The Underrated Vibes
Happiness is a Warm Hand Pie from Crust Pie Co.
The Crust Pie Co. origin story is another tale as sweet as pie, involving Rebecca Vang’s leap from the marketing world to embarking on the dream of owning a small business. With every recipe created by Crust Pie Co., bliss permeates through the threshold of a flaky crust. It is a place where happiness can be gently held in a savory and warm Banh Mi hand pie.
Fool’s Gold Saloon in Downtown Rochester Pays Tribute to the Old Wild West
Formerly occupied by Masons on Alexander, a new western-themed bar Fool’s Gold Saloon, has reimagined the space with a makeover from a classic dive bar to a watering hole that pays tribute to the old Wild West.
A Far-Out Pastry Shop in Downtown Roc is Conjuring Up Extraordinary Confections
Opening their doors on June 28, 2025, the owners and pastry chefs at Pastrymancer began conjuring up some of the most uniquely creative pastries imaginable in Downtown Roc. Their confections are daring and bold, at times rough around the edges, but uniquely experimental, made with ingenuity, and designed to send your taste buds on an unparalleled adventure.
Blushed Cakery’s Artistic Mini Cakes are Handmade with Love
Blushed Cakery’s customizable flavors range from chocolate to strawberry, vanilla, and lemon, and are decorated with floral and vintage designs, and can be topped with fresh fruits, ribbons, and chocolate butterflies. All of which are delightfully crafted and yes, edible. The artist behind Blushed Cakery, Halle Flan, shares the belief that celebrations and special moments call for cake.
Mercury Coffee Co. in the South Wedge is Flying High
Building their foundation as a pop-up coffee cart, Mercury Coffee Co. spent many months slinging espresso drinks around the city of Rochester, collaborating on events with local businesses, and improving their recipes and latte art throughout the process. For fans, it has been a journey to behold watching this small coffee cart design and build out a sensational space in the South Wedge just off of Gregory Street and South Avenue.
Misuta Chow’s Defeats the Evil Dr. Ennui
Misuta Chow’s is a Japanese-style bar and restaurant that describes itself as a funky gastropub offering rice bowls, ramen, various Japanese street foods, and arcade games. That seems like the optimal description. What truly separates Misuta Chow’s as a bar is its ambiance and inclusive vibes.
Málà Magic: Serving Up Simmering Flavors in Rochester’s College Town
While several more places are opening in the next few months, one new restaurant serving a popular Chinese ‘build-your-own’ dish called ‘Malatang’ is simmering some serious flavors. Mala Magic is great for anyone who loves personalizing their hot pot with a simmering broth filled with fresh ingredients.
Buffalo. Beats. Lucky Day Whiskey Bar.
Visiting Lucky Day Whiskey Bar in Buffalo, New York, is a warm experience. The bar is in a walkable area to many other great bars in downtown. At Lucky Day Whiskey Bar, you’ll find a true Buffalo experience, from the vibes of the crowd, the politeness of the staff, and the vibrant music playing in the bar on the right night.
Here is the Late Night Food Scene in Rochester, New York!
Here is Rochester, New York’s late-night food scene. The city has numerous fantastic restaurants and to-go spots that cater to the night owls around the city, serving up dishes until the early morning. Rochester, New York has a good late-night food scene, you just need to know where to go!
Some of the Best ‘Street Tacos’ in the Region Are in Syracuse, NY
Olivo Tacos began their journey as a Middle Eastern, Mexican, and Latin-infused restaurant in Rockford, Illinois, with the mission of serving up delicious and high-quality tacos at a great price. Considering that truck prices their street tacos at 3 for $5, I’d say they are living up to their mission by keeping incredible prices for this day and age.
A Fusion between Indian Cuisine and Texas BBQ is Changing the Game in Buffalo
Southern Junction, on Connecticut Street in Buffalo, New York, combines the flavors and spices of Kerala, a state on India’s Malabar Coast, with the smokehouse flavors of a Texas barbecue joint. This amalgam of flavors produces some of the best barbecue this side of the Mississippi, and that is no joke!
Your Next Chopped Cheese Should Be the ‘ROC’ Chopped Cheese at Starlight on South Ave
While the Chopped Cheese was born in NYC, it’s made its way upstate to delis across cities like Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo. The effects of this pilgrimage have paved the way for a new contender, one that pays homage to the classic but adds a new flair and uniqueness, and embraces the culture and heritage of Rochester, New York. It’s called the ROC Chopped Cheese.