A View of Max at Eastman Place
Great wine and food are a
deadly combination!
So what makes a restaurant a great wine spot? Of course it starts with an outstanding wine list, then you throw in some appealing ambiance, and finish it off with a tantalizing and diverse menu from which to pair your wines with. Welcome to Discover Rochester’s “10” Great Wine Spots!
There are so many outstanding wine spots in Rochester that it was incredibly difficult in selecting just ten. As equally challenging was selecting a signature dish for each of our wine spots. But, with some inside assistance from their servers and bartenders, we have selected a “House Selection”, accompanied with the perfect wine pairing. In addition, we have selected a “Wine Pick,” with a white and red wine that you must try!
Bonefish Grill, nestled in the Macy’s wing of Eastview Mall is a wine lover’s paradise for few reasons. For starters, it has some of the freshest and tastiest seafood in Rochester from which to pair your wines with, and secondly, it has what we believe to be the largest wine selection by the glass in all of Rochester (over fifty wines). This large selection will help you to sample many different varietals and vintners without having to commit to an entire bottle of wine. Thus, allowing you to expand your wine horizons.
House Selection: Chilean Sea Bass topped with mango salsa, with a bottle of the Herman J. Wiemer Gewurztraminer, Finger Lakes
Wine Pick: Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay, California and 7 Deadly Zinfandel, California
Located in the heart of the East End Theatre District, Tournedos, is one of the crown jewels of the Rochester wine and culinary scene. Housed within a National Historical Landmark, the Inn on Broadway, Tournedos is a dinging experience like none other. Boasting the only in-house dry-aging and hand butchering of beef in Upstate New York, the attention and care given to your meal is evident. Their dry-aging process gives their steak an earthy quality and tenderness. And of course their wine list is as equally accomplished as well. With a private, below street level wine cellar boasting hundreds of bottles of wine, they equally deserve all of their Wine Spectator awards.
House Selection: Tournedos of Beef au Poivre, with a bottle of the Allegrini Palazzo della Torre, Italy
Wine Pick: Tournedos Private Label Chardonnay, Argentina and Private Label Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina
Rack of Colorado Lamb
Fabulous food, great wine, and an awe-inspiring view of Rochester make for a unique and unforgettable dining experience at Horizons Restaurant. Nestled within the Woodcliff Hotel and Spa, Horizons has received numerous Wine Spectator awards for its extensive and well comprised wine list. With creative, artistic presentations, the dining experience at Horizons is one to look forward to. In addition, look for Gap Mangione and his Big Band there on various Friday and Saturday evenings.
House selection: Rack of Colorado Lamb, with a bottle of Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
Wine Pick: Estancia Chardonnay, California and Casa Larga Meritage, New York
The Grill at the Strathallan is a widely recognized and classy restaurant located within the luxurious Strathallan hotel on East Ave. With their numerous Wine Spectator awards in hand, their recognition as a pillar in the Rochester wine community is well warranted. While their food and wine list are superb, what we love most about this wine spot is their unique and deeply educational winemaker dinner series. The Grill at the Strathallan routinely hosts vineyards from all over the world for an intimate wine and food pairing experience like none other. With local vintners such as Dr. Konstantin Frank Wine Cellars, you are given un-precedented access and discussion time with world-renowned wineries.
House Selection: Cranberry Tenderloin, with a bottle of the Paul Hobbs "Stage Coach" Cabernet, California
Wine Pick: Indaba Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa and Septima "Bodega" Malbec, Argentina
Within the Swillburg neighborhood of the Rochester’s South Wedge is one of the most intimate and cozy dining experiences that this city has to offer. Rooney’s Restaurant, long known for its European charm and influences, has an ever-changing daily menu that is diverse and tantalizing. With a heavy influence on fresh seafood and meats, there is never a lack of great food to pair their extensive wine list. Listed according to whether it is an American or World vintner, Rooney’s selects wines with a noticeable affection towards the Napa Valley and Sonoma regions of California.
House Selection: Blackend Hawaiian Nairagi(Orange Marlin), with a bottle of Clos du Bois Chardonnay, California
Wine Pick: Maso Canili Pinot Grigio, Italy and Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon, California
Pan Seared Sea Scallops
Tapas 177 arguably boasts one of the most intimate and lively atmospheres in all of Rochester. While its wine list is not as extensive, or distinguished as some of our other spots, it does have one of the best value wine lists in Rochester. With its blend of Spanish style fusion cooking, the menu is spicy, tasty and is well matched for wine. With live Latin music on various weekends, weekly salsa lessons on Thursday and its monthly wine tasting (1st Tuesday), Tapas is a must see!
House Selection: Pan Seared Ostrich, with a bottle of Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc, Chile
Wine Pick: Marques de Riscal-Rueda, Spain and Alta Rio Rioja, Spain
Oh boy, another steak house and seafood restaurant on our list? This is not just any ole run of the mill steak house! Peter Geyer’s Steakhouse has quickly etched a solid name for themselves with area steak lovers. Located within the Brookwood Inn, the mood and ambiance you feel from the moment you step foot into lobby is superb. Boasting some of the best “Chicago” style steaks anywhere, Peter Geyer is the perfect backdrop from which to pair your cabernet sauvignon or syrah. With an equally appealing wine list, there is an abundance of possibilities awaiting you.
House Selection: Kansas City Strip Steak, with a bottle of Rodney Strong Cabernet, California
Wine Pick: Louis Jadot Chardonnay, California and Cosentino Cigar Zinfandel, California
Pomodoro’s Grill and Wine Bar is one of Rochester’s best kept secrets, intimately tucked away behind Preferred Plants on University Avenue. Housed within what was once a cafeteria of a World War II metal blade disk factory, the rustic-industrial interior is both lively and inviting. With a very extensive wine list by the glass, Pomodoro’s is a great place to sample and pair wines from all over the world. Boasting some of the best wood-fired pizzas in Rochester, it is easily apparent the influence of the Mediterranean on this Italian restaurant. With an expansive outdoor seating area and live music on the weekends, this is the perfect place to enjoy a vibrant night out on the town.
House Selection: Roasted Red Pepper Tortelloni, with a bottle of IQue Malbec, Argentina
Wine Pick:Martin Codax Albarino, Spain and Chateua St. Michelle Cabernet, Washington
An evening view from Virtu
The Corn Hill Arts District is well known for its historic homes, and for hosting a world-class arts festival, but it is also home to Virtu Restaurant.. Nestled along side of the Genesee River, Virtu has a very intimate view of the city skyline and is the perfect backdrop for any occasion! The decor and interior is both lively and classy, yet inviting and warm. The bar is accompanied with a lounge area and a very expansive martini list. With an outdoor seating patio, you can enjoy your evening with a view second to none.
House Selection: Virtu Surf and Turf, with a bottle of Stags' Leap Cabernet, California
Wine Pick:Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, Italy and Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir, California
For renowned prime meats and innovative seafood creations, with a classy yet understated décor and atmosphere, Max’s of Eastman Place is quite possible the perfect dinning experience. With such a “prime” location, just across the street from the Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre, Max’s has built quite the reputation as one of the premier gourmet restaurants in all of Rochester! Their wine selection is just as impressive, having won a Wine Spectator award in 2007 for their outstanding wine list. Featuring some smaller, “off” label vintners, there are many wine bottles that you can only find at Max’s of Eastman Place. As any good wine establishment will tell you, their wine list is an on-going, work in motion.
House Selection: Roasted Australian Rib Lamb Chops, with a bottle of Iron Horse "Unoaked" Chardonnay, California
Wine Pick: Cellar 77,"Seventy-Seven Days", Riesling, Finger Lakes and Freemark Abbey Cabernet, California
With so many awesome culinary treats right here in your own backyard, you owe it to your palate to pick one or two restaurants from our list and go EXPERIENCE what we love about them! Discover what makes Rochester unique!
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