Wednesday Sushi at The Hideaway in Rochester, NY

       I am officially returning from my short blogging creative break brimming with new places to talk about. Most recently, I've visited The Hideaway in Rochester NY's Park Ave area to check out their new sushi special on Wednesdays. You know I couldn't resist a good exclusive sushi session. I get so excited when restaurants have weekday specials; it just makes the work week a tad more fun instead of always waiting on the weekend for something new to try. The Hideaway, formerly the old Hogan’s Hideaway, hosts a special in-house chef made sushi night with an array of traditional and original sushi rolls, sashimi, poke bowls, and sake available every Wednesday night. When my friend and I learned about this, we made plans to check it out on the spot.

Top 3 Things You MUST Try in Rochester, NY - Old Pueblo Grill, Cafe Sasso, and BXCR

       Hello 2019! The new year is already here and I wanted to take the time to discuss three quick and delicious places to stop in Rochester, NY. I also want to make some suggestions of what I think are the tastiest items on each menu that you should try. Some of these establishments have been Rochester staples for quite some time, but many of you may not know the absolute best specials and deals you can snag at each one. Whether you are looking for a date spot to take the person you kissed at midnight, or a meeting spot to make new plans for the new year, these three locations would be the perfect fit. All three have menus with something for everyone, as well as some hidden gems you won't find elsewhere.

The Market Cold Press & Eatery at M/Body Fitness in Rochester, NY

       From the same restaurant group that created Native Eatery in Rochester, NY and Label 7 in Pittsford, NY, Mueller Restaurant Group has introduced a new, sustainable eatery located right next to locally-owned fitness center, M/Body Fitness. The restaurant is open to the public, so you don't need to attend a fitness class to stop in. What I liked best about The Market Cold Press & Eatery was how central it was and easy to get to. For those of us who live in the city center, parking can be an issue. Unlike Native Eatery's location which might have more limited parking or Label 7 which is a little more out of the way, The Market is located at the corner of University and Culver where there is plenty of parking for all of the shops there and less city traffic, to boot. As my friend and I made our way out on a cold, rainy night, we were comforted at the door by the cozy atmosphere of the cafe. The design was heavily based on a combination of brick, wood, and black accent pieces, with really cute earthenware dishes.

Shareable Plates at Native Eatery and Bar in Rochester, NY

       While looking for places to bar hop around in Rochester, NY for my friend's birthday weekend, we decided to check out the fairly new restaurant, Native Eatery and Bar, for dinner and a drink to start our evening off right. There has been a lot of buzz about Native and its locally-sourced cuisine since it opened on the corner of Woodbury and Clinton in the Center City area - right across from Geva Theatre. When we arrived on a very warm and pleasant evening, Native had opened up two of it's four giant windowed walls as if to expand its porch area right into the restaurant. While taking our spot to sit at the ginormous rectangular bar, it felt as though we were still outdoors!

Iron Smoke Distillery in Fairport, NY

       At the CITY Newspaper Best of Rochester party this year, my friend and I became instant fans of the whiskey distiller, Iron Smoke Distillery. Iron Smoke also teased their product at the party by giving out yummy samples to the attendees. The person giving us the samples was super knowledgeable about the craft of distilling and it made us curious to dive deeper into the art of whiskey tasting. And after we heard that they were opening a brick-and-mortar location in Fairport, NY, my friend and I were on high alert.

Warm, Homestyle Dinner at The Owl House in Rochester, NY

       I heard a few great things about The Owl House in the southwest corner of Park Avenue in Rochester, NY - one being that they serve an array of menu items to agree with any diet such as vegan or gluten-free. I figured that the cuisine would be similar to what I tried when I went to The Red Fern on Park Avenue. However, when I went the other week with my friend for a fancy night out, they had some really spectacular entrees that were more farm-fresh and homestyle cooking than I had expected. The restaurant is on the corner location of Monroe Avenue and Marshall Street by the Marshall Street Bar and Grill, and quite literally looks like a cute and cozy house upon first glance.

First Look at Unter Biergarten in Rochester, NY + BeerMenus App

       Since I work just down the street, I have been uber curious about the transition from the Victoire Belgian beer bar to the new Unter Biergarten featuring a more German-style beer spectrum. It all happened quite suddenly; Victoire, once touting that "your flight to Belgium is never cancelled," had shut its doors and just about a month later reopened into a freshly painted Bavarian delight. Unter Biergarten is located at 120 East Avenue and Rochester boasts free street parking during the week after 6pm - so if you're looking for an after-work sip, you don't have to look far. The bar and restaurant is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday for brunch, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They appear to have a different special every day, and are open on a Monday which is a rare feat for a Rochester bar - or very ambitious, rather. You can follow them on their Instagram for new details as they come.

A Taste of Hawaii at Lanai in Rochester, NY

       I think my favorite area of Downtown Rochester is Alexander Street. My favorite hotspots have always included The Daily Refresher, The Old Toad, Havana Cabana, and Mex. Since Havana Cabana and Mex have closed, my friends and I speculated what would move into those buildings, as they are in a great location for weekend business. A couple of months ago, we noticed a sign being put up on the building that said "Lanai", and instantly I thought it would be a Polynesian restaurant. I was partially right; Lanai is actually a Hawaiian, specifically a 60's era Hawaiian, themed bar and restaurant.

Rochester, NY Chef Dinner Series Episode 1: Branca Midtown

       Since the craft cocktail scene is currently booming in Rochester, it's only safe to say that the gastronomy scene is picking up as well. Branca Basin and Branca Midtown chefs Jim Zobel, Cruz Nieves, and Michael Seifert put together a first in a series of gastronomic, tasting-menu style dinners paired with wine hand-chosen by Rochester Sommelier Gerald "JJ" Cutaia. I was fortunate enough to have a seat at this Sicilian food event last Monday, and I was absolutely floored by the presentation. While the price tag to get in is quite daunting, I will say the night out was worth the trouble, especially if you have a special occasion or celebration you'd like to truly make a night to remember.

The Spirit Room Cocktail Bar in Rochester, NY

       I never knew how much I needed a New Orleans voodoo-themed cocktail bar until I went to The Spirit Room at 139 State Street in Rochester, NY. Not only was the bar a complete antique-lover's dream, but the cocktails themselves transported you into a romantic era of deep-southern jazz and spooky vibes. The placement of the bar is further away from typical Rochester East End weekend stops, but The Spirit Room is in a great area primed for future development. For an excellent example, also on State Street is the infamous Pizza Stop, regularly nominated in the City newspaper's Best of Rochester awards.

Nagle's Observance, the Hippest New Bar in Rochester, NY

       I have a deep, dark love for 1930's speakeasy style bars that are reminiscent of my personal favorite Rochester bar, the Daily Refresher. I am always on a wild hunt for another similar cozy and candle-lit cocktail location to sit and catch up with friends while sipping on palate-satisfying alcohol beverages that make me feel like I've gone back in time, listening to Satchmo playing live at a jazz club somewhere in NOLA. All of that jumble is just a long way of telling you that I've quite possibly found my new "digs", a bar off of Chestnut Street in the city called Nagle's Observance.