Vern’s - Restaurant in Rochester - 696 Park Ave, USA

We went on a double date on a Thursday night and ended up waiting about 30 minutes, multiple staff members asked us for our drink orders and took care of us. We were seated in the back and got a few appetizers and pizzas. All the food was good but not great. We found the crust to be burned-- wood fired is one thing, but these pizzas were far beyond that. Drinks were exceptional. Service was good but they neglected our waters and we needed to ask. The whole restaurant smelled of smoke, and so did we when we got home. I would go back for a cocktail but would skip the food for something else on Park Ave.

Our friends said my husband and I had to try this spot when we came to visit them since it's their favorite restaurant and they were right. The four of us shared: - Focaccia (special) - Spicy Lettuces - Baked Polenta - Lost Meatball Ragu - Enzo Pizza I can't even pick a favorite dish because it was all so good. This is the kind of place where you can order anything because you can't go wrong. I would love to try the whole menu. I definitely want to come back again next time we visit our friends!

A lovely place to dine on a nice evening in Rochester (when the weather is good!). The pasta is good, but the tomato pie took the cake!

Went on a Monday evening, place was packed for a monday. Waited about 30 minutes for a table (they don't take reservations) but it was well worth the wait! The tomato pie is a must, the meatball ragu is delicious, one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had at a restaurant. Food came out quick and the staff all really nice.

Not a ton of gluten free options. Vern’s is a cute place right in park ave (expect to find street parking somewhere else and walk). The menu and dishes are supposed to be shared, but will require some work to cut up and divide with your friends. We ordered the pork belly, stone fruit salad, clams, polenta, pizza, and focaccia. Pizza and focaccia not gluten free, but the other items were. The dishes come out when they are ready (super tiny kitchen) which gives this a surprise timing. The staff were friendly and mostly helpful. I was disappointed by many of the dishes. They lacked a certain level of flavor and were awkward to share since I had to cut and divide everything. We had a party of 5 and enjoyed the outdoor dining. Not a bad experience just not the best food around.

Great place, always busy. Food & Service is Outstanding. In fact it was hard to snap pictures of food as my dinner companions were eager to dig in.

We brought our daughter to Vern’s last night for a first time visit for all three of us. We were all VERY IMPRESSED! It was a busy Friday evening in June and we only had to wait less than an hour, which was perfect to grab a cocktail down on Park Avenue. The atmosphere in Vern’s is kinda art deco meets your Italian grandparents house with an amazing smell of smoked meat on the grill. Service from the door to the table was great. Sam was our server and she was fantastic. We enjoyed spicy lettuces (which had a perfect amount of spice), bee sting pizza, lost meatball ragu and cloud gnudi. Followed up with the olive oil cake and seasonal panna cotta which reminded me of a creme brûlée like custard with honey soaked strawberries. Wow! Everything was very fresh and flavorful. Outstanding job! Highly recommended and we will definitely be back to Vern’s.

coming from a huge foodie, vern’s was one of the best meals i’ve ever had. ambience and vibe was quaint and fun, mocktails weren’t boring, but unique & so delicious, polenta was perfectly soft and so flavorful, and the pizzas were better than those in nyc. will be our new go to when visiting rochester. this place is a MUST.