This cafe is tucked into the Eastman Museum, taking up a lot of space previously shared with the gift shop. Order at the counter and they will bring the food to your table. Food is good quality but since everything is made individually, the wait can be long. The cafe is pleasant and seating is comfortable. Nice staff with daily specials. read more

This place is a hidden gem for lunch. Such great open face sandwich options and good combos with sides. Had their 1/2 tuna open faced sandwich with their mushroom brie soup and salad. It was so delicious and loved their home made baguette chips. You do not need to pay for museum admission to come here. The view is also great facing the garden courtyard. read more

Open Face at Eastman Museum - Cafes Near Me - Rochester, New York

The best sandwiches in Rochester! Great flavors and nice combo options, with a separate specials menu. I got the cauliflower flatbread Buffalo chicken sandwich and it was perfectly toasted and so flavorful! Came with a choice of side- I picked the simple salad which had a vinegar dressing- very fresh and went well with the sandwich. I also tried the lemon ginger iced tea (unsweetened) which was a great addition to my meal. Looking forward to coming back to try more! Plenty of seating and parking. No museum admission required to eat at the cafe. Also staff were very kind and the general area is very clean with a lot of natural light which I love~ read more

Open Face at Eastman Museum - Cafes Near Me - Rochester, New York

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This is a great little spot within the Eastman Museum. You don't need to pay museum admission to enter. It's just past the main entrance, you can't miss it. My favorite is the Toasted Havarti sandwich with added turkey. The sandwich is vegetarian but you can add turkey for $2 (same goes for the Toasted Brie). They have a lot of vegetarian-friendly options, as well as coffees, sodas, sparkling water, and other drinks. They also have a rotating specials menu; today I added the cucumber mint salad as a side and it was fantastic (nice and vinegary). The food here is really good and the portions are big. I usually get the half sandwich and soup combo and it's very filling. read more

Open Face at Eastman Museum - Toasted Havarti with turkey - Cafes Near Me - Rochester, New York

I had no idea this great (little?) place had re-opened in the George Eastman Museum. It was little when on South Ave (I think 4 tables for 2 and a couple on the sidewalk). Now in the Eastman Museum it's in a spacious, very comfortable, area. The food is the same with a number of additions. I usually go for the corn mash sandwich but today had the pea mash. If they don't sound all that great to you, try one and be pleasantly surprised. I also go there to get my fix of Moxie. They have great sides. That blue pickled egg is unusual. They call it a butterfly pea flour egg. They also serve ginger and dill versions. If you're not feeling adventurous they also have more mainstream offerings. The five stars is for a really nice venue, unusual and hard to find lunch offerings, quality of the food, and great service. There's plenty of parking too. You owe yourself this one. read more

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Local coffee, beautiful seating area, and great eats/treats? Sign me up! I am SO looking forward to taking all of my in-person meetings and do the vast majority of my out-of-the-house work sessions here. If you loved the South Ave location it's more of the same greatness here, just housed in Rochester's most recognizable address, 900 East. IMPORTANT: you do NOT have to purchase museum admission to enjoy the cafe. Simply walk on in and the cafe area is just past the gift shop, in the newly renovated welcome center. There's tons of history and art in the cafe area alone, and I hear there's even more fun coming to the wall space VERY soon! I hope this Open Face/Eastman relationship continues for years to come - I see it being a weekly stop for me once COVID is more officially behind us. They had both Fuego and New City Roastery on when I stopped by, and prices are super reasonable. Take it to go or enjoy the ambiance! read more

Open Face at Eastman Museum - reception area - Cafes Near Me - Rochester, New York

A fantastic restaurant in the Eastman Museum. The soup is wonderful. The sandwiches are creative and delicious and super fresh. The wait staff is friendly and helpful. Any visit to the Eastman Museum should include a stop at the Open Face. read more

I finally came back to the museum and mansion for a visit as they did some updates/upgrades to the entrance, gift shop and yes the addition of Open Face. What's nice is this is literally an open space for the restaurant and seating area. They have a nice menu but it's basically order and take away. Like sandwiches, soups and the like. They carry all kinds of sweet treats the cookies are excellent and they serve local coffee companies coffee like Joe Bean and El Fuego a plus. When I'm back I'll try some other things. Now just an FYI this spot is open to the public so you can come right in. Give it a whirl It's part of the museum and as always I'll tell you.. parking is plentiful. read more

Open Face at Eastman Museum - Cafes Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Have you ever had a meal so good you thought about it for 10 years? I have. At Open Face in the spring of 2012, I had an earlier version of their corn mash sandwich. I swore I would go back again, but didn't make it there until I went this month to their newest location in the George Eastman House. The location is bright and cheery, allowing you to look out on the outdoor gardens or to people watch, depending on which way you're sitting. The larger seating area has a greenhouse feel with a huge skylight. The food was as tasty as I remember (I got the corn mash again) plus a half version of the toasted brie and ginger carrots as a side. This is a fantastic lunch spot, and I will definitely be back because I was given an Eastman membership for Christmas! read more

Open Face at Eastman Museum - Corn mash, toasted brie, and ginger carrots - Cafes Near Me - Rochester, New York

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We did not expect the food at a museum to be this good! I had the toasted brie sandwich on sourdough with chicken others in our party had the toasted brie on flatbread. The Corn Mash side was great. The lemonade of the day was outstanding and not full of sugar. read more

Open Face at Eastman Museum - Menu - Cafes Near Me - Rochester, New York

Ooohhhh yummy in my tummy!! What a fantastic place for a bite! I was initially very skeptical, but I was very glad that I bit the bullet and tried this place. All of the food is freshly made and they do their very best to support local as much as they can. These open faced sandwiches are hefty and very filling. I usually can only eat half of my sandwich and my side. You won't leave hungry. I originally got the mashed pea thinking that it was guacamole from the picture. Haha. At first I was disappointed because I thought how good could mashed peas actually taste? Funny how life works, because now that is the only thing I will order. It is so delicious. read more

Open Face at Eastman Museum - Turkey melt - Cafes Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Came for the museum. Left in awe over Open Face. It's been a couple years since I had been to the museum, and was unaware that this place was even here. Now that I know, I'll be back. This place is leaps and bounds better than what you may expect from a museum cafe. The portions are generous, prices reasonable, unique plating, and fresh ingredients. The menu itself is unique. There are multiple options for sides, types of bread for sandwiches, and the option to mix and match two sandwich halves if you would like. How cool is that?! We ate in the cafe, and it's a really nice atmosphere. Did see on a sign that there are take out options though. Don't let the fact that it is part of a museum scare you away! It's open to the public. Highly recommend!! read more

Open Face at Eastman Museum - Toasted havarti, maple turkey, ginger carrots - Cafes Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I often enjoy lunch at Open Face, the room in absolutely beautiful and softly lit from above with sunlight. The menu is unique and delicious with soup, sandwiches,, salads and sweets. You simply order and pay at the counter then seat yourself. Your food is promptly delivered to your table. The toasted brie sandwich on sourdough is yummy! read more

Oh my goodness, I am over the MOON that Open Face reopened ... and in the newly renovated portion of the Eastman Museum! It's a perfect pairing -- the sleek new entrance to the Museum, and the innovative menu and food at Open Face! We just now ordered our lunch online and then picked-up curbside. The Open Face owner Jared brought out our food, and you could just see that friendly grin under his protocoled pandemic mask! My hubby got The Toasted Goat on wheat, with a side of pickled beets. I got The Open Melt with maple turkey on sour dough, with a side of gingered carrots. The carrots! The GINGERED CARROTS! How I've missed you!!! (side note -- I did not edit my photos at all ... the colors of the food and the gorgeousness of it is 100% authentic and not enhanced!) Look how cool their take-away silverware is, too -- a piece of their famous ginger hard candy tucked inside!!! I used to order catering from Open Face at a former workplace .... probably once a quarter .... and it was the highlight of the quarter, I swear! Now, it can be back as a highlight to your trip to the Eastman Museum ... or the Dryden Theater when it reopens ... or as take-away, as we did. Bon appetit! read more

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For years, we had enjoyed Open Face at its original location on South Ave, and were saddened it closed. Now that it has re-opened in the George Eastman House, we gave it a try to see if it was still what we'd remembered. We weren't disappointed; if anything it just got better. Open Face was always about clever sandwich flavor profiles, with a plant-based spin. It makes sense that it's now a museum food counter, as "boutique" really applies. Sweet glazes, bistro-style pairings of cheese and vegetable, interesting beverages (they still have Moxie), local baked goods from Red Fern and Cheesy Eddie's, and interesting sides. Seating is in a beautiful atrium in a newly-restored part of the "house", with copious views of the garden. Just delicious all-around. read more

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Everything here is delicious. We hadn't been in years, because we thought they'd closed down.  Nope, they just moved to a beautiful new spot in the Eastman house.  I was worried my faulty memory was making a bigger deal out of the food than it needed to, I'm both forgetful and nostalgic. Nope, it's everything I remembered and more.  If I had to choose just one thing to eat for the rest of my life, it just might be the corn mash sandwich with ginger carrots.  So damn good.  My wife and I split that and the maple turkey, which was also delicious.  Looks like a boring turkey sandwich, tastes like anything but. So excited to go back here and have all the old favorites again, the green pea, the chick pea, all of it.  So damn tasty. read more

The Toasted Havarti sandwich took grilled cheese to the next level with the french fried onions and paprika along with my addition of turkey. The baguette chips that you can get as a side are also a nice level up from regular potato chips. A little pricey but you are getting a very high quality sandwich. The location is great, especially the area near the giant windows which gets tons of natural light. Parking is free in the same lot as the museum. read more

Open Face at Eastman Museum - Toasted Havarti sandwich (added turkey) and baguette chips - Cafes Near Me - Rochester, New York

Gelato is a joke. taste like soaps and not creamy at all. tiny scoop like a size of golf balls. Dinning tables were not wiped neither.

I am so happy this place has reopened here after their South Ave location closed a few years ago. The corn and pea mash are my favorites, they are truly unique and so so fresh. Bake haus items are always amazing and the teas are out of this world. Service was courteous and prompt. I will be back again and again. read more

Always delicious and inventive, we were so excited to see that Open Face had re-opened in a location both beautiful and spacious. The old favorites are still prominent on the menu along with some new flavors. The tangy intense carrots are sure to make an impression. So many great veg options made with flair. One of a kind in the Rochester food scene. read more

Fabulous! Has a clean Scandinavian feel to it, including a warm atrium. Open and closed sandwiches of great variety. The sides are wondrous, including chunky gingery carrots and the BEST chips I've ever hand, made from thin-sliced baguettes fried with rosemary. Owner Jared Valentine demonstrated his method of slicing frozen baguettes paper thin. I bought a big bowl of them to go and just now asked him if he could shop a larger amount to me in northern Michigan. This is a very special place. read more

Great salads and wraps. So happy that this spot is there. One star off for slow service but otherwise everything was excellent.

We visited the Eastman Museum to see the gingerbread houses and had a quick lunch at Open Face. I really appreciate how there were items from local business there. The cinnamon roll from the black cat bakery was delicious! We also really enjoyed the gelato. My boyfriend liked his goat cheese sandwich, but I didn't love my turkey one. I thought that the honey ginger glazed carrots were overpowered by vinegar. Our order was also sitting on the counter for 10 minutes. I watched the server bring all of the orders to the tables and our order continued to sit there until I went up and asked for it. I might go back if I were at the museum again, but won't be rushing back. read more

This was my favorite sandwich place before it closed awhile ago and now that it's back it's my favorite again. I was really excited to see that it had reopened and has a new home in the George Eastman House. If you think a corn mash or mashed pea sandwich couldn't be very good think again. They are both outstanding with amazing flavors. I had both of them modified to be vegan and they were still delicious. I haven't even tried the other menu items that can be made vegan because I can't stop ordering these. As sides they have pickled beets, gingered carrots, salad or baguette chips and all sandwiches come with sides. I highly recommend the beets and the carrots. For non vegans out there the options are also excellent just take a look at their menu online. Every person I've ever brought here has loved the food. read more

LOVE love love. It is great that Open Face has re-opened, and they have upped their game. A "Mashed Pea" sandwich may not sound exciting, but it was totally delicious: a bright green spread made from smoky tasting roasted mashed peas, gorgonzola and bacon crumbles, and balsamic glaze. My friend got the Toasted Brie sandwich with cherry butter and apricot preserves, and she was very happy. LOVE!!! read more