Rose Tavern — Restaurant in City of Canandaigua

I didn't go to a ton of restaurants during our Finger Lakes excursion, but this was one of the better ones. My cousin chums and I stopped by here for dinner this past Saturday right when it opened at 5pm (my kind of dinner time). Despite getting there so early there was a short wait/line in front of us, along with some bar patrons who'd clearly been on the premises for a while waiting for the kitchen to open again. Regardless, we were able to easily secure seating in a room with lake views - not their "main" seating area, but almost an atrium-like section; I'm sure it has a very sophisticated name that is beyond me. Anyway. Predictably a lot of nautical, Vineyard Vines vibes throughout, and all of the rooms we ended up in were super spacious, with high barn rafter style ceilings.

My palate wasn't feeling too boozy so I just opted for a refreshing nip. I don't see it on the online menu, but it was basically a rose spritz. Perfectly fine and did the job. One of my cousins got a little rambunctious and decided to go with a S'mores Old Fashioned which I tried - definitely too sweet for my palate, but she was quite pleased with it. I tend to like the smokier variations of this drink if you're going to get a little crazy.

I'd accidentally grabbed a few burgers on the way up here so I wasn't quite as hungry as I wanted to be - otherwise I very likely would have hit up some of the scrumptious meats I saw being prepped in the open kitchen (the steaks looked pretty legit). Instead I just got the burrata app with I believe a peach puree of sorts. Definitely tasty with a great presentation (everything that showed up on the table looked spiffy and magazine spread ready), and I enjoyed the accompanying bread. This is more of a personal palate issue, but I tend to double-down on the savory when it comes to burrata, rather than dancing around with balsamic reduction and other sweet shizzle, but that's on me. Again, I did not put myself in a position to succeed earlier in the day.

The service was pretty good. Our waitress was very nice and offered some personal opinions about the menu (which I always like). She was a little less attentive in the second half of the meal as the place got more crowded, but nothing egregious in that regard.

Would come back, but I'd want to get a little more aggressive with both the dinner and cocktail menus - I feel like I didn't totally tap into the biggest selling points for this...

The Rose Tavern is a disaster from the word go when it comes to dinner. We arrived on time- but it took fifteen minutes to get seated for a party of 9 despite a half full restaurant. There was a line of people waiting on the one hostess who was doing her best with no support from the management staff. After seating, we tried to order wine. We ordered three different times, each time being told the wines selected were not in stock. How do you have a Wine Spectator rated wine list and not keep it stocked? Each time we had to increase in price till we found something they actually had on the fourth try. However, it took over and hour for the wine to arrive. We had ordered appetizers for the whole party at the same time- which also took over an hour! For the first one hour and fifteen minutes, we had water- nothing else at all. When the wine and apps finally arrived, we ordered our main courses. Over an hour lapsed again before they were delivered, in spurts, over 10 minutes so each part of the table starting eating so their food would not get cold. We had now been at the restaurant over 3 full hours. When we asked to speak to a manager, he did nothing but makes excuses- there is a wedding rehearsal dinner on property so we are stretched, we always wait for apps to be delivered with wine (which is ludicrous), the kitchen was strained, you should have had a prix fixe menu (we we never told that or offered it, so how is that our fault??), and on he went. When we asked why the wine and apps took so long- the food and beverage manager was very busy delivering two other bottles....so he could not handle three tables in under an hour?????? His "solution" was to offer a $100 credit on a $2000 bill and free desserts. Are. You. Joking? You want us to sit around another hour at 1030 PM for mediocre free desserts???

This place suffers from horrible management. The sad part is, the wine list is in fact very good, if it were properly managed, the food is fine, not great, and the space is nice. The staff tries hard- our poor server could not apologize and try any harder, but could not get any help at all. But the management is incompetent, rude and simply a stain on...

During my recent stay at The Lake House on Canandaigua, I had the opportunity to dine at The Rose Tavern, and it was truly one of the highlights of the trip. Set within the resort, The Rose Tavern offers a warm, inviting atmosphere that perfectly balances elegance with a relaxed, lakeside feel. It’s the kind of place where you can enjoy a sophisticated meal without feeling out of place in casual attire, which was ideal after a full day of meetings and activities.

Our group gathered for dinner in the Rose Room, and it was the perfect setting for an intimate yet lively dining experience. The service was impeccable from start to finish, and the food—well, it exceeded every expectation.

Two standout dishes for me were the lamb shank and the filet. The lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone tender, with rich, deep flavors that spoke to hours of careful preparation. It was served with seasonal vegetables and a perfectly balanced sauce that enhanced the meat without overpowering it. Every bite was delicious and comforting.

The filet was equally impressive. Cooked to a perfect medium-rare, it was incredibly tender and flavorful. The accompanying sides were thoughtfully prepared, and the presentation was elegant without being fussy. It’s clear that the kitchen takes great pride in sourcing high-quality ingredients and letting them shine in each dish.

The farm-to-table concept at The Rose Tavern really stood out, as everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully crafted. The wine list was also excellent, with a great selection of local Finger Lakes wines that complemented the meal beautifully.

In summary, The Rose Tavern is a must-visit for anyone staying at The Lake House or in the Canandaigua area. The combination of expertly prepared dishes, attentive service, and a charming setting made for a memorable dining experience. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just looking for a great meal, The Rose Tavern delivers. I highly recommend trying the lamb shank or filet—you won’t be...