The Playhouse / Swillburger is a burgers restaurant in South Wedge, Rochester.
Swillburger at The Playhouse on S. Clinton Ave serves smash burgers and bar games in the South Wedge, named Best Burger in Best of Rochester 2025.
Editorially verified June 24, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Smash burger, Pub fries, Milkshakes
Must order: The double smash burger with American cheese and the house-cut fries.
Tip: Bar games open until 01:00 on Friday and Saturday. Kitchen closes before the bar; come early if you want food.
Address: 820 S Clinton Ave, Rochester, NY 14620
Good Luck in Rochester opened 2008 in a converted industrial space on Anderson Ave and earned Best Restaurant in the 2025 Best of Rochester awards.
Signature: Seasonal cocktails, Chef's market menu
Order: Whatever is on the seasonal menu board that week. The kitchen writes around what's available at the Rochester Public Market.
Tip: Walk-ins at the bar are easier to secure than a table. The cocktail program is one of Rochester's best.
Lento in Rochester's Neighborhood of the Arts is a farm-to-table kitchen on N. Goodman St, sourcing from Rochester Public Market weekly and pickling in-house.
Signature: Seasonal vegetable plates, Chef's market menu
Order: The seasonal vegetable course, which rotates based on what the kitchen brought from market that week.
Tip: Reservations on Resy. Menu changes weekly; checking the website before you go is worth the two minutes.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Rochester occupies a 1905 railroad station on Court St, overlooking the Genesee River. Named Best BBQ in Best of Rochester 2025.
Signature: St. Louis ribs, Pulled pork, Prime brisket
Order: St. Louis ribs with coleslaw and mac and cheese on the side.
Tip: Best seating is at the bar overlooking the river. Live blues music on weekend evenings. Reservations available on Resy.
Han Noodle Bar on Monroe Ave in Rochester serves Chinese broth noodles and stir-fry dishes on a no-fusion, no-gimmicks philosophy since it opened.
Signature: Broth noodles, Stir fry noodles, Dan dan noodles
Order: The dan dan noodles with house chili oil and the spicy broth noodle bowl.
Tip: Closed Wednesdays. The kitchen takes its noodle quality seriously; this is not takeout-chain Chinese cooking.
Branca Midtown on E. Broad Street serves Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza and hand-cut pasta in a polished downtown Rochester dining room and bar.
Signature: Neapolitan pizza, House pasta
Order: The Neapolitan pizza from the wood-burning oven, charred and blistered at the edges.
Tip: Lunch service runs Wednesday and Thursday. Bar stays open later than the kitchen. Reservations via Resy.
Aladdin's Natural Eatery on Monroe Ave in Rochester has served Mediterranean food with vegan options since 1979, winning Best Mediterranean 2025.
Signature: Falafel wrap, Hummus plate, Mediterranean salad
Order: The falafel wrap with tahini and the hummus plate with warm pita.
Tip: One of Rochester's most-visited lunch spots. Gets busy at midday on weekdays. No reservations needed.
