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Restaurant 2 Vine
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
15 reviews for Restaurant 2 Vine
This week I had a business dinner at 2 Vine. The restaurant was selected by our customer so my first thought was to check Yelp beforehand. Given a 4 star average rating I had relatively high expectations even though Rochester NY isn't the best know town for fine dining. I can say that because I did grew up in Rochester and was very happy to be back for business.
The restaurant is not on the main drag (its off East Ave) so you need to know its there. The building that houses 2 Vine was originally built around the turn of the century as an ambulance garage. Later it was the new car prep garage for Hallman's Chevrolet. The building was vacant for many years until seeing new life as a downtown bistro. The second thing I noticed is a very open kitchen. The kitchen is just in the corner of restaurant so if you are into the chef's table thing where you get to watch the inner working of the kitchen, at this restaurant every table is a chef's table. I did find a little dark and one of my dinner guests was kind enough to provide a small medical flashlight to help me read the menu.
We started with a Calamari in demi glace sauce to share. A nice change from the typical flash fried Calamari and the house made bread was perfect for scooping up the left over demi glace sauce. I ordered the House Made Pappardelle with Bolognese. I thought the Pappardelle was a little thick and tough for house made pasta but the Bolognese with tender chunks of pulled pork made up for the slightly tough pasta. My dinner guests all had the fish special; rock fish and said it was excellent.
Unfortunately no one in my group was interested in desert. Just coffee.
I was in high school the last time I went here. It is actually owned by my co-worker's uncle. I went for lunch and at the time I was a vegetarian, so I was a little hesitant when I opened the menu and saw it was mostly seafood. The friend I was with was also a vegetarian, so when the waiter came to take our orders, we asked him if there were any veg options. He told us about a dish that he thought was delicious ... Breaded eggplant with farfalle pasta and pesto sauce. My friend and I both ordered it. It was one of the most delicious meals I'd ever had. I don't remember other details about the experience, just that the food was so good.
The food is flat and have found many restaurants with better fare. The last visit we had an endive salad that had very little flavor. Ravioli was store bought which was disappointing. Additionally, the staff was mediocre at best. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant.
I travel to Rochester two weeks out of every month, and have made 2Vine a regular stop when I am not working late. It is, quite simply, the best food in Rochester, and as good as it gets anywhere. I am well traveled, and consider myself lucky to travel so often to Rochester where I can dine here. Truly I am amazed that any of these reviews are less than 5 stars, I have tried pretty much everything on the menu, and have yet to be disappointed.
Went here ages ago for a celebratory dinner. Just delicious. The salmon was amazing. I'd go back.
The concept of "core competency" is in full force and effect here. It strives to be a fine french bistro with a twist, and it is a very competent (you will see said word used numerous times in this post) yet slightly uninspired fine dining restaurant. Order off the main menu, and you will be pleased with your choices. Go for the unusual (ie, specials), and you will disappointed that you didn't stick with the core competency.
Decently priced and varied wine list. Handsome dining area. All-ages--younger hipsters, middle ages cheesy rochy couples, some guy in a cheesy RED blazer, etc.
Bar area is uber-packed. We asked to move from our bar table to someting "a bit more quiet" and were seated at an out of the way back table (perfection under the ciircumstances). Competent if unspired service. Excellent salad Lyonnaise (frisee, bacon, egg) and perfectly cooked steak frites for me. Came out rare-medium rare, ordered rare. Pommes frites were massive in quantity and flavor.
The overall experience is 4 star for UNY.
Oh Two Vine.
A Rochester staple for many years now, Two Vine delivers a credible New American experience in upstate NY, far from the state's gastronomy center in the NYC. The menu has remained consistent over the years, excelling in standards such as the Belgian Endive salad, the Steak Frittes and Calamari. Seasonal fare changes the texture and delivery of meals, with roasted hearty vegetables and meats in winter - versus lighter fare in summer.
The environment is one of Two Vine's strengths. A gut rehab of an older building, ample brick and woodwork is in evidence everywhere. Seating in the glassy front bar area is a bit fresher and more open, but the preferred area continues to be in the main dining room. It may seem tight for some, but it lends a cozy and intimate air to dining. A nice touch is the family-style table by the coffee counter, and near the kitchen. Good luck getting this table for your party, as it is usually preferred by the restaurants most loyal patrons.
The wine selection is extensive, and honestly far beyond my usual needs - so its likely to please most ardent upstate wine enthusiast. The bar continues to excel in mixology, so make sure to start every meal with a cocktail!
Two Vine's staff is extremely attentive and courteous, and willing to accommodate most requests. If your tastes run to interncontinental-new american cuisine, and you find yourself in Rochester - give 2 Vine a try.
The best steak I've had in Rochester yet. It was perfectly cooked too. We've also tried the mussels and frites, bouillabaisse, and duck; never once disappointed.
Well-known in Rochester, but they're resting on those laurels. Tucked away from any heavy traffic, 2 Vine occupies a rustic building with ceiling-high windows. There are two sides to the restaurant.. the dining room (inside without windows) and for lack of a better word, the other side (with windows). We had reservations and opted to sit on the side with windows, which had a wall of all old mirrors (odd). Noted this side is busier as it contains the bar and is usually packed, but not too noisy.
The menu is not spectacular, I had a tough time choosing something different. The girlfriend ordered crab cakes, which were perfect and less cake-y than many places. I ordered their fish du jour, which was perfectly flaky, but without any real flavor. Dessert was a panna cotta, they're best dessert on the menu.
Also, they have grappa on the drink menu. Not sure if any else in Rochester has it, but it's worth trying for those who have never had it. One of the better restaurants in Rochester, but it lacks any real punch for it to be considered the best fine dining around. 3 stars for not trying anymore.
2 Vine is a haven of refinement and fine dining.
The food at 2 Vine is excellent. The menu and specials prominently feature seafood, although poultry and meat are also given showcases. The clams and iced seafood platters are popular, presented well, and quite good. The numerous and inventive specials can be difficult to keep in mind, and choosing from among them can be a challenge. I don't allow this to become a significant source of concern, as nothing I've tried has been a disappointment.
The meal is optimally structured as a series of courses, an approach the menu suggests but doesn't dictate. The wait-staff is flexible and accommodating; they ask the order in which the dishes should arrive without making overt recommendations (although I'm sure they would if asked). This gives each dining party a relaxed freedom to shape the meal as befits the occasion. The moderate size of each dish ensures that the table will not be overburdened.
The dining room is a bright and airy space with generous wood accents, large windows, and a tile floor that together give the impression that a marina is just outside. The dining room has a comfortable vitality, which arises largely from the motion of and conversations between the patrons as they stroll through the dining room. The long bar in the middle of the dining room is a pleasant hub of activity; dining parties often meet there before being seated. Frequently members of one dining party will pause by a table to greet those of another. This congenial atmosphere invites comparisons to an affluent social club, however this is not to imply that 2 Vine has an exclusionary air about it - it doesn't. Instead, 2 Vine cultivates a cordial atmosphere and welcomes all who appreciate the food and ambiance.
For those unfamiliar with 2 Vine, it is an outstanding option for a variety of semi-formal and business occasions. It is an obvious choice for times when business associates and their significant others dine together. It also serves as an excellent selection for those in town for a conference or other business and interested in catching up with or continuing conversations with associates over dinner. Families celebrate graduations and other significant milestones at 2 Vine. It's also a fine restaurant for solitary couples on special occasions, although I wouldn't classify 2 Vine as having a romantic atmosphere - it's not intimate enough and the illumination is cheery rather than subdued. This is not a criticism - to change the atmosphere would be to ruin one of the most pleasing aspects of 2 Vine.
This was my standby, fancy occasion, someone else is paying place to go in Rochester. They have a "plat pour deux" of a cote de boeuf--which is the absolute best steak frites I have ever had in my entire life. And as you can tell from my list, it's something I care very deeply about.
Why is a star knocked off? Bar prices. Some stuff was just a bit out of line for what and where this place is (I don't want to pay Boston/NYC prices for a cocktail in Rochester.)
I could ramble on as I did in the previous version of this review but I wont. I appreciate the email from a manager of 2vine, addressing my issues with the experience. I didn't need a lesson in restaurant management as I had worked in the restaurant/bar industry for a few years myself, but anyways...
There were one or two things that were merely the result of confusion on our part as guests and I apologize for that ( the sharing charge). Other than that the letter was rather arrogant and minimized whatever I was dissatisfied with, but none the less I appreciate that someone took the time to address the review it shows that they take pride in their establishment.
Basically what it boils down to is that I thought 2Vine was good, but certainly not great. With all of the reviews out there (and I read many of them on yelp and other places before going) I expected a great dinner experience and I was let down. In the letter that I received from the manager it implied that my review on yelp was the only less than fabulous review ever received by 2vine.....im sorry but that still doesnt make it the best restaurant in town. In my opinion (and thats what yelp is all about) there are far better establishments in rochester, that offer not only a unique menu, but a enchanting experience to go along with it.
After reading Andre F.'s review I had to come to 2 Vines defense. I have eaten here at least a dozen times that I can remember which means it's probably more like 2 dozen. I have never had a bad meal, the service is always attentive and while it's a bit too loud sometimes, and can get hot in the summer, I feel this is one of Rochester's fun restaurants. The menu is bistro in nature and it's one of the only restaurants in town to serve pate. Their antipasto plate is the best. And they make a mean French martini!
Two Vine has never disappointed me. I've eaten here at least a dozen times and have always had a good experience. They have excellent "in season" ravioli, such as butternut squash, which is heavenly. The buttery richness leaves an indelible mark on your food memory. Two Vine's pom frittes are spectacular. The fried calamari is another good choice - though I don't know if it's always on the meny - nice and crispy and full of flavor. And Their steaks are always cooked to perfection. The only negative comment I have concerns the bread. It comes in these very cute white paper sacks, but it is so damn chewy that you think you might lose a tooth in it. Something needs to be done about that! Oh, and if you want to actually talk to the person(s) you are dining with, then please don't sit on the barside. It's deafening.
One of my greatest dining pet peeves is restaurants who take reservations but don't actually reserve tables. Such seems to be the case at 2 Vine, where we (and many other people who came in around the same time we did) waited about 25 minutes to be seated.
Our server was wonderful, and encouraged us to "take our time" in between be seated, ordering cocktails and appetizers, ordering dinner, and ordering dessert. This is how it should be, despite the tacky fine print about tables only be reserved for 2 hours.
We had the calamari with cajun remoulade to start, and it was as good as I remember it being 9 years ago (we just moved back to the area). Perfectly crispy outside and perfectly tender inside, with absolutely no rubbery chewiness.
The menu as a whole impressed, and we had a hard time deciding. I love the idea of the platters, but we ended going with individual entrees: homemade cavatelli with house made sausage and rapini, and mussels in a white wine shallot sauce served with pommes frites. Oh, we had such high expectations for our meal...and why not, in such a lovely dining room, with such high spirited clientele and chic-looking staff (though the tablecloth-as-apron decision was a mistake. They looked like they were wearing bath towels, and the knot in the back just put everyone's bum on display).
In the end, our meal was good, but no more than that. The homemade pasta had a delicious fresh taste, but was overcooked, which is inexcusable. The sausage had a kick of flavor, but was quickly overpowered with saltiness. The rapini was the star of the dish, and I wished for more of it. The mussels themselves were fresh and tasted perfect, but the sauce was a disappointment, both in taste and quantity.
I can rarely pass up dessert, so we each got an espresso and shared a creme brulee, on the recommendation of our server. The coffee was superb, the creme brulee markedly less so. Thin custard, and the whole thing free-standing with a chocolate bottom shell...??? Not necessary, and not a useful addition.
2 Vine is certainly a good restaurant, but it does not rise above. I might try it once more, when more local and fresh produce is available in the summer months.
