Nerdvana Rochester — Restaurant in City of Rochester

Super fun! As part of a Rochester vacation, we started the day off with the Museum and Science Center, then the Strong Museum of Play, and ended at Nerdvana to rest our feet! This was convenient as the Strong museum is right across the street. We parked over at the Hampton Inn and walked across the street to Nerdvana.

How it works: it's first-come, first-serve (no reservations), and anyone under 18 must have an adult with them. You'll enter and choose your console (PS5, XBOX, or Switch), and you'll be informed that you need to spend a minimum of $15 on food/drink (very easy and very low cost), for unlimited playtime.

You'll sit at a table with a TV screen and pick your poison! They also have a modest boardgame library as well. We didn't play from there this time, but if we ever come back to Rochester, it'll definitely make it into the rotation.

Food/drink: 10/10, exceptional. We got the short rib poutine, coconut shrimp, and about 5 different drinks (I can recall up to the elven elixir, moonstone LLD, tart of darkness, and butter beer). The poutine was amazing-- the fries were just the right amount of crispy (it's the worst when the fries sog up and get weak), the short rib was tender and juicy, the cheese and gravy were perfect as well. It was a well-balanced dish and perfect for sharing. The coconut shrimp was also great, crunchy, big, and paired perfectly with the sauce. The drinks were all exceptional, with the butterbeer as a dessert! Total was something like $130, which I count as a decent price for that many cocktails and the entertainment factor.

Facilities: my only complaint is that the benches are just this side of too shallow-- it was a tiny bit uncomfortable, I felt like I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. But everything else was amazing-- the booths are separated from one another, and the bathrooms (5 or so single stalls) were clean, had paper towels and an indicator light over each one to show whether it was occupied or not (green/red-- not sure how color-blind friendly it is, but it worked for me).

Games: we played for about 4 hours on a Friday, from 4pm to almost 8, and we saw a lot of other parties come and go. However, we didn't feel pressured to leave or keep ordering, and staff were always on hand to help with technical difficulties (all user error). We were a little confused as to how we could get additional games (I think the cap on a non-logged in PS5 is 10 games), and looking around, other tables had different varieties of games. But we were happy with playing COD MW zombies and fall flat (the hilariousness of fall flat only increases with alcohol, and zombies gets the blood pumping). Other games on our particular console included Rocket League and Fortnite, and I can't remember the others.

Location: great location in the "neighborhood of play." After Nerdvana, we took a walk around and checked out the area, and went down to the movie in the park (they were playing Soul). You can definitely spend the whole day in the area if you want! There are lots of bars, restaurants, and of course the Museum of Play....

Love the idea of a gaming restaurant theme, but the food and service are terrible. Overall, my boyfriend & I had a ‘meh’ experience. We were promptly greeted by the host, who informed us the wait would be about 20 minutes. No biggie. We went to the bar & ordered a couple of drinks. The bartender was great. I had mentioned that it was our first time at Nerdvana & asked for her recommendation on a drink from their cocktail list. She proceeded to ask what I like & gave her personal recommendations based off of my preferences. Amazing. Unfortunately, the excellent service ended at the bar. We were sat at a small, private booth and greeted by the ‘gaming master’, who we learned was not the server. We get settled into the booth, and excitedly browsed through the game options. Time had gone by, and we had empty drinks from the bar. (Mind, it was a Tuesday evening and there was little business) As a restaurant workers, we understand being short staffed so we patiently waited & continued to play our game of Rocket League. It had been 30-40 minutes of no server. I took the initiative to walk to the host stand to ask who our server was supposed to be because we hadn’t been greeted or given menus in almost 45 minutes. The host (who was amazing from the jump) immediately found the server for us. Our server was rude and rushed us through our order. Keep in mind, we have never been to Nerdvana, and did not have a menu to reference for 45 minutes. So we quickly ordered food; a brisket quesadilla for my boyfriend and a tomato soup & salad for me. I inquired about the carrot ginger soup on the menu, but our server informed us “it hadn’t come in yet”… so the concept of a “scratch kitchen” is obviously misconceived. Our food came out quick which was almost alarming, but we were hungry. My boyfriend (who is also a restaurant cook) did not enjoy the brisket quesadilla. It almost as if they mixed pulled pork & shaved steak & called it “brisket”. My soup was cold, and obviously from a bag. The “salad” or I should say ‘lettuce plate’ was small & had little to no vegetables. We ate what we could manage, asked for the check, and left right after. All in all, we will not be returning to Nerdvana, nor recommending it. I give 1 star to the excellent service from the host...

Nestled in the heart of the city, Nerdvana is an extraordinary restaurant that seamlessly combines mouthwatering cuisine with a vibrant and inviting atmosphere. From the moment you step through the door, it becomes abundantly clear that this establishment is not your ordinary eatery. Nerdvana exudes an unmistakable charm that caters to the inner geek in all of us. Let's begin with the food. I had the pleasure of indulging in their beef short ribs, mashed potatoes, and carrots, complemented by a side of Mac and cheese. The flavors were simply divine, a true testament to the culinary prowess of chef Norell. The beef short ribs were succulent and tender, with an explosion of flavor with each bite. The mashed potatoes were creamy and rich, while the carrots provided a delightful sweetness. And let's not forget about the Mac and cheese, which was the epitome of comfort food perfection. Each component of the dish was meticulously prepared and expertly balanced, resulting in a culinary masterpiece that left me craving for more. Beyond the delectable cuisine, what truly sets Nerdvana apart is its enchanting atmosphere. As you enter, you are immediately greeted by an ambiance that is both light-hearted and refreshing. One of the standout features of Nerdvana is the presence of game consoles at each table. This ingenious addition adds an element of interactive entertainment to your dining experience. While waiting for your meal to arrive, you can engage in friendly competition with your companions, whether it's an intense match of Super Smash Bros, a nostalgic battle in Golden eye or an leisurely virtual putt putt golf experience. It's a brilliant concept that brings people together, fostering a sense of camaraderie and excitement. It's a place where geeks and enthusiasts can come together and revel in their shared passions. The staff at Nerdvana deserve special mention as well. From the moment we walked in, we was greeted by friendly and attentive servers who were knowledgeable about the menu and eager to provide recommendations. They created a warm and welcoming environment, ensuring that every aspect of our dining experience was enjoyable...