50 Best Italian Restaurants in Rochester

“The food and atmosphere were great. The staff were very friendly and attentive. It felt fancy without the high prices. Definitely recommend.“

“We are from out of town but visit ROC frequently because our son plays on the Jr. Amerks Juniors/NAHL team. He and some teammates discovered this place and go there for lunch literally every day they have home games. This place is the best-family owned and operated, great food great prices, great service! Tiramisu is my favorite thing in the world and Mamma G’s tiramisu is the best I have ever had. Carlo is the bomb!“

“The place was really nice. Staff was friendly too. I had a pasta (Malfaldine corta) which was $14 and it was really yummy but the quantity was not enough. Also I had two cheese pizza slices and each was $5. The taste was okay but I think it was expensive. Plenty of parking available. You have to order first and then they will call your name when it is ready. Kind of Self service. Also, ice cream was available. They had two flavors chocolate and sea salt caramel but chocolate ice cream was only available on that day. A restroom was also available.“

“Chicken Milanese is my favorite dish. I order it at every restaurant that has it on their menu. In my opinion, Cristo's version is the best in Rochester!!!“

“10/10! I was blown away. Absolutely hands down one of Rochester’s best restaurants. Friendly and quick staff and the food… 🤤 oh the food. The food was DELICIOUS! Cooked to perfection, and as 2 chefs on a date who are highly critical of others cooking, we were BOTH impressed. Atmosphere was warm and inviting, and presentation was impeccable. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! I took some pics & vids and have a smaller social media of 22K that i plan on directing to go to this extremely good restaurant if they are in the Rochester area. The cocktails are presented with class and flare as well. If you’re looking for that perfect place for a romantic date night dinner, business meeting or just a foodie… this is a MUST-GO! Thanks to the amazing chef who was so accommodating! We will definitely be back!“

“Your food went way way down the way outside is so long it's ridiculous then the food is cold doesn't taste like it should taste you should get back to cook she had there when you opened the ones who came from fornataros. Got to go food for Thanksgiving no one touched it the the artichoke French looked like chicken nuggets terrible look like it was baked not sauteed the clams casino were as big as to Wegmans water bottle caps I took a picture was going to even send it to them but you know they don't do anything anyways we got 25 clams casino maybe a total of those clams were four clams that's all small they were nobody even ate them I'm going to be calling to take them back but someone said don't bother they don't care about their food coming out they think because they had a name that they were good you got to keep up that good food otherwise people stop coming“

“2 times I've been there the staff was a little rude and not that helpful with selecting what pizza to get. I think I'd only go back if others I was with would want to go. Pizza was great everything else not so much. Both times take out cause not much of option if was sit & enjoy your meal.“

“Ann was an exceptional waitress. We will definitely request her on our next visit. On point with great service.“

“A gem in Rochester! The cuisine, vibe & service is all top notch! Our crew enjoyed delicious plates (and big portions) of pizza, pasta & the infamous chicken cutlet! The salad was also so crisp & fresh with a tasty dressing to top it off. We also enjoyed a bottle of Lambrusco on special - 10/10! Thanks for a lovely evening out; we will be back soon! PS don’t skip dessert - the lemon ricotta cookies are to die for!“

“Absolutely one of best Italian restaurants ever frequented. Exceptional“

“Late night arrival into Rochester on a Tuesday evening and I chanced upon Branca Midtown via Resy. We took a chance and I am so so glad we did. This place was divine. The host and the servers were impeccable. Sassy, funny, and attentive to a T, we were incredibly impressed and immediately relaxed with the atmosphere and the people. The ricotta appetizer was incredibly and reminded me of a favorite dish in Florence Italy, and the swordfish was perfection. Drinks were delicious, so thank you to the obviously talented bartender, as those were very much needed after our long drive. We will definitely make a point of stopping back then next time we are in town.“

“I took my elderly mother here for lunch with my 15 year old because she has been craving Italian and it was close to where my mother lives. We couldn't stop talking about how nice of an atmosphere it was!! There was road and parking lot construction and since we weren't use to the area , we didn't know there was a ramp to help my mother, but every staff member was so courteous and friendly helping my mom and my 15 year old get them both in (while I went to park the car). The excellent customer service didn't stop there......... throughout our meal, water was filled up and they especially made sure my mother was comfortable! We were all also impressed how wonderful the food was! We stopped there on a whim, but you definitely have some new customers!“

“After a tip from friends, we checked out Merchants Wood Fired Pizza & Bistro. It's in an out of the way location, but is so worth your trip. Nestled in a city neighborhood, this place is delicious with a super cute patio. Food gave off an "Old School Italian American" vibe in the best possible way. We enjoyed flavorful housemade meatballs in a great sauce. Burrata was tasty with the most delicious charred tomatoes (we omitted the prosciutto at one diner's preference). The salads were just the right size if you wanted to have those and split a pizza, which two of us did. The Funghi Pizza was tasty and had just the right amount of truffle (some places go overboard). This was a super hit -- very crave-able! For our pickier diner, the Spicy Cup Pepperoni Pizza was the perfect option. Both pizzas had a nice crust, baked nicely, and a perfect amount of cheese. Service was friendly and attentive. Everyone greatly enjoyed the meal. We'll definitely return.“

“Amazing food. Way better than Bella pasta“

“ALWAYS A GOOD MEAL AT Nick’s😋“

“Our first time here and we will be back. This was one of the best restaurant experiences we have ever had. Thank you for the delicious meal, hospitality and the lovely environment. 🤍“

“My wife and I finally had a chance to dine at Veneto. We enjoyed a delicious meal with amazing service. Thank you.“

“Tonight we tried Mr Dominic's and man were we so happy with our experience. The atmosphere is very warm and inviting. We celebrated a birthday which a 10 person party with two kids. Our waitress Taylor was beyond amazing our food came out quickly and fast. They even had a cute kids basket for the kids to pick out a toy. We will definitely be back. Thank you again Taylor for your amazing service, patience and bubbly personality.“

“Very good food and excellent customer service“

“I had my 50th Birthday party here and the staff was very friendly and helpful the venue was beautiful the food was amazing and everyone had an amazing time. We will definitely hold future events at La Luna. Thank you for everything!!!“

“Best ravioli in town! My family's been dining there since they opened thank you mark and Andrea for taking me there last Thursday! It was nice to see Lisa too,excellent waitress!“

“The best pizza I've ever tasted in Rochester and nearby areas. It's worth every penny. You can feel the good quality of the products.Definitely my new favorite pizza spot. Continue with the tremendous service and your good quality products.“

“After having a chain restaurant cancelled my large catering order a few hours before our event, Giuseppe’s saved the day, BIG TIME! We were treated with kindness and my frazzled urgency was met with calm and confidence! The Chinappi family prepared enough food for our 80 guests with only a few hours notice. It was delivered with a smile, hot, fresh and delicious! 😋 Giuseppe’s is a local gem! So glad I found them!“

“great food, great people THANKS“

“Very good food very friendly makes you like family“

“Six of us went to celebrate a 90th birthday. Our server, Kelly was friendly and attentive without hovering. She treated the one child with us with respect also.We were not rushed in any way. The meal choices and portions were excellent. Nice to find a restaurant where you can easily converse in normal tones.“

“We tried the Thai food this time and it was AWESOME!!! It’s our new favorite Thai restaurant in Rochester! Please give them a try…and if you don’t like Thai food, you have their traditional, tried & true Italian dishes!“

“Wonderful food and service. Definitely a favorite!“

“Good location, cozy interior, with great food choices, reasonable prices & very nice staff. Highly recommend = 2 thumbs up/5 stars“

“Best Italian restaurant. All homemade. Friendly staff.“

“We recently celebrated our anniversary at Pane Vino. They provided us a very quaint seat overlooking the river. They have done a nice job masking the noise level of their beautiful interior that is full of character. We interacted with 4 staff that were all very personable, professional, and efficient. The food was all exceptional and the wine list very nice. We were impressed that the owner checked on us several times, he definitely cares and pays attention to detail. We plan to return here on our next visit to the area.“

“Great food and service. Always a fun night.“

“Food was great. We enjoyed the very relaxing atmosphere without any televisions blaring in the background“

“They catered our 100 person baby shower and the food was amazing. The price was great and so easy to order. They let me know exactly what we needed and were so kind and helpful. 100% recommend!!!!“

“Awesome awesome awesome food. Loved the meatball and cheese garlic bread appetizers. Lot of flavor and lot of cheese! Also had chicken parm sandwich and meatball sandwich. Bread was great, not a tough or super thick ciabatta. Also placed a to go order and had no wait upon arrival. Very much looking forward to returning!“

“Not much to rave or rant about, finally had a few hours alone with the wife so he grabbed some lunch at Olive garden kept it simple soup salad bread sticks service was great waitress was awesome We were set immediately food came out quick soup was pretty fresh salad not so much breadsticks was good so the only problem was the salad wasn't that good didn't seem fresh did everything else was great no complaints.“

“I personally have never appreciated Olive Garden’s lack of support and assistance the company poorly provides to their servers, but Ashley is an amazing addition to the team and they should be grateful that she is a part of their culture. Otherwise their atmosphere would be terrible. She is a positive light that only brings happiness and joy radiating only positivity throughout the restaurant. She voiced her opinion in an article appropriate manner about a topic that needs to be addressed and is too often neglected, and these businesses.“

“Love this place always great food and friendly people and atmosphere“

“Ordered delivery the other day and had the manicotti. It wasn’t what I ordered, but mistakes happen, especially with delivery service so no big deal. The food was phenomenal and I will DEFINITELY be dining there again.“

“We had a retirement party for.my sister 5/6/22.The service was top notch,the menu was bold and the kitchen put a nice spin on all they presented.THE OWNER STOPPED AND GREETED THE TABLE.WEwere able to bring in our special dessert's and they didn't push us out the door . Bravo from top to bottom.*****“

“Highly recommend, went last night and the chicken French and veal parm was excellent!“

“Honestly one of the best restaurant experiences my friends and I have had, service drinks and atmosphere were all solid. But the FOOD was unreal. Everything across the table was amazing. Coming back for sure!“

“Occupying a last century foundry, the ill-conceived dining space is upstairs, where insufficient HVAC can leave you overheated after eating a meal during the summertime. They should move the pizza oven /kitchen upstairs and reuse the stack, and put the dining space downstairs. The food, however, was excellent. Service was great.“

“Best thin crust pizza and buffalo wings. Jerry knows exactly how we like our pizza and wings and he always gets it right. Never disappoints. Always perfection! Eggplant sub or parm dinner is also excellent. Anything you order on menu is delicious. One of our favorite places to go.“

“This place... is special. I just had a fantastic meal and got a chance to chat with one of the partners and someone else working there. I wish I got their names, because they made me feel like I knew them forever and they were just wonderful. anyone should make it a point to head down there, try whatever they recommend, and have a chat!“

“Always excellent!!!! A true gem in the neighborhood! Doesn’t get any better then this.“

“Ok so people don’t understand how to rate an establishment on Google… people, your rating needs to be based on where you are and relative to that environment: if you’re in a mall looking for fine dining… guess what? You’re not going to be happy (generally speaking). Likewise, if you’re in an airport and want cheap, high quality food… guess what? You’re going to be disappointed.

Gusto is not cheap, but it is high quality, handmade food, with what seem to be high quality ingredients. Furthermore, the staff and ambiance/seating/atmosphere of Gusto is a 10/10 (for an airport). They do a terrific job here. Had the chicken pesto panini (and three beers) and it was fabulous. Will eat here again.“

“The Sicilian pizza is amazing! Best we ever had! The owner is authentic and brings a piece of Sicily here! A must try! Thank you for a slice of Heaven“

“From a service standpoint - IMO they were exceptional. We had a family dinner after a memorial service in a private room - and they opened an hour early to better accommodate our schedule. If you have requests, I'd say ask them! They are there to serve us within reason! Food was good all the way around. I got the scallop dish - they were cooked perfectly, not a hint of 'rubberiness' - but for my taste they needed about half the salt that was used. The fingerling potatoes were excellently done too. One of my cousins got the same dish - the first couple scallops she ate were good, then she got a saltier one.
We also had a dedicated bartender - which was nice. My better half had a couple of the same drink - and while they were good - there seemed to be some I inconsistencies in the mixes.“

“Best pizza in Rochester it’s my second time ordering from them and I will highly recommend it and the owner is so nice very welcoming. I ordered a white Bianca with pepperoni. “