“Eating is a need. Enjoying is an art.” – Francois La Rochefoucauld
“The only thing I like better than talking about food is eating.” – John Waters
The Brunch Bunch is Back With a New Round-Up of Nine Great Brunches in Rochester, NY 2024
The Brunch Bunch is back with an updated list of the best spots to relax and enjoy a slow start to your day. Why? Because in a culture of convenience, brunch is a rare and necessary indulgence – one we could all use more of, in our humble opinion (it’s bacon and champagne.) Once reserved for the well-heeled (mostly female), brunch has become more accessible, more eclectic, more fun. It’s now a time to celebrate special occasions, reconnect with old friends, and enjoy a slow start with family – kids included.
For those who loved our last piece (thank you!) we have gone back into the fray, trying new spots and revisiting old favorites to bring you this list of nine great brunches in Rochester so you can make them your favorites, too. Did we miss one? Tell us in the comments!
The Mad Hatter Restaurant And Bakery
176 S. Goodman Street, Rochester (585) 340-6454
The first brunch spot in this list serves brunch every day they are open (until they close at 2:30 PM). The Mad Hatter is nestled in the heart of Park Ave. Be prepared for busy weekends, as this popular spot doesn’t take reservations, but trust us—it’s well worth the wait.
The menu is filled with everything your brunch dreams are made of. If you’re like many who struggle to choose just one dish, you will love the flight options like the Toast Flight (cover photo) with avocado créme, fig & goat cheese, and cardamom honey ricotta, or one of the Potato Topper, Benedict, and Pancake Flights.
Another favorite dish is the Challah Bread French Toast layered with cream cheese, drizzled with maple syrup, and topped with peaches It’s not overly sweet which some specialty French toasts tend to be. More to love about this brunch spot is the generous selection of gluten-free and vegan options on the menu. Everyone in your dining party will find something to love.
The ambiance is homey which makes sense since the restaurant is a converted home. The front room has beautiful wood display cases filled with house-made bakery items. The back room is the cozy dining area. Grab some bakery treats to go; the bakery selection is not to be missed. Make your way to this Park Ave. treasure for a brunch experience that will leave you planning your next visit.
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8 AM – 2:30 PM.
819 S. Clinton Ave. Rochester (585) 978-7237
Warm, welcoming, and approachable, Crisp brings delicious, high-quality fare to the South Wedge in a setting that manages to somehow feel high-brow enough for a celebration but easy and casual enough for a spontaneous breakfast for two (hangover optional.) Not only is their brunch among the best we’ve ever had (yes – you read that right), their leadership and team make this exactly the sort of business we’re proud to patronize and recommend.
Co-owner and chef Wendi Loyat is from Texas and so is her menu – modern comfort with a Southern influence. Many of the recipes are her own family recipes and everything is made with a lot of love. On our visit, we couldn’t resist The Daily Brunch Board which includes chef’s choice of French toast or waffles, bacon, daily fruit compote, house maple butter, maple syrup, whipped cream, and fresh fruit. On our visit that meant French toast and waffles, a luxurious peach apple compote, and fresh berries (and of course, bacon – salty, lovely, bacon.) Crisp at the edges, soft in the center, the French toast was light as a feather and generously egg soaked with the delicious compote adding just the right amount of sweetness.
We also ordered the breakfast nachos for our gluten-free diner (me.) Crisp has multiple options for gluten-free and gluten sensitive diners, and they also accommodate a number of other allergy sensitive offerings. Needless to say, we love this, too. The Breakfast Nachos included salty, crispy tortilla chips heaped with scrambled eggs, chorizo, tomatoes, Monterrey jack cheese, peppers, and topped with a mountain of smashed avocado and sour cream. Every element was of the highest quality and thoughtfully prepared. But the thing I liked best is that they were just so much fun. Nachos for breakfast? The kid in me honors the kid in you. We live to serve- so ordered both a cocktail and a mocktail – and both delighted in equal measure. Our mock-tail was light, refreshing, and just as thoughtfully prepared and served as any cocktail. The charmingly named, “She Clutches Her Pearls” cocktail would have been a winner for this writer even it hadn’t been the perfect balance of crisp and sweet (and gorgeous – we eat with our eyes first, after all.)
Crisp brunch is offered on Sundays and Mondays. This South Wedge restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. The gorgeous interior has exposed brick walls a large bar and lots of windows.
45 Public Market Rochester (585) 504-4617
Public Provisions is the newest addition to the breakfast and dining scene at the Public Market. Coffee shop vibes by day. Casual, full service restaurant by night. Chef Cassidy and Flour City Bread have created a pretty special place with their partnership. Flour City Bread bakery is in the back of the restaurant, and you can expect fresh artisan bread on menus as well as buy breads and pastries to take home. The space is just what you’d hope for and expect at the market- unique and inviting. The front is lined with large windows, the interior is industrial chic with a high ceiling, communal counter and bar seating as well as tables and booths. Outdoor tables with umbrellas overlook the market for al fresco dining.
A farm-to-table menu has creative and seasonal offerings. The Eggs in a Basket we had was brioche bread, brie shmear and berry compote with a runny egg. It was sheer perfection. The preparation of this breakfast dish changes with the days specials on a daily menu board. On another recent visit my Sat. market side-kick and I ordered Breakfast Sandwiches, fresh pressed OJ and coffee. Everything was delicious, and prices here are very reasonable. You order at the bar, choose your seat and a buzzer will let you know when your food is ready.
There are not many place in Rochester you can get breakfast every day other than diners so we’re loving this addition to our best brunches in Rochester list. The space itself and the energy will make you love this spot for breakfast all that much more.
Hours: Sunday Brunch 10 am – 2 pm, Closed Mon., Tues. 7 am – 2 pm, Wed. – Sat. 7 am–9 pm.
1205 Lakeshore Drive, Canandaigua (585) 577-3500
I ask you, what is brunch without a mimosa?
The Cove gave us some of the best mimosas we’ve had in our travels and it wasn’t just because they came with a gorgeous water view. We chose classic OJ and a delicious mango mimosa that we enjoyed on The Cove’s extensive patio. Because we do our research, we also sampled their Bloody Mary and a handcrafted cocktail – mostly because The Cove makes their own amazing muddled syrups. Delicious.
When it comes to eats, our favorite brunch items were the avocado toast (a classic) and roasted beets – a mix of red and golden beets roasted to perfection to bring out their sweetness and served on a bed of mixed greens with gooey caramelized onions and crunchy pistachios. We also adored their unconventional take on stuffed French toast, which is filled with luscious brie and tangy cranberry ginger compote – perfect for brunch or lunch (and for sharing.) The everything bagel potatoes were a revelation – we can’t recommend them enough (and how did someone not think of those sooner?!) In addition to live music in season and summery, nautical vibes all year round, The Cove also has multiple vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Make time to brunch there this summer for sure.
7 Schoen Place, Pittsford (585) 383-8310
1229 Bay Rd., Webster (585) 236-1056
101 S. Main St. Canandaigua, (585) 394-9090
As the name implies, Simply Crêpes takes a daintier, gentler approach to brunch, serving up both sweet and savory fare blanketed in their gorgeously light, golden crêpes. There are three locations in the Rochester area. Each serves brunch 6 days a week. Choose from fresh cut fruit with whipped cream and Nutella, or go for a heartier selection like my favorite, the Crêpe Madame, which features an egg battered crepe stuffed with hardwood smoked ham, gruyere, and cream sauce served with a fried egg & Vanilla Porter bacon jam. You’ll also find naughty and nice combinations like the creme brûlée oatmeal – creamy oatmeal served with honest to goodness creme brûlée and fresh bananas and strawberries. Be sure to try the current fan favorite, the Maple Sausage Stackers crepes filled with scrambled eggs, maple sausage and apple wood bacon creme. From steak or roasted veggie filled crepes to crafted sharable like baked ricotta fondue or breakfast tacos, Simply Crêpes offers delicious options perfect for both a leisurely brunch and a weekday treat. The menu is gluten free and vegetarian friendly. Pair your brunch with a boozy coffee drink, cocktail, mocktail or a mimosa flight.
Hours: 8 am -8 pm weekdays and 8 am – 9 pm weekends. Closed Tuesdays.
2188 North Clinton Avenue, Irondequoit (585) 544-1300
Uncompromisingly hipster in the best possible way, Atlas Eats is small and unassuming, but it’s churning out huge flavors. The vibe here is neighborhood store turned restaurant and bake shop, the perfect spot for a quick breakfast cooked slow. Their internationally inspired menu featured flavors from around the globe, including their sweet and savory kimchee pancakes served with house made kimchee dragon sauce, and their spicy chorizo sausage gravy. The menu changes seasonally and includes a wide range of specials (like their must-try package specials), so check online to keep up. Their constantly evolving menu has also been updated to include Sunday pizzas as well, another reason to get down there and check them out. With just 22 seats Atlas also offers takeout, a perfect option on a sunny day when eating in the park sounds like more fun than tucking your legs under a table.
Brunch Hours: Fridays and Saturdays 10 am-2 pm. No reservations.
50 Public Market, Rochester (585) 563-7941
Served on Sundays from 11 to 2 only, the brunch menu at Cure is as selective as its availability. Like many of the options on this list, Cure is using best in quality ingredients and sourcing them locally whenever possible. Fresh breads and delectable pastries and other baked goods from Flour City are featured throughout the menu, which also includes inventive, upscale offerings like Creme Fraiche Pancakes featuring peaches pears, walnuts and lemon zest, and thoughtfully and meticulously prepared ingredients like their house churned butter. Can’t decide? A freshly brewed cup of Java’s coffee and a chocolate croissant never fail to please.
Breakfast/Brunch Hours: Sunday Brunch 11 am- 3 pm. Public Market Saturdays reps and breakfast sandwiches 9 am-noon.
Live Music Brunch at Brown Hound Downtown
500 University Avenue, (at the MAG), Rochester, NY (585) 506-9725
Enjoy live music while you brunch. If you want to appear especially cultured and sophisticated, Brown Hound Downtown is the place to go. Located inside the Memorial Art Gallery, their menu selections change with the seasons in order to provide you with the freshest, best-tasting ingredients. In warm months you can brunch under the lindens which is an inviting atmosphere under the shade of a canopy of linden trees. Check the menu before visiting to see what the chef is serving up. Options include scratch made soups and inventive salads along with brunch classics like eggs benedict made with farm fresh eggs; decadent pancake and waffle concoctions, and surprising – but welcome – additions like their unique French toasts variations. I still dream about the rice crispy lemon curd french toast. The offerings frequently change, keeping things fresh and seasonal.
Brunch Hours: Saturdays and Sundays 9 am-3 pm. Live music both days 11 am-1 pm.
280 North Union St., Rochester (585) 428-6907
Photo: Peter Thomas
You could probably assemble yourself a pretty fabulous brunch from samples alone at the Public Market, but then you’d really be missing out on the numerous (delicious) prepared options available everywhere. Freshly made breakfast sandwiches, empanadas, handmade crepes and more line the streets and stalls in and around the market. There are plenty of places to grab a steaming cup of coffee or tea, and whatever your schedule or preference – sit down or stroll around, gourmet or Go To – there are more than enough options at the Market to suit your tastes exactly. Not the sort of leisurely, mimosa-fueled brunch you might have imagined, but one could certainly argue that strolling around, cup in hand, fresh flowers and bowers of produce everywhere, it might just be even better.
Public Market Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 6 am to 1 pm, and Saturdays from 6 am to 3 pm.
-A-List Contributors Allison Zimmer and Amy Riposo
