An Authentic Nepali-Indian Restaurant Brings Abundant Flavor to State Street
Today, a new spark of life has ignited on State Street in the form of a restaurant serving a well-curated, dynamic, and flavorful Nepalese and Indian menu that not only enriches the city’s taste but also expands the cultural wealth of a diverse and historic neighborhood.
Tiki Pedro’s Delivers a Modern Take on Cuban-Mexican Cuisine
Recently, a newish pop-up eatery that fuses Mexican and Cuban recipes has opened its kitchen on East Avenue inside one of Downtown Rochester’s most creative cocktail lounges, Aqua Vitae. Tiki Pedro’s menu offers a Cuban and Northeast take on traditional Mexican dishes, including tacos and burritos, foods with origins in Northern Mexico.
The Salt City Market is a Promise of a Better Tomorrow
Deep in the heart of downtown Syracuse, where South Salina meets West Onondaga, is a great food hall that combines the diverse and rich delicacies of Syracuse’s numerous cultural identities under one bazaar-style marketplace. The Salt City Market is a transformative community space that provides sustenance in the form of food and beverages, affordable housing, a coffee shop and bar, a cooperative grocery store, and the promise of a better tomorrow.
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. It is a labor of love that involves early morning baking, positive growth, overcoming challenges, and the pursuit of joy through freshly baked goods offered to the community. 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 are not complete without a 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 only recently opened its doors, but there is plenty of excitement coming from anyone who loves personalizing their hot pot with a simmering broth filled with fresh ingredients like broccoli, tofu, corn on the cob, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, quail eggs, lettuce, crab legs, fish, udon, and ramen noodles, and various meats.