Go here! It's good. A bit of a hidden gem, or at least I had never heard of it until we were looking for a place to eat near Fuego. The tagline on their website "drink cocktails + eat oysters" didn't pull me in, but once I looked at the menu I was excited by the variety. My husband and I ordered several small plates to share, including the pierogies, a really nice citrus salad, and the truffle parmesan fries. We almost ordered a polenta and mushroom dish, but our server picked up on the fact that we were vegetarians and let us know it had beef stock - this kind of extra effort is much appreciated. The atmosphere is nice, but not so nice that you feel underdressed or out of place. Also, I want to buy the soundtrack to this restaurant. We heard Prince and 90s grunge, as well as music from the last few years. After dessert (try the apple crisp if it's available), we moved over to the bar to wait for a friend to join us. Vesper has a nice cocktail menu. I had some sort of daily special - a margarita with hot sauce. It was a little out of my comfort zone, but I'm glad I tried it because it was great. The bartenders were really friendly too. I'll be back! read more

See all

Came here with a friend who was new to the area. The drinks were strong and tasty! The ambience is nice as well. They play light music. The food was decent. I had the lobster Mac and cheese which was ok. Overall I think it was a good place to try in the area. Also very easy to find parking. read more

First time. Always heard good things about Vesper. Food and drinks were great. Love the atmosphere.

Delicious food with an inviting relaxing decor downtown! I've wanted to dine at The Vesper for sometime. We finally made it and will definitely return. My husband & I enjoyed a bottle of french sparkling rose and shared appetizers - the Three Cheese Tuile daily special & the Seafood Cakes. I enjoyed the Seared Ahi Tuna as my main course. The Asian sauce was a perfect compliment to this entree. My husband enjoyed the Grouper as his main course. The tropical fruit salsa was a nice accompaniment to the grouper. We made advance reservations. Parking was not a problem. The service was perfect. We were able to enjoy each plate without being rushed. We look forward to our return visit to The Vesper. read more

See all

I went here for dinner with my brother and sister in law and we had a blast. Weirdly, the reservations available online are really limited. In reality there were lots of tables available when we arrived and for at least an hour after that on a Thursday night. Our server was super friendly and helpful. She was very busy throughout the night and they seemed a bit understaffed, but she was great. We lucked out and happened to be here on $1 oyster night which was an absolute treat! We tried a couple of other starters. The only thing I didn't like was the peach burrata salad, which was kind of sad looking and the cheese itself was really small. It just wasn't very good. The steaks we ordered were both fantastic. The parsnip puree with the filet is so good!!!!! The charcuterie board was good overall and definitely for the price, but in my opinion the bread was a distraction and negatively impacted the presentation because it's very bread centric. I'd definitely be back for more if I lived locally. read more

Food is amazing! The head bartender is awesome! She knows how to make awesome drinks off the menu which is not common. Make a reservation to get here because you'll need one. read more

This is a late but well deserved review (here on Dec 6th). This cool hole in the wall place. I was so tired after working but dragged myself out. Treated to a solid Manhattan. Then the house salad, Mac and cheese and beef on weck galette which was a perfect meld of flavors. Reasonably priced. The staff were great. Looking forward to going back ROC read more

See all

Has a revolving menu that offers a bunch of seasonal options. Food was great and the service was awesome. We'll definitely go back again read more

The Vesper - Mixed Berry Cheesecake Bread Pudding - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

Food wasn't good and the waitress rushed us the whole time. Gave us a box and check not long after taking our first bites. Will never be back. read more

Came for the oyster happy hour on Thursday. Have been back for the burger on days other than Thursday's. Good vibes. Great service. Delicious food & drinks. read more

See all

Went to Vesper on a Tuesday with no reservation. We were seated quickly but we got there right around 6 pm so not a huge crowd which was nice. Location is a little funky. Sort of wedged in between some new lofts and the highway overpasses. Not a grandiose view of downtown or anything. Heard a lot of reviews around town that the place and food is great. Two big curtains block the cold air from blowing inside which was a nice touch. Ambience is the typical western New York high ceiling industrial look with a lot of wood and metal. Tables aren't exactly cozy as I was told. Basic bench seat and chair. One nice touch is the table top is extra long so great for shareable plates. Had an extra dirty martini, boyfriend had the IPA on draft and the Negroni. The liquor pours were a bit light. Oysters were amazing. PEI and New Brunswick. I personally love the smaller more salty New England oysters. Shared the pork belly and scallops. Scallops were cooked to perfection. Couldn't rave more about how amazing the scallops tasted and were cooked. Also good portion size with 3 scallops and a large pork belly. The shredded Brussels sprout type slaw on top is a bit spicy so beware. It is mixed with a wasabi paste so has a kick! Service was a little slow as only one waitress running all the tables. Overall would recommend for a nice first date spot or a slow evening with friends. read more

Best. Burger. Ever. It's the only one on a small eclectic menu - full bar and good drinks too. But the burger, you have to go for the burger (and awesome truffle fries). read more

My second time in Rochester and came here with some local friends at their suggestion. Staff was very attentive and friendly. Online reservation system could use a refresh for busy nights. Nice ambiance, leans towards more upscale American lodge pub vibe with lots of wooden accents and wall decor. Fantastic deal for $1 oysters on Thursdays. My recommendation is to try all four types because not all would taste good to every palate. Only one other person in our party of four liked oysters but we had no problem cleaning up two trays of it Some of the food seemed inconsistent so knocked off a star for that. $16 for Smoked Salmon apps turned out to be four tiny thin pieces of salmon rolled around cream cheese ; felt anticlimactic especially for the price. My friend got a pork belly dish (not pictured), which was seasoned very well but was hard and not tender and could have used another hour cooking. Her bf's strip streak elicited a so-so reaction. My bf got pierogi and sausage which he said was good but wish was bigger. I was the only one who loved my entree. Braised short rib with mushroom risotto. Meat just fell off the bone and the risotto so creamy and tasted like truffles. We were stuffed and still got desert, which were good - chocolate raspberry crème brûlée (not pictured). I would venture back here again on a Thursday for sure for some oysters and try some other menu options read more

See all

Incredible on every level! Food , service and atmosphere! Trust fund- fabulous seafood plus signature cocktail! Duck was perfection as was the salad. Cocktails the best!! read more

One of my favorite spots in Rochester. Highly recommend the pork chop dish it melts in your mouth. Also great wings. So cute inside, small atmosphere and great staff. Very cute, love coming here. read more

See all

Two years later and you guys still rock it. Fresh, inviting, delicious food and drinks. Nice job.

Delicious small plates - ceviche, fries, wings, seafood cakes - yum! and fun ambience! Really nice server/hostess we connected with.

Cozy and trendy ambiance. Lucked out someone had just canceled their reservation and was able to sit immediately. Our waitress was kind and attentive. Shared a dozen oysters, crab cakes and fries with my love. Portions were enough for both. Returning when in town. read more

Service: excellent, walked in on a Wednesday without a reservation and we were sat immediately. Ambiance: super cute and small, dim lighting Food: oysters - good but not the best (just not my type of oysters), lobster mac - good, short rib - meat was amazing but the rice had a chemically taste to it Probably was expecting way better food but it's reasonably priced and everything else was great. Would definitely go back. read more

Tonight was our 3rd visit to Vesper and we love it! It's small and has an intimate atmosphere! Love that both the food and drink menu change seasonally! Twice we had the ceviche and just loved it! Tonight we tried the octopus and really enjoyed that and also had the sausage special, which this evening was wild boar with cheese and jalapeño! It was great! We can't wait to go back on a Thursday for $1 oysters. read more

See all

Food and drinks were good. Service was great and the place was hopping, we lucked into this place when we were told it would be a 45 min wait at Dinosaur. My only gripe was they had a burger special (that looked bangin') that wasn't on the menu. I am still being haunted by how good the burger looked. read more

We wanted to find a place open on a Monday night for drinks/apps which is always challenging. The Vesper was one of the only options so we tried it out and were pleasantly surprised! Parking is a little bit of a hassle downtown, but our drinks were amazing! I tried the espresso martini and it was one of the best drinks I've had! Much more affordable than restaurants of comparable niceness. The food was delivered fast and was delicious! The Vesper is especially known for the seafood. Our table tried the ceviche and clams and no one was disappointed! Highly recommend checking this place out. read more

The Vesper - Espresso martini, blackberry drink (can't remember details), Moscow mule and Negroni - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

I put 4 stars because of the shrimp ceviche seems not 100% cooked. Some people says it is fine to eat half cooked and other people says no it is not fine because it's pink grayish color. I can't determine on this one. Overall, other food was amazing! I love it! I would recommend anyone to go there, but I hope the owner of this restaurant can clarify about the shrimp ceviche then I can change to 5 stars. For the parking lot, I want to let you know that they have limit parking spots and you have to pay for the parking spot for per 2 hours. FYI. read more

This is my go-to when I can't decide what to eat and it never disappoints. Would give 5 stars for the food and cocktails, however, the service can be a bit slow. read more

I'm a fan of The Vesper! I was sad when Nikko left, but I am glad to see another restaurant make use of its space. I've visited The Vesper twice so far. Both times have been positive experiences. The interior is a little more casual than Nikko, with brighter lighting and more wood trim. Somewhat less trendy in appearance, but still very comfortable with its high ceiling, expansive bar and open concept kitchen. The menu is fairly straightforward, which I like. It's one page, but they have numerous options including appetizers, sharing plates, seafood bar items and about 7 other "main" dishes. I also like the fact that they have daily specials including a daily flatbread, sausage and oysters. The food has been good. I haven't been blown away by any one dish in particular, but everything has been tasty. Things i've tried and would order again: flatbread, scallops and burger. A minor complaint with the Vesper Burger in that it was a little overdone. Medium should be slightly pink in the middle. It was also a tad bit salty, but good nevertheless. Initially, I was more focused on Vesper's food than their drinks. However, their cocktails turned out to be the the shining star for me. I had The Godfather which was Scotch with a splash of Amaretto served with a single giant ice cube and garnished with two cherries. Simple, but delicious. I also had the Yellow Snow which is a combination of vodka, bitters, lemons and egg white. It was a great sweet palate-cleansing after meal drink. Overall, the food is pretty decent here and the drinks are great. The drinks aren't quite as fancy as Good Luck and you won't find bartenders muddling Thai basil anytime soon, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The environment is pretty low-key and unpretentious in my opinion. Bonus points for being close to where I live and also for not being overly crowded during the weekend. read more

The Vesper - The Godfather - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

I visited on New Year's Eve. Overall the food was good and my drink was great. There were a few hiccups though. Still, I'm happy I went and would go again. There was a prix fixe menu for the evening. We both started with 2 scallops and risotto. Scallops were cooked nicely. Next was a salad with vinaigrette, strawberries, and goat cheese. A little light on goat cheese and vinaigrette but it was good enough. The salad was small and if its on the normal menu it would be a pass for me. There weren't any wines I was interested in so I ordered a Tom Collins. I don't think I have had one in a while (if ever?) and it might be my new favorite! For entrees we both ordered a filet topped with a little lobster and served with pieces of "slipper lobster" and on top of enough lobster bisque to cover the plate. This was much better than I expected. Steaks were cooked perfectly. lobster was cooked perfectly. The lobster and the bisque were so flavorful. The chef really hit it out of the park with the entree. For desert we had a creme brule and a parfait (parfait included champagne too). My wife said the creme brule must have been made to order. she said it was fantastic. My parfait was amazing. It came with some candied nuts and fresh fruit. I loved it. The included champagne was a nice touch. Now with the issues... We were first sat in the corner table/booth combo. there was an intense smell of raw sewage. It was bad enough that I had to ask to move tables. I saw others on yelp complaining about the smell as well so this must be a common thing? New seat was fine. I did not see anything on the website or the portal we used to make reservations about the prix fixe menu. I saw a table of friends and stopped by to say hi before checking in and they were surprised by the prix fixe menu for the evening. It was a surprise to me as well (plus a little sticker shock). The dinner was set at $75 per person for food only. Given that many entrees are in the $30 range, that is a huge leap. The table next to us left after having a drink because they weren't interested in the fixed menu. Another couple declined to sit after the hostess explained the fixed menu. Overall the food and drinks were great, atmosphere was nice but the two snags kept me from going 5 stars. read more

Enjoyed the chicken plate. Thier burger is good but little greasy though. The wings are tiny but delicious. read more

The Vesper - The Game Hen plate was very delicious . You'll never go wrong with thier burger, substantial and yummy!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

We had stopped in here previously for drinks before shows at Geva but we never had eaten dinner here. We made a reservation for dinner before the most recent Geva show. Our waitress was friendly though not that attentive. We both decided on the burger with foie gras and caramelized onions it was excellent and done perfectly medium rare. This was one of the better burgers in town. The fries were decent. Despite a Geva show that evening it never got too crowded so it was curious on why the kitchen was so slow. Fortunately we were here well before show time so it was not an issue - just a caution for others. I will come here again for the burger! read more

I wanted to write this in Google reviews, but after seeing how the business responded to the negative comments I was a bit scared. Can you say PSYCHO? So I opted for Yelp. Doesn't look like they check this one. We came in for the oysters that they rave about on social media. They were not great. The quality is poor. Maybe they are struggling to pay the bills and are cutting costs? We ordered the scallops and beef ribs. Again, the quality of the seafood was not good. They smelled fishy, were tough and my fiance felt sick the next day. UGH! The ribs were under whelming and the watermelon slaw that came with it had no taste. The service was on par with the most of the other reviews. The lack of concern the business owners seem to have for their customers shows. Food and drinks took a while to come out, there is a lack of overall attentiveness and staff seems unhappy to be working there. The atmosphere is basic. They keep the lights down so you can't see how dirty it is. Oldest trick in the books. Table and floors are sticky which is a big turn off. Funky smell. In my opinion, this place is trying to be something it is not. It isn't the classy "Gastropub" it promotes itself to be so BEWARE. Don't waste your time (there is no where to park anyways ). Go somewhere else instead. read more

Service was great. Menu rather short but good choices. Hangar Steak was excellent! Food is reasonably priced and the oysters are $1 on Thursdays. Absolutely Worth a try read more

A very nice and comfortable neighborhood restaurant near the Theater district. Great food and great hostess. read more

The Vesper - Me and my wife - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

I take myself on "treat yo self" dates every so often which usually include booze, food, and a musical. I was seeing a show at Geva last night and decided to check out the Vesper before the show. WOW. Not only was everything I ate/drank amazing, but I also had a great time getting to know people at the bar and meeting bartender/co-owner Joe. I walked in and was immediately excited by the ambiance here. The irony of my being on an alone date in such a romantic atmosphere was not lost on me - but I highly recommend taking your next date here as the seating is gorgeous and there's some serious mood lighting. I saddled up at the bar and perused the cocktail menu. Ended up starting with a shot of tequila and a margarita, because treat yo self. The margarita was just as I like it, simple and no frills. I found out it was $1 oyster night (the best kind of surprise news) and immediately got my order in. Everyone enjoying the oysters at the bar agreed that they are up there with some of the best you can find in town. I capped of my evening by letting Joe pick my final drink - and it did not disappoint. He fixed me up the Gilroy and I HIGHLY suggest ordering this whenever you make your first trip to this new spot. $7.50 for one of the most refreshing vodka based cocktails I have had. Get thee to the Vesper this weekend if you can and support this new ROC spot. read more

It's the best place for raw oyster in town. Must-try dishes: Scallop, Raw Oyster, Mussels, seafood cakes, black sea bass. The only drawback is that it's a lil bit pricy if you're going for a full dinner, but it's a good place for late nite snack. read more

First time giving out a ONE star on a review on anything ever. Came with friends, the wait time was long and unbearable. Ordered two small plates and three bigger plates. First of all, the scallops were great, the sole reason I gave this review a ONE star. But the grilled octopus was dry and not fun to eat. Followed up by three unsatisfying Bigger Plates: the 12oz NY Strip was over cooked on the outside to the point where it tasted bitter; the Lobster Ravioli had no lobster, whether on the plate or the taste of the filling inside the ravioli. The ravioli itself was just plain ravioli, and the bread was very greasy; the Faroe Island Salmon was dry, and the combination of the sweetness of potato+bacon and the saltiness of the sauce was terrible. I would not recommend coming to this restaurant unless you know for sure that they have alcohol that you wanna try, but the food here is not something worth trying. Not to mention that the price was surprisingly exceedingly unnecessarily higher than average restaurant in Rochester area with such disappointing food that couldn't even outmatch the local school's dining hall. read more

Great drinks.....great....for real. We sampled conch ceviche which was fabulous with some slivered peach and coconut. Pappardelle with pork, I thought the pork was a bit dry. The polenta with a mushroom wine gravy was crisped and then bathed in rich brown gravy that could complement any meatloaf and hold its own. Great specials will draw me back for oyster night and taco Tuesday. read more

See all

I was so impressed with this restaurant! The prices are incredibly reasonable and their cocktail menu is extensive. I also ordered the Ceviche, for only $11, and it was an excellent portion size for that price. The parking around this restaurant can be tricky, but if you're lucky enough to snag a spot in the parking lot, it's free. I'd love to come back for one of their specials nights (oysters!). read more

The Vesper - Ceviche - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

Food and drinks were good. Not fantastic but a solid meal. We had very awkward interactions with our server, which really put a damper on our experience. We asked for our dinner order prior to our drinks being served. We had to ask if there were specials. I ordered the Vesper burger and a jar of pickles which is listed as a side not an app. For some reason the pickles were served immediately and sat for 15-20 minutes while we waited for the rest of the order. I ordered my burger without cheese stating a dairy allergy and it arrived with cheese. They did swap out my burger extremely quickly. My husband had no issues and enjoyed his pork belly and scallops. He did have a head start on me so his plate was cleared and a few minutes later the server came back and asked if she could clear my plate while I had a mouthful of food. I had to move my plate to center of the table to signal that I was done and we were ready to leave. Again, nothing majorly wrong, but there are so many other places with better service downtown. read more

I came here with a friend for happy hour, and it was a nice little place tucked away on Capron. I almost missed my turn! The parking is limited, but I was lucky to score a spot in front of a meter, and fed it a few quarters to get me to 6pm. The inside it warm, going with their sort of classic Bond theme. I loved the bar stools. Super cushy, good sized, good for people with big ol' booties. I ordered one of the special cocktails "The Mistaken Identity". It was awesome, and the second one was consistent with the first. Espolon tequila, with pomegranate and lemon juice, with a peppery finish. We got the white dip with chips. The one dip was sweeter and oniony, and the other was made from white beans, with a hummus-y texture. The chips were awesome. I am looking forward to returning to try some of their other dishes and cocktails. read more

The Vesper - Bean dip - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

Great atmosphere and delicious food. Charlotte was our waitress, she was excellent and very welcoming.

I really liked this place, and definitely plan to come back soon! A friend and I visited recently, and after thinking about where to meet up we decided on The Vesper. It's been on my list for a while, and I was glad to have someone to check it out with me. We stopped in early (5:30ish) and found parking without a problem. There is paid parking up until 6pm on weekdays. My friend and I visited a few other places afterwards, so I left my car here, and when she dropped me back off the lot was packed. So, plan your trip accordingly. We settled in at the bar, and ordered some drinks. I went with a standard whiskey and gingerale and was happy with my choice. The bartender was polite and friendly. There were definitely some regulars who popped in and were greeted by name. I could see this being a really nice regular spot if you work nearby, but I wonder if they get a lot of business with the tucked away location they have. I want to say that there was no one seated in the dining area when we left around 6:45ish. I ordered a chips with the onion and bean dips. I'd heard they were good, and actually they didn't disappoint. They made for a nice, rather light snack that paired well with the drinks we had. To be honest though - the best part about this place upon first impressions were the bar stools. They aren't too high, and they were comfortable to sit out. later in the evening I would feel very uncomfortable on my stool and was longing for the cushion at the Vesper. Now i know that seems a little silly, but honestly a good seat will make me want to stay longer, spend more money, and I'll probably enjoy my time much better. Definitely a pleasant experience, and I look forward to coming back again. read more