What's new, what's changing in Rochester-area restaurants and bars this summer

It has been a busy summer in the Rochester scene, with new places and changes in the works.  

To help keep you up to date, we will continue to add to this summer guide through August and perhaps into September.  

If you'd like to continue to stay apprised of changes in Rochester's food scene, sign up for our ROCFlavors newsletter, which will be delivered to your email inbox weekly.

— Tracy Schuhmacher, food and drink reporter

What you need to know about the Rochester food and drink scene

Rising Storm Brewing Company is set to take over the historic Daisy Flour Mill in Penfield. The Livingston County-based brewery will be taking over the 3-acre property along Irondequoit Creek and creating a brewhouse and taproom in the vacant space, aiming to open next spring. Here are the details.

When he was a teenager growing up in Sheffield, England, Joe McBane worked at a curry restaurant called Nirmals. Now he has started Indian Curry Night starting at 5 p.m. Thursdays at The Sheffield, the establishment McBane opened in September 2020 at 1776 Monroe Ave., Brighton, with Casey Walpert.

Thai By Night, a fantastic Thai restaurant has closed its doors in Candandaigua, but its standout food is turning up in new places. Mike Murphy reported that John Guattery and "partner in life” Pui Wudhapitak have been serving their fare at the Canandaigua Farmers Market on Saturdays. Also be on the lookout for pop-ups at Happy Gut Sanctuary in the Hungerford building.

Jay Negrin is a few weeks away from opening a Bruster’s Real Ice Cream location, built from the ground up, at 1930 East Ridge Road in Irondequoit. Founded in 1989 in Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, Bruster’s serves ice cream made in-house at nearly 200 locations in 22 states, Guyana and South Korea. Read more.

Ryann Guglielmo and her mother, Debbie Bouchard, are the new owners of the Red Bird Market, a retail food store located in Fairport Village Landing Plaza, a small strip mall in the heart of the village. They reopened the 14-year-old enterprise on July 13, after purchasing it from LuAnn Trapatsos, who saw it through the challenges of the pandemic. Read more.

ReInvention Brewing Co.’s Kentucky Common beer may be new to customers, but it’s not new by any means. Check the history books. George Aldrich, director of brewing operations, did. This historical-style beer was brewed originally in the 1800s – and in this case, Kentucky. It’s an attempt by the brewers of yore in the South to replicate the lager styles that were coming out in cooler climes of the country, say the Midwest and Minnesota, Aldrich said. Here's the story.

Seven years after being proposed, a Whole Foods Market in Brighton, the greater Rochester area’s first, is on track to open by February 2023, said Anthony Daniele, president of Daniele Family Companies. Here's the latest.

Lucca Kitchen & Cocktails, in existence in North Winton Village since 2019, closed on June 19. On June 26, the Northside Inn, with roots going back more than 100 years, served its last meal. On July 12, Lucca’s Northside Kitchen opened in the Northside Inn’s spot. Here's why. 

Bozza Pasta, which makes a variety of fresh pastas, will move from its current location in Hilton to Elm Ridge Center, off West Ridge Road in Greece. Here are the details.

Jay Speranza, chef and owner of the popular Tony D's restaurant downtown, is working on Cotoletta, a new Italian-American restaurant that will open in Elm Ridge Center in Greece. (Yes, that's two places in a row heading for the same strip mall). Here's what's up.

The Diplomat Banquet Center on Lyell Avenue in Gates has closed its doors after 46 years in business. It's the last of the giant party houses that used to be go-to places for weddings in the Rochester area. Here's a look back, including historic photos.

A new Chick-fil-A restaurant has been proposed to open in the spot where a Perkins once stood along Route 250 in Penfield. Here are the details.

M.O. Pasta, TacoDero, The Back Alley Grill and Dope Munchie Crew are four new businesses that were created by chefs when restaurants came to a standstill in 2020. Thanks to their efforts, Rochester has new options for homemade pasta, birria tacos, creative sushi and large, chewy cookies. Read all about them. 

Gourmet Goodies has moved from Coville Street to 415 Commerce Drive in Victor Crossing, near where Route 96 intersects Route 490 in Victor. It is a full-service bakery with a small patio to sit, eat and enjoy the warmer weather. Get the details.

New Rochester-area restaurants

Here's the latest on new restaurants and other places to eat and drink in the Rochester area:

Guacamole Tacos and Margaritas, The Pizza Shoppe and Capone's Bar & Italian Eatery have opened in Penfield. Guacamole, which originated in East Rochester, offers a larger menu and a full bar in Penfield. The Pizza Shoppe is the third business for the owner of Merchants Wood Fired Pizza and Bistro and The Pasta Shoppe. And Capone's is an Italian-American restaurant. Read more. 

Main & Vine, Clementine and My Wine and Cheese Bar Too are some of the newest food and drink establishments to open in the Village of Fairport, which has become a hopping place for restaurants and nightlife. Main & Vine and My Wine and Cheese Bar Too are wine bars, while Clementine is a coffee shop. Here are the details.

Engine 14 Brewery, a firehouse-themed brewery, has opened in the picturesque village of Naples, Ontario County. The space is owned by Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars and was once part of Widmer Winery. Read more.

Molly V’s Homemade Ice Cream trailer has opened in the Bistro 11 restaurant lot in Victor. Want ice cream with bacon and Froot Loops cereal in it? Owner Mike Vistocco can make it for you. Here's the scoop.

Salty Bread Pizza Café has opened at 4615 Culver Road in Irondequoit, across from Seabreeze Amusement Park. Its best seller is a salty French bread pizza, served on Amazing Grains Bread Co.'s salty bread. It also serves paninis, soups, salads and a variety of desserts (cronuts, cookies, croissants and whoopie pies). Read all about it.

Stone's Pub has opened at 3115 East Henrietta Road in Henrietta, in a building that has had many lives since going up in the late 1800s. It was most recently known as Jeffrey’s Bar. The Stone family, its new owners, retained Jeffrey’s staff of nine and kept the food menu, which includes chicken wings, sandwiches, burgers, plates, a fish fry and a Tuesday night steak special. Here's more.

Crisp Rochester has opened at the corner of South Clinton Avenue and Meigs Street in the South Wedge. It brings a Texas influence to its fare, with a menu that includes Chicken & Churros, a play on chicken & waffles; a Dallas Elote Cup, inspired by Mexican street corn; and pickled jalapeño pimento cheese. It now has outdoor seating. Here are the details.

Tracy Schuhmacher is food, drink and culture reporter for the D&C. Email her at TracyS@Gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram, or sign up for her weekly newsletter.