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    ROAM Cafe

    3.7 (342 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 11:00 pm

    ROAM Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    ROAM CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - ROAM Cafe

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    Caprese salad with sirloin tips
    Deborah N.

    First time visiting this restaurant and boy I've been missing out, my friends and I started with the martinis, we also ordered the crispy artichokes and crab cakes. The artichokes were delicious, the crab cakes were not bad but too fishy for me. We also ordered the caprese salads with the sirloin tips my friend also ordered the pesto chicken.. These were very good, the steak was perfectly cooked. My friend also ordered their cheesecake which is supplied by another fantastic bakery called Cheesy Eddies, it was wonderful as expected. Service was good and we sat inside due to a bit of a chill in the air but outdoor seating is available. All in all a very good meal, I will return here soon.

    Vegan pizza
    Kristen H.

    First off- dress warmly! I've been here twice and both times I had wished for a coat and blanket! Second- seating can be very close to other tables which can make conversation difficult as there's fairly loud music playing, and then if the other table is right next to you having loud conversation, it can be difficult to talk to your own table Food - not bad, but the pizza was tiny. Look at the picture of the person's hands next to the pizza for a better reference point. Calamari salad had very little in the way of salad, mostly a pile of calamari Steak salad looked good, but I didn't taste it Staff was not super attentive, had to wait for water to be refilled a while and once food was served, they didn't really check back to see if you needed anything else. They were very polite and friendly, but not as attentive as you might like.

    This was a special with chicken, pesto cream sauce.
    Karyn S.

    Visited ROAM cafe with 3 other friends. We were there by 5:30 and it was a perfect time to dine in. We were seated right away and our server was very polite and attentive. She let us know the specials and when we asked her opinion she was able to share it. The restaurant isn't very big but it didn't feel crowded or noisy. We were able to have conversations without the struggle of noise. We decided to get the crispy artichokes as an appetizer. They were out of this world! One of the best things I have eaten in a long time. For our entrees we ordered a marghertia pizza, steak romaine salad and 2 entrees I don't remember the names but the pictures are below

    Tofu Scramble, Toast, and Homefries  Two Eggs, Bacon, Toast, and Homefries Cappuccino
    pantea T.

    We went for dinner this time. Got gnocchi, pesto pizza, burger and Parmesan fries The portions are not big enough compared to other restaurants and the service wasnt as good. Pesto pizza was crunchy and delicious but not hot. The burger was mid. Fries were really good. Gnocchi was the star of the show! So warm and delicious

    Drink menu - those names
    Sam B.

    Went in for an afternoon pick me up before going across the street to the Bookstore. Everyone was polite and very nice! They had quite the listing of drinks- bonus was the funny drink name! "It's Britney Spritz." HAHA! Would definitely return to try the food! They had a lot of people enjoying the outside area for meals and drinks as well. Cute space.

    Eggs benny
    Sarah S.

    I feel like this is a place for boozy brunch--not a place where you go when you want to be "wow-ed" with excellent food. I had the eggs benny, which was about average. A bit on the bland side, but not horrible. They do have $3 mimosas which I think is their best selling point. For this reason, as well as its location, I do think it tends to attract a younger crowd. We had about a 30 minute wait for a group of 6 on a Sunday afternoon with no reservation, which was pretty good.

    Duck Wings.
    MJ K.

    This was my second time at ROAM, again with family, and I can absolutely say that this is a great place to bring folks from out of town, where conversation can be kept flowing easily. They capture the spirit of Rochester's local food scene: eclectic, unique, and filling. The service was good, if a little brusque, but our drinks were kept full and anything we needed was brought. We shared a Peanut Butter Cup Martini among us, and it was balanced and positively delicious. The chicken Parmesan sandwich was a little dense, and beware the ROAM pizza's spice levels (the pepperoni has a big kick!), but the duck wings had, in my dad's words, "definite duck flavor," and were covered with a sweet and spicy glaze. All in all, ROAM remains a reasonably-priced, consistent restaurant in the heart of Park that hasn't disappointed me yet.

    Strip steak with Garlic Parmesan Fries and green beans with almonds

    All around great package! Everyone loved their food and drink!! Will most recommend to my friends and family! Kudos to staff

    Ugh

    Ordered the sea bass with pasta and it came soaked in oil. You can see from the pictures that once it congealed, it was an inch to inch and a half of pure oil. I couldn't eat it.

    Grilled steak salad
    Mei S.

    The food was very good and reasonably priced. I had a steak salad and the steak tips were cooked well. Only one of my lettuce chunks were grilled, which I'm not sure if both were but either way it tasted good. The service was quick and the servers were friendly and accommodating. The ambiance was casual but still cute and relaxed.

    Espresso Martini
    Joanlie H.

    Food was so delicious, very calm environment, service was a bittt slow but it was also pretty late at night when we went!

    Phenomenally seasoned salmon and exceptional vegetables!
    William P.

    Absolutely phenomenal food, beverages, and dessert. The interior may seem a bit old but Roam is welcoming. The wait staff is kind, courteous, and ultra-efficient and the food just blew my mind. I never learned the name of my bartender but this person was a definite rock star and made some of the best and refreshing dry drinks I have ever had. As for my salmon, besides being a generous portion that had been cooked perfectly, the flavors made me swoon. The balance of flavors on the plate was simply amazing and only added to one phenomenal dining experience. The flourless chocolate dessert was stellar from rich chocolate and not an over-abundance of useless sugar. The only disappointment? This was my last day in Rochester. I wish I had come here sooner! Highly recommended!

    Can't wait to try their Sunday Brunch!
    Christina M.

    Second time coming here and thoroughly impressed AGAIN! This time I popped in for a quick lunch before brining my friend to the Airport. We were sat at the window at my request because i wanted to watch my car which was parked a little close, but not at all blocking the fire hydrant out front. The owner "Drew" introduced himself, and assured me it would be fine, then asked if he could take my keys and personally valet park my car which he did. He said he just wanted us to relax and enjoy our meal without any worrying. We sure did! Thank you Drew! Our waiter was amazing and I wish I could recall his name. We left him a 30% tip on the after tip amount as a result. The menu was outstanding! We had the prime rib sandwich which we split, with the Garlic Parm Fries as our side pick. We also ordered the Crispy Artichoke appetizer with the Cajun dip (I had it last time and it haunted me). Wow, so YUMMY, all of it!!! I will definitely be back. I honestly can't recall the last time I felt so at home, relaxed, and comfortable like I was a special guest like this before. Drew really impressed me as a perfect example of what a business owner should act and look like. Great job guys, keep it up! I understand now why it's been 13 years and going strong! Now, If you are reading and made it this far, be sure to check out Drew's other restaurant across the street too! "Classic Kitchen and Cocktails" - it's on my to do list next! I had no idea until today he owned BOTH!

    Sammosa and Metropolitans

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    Drew N.

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    4 years ago

    Interesting menu. Went with large group, service and food excellent. This was a family reunion and they gave us the time we needed.

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Extremely slow service and mediocre food. Not worth it. Took 1.5 hours to get dinner which was cold.

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    4 years ago

    My go to restaurant in the City. Whether dinner or lunch or just cocktails you can't find a better place.

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    5 years ago

    Nice cozy place , great for a 1st date. Service was great greeted with smiles . Food was delicious ! Thank you NY!

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    3 years ago

    Espresso martinis are amazing and they have vegan baileys so can still be made creamy yet DF!

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    Crisp Rochester

    Crisp Rochester

    4.2
    (258 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Gluten-free friendly

    Crisp has been on our list to visit for a year. We snagged an early reservation and enjoyed dinner…read more The atmosphere is welcoming and executed with attention to detail. The owners were there helping customers and staff which is really nice to see. I'm GF and they were very accommodating with a good selection of GF and V options on the menu. We shared The South Wedge salad ( enough for 4 people) and it was delicious ! Our table enjoyed the Braised Beef and Carrots (GF) and the Fried Chicken Sandwich. We will be back to enjoy a brunch soon!

    The food is undeniably the star of the show. We ordered the halloumi sticks, crispy tofu, honey…read moretruffle chicken, braised beef with carrots, and the grain bowl. While the grain bowl didn't quite stand out for me, everything else was exceptional; easily a 10/10. The Lemon Cake drink was a standout in its own right. Superb, and remarkably true to its name. It genuinely tasted like lemon cake, which was a delightful surprise. Overall, I left thoroughly impressed and genuinely satisfied with the experience. Would I return? Absolutely. And I have to emphasize--the crispy tofu was flawless. Easily the best I've ever had. I also appreciated the thoughtful variety of vegetarian and vegan options. Highly recommend, even if just to try the tofu. I hate that I didn't get any pictures. I was too busy stuffing my face. Ha!

    Photos
    CRISP Chicken & Churros
    CRISP Chicken & Churros
    Pimento Cheese, Billionaire Bacon, Martini
    Pimento Cheese, Billionaire Bacon, Martini
    Caesar Salad

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    Caesar Salad
    Vern's

    Vern's

    4.4
    (278 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$$

    Vern's is definitely one of those spots that's worth a visit! They don't take reservations, and…read morewhen we arrived around 7:30pm on a Sunday evening, it was packed. We were quoted about a 40-minute wait for a table, but told bar seating might open up sooner (around 30 minutes). They took my number and we stepped outside to take a walk around the block while we waited. We ended up getting a text about the bar seat availability in about 15 minutes. Once we got seated at the bar, things turned around quickly. The space has a really cozy, intimate vibe with dim lighting, warm atmosphere and overall it feels thoughtfully put together. We ordered hot toddies to drink, which were perfect for the weather, and for food we got the Japanese sweet potatoes and the cavolo nero pesto. Both dishes were incredibly delicious - flavorful and well-balanced. Just be prepared for a wait (and maybe stay nearby instead of wandering off), but once you're in, it's a great experience!

    We tried out Vern's for the first time on a Thursday evening! We made it there by about 5:00 PM and…read moreit was easy enough to get a table for 2 with only indoor seating available. It's a small space inside but it's designed well enough to manage a flow of traffic for customers and staff. We sat in the back greenhouse area. I think the least enjoyable part of our experience was how loud it was in the restaurant. Definitely not a good spot if you're trying to catch up with someone and your voice doesn't carry. I couldn't actually hear the specials the server was telling us. I want to try out Vern's again, so I may wait until there's an outdoor table or ask to sit in the second level to see if that's quieter. We tried one of their spring menu appetizer items, the Japanese sweet potatoes with kimchi ranch and dill. One bite and I was addicted, these were so so good. We then moved on to the classics for entrees -- bee sting pizza and the ragu-- and we were amazed at how good everything was! The only note we had was about the pizza, it was very soggy in the middle but still edible if you rolled it over in itself. We also had a few cocktails, and while they were somewhat small, you could tell they weren't watered down in any way. Two drinks was more than enough for me. Overall it was a great experience and we want to try it again. If you're someone who struggles to enjoy a meal out where you can't hear much, maybe wait for outdoor tables.

    Photos
    Seating area
    Seating area
    Lost Meatball Ragu | Instagram: @telephonesmoothie
    Lost Meatball Ragu | Instagram: @telephonesmoothie
    Gin fizz

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    Gin fizz
    ROUX

    ROUX

    4.0
    (277 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Standout restaurant from top to bottom. Absolutely lovely hostess, bartender, and our waiter Joey…read morewas so nice and chill. We ordered the mussels that came with crusty bread, a cheese plate, salad, bougie fries, 2 drinks each and the crème brûlée. Everything was seriously so delicious. Cute restaurant and I see how they could get super busy on any given night. For my first time here, I was impressed by the quality of food and the authentically nice service. It was easy to make reservations the night before for a Tuesday dinner at4:30. Honestly there was no other party there but us for about a good 30-40 minutes so I would say a walk in on a Tuesday early on before 5:15 would entail in zero wait. Today was a gorgeous day but we sat inside for maximum vibes. Can't wait to come back!

    Went for dinner…read more Service was friendly and helpful. The cocktails, which I remember really digging, fell flat this time. I got one w rye and rubarb, and it just tasted like a mike's hard lemonade. The mussels were delicious, fat and tender, swimming in a delicious broth that tasted more Thai than French, but really good. Came with a little baguette. The salmon was good, but should be listed as an appetizer. It's under the word 'grand' on the menu which literally means 'big.' Besides being a tiny portion, the sides were only for aesthetic purposes, not for feeding humans. The plate was pretty but not fulfilling. No need to return.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Biscuits and gravy (& cute coaster)
    Biscuits and gravy (& cute coaster)
    Enjoying a Transatlantic while our food was being prepared

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    Enjoying a Transatlantic while our food was being prepared
    Nosh

    Nosh

    4.2
    (670 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$$

    Brad (our waiter) was awesome! He was so knowledgeable about allergies. If he didn't know the…read moreanswer, he made sure to double check with the kitchen. This was my first time visiting. My friend and I ordered mocktails which we both enjoyed. We then ordered gochu belly buns and the braised beef French onion soup. They were able to accommodate my gluten allergy and make the soup gluten free! It was delicious. For our entrees, I ordered the sweet deal salad and my friend ordered the green curry stir fry. Mine wasn't anything crazy, tasted as I expected but it was still good. My friend, on the other hand, did not love her dish. She is a big curry person and said the sauce lacked flavor (which I tried and agreed with). The tofu was nice and crispy, dry though. There wasn't enough sauce in the dish. The mushrooms were the most flavorful.

    This was the first time we had a bad experience at Nosh. Our server was wonderful, which is why…read morethis is a 3 instead of a 2 (really felt like a 2.5). I had the La Higuera cocktail which I really enjoyed and my fiancee had the Filthy Hor. She didn't love hers, but it was basically a boozy horchata so I did like it. We decided on two appetizers - the Not Your Pastor's Wings and The Mulita Meltdown. The wings had good flavor and texture. The Mulita Meltdown was good, but not good birria. It didn't feel like real birria, but it was tasty. However, I found a hair in one of the quesadilla pieces so I stopped eating that. We told our server and she offered to bring us something else, but we didn't mind knowing that we still had our entree coming. Our entree was the Okie Dokie Gnocchi and we were definitely looking forward to it. We've loved every pasta dish that they've had over the years (but the braised beef was the best, would love for that to make a comeback) and expected this would not be an exception. However, the texture was off with too many breadcrumbs on top that didn't stay crisp while we were eating. The flavor was pretty good, but it was hard to get past the texture. Then it got worse: Another hair. And it was unquestionably not one of ours either time. We were pretty disappointed. Our server was again apologetic and again offered to bring something else, but I feel it's worth noting that she didn't seem surprised either time. We declined to have her bring another dish, as we had plans elsewhere, and she comped the gnocchi instead. We love Nosh so ultimately we'll likely return in the future, but there are so many good restaurants to try that it will certainly be a while.

    Photos
    Nosh
    Ahi Noshos
    Ahi Noshos
    Muddled, cucumber, jalapeño, Hendricks, gin, martini

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    Muddled, cucumber, jalapeño, Hendricks, gin, martini

    ROAM Cafe - newamerican - Updated June 2026

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