Fifth Frame Brewing Co. — Restaurant in City of Rochester

I went back and forth about what to give for a rating so I will just have to break it down.

We went out for beer and then food so they get a 4 of 5 stars. The beer was great and the had a decent selection as far as different types.

The staff was friendly and engaging from the beginning. She was knowledgeable about the beers.

The food was where they really need work.

Taste/Flavor- 3 stars Portion size-2.5 stars. The burger was small. Value- 1 star. The burger was not worth $18. The bun was from a value pack and not in line with the price point of the burger. Fries were under cooked. The aioli was good and nice complement to the fries.

Looking over the reviews and pictures from 5 years ago, it looks like the food menu was much better. Not sure what happened but they might want to get someone back to revamp the menu.

2025 update I was seriously hoping that the third time would be the charm, but Fifth Frame again disappointed me. On the plus side, it was great to have the table ready for us when we got there, as there was a bit of a wait.

Conversation at this place is nearly impossible, as the acoustics are terrible. It is also extremely loud, and they try to pack a lot of people in a small area.

Service has not improved since the last time I was here seven months ago. Drinks were slow to come out, but the food was fairly reasonable. A second drink was ordered, and then food came out. It was not until after we asked for the check that the waitress noticed that we had never received it and tried to play it off as someone else not bringing it. There were no back servers noted, so nice try. It was fifteen minutes to wait for the check.

We had a "Fried Chicken and "The Burger" Sandos, both with fries.

The fries were cooked to perfection. My wife had the chicken, and while the flavor was much as expected, she felt that something was missing. The bun was not "weak" for the size of the checked breast. It was comparable to a regular hamburger bun from an 8-pack from Wegmans.

I had the burger. It was not worth the $18. It did not seem like a 1/3 lb precooked burger—the same issue with the bun. If this is the price point of burgers, that's okay, but your product needs to be comparable. This was not. I had the same issue when they were located on St Paul St...

Fifth Frame opened in October 2017 with food and their own coffee, and started serving their craft brewed beer in December 2017. For a place so new, they definitely have their act together.

My wife and I started with a Café Mocha and I have to say it was one of the best in my life. One of the secrets is their use of chocolate ganache from a local baker. This so beats the syrup that is typically used, or even a high-quality powder. The latte art on top was also well done and added to the presentation. I could have sat here drinking a few of these and been very happy.

Food was darn good. I had the bean burger and was equally impressed. Again, it was one of the best I ever had. My wife had one of the omelet sandwiches and was equally impressed. You must try the carrot and potato hash. It was more of a home fry than a hash, but it was absolutely delicious and enough for two to share. Biscuits and cinna. On butter were outstanding.

My table split a piece of "birthday cake" for dessert. This expertly made treat was two layers of very moist and dense chocolate cake, separated by a coffee buttercream (or so I think), covered by white icing and a layer of ganache. Oh my...this was amazing.

Overall, the menu was small and somewhat limited, but everything was high-quality and well prepared. I can't wait to see how it is expanded over time.

For coffee, they had a single-farm Guatemalan today which was excellent. So many subtle and complex flavor notes. Really good. They also offer cold brew, I believe on nitro too.

We got to taste a few of their beers as well. They offer many unique styles including a Kentucky Common and a Rye Pilsner. Everything we tried was very well made. I can't wait to come back and tip back a few pints.

I spoke at length with Wade, one of the partners. His knowledge of food science, brewing and roasting is deep and impressive. This knowledge really shows up in Fifth Frames products.

Make your way down here. This place...

Five Stars Isn’t enough! We had an incredible experience here at their new location for the first time and are already planning our next visit! The carnitas tacos were a standout—tender, flavorful meat paired perfectly with cheese, crisp slaw, and tangy pickled onions. Street tacos can sometimes get soggy or fall apart, but not these. The tortillas held up beautifully while still keeping the inside moist and juicy—absolutely perfect.

Then came the burger… wow. Cooked perfectly, the flavor of the patty was amazing on its own, but the caramelized onion jam took it to another level. Just when we thought it couldn’t get better, the smoked provolone and chipotle mayo showed up and completely sealed the deal. Every bite was packed with rich, balanced flavor.

We also shared the tempura veggie appetizer, and it was chef’s kiss. Light, crispy coating with perfectly cooked veggies (no sogginess in sight), and the dipping sauces—barbecue and ponzu—were both delicious in their own right.

The atmosphere added to the whole experience: bright, clean, and with a laid-back, welcoming vibe. This place nails both the food and the energy. We left full, happy, and already craving more. Can’t wait...