Rochester NY is a beautiful city that offers tourists and locals a variety of things to do. The city has a lot of history and educational resources as well as being home to industry leaders.
Aside from its amazing attractions, Rochester is also known for its cult-classic foods. These include the garbage plate, buffalo wings and tomato pie.
Cannoli Pancakes
Cannoli Pancakes are a one-half breakfast, one-half dessert – one of Rochester’s most unique dishes. This oversized pancake dish was originally made famous at Steve’s Diner.
There are now several versions of this stacked pancake, including one at Blu Wolf Bistro in downtown Rochester that’s topped with glazed donuts Shopping in Rochester. They also offer Love Cakes, an oversized pancake that’s available in flavors like Oreo cookie, grasshopper, sausage and chocolate chip!
Jines Restaurant has been serving Rochester since 1971, and it remains a go-to spot for breakfast or brunch. Owner Peter Gines says the diner has evolved but has maintained the tradition of open kitchens and banter between the staff and regulars.
Grappa is another Rochester restaurant that serves brunch in a modern, Italian spin. Chef Dustin Muroski creates dishes that surprise with unexpected ingredients and presentation. He starts with arugula and local butternut squash, then layers grilled tomatoes, wilted greens, prosciutto di parma and poached cage-free eggs on top of flattened arancini. Finished with a bright candied lemon hollandaise, it’s a breakfast dish worth trying.
Tomato Pie
Upstate New York, from the finger lakes to the mountains, is known for a variety of cult-classic foods. Among them are the garbage plate from Rochester, buffalo wings from Buffalo and tomato pie from Utica.
The infamous garbage plate is a large helping of macaroni salad or baked beans topped with a meat of choice (cheeseburger, Italian sausage, steak, chicken, etc.) served with fried potatoes and a dash of hot sauce. Nick Tahou Hots, the landmark restaurant that launched the dish more than a century ago, still sells it.
Tomato Pie
A reconstructed pizza dish credited to Utica, tomato pie has spread across Upstate, but the debate about where it originated is a tough one. Some pizza makers tack on a sprinkling of Parmesan-style cheese and others adorn it with basil olive oil or caramelized onions.
Local Sports Teams
Rochester is home to a variety of professional sports teams, many of them minor-league. But it’s also the home of many high school and college teams, along with a wealth of recreational and youth sports.
If you love baseball or hockey, grab some tickets for a game at Frontier Field or the Blue Cross Arena, and watch the Rochester Red Wings or Amerks carve up the ice. Or, for the ultimate sport fan experience, try the House of Sport at Eastview Mall, where you can play on a golf simulator fitting bay or an indoor putting green, as well as participate in interactive activities and learn about the latest sporting events.
And while there may be no professional football team in Rochester, the city does have a strong community of fans for that sport, as well as some of the best fishing in the country. Book a charter boat on Lake Ontario to reel in walleye, salmon and steelhead.
Public Market
For well over a century, the City of Rochester Public Market has been a hub of commerce, culture and community. Open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays year-round at 280 North Union Street, it’s a vibrant gathering of local growers, wholesalers, specialty food producers and proprietors, bakers, and other local merchants.
For many, the Public Market is their favorite gathering spot for food and goods. It is also a great place to learn about Rochester’s rich and varied cultural heritage.
Since 1905, the Rochester Public Market has offered a dazzling diversity of local produce; fruits and vegetables from across the country and around the world; meats, dairy and seafood; specialty foods; ethnic delicacies; baked goods; beverages; and general merchandise.
And beyond its three regular shopping days (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday), the City of Rochester Public Market hosts 45 days annually of free admission special events: Sunday Greatest Community Garage Sales and Super Fleas, Flower City Days, Food Truck Rodeos, Artist Row, Bands on the Bricks, Halloween at the Market, Holidays at the Market and more!
