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Start a Top 5 for ItalianEditor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in CITY Magazine, (585) Magazine, and Rochester Business Journal. Updated September 2026.
Pane Vino On The River · Riverfront
Pane Vino sits on the Genesee River, with a patio beside the water. The kitchen serves Italian classics alongside Rochester-style chicken French. Take a riverside table and order the chicken French.
Rocky's · Brown Square
An old-school Jay Street red-sauce joint with generous Italian plates and few frills.
Grappa Italian Nouveau · College Town
An Italian restaurant in College Town serving a modern take on the classics.
Branca Midtown · Downtown
A modern Italian kitchen in Midtown Tower. Settle into the downtown dining room for pasta or pizza.