Get your BBQ fix at Dinosaur Bar-B-Q’s downtown Rochester location. Founded near Albany at a Harley motorcycle event with a 55 gallon drum cut in half, Dinosaur BBQ has long believed that everyone should have access to good quality bbq cooked the right way. After 5 years as an on-the-road business Dinosaur Bar-B-Q settled down in Syracuse, NY and has added nine additional locations. Located across the Northeast, the locations all offer some of the best barbecue and sides you’ll find. When talking about my upcoming trip to Rochester the one place that kept coming up was Dinosaur BBQ, everyone was adamant that I needed to find a way to eat there. Luckily on our last night in Rochester, Dinosaur Bar-B-Q catered our meal at Genesee Country Village & Museum so I got to enjoy the food so highly recommended - and they weren’t wrong! The bar-b-q had a great flavor throughout and was super moist and delicious. Even the sides were great - everyone knows a good mac and cheese and some baked beans so terrific with bar-b-q, and these didn’t disappoint. This was one of those meals where you definitely go back for seconds. For more information on Dinosaur BBQ, check their website, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
Stop to grab a bite to eat at Wegmans, a family owned & operated grocery store chain founded in Rochester. If you’ve never been inside Wegmans, it may sound slightly crazy to suggest stopping at a grocery store on vacation, but these stores truly have something for every in easy grab and buffet options. You’ll find pizza, hot food, Mediterranean, Asian and wing bars in almost every Wegmans, plus individual fruit cups, desserts, drinks, chips & more. There is also a comfortable seating area with a special area for kids to sit and enjoy a tv show. Wegmans has a restaurant vibe with plenty of food and drink options to suit every taste in your family, including gluten, dairy, and allergen free options clearly labeled. It’s also a great spot to grab some snacks or drinks to stock up your cooler for the rest of your trip. The Wegmans we toured, located in Pittsford, was commonly called the flagship store by not just the wonderful Wegmans staff, but by customers we talked to as well. It’s where they try out any new programs they’d like to roll out to the other stores to see how it works in actuality. Currently, the Pittsford Wegmans is working on a Mexican food bar that I can totally get behind with the fresh salsa, guac, chips, and of course tacos, burritos & more. Wegmans offers great grab & go options to take back to your hotel or rental to enjoy. Their meals are packaged to reheat easy & with small portion sizes to cut out the need for saving leftovers. With two million dollars invested in each store before the opening to train employees and show them all aspects of customer service & the store offerings, it’s no wonder so many people love Wegmans. For more information on Wegmans, check their website, Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.
Take in the views and grab a bite inside Glen Iris Inn, the country home of William P. Letchworth, the founder of Letchworth State Park. Letchworth wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of city life so he built his home near the stunning Pryor Falls, which many say rivals nearby Niagara Falls in beauty. Letchworth loved his home and the surrounding area so much he instructed his staff to open his doors to anyone who knocked and to offer a drink or food. Letchworth spent the later years of his life studying society and how the poor, sick and neglected children are treated. He knew eventually he wanted to turn Glen Iris into an orphanage, but the only way to do that was to turn over the home and his one thousand acres to the state of New York to be turned into a State Park. The Glen Iris Estate turned into the Glen Iris Inn, where it currently serves breakfast, lunch & dinner year-round in an upscale dining environment. Right outside the Inn is the magnificent Pryor Falls, one of the most beautiful falls in Letchworth State Park. For more information on the Glen Iris Inn, including meals and stay reservations, check their website.
Take a sip of the delicious Lilac Hill wine, my personal favorite, or any of their other award winning wines at Casa Larga Vineyards and Winery. Casa Larga has award winning wines that will fit any taste preference. Open year round for tastings, it’s a great way to try out the wines created by Casa Larga before visiting the wine shop to purchase your favorite(s). Tours are offered spring through fall, with seasonal tours available during the winter. Keep an eye on Casa Larga’s calendar, events are held throughout the year and are always a good time. For more info, please check their website, Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.
Grab a brew or bite at Genesee Brew House, located right on the Genesee River in downtown Rochester. With over 125 years of brewing greatness, Genesee Beer is well known not just in the Rochester area, but throughout the United States. Genesee Brew House has sixteen taps delivering the freshest beer, with two of those taps reserved for guest brews, and traditional pub fare including sandwiches, wings, salads, and appetizers. Whether you sit at the 41-foot bar, handcrafted by employees from vintage cedar tanks that were part of the original brewery campus, outdoor terrace or rooftop patio, you’ll be treated to great food & brew in a fun environment. For more information on Genesee Brew House or where to find Genesee beer in Central PA, check their website, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
A huge thank you goes out to Visit Rochester, who kindly hosted 50 Macaroni Kid publisher from across the country for a three day stay in beautiful Rochester. To find out more info about these great locations and dozens more in the Rochester area request a Visitors Guide HERE or check out Visit Rochester's website.
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