Happy Gut Sanctuary — Restaurant in City of Rochester

I don’t have an easy time choosing favorites of literally anything, but it is beyond easy for me to say that this is hands down my favorite place in Rochester and that there is not even a close second to that. Every time I have been here the staff has been warm and welcoming, the kombucha is the best I’ve ever had, everything else I’ve tried on the menu has been amazing, and since they started selling plants it has been my favorite place to pick up things on my wishlist and get advice for growing them. The small events they’ve had have also been a pleasure to show up for and the owner does a great job partnering with and highlighting some other real gems in Rochester. As a personal note, I’m not from NY, and moving here as a queer person without knowing anyone or having any sense of community was terrifying, but this is one of the few places I’ve found where I’ve felt genuinely welcomed and comfortable. I’ve lived all over the country and places this special are incredibly rare, and I think we’re very lucky to have a place like this...

I sadly cannot give this place a good rating for the horrible ramen that my friend and I had.

We came here specifically for ramen and we both had probably the worst ramen we’ve ever tasted. The broth ruined the experience for us. It was soo so bland. Tasted like water, with no trace of salt or any flavor at all. I even went down to ask for some soy sauce to add to it, which wasn’t enough to save it lol. We probably should have told the staff that we were really unhappy with it, but alas. The rest of the ramen components were good but overshadowed by that broth! The ramen was also served in a plastic bowl which we thought was strange for the price. I also had the black sesame latte which was just ok, the sesame was not very flavorful and it was very diluted by the milk.

I give this an extra star for the cool setting of this place and the cute barista with the cool hair. However, we will not be back, for that ramen was truly...

Happy Gut Sanctuary is one of my favorite Rochester gems to visit regularly. Their literal award winning kombucha is flavorful and clearly carefully crafted with layers of flavor in each tea. The team at Happy Gut is so friendly and are always happy to answer any questions I may have, they offer samples of ferments on tap and help you pick out what works best for you. It’s amazing to see Catt and the team partner with other food and beverage creatives and host an array of events both food and community related. During their time in the beautiful Hungerford building, they’ve also added some delicious food items to their menu, and an incredible na/mock tail menu for happy hour. There’s literally a little something for everyone, and if you’re into plants, Catt has you...