In Rochester, Minnesota, you’ll find lots of culture, historic buildings, fun activities, and great restaurants. Here are some of the best local restaurants you can visit in Rochester.
Terza
Terza Italian restaurant offers gourmet Italian food. It has its own sommelier and delicious wines as well as a skilled Italian chef who makes the pasta. You can start with Mushroom Bruschetta, fried cheese balls with white cheddar and garlic, calamari, Terza meatballs, lobster bisque, oysters, or mussels. The children’s menu includes fettuccine Alfredo, ravioli, lasagna, spaghetti, and cheese or pepperoni pizza. Many gluten-free options are available, including gluten-free pasta.
For dessert, you can enjoy tiramisu, Creme Brulee, Crema al Limone with lemon zest and almond biscotti, or a Chocolate Almond Tortino with house-made almond cake, ganache, chocolate mousse, and Irish cream. You can also try a double espresso or a Cafe Corretto, which is a double espresso with half a shot of the liqueur of your choice.
Location: 30 Third St. SE, Rochester.
Hours: Sunday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the bar stays open until 10 p.m. You can also visit from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Newt’s
Newt’s restaurant opened in 1980 and is named after the owner, Newton Holland. This place is excellent for a cold beer and a burger, and it has four locations for you to choose from. Each restaurant serves more than 2 tons of fresh ground beef every month, and they all play classic rock from the 1980s and 1990s. Newt’s also uses freshly baked Kaiser buns.
You can start with Italian Cheese Bites, chicken strips, onion rings, nachos, or boneless or traditional wings. Sauces include blue cheese or ranch dressing, Hot & Spicy Buffalo, Honey BBQ, Bourbon Buffalo, Jamaican dry rub, and BBQ. For lunch or dinner, you can choose Fish & Chips or fish or chicken tacos.
Each burger contains half a pound of beef or chicken, and it comes with coleslaw, fries, or a small salad. The Fried Onion Blue Burger has blue cheese and fried onions, and the Peanut Butter burger comes with peanut butter and two slices of bacon. The Shroom Burger has Swiss cheese and sauteed mushrooms, and Dave’s Burger comes with jalapenos and garlic mixed into the meat, as well as barbecue sauce and pepper jack cheese. You can also get a Newt’s t-shirt, hoodie, glass, or hat.
Location: You can find Newt’s at 5231 E. Frontage Road Highway 52 and 1201 Broadway Ave. S, Rochester.
Hours: Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria
Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria has many pizza varieties and options for you to choose from. The New York style thin-crust pizza is gluten free, and there are dairy free, soy free, and keto-friendly options available.
You can choose a stuffed pizza or a square Sicilian thick-crust pizza, and calzones and stromboli are also available. Try a Chicken Parmigiano, Meatball Parmigiano, or Italian Cold Cut sandwich. Appetizers include breaded mushrooms, breaded zucchini, breaded mozzarella sticks, garlic knots, or breaded ravioli. You can also get pasta and olive oil imported from Italy, and a wide selection of beers and wines are available.
Location: 130 Fifth St. SW, Rochester.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Chester’s Kitchen and Bar
At Chester’s Kitchen and Bar, you can enjoy a charming atmosphere and classic American food. The Salmon & Fruit Salad has mixed greens, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, kiwi, strawberry vinaigrette dressing, and fried plantains. The Steak Cobb Salad comes with 6 ounces of grilled sirloin, house greens, tomatoes, cheese crumbles, chopped egg, Bermuda onion, and Amablu dressing.
You can also try a lobster grilled cheese sandwich with truffle oil or an open-faced meatloaf sandwich with grilled meatloaf, sourdough toast, mashed potatoes, mushroom sauce, and crispy onion strings. The Blackberry Jalapeno Burger comes with brie cheese, roasted jalapenos, blackberry jam, candied bacon, and a brioche bun. With the Lobster Mac & Cheese, you’ll get Maine lobster claw meat, heavy cream, Cheddar cheese, shallots, and toasted breading.
The children’s menu offers chicken fingers, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, macaroni and cheese, noodles and red sauce, and rotisserie chicken. Desserts include banana cream pie, bread pudding chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, and Key lime pie.
Location: The Shops at University Square, 111 Broadway Ave. S., Suite 108, Rochester.
Hours: You can visit on weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the bar stays open until 11 p.m. on Fridays. On Saturdays, the kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the bar is open until 11 p.m. On Sundays, you can visit from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Twigs Tavern and Grille
Twigs Tavern and Grille opened in 2007, and it has a cheerful, rustic atmosphere and a beautiful patio. Rochester Magazine gave this place its Best Outdoor Dining award. You can even dine outside in winter, as gas heaters keep things cozy. You can start with cranberry spinach salad with dried cranberries, bleu cheese, egg, cucumber, red onion, sunflower seeds, and sweet vinaigrette dressing.
There’s also a taco salad with ground beef or chicken, salsa, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, black olives, jalapenos, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, and sour cream. You can even opt for a vegetarian Beyond Burger if you want to avoid meat. The Baby Back Ribs come with coleslaw and a side, and the Sweet and Sour Shrimp comes with two sides.
You can also choose 6 ounces of Ahi tuna with dipping sauce, wasabi, and two sides. With hot rock grilling, you can cook many meats and vegetables at your table. The rocks are about 650 degrees, and they stay hot for about 20 minutes. You can ask for another rock if you need.
Location: 410 6th St. SW, Rochester.
Hours: Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Rochester’s Delicious Local Restaurants
These are just some of the excellent local restaurants in Rochester, Minnesota. Did we miss any of your favorite places to eat? Contact us at Tom Kadlec Kia and let us know your favorite spot to eat out.
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