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    Don's Original

    3.6 (93 reviews)
    InexpensiveAmerican, Sandwiches
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Don's Original Photos

    Business Info

    DON'S ORIGINAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Shirts for sale.
    Ron A.

    I'm in my late 50s, and I've been going to Don's Original (Don and Bob's) since my childhood. I now live more than 600 miles away. We were in the area for a funeral, so we had to make a stop. They never disappoint. First, we were a group of 17. The restaurant really isn't big enough for a large group like us. The owner saw us and made it work! Her and her staff were great and accommodating. Pretty much it was ground rounds (hamburgs) all around. Bill Gray's may say they have the best burger around, but they are wrong. The best is 50 yards away at Don's Original. Even out of season (read "not summer") you should make a stop.

    Kelly K.

    First time here with a friend and these guys KILLED it! They all worked together like a well oiled machine to bring out some of the best comfort food I've had in a while. We each had cheeseburgers, drinks and onion rings and everything was on point. Service was great and we sat outside on a gorgeous summer night.

    Tara M.

    Dons original has a great location near the lake. The place is small inside, but has plenty of outdoor seating. Service was fast and efficient. Food was made to order, so it was fresh and warm. Our little guy loved the onion rings. The one thing I thought was weird is that they offer milk, but not in individual cartons. They would pour it out of their gallon into a cup.

    Dave B.

    Been coming here for almost 50 years and virtually nothing has changed besides the price.

    Reen K.

    First time visiting here and I really enjoyed myself. Today was really nice out. I decided to come here since I was out sitting and watching the ducks, jet skis, boats, next door at the lake. I had a root beer float, my son had a banana shake, and my husband had a vanilla custard with a cherry on top. Many people were out enjoying a delicious treat. The inside is open for ordering as well as the outside at the window. The inside was mainly for guests that were ordering hot food. I didn't post the inside menu because I only had viewed the frozen menu. My family and I will definitely be back, especially since it's hot now. :-)

    Double Banana Custard
    Sara P.

    We were out hiking, geocaching and exploring the beautiful Irondequoit Bay Marine Park and the nearby Durrand Eastman park on a hot Saturday afternoon when we walked by Don's Original. We had seen quite a few people walking around with ice cream and decided we had to stop, boy were we glad we did! Don's original has an indoor counter from which to order a variety of burgers, hot dogs, french fries and the like. They also have an outdoor window from which to order all of their ice cream options. there is outdoor picnic tables with umbrellas for seating. As we visited during the pandemic it is also important to note that they were only letting a few people inside at a time to order food, others had to wait outside. All staff members wore masks, and there was paint on the ground to help remind people to spread out while waiting in line. Now onto the best part, the ice cream! We were very happy to discover that they make their own custard! They offered 10 homemade flavors when we visited including the traditional custard flavors in addition to a variety of others, some with mix-ins like almonds, or peanut butter chips. Although custard, it is so thick that it is scooped like hard ice cream. I ordered the orange creamsicle. It was so creamy and delicious. I felt like I was eating a creamsicle! My husband got the banana which was also creamy and so good. Tasted like real banana, not fake banana flavor. The prices weren't completely unexpected for location or unreasonable in my opinion. I noticed some people mention the prices were high, and they were a bit high, however I found them similar to most ice cream places you visit these days, and if I'm going to pay for ice cream out I definitely prefer to do so for delicious homemade custard! As we had already eaten a picnic lunch we did not order any food, but the menu looked good and reasonably enough priced that I'd be interested to try it when back in the area, and I will definitely be back soon for more of their creamy, delicious homemade ice cream!

    Good eats with the boys
    Jake H.

    Came in with large group of around 30 people. Staff was kind and on top of the rush. Food was amazing as well, highly recommend.

    a sign for don's frozen custard
    Max K.

    Pretty good custard. They have specialty flavors in addition to vanilla and chocolate but they're more expensive. I got cookies & cream and chocolate peanut butter. If I was to come again I would get chocolate or vanilla and add a topping. There wasn't a lot of candy mixed into the specialty flavors. I think you would get more candy and its actually cheaper if you just add a topping

    Lea B.

    NO AIR CONDITIONER. Come on Don's.... get with the times. I get that you're going for the old school vibe with the counter seating... but please grant your patrons some AC! Overall.... quick, decent place for a greasy burger. Conveniently located across the street from Marge's bar and close to the beach and Sea Breeze. You have your choice of 2 kinds of buns. One is your typical grocery store soft bun and the other is Rochester's version of a "hard roll". Your burger is served on the tiniest plate ever.... so don't let anything fall off and onto the counter. eek! I didn't try the onion rings but the person at the counter next to me did and they were over fried and too oily. Beware.

    Quincey H.

    We were driving by and saw the frozen custard sign so we decided to stop in! The sundaes were good but didn't taste particularly like custard. The place got really full after we got there so seems like a popular spot for a Sunday afternoon!!

    Awaiting our mouth watering meals

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    14 years ago

    Nothing like the ground round. First class burger and dog joint. An American classic!

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Love the burgers, the frozen custard and the nostalgia at Don's Original.

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    12 years ago

    Amazing ground rounds! Awesome custard! Great fries! Prompt service! Love the pickles! A staple for my crew!

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    Rubino's Italian Foods

    Rubino's Italian Foods

    4.0(175 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $

    I've given Rubino's more than enough chances. I have been here 4 maybe 5 times. This Italian is not…read moreimpressed. I keep going back to see if they cleaned up their act. But each visit is worse than the next. I really hope they take this review as a much needed pull up. Because it actually pains me to leave a 3 star review for my own country people. It really makes me sad that this place is so overrated. Probably due to their local following, which I completely respect. I do not respect the way the employees run the place. They need to pay attention. Just because a lot of people are no longer shopping big corporations doesn't mean we are going to accept the same treatment from our own community business. It's a shame really, It's a great set up, and they have most of what every Italian needs in their life. Packed into an easily accessible area. The layout is very smart. That what keeps me popping in from time to time to see what has changed. Parking is tricky only because they stay super busy. Which usually is a good thing. But as an Italian, and Rochester outsider, who has lived in many Italian communities, this is the dirtiest community grocery store and deli I've been in. They have a few employees that are lazy and rude, and the good employees are the ones taking up all the slack and working hard. Which seems disrespectful to the staff that works hard. The hot foods are hit or miss. sometimes awesome! depends on what time of day you go, and you want to go early to try and beat the flies. The amount of flies in that place is disgusting. I understand all kitchens will get a few. My family owns a restaurant, so I'm not just talking just as an Italian, but one who has worked in Kitchens themselves. A dirty Kitchen and flies are the worst turnoff. Also, it is a problem they could easily remedy. It is not because they stay so busy, they don't have time to clean. It's certain employees that are holding this place back. They really should clean house. I know my Nonni, would never. On this particular day for this review, my BF wanted to go. I reminded him of how dirty it was last time. Being the loyal local he is, he said, I've just been unlucky. So we went. He ordered the meatball dinner, and it looked hot and delicious. He was definitely looking forward to it. I was 2nd and last person in line to order from the deli. As I was waiting more people started coming in. The line suddenly was more than 10 people deep. That's when I noticed the person in front of me, had not been helped. We all had been standing there for 10 min. Next to me was the hot foods counter. There was a woman and a man, standing there having a casual conversation. The whole line heard it. Nothing to do with work. Meanwhile, there was a young girl there running around like a maniac trying to clean her work station, to help people. I waited a few more minutes, then I noticed someone else behind the sub counter just standing there. I left my BF in my line, and very politely asked the girl if they had any other employees that could help us, and showed her the line. She was smiling and was about to say something, when the woman who had been talking with the gray haired man behind the counter, ran over and interrupted. She had such an attitude. She instantly said, I work that section, and since you got out of line, you have to go to the back of the line. I was shocked and dumfounded! But not having that attitude. I said, excuse me, my BF is in line with me, and please do not speak to me this way. The nice girl piped up, and just said. I understand, what can we get for you? The mean woman who was about my age, with brown hair, then said, ok what do you want? With that NY crazy roll your eyes attitude. I said, "nothing, I do not give money to people who disrespect me or their customers. Now my BF has gotten out of line, and is standing next to me, wanting to know what's going on. The disrespectful woman was still there and growing impatient due to the conversation. Yah, She has no problem making us wait, but when she is waiting on us, suddenly it's a problem. I said right in front of this woman, "I decided not to eat here, because this woman is rude, and I do not trust her, not to mess with my sub, so I'm not ordering. The woman suddenly, became nice, to my BF. Male centered woman on board. My hmmm isn't into that centering BS. She very nicely said. I'm trying to take this ladies order. My BF put his food down on the counter in front of her, and simply said, I do not want my food either then and we walked out. My suggestion would be to clean up the place, retrain employees, and get some authentic Italians in there to help. I didn't take pics of the problem employees, because if the owner wants to know who they are, he can reach out. They do not need to be on blast, for being consistently rude, because this was not the first time, and it's always the same people. They know who they are.

    When it comes to foods, meats, cheeses, I suggest you try Rubino's. One of the finest deli's I've…read moreever done business with. Check this Valentines Day Treat!. Rubino's has a wide variety of foods. And I may add that they have excellent submarines. Give them a try! A 5 star Deli.

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    Rubino's Italian Foods - Meat Case

    Meat Case

    Rubino's Italian Foods
    Rubino's Italian Foods - Lots of parking space.

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    Lots of parking space.

    Don's Original - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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