I went to founders cafe' for the first time today, 2/27/26. I ordered a corn beef Rueben with sauerkraut on rye toast. it was delicious The service was amazing! I especially liked the place cards with a bit of history on the George Eastman house. And the woman who brought me my sandwich, I found out that she is the owner. I have great respect for that because, she interacts with her customers. She takes pride in her restaurant and relationships with her customer. Also, the tables were clean and the ambiance in the restaurant was very friendly. Michelle P read more

We came in around 4:50 not realizing they closed at 5 and were fully prepared to leave, but the staff was so kind and still let us order. We got 2 hot coffees, 1 iced coffee, and a chai tea. Everything was great and the service was super welcoming even right before closing. The chai tea has a very strong spice flavor, so if you love bold chai you'll probably really enjoy it. If you prefer a lighter, I'd probably skip that specific drink. Overall such a good experience and we really appreciated how accommodating everyone was! read more

Founders Cafe - Chai tea - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

I was in a meeting where some of the sandwiches from this place were served for lunch. So good. So when I need a spot for a meeting downtown immediately thought of this place. I was not disappointed. Parking sucks but at least there's a small lot close by. read more

Founders Cafe - Philly Cheesesteak Panini - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

I love everything they make, especially the iced latte! Cute store in an old building. Great vibe and ambiance. Kind people with great service! read more

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Nice local cafe in a historic space with wooden benches and chairs. The berry smoothie was solid - refreshing, clean, and hit the spot. It's not fresh, made using fruit pulp, but it tastes nearly fresh if I wasn't told otherwise. The breakfast burrito is delicious - I replaced bacon with avocado and really enjoyed the cheese and eggs flavors mixing together! Did not use or feel like I needed the salsa provided. I've heard the unique thing to try is the lemon parsley aioli, it's just I'm not a big fan of mayonnaise so I decided to pass. Be prepared to wait about 10-15 minutes for your warm sandwich esp if it's busy, it takes some time for it to be made, and my friends waited a bit longer. read more

Mouthwatering food! My Mom and brother work in the city and this is our new favorite lunch spot when I come to visit. We love their chili and their wraps. I can't wait to try all the things on their menu. The employees are nice and the place is always clean and inviting. read more

Founders Cafe - Grilled Cheese and Chili. - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

Love Founders! I worked downtown for a couple years and this place was an absolute lifesaver for me on days when I just needed a pick me up and a little treat to get me through the rest of the day. I've never had a panini or sandwich I didn't like and their breakfast options are pretty good, too. It's definitely a standout lunch spot if you work downtown and I feel like most people don't ever know it's there otherwise! I unfortunately don't work nearby anymore so I'm not a regular anymore, but I'm looking forward to going back on occasion. Highly recommend! read more

Do not go to the chains try this locally owned establishment. Great little local cafe with a wide selection of breakfast and lunch items. Blueberry muffin is absolutely amazing! Great, prompt, and friendly service! Awesome location inside a historic school building. Highly recommended! read more

I had their Breakfast Benny sandwich amd a cup of coffee. The sandwich was one of the best breakfast sandwiches I have ever had. The Chibata roll was fantastic; light dough outside. And the contents of the sandwich were proportional and perfect. Also great value for dollar spent. read more

I loved the ambiance of the place and they have ample seating but the service could be improved. The person who took my order did understand a skinny latte even though they have it written on their special drinks menu if you wanted to make it a skinny latte. He said he didn't understand "Starbucks" lingo. I think next time they need to train their staff more especially if they advertise how to make it a skinny version. As well, there was probably only one order before me and I waited quite a while to get my drink. read more

We had a craving for panini and have been meaning to check this place out for quite some time. We went during lunchtime on a weekday. The place was pretty packed and I guess they get a lot of take-out orders on phone and hence, the service was a little slow. Be prepared to wait. The rod chicken paninis (weekly special) was very good. I would give it 4/5. The bread at the bottom was very soggy and just didn't hold. But it tasted good. The herb veggie panini was unseasoned. It had a lot of potential though. I would give it 3/5. I thought the menu was a bit overpriced. The staff definitely seemed overwhelmed by the number of orders and I feel for them. They were young and as quick as they could be. read more

Founders Cafe - Herb veggie panini - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Stopped by Founders today to grab a quick lunch and can't believe I've never been before! What a special place. My favorite part: the menu! It was so difficult to choose what to order due to the options. Salads, soups, quiche, hot & cold sandwiches, wraps, cookies, coffee and MORE! I did not find this place difficult to find. It is right on Fitzhugh and you enter to clear signage as to where to go. I am looking forward to going back during the non-COVID times, when there's more time to take in the sights and sit and enjoy the fun ambiance. I went with the chicken salad sandwich based on Taylor H's review, and she was right - the sammich was DELISH! Filled with fruits and veggies and the sandwich itself had a perfect amount of field greens. I also wanted to try the butternut squash soup that was on special, which is always a gamble since there's such differences from one bnut soup to the next. This is definitely a thicker, earthier version of the soup, but clearly made fresh and seasoned perfectly. Staff is young and seemed overwhelmed during my visit today, but I can only imagine how stressful the lunch rush can get in this area...WITHOUT a pandemic and new restrictions in place. I can't wait to try more items (including the veggie panini!) in the very near future. read more

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Food was good, ordered a soup and a salad. Great coffee. People were nice. Simple but relaxed and pretty spot. Would go there again.

I downtown gem, worth the walk to find this cloistered full service cafe nestled inside a gorgeous historic location. Always friendly service, the menu has some creative and delicious breakfast and lunch combinations. If you find yourself downtown looking for a bite you can't go wrong. read more

Founders Cafe - Denver Breakfast Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

SO DELICIOUS! Founders knows how to do veggie sandwiches! Beautifully seasoned, not soggy, nice variety of veggies, I wouldn't change a thing. They have a nice variety on their menu. Went with my BF who is not really a veggie lover or a huge fan of food that is 'not a hamburger' and he easily found something on the menu and he agreed this place is awesome! Founders is on my top list for lunch time meet ups. Delish!!! read more

Founders Cafe - Herb roasted veggie panini - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

Are you ever just in the mood for a wholesome, satisfying sandwich? This place fulfills my cravings every single time. It's a small place, locally owned, with super fresh ingredients. The food is indescribable--I've gotten all of my coworkers to order from here at some point and they've all loved it. This place makes me look forward to lunch every day. The first thing I tried from here was a banh mi sandwich. I am super picky about my banh mi's, but they definitely nailed it! Everything was super fresh, all the pickled veggies were very crunchy, and the sriracha aoli was the PERFECT finish. Next, I decided to try the thanksgiving sandwich, which is made with a healthy portion of turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing each. It is also topped with a delectable cranberry aoli that really brings me back to the holidays! I was concerned that the heavy filling would made the sandwich somewhat soggy, but it actually held up really well. I ordered it again later that week, because it was really that good. I decided to spice it up by trying the Jambon et fromage (ham and cheese) sandwich, because who doesn't love cheese? The balance of flavors between the ham and the Brie, along with Dijon and crisp apples was simply amazing!! The latest sandwich I've tried is the Philly cheesesteak sandwich, topped with peppers and onions. Imagine a delicious steak dinner smothered in onions & peppers, but stuffed into high quality bread and topped with melty, warm cheese. So. Good. In addition to amazing food and fresh ingredients, they offer free delivery. Also amazing customer service! read more

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Food is excellent! Good gluten free options! Service was fantastic too. I will make a point of visiting here next time I am in Rochester. I had their delicious black coffee, gluten free avocado toast with a fried egg, and went back a couple days later to try the Florentine on gf bread. Our friends tried several of the breakfast menu items and were all super satisfied with the meals. No photos, just ate it and enjoyed every bite! read more

Founders Café is a Rochester treasure. AMAZING food - everything on the menu is great, even if I tend to get the same thing most visits because I love their salads so much. But everything else - quiche, sandwiches, baked goods - are all phenomenal. Very friendly service and we're definitely always made to feel at home. Love it here. read more

Wonderful, quaint little cafe with free wifi and delicious sandwiches. The baristas are some of the kindest folks around and always seem to be in good spirits! It's pricey, but so worth it to support local. There's plenty of seating - booths, tables, and high-tops but the metal chairs can be super cold! Careful if you're wearing shorts. The front door is up some stairs, but there's a wheelchair accessible entrance around the back. It's actually mainly an apartment building, but the cafe is on the first floor, down the hall as you enter. The whole place, including the hallway, is a history nerd heaven! There are old photographs and snippets of historical facts about the building on the walls, and the table numbers they use have interesting anecdotes about Rochester's history. read more

Very solid lunch place- we will be back for more!! In an attempt to be healthy-ish, I got the roasted veggie panini (and added provolone cheese) and was pleased to find it's everything you could want out of a veggie panini. The crispy bread, the delicious veggies, the gooey cheese. Would I order it again? Yes. But next time I will probably try something new from their extensive menu of mouth-watering options. My fiance had a yummy meatball sandwich and also a hot chocolate- lovely. We were both excited about our meals and look forward to returning. The staff deserve a shout-out for the prompt and pleasant service. And we enjoyed the more urban, historical charm of their building and interior. I loved reading a blurb of history on our table number. It's the little things! So my official recommendation is to go try it out- it's worth it! read more

Founders Cafe - Veggie panini - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I was stuck downtown for jury duty and used yelp to find a place for lunch. The Founders Cafe is just a 5 minute walk from the Hall of Justice, and my chicken caprese panini was absolutely outstanding!!!!!! This is the gastronomic highlight of my month. I'll be back. read more

Some would say that the Founder's Cafe looks like a church; perhaps because it is adjacent to a church and shares a few of the prominent architectural details. Some might say that the Founder's Cafe looks like a school; that is understandable given that it used to be the Pioneer School. Still others may say that the Founder's Cafe looks like a Founders House. But those people are crazy - there is no such thing as a Founders House. The inside of the Founder's Cafe is comforting. There are many counters to accommodate regular Founders, though when I visited with a friend, we were the sole occupants of the establishment. Some lights in the corner were going on and off. We were literally being gaslit. Or not. Maybe it was just electrical issues. Or a ghost. I ordered the Denver, which appealed to my ranching days in the West. The server cautioned that the coefficient of friction of the peppers was close to zero. The Greek letter "" denotes the coefficient of friction. I already mu that. Dave opted for the Benny which promised to resurrect fond memories of his days at the lemon parsley aioli farm. The Benny was worth the ten-minute wait. The lemon parsley aioli seamlessly integrated with the other components of the sandwich, yielding an optimal flavor-to-ingredient ratio. An artisan, synergetic creation; no one ingredient made a power grab for leadership. As advertised, the friction-defying creation spilled out of my sandwich before I even got a chance to eat it. The bread wasn't as bready as other breakfast establishments. Instead, it perfectly toed the line between not-bready-enough and gourmet-bready. I got an iced mocha. Sugary and sweet. Pricing was reasonable. Flavor was great. Atmosphere was spooky (the flashing lights). Service was good. Don't Miss: The lemon parsley aioli. Seriously. It's really good. Pro Tip: Parking looks to be hit or miss. Early bird gets the worm parking spot. read more

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Nice clean setting in a beautiful historic building. Friendly staff and a delicious salad.

I stopped in for an early breakfast on my way to the Active Transportation Summit. I was the first customer of the day. The owner was friendly, attentive, the food ( Ciabatta sandwich) fresh, hot, juicy, and flavorful. It was a recommendation from a friend who works in the area, comes here for lunch now and again. It was a winner recommendation. If I'm in the area at an appropriate meal Time again I won't hesitate to stop. The coffee hit the spot, too. read more

Founders Cafe - Denver Ciabata breakfast sandwich, black coffee. - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

Service was fast, friendly, and food was delicious. The aioli on the florentine breakfast sandwich is stellar, rich but fresh and not too heavy. Chai latte was not too heavy or sweet. Lots of room to sit and work or read, tables are spaced far enough away that you aren't crowded. Only downside is 1 hour parking limit out front! read more

Founders Cafe - Florentine breakfast sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

hit up founders cafe for the first time! was not disappointed whatsoever! they have a great selection of flavor shots for teas and coffees, and many great seasonal and special option menus available to help make decisions for what youd like. i for one have such a hard time deciding and it was really nice reading a bunch of cool flavor combinations to try. the BLT i tried was also very good, the bread was soft and the bacon was cooked to perfection. sometimes i find BLT bread to be overly crunchy and hard for me to eat but this was perfect! the employees were super friendly as well and easy to communicate with, always appreciate being able to connect with a cafes staff. the indoor seating area is very ambient and they have A/C that works super well so if youre planning on staying in maybe bring a jacket! the outdoor seating is also lovely and very calming, you can enjoy the city while eating or drinking your selections. overall, a great experience. read more

Founders Cafe - BLT Sandwich and Iced Latte - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I order from here frequently for lunch - since I work pretty close, I often run over to pick up myself but they also offer free deliver FTW! Their soups are awesome, their sandwiches delicious and today we ordered pie (for Pi Day, duh) and the peanut butter pie was divine! read more

Founders Cafe - Peanut butter pie - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

A little difficult to find if you haven't been, but once you're inside, you're greeted by the friendliest of staff and served some of the best sandwiches around. I had the cajun chicken and bleu cheese panini and it was cooked and spiced perfectly. It was delicious! read more

Founders Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

Got the Pastrami & Turkey hot sandwich, it was great! The chocolate salted brownie was salty and crunchy. Interesting dessert. Also got the mocha latte which was very sweet! People were very nice! read more

Founders Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

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A perfect location downtown within walking distance of the Hall of Justice. A vast array of sandwiches and salads to choose from. An ideal stop for a quick lunch or snack. Friendly staff and nice seating! I'd return again in the future. read more

Food is good here, but their service is hit or miss. I've seen different staff members every time I've been in, maybe that's part of it. The bread is a very tasty honey wheat that is great on lunch sandwiches as well as my breakfast favorite, the Tardy Student - a classic egg and cheese. The regular coffee is a bit bitter for my taste, but the fancier drinks (lattes and such) are very good. I used to love stopping in for the cream of mushroom soup which featured fresh mushrooms (not from a can!). A few months ago they changed the recipe, so now it's only the base, no whole mushrooms. I assume they are blended in now, but why? I can get a creamy soup without vegetables from Campbell's for $1. They tend to get busy around lunch time, as most downtown restaurants do, so today I called in my order instead of ordering it and waiting. Well, I waited anyway. Twenty five minutes from call in to receipt of an egg salad sandwich. That's a long time when you're on a lunch break, considering I still have to walk back to my office and eat the food. It's egg salad, not a well done steak. The most annoying part was that the sandwich had been ready for at least a few minutes while I was waiting, but the completely unconcerned cashier didn't think to call my name when the cook put the takeout bag down. I saw people that had ordered after me getting their food, so I asked if mine was ready. She thrust the bag toward me and didn't even apologize for the wait. Will I continue to go to Founders? Yes, because there are limited lunch options downtown, and the food here is fresher and tastier than most. read more

Super solid food at a super solid price, and the best iced coffee and breakfast sandwiches in Rochester. Mike and Maria go above and beyond and are always coming out with new stuff. I really can't rate this place highly enough, it's my #1 go-to for breakfast and the food is always great. read more

Delicious food, huge menu, warm and friendly staff! In a nice historic building too. Try the macaroni salad!

It was fine. Food was cooked fresh and my coffee was good. Myself and my fiance liked out food. Just know that this is a restaurant inside of a museum. We were confused when we got there. We wanted to try a local eatery that was well known and this wasn't what we were expecting. (After a message from the owner I guess it's inside an apartment complex, I saw art being hung so I guess I assumed it was a museum, but I am positive this was the cafe we ate at) read more

Amazing food. Bakery so good. Best chicken salad I have ever had. And I am 60! Great ladies working. Will be back

I was in the downtown area on a Saturday morning. While waiting for an office to open, I did a Yelp search for a breakfast hot spot nearby and came across Founders Cafe. I walked in with my family and was immediately impressed with the trendy ambiance. This place has a surprisingly nice menu to choose from considering it is a cafe. There are a number of breakfast sandwiches and paninis to choose from and they all seem so tasty! I decided to order a breakfast burrito and was pleased. It had fresh roasted peppers and onions, which gave it a nice kick. Next time I'm in the downtown area, I'll be sure to try their coffee options. read more

Founders Cafe - Breakfast burrito - Sandwiches Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I love Founders Cafe! They have great sandwiches and salads with plenty of healthy options! A go-to for lunch in the downtown area. You won't be disappointed at all! I've also used Founders for large group orders and they were more than accommodating! And, they delivered - which is always a nice bonus. Customer service, both over the phone and in person, is top notch! read more

Normally a good place but they are very slow and VERY expensive. Today I went in, waited 15 minutes for my panini and I was the only order being processed. Then they brought it out and it was not made the way I asked for it. Let's be real - a sandwich, chips, and a snapple for $14 and no other orders should result in the right sandwich coming out. But then again, no one wanted to make my sandwhich until the manager told them to do it and then they made it wrong. Seems like they need some different staff that want to do their job. Will definantly not be back anytime soon. I can spend the same amount of money and get better service with delivery. Response: yes I was given a free cookie which I did not ask for, was not asked about, and do not eat. Nice gesture but not a value to me. As for remaking the sandwhich - it was remade after I asked if it was made correctly in the first place. Then only after the manager blamed it on the girl who had left for the day stating it was not entered properly. It was clearly entered correctly based on the receipt and the problem was the employee who had to be told to stop what she was doing and make the sandwhich. I could tell by the way she acted that she was not happy about making my order which is why I asked if it was made correctly - interesting the connection between poor attitude and accuracy of my order. This was an issue to attitude and not just an oversight. I would not write a post like this because of a simple mistake but when you have a piss poor attitude and then screw things up - i take offense. So please do not write a comment making me seem like a bad person or that you went out of your way to make it right. The order was made wrong because of a pissed off employee - plain and simple. read more

Delicious breakfast food and quick service. Grabbed some iced teas, Denver sandwiches and coffee to go. So good and yummy food!

Great people. Great food. Arrived 20 minutes before closing and were welcomed with open arms. Told us that it was no rush and really meant it. Will come back again the next time we are in Rochester. read more