Fun and (relatively) new place in Rochester on Park Ave. Their food all comes from family recipes and they try to be authentic to real Italian cuisine. This is not the place to find chicken parm or plates piled high with pasta, and that suited me fine. Like most place on Park Ave, seating is quite tight, and the place looks like it was a renovated home, but they use the space well. We ordered their Broken Burrata, Bee Sting Pizza, and the Mafaldine, along with their sunchoke special. The sunchokes may have been my favorite. I have made them at home, but never seen them served at a restaurant, so I was pretty excited about them. They were roasted well and came with a delicious dipping sauce. If you haven't tried them - sunchokes taste a little like potatoes or parsnips and come with great health benefits, including a ton of fiber. The Broken Burrata was delicious with the "eggplant dumplings", which were sort of like fried eggplant meat(less)balls. The Bee Sting Pizza was delicious and hot honey-forward, which I love. The Mafaldine was good, and is another thing you rarely see at restaurants, but I was disappointed that it had so little sauce. Barely coating the noodles in sauce is a more authentic Italian way to do things, I know, but because there wasn't enough of the cream sauce to impart flavor, it came off a little bland. My only other gripe is that the seats were a little uncomfortable. Otherwise, everything was great - service was on top of things despite them being packed, and their wine selections were quite nice and unique. read more

See all

Probably my favorite Italian restaurant in Rochester. Very nice aura and food was really good! read more

Vern's - Pizza - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

My BF and I tried Vern's for the very first time last night since it was highly recommended by one of our friends. Let me tell you... I can honestly say that I 100% understand why she spoke so highly of this place. It was just amazing. Our waitress, Bridget, was amazing. She was so knowledgeable of all the drinks and items on the menu and she described each item perfectly. She was so helpful in aiding our drink and meal selections based on our interest. Her passion for food definitely shines through. She is amazing at her job. I have never met a waitress more passionate and personable as she is. Now on to the food... we decided to order their "holy trinity" which consist of roast garlic with bread, lost meatball ragú, spicy lettuces, and bee sting pizza as evident by the pictures below. (My apologies for the picture of the meatball ragú. I dove right in and forgot to take a picture before taking a scoop lol). The food was amazing! The only criticism I have was that I was a little disappointed that the meatball ragú didn't actually have meatballs in it. It had small chunks of meat rather than actual meatballs. But it was still delicious! The bee sting pizza has honey on it which we were interested in trying because we never had a pizza with honey on it but OMG delicious! The spicy lettuces was a delicious way to make sure we got some greens into our meal. And let me not forget to mention how delicious the roast garlic with bread was... to die for! For drinks I had the Nonna's Apple juice which was made with a fresh blended apple. You could definitely tell that it was fresh. It was delicious. And my BF had the sovereign remedy which he thought was tasty as well. Anyways, long story short. We had an amazing experience and we will definitely be back! read more

See all

Finding parking here is not fun, and the restaurant itself is really small. And they wouldn't let us make a reservation even though they've been so busy since they first opened. But we got there early on a Sunday evening, so there was room at the bar, and we got a couple drinks. Once we saw a line forming at the door, we got up to get a table. Since the place is small, there's really no room to stand and wait, so it was uncomfortable. It was also pretty stuffy inside. We decided to sit outside, and it was nice and breezy out, and the weather was perfect. The waitress came pretty quickly, and helped us decide what to order. Putting everything I said above aside, the food was really, really good. We shared the Broken Buratta salad, and I'm glad we did. I had seen pictures of it on Instagram, and it is more food than it looks like it is. The bread with it was very good, and they gave us more when we asked for extra. And the buratta was excellent. If I go back, I would probably get this as my entree. I had the Caico E Pepe as my entree, and it was also really good. It was very lightly cheesy and peppery. I would also not hesitate to have that again. My friend had the Seeded Fish, and also liked that. There were no complaints about the food. The drink that I had was pretty good, but not something I'd get again. I did the "wing it" and got something with pineapple and vodka. The bartender was very nice, and watching him make it was fun. $10 for it was a little steep though. The seats and tables outside were not very comfortable or exceptionally nice. And parking here is a pain in the butt. I would come back here again for the food, but it's unlikely that I actually will purely due to the location. It would be a great place to Uber to. read more

See all

I wanted to do something special-ish for my darling husbands 44th birthday, but also was craving something different. After some Yelp stalking I decided on Vern's. I was unsure with not taking reservations but with it being a Thursday night i figured we were safe. The ambiance and decor is absolutely adorable. It's small, quaint and cozy with a mid-century modern vibe and great tunes. We were seated immediately at about 5pm by a sweet hostess in their "upper room" and had Emma as a server who was lovely and attentive. We ordered "the sovereign remedy" and "guiseppe sanchez" cocktails which were both delicious. For food we got the roasted garlic bread, spicy lettuces, little neck clams and bee sting pizza; this was all to die for but i could probably live and die on the bread and salad. I recognized the bartender who brought us our second round of drinks (21st century cocktail -yummy) and he promptly brought us 2 birthday drinks on the house which was super sweet. Overall; we already can't wait to come back again and again and sit in different spots of this little gem on Park Ace. My new favorite joint. read more

Vern's - Birthday drinks - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

We have been to Verns a couple of times, and it never disappoints. This time, we probably ordered more than we needed, but it was all so good. I was able to snap a few pics before e destroyed a couple of dishes. The style is great, a modified tapas approach to having food come out for the table and you eat as you go, which makes for a more social dinner than the traditional order, serve, eat way. read more

See all

Just superb!!!! Excellent service . Thank you Christine for all your love. We would definitely come back!

I absolutely loved Vern's. First of all, the interior design of the place is so unique and has many different seating rooms that give you an entirely different dining experience. We were seated in the glassed in portion out back, which was very cool. Only fits about 4 tables back there, so would also work for a big group I'd imagine. The menu is designed for sharing and we ordered one of the salads, an on special pizza, an on special lamb pasta, and the roasted chicken. Only critique was that the roasted chicken was served whole and was very difficult to share (gave us a flimsy knife to cut it up too). Everything was great tasting though and would order each again. I definitely will be back! read more

Vern's - Roasted chicken - delicious, but would have been nice if they cut it up a bit - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

The servers are all very friendly and tentative. The restaurant has a very relaxing feel and outdoor seating during the warm months. They make a delicious aperol spritz. Most of their food is delicious. I wish they had more gluten free items, the menu is lacking in that regard. read more

Be prepared for a long wait, but one of the best restaurants in Rochester. Delicious and hot, recommend trying the white and yellow pizzas. S/o Vern's read more

Requires reservations! Atmosphere trendy. Food very good! Frenchie. Price$$$. Great for a special night out.

Bee sting pizza was out of this world good! Friendly service and eclectic atmosphere. Fun selection mocktails for the designated driver in your group. read more

Amazing in ever way. Great service, food and people :) Good for two to four people . I found my lost meatballs :) read more

I love it here! It's a great place to go out on a date, or with friends. Even when they're busy, their service is fast and polite. The bee sting pizza is my favorite thing on the menu, it's delicious! read more

Great spot with awesome vibe and really good food and service. You will need to make a reservation or get there very early as we showed up at 4:45 and the bar was already full but we were lucky to get seats. The service was so friendly and so knowledgeable and I would highly recommend. Order the pink pizza and be amazed at super tasty experience. Can't say enough how great it is! read more

See all

We were coming from Buffalo to Syracuse and stopped at Vern's in Rochester to eat. Although we did have a bit of a wait, it was worth it. Service was terrific. We had the cheese pizza and the special pizza w/veal. The pasta (naked and lost meatball) was yummy too and portions were generous (enough for 4 people to share). The summertime tiramisu may be the best thing I've ever eaten. So good! read more

I had a great dinner at Vern's! The staff was very try friendly and I loved the menu. I got the roasted garlic bread and the lost meatball ragu and loved both. They were delicious! I would absolutely go again! read more

I'm not entirely sure why we have never been to Vern's and I am sad we waited so long to discovery this gem! The restaurant is located on busy Park Ave. Once you enter the restaurant you feel as though you've entered a different time period with the bright wallpaper on one wall and the antique looking decor all around. We decided to sit at the bar (with stools that were socially distant). I have to say, those bar stools are one of the most comfortable I've sat on. They were actually big enough and had a back that you can actually lean on without feeling as though you'll tip backwards. Our server was super nice and attentive and of course masked the entire time. We started with some drinks and since I'm not drinking alcohol at the moment I went with the spicy Hawaiian non-alcoholic drink. I didn't get much spice but I loved how decadent the drink was. It was like drinking a juice milkshake (sounds weird but it was very good). We got 4 dishes in total, the fried olives, the tomato pie, the bee sting pizza special and the lamb burger. The fried olives were good. They were salty and I would have liked to taste the olives more maybe, or have some additional tangy flavor added. I still really liked them and could have eaten quite a few. The tomato pie was downright my favorite. I was really craving bread and tomato (which is why we went to a place with pizza) and since I've never had a tomato pie before I had no idea what to expect. I absolutely loved it! The bread was soft and fluffy. It wasn't too oily at all and the tangy tomato sauce had so much depth in terms of flavor, I could have eaten the whole sheet pan they were cooked in. The lamb burger was excellent. The buns are soft but hold up incredibly well to the moist burger. And they did not overwhelm the taste of the lamb. Oh my gosh the lamb was so flavorful. It was a simple preparation and I love how much I can just taste the lamb. It also had a kolhrabi slaw which was a nice tangy complement and again, did not overwhelm the lamb. The burger came with interesting pickles. They were tiny little cucumbers which upon first chew was not too interesting, but as you bite the pickled flavor comes through and the texture is a mix between soft and bitey. The pizza was also just so delicious. The flavor was that of a bee sting type flavor, tangy and sweet at the same time. The wax peppers were a nice addition, they were spicy and sweet, my favorite combo. The crust was thin but still soft and fluffy. The cheese was melty. Everything about this pizza definitely hit the spot. Needless to say, we are in love with Vern's and can't wait to come back! read more

See all

Been wanting to go to Verns for a long time. Ambiance was nice, pizza was yummy but there were not as many options as we would have liked. Service was good! read more

Date night Service was great, atmosphere is nice, and the food was delicious. We got the "missing meatball" dish, basically pasta bolognese, but one of the best bologneses I've ever had. All dishes come out as they're ready and are meant to share. This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for my beautiful wife and me, it makes a great date night. We got four cocktails between the two of us, and they were mostly great. The aperol spritz was very ordinary, but hey. The negroni with mezcal (I know, I know) was phenomenal. We also got the "spicy lettuce," also delicious, but here's my one problem with this otherwise excellent place: total ripoff. Looking at pics of it online after we got home, I realize we were served probably less than half what the usual portion is. Maybe they were running out of it? Don't know, but at $14 I think we paid a dollar per leaf of lettuce, no exaggeration. We'll definitely be back to try other dishes, hopefully that was an anomaly and everything else is delicious and a fair price. read more

We got the burrata toast, braised lamb sugo, and veal cutlet which were all good. I think the burrata toast was my fav because there was a good amount of cheese and also a sweet yummy sauce on the bread. We had enough for 2 of us with just a little bit left over read more

Vern's - Burrata toast special - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

Great spot! Food was outstanding. Unique interior design where you can see the kitchen from above. Staff was very friendly and welcoming. read more

Vern's - Beesting pizza - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

One of the best dining experiences I have ever had. INCREDIBLE service from the both the hostess and our server. Great recommendations on what to order - everything was delicious. The Copacabana was dangerously good, we ended up getting a few rounds. The buzz is also a great beverage choice if you like gin. We ordered a few different items to share as suggested. The roasted garlic bread was extremely flavorful and bold in the best way. Their Margherita pizza was delicious and like no other. The sweet n sour pork chop was done so well and had a great moist flavor to it. We were impressed with every single item they brought out. Not a single thing disappointed. That's how you know it's that good read more

Vern's - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

Dowling scoring system Ambiance: 5/10 Food: 10/10 Service: 8/10 Value: 9/10 ----------------------- Total: 32/40 Cup o char and pepper pizza Zucc pasta dish read more

Like most restaurants on Park Ave, Vern's has a charming atmosphere that is perfect for date night or a group's night out. Drinks are top notch and food is well made. The limited menu makes it easy to order several different dishes that are so tasty and also made to order. You could never go wrong with ordering a pizza or pasta such as bee sting, margarita, or glass noodles. One thing i will say is that the price of the Vern's steak is not worth the amount you get, and most everything is overpriced in general. read more

See all

Wow. Just wow! The food, the vibe, everything about this place is fantastic! It's intimate. The service was outstanding. The dishes were delicious! We shared the chopped salad, which was light and tasty. We also got a special (jumbo shrimp over lentils), seems like a strange combo, but it was awesome. And had to get the Lost Meatballs & pasta dish. The sauce, the fresh ricotta... phenomenal! A special shout-out to our servers. Jaime was superlative, and our bar server (wish I could recall his name) went out of his way to bring me a sample of the Garibaldi cocktail that I was curious about earlier...who does that!? Can't wait to go back! read more

Went on a busy night, but got a seat at the bar right away. The service was good and the food came quickly. Excellent cocktails. I would visit again. read more

A truly diverse menu of food and drinks and desserts. Excellent service and a lively atmosphere and ambiance.

Loved this place from the vibe to the food! We got the broken burrata which was amazing and totally worth the price. The black pizza and the their special pizza for the night, which were both so flavorful and unique. And finally the spaghetti al nerano which we loved as well. I would recommend this for anyone who wants to check out a trendy, cute restaurant with quality food! read more

This was one of my favorite dining experiences of all time. Traveling for business and I stumbled across this gem. The staff is above and beyond great. Friendly, accommodating and helpful. The food is amazing. I had a pizza and salad- but were exceptional. The cocktails I had were expertly crafted by the great bar staff. This place has a vibe that's hard to explain but I highly, highly recommend. read more

And we're back for more!! What can I say...it simply is amazing! We sat in a cozy nook by the bar with an amazing selection of books! From food to cocktail recipes, we sure were entertained. I had to ask for a few of the recipes from one of the books and they sure delivered (I asked for an old Cuban...going back to old roots). Definitely a place to try if your in park ave! read more

See all

Be prepared to wander while you wait as there are no reservations ..but it is worth it .. We sampled the spicy lettuce, the chopped salad and the bee pizza ..all were outstanding . Moved onto a pasta special and the lost meatball pasta and a steak Equally good .. Service at every level was warm and efficient .. Looking forward to next dinner next time we visit read more

Cool place. Good cocktail bartenders. Lost meatball pasta was great and good sharing portions as suggested. Eggplant dumpling app was ++. Knowledgeable/professional server which seems to be not so common these days, unfortunately. read more

What a gem! As soon as we walked in we were greeted by a bartender mid-drink making with nothing but smiles and assurance. They were very busy on a Thursday night, but Casey, Jordan, and everyone we came into contact with provided impeccable service with such a personable touch. The atmosphere is stellar, the cocktails and wine list were wonderful, and the food (we had the tomato pie, purple pizza, and lemon cacio e pepe) was of course the showstopper of our experience. Need a night out? Go to Vern's. read more

The tomato bread dough and the pizza dough is fantastic. We also ordered the Peri Peri wings which were a bit greasy though crisp and not very flavorful other than the taste of chicken. The celery slaw was very good, well seasoned and well dressed. I should have taken a picture of the garlic bread cause it was much darker than the other pictures and we probably should have asked to exchange it. The chicken cutlet was crispy and a whole bite of cheese, radicchio, protein and sauce was a great combo. read more

See all

All food was excellent! no matter what you ordered was excellent! Was a fun place and we we would definitely come again and bring friends

The best Italian food I have had since studying abroad in Florence for a semester 5 years ago. Will definitely be coming back!

This restaurant absolutely is my favorite one in the park avenue. Such a different experience . When you walk in there you can feel you are in a cool local restaurant. Perfect place to impress a date. Romantic and beautiful. With a great food and drinks. Also something that makes this restaurant so different is they have on their menus that their plate is for sharing . The restaurant is super duper cute. The waitress was such a nice girl. She was absolutely wonderful . Smiling and gave us a wonderful service . Let's start with their menu , it's so different that you would think you have to google the food but our waitress explained the menu . The menu that we got was for fall, the cook thing is I think when you try you might get different menu. Which is interesting that you would be able try something different . I loved our pink pizza and amazing garlic sauce with a bread :) So if you are adventure and looking for something new definitely you should try this restaurant. read more

See all

Nice place but oh the service was awful. our server (neal) could care less about our experience. he basically started by telling my wife that he was not ready for us because his 10 other tables were more important. he wanted us to order everything at once so that we don't overwhelm the kitchen. and also, plan on eating the food in the order that the kitchen decides. finally, should we want more of something good luck because doesn't typically take additional food order. in our case, we wanted more of the burrata, bread, and another pasta but passed so as to not make a stink. first time experience. won't be coming back. fortunately, food and drink was delicious; they serve a perfect paper plane cocktail. read more

I had a very nice time here on a Sunday night. The hostess was very friendly and the space walking In was very homey and decorated lovely. The entire space really was transformed from when it used to be Esan. The restaurant is small but there are a handful of tables upstairs and down along with outdoor seating. The service was attentive as we sat outside on a cloudy but perfect temperature night. When I initially arrived I sat at the curved bar waiting for my friend. I ordered the wing it cocktail from a very talented and helpful bartender Casey. I told him what I liked and he whipped up a delicious cocktail. When we sat my friend and I ordered the broken burrata to start. Phenomenal! I love fresh basil mixed with creamy cheese and the stone fruit was such a flavor enhancer. More bread was easily given when asked for it. For our entrees I had the seeded fish and my dining partner had the cacio de Pepe. Both were yummy! Pasta perfectly done on a delicate cream sauce and the fish was moist with a perfectly crisp outside. It could have used more sauce but was easily brought over when I asked for more. The radish slaw on top gave a really good acid to the dish. Overall a great experience and I would return! read more