If you're ever thinking about brunch in Rochester, juist go ahead and lock in a reservation at Brown Hound Downtown--seriously. Saturdays and Sundays are buzzing, and for good reason. Call ahead or hop on OpenTable, because walking in without a plan means you'll probably be waiting... and trust me, this place is worth the hype. From the moment we sat down, everything felt spot on. Our server, Ashley B, absolutely crushed it--attentive, friendly, and somehow always there exactly when we needed something without ever hovering. That kind of service really sets the tone. Food and drinks? Incredible. My husband went for the chicken and waffles paired with a whiskey sour--perfect balance of savory and sweet with a cocktail that hit just right. I had the Maggie with a classic mimosa, and it was brunch perfection. The vibe is another standout--quaint, cozy, and a little elevated since it's tucked inside the museum. It feels like a hidden gem but with a lively energy. And if you've got any room left (big if), they carry Cheesy Eddie's desserts... which is basically your sign to loosen that belt a notch and go for it. Already planning our next visit. read more

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We came here for their Easter brunch buffet, so I can't speak to the normal quality and service. The Brown Hound had one of the more affordable Easter brunches in town, and while the menu wasn't posted when I called to make reservations, it sounded good. Once they posted it, it was a little less impressive, but at that point, we were committed. I will say that it wasn't the most efficient dining experiences. They didn't have online reservations, so I did have to call in. When we arrived, about 15 minutes early, they weren't ready to check guests in, so we sat down to wait. The manager came around to ask how many were in your party, and tell you which line to use to check in - they had 2 seating areas and 2 check ins based on party size, I guess. Then we had to check in and pay, but this didn't include drinks, so we still had to pay again before we left. The buffet itself was fine, there was a barbeque station that smelled pretty good, and a breakfast station that was OK. Vegetarian options were very limited. I had homefries and some scrambled eggs, neither of which was hot when I got them. There were sugar waffles, which were really good, and some fruit, several breakfast meats (I don't eat beef or pork), and some garlic parm chicken that looked good, but was incredibly overcooked, so neither of us ate it. Barbeque was only beef or pork, so I had salad and some of the mac and cheese, which was pretty good. There were some mini desserts - OK mini cannoli's, a pretty good chocolate cake, and some carrot cake that my guy ate while I was away, so I assume was good! I believe the desserts got picked over pretty fast and were not all replaced. Condiments were in plastic squeeze bottles at the end of the buffet line, and coffee extras were all disposable as well. So, it was fine, and the guy was full and happy at the end, but I was not super impressed and ate mostly salad comprised of lettuce, cucumber, and croutons. read more

Found this little Gem while bringing in Spamalot to the Herr Theater (Truckers) so we decided to go here for breakfast Sunday morning, word of advice, make reservations... The food is AMAZING the Mamosa was delicious and the Bartender Julianna was super sweet and took excellent care of us! read more

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I have loved the brunch here in the past. Recently they began opening for dinner. They are under new ownership. My friends and I went and we were not very impressed. Our food was just ok. They have fancy light-up menus and their plating is pretty, but the food is just ok. I got the Chimichurri Skirt Steak and it wasn't good. I had them box it up to go and I threw it away. I will go try brunch again but I won't go there for dinner. I hate having to say this. read more

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We had a wonderful experience at Brown Hound Downtown and gladly give it 5 stars. The food was flavorful, delicious, and served in generous portions. Our server was excellent--welcoming, attentive, professional, and personable throughout the evening. We especially enjoyed sitting on the balcony, where the setting was calm and relaxing. It was nice being able to have conversation without hearing the noise from nearby tables. The desserts were an amazing finish to the meal. We had the cheesecake and carrot cake from Cheesy Eddie's, and both were outstanding. We will definitely return, whether for another meal or to unwind in the beautiful bar area with one of their great drinks. read more

This used to be a great place for a bite. The food and the service have gone way down hill... Rochester has some great restaurants .. This isn't one of them any longer. You can do better...particularly at the prices they charge. read more

Food was delicious even though we came the last 30 minutes. The servers still showed amazing quality, most places stop caring when it's close to closing time. The aura is always amazing here and I most definitely will be coming back. read more

Brown Hound Downtown - French toast with eggs and sausage - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

I keep forgetting how Rochester underwent a Renaissance since I left. This restaurant was not on the landscape 30 years ago. So, when friends offered it up as a suggestion, I figured I would try it out. The biscuits and gravy with house potatoes were just what I needed. One friend had eggs, potatoes, and sausage. Another friend had chicken and waffles. We left thoroughly satisfied. Brown Hound is a small spot, and I am sure they may pack out for brunch. They are certain on my encore list for next time when I fly back to Rochester. read more

Brown Hound Downtown - Biscuits and gravy topped with eggs and served with house potatoes - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Took my work crew for lunch. Service was great. Food was unbelievable. I always make it a point to visit when in town. Restaurant itself is gorgeous set in the museum. Do yourself a favor and check it out. Gotta get Web's Loco Moco!!! read more

Poor service. Bad food. Roach infested rest rooms. No stars. Call the health department

Left work and ended here late lunch, waited a few minutes and was seated by the balcony with views of the gallery. Cranberry Elderflower for a drink, and Loco Moco for Brunch. The drink has Champagne, Elderflower Liqueur, Cranberry Juice, refreshing. The Moco Loco over Rice, Pork Belly and Fried Eggs, Toast, very good for Brunch. It had slivers of Jalapeño for a slight heat. Service attentive, nice ambiance. read more

Brown Hound Downtown - Cranberry Elderflower - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

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What a cute spot for brunch! It's a small cafe located inside the Memorial Art Museum. I would highly recommend a reservation, especially on the weekends. We had a reservation before attending a show at the Auditorium theater, but there was a wait as we were leaving. Our waitress was very pleasant and attentive. We started with rounds of coffee, tea and mimosas. I had heard the French toast casserole was good, so I went with that. It did not disappoint! It was so sweet and decadent. Like having dessert for breakfast. My mom had the chicken and waffles. Not the best chicken and waffles I've ever had, but there was a good balance of sweet and savory. Overall we enjoyed our meal and experience and would definitely go back! read more

Brown Hound Downtown - Cranberry elderflower mimosa - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

disappointing. the one lunch item I wanted, grilled romaine salad, was not available (how can a restaurant run out of romaine?)and only one other salad was a-ceasar salad(Ho hum). the lobster roll was mediocre for $20. menu sorely lacking in vegetarian choices. many items that were on their online menu must have been removed. read more

Brought some long time, Rochester friends to lunch here recently. The menu is very nice, the servers are attentive and it's a nice place to chat with friends. It's a hidden gem in Rochester highly read more

A beautiful spot in a museum, a solid service staff, and quality food (and coffee) makes for an enjoyable and satisfying experience. Oddly enough, I found it difficult to locate breakfast establishments in the Neighborhood of the Arts, but on Sundays, this is Brown Hound is definitely the place to go. I had an absolutely wonderful and serene meal, and from looking at the other diners, they were all happy as well. read more

Brown Hound Downtown - The welcoming interior. - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Great ambiance at the MAG, waitstaff is friendly and host was gracious to accommodate us even though we were a bit late to our reservation. Food was decent-above average. Come for the vibes. read more

Unexpected pleasure at the Brown Hound Downtown during the MAG Sale--fab food--french fries esp--, mimosas, a jazz band with a sax! And superb service. When my cousin wanted to sit downstairs near the band the handsome host and barista gave us table service at the coffee bar. We are coming again! read more

Brown Hound Downtown - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

Do you remember when brunch was something where people went to a swanky spot that's unique and enjoyed yummy breakfast/lunch with maybe a beverage? Good music, the hum of conversation, that Sunday relaxed vibes..... well you'll find that at Brown Hound. My 4 year old wanted chicken and waffles and we've tried most of the spots in town but never Brown Hound.... My mistake! The chicken and waffles was yummy and tasted very clean and freshly made. Coffee was good, table service was really nice too. The people that work here are lovely, the ambience is really relaxed vibes and almost a text book definition of brunch, but not chaotic and crammed. Maude was super helpful and set us up with a cool low tech etch a sketch style drawing tablet (not a smart device) and my daughter was totally absorbed drawing till the food came out. At the of the meal my daughter was given a little mystery treasure egg choice with a small toy inside. 2 totally unexpected touches that totally made the visit that more memorable! 10 minutes into getting here a guy starts playing easy listening/jazz on a guitar and I felt like I was having a bougie brunch with my 4 year old. Thoroughly recommend for brunch and will try the dinner menu another time read more

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Lovely place to eat and our service was good, but my food was quite disappointing. I ordered a grilled romaine salad. The romaine was barely grilled, if at all, and 2 of the listed components were missing entirely. Not good, sadly. read more

tldr: Excellent brunch, charming museum atmosphere, friendly staff- nothing more to want! Nestled in the classy yet cozy atmosphere of the MAG, the Brown Hound Downtown serves hearty American brunches with elegant twists. The biscuits and gravy is to die for, with an ever crispy biscuit that pulls its weight under the savory goodness of the gravy. I also recommend the chicken and waffles, which comes with thick Belgian waffles- an innovation I can never come back from. It's topped off with a spicy syrup that exclaims the perfectly crispy chicken. With staff that always seems friendly and accommodating, I can't recommend this place more for a classy but unpretentious brunch! read more

Brown Hound Downtown - French toast - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I got lucky finding this place! Was looking for a great brunch spot and checked a ton of reviews before finding this gem. This place sits inside the museum (that looks like a castle from the outside). It's very quaint and cozy, plus they had a jazz band playing. It's preferred to make reservations. It was just me and I looked underdressed to be eating here (jeans and t-shirt). The host, however, did not care and was awesome. I mean, this guy was one of the best hosts I've ever met. And I can't recall his name! Seriously, made my visit awesome. The dude needs a raise! I got seated upstairs near a tiny bar area. I was semi-disappointed that they didn't have the salmon waffles I saw online (but it was a photo from 3 years ago). My waitress was great and the coffee she brought was really good. I opted for the chicken and waffles. My only complaint here is that the chicken was a bit harder than normal to cut into. Other than that, it was awesome! It's served with lots of fruit on top, a gooey sweet waffle, sriracha strawberry spread, maple syrup and a light dusting of powdered sugar on the rim. That strawberry sriracha was AMAZING AND SPICY. Loved that unique taste! Overall, really enjoyed this place and would highly recommend to anyone else who wants a semi unique brunch spot to eat at. read more

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Was looking for a spot for brunch for our last day in Rochester, and I am so glad we ended up here. Holy sh!t it was all amazing. The host (who I think was also the manager) got us seated without reservations and was incredibly helpful. The restaurant is tucked inside the museum and has live music, a bar/cafe and a full bar and kitchen upstairs. Our waitress was amazing and greeted us immediately. We were quick to order, and I got the Sweet Frenchie and my boyfriend got the Hash Bowl. The sweet frenchie was the best thing I've ever put in my mouth hands down. W. O. W. I savored every single bite of that beautiful slice of heaven. With a side of bacon? I was in another dimension. I tried the Hash bowl as well, and everything was delicious including the pork belly and potatoes, but I will never forget the Sweet Frenchie. I also got the Sunrise Mimosa which was refreshing and bubbly. 10/10 and would make the trip back to ROC just for the Sweet Frenchie. read more

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have only eaten here outside in their courtyard under the trees. there was nice music with a guitar player for certain hours. there was great choice of mimosas and specials as well. I can't quite remember what I got, but I know the food was great, drinks were strong and we didn't wait long at all to be served. would love to come back here, eat inside maybe and try different items. all the food on the menu looks so good read more

Lots of gf options. Delicious brunch! Great vibe. Service was stellar too. The staff is friendly and personable. Happy to be a returning customer. Im only giving it 4 stars because i had dinner there once and the food wasn't a success. read more

Best gluten sensitive place I've been in a while! The Brown Hound was pretty much the best- great food, cute atmosphere and best part- I could eat everything on the menu as a gluten free person!!! Service was a tad slow, but it was a very busy day. The live music was a wonderful touch! read more

We came here for my mother's birthday. They were very busy and we were sat out in the MAG entry way. It took our server a very love time to get to us, as he had to exit the restaurant to serve us. We got our food, it was mediocre and cold because of how long it took to get to us. The server spilled a drink on my sister, when he came back with towels he threw them on the table and disappeared again- without helping to clean up this massive mess. Then when the manager/owner came over he pressed us about the situation like it was our fault, so unprofessional! Being that we were sat in the MAG, we did have a lovely seat with lots of light and open air. read more

Looking for a nice place to have brunch. Love that it is inside the art gallery. There should be better signage to find where to enter but helpful hint at the back of the building enter the Gallery door and you will be right there. Really nice atmosphere and the waitress was very nice and attentive. Mimosa was very good. Bloody Mary could use a little more spice! The sandwiches were great. The swan Sammy surely does have a gigantic slice of beef bologna . I am glad that I added the fried egg as it really made the meal. The bird dog was a huge piece of fried chicken and the og has plenty of pickles and sauce. Avocado was a great addition! read more

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I LOVE Brown Hound Downtown. My bf and I stumbled upon this place yesterday and decided to give it a try. It was so good and the experience was so great that we decided to come back the next day. The first day, my bf ordered the caramel macchiato French toast and I had the burger. Both were excellent! However, I can say that the French toast has got to be one of the best I have ever tasted. It was so good. I HAD to go back the next day and order one for myself. Our servers were Bob and Tracy, and wow they were both amazing. I loved watching them interact with other customers. You can tell they just love their job. Their service makes you want to come back, even if it's just for a drink. For drinks, my bf and I ordered the sunset and cranberry mimosas... delicious. 10/10 would definitely recommend read more

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The food and locale - Great. They were able to squeeze a party of 7 in without a reservation (we were lucky). Creepy "touchy" waiter.

We went to a post-wedding brunch at the Brown Hound. The food was delicious!! I would highly recommend this establishment if you are looking for wonderful, satisfying brunch food!! read more

Came here for brunch with a couple friends; such a cute place. They have outdoor seating as well but we sat indoors this time. Their drinks were delicious as were their food. Portion is quite large so make sure you come ready to eat. I ordered their chicken and waffle. Loved the chicken! So crispy and juicy and seasoning was perfect. Highly recommend giving it a try! read more

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The best of the best for Sunday Brunch! No question the best brunch in Rochester. Not only for the food and drink but also the ambience. The manager Webster and our server Brooklyn set the standard for excellence. Truly a hidden gem! read more

Brown Hound Downtown - Rum Punch perfect for a snowy Sunday brunch in the ROC! - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

Another big birthday brunch! We went to celebrate a twenty first birthday. The service is phenomenal! Our waiter is very pleasant and attentive. The food came quickly and was delicious. My husband had the biscuits and chicken gravy and loved it! I had the chicken and waffles and it was delicious. We will definitely be going back. read more

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Took my husband here for a birthday brunch and really enjoyed our visit. Service was efficient and cordial. Our meals were delicious with thoughtful elements that made them stand out over standard brunch fare I've had before. Comfortable, classy atmosphere as well. Definitely worth a visit, and the very fine MAG is an extra bonus to round out your trip. read more

Rochester is very lucky to have a wonderful Cafe inside a great art gallery , free parking and you do not have pay admission to the art gallery to dine at Brown Hound ( also visit the for FREE Rochesters largest local crafts and gift shop inside on main floor ) read more

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Oh my goodness, I usually don't even like breakfast sandwiches but I got the classic sandwich at Brown Hound and it was one of the BEST brunches I've ever had!!! The location of this spot is excellent, right inside the Memorial Art Gallery, and they have plenty of seating. You can grab and go from the cafe counter or have a sit-down brunch or lunch. My friend and I didn't have reservations but were able to get in on a busy Sunday mid-morning. The menu is amazing and has everything from traditional brunch options (breakfast sandwich, pancakes) to lunch choices (Caesar salad, chicken sandwich). They also have a great cocktail menu with several speciality mimosas for brunch. The service was great, drinks were amazing, and the sandwich was out of this world. 10/10, I will be back! Excellent choice for brunch. read more

Brown Hound Downtown - Breakfast Sandwich - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

I really enjoyed brunch here. The restaurant has this cool, trendy, elegant, yet casual vibe. It's also in the art gallery and may be why I liked the ambiance. Staff was very friendly. We were there right at opening on Sunday brunch and they were booked until early afternoon. Luckily, we still had an enjoyable experience with plenty of elbow room at the bar which comfortably seated four. Live music was playing about an hour later by the bakery. I love eggs benedicts so the country style benny was calling me. Home fries, biscuit, ham, eggs, all topped with hollandaise. It was huge and so pretty. Unfortunately, that was the best thing. The eggs were overcooked, the biscuit was too salty for me, and the sauce was not spicy. I am not a big spicy eater, but I can handle one star, and I would have never known it was a spicy sauce if it weren't for the menu. They won an award for the bloody Mary which I liked. It's robust, hearty, and light on the alcohol. Even though the eggs benny was not to my liking, I would go back to try something else and take in those good vibes! read more

Brown Hound Downtown - Bloody Mary - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I've had a number of wonderful experiences at BHD and am surprised I haven't written a review until now! Their food is wonderful and the ambiance (nestled inside the MAG pavilion) simply cannot be beat. I've had great interactions with all staff members and they take true care in ensuring you have an awesome experience. I've opted for a few different menu options, including the asparagus melt and the pick your own breakfast. Both have been fab - the asparagus melt especially. It comes on a thick ciabatta with lots of delicious cheese, and is a unique take on one of my fave veggies. My boyfriend usually goes with the country eggs Benedict, and (like many other Yelpers) absolutely raves about it. I will have to try it the next time I go, but think it might be a bit spicy for my tastes. Anyways - take a trip to the mag for breakfast, lunch, and a walk around the gallery. read more

The ambience in this restaurant was real nice, especially with live music, which is only held Saturday's and Sunday's. But the food was really good, the drinks we had with our brunch were very good and strong haha. The bill wasn't that much as we paid $75 but it definitely was worth it. Also, our servers were very nice and we were seated very quickly. This is a place that is a must ‼‼ read more

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Love the food and customer service is always on point!!! I would say so far one of my best. read more

Brown Hound Downtown - The food was and is always amazing love the customer service!!! - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York