Month: July 2024

Our Guide to Outdoor Dining  

In Minnesota, we wait all winter for patio season, and it’s finally here! Are you looking for some recommendations on where to grab happy hour outdoors with friends or eat dinner under the stars? Luckily, Rochester has a wide array of restaurants that provide opportunities for some fun in the sun.

Here is a list of some DMC favorites:

International Cuisine

ThaiPop – ThaiPop’s colorful patio area is sure to catch your eye. Located on Historic 3^rd Street, this Thai restaurant has won numerous awards, including best Asian restaurant by Rochester Magazine, and best bar for mocktails by Travel and Leisure. ThaiPop features dishes that are just as vibrant as their patio; they are currently offering their summer menu, so stop in for wings, curry, coconut brisket and more.

BeBap – A colorful mural adorns the outdoor space at BeBap. Enjoy delicious Korean dishes in a lively setting. BeBap features a happy hour, shareable dishes, and a wide selection of cocktails. It’s the perfect place to hang out after work and unwind or stop in for their lunch specials. You can enjoy dishes such as bulgogi beef, kimchi fried rice or seaweed fries.

Grab a Beer and a Bite

The Tap House – Tap House’s 3^rd Street location features a rooftop patio where you can enjoy craft brews and a burger while taking in the view of the city from above. Tap House has a rotating selection of craft beers, so you will always have a shot at trying something new. If you can’t make up your mind, they also offer flights so you can sample multiple brews.

507 Pub(lic) House – This downtown pub boasts cuisine from around the world, with dishes such as chicken tikka masala, Irish meatloaf, and Moroccan meatballs. 507 Public House also serves a variety of tap beer selections, wine and cocktails. Brunch is also served on the weekends. Enjoy the buzz of downtown while savoring their international fare.

Date Night Destinations

Our Paladar – An airy and open patio adorns this Cuban influenced restaurant. Enjoy a variety of seafood options and Cuban sides like yuca fries, patatas bravas and plantains. Our Paladar is an ideal spot for date night or dinner and drinks with friends. They also offer a happy hour, so stop in and enjoy a bite and a delicious cocktail before your dinner.

Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar – With a convenient location on 1^st Avenue, Victoria’s is an ideal spot to enjoy dinner and a glass of wine. They have a happy hour available on their patio and at the bar. Their signature Italian dishes include pasta, pizza and seafood. Provimi veal is also featured in a number of their dishes.

Gluten-Free Dining

Twigs Tavern and Grille – Twigs’ patio is a local favorite. With an abundant amount of greenery, guests can dine outside into the evening, with the backdrop of lanterns and a nearby stream. Those who are gluten-free can rest assured that they will be able to find a wide variety of entrees. Twigs also prepares gluten-free items in a separate kitchen to prevent cross contamination. They also feature “hot rock” grilling, which lets diners grill their own meat or seafood on a 650-degree rock, brought right to their table.

Stop by any of these destinations all summer long! Your taste buds will thank you.

If you work downtown, you know there’s no shortage of great places to grab a tasty lunch to fuel your afternoon. But don’t stop there. Rochester’s food scene is bursting with options for fun happy hours, delicious dinners and weekend cuisine adventures.

“It’s been exciting to see the energy downtown, with more people and families coming to check out new restaurants and visit old favorites,” said Patrick Seeb, DMC Economic Development Agency Executive Director. “There’s a lot of positive momentum and we’re happy to be part of it. It’s great to see our city flourish and grow.”

Here’s some tasty food for thought when you’re feeling hungry for a downtown experience.

Dining Delights

Bleu Duck Kitchen

Look no further than Bleu Duck Kitchen, a locally owned restaurant and event space where “white linens meet a casual feel” and every customer is treated as a friend. Choose from an ever-changing menu featuring fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients, along with the largest oyster bar in Rochester. Want to learn their cooking secrets? No problem – cooking classes are available throughout the year.

Chester’s Kitchen and Bar

If you have a taste for savory American cuisine with a side of comfort, you can’t beat Chester’s.  Nestled in the heart of Peace Plaza, Chester’s upscale fare features everything from salads and sandwiches to delicious burgers, seafood and steaks. If you’ve been there, you know why it consistently receives high marks not only for its food, but for its atmosphere and service as well.

Wanting Weekend Vibes?

Benedict’s

What’s more “weekend-y” than a modern diner that serves up the classics as well as new takes on old favorites? That’s Benedict’s, where contemporary chic meets comforting homestyle charm every day from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy familiar favorites for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, along with inventive pancakes, house-made tater tot hashes, and nine varieties of eggs Benedict. And don’t forget to toast your weekend with your choice of fresh morning cocktails.

Bitter and Pour

For those of you interested in the best nightlife has to offer, Rochester’s own Bitter and Pour has been rated one of the Top 50 speakeasies in the United States and Canada (as rated by Yelp). Housed in the Merchant Exchange building on Historic 3rd Street, visitors must enter via concealed bookcase after answering a riddle. The throwback-meets-modern drink menu includes house creations with fun names (Chubby Ginger and The Rich Uncle, for example), classics (also with fun names like First World Problem and Soul Crusher), mocktails like Virgin Ginger and Zero Expectation (“no alcohol but twice the love”) as well as wine and spirits. Come for the unique cocktails and stay for the great atmosphere!

Keeping it Quick and Easy

Al Madina Restaurant

Plan your next international food adventure just down the street at Al Madina Restaurant. Step through the doors of this family-owned oasis and you’re immersed in authentic Middle Eastern/ Mediterranean décor and tantalizing smells of flavorful shawarma, falafel, hummus and more. Dine or take out – and don’t forget their homemade desserts. You’ll definitely be booking a return trip this summer!

City Market

If an urban deli is your style, stop by City Market. With its big New York-style sandwiches featuring large portions of freshly sliced meats, gourmet cheeses, crisp vegetables and one-of-a-kind spreads on bakery fresh bread, it’s no wonder that City Market has been voted Rochester’s best deli and sandwiches for the past seven years. Not in the mood for a sandwich? They also have signature salads, soups, and homemade desserts. Come and go or linger in the outside seating area and enjoy the city sunshine.

The First Avenue Food Court

Can’t agree on a restaurant for lunch? Take the skyway cuisine tour in the First Avenue Food Court. Choose from six different global cuisines including Taste of Philippines, Cedar Taste Mediterranean Food for shawarma and falafel, Chinese Chinh’s Express, Thai Garden, Blue Diamond Indian Restaurant and Wabi Sabi for sushi and noodles. Quick, easy, tasty and convenient – and everyone gets what they want.

Are you hungry yet? Us, too! Bon Appetit.