Scale explanation:
Freshness: how fresh the dough actually is, and how fresh the pretzel tastes overall
Salt to pretzel ratio: a perfect 10 is the right amount of salt in each pretzel bite. Not too salty, not too bland.
Presentation: self explanatory, the pretzels appearance and is how it is served
Dipping sauces: how much I personally liked the dipping sauces and if I thought they left something to be desired (or not). Places that only served one dipping sauce received a lower rating.
Swiftwater Brewing
378 Mt Hope Ave., Rochester, NY 14620
Phone: (585) 530-3471
Photo by @swiftwaterbrewing
Swiftwater Brewing is one of the few places I found that bakes their pretzels from fresh dough. I love that they are hand formed, so each one is unique. The pretzels come with one dipping sauce: a vinegar-y mustard that is thinner and fitting. Swiftwater also serves sides of fruit or pickles with the pretzels – depending on the day. You also get an awesome brewery environment with loads of delicious beers on tap.
Freshness: 10/10
Salt to pretzel ratio: 9/10
Presentation: 10/10
Dipping sauces: 7/10
Price: $8 for two
MacGregor’s Grill & Tap Room
2205 Buffalo Rd., Rochester, NY 14624
Phone: (585) 471-5609
MacGregor’s Bavarian pretzel sticks are the epitome of classic pretzel sticks. Soft, chewy, and salty. They come with a side of nacho cheese and a delicious wholegrain mustard with the perfect amount of horseradish. Technically, the menu says they come with either or but every time I’ve asked they give both with no extra charge. MacGregor’s also has delicious burgers and a very wide draft selection.
Freshness: 8/10
Salt to pretzel ratio: 10/10
Presentation: 6/10
Dipping sauces: 9/10
Price: $7.99 for 4
Unter Biergarten
120 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14604
Phone: (585) 360-4010
Unter Biergarten gets their pretzels from Amazing Grains, a local bakery based out of Fairport. They fry it in beef fat for a crunchy exterior. They serve it with cheese and a root beer mustard. I didn’t taste any root beer, but the mustard was wholegrain with a nice consistency. Tackle this with a friend, or two! For the best photo op, try enjoying it in their outdoor beer garden during the warmer months.
Freshness: 10/10
Salt to pretzel ratio: 8/10
Presentation: 10/10
Dipping sauces: 8/10
Price: $10
East End Tavern
37 Charlotte St, Rochester, NY 14607
East End Tavern is a sort of hidden gem for pretzel sticks. I first discovered them on a pedal tour. They came out in a basket piping hot, perfectly crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. They’re served with cheese and a spicy brown mustard. The dough is almost sweet, and the way they’re fried makes them crave-ably crunchy and soft in all the right ways.
Freshness: 9/10
Salt to pretzel ratio: 8/10
Presentation: 7/10
Dipping sauces: 6/10
Price: $9 for a basket
The Beer Market
1401 Mt Hope Ave, Rochester, NY 14620
Phone: (585) 244-2337
Photo by @harmeetseats
The Beer Market at College Town has a gigantic pretzel that looks like it could serve at least 4 hungry people. It’s fluffy inside, and salted well. It comes with mustard and beer cheese. Though the beer cheese didn’t have a strong beer flavor to it, both dipping sauces played adequate supporting roles to a pretzel they appropriately named “The Barbarian”.
Freshness: 7/10
Salt to pretzel ratio: 9/10
Presentation: 10/10
Dipping sauces: 7/10
Price: $14
Rochester Beer Park
375 Averill Ave, Rochester, NY 14620
Phone: (585) 685-8212
Photo by @hungry_taylor
Rochester Beer Park serves up a great pretzel that comes to them from Syracuse. It’s not overwhelmingly big, and has delicious flaky salt all over. They serve it with a unique 5 cheese dipping sauce that had a hint of blue cheese flavor to it. I couldn’t get enough. Another fun item at the Beer Park is their wine caprisuns. Enjoy one over a game of cornhole on their lawn!
Freshness: 7/10
Salt to pretzel ratio: 10/10
Presentation: 9/10
Dipping sauces: 9/10
Price: $5 – great value!
Genesee Brewhouse
25 Cataract St, Rochester, NY 14605
Phone: (585) 263-9200
Photo by @ROConnoisseur
The Genesee Brewhouse’s pretzel sticks are browned on the outside and soft on the inside. They give off a satisfying crunch when bitten into, and when hot they are fluffy and almost melt in your mouth. Their menu says they have the option of beer mustard, beer cheese, or maple bacon peanut butter sauce. I tried the cheese and the mustard, and both were tasty. The cheese has more of a nacho flavor and the mustard was very spicy last time I tried it. Their menu says they make it in house, which could explain why the spiciness varies. The brewhouse boasts one of the best views in the city on their rooftop, so don’t sleep on it!
Freshness: 9/10
Salt to pretzel ratio: 8/10
Presentation: 7/10
Dipping sauces: 6/10
Price: $10 for 4
Perri’s Pub in Brighton
1881 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14610
Phone: (585) 244-9090
Perri’s pretzel sticks (location specific) came out hot and fresh within minutes. While they didn’t taste fresh baked, they did scratch that itch for a classic soft pretzel with the right amount of salt and softness inside. The cheese they served it with wasn’t bad, just a classic nacho cheese. These pretzels made the list because of how fluffy they were, and the fact that they’re small pretzel sticks that didn’t overwhelm my stomach. Of all of the pretzels on the list, I think this one is the most accessible in terms of getting it to go and being affordable. If you’re up at night craving a soft pretzel to eat in bed, this is it.
Freshness: 7/10
Salt to pretzel ratio: 9/10
Presentation: 8/10
Dipping sauces: 7/10
Price: $5.99 for 6 pretzel sticks
*Prices are current as of October 2018, gathered from what was listed on menus online or talking to the actual restaurant.
-Christina Kostarellis, @whatsgoodintheroc
