I came here the other night for a cocktail. I haven't gone to many restaurants since the pandemic began but I walked by this spot a week ago and noticed everyone was very spaced out so I tried it out. The cocktails were very good. I had a SWV 2.0 and my fiance had the hisbiscus of life. Both were delicious. $11 for a cocktail is a little on the higher side but you get what you pay for. Spaced out tables, partitions at the bar, all employees wearing masks. They did a really great job with all the covid precautions. This is our new spot! read more

My husband and I came here for a date night and we felt the amazing atmosphere right when you cross the street to go up the stairs into the outside seating. They do have a normal doorway for the entrance, but we came in through the wide open doors and noticed the hostess desk right there. we had reservations which I recommend and we were seated in our comfy chairs inside, but it felt like we were outside because we were at the seat right by the wide open sliding doorway to the patio. Would have loved to sit outside, but the seating for that started earlier in the evening during cocktail hours. The view from my seat was the patio with pretty umbrellas with lights underneath and nicely decorated greenery. Also was a view of the Washington park and the Geva theater. The music was amazing as well, very relaxing and not too loud. Earlier they had a musician playing the guitar, but we missed this as we came around 8:30. our waiter greeted us and gave us time to look over the drink menu. if you are in a hurry to dine, I don't suggest to plan that because it was a slower pace... and you won't want to rush if you go here. I got the "the wedding ring" cocktail which was amazingly refreshing and strong. the other drink I don't remember the name, but you must watch how they make it... because fire. The menu is not that extravagant, just a few items per course. I actually prefer this because I have a hard time deciding when I know I like everything on the menu. the meal I wanted was the lobster roll, but of course the lady next to me go the last one so I ordered the fish dish (which of course I forget the name, but it was amazingly delicious. so much flavor, fresh tasting, and it tasted almost like a salmon but better. the sides that came with it were also very fresh tasting with a lot of flavor. I do believe the owners are going for a more local feel with the menu and trying to use all local food items, which I love. cannot wait to return and try other things on the menus! I also wonder how often they will change the items? read more

Stopped in for an after theatre drink and snack. Cocktail was great, steamed clams were covered in canned tomatoes and not as described in menu. But most disappointing was a check that arrived with a "convenience fee" for a credit card transaction. This is not disclosed on the menu or in any signage in the venue. Non disclosure of a fee prior to check out is deceptive. Reminded me of the" table setting" charge I had in Lima Peru, from travel years back for plates and silverware. Just thought it was naive of me in a foreign country. Native is in my neighborhood. Won't be back or recommend. read more

Thankful I found this place. Incredible falafels and you are able to substitute them in some dishes if you are vegan, like me. And the best sangria I've ever had! Service was wonderful. I was delighted. Thank you! read more

Native Eatery and Bar - Spring chicken with falafel sub - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

Native is just amazing , the food is out of this world it never disappoints! I love it in the summer time sitting on the patio or sitting inside it's so spacious and such a comfortable relax atmosphere . The owner is always there and always interacting with all his customers !! It's just amazing you need to try read more

I think Native has potential. It's a new restaurant so I guess they're working out a few kinks, mostly around the knowledge of the servers. I was there for an early dinner on Saturday with my husband and mother-in-law. It's a nice space downtown, with good atmosphere. Our server told us the wrong soup of the day, then corrected herself. My mother-in-law had a corn salad and pork chops - both specials - and she thought they were both reasonably good. My husband wanted a non-alcoholic beer but unfortunately they do not serve any. Usually when that happens, the server will offer some sort of alternative - a virgin cocktail, etc. She did not, so he stuck with water. He had gnocchi as an entree and thought it was interesting, but was disappointed that it was served somewhat cold. I had the chowder and thought it was pretty good, just totally not what I was expecting, based on the description and my prior experiences of what chowder is. It tasted more like a Pozole Verde with a hunk of lobster in it. About half way through the meal, I asked the server for a second glass of Cava and a piece of bread to go with my chowder. She was gone a long time before informing me that they have no bread except for some sort of platter that it sounded like they were going to charge extra for, so I declined. When we were long finished eating, she remembered to bring the Cava but we were ready to leave by then so I sent it back. As I said, I think Native has potential. They haven't exactly found their rhythm yet, but maybe we'll give it another try once they've settled in. read more

Not a good representation of fine dining experience in rochester! Poor food, poor drink options ( other than wind or scotch) poor undereducated servers, too few selections in menu, and paying 7 dollars for parking to start! So disappointed...other great places to go! read more

This was our first visit to Native. We made a reservation for 8pm and got there about 10 minutes early. They were able to seat us immediately with an option of where to go as well which was incredibly nice. During the first part of our meal, there was also live music which was really great. The ambiance at Native is killer. They own being a part of the city and they definitely have a really special vibe. As far as the food, it was amazing. We went as an early mother's day present for my fiancé's mother, and she loved it. We happened to stop during restaurant week so the four of us got 3 restaurant week meals (an appetizer and entree each) and an extra shareable and we shared the entire meal. The shareables come out as prepared which I really liked. It allows you to eat and relax. We had the falafel, the steamed buns, and the chicken cutlets. The falafel was phenomenal. Prepared perfectly and definitely a must get. The chicken cutlets we're so tender and the flavor of the breading was way better than I could have expected from a chicken cutlet. The star of the appetizers was the steamed buns. It was amazingly flavored and the buns were cooked to puffy perfection. If you have to choose only one appetizer, that's what I would pick. The rest of the meal was great as well. The pork chop was amazingly tender and the German potato salad was some of the best I've had. The spring chicken was fall-off-the-bone good, and flavored to perfection. The burger was great with really well cooked meat and AMAZING fries. The ketchup served with it tasted homemade in the best way. I cannot wait to visit again! read more

Had a great lunch pizza was good and pear salad was exceptional. Great atmosphere with a big City feel.

The food and ambience were great. They tucked my friends and I away in a private little corner and it was very COVID safe from the QR code menu, partitions and the giant patio doors were open for most of the time we were there (it was a nice spring evening). I will definitely go back! read more

Native Eatery and Bar - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

Had some very delicious drinks at the bar and good service. Dinner sat outside. Had charcuterie plate which was good - enjoyed the pate and the variety of flavors presented. Had the ribs for main course. Very poor quality of meat - all fat. The cabbage / slaw was ok but a lot of it. Overall not someplace I would go again to eat. Will visit for a cocktail. read more

I only came here for drinks, but enjoyed the Dirty Randy and the rest of my enjoyed their beverages, as well. Place is modern, yet approachable. Very very large, which kind of makes the place feel empty even if it isnt. Wish I had come on a day when I could enjoy the patio. Would like to come back to try the food! read more

Disappointed. I've been to Native Eatery 3-4 times before and have always been happy with the food, drinks and atmosphere. Tonite, not so great! First of all my glass of wine was barely 4oz. 2nd glass as a better Pour. The Charcuterie board in the past was big and had several items on it. It was much smaller tonite. We had to pay $6 for bread (really, since when do you pay for the bread with the your meal?!) which was cold in the middle and frankly not that good. There were only 5 entrees on the menu and just 1 Special ( rib eye steak) . Maybe this is what we have to expect post Covid. I don't know but I will certainly think twice about returning. read more

Great spot and very cool Building downtown. Near Geva if going to a play, check out for dinner and drinks. read more

Native is a new standard. For a flawless "moment of truth" experience when entering, getting seated and being waited on. For a unique menu, full of farm-to-table emo and fresh, local ingredients. For the attention to detail in plating and taste. For open space, pleasant live music and a relaxed atmosphere. The house-ground burger (three cuts of beef) was the most thoughtfully-seasoned burger I have had in years at a restaurant. The eloté salad impressed with fresh corn, radish and feta topped with a light yogurt dressing. Fresh house-cut fries, cooked a little on the dark side in a very good way, salted and paired with a fun blueberry ketchup (think: less tomato, more blueberry, maple and a kick from maybe horseradish). The final note to this meal was cinnamon roll bread pudding. Words cannot describe its decadent simplicity. Lastly -- for an incredibly friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff and approachable head chef. Thanks Jason for taking a few minutes during a busy dinner, to chat with a first-time patron in your amazing new eatery. read more

See all

Beautiful atmosphere while maintaining Covid restrictions. Since the pandemic, I've been there 3 times, but this was the 1st indoor dining and I felt totally safe. Food was delicious, shared the bread plate & vegan empanadas and had the mushroom stroganoff for my meal. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Drinks are inventive and flavorful. Love this place read more

Native Eatery and Bar - a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

Amazing food and amazing staff. The owner, Ross, even stopped out during our dinner to check on us. I highly recommend trying their specialty cocktails and pizzas. read more

Native Eatery and Bar - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

Fun location and ambiance. The drink Selection was good. Service was slow and impersonal. Cheese charcuterie board contained one type of cheese and strange pairing of accompaniments. The beef in the gnocchi was tender and flavorful, but the gnocchi was sparse and to doughy. Pizza with honey truffle lacked flavor and poutine needed tweaking (mostly due to lack of cheese). read more

So, you know how the word RESERVE is the dominant part of the word reservation? As in, you reserve a table to avoid having to wait when you arrive as you would if you just strolled in off the street. This concept, at least on the night we were at the restaurant, is not applicable. Now, I will say, we did not wait long but the expectation when you have a reservation is that you do not wait at all; you don't have to stand awkwardly between the bar and the hostess stand for several minutes. The atmosphere was pleasant, although the music was a bit loud. This is just my opinion, but if you have to raise your voice, lean in and cup your ear to communicate to your dining partners across the table, the volume of the music may be excessive. The food was pretty unremarkable. I had the Margherita pizza. There was nothing wrong with it necessarily but it tasted a bit like a personal pizza you might have on an Amtrak train, which perhaps is enjoyable but a compromise given your circumstances. The chicken cutlet, which, in full transparency, I did not eat but other members of my party did, and was by all accounts, dry and bland. The salads were quite good, but come on, how do you screw that up? The service was adequate, and nothing more. I suspect their extensive list of fine whiskeys is on the menu in the hopes that you will anesthetize your senses to any unwanted stimuli or less-than-remarkable experiences read more

Meeting friends for dinner we were excited by the dinner and drink menu. The location is a bit tough for parking and from the outside you feel you might be going to a law firm or insurance company. Once inside, the restaurant and bar are nice. The problem began with our waiter. Apparently "Greg" felt we were doing him a favor coming in and sitting in his section. Just asked, You want something to drink?" Never improved. When one of us asked about the huge serving of potatoes - "if you don't like them don't eat them." Food and drinks were good. Waiter terrible and apparently has been there for a long while. Competition for our dollars is steep, so for our group it is a hard pass on a return trip. read more

the ambiance is great. apps for the table were very good. short ribs and pork shank were great. the risotto was the worst dish I have ever had. I would have sent it back, which is something I have never done in my life, if our crappy waitress had bothered to ever come back to our table. I will go back, not order risotto and pray for a different server. read more

Was here for an event and the bartender was outwardly stressed and pretty rude. This place is fine but I won't be returning. Didn't feel welcome. read more

My daughter and I wandered into the restaurant on a last minute whim. Friends had recommended but I was without knowledge of the ambiance. Coming from a gym, we both looked like a disheveled mess. We did call ahead approximately 5 minutes before closing time. The host greeted us in a welcoming manner. The waitress was friendly, knowledgeable and professional. Menu was clearly explained and the waitress assisted with food selections. We ordered shrimp appetizers, tacos, sweet potato fries with burgers. (Yup right after working out) Food was delivered promptly (within 10 minutes)and was flavorful, light, prepared to perfection. Seating was spacious, casual, modern and interesting. Bar was gorgeous. Loved the decor, setting, lighting and views. Reason for 5 star without hesitation was for The Staff! We were a mess and it was almost closing time. Every staff member encountered, went out of their way to make us feel welcome. I was a waitress for years and service was a 10! Great job hiring! Our waitress even went out of her way to explain upcoming events, music venues, ect. Highly recommended visiting this establishment. Rochester needed an After Theater establishment with light fare. In summer, outside seating, spring beautiful blossoming trees and large glass windows provide views of falling snow in the winter. Recommended by a slightly finicky and attentive to detail individual. read more

Why is this restaurant even in business still!? I am appalled at the quality of both the food and the unprofessional and rude staff. I have given this establishment more than one opportunity to amend the many issues that have occurred on all my visits. They have failed horribly every single time! I urge anyone who is reading these reviews to ask themselves why anyone would ever consider dining there. Clearly many unfavorable comments that are definitely deserved. read more

My friend Maureen and I have frequented Native Eatery both before the pandemic and now for a second time since their Reopening. We are very selective when choosing where to go during these challenging times for both Restaurant owners and Patrons. Everybody wants to feel confident and comfortable that the proper safeguards are in place. Ross Mueller and his Staff are managing this better than any of the Restaurants that we have been to and providing excellent food, drinks and service. I know we will be routine Customers and I would encourage others who are looking for a great dining experience in a very Safe setting. Mac read more

Experience was very not pleasant. We arrived at 4:30 pm for early drinks and dinner. Our waitress was very rude, there were so many flies inside the restaurant, and the food was mediocre. read more

This place is one of the best Rochester has to offer! I was prepared for a full on hipster experience, but the crowd was mixed and comfortable. The ambience was laid back but sophisticated. They have a nice outdoor area and many indoor seating options. The staff was very good and I felt that they were interested in providing a good experience to their patrons. The food was excellent! I found the menu to be interesting because they had full entree options, burgers, and salads, as well as apps. Pricing was on par with fine dining establishments. I would go back in a heartbeat! read more

We decided to venture out (with masks and social distancing in mind) to this restaurant downtown catty corner from Geva. It was a lovely summer night but a little windy so we chose to eat indoors which was more outdoors than in! The large glass doors open up completely on two sides of the restaurant so it's like eating outside. From the moment we arrived we were greeted warmly, seated promptly and looked after by the management and staff. Food was deeeelicious and the libations get a thumbs up (try a Bentley...refreshing and prepared expertly) . And say hi to Tony, the general manager whose energy is contagious. read more

I have been two times now and both times I have had great food, drinks and atmosphere. The first time I went we just had a few apps and drinks but last night we had a variety of food. Theirs pizzas are amazing. They are not thin crust like Tony D's which I appreciated since it's so popular everywhere else it was great to see a pizza done normal but cooked perfectly! We tried three options, the Salumi, mushroom and I believe a chicken one. They were all so great and had the best crunch on the crust. Their wings are awesome! Juicy and fill of flavor! The blue cheese was perfectly mixed! The fries and blue berry ketchup were amazing! I love a fresh hand cut fry, they had to be double fried with how perfect the crisp was! Also the bread was phenomenal! I know it sounds boring to say that, but seriously the texture of that freaking bread made me eat four pieces! I had to walk away or I would have polished off the whole platter! I loved the Pinot I had and Kim, the bartender is great! Super patient and makes the most perfect Martini! She also made us shots with bourbon, I could have done 10 of them with how smooth they were! I can't wait to go back and I am super excited about the summer time because of their outdoor patio. Over all definitely a place we will regular for dinner and drinks. Parking is easy with all the parking around the building, also they are right across from the esl parking garage, but for me, it doesn't matter we will ubering due to enjoying some drinks at the bar! Oh and lastly, They have a really cute semi private dinning area, definitely thinking about reserving for my husbands birthday! It was perfect for a small group! read more

I was excited to check out Native because I've heard great things about their outdoor space, and that aspect was very cool. It was nice that the restaurant fully opened to the patio so you could easily move between inside and outside. The inside atmosphere was nice, too, upscale and trendy. I ordered the red wine wings with a side of sweet potato home fries. I enjoyed the sauce on the wings, but the meat itself could have been much more tender. The home made blue cheese was probably my favorite part. Unfortunately the home fries were way undercooked so I was disappointed that I paid $6 for them. The hummus app was pleasantly surprising because it came with many different dippers (peppers, zucchini, pita, etc) so mix and match with the hummus. Overall I'd probably say it's best to stick to this place for drinks and light food - not sure if I'd eat a full dinner there again but the spot itself was neat! read more

Native Eatery and Bar - Sweet and spicy red wine wings and sweet potato home fries - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

What a cool spot and a great location! We enjoyed our dinner very much and the service was excellent! The bartender, waitress and manager were all super friendly and accommodating. Our dinner was delicious and I would say the two things that prevented me from awarding 5 stars were the small appetizers (not super generous) and our burger was ordered medium and came out super rare. I will definitely go back because it was a very pleasant dining experience all in all! read more

Came here for lunch, had great service and awesome food! The crab cake sandwich was awesome, will be back for sure!

This is the second time we tried this place, its sad that the fastest thing they bring you is the check... 1. Soggy Fries 2. Cold coffee 3. weird ketchup 4. Wrong item in check read more

Where do I start? While the drinks, food, atmosphere and service from the servers were fantastic you would think there could not be something so notable that a customer would be so dissatisfied. So let me explain: My dear friend, whose birthday it was, ordered the special that was a steak - medium rare. Unfortunately, the steak that was served was most certainly over cooked. To anyone, who has ever ordered a steak, it is quite apparent the difference between medium rare and medium well/well done. It truly was not a big deal. The issue was brought to the server's attention, he apologized profusely and assured her that a new one would be made. As a nice gesture, he had offered to provide soup and salad to tide her over until the new steak arrived. A bowl of soup appeared a few minutes later BUT the salad never showed. At this point, quite some time had passed, the rest of the table was done with their meals and another steak still had not been served. Finally, the second steak was served by another gentleman who was the manager. Instead of simply apologizing, he very rudely said he spoke with the chef, who insisted the steak was cooked correctly, told her she was incorrect about her steak being over cooked and it was probably from the lighting outside that made it look overcooked. His reaction simply shocked our table and in all honestly, my jaw dropped. First, there was no apology but rather the blame was placed on the customer who simply just wanted her steak cooked as ordered. Second, never, ever, have we heard of the excuse that the natural lighting outside would make a steak look more cooked.There is a notable difference between medium rare and a medium well/well done steak - coloring aside, there were no juices (blood) that accompany a medium rare steak. We asked that the steak be taken off the bill as we had waited over an hour for the final steak from the time of ordering and the rest of the table had been done with their meals for quite some time. The manager simply refused and stated he would not do such a thing because the chef told him the steak was cooked correctly. Our wonderful server offered to "buy" us a dessert as it was the steak orderer's 30th birthday. The dessert was tasty and the check was delivered shortly after. When the server dropped the check off, he was visibly bothered and he said "am I not happy about this check and apologize, but we weren't able to take the steak off the bill." We then spotted the manager and had another discussion with him. He stuck to his story that the chef believed the steak was cooked to order and that the lighting OUTSIDE during the DAY TIME was causing us to believe the steak was overcooked. Helen Keller would have been able to distinguish this medium-well cooked steak from a medium-rare cook. There barely was any moisture left in the meat when it was served! He then proceeded to attempt to argue that he did us a favor since the took the dessert off of the check- we never ORDERED the dessert. Needless to say, we will never go back. We spend thousands of dollars on nice dinners and meals around the Rochester Area every year, are well connected in the industry and will be talking about this place for months to come....all for the wrong reasons. read more

Great location, mediocre overpriced food and abysmal service. Had reservations at 7 for 8:30 GEVA curtain. Got there at 6:50 and seated outside. Place very busy as the Fringe Fest was on. Waitress showed up at 7:15. Ordered drinks and food. Drinks there by 7:35. Charcuterie plate VERY disappointing for the money. One meat, one cheese, minute amounts, a few fruit slices. Started worrying about the food so spoke to the waitress. Food finally appeared at 8:15 with waitress's special help. Lobster bisque was roux based with 2 partially cooked lobster chunks. My husband had a sandwich which he likes and some odd battered deep fried unidentifiable vegetables. The waitress did her best but was WAY understaffed. Won't bother with this place again. read more

The design was great - very nice atmosphere. The tables had plenty of space between them which is always great. The live music was the perfect volume. Those are all the positives I could think of. My father ordered the soup special - a pumpkin bisque. It was watery and bland. Left a lot to be desired. We also ordered two draft beers. I ordered a DIPA( I forge the brewery) and my father ordered a Young Lion. My biggest pet peeve is a flat craft draft beer. Both of the beers were flat. I also prefer an ice cold draft beer. A lot was left to be desired on that front also. For dinner, I got the gnocchi braised beef special. The gnocchi was excellent. The beef however was a little dry and the dish only came with 4 chunks. When a dish is $28 I usually hope for a little more meat. The flavor of the gravy was also a little bland. My father ordered a burger and requested it be cooked medium. It came out rare - practically uncooked in the center. He said the burger would have been great if properly cooked. He should have sent back but isn't the type to do that. I saw the burger and immediately knew how he felt. The burger has potential to be excellent. The special dish I ordered was definitely sub par when it comes to flavor and substance. I want this place to do well as I would love for something in this area to thrive. However, the food did not add up to my expectations. read more

I mean this place is legit and I highly recommend. We went on a Saturday night - make reservations! The food, the drinks, the ambiance... everything was perfection. We can't wait to go back! read more

I went to Native last night for the 1st time. The restaurant is beautiful, very cool interior. Sliding doors create an indoor outdoor experience. The food was as exceptional as the setting . We did the share menu, ribs, pizza, crab cakes and lettuce roll ups, Similar to Good Luck. We Had an amazing evening, ending with a walk in Washington Square park. read more

Nice decor, friendly staff. Limited menu-I had a small pizza that tasted like cardboard- service was spotty. I dont think I would return if the menu isnt revised. read more

Even with a great ambiance and location, the waitress lacked excitement or attention and the food was diner dive quality food. I am beyond disappointed with this restaurant. They water down their drinks with ice and you can barely taste the ingredients. I ordered the steamed buns, burger and my spouse ordered the cod entree.. Where do we begin, the pork belly in the steam buns was burned and not just chard, which added a bitterness to the steam bun which is supposed to be a delicate savory dish this was not. Let's move on to the entrees, the burger had an unpleasantly sized pork belly the flavor, was pungent and bitter, the fries where soggy and oily along with the ketchup being spicy due to ginger. Next entree, the cod was fried with flour which is something you never do as a cook, it was fishy beyond taste, no seasoning and bland, the "slaw" was chard kale aka burnt kale and cabbage which was not good pairing. I took one bite of my burger and did not eat the rest the waitress disappeared for 15 minutes came back and asked if I wanted a box. Any experienced waitress would see that I barely touched the meal and would want to make sure I as a customer was taken care of, that did not happen and I told her no thank and she brought us the bill. I will never go back to Native or suggest it as a great Rochester staple, because face it, this restaurant is another hipster restaurant with bland palates. Let's just say this will be viewed as a $102 with of a charitable donation towards the worst cooks and waitresses. read more