise me. The restaurants lack of honest and open communication as far as the charges on the bill was a bit of a damper on an otherwise pretty solid experience. Also our server did not bring out any of our food. It was brought out by the hostess or the individual who seem to be busing in prepping tables. With many servers expecting an automatic 20% tip on top of their $12 an hour pay that seems like a lot to ask for taking down an order, entering it into the computer and doing pretty much nothing else besides bringing a few drinks. I still gave four stars because all the other parts of the restaurant performed well And we definitely did enjoy the food. read more

Tapas 177 Lounge - Salmon cakes and creamy mushroom wontons - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Rochester, New York

Sad to give 1 star.. But I'm an honest person.... So my body hates goat cheese.. Not one place does their menu say goat cheese is in any of the dishes.. Well ended up ordering 2 dishes that had cheeses which had goat cheeses in them. i ended up getting violently ill for over 48 hours. Had a crazy rash as well.. The way the business handled my concern was basically blaming me for everything. And basically the owner talked down to me in a condescending attitude trying to tell me that I should know that these cheese were made out of the goat milk instead of Cow Dairy. I didn't appreciate an abrasive attitude especially when I almost was going to the ER due to dehydration. I ended up missing two days of work due to no mention of goat cheese on their menu I've spoken to other business owners who own restaurants and being an amateur food blogger I do know plenty of restaurant owners. And they agreed with me that that should have been on the menu as labeled as goat cheese due to the fact that people actually don't like goat cheese flavoring or if they are allergic to Cow Dairy that it would be easier for them to digest the dish with the goat cheese. The menu is actually inconsistent on allergy listings. And from personal experience I've always seen menus labeled with goat cheese or if it was just a dairy cow cheese it was just listed as cheese.. My coworkers ordered a fresh spring roll and she was not impressed with the quality of the spring roll she got she did send me a photo which I have attached as well. My other coworker ordered fried brussel sprouts which she said were good. I felt the dishes that I did order were very tasty a good flavor blend but the attitude of one of the owners who answered the phone and he didn't know off the top of his head if what they were serving had goat cheese in it it took him over 45 minutes to call me back to go over what cheeses they used in the dishes.. So 1 star from me.... read more

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We walked into Tapas 177 on a snowy Tuesday night after flying into Rochester from Milwaukee. With no expectations, we found two open seats at the crowded bar. Cozy and welcoming, Tapas 177 helped us cocoon from the wintery weather. Schuyler, or Sky for short, took great care of us. He was very helpful and along with Tim, made our night fantastic. Sky mixed me two beautiful Mezcal cocktails and had wonderful dining suggestions. The food emerging from the miniscule kitchen was unique and tasted delicous. Sashimi Tuna Tartare Napoleon had me smacking my lips with pleasure. My Caribbean Beef Empanaditas called for an order of bread to soup up that piquant sauce. There was so much food, our order of pasta and steak bits was boxed up to go. Oh, the brussel sprouts disappeared into a cavern named my mouth. It was almost a magic act; here one minute, gone the next. If Tapas 177 is an example of the Rochester food scene, there's some amazing choices out there. Who knew? I hope to return to Tapas 177 before this trip is over. I loved it! read more

The food and service was amazing?! Love the atmosphere and all the employees were so nice and very helpful! Jae gave the best service and recommendations! Will definitely be coming back! read more

Food arrived Cold and flavorless $45 isn't an exorbitant price for Ribeye But to arrive cold and flavorless was unforgivable Did not complain, still tipped handsomely, but we won't be going back read more

Just delicious. My husband and I enjoyed our anniversary dinner here so much, we did it again this year. We really enjoy ordering a few apps as dinner and sharing everything, which Tapas is perfect for. We especially enjoyed the spring rolls (light and full of fresh veggies), cream cheese wontons (fried but not greasy), and the brussels sprouts (crispy to perfection). The arancini is huge and big enough to share. David was an attentive server and our food came out quickly, but not too quickly. There is a large and varied drink menu with all kinds of cocktails, beer, and wine by the glass and bottle. The 177 Martini was a perfect raspberry flavored cocktail to go with my meal. A word of caution - the only way down to the seating area is by a narrow staircase which the staff also uses. The upstairs bar has maybe one or two small tables. There is an outdoor patio that I haven't figured out how to get seated at yet. read more

Tapas 177 Lounge - Outdoor seating - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Rochester, New York

This is a fun and tasty little spot. Dining is in the basement. We shared a few dishes and they were all tasty and we enjoyed our meal, the portions were great for sharing. Our server was great. While this is a solid choice the wine menu could have been a bit better. read more

Tapas 177 Lounge - Pretty basement light - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Rochester, New York

great service and atmosphere always a joy the drinks, food and vibes so happy it's been around all these years read more

Food- has a good looking menu, especially since it offers vegetarian and vegan options! Ambiance- looks beautiful online. We made a reservation but there is no parking lot for this restaurant, and besides having no parking lot, there were only about 6 street spots which are shared with the other businesses on the block. There was no close garage to park in. We live in the city and go to many restaurants in the city, however the exact location of this restaurant is beyond sketchy with bums and filth everywhere and not safe for walking. read more

I went to Tapas 177 in Rochester for drinks and salsa dancing, and it was such a fun night. The music, the energy, and the crowd made the whole place come alive. The cocktails were great too--definitely a spot I'd go back to. read more

Old review that I did not post previously. 3.5 stars. FYI they have parking in an alleyway in the back. I did not know this so did street parking and did not feel particularly safe walking the 1.5 blocks there. Menu is made to share, but it is not the usual Spanish-style tapas I was expecting; more of a fusion place. I tried a variety of the dishes including the brussel sprouts, mushroom risotto, morrocan stew, vegetarian tofu tikka masala, a pizza, and mussels. Everything was decently done but nothing that wowed me; my favorite dish was probably the mushroom risotto. Also tried a few of the cocktails which were okay/pretty standard. Everything was decent, though not everything was truly shareable. This place worked well with our large group (though food did come out at different times). Overall, a decent meal but nothing that wowed me personally. read more

One of the few restaurants in downtown Rochester that opens until late even on weeknights (10:45pm kitchen closes, dining room closes at midnight, bar closes at 2:00am), Tapas 177 is definitely a must for Spanish (not Mexican) tapas (small plates). Upon entering from street level is the main bar area. Walk down the stairway (stairs are steep so watch your step) to the spacious yet intimate dining area. There's also outdoor seating during warmer months. The Spanish style interior is a pleasant escape from the gray dullness of Rochester. The vibe is perfect for first dates, intimate & group dining and the dim lighting sets the perfect mood for a culinary delight. I reserved a table for 10 for an after recital get together. Only a 6 minute drive from Eastman School of Music. The tapas menu has something for everyone including non-Spanish dishes like Korean bulgogi, Indian naan shrimp pizza, tofu tikka masala, etc., but I didn't expect literally everything to be good. The highlights were the empanadas, P.E.I. mussels & the oh so yummy arancini. The fried brussel sprouts were crisp but not oily & were accompanied by a delicious creamy sauce. Quality ingredients & well designed ensembles. The cocktail menu offers a diverse selection & the Spanish glass of red wine was extra dry & absolutely delectable. Kudos to the chef for preparing & presenting all of the plates with thoughtfulness & expertise. The entire staff was professional, friendly and went above & beyond to accommodate our party's late night feast. Street parking is limited. Highly recommended. Support your local small businesses & restaurants read more

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Great spot in downtown Rochester! Dim lighting with great ambiance. The service was excellent. The food was delicious, and it's nice to try a few different small plates and split them. We also liked the wide variety of drink options! read more

Tapas 177 Lounge - Mini Beef Empanadas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I really really like this place. The calamari is very good. The arancini is good as well. But the lamb lollipops!!!! Omg it is my absolute favorite thing. The drink are nice as well. I definitely wish there was a little more options but overall, great experiences. read more

Service was a bit slower than I expected for a Monday night but the ambiance and food are phenomenal. The salmon and crispy prosciutto penne pasta that was on special was amazing and surprisingly spicy. I didn't have a drink but I'm sure those are great too because the bar was packed. I was seated downstairs and it seemed like the perfect place for a dinner date with friends or a special someone. Would love to come back and see what the weekends look like read more

All I can say was fantastic. The atmosphere is so cozy. The food was out of this world. I had the puttanesca seafood special which was chocked full of seafood and just a bit spicy. My company had gluten free options (yes they have separate gluten free and vegan menus) which were equally impressive. The cocktails were mixed well and packed a punch. If you are looking for somewhere they put their hearts and soul into every dish look no further. Rochester you have a gem. read more

Very cool late night hangout. Drinks were good and friendly bartender with laid back atmosphere.

Went to tapas for Valentine's day, it was super cute. The decoration was very intimate and romantic and service was on top of everything! Food was fantastic. The lamb chops are a must! read more

Tapas 177 Lounge - Six Philippine Chicken Egg Rolls - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Rochester, New York

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We were out of town at a conference. We found Tapas 177 by searching for a restaurant that was open on a Monday. We called and asked if we needed reservations. They had a very busy night ahead of them but said if we came early/asap we could get in! They were very accommodating and the atmosphere was so fun. We were seating upon arrival. As for the food... where to begin. Everything was outstanding from the shared appetizers, to entree and dessert was really good. We enjoyed it all and a few in our group would consider ourselves foodies and enjoy eating out often. So, we had the brussel sprouts, chicken lumpia, avacado roll and arancini! For our entrees we had the salmon special, beef tip taco bowl, shrimp pasta and tuna tartare and then the desserts absolutely delicious. Flourless chocolate cake, lemon marscapone cake and a banana something which was describes as a banana meet churro dessert. We recommended it to others that were with us and they were so glad they went there the next night and had the same experience! I'm just sad it is 2 hours from where we live! YUM! read more

Went for a late dinner on NYE. We split the shrimp Alexander, Brussel sprouts, bananas go dessert, and flourless chocolate cake. Everything was great! The banana dessert was like a fancy elephant ear and the chocolate cake was very rich. The cocktails seemed super affordable and were quite good. The ambiance was cool. We sat in the downstairs living room. We made a reservation a couple days before and were glad we did as it was busy. read more

Tapas 177 Lounge - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Rochester, New York

Wonderful New Year's Eve dinner. The food was great.... The atmosphere downstairs and of the bar area was great. read more

Super Deelish! Sat at the bar and had lamb & Brussels sprouts. Yep I ate all the meat off the bone. Called and asked about parking and got the scoop to park in back to avoid street parking - spaces are tight but worth not getting a $50 Rochester parking ticket. Highly recommend the Hot Honey Bunny for your beverage. I'd like to try making that at home. It was amazing!! Look forward to going back. read more

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Love the food and drinks. First time being there. Just really enjoyed everything. Differently a different vibe with the bar upstairs and restaurant down stairs. The staff were polite and funny. But overall I enjoyed it. read more

The food here is always excellent. Great place to go for conversation with a great atmosphere, along with excellent service.

1/17/25 a good amount of us met down at Tappas for my daughter 35th birthday! Great food, great drinks, great customer service, great people, great experience. This has been my experience for a number of years. read more

We wanted a light dinner after a show on a Friday night so we headed over to Tapas. This place never disappoints! Kitchen is open until 2am (dining downstairs until 12pm and the bar until 2am). The food is wonderful. I had the crabcakes... OMG so good! We also had the game sausage and fried green tomatoes. Yummy! I enjoyed an amazing cappucino martini with my apps. Can you say delicious??! Plenty of street parking at that time of night. Definitely worth a sop. read more

MONEY We shoed up at our res. time, but the manager encouragecd us to have a drink at the bar first anyhow. Our table was ready, but he really didn't rush us. So we did. The bar upstairs is beautiful and service was great. Ask Mike about his espresso martini with mezcal. Dinner was phenomenal. We for the bussels sprouts, jerk curry, and artichoke hearts. The sprouts were delicious, though my wife throught they were on the greasy side. The artichoke hearts were so rad, highly recommend. And that chicken... just transcendent. Service was friendly, prompt, and helpful. The place is gorgeous and intimate inside. We will be back, and so should you. read more