Carnegie Cellars Wine Bar & Kitchen — Restaurant in City of Rochester

A Royal Evening at Carnegie Cellars: The Best Dining Experience We’ve Ever Had

Every time we’ve visited Carnegie Cellars, we’ve left feeling special — but during a recent visit to celebrate a career milestone for my husband, we were truly treated like royalty. This wasn’t just a meal — it was a celebration of care, attention, and joy, orchestrated by a team that clearly loves what they do.

The food, as always, was exceptional. Each dish was perfectly prepared, and the wine pairings — expertly recommended by the incredibly knowledgeable staff — introduced us to varietals and vineyards we’d never discovered before. We’ve made some of our favorite wine discoveries thanks to their thoughtful guidance.

But what made this evening unforgettable were the people: Aime, Erica, Mike (the owner), Lauren, Phil, and Chef — each played a role in creating a night we’ll treasure forever. From the complimentary champagne toast to the celebratory table flower, to the countless small touches that made us feel seen and appreciated, every detail was infused with warmth and joy.

What stands out most is the atmosphere of genuine fun and camaraderie among the staff. That joy is contagious. When the team is having a good time, you feel it as a guest. It’s the kind of place where hospitality isn’t just a job — it’s a shared experience, and you’re invited into it.

My husband and I both have experience in hospitality and dining, so we don’t say this lightly: this is the best restaurant staff we’ve ever encountered. We’ve always been impressed — even when we haven’t visited in a while, they remember us. But our most recent visit set a new bar for what hospitality can be.

Carnegie Cellars is a gem. We’re so grateful for the memories, the care, and the joy. We can’t...

We've had the privilege of dining at Carnegie twice now, and we're already looking forward to our next visit. The thing that continues to blow us away is the food. When going to a wine bar I expect charcuterie and some small bites, but I don't expect memorable dishes that will be used as a standard to judge against others. Case in point was the scallop appetizer special on the evening we were there. The freshness of the scallop was obvious, the flavor transcendent and the preparation perfect. This dish now joins one I had over 15 years ago in New England as best scallop preparation in my memory: not what I was expecting from a visit to a wine bar! Fear not, because the standard wine bar fare is also available, and I rate Carnegie's carefully curated charcuterie board complete with house-pickled vegetables as probably the best I've had, and with generous portions to boot. All of the food selections we've had have been excellent, with some, like the scallop appetizer, simply outstanding. Also of note is the fizzy Italian lambrusco on the wine menu, which transports me right back to my time in Italy eating dinners that lingered long into the evening with my family. The service has always been very good, with the staff knowledgeable about both food and wine options. Another plus: as someone with hearing loss I am able to hear and fully participate in conversations with others at my table while dining at Carnegie, making the visits all the more pleasant. I highly recommend a trip to Carnegie to savor epicurean delights of all kinds while enjoying the company...

On Saturday, January 20, I returned to Carnegie Cellars for the second time. The first time was right before Christmas and on both occasions have totally enjoyed the wine selection and the food preparation.

As we finished our dinner on January 20, I asked the server if I may have another glass of Cabernet and was totally surprised to be advised that our 90 minutes were up. I had no idea what she was speaking about. She proceeded to tell us that for party of two there is a 90 minute limit for dining. I looked at the person with whom I was dining and who made the reservation and she responded she never knew of such a policy. The server indicated we could move to the bar if we have food to finish.

Shortly thereafter, the owner came to our table and advised that this is clearly stipulated on the website and the confirmation of the reservation. I responded who reads the terms and conditions of a restaurant confirmation. Then the owner proceeded to start picking up our leftover food and commenced putting the food in take out boxes.

For me, I do not feel I will be able to return to this restaurant based on this policy as I felt excluded and not belonging because I was a party of two. There are plenty of restaurants in greater Rochester community that would continue selling us glasses of wine beyond 90 minutes. I would recommend to the restaurant that when there is a party of two arriving before seating your clients remind the diners that Carnegie Cellars has a policy of 90 minute time limit for...