Looking for family-friendly dining recommendations in Rochester while visiting with your kids? I’ve got you covered!
If you’ve never thought of visiting Rochester before, now is the time to add it to your list. There are a few things to know before visiting, but there are lots of things to do with your kids in Rochester. A rule of thumb when we travel is never to eat at an establishment that we can eat in our own home state, so we try and find places that are unique to the city.
If your kids are picky eaters like mine, then this list is just what you’re looking for. While there are numerous restaurants in Rochester, each promising a dining experience like no other, the restaurants featured in my guide are some of the top family-friendly restaurant choices while visiting Rochester with kids.
Without further ado, here are the 12 family-friendly dining recommendations in Rochester.
- Veneto Wood Fired Pizza & Pasta
Location: 318 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14604
Veneto is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a family-friendly restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant features a wood-fired pizza oven, where your kids can watch their pizzas being made. And if your kids are fans of pasta, they’ll be sure to enjoy Veneto’s handcrafted pasta dishes. The menu also features a variety of salads and appetizers.
- Jines Restaurant
Location: 658 Park Ave, Rochester, NY 14607
Jines Restaurant is located in the cultural and historic Park Avenue neighborhood of Rochester, NY—serving: breakfast, lunch, and dinner any time of the day. A friendly and comfortable atmosphere with consistent, high-quality food and service. The restaurant is known for its comfort food, and it has a kids menu that your kids are sure to love.
- Morgan’s Cereal Bar
Location: 320 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14604
Your kids will absolutely adore Morgan’s Cereal Bar, which is the ideal place for breakfast and brunch and home of the cereal-infused waffle. The highlight of Morgan’s, however, is the expansive cereal bar. With over 30 different kinds of cereal to choose from, your kids will be in breakfast heaven. Madison LOVED it here, and while we tried to make it back before we left, alas we didn’t as I wanted to try new things, but we’ll be back *said in my Terminator voice*.
- Brown Hound Downtown
Location: 500 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607
Brown Hound Downtown is a bistro, bakery, bar, and caterer nestled inside Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery. The menu features seasonally-inspired dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Brown Hound also has a kids menu with a variety of kid-friendly options. And if you’re looking for something to do with the kids while you wait, you can always check out the art gallery.
- The Playhouse // Swillburger
Location: 820 S Clinton Ave, Rochester, NY 14620
Set in an old church building, The Playhouse // Swillburger is a great option if you’re looking for a trendy hangout featuring vintage arcade games. The Playhouse // Swillburger has as many as 20 craft beers on tap, classic and modern arcade games, and gourmet burgers. The Playhouse // Swillburger is the perfect place to take the family for a fun night out.
- Radio Social
Location: 20 Carlson Road, Rochester, NY 14610
Radio Social is a great choice if you’re looking for a family-friendly restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant features a variety of games, like pool and shuffleboard, that your kids can enjoy while you wait for your food. And if your kids are fans of music, they’ll love the jukebox that’s located in the dining room. The menu features a variety of American classics, like burgers, sandwiches, and salads.
- DiBella’s Subs
Location: Various Locations
DiBella’s is a great choice if you’re looking for a family-friendly restaurant with a casual atmosphere. DiBella’s subs are some of the best in Rochester. Their bread is baked in their in-house bakery not once a day but throughout the day. This guarantees that no matter what time you stop at DiBella’s, your sub will be served on the freshest roll you’ve ever tasted. And if your kids are fans of sweets, they’ll love the cookies that are made fresh in the bakery.
- Swan Dive
Location: 289 Alexander St, Rochester, NY 14607
Swan Dive is an upscale dive bar with house-made pizzas and small bites. Swan Dive is a great choice if you’re looking for a family-friendly restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere. If your kids are big fans of pizza, they won’t be disappointed as there’s quite a variety to choose from.
- The Original Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
Location: 99 Court Street, Rochester, NY 14604
Come for the food, stay for the Blues! Check out their nationally acclaimed real pit BBQ and smoking live Blues. Serving late night till midnight and 1:00 am on weekends.
If you’re looking for some delicious barbecue, then you need to head to The Original Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. Located near the Genesee Riverway Promenade, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que offers your family a great venue for enjoying amazing meals and panoramic views of the surroundings. The restaurant is known for its smoked meats and home-style sides, both of which are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. And if your kids are really hungry, they can try one of the restaurant’s Dino-sized meals.
- The Owl House
Location: 75 Marshall St, Rochester, NY 14607
After a day of play at the Strong National Museum of Play, one of the things I highly recommend doing with your kids in Rochester, take the 2-minute walk to the Owl House. The menu features a variety of entrees, sandwiches, and salads, all of which are sure to please your family. They’re also vegan and vegetarian-friendly for non-meat eaters. And if you’re looking for something sweet, the restaurant also has a wide selection of desserts.
- Bill Gray’s
Location: Multiple Locations
When in Rochester, you must stop by Bill Gray’s, home of the “World’s Greatest Cheeseburger.” The restaurant has a casual atmosphere, and the menu features a variety of American classics, like burgers, sandwiches, and salads. And if your kids are fans of ice cream, they’ll love the shakes and frozen custards that are made with Bill Gray’s signature ice cream.
- Genesee Brewhouse
Location: 25 Cataract St, Rochester, NY 14614
The Genesee Brew House has transformed the 9,200 square-foot space into a beer destination, featuring interactive exhibits, multimedia content, a gift shop, a pilot brewery and a pub-style restaurant. While the restaurant offers a variety of beers that are brewed on site, as well as a selection of local and imported beers for adults, the kids can choose from a variety of non-alcoholic beverages, like root beer and soda. The menu features a variety of American classics like burgers, sandwiches, salads, and a kids favorite, mac and cheese.
In Conclusion
There are many dining establishments in Rochester, and it would be impossible to dine at them all in one visit. However, the restaurants listed above are some of the best places to eat if you’re looking for a family-friendly restaurant. Each restaurant has something unique to offer, whether it’s delicious food, a relaxed atmosphere, or a great location. So, what are you waiting for? Head to one of these restaurants whenever you’re in Rochester and enjoy a meal with your family.
