Rochester, NY
For Southern in Rochester, the local food press points to CRISP Rochester, Chick’n Out, and Rev BBQ Outpost. Picks from 585 Magazine and CITY Magazine, updated July 2026.
Editor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in 585 Magazine, CITY Magazine, Democrat and Chronicle (via Yahoo syndication), and RochesterFirst (WROC). Updated July 2026.
CRISP Rochester
A South Wedge spot serving seasonally driven modern comfort food with a Southern lean, from owners Valerie and Wendi Loyet, who moved the family up from Dallas, and head chef Jeff Carter, per 585 Magazine. The kitchen sticks to scratch cooking and shifting plates. To order: the Texas Breakfast, a chicken-fried steak, and the Triple B, a biscuit plate stacked with bacon, biscuits, and butter.
Chick’n Out · East End
Owner Adam Bierton, a Rochester native, built this East End counter around his grandmother's Southern fried-chicken recipe, hand-breading Nashville-style tenders to order, per 585 Magazine, which traces the dish back to family Sunday dinners. It grew from a 2019 pop-up into a brick-and-mortar in 2024, and CITY Magazine named it a 2025 Best Comfort Food finalist. To order: the Not So Hot tender, crisp with a sweet-leaning coating.
Rev BBQ Outpost · University Avenue
The University Avenue rebrand of The Revelry into a Southern barbecue kitchen under pitmaster Rob Wygal, part of the SCN Hospitality group, covered by the Democrat and Chronicle's Tracy Schuhmacher. Smoked meats run to brisket, pork ribs, turkey, and pulled pork, and the Southern side of the menu shows in a fried green tomato BLT, pimento mac and cheese, and smoked poblano and cheddar grits. To order: the brisket with the pimento mac.
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