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    Vern's

    4.4 (278 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Vern's New American Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    VERN'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Vern's

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    Reviews With Photos

    Special Arincini
    Harrison G.

    Tomato pie, spicy lettuces (forgot to take a pic before scooping on to my plate), the miso and chili Alfredo, the Gus pizza, and the Arincini which was a special tonight. Aside from the Arincini which were good but nothing special everything blew me away. The pizza was especially good. I've never had asparagus on pizza but it was so good and contributed well with the other ingredients. The miso in the pasta played well off the sharpness of the Parmesan and then the chili finished it off to give a very deep flavor. The tomato pie was so fluffy and flavorful and the spicy lettuces were just lightly dressed enough to give a nice simple flavor but keep the greens crisp and refreshing. Our server was wonderful too. Obviously, a very high level of attention to detail at every aspect of this restaurant. Highly recommended but get there early since they don't take reservations!

    Marissa B.

    Visited on Monday for our anniversary. Arrived around 4:45 and we were seated with no wait. We love the upstairs seating area as the ambiance and candle lit table helped to create a romantic evening. The staff are just so warm and helpful. They made us feel welcomed and helped to make the occasion feel special. The fall menu is exciting. We were blown away by the orange pizza- vodka sauce, local squash, prosciutto, with goat cheese and balsamic. The flavors worked so well together. We loved the crispy texture of the wood fired pizza. We also enjoyed a pork chop with a sweet and sour glaze & the lost meatball ragu. The flavors and presentation are always on point at Vern's. Portions are large and meant to be shared with plenty for both us.

    Hot honey pizza so good
    Sara M.

    Sat at bar. Very friendly very attentive. Very small area. The espresso martini was amazing and the hot honey pizza delicious. Love that they have outdoor seating as well. Only complaint that I don't think the bartenders should let people save seats for as long as they did when it's busy happy hour. Lady told us she was saving 2 chairs then when her guest got there about 20 minutes later they ordered a drink and transferred tab to a table ‍ Either way we will be back

    Dinner menu
    Gabrielle S.

    First time at Vern's! Beautiful atmosphere and easy to park and find the restaurant. I came with a party 2 and we were able to get seated within 30 min, which was nice. Honestly, nothing about the menu blew me away except for the lost meatball ragu at first glance. Both my friend and I decided that that was the only pasta we wanted to try. We settled on the focaccia special, meatball ragu, and chopped salad to share. The focaccia was underwhelming and really the only thing that stood out during the meal was the lost meatball ragu - we loved it. Wonderful flavor and great portion for two and even three people. I'm not sure I'd come back if I was in Rochester. I'm curious if they rotate the menu items based on season or if these have been the same since opening. Maybe it's time for an update.

    Carrots
    Sarah S.

    Spring menu slaps. Spicy lettuces are always a must. The carrots are new and come in a delectable creamy sauce. The dill finishes it off nicely. Focaccia special was sooo amazing with steak and balsamic on top. Cavatelli was perfect; lamb was not too gamey and the sauce was perfect. Strawberry tiramisu was an absolute dream!!

    Cocktails
    Ani M.

    By far best restaurant by the notorious Swan family. Rotating seasonal menus are pretty good, but can't go wrong with the classic rigatoni pasta or bee sting pizza. Broken buratta is also really good, and what it comes with changes per season. Most dishes can be tweaked for vegetarians and they also have a few gluten free options. Portion sizes vary greatly, so I reccomend asking your server what they think is best for your party size. Inside ambiance is wonderful but limited seating like all other Swan restaurants. I reccomend coming early, putting your name down, and grabbing a drink at the bar while you wait since they do not take reservations. I have never been disappointed with the food or the service here, overall a great place to take a date or a friend from out of town!

    Roasted Carrots and Parsnips

    This was our first time at Vern's and it certainly won't be the last! The food comes family style, which is great for sharing and trying new things! We got the lost meatball Ragu, roasted carrots and parsnips, and Vern's chopped salad. The pasta was extremely flavorful and was perfectly complimented by the fresh ricotta on top. This light and refreshing chopped salad. The carrots were nearly life changing- they were roasted to perfection and served with this fabulous Lebneh sauce. This is a must get. The ambiance was perfect! Everything from the decor to the lighting created a warm and welcoming feel. Our server Christine was great, explaining everything thoroughly, and helping us make our decisions! We went on a Thursday at 5:00 and didn't wait a minute for our table! Can't wait to go again!

    Spicy lettuces salad

    I had a late dinner at the bar on a Monday night. The venue was busy, but no longer crowded, at 8 o'clock. Happily for me, the kitchen was open until 9pm. I ordered the spicy lettuces salad and tomato pie. Wow, was I impressed. What an excellent experience! Vern's, in sum: Amazing atmosphere, thoughtful menu, great all natural wine list, friendly and engaged service, clear focus on high quality ingredients, and nearly flawless execution by the chefs and bartenders. Shoutout to bartender Kinsey who was amazing! Overall exceptional experience, add I highly recommend this place. I'll certainly be back!

    Aperol spritz
    Mei S.

    I've heard so many good things about Vern's and I can say it lives up to the hype. The ambiance is very cute and while it is upscaled, it doesn't feel stiff. It is a smaller establishment which means there can be a wait for a table, but the smaller venue makes the the environment is very cozy and comfortable. Once you get a table, service and food is quicker. The service is exceptional, everyone is very accommodating and friendly. The drinks were very good (my Aperol spritz was amazing) and the food was delicious. The bee sting pizza was the best pizza I have had. The restaurant is reasonably priced for the quality and service.

    Picture speaks for itself. Deelish!

    Love this place! When I'm in the area I make a stop. Pizza & pasta were fresh and full of flava! We appreciated the restaurant accommodating our requests.

    Outside
    Yvonne C.

    Awesome place. Always custom unique menu items. I'm going to take a risk and keep this review short because I've NEVER had a bad experience here. Food is SO delicious.m, flavorful, and thoughtfully created. I leave satisfied. Sat at the bar and the bar tenders are SO personable and friendly.

    Curried clams
    Kathy C.

    Warm and welcoming! The curried clams and crab salad special were perfection paired with the house pet-nat. Can't wait to go back. One wish...a reservation system!!

    Menu with some drink option

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    All food was excellent! no matter what you ordered was excellent! Was a fun place and we we would definitely come again and bring friends

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    A truly diverse menu of food and drinks and desserts. Excellent service and a lively atmosphere and ambiance.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The best Italian food I have had since studying abroad in Florence for a semester 5 years ago. Will definitely be coming back!

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great food and drinks! I love the ambiance and decorations. Even the glassware was fancy! Only downside is they don't take reservations.

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Requires reservations! Atmosphere trendy. Food very good! Frenchie. Price$$$. Great for a special night out.

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    Vern's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Vern's

    I messaged the business on Instagram a few weeks ago, and they haven't responded. SO! Does anyone know if they're accommodating to vegans? Does their pizza crust have dairy or butter? Thanks!

    No dairy in the pizza crust. I think the tomato pie is vegan, and there are some yummy salads that are vegan or cheese could be left off of.

    View All 5 Questions

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    The good: this is a beautiful restaurant, the drinks and appetizers were very good, the ribeye,…read moresalmon, and eggplant plant meatballs were tasty. Desserts were also very good. The server was friendly. The bad: they were woefully understaffed. It seems like there was one server for the entire restaurant including two large parties. Ours was one of those parties. Our reservation was at 6:15. We were seated quickly but did not see a server for at least 30 minutes after. It took at least another 30 minutes to get half of our drinks, another 15 to get the other half, and another 30 to get appetizers. When our main dishes came out, some were not very hot, the crab fried rice was missing crab, but the rest of the dishes were good. After appetizers, dinner and dessert we left the restaurant about 2.5 hours after arriving. I'd try this restaurant again because the food and drinks were good but it's probably best to go with a smaller party.

    I had a lovely time at the Alexander restaurant. I came on a Thursday night with a group of six and…read moreyou didn't make a reservation. However, the restaurant was pretty empty. Service was friendly and the weight staff checked on us a lot. I ordered the Caesar salad with french fries the garlic stuffed bread, and we tried to the spiritless cocktails on the menu. The food was delicious and I have no complaints there. However, the spiritless cocktails left a lot to be desired. I would probably come back here again.

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    Nosh - This nachos

    Nosh

    4.2(668 reviews)
    0.5 miNeighborhood of the Arts
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    Food was outstanding and has been each time we've been. The Ahi noshos are terrific and our…read moredinners excellent: scallops on cheddar polenta; Salmon, Kimchi, sweet potato pancake, and fried rice (too salty) otherwise excellent especially the Kimchi influence; surf and turf (bacon wrapped meat loaf on harissa lobster mashed potatoes and the tomahawk all hit the mark. Yet the highlight of the evening our server Brad - he was outstanding - casual, knowledgeable, and attentive. Never once asked "how are we" or called anyone hun, both irritating. The only caution is the noise - high ceilings and crowds combine for a lot of screaming diners and not much to buffer the din. Intimate, no but good food and excellent service at least last night.

    Brad (our waiter) was awesome! He was so knowledgeable about allergies. If he didn't know the…read moreanswer, he made sure to double check with the kitchen. This was my first time visiting. My friend and I ordered mocktails which we both enjoyed. We then ordered gochu belly buns and the braised beef French onion soup. They were able to accommodate my gluten allergy and make the soup gluten free! It was delicious. For our entrees, I ordered the sweet deal salad and my friend ordered the green curry stir fry. Mine wasn't anything crazy, tasted as I expected but it was still good. My friend, on the other hand, did not love her dish. She is a big curry person and said the sauce lacked flavor (which I tried and agreed with). The tofu was nice and crispy, dry though. There wasn't enough sauce in the dish. The mushrooms were the most flavorful.

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    Muddled, cucumber, jalapeño, Hendricks, gin, martini

    Vern's - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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