Rochester, NYItalian

Pane Vino sits on the Genesee River with a patio built right at the water, and CITY Magazine's readers named it a Best Outdoor Dining finalist. The kitchen runs a classic Italian menu, including the sherry-lemon-butter chicken French that is a Rochester signature. Come for a riverside table and order the chicken French.

Rocky's on Jay Street has been a Rochester institution since 1949, and CITY Magazine's Cheap Eats guide called it an old-school red-sauce joint with zero frills serving crazy-cheap Italian done right. The board runs to large portions of linguine with red or white clam sauce, gnocchi, and homemade cheese ravioli. Order the ravioli or the clam-sauce linguine.

Grappa is an Italian nouveau room on Celebration Drive, and (585) Magazine described its approach as the classics presented in a clean, fresh style in a hotel restaurant that does not feel like one. CITY Magazine's restaurant news added that executive chef Ryan Wilcox spent 15 years cooking in Rochester before opening it. Come for a modern take on Italian standards.

Branca Midtown is a sleek downtown Italian room whose service drew a Best Server finalist nod for Marisa Ammerata in CITY Magazine's 2024 readers' poll. The kitchen turns out charred broccolini, house-made ricotta, and pasta specials in booths with downtown views. Come for a pasta special and a plate of the broccolini.

Mr. Dominic's is a longtime Rochester Italian-American favorite that won Best Chicken French in CITY Magazine's 2025 readers' poll and has taken Best Italian in the poll's earlier cycles. The Lake Avenue and Fairport rooms run the classic pasta and chicken French lineup. Come for the chicken French the readers keep voting for.