Lord Essex Tavern and Grill — Restaurant in Rochester

DETAILED REVIEW !!Please whoever is in charge of updating this do so! The menu is completely different than what they show on Google maps!! my boyfriend and I rarely go out for fine dining so as we were on a road trip through the area google maps showed us this location and we thought we would try it. After seeing the menu on Google maps we were super excited to try the steak and seafood. As this was what was advertised on the app. Unfortunately when we received the menu we were informed that the menu listed online was incorrect and they were instead offering a small menu with almost no seafood or steak options. Instead there was mostly a variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and a few entrées. We were a little bummed but still wanted to give it a try. We ordered the pork belly and spinach artichoke dip for appetizers. We were super happy with it! The spinach artichoke dip was definitely the highlight of the night. Bread was perfectly toasted, and the dip was phenomenal. Next we ordered entrées, my boyfriend ordered the ribeye and I ordered the slow short ribs. It looked amazing when we got it! But sadly my short ribs were very dry, the sauce and grits helped a bit but it wasn't exactly hard to stop eating it. The brocolini was well done, not alot of seasonings on it but it kind of balanced the grits out which were on the rich side. My boyfriends steak was decent, quite a bit of fat, but it was cooked the correct temp and was juicy. The mashed potatoes they came with had an unusual chemical like after taste though which was strange. We then ordered desert. I had the Pecan pie and my boyfriend had the pumpkin. They were both very enjoyable. Overall the only real issue I had was with my entrée as I don't think it was worth the price and most of the dish consisted of a large amount of grits. We had Steve as our server. They were very short staffed at the time but he tried his best given the situation. He was nice. And as for the environment, we got sat between a crabby old lady and a couple of obnoxious men. I was able to tune them out but they ruined the night a little bit. I loved the decor though! A very neat little place. I hope they add the steak house and seafood so we can come back and...

So this is a very elegant restaurant to take someone you care about to, it has a dark red and deep wood tones and stained glass decor. The seats are fairly comfortable, the steak I had was cooked the way I would expect for a steak house, the meat was a little chewier then I would have expected but the flavor was good. They had brilliant esparugus spears that were cooked well and not mushy. The chocolate tort was odd yet very tasty and appealing, with a slight crunchy texture and a deep chocolate flavor garnished with strawberries, blue berries raspberries whipped cream and touched with a single mint leaf that was fresh and minty. The torte went perfectly with the rich dark roasted coffee. The only thing preventing me from giving this a full five stars would be the menu lacked less pricey steak choices, the while their might be something to higher grade steak, with other options they could bring people in to their establishment to experience their great cooking ability. Over all, this restaurant has good food, a comfortable atmosphere, and good service. It does have a full bar, if you want to have a relaxed drink. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone that has a very special occasion, the price is steep, be prepared to pay for...

I was looking for something other than a fast-food/QSR or chain restaurant and came across the Lord Essex Tavern and Grill. It looked like something I would find in London or Ireland, down to the suit of armor that greeted us at the door! It is very welcoming and provided an out-of-the-ordinary atmosphere.

We sat at a booth that was private yet open. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and the history of the restaurant! We enjoyed a well made cocktail before dinner and ordered the Wednesday special - a prime rib dinner. It was fantastic! My husband's was made to order. I requested an end piece, if available (see photo), and was not disappointed!! The chef's vegetables and oven roasted potatoes were also very delicious!

Overall, the food, service, and atmosphere were excellent so I gave it 5 stars. I would chose this over the Ruth's Chris on the other corner of the hotel any day!!! (The meal was comparable and at least half the price.) My only complaint is that it was difficult to find because it is inside the Kahler Grand Hotel with no exterior sign letting you know it was inside. I had to call to confirm the location and get...