Made reservations, very easy to do so. However, due to poor weather was not needed. Our server Dan was professional, courteous and knew the menu extremely well. As a side note, we have been here before and Dan has been our server before. He does his job well. We started with drinks for our wives, Pomegranate Martinis and Old Fashioned for us guys. The guys did change to a bottle of wine from a good list with fair prices. Mussels in white wine were good. Though I think a Octopus Salad would have hit the spot better. Hopefully will see that on the menu soon, real soon. Our dinners were braised beef with noodles as a special, delicious. As well as the Shark. Side Ceaser salads for all. All in all this place is on spot everytime with great service and great food. read more

Ordered the sausage and peppers, rigatoni alla vodka, and the tarismu. Everything was AMAZING!!! The pasta was flavorful and al dente, which is my favorite, and the tarismu was the highlight of the night. Hands down the best tarisum I've ever had. read more

Rochester Bistro - Rigatoni Alla Vodka - Wine Bars Near Me - Rochester, Michigan

Love, Loved this restaurant! My friends and I decided to try the Bistro since we had heard such good things about it, it did not disappoint. We decided to ordered many of the apps/ small plates and split them amongst the 5 of us and it was great. We enjoyed everything, except the steak bites (overcooked). The coconut shrimp was my fav. Other items we selected that were also very good, calamari, cheese board, They had a great wine selection and had a decent cocktail menu. read more

Superb food and service! A great date night restaurant! Went to downtown Rochester for a date night. We had no plans, reservations or any idea of where we wanted to go. We came across Rochester Bistro and luckily there were a few tables available, little did we know how lucky we'd be! They had a lot of different pasta, seafood, and steak dishes to choose from. I landed on the Chicken Alfredo and my wife landed on the Salmon. We traded dishes throughout the meal because both of ours were so tasty. We had a really nice server too that came out many times to see how things were going, and to make sure we were stuffing ourselves with bread! Just when we thought we couldn't eat anything more after our entrees were done, we were presented with the dessert menu. Ugh! We ended up splitting a chocolate cake. We'd be fine later on because we walked it off at Home Depot! Rochester Bistro is a date night MUST! read more

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Service was excellent . Female waitress. Food just okay. My fried seafood was overcooked.

We were "early birds" so there were many tables to choose from. We were asked if we'd like to sit at the window and we said "yes" which was very nice. I thought there might be a "happy hour" (as most restaurants have) but the Bistro does't offer that. I always enjoy having actual table cloths and napkins and I wasn't disappointed. The wine and cocktails were good but especially the Spanish coffee. My salmon was cooked to perfection and the presentation lovely. read more

Our meals were delicious and perfectly prepared. The drinks and wine were really good and our server was so attentive and knowledgable. Nice atmosphere too. Sat by the window so we were able to people watch and enjoy the festive lights. read more

My husband and I have been here several times. The food, service and ambiance has always been superb along with the entertainment. We liked it so much I had our daughter's baby shower here. They could have not been more accommodating. All the ladies were impressed with the wait staff and meal. Thank you Danny! read more

Rochester Bistro - Wine Bars Near Me - Rochester, Michigan

Dined here for the first tine on the evening of 11/12. Service was absolutely amazing, Chandler was our waitress and she was excellent. Cocktails and drinks were great. They were also great with keeping our water glasses full. Soups and salads were great. The New York Strip steaks were perfectly cooked to order. Overall the restaurant was quiet and classy inside. A little pricey but when the food and service is so good it is worth the price. read more

Made a reservation, just in case. The scallops and seabass here looked appealing from the pics, don't se either on today's menu. Megan is waiting on us tonight, she's nice and atten We started off with the entree arugula salad sans cheese, a roasted salmon less fingerlings and mushrooms and the chicken limon. Their bread looks yummy and warm, but we had to take a pass and have them take away quickly, so as not to tempt us at all. 3.5 more weeks to go until Easter. The arugula salad cider dressing is good, numbs my lips sit's light and simple. The Serrano on the menu is definitely not the hot pepper I was hoping for, but rather the Serrano ham, the added noun might help with ordering in the future for patrons. The salmon is nice and crispy, the spinach, blistered tomatoes, onions and artichoke are perfectly cooked. The side of mushrooms are nicely seasoned and chewy. Hearing some pounding from the kitchen, more chicken limon going under the tenderizer, maybe. The chicken limon is tenderized and flattened, almost like a la schnitzel. The limon sauce is similar to a Marsala sauce except with artichoke. The food and service here is quite good. A pleasant experience for sure. read more

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We were a party of three, we had the 14oz. New York, the 8oz. Filet and the twin lobster tails and a great bottle of wine. The Food was totally amazing. The service was beyond excellent thanks to Daniel. I must also add what a beautiful bar every selection of bourbon you could ever ask for totally amazing. read more

The food has always been great and the service is awesome! Wouldn't change a thing! My husband and I'm have been there several times and haven't been disappointed. Occasionally we bring customers there to give them a feel for what Rochester has to offer. It's never a concern that they'll be disappointed. read more

Honestly, super overpriced and my food was overly salty. I don't know that I would go back. Our server was very kind.

Came here with a group of 11, the staff and our server were amazing. Wished I would of remembered her name because she deserves a special mention as she handled all of our drink and food orders on her own and nailed it in a timely fashion. The menu was smaller but had everything you could want. I had the filet that wa cooked perfectly medium with whipped potatoes and veggies. The Argentina merlot was fantastic. read more

Rochester Bistro - Filet Mignon - Wine Bars Near Me - Rochester, Michigan

The food was definitely the best thing about this place. I don't have any recommendations to improve the food, however the wait time to be sat could have been better and the service while dining. The person I had was sweet however it took her a very long time to check back in with us. When restaurants are super busy I could under stand the delay but this place was half empty when we dined in. read more

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5:00 o'clock reservation on Valentine's Day. Not super crowded. Tasty food. The French Onion Soup is outstanding! We did street parking. Great service. read more

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My husband and I dined here for the first time on Valentine's Day, and it was phenomenal experience. We started with the brussel sprouts appetizer, which was absolute heaven. My husband then had the French onion soup and said it was the best he's ever had. Our entrees (Braised Wagyu short rib with risotto and Blackened Red Snapper) were to die for, we both were raving about how amazing everything tasted. Service was attentive but relaxed pace, which we appreciated. Overall an excellent dinner and we'll be eager to visit again! read more

Lamb chops nothing else needs to be said !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Salads are very good, but where else can beat those lamb chops. read more

It's a neat looking place, I'll give it that. We dined as a private party in an upstairs room, which was quiet, but what I saw of the downstairs was neat looking. I felt bad for the server, as she had been assigned both our room -- which had around 15 people -- and another party of around 25, who split the check individually. That's too much for one person to handle. So I don't fault her for the service at first being a little wonky; she had way too much on her plate. When they left, she was able to focus on us easier, and she did a great job. The food was the big ho-hum part. Steaks were over-cooked. The sauce with the calamari appetizer was bland. And most everything seemed to have been cooked without even basic seasonings like salt or pepper. Things like mashed potatoes or Brussel sprouts need something to make them pop, and they didn't have it. I heard someone at our table complain about the chicken wing appetizers, saying they were cooked too much as well. They were also slammed on a Saturday night, during the last week before Christmas, so maybe it's unfair to judge. I'd like to think a second chance would show me a better side. There's enough there that I'd consider a second time around. read more

If you're ever in Rochester, this is the place to go for good food and entertainment. The chef loves what he's doing and it shows in each expertly prepared dish. Amazing food. The owner cares about the patrons and takes the time to shake hands with the locals. The music is outstanding, and makes the evening special. Five stars all around for this place! Service, food, entertainment, are all top notch! read more

Rochester Bistro - Bone in Berkshire Pork Chop - Wine Bars Near Me - Rochester, Michigan

Service was flawless. Staff very attentive and knowledgeable about wine and dishes. Filet - fabulous, Brussels sprouts - could be an entree, chocolate lava cake - that was it (we actually ordered another) no lie. Orgasmic. read more

Excellent food and service. All the dishes are very tasty. Love the French onion soup. Right on the Main Street, good location, plenty of street parking available. read more

This place puts the O in Bistro. I mean that in a positive way because I love the food here. Staff is friendly, and bartenders make great cocktails. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse. The steak, I couldn't refuse the steak. Take the Canoli? Yes I will! I know it was you Fredo, my cousin Fredo, who ate the canoli. Luca Brasi had the fishes. Pan seared no less. read more

Amazing food! Great cozy atmosphere. Definitely highly recommend it! Bonus- not over priced. Good amount of food for price! read more

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Had a great quaint Monday night dinner with a friend and both the Salmon & Perch dinners were amazing! Service was outstanding as we decided to eat at the bar & staff is friendly & made you feel as comfortable as you could be, and very easy on the eyes! Will be back definitely. read more

A little story of my experience... I recently moved to Rochester MI. I was formerly living in lower Manhattan area where good food is bountiful. Trust me when I say I know good food and fine dining to the par. I came to try out the bistro, seeing so many good reviews and my experience was more than pleasurable. I don't tend to give reviews, but after visiting I just had to. Bottom line is everything is stellar. From the charred steak cooked to perfection, the calamari that just melts with every bite, all the way to the delicious and well crafted drinks behind the bar. Not to forget the FIVE star service that was provided. I was greeted with a warm welcome as soon as my leather shoe hit the beautifully decorated restaurant. It was a pleasant feeling to be reminded of "Le Coucou" back home. Thank you Rochester Bistro, I'll be back. read more

My family, friends, and I came here for dinner the other day. We arrived around 5pm and was able to get a table right away in the middle of the dinning room, which was nice. The place is nicely decorated for Christmas by having a Christmas tree in the corner and garland on the banister. Love the dark wood look and the bar. While waiting for our order, a bread bowl and fresh garlic butter was brought to the table. I had a bowl of the cheese soup and the arugula salad with cheese, a few dates, ham, and a citrus vinaigrette. Please note that the salad portion was huge (like an entrée size dish) and the vinaigrette was tart. To share: we had the truffle fries, which were amazing! So addicting. I dipped them in my soup. Everything was so good and very filling!! read more

A work colleague and I stopped in for dinner after an audit. The place was dark, had two levels and a bar is featured on the first floor. We were undecided where to eat and it was down to the Chophouse and The Bistro and we ended up here. We were greeted and seated immediately. We reviewed the menu and decided what we were going to have a after a few minutes. I ordered the NY Steak Frites served with red wine sauce with fries and asparagus. My colleague ordered Chicken Limon with lemon white wine sauce. We were delivered bread and butter while we waited for our food. I'm not sure what was in the butter, but it was good! The food took a really long time to get out of the kitchen. It wasn't very busy but I was hungry and it seemed to take forever. The food shows up and it looks good. I cut through my steak and saw that it was cooked to my specification. I took a bite and the steak was so salty. I don't know if it was over-seasoned or it was the red wine sauce. My fries were good and the asparagus was excellent. My colleague thought that his food was OK. Despite the food being OK and taking long to get out from the kitchen, this place did have a good ambience. Our waitress was very friendly and cool and made the experience better. I don't remember her name, but the receipt says "Beyoncé." Three stars! read more

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My husband and I have been coming here for years. It's our go to nice restaurant in Rochester when we want great food/service. Their drinks are amazing as well. We love sitting outside in the summer too. Some of our favorite appetizers are: lamb sausages and grilled octopus. The arugula salad has great flavor it's one of my go-tos. Highly recommend any of their steak and the lemon chicken. read more

Went here on a Saturday around 8pm. Was not terribly busy and got seated right away. Outdoor and indoor seating. Offered different types of water and definitely a fancier place overall. However, wait staff were wearing dark washed jeans. The table tops had brown paper over tablecloths, so not overly fancy. Lots of small plates and app options. Decorated nicely and bar/wine room looked legit. French onion soup is very good, not a lot of cheese, but filling. $6.00 for French Onion Soup, so I was hoping it was good, didn't disappoint. The house salad was not good. Romaine lettuce, some red onion and tomatoes. Cannot pick your dressing and instead comes with balsamic vinaigrette. I could make a better salad at home. Don't waste your $3.00 on this. Entrees: My husband got pasta with cream sauce and chicken. He had no complaints and enjoyed the meal. He had some pasta left over as well, so a good portion. I went with the small plates option of the coconut shrimp. Given 6 shrimp and a spicy chilie sauce. Shrimp were good, but the sauce was a bit too spicy. Total price for all this and non-alcoholic drinks was $50, that is with me using the yelp check-in and got 10% off that yay! The bathrooms had two stalls and were decently clean. Updated and same theme as in the restaurant. A good place to go for more of a date night, then a quick dinner as we were wanting. Might go back again? read more

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Service was fine but the food was not. Chicken caccio peppe was really chicken Alfredo. No pepper at all in this dish and the Alfredo sauce had little taste. They removed it from the bill, thankfully. Not what I expected as the menu stated pecorino cheese and pepper read more

Holy wow! I've lived in Rochester for years and finally made my way into Rochester Bistro. I have to tell you I am so impressed. It's a rare day when my family all rants and raves about the entree they ordered and we all order separate things. I had an excellent NY strip cooked perfectly. It melted in your mouth. There's something for everyone here. The prices are appropriate for good quantity and large portions. Absolutely none of us went hungry and all struggled to pick something to eat because so much sounded good. A great option when needing a nicer dinner without breaking the bank or traveling too far. read more

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We have eaten here twice and had amazing food and drinks both times. Loved the ambience and the staff were wonderful too! The Chicken Limon and the Roasted Salmon with Artichokes were excellent dishes. Their Old Fashioned is one of my favorites! We love it so much, we are having a rehearsal dinner here soon. read more

Our small party of 2 made the mistake of trying to find a place to eat in Downtown Rochester on a Saturday night during the Big, Bright Light Show. We started out at Rochester bistro and when the hostess said the wait would be 1.5 hours, we decided to try our luck elsewhere. We subsequently discovered that every restaurant on Main St. had a 1+ wait so we reluctantly made our way back to Rochester Bistro and fully anticipated to wait. I'm not sure what changed in the 30 mins from when we left initially, but the hostess said she could get us a table right away! We were thrilled-mostly because it was freezing outside and we just wanted a nice warm meal! We were seated in a quaint part of the restaurant where it wasn't too loud and it was by a window so it was nice to look outside and see the lights. Our waitress promptly took our drink order from the extensive wine list she provided. She returned shortly after to take our food order. My friend, who is vegetarian, had quite a few options to choose from on the menu which is a rarity in the Midwest. She got an "appetizer" of french onion soup, but it was so big she practically made it her meal! The pasta she ordered as her entree ended up being the next day's lunch. I got a burger which came with fries and it was the perfect portion size for me which I appreciated because a burger is never good the next day and I rarely take them home. Best part was that our bill was very reasonably priced considering how much food we got. Note to self, make a reservation in the future. But all in all, I enjoyed my experience here. read more

Outstanding meal! Wonderful service! Nice cocktails! $100 may sound pricey for two, but you're going to love it. The drinks are the cost killer, and the meals may be priced a bit high, but you certainly get a wonderful meal w/ great service in a nice environment. Make reservations if you're going on the weekends. Great job RB! read more

Unexpectedly surprised and delighted with my experience. We started with drinks and the grilled lamb appetizer. The lamb was so good we ended up ordering and sharing the lamb Ragu entree. The entree serving size was HUGE, if I would have ordered it just for myself I would have eaten it all and fallen asleep The entertainment was a violinist and a beautiful singer, they weren't to loud and they were amazing. read more

We went there last night after making a last minute reservation for 5 people on open table. We were seated promptly and greeted. We ordered three appetizers and 5 dinners. Everything was so delicious! It was our first time and the waitress Liz recommended their specialty dessert. It was so good that we would all go back for the great food, amazing dessert, and excellent service! read more

Rochester Bistro - Roasted Salmon with Artichokes - Wine Bars Near Me - Rochester, Michigan

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I think maybe 3.5 stars would be accurate for our experience. We had a reservation and were seated quickly in the smaller front room, our server was perfectly polite but not really friendly. And that room, when it was filled up, was SO loud. Forget about trying to have a conversation. Our server didn't say much and when we inquired about the whiskey selection, bc we saw some nice bottles of bourbon, we were only told about the bottom shelf stuff. We ordered drinks and apps and then she took all the drink menus away which seemed odd. Our appetizers arrived quickly and the entrees arrived very quickly as well. The pacing was a bit too fast, we were out to celebrate a birthday and we hadn't even been there for an hour before our entrees were being cleared from the table. We had the potato gnocchi app, the lamb sausage and the meat and cheese board. Everything was good but nothing special. For entrees, we ordered the filet, chicken limon and chicken caccio e pepe. The steak and mashed potatoes were good, typical steakhouse style. The chicken dishes were good but again, nothing special. Nothing was bad, just nothing really stood out. Our waters were always filled and our plates were cleared quickly, so service was on point there. read more

It is close to the river walk and has lovely views of the river when dining. We sat at the bar where we enjoyed very nicely prepared food and entertaining conversations with the other patrons and staff. Would definitely go back again and highly recommend for an evening that is a bit more classy but still comfortable. read more

First time eating at this quaint, fine dining restaurant. I liked how it was located right in the heart of downtown Rochester. First impression, liked the small space feel. They had a full size bar, which I was surprised to see. They also had a violinist and singer that night. It was Friday. I was excited to try this place because I read some pretty good reviews. I thought, the food has to be good. My guest and I ordered coconut shrimp to start with. Was disappointed to see they were over cooked. The breading was too dark for my taste. I read that the French onion soup is a staple so I ordered it. It was delicious! Lots of cheese and very flavorful. Next, I ordered salmon with fingerling potatoes, sauté spinach and halved cherry tomatoes. I was totally disappointed. The salmon was so oily/ greasy also, it was a bit crispy, almost like it was deep fried if that makes sense. It was delicious in taste but that's probably because it was so oily. Literally 10 minutes after I finished, my stomach was in knots! I hated myself for eating most of it! Even though that upset my stomach, I ended up still getting dessert, chocolate lava cake. Yes it was rich, but it was so good! Guilty pleasure for sure. I may try it one more time. read more

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