Bologna Via Cucina — Restaurant in Rochester

This was my second visit. The first was easily a 5 star rating. Sadly, I could not say the same for my second.

To start with, they do not offer reservations. So, we had a 45 minute wait. We had entered off Main St, so we had to squeeze between people who were eating to check-in. There is nowhere for people who are waiting to sit as far as I could see. There might be seating available by the rear entrance to the restaurant, but we were not offered any. We were told that they would call when it was our turn and warned that if we did not answer, they would go to the next person. Due to the cold, we waited in our car.

When I commented that it would be nice to be able to have a reservation, the hostess flippantly declared that they are a small restaurant and if they took reservations, they would be filled up. Isn't that a good thing?

On to the food: the bread they brought out was good, but the oil was just plain. I am accustomed to some herbs being mixed in with the oil. To be fair, the bread is seasoned. Overall, not bad, but last time the oil came seasoned.

The fried artichoke appetizer was amazingly delicious and unexpected. Savory and tangy, I highly recommend it.

The house salad comes with chickpeas. Not a problem, just unexpected, so I felt I should mention it. They cut the cucumber slice in the middle, then carved out the center. I did not care for that because while it was pretty, the cucumber was mostly rind. The bulk of the house salad consisted of field greens. The tomatoes were fresh and good. The house dressing was very heavy on the vinegar and that ruined it for me. I did not finish after a few bites. I do not know if this is the normal flavor because last time I had soup.

The fettucine alfredo we both ordered had a great sauce and the chicken breast was seasoned well. Much better than Olive Garden. The noodles, however were mushy.

The service was very slow and I felt that the waitstaff was inattentive. They regularly checked on patrons who had wine near us, but left my soda cup empty while passing by multiple times to check on our neighbors who were sitting close enough that I could touch them.

The decor is nice and everything seemed clean, but the booth seat was torn and in need of reupholstery. For the price of the meals, that surprised me.

I would give them a shot again, but was disappointed by my visit. I ought to add that the pizzas...

We made reservations for this past Monday night for a friends birthday, I paid the $60 deposit for the 6 of us to have a table reserved. The table was ready when we arrived right on time and we were seated about 12 inches from the table next to us. The 4 of them and the 6 of us joked that it was pretty much a party of 10 as they could hear every word we were saying and we could hear every word they were saying.

Kim, our server, was put out from the moment she walked up to our table. It was like she was questioning how we had the audacity to come to their restaurant for dinner, how dare we. We all felt that the fact that we were there, we were putting her out. She was so annoyed.

It’s a Monday night, it was not that busy at all but we had to ask for bread, more than once. We never got our waters refilled. How dare we ask for more water? When we first sat down we asked about splitting the bill 5 ways, and we said not a huge deal either way, but many establishments can easily do that nowadays. What were we thinking asking for something simple like that? She said “I don’t know if our system can do that. I’d have to check.” And again, so annoyed at us.

There are other things but I won’t go thru each one. It was not a pleasant experience, she had a poor attitude the entire time. Here’s the crazy thing, at the end of our dinner, she brought the check and then offered to split it, I told her don’t worry about it. I mean, she made it crystal clear that was something she did not want to accommodate. And she was so happy and said Ohhh are you sure!?!? It’s not a big deal at all! I’m happy to! What. In. The. World. It was like Jeckle and Hyde.

Before we left our friend started to open her birthday gifts we had for her and Kim came over and said “Oh! Can I watch? I love watching people open presents!” And sat down at the table next to us and watched her open her gifts. We were flabbergasted. I guess it wouldn’t have seemed so strange if she had been kind, courteous and welcoming at any point in the night. But she was the complete opposite. So we were floored. Why in the world do you want to be anywhere near us, when you clearly don’t want us to be here?

The food was decent. But with 15 other nice restaurants within an eighth of a mile in downtown Rochester, we’ll never go back. If you go, just don’t sit in Kim’s section....

Indulging in the culinary masterpiece that is the white cheddar truffle mac and cheese was a truly superlative experience. The amalgamation of the velvety white cheddar with the opulent infusion of truffle essence resulted in a gastronomic symphony that transcended the ordinary. The juxtaposition of creaminess and the nuanced notes of truffle elevated this dish to a level of sophistication that captivated my palate.

Each meticulously crafted bite unfurled a tapestry of flavors, where the robust richness of the white cheddar intermingled seamlessly with the earthy, aromatic truffle undertones. The al dente perfection of the macaroni provided a textural harmony, ensuring a sensorial journey with every forkful.

This gastronomic opulence is undeniably a paradigm shift in the realm of mac and cheese, offering a transcendental experience for discerning palates. Without hesitation, I confer upon this culinary masterpiece a resounding five stars, an accolade befitting its unparalleled excellence in the realm of epicurean delights. And don't even forget about the spumoni.

The spumoni, a symphony of frozen confectionery, unfurls as an epicurean triumph that titillates the taste buds with unparalleled finesse. Its amalgamation of velvety layers, featuring pistachio, chocolate, and cherry, orchestrates a harmonious convergence of flavors that transcend the mundane.

The pistachio stratum, with its verdant richness, serves as the virtuoso opening movement, engaging the palate in a crescendo of nutty opulence. Next, the chocolate intermezzo ensues, a decadent indulgence that enraptures with its bittersweet nuances, providing a mellifluous contrast to the pistachio's verdant refrain.

Culminating this gastronomic symphony is the cherry denouement, a burst of fruity vivacity that crescendos to a sublime finale. The interplay of textures, from the creaminess of pistachio to the silkiness of chocolate, culminates in a frozen opus that resonates with sophistication and delight.

In the realm of frozen desserts, the spumoni stands as a paragon of gustatory artistry, earning without reservation a celestial five-star accolade for its transcendent composition and culinary prowess.

Thank you for this...