Chicken French
Photo: @joefoodie · CC BY 2.0

Thin chicken breast dredged in egg, lightly floured, pan-seared, finished in white wine and lemon butter sauce. Rochester's Italian-American restaurant community built this dish over decades. Found almost nowhere outside a 50-mile radius of Rochester.

Chicken French emerged from Rochester's dense Italian-American restaurant corridor during the mid-twentieth century. The name does not indicate French origin; it refers to the French-style egg dredge (passer a la francaise) used before searing. Mr. Dominic's at the Lake is the most cited original version. The dish spread from Italian family restaurants through the wider Rochester dining scene and is now on menus at hotel restaurants, brewpubs, and diners throughout the metro.

1 editor pick for Chicken French in Rochester, ranked by editorial score. All Rochester signature dishes · Chicken French across every city.

Mr. Dominic's at the Lake ★ 4.4

$$$Italian-AmericanNorth Rochester

Mr. Dominic's at the Lake on Lake Ave serves Chicken French and Italian-American fine dining with patio views of Lake Ontario. Named Best Chicken French 2025.

OrderThe Chicken French, the dish Rochester's Italian-American restaurants made famous, executed at its most refined here.

TipPatio seats overlook Lake Ontario Park and the Port of Rochester. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Reservations recommended for Friday and Saturday dinner.

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