The Gate House — Restaurant in City of Rochester

Nestled in the heart of Rochester, New York, The Gatehouse Cafe stands as a beacon of culinary excellence, and I recently had the pleasure of indulging in their burger creations that left me utterly delighted. From the moment I stepped through the charming entrance, I knew I was in for a treat that would tantalize my taste buds in the most delightful way possible.

As a passionate burger enthusiast, I hold my expectations high when it comes to these iconic comfort food creations. The Gatehouse Cafe did not disappoint in the slightest. Their burger offerings are a testament to the artistry of blending flavors and textures into a harmonious symphony that I won't soon forget.

The standout was undoubtedly their signature "Gatehouse Gourmet Burger." Every bite of this culinary masterpiece was a journey of pure bliss. The patty, cooked to perfection, was a juicy and flavorful canvas upon which a medley of toppings danced in perfect harmony. The attention to detail was evident in each layer – from the decadent melted cheese that enveloped the patty to the fresh and crisp lettuce and tomato that added a burst of freshness to every mouthful.

But it wasn't just the exquisite flavors that captured my heart; it was the dedication to quality that truly set The Gatehouse Cafe apart. The ingredients were top-notch, and the care put into every aspect of the meal was evident. The brioche bun was soft and buttery, providing a delightful contrast to the savory and smoky notes of the patty.

What's more, the experience extended beyond the burgers themselves. The attentive and friendly staff at The Gatehouse Cafe added to the overall enjoyment. Their knowledge of the menu and willingness to accommodate dietary preferences ensured that every diner felt right at home. The cozy yet modern ambiance of the cafe provided the perfect backdrop for savoring every bite and soaking in the inviting atmosphere.

And let's not forget the sides – the hand-cut fries were perfection, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Paired with a selection of house-made dipping sauces, they were an irresistible complement to the star of the show.

As a burger enthusiast, finding a place that truly understands and elevates the art of burger-making is a rare delight. The Gatehouse Cafe in Rochester, New York, not only met but exceeded my expectations. It's a haven for those seeking not just a meal, but an experience that celebrates the beauty of culinary creativity. Whether you're a local or a visitor, this is a destination that deserves a spot on your must-visit list. With its delectable burgers, impeccable service, and inviting ambiance, The Gatehouse Cafe has secured its place in my heart as a burger lover's paradise that I can't wait...

Kind but forgetful service (never received our drinks), lovely atmosphere, shockingly bland and at times outrageously overpriced food.

Cauliflower Steak ("center cut") Received a 4-5" long, almost quarter inch thin slice of Cauliflower. It was perhaps 1 of 5-6 slices you could get of that size from an average sized head of cauliflower. No more than 4 bites worth of food. It was in a nearly flavorless breading that was completely sogged through with deep fryer oil, burned black on the bottom. This cost $22 and is to date the worst value proposition of anything I have ever seen ordered in a restaurant. The amount of oil soaked into the breading was disgusting - push down on it and wash it seep out. It did come with a salad, which was quite good, however was also 90-95% of the plate.

Vegan Pizza Good but bland crust, almost flavorless sauce, flavorless cheese, pepperoni that was truly flavorless. Cheese flavorless as well. Most bland pizza we've ever had, truly shocking that it's even possible to create something so devoid of flavor. $22 for a medium sized pizza.

Garlic Fries Average crispy fries, if there was garlic it wasn't detectable. Perhaps they served us plain fries, but regardless they were subpar for a sit-down restaurant.

Chocolate Hazelnut Pie We ordered a slice, we got two tiny triangles of pie that put together were almost completely obscured by the head of our fork. There was chocolate sauce around the pie that was almost definitively Hershey's syrup. For this corn-syrup drizzled half-slice of pie, they charged $9. It was in fact quite excellent, and the price is fair if they would just provide an actual slice of pie.

Onion Rings Great beer batter, but appears they used frozen onion. If you want to eat a basket of excellent beer batter these are awesome, if you're looking for an actual onion ring you will be disappointed.

Vegan Meatballs While the texture and flavor of these was not quite right, the adornment with sauce and especially the cashew crema made them wonderful. The crema/mozzarella topper is one of the better things we've experienced in a restaurant, and the reason for 2 stars instead of 1. If this was the only item we had ordered, review might be 5 stars for how excellent this one part of one dish was. $19 for two (admittedly giant) meatballs is a bit much, but at least it was an inventive dish, that is certainly labor intensive to create, and offers something unique...

My husband and I had dinner at the Gate House on Saturday July 15th. Our meal was fine – fairly average pizza, nothing memorable. When our server Scott brought our bill, my husband put his Visa in the folder. Scott came back to our table, said, “Ok, let me go run this for you…” and disappeared with our credit card for a few minutes. When he returned, he put the folder back on the table and said, “Wait, let me grab you a pen….” He came back with a pen, thanked us and said good night. When we looked at the slip inside the folder, there didn’t seem to be a space to write in a tip & final amount so my husband just added those items on his own and signed the receipt. It did look a little weird but we’re Canadian, where all restaurants now bring the payment terminal right to your table so your credit card never leaves your sight.

Shortly after we left, we got a call from the restaurant (we’d had to wait for a table so they had our phone number from the waitlist), saying we hadn’t paid our bill. What?

“Yes, your server said he never received a credit card from you, that he came back to your table and you’d just disappeared.”

Are you serious? If he was really busy and somehow forgot to run our credit card, I can chalk that up to a simple mistake – call us, apologize and get our credit card number. But to deny we’d ever given him a card and imply that we’re liars and thieves who intentionally ran out on our bill? If he never saw our credit card, how did he know we weren’t paying cash? Why did he bring us a pen if he never received a credit card from us? Why say good night & thanks if he thought we weren’t done with the transaction? If he didn’t run our card, where did it go when he took it away for several minutes? It just doesn’t add up. I understand that mistakes happen but this was dealt with in such an unprofessional and insulting manner that when we gave our credit card number over the phone, we removed any tip from the transaction. With the plethora of restaurants in Rochester, I’d recommend you...