RAVS Guide to Dining in Rochester

Reviews

New Health Cafe January 2006 Vegetarian cuisine website

The New Health Café, at the Natural Oasis Market and Wellness Center, is a new vegetarian eatery in town. It boasts good food, naturally prepared for your health and happiness. As you walk in, you are met with the fragrance of incense. Joseph Ferrera, the owner, offers vegan and gluten free options, and will do it your way for 25 cents per item. You may call the café head for take out.
Four of us had lunch in December and enjoyed the food. The service was slow, but they’ve added extra help since then. The café’s cozy, with about four tables and a fireplace burning between the market and dining area. The sweet potato fries were excellent - baked instead of fried and lightly seasoned with a bit of cinnamon-sugar. The chicken-less salad side was also very good. A companion recommended both the hummus side dish and lentil soup. The ginger soup had mixed reviews. The tofu eggs and home fries served nearby looked and smelled delicious. A non-vegan at our table enjoyed the regular egg version. On another visit, my son tried the vegetarian lasagna and liked it. Brunch items include tofu cutlets, grilled eggplant steak, spaghetti with meatless balls, and vegan soups, sandwiches and sides. The café bakes vegan breads, cakes and pies on site.
The owner has been making adjustments for a few months, and is currently working on price changes and a new menu. Some customers were confused and dissatisfied with large bill overcharges, but I’ve been assured that they now use a calculator and have customer checks. So, with that problem solved, I will recommend this place. We wish them luck and continued success.

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Pattaya Thai May 2005 Asian cuisine website

Pattaya Thai has a warm, friendly staff and setting, near the 4 corners in Penfield. With plenty of room between tables, it is easy to carry on a conversation. The dining area is fairly large with an attractive decor.
Pattaya Thai has a large vegetarian menu, and most of the entrees are vegan. There are many choices on it to round out a meal, with 4 appetizers, 3 soups, and 6 desserts. The vegetables always appear fresh, and the meals freshly made. The portions are generous, but if you are very hungry, you might not have leftovers. The tea and water glasses are always kept full.
My favorite dish is Gaeng Ped Veggie, a red curry dish with coconut, basil, lime leaves, Thai aubergine, and many other vegetables. My dining companion had the Spicy Veggie meal, with jalapeno pepper and fresh veggies. It was very spicy, but he finished every drop! My two sons enjoyed their meals on another occasion. At that time, we all enjoyed smoothies and egg rolls. Ice cream is offered on birthdays, but we didn't have any.

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Aja Noodle Company April 2005 Asian cuisine website

Aja Noodle Company offers a variety of Asian dishes in a contemporary setting. Menu items marked with a "V" can be made vegan. These include 5 appetizers, 3 salads, one soup bowl dinner, 2 noodle bowl dinners, and 4 rice bowl dinners. Be sure to tell your server if you are vegan, to avoid dishes with a chicken, beef, or fish base. Aja Noodle's vegan offerings include 3 appetizers (cabbage wrap, edamame, and wassabe peas), one soup (miso ramen), 2 salads (cabbage and peanut noodle). This restaurant offers options for flavoring items from less to more spicy. Sadly, no vegan desserts are offered to round out an otherwise appealing menu.
We experienced quick, attentive service. Tea refills came often. Vegetables are crisp and not overcooked. One dish to try is the Chinese black bean noodle bowl. The rice ribbon noodles were very tasty, but there were not many beans or vegetables. Another entree is the Szechwan stir fry rice bowl. It has a nice mix of vegetables in a spicy sauce.
The restaurant has a Feng Shui-inspired decor, low light, with both tables and a few booths. The dining area's sounds bounce off uncarpeted floors, hardly absorbed by white fabric shapes hung from the ceiling. Fortunately, the background noise didn't overwhelm conversation. Aja Noodle Company seems to be frequented by a generally younger crowd. Our waitress mentioned that their clientele includes many vegetarians.

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Tandoor of India February 2005 Indian cuisine website

The owners of Thali of India have opened a great new Indian restaurant in the Jefferson Plaza in Henrietta. Though it is not a vegetarian restaurant, I was impressed with the quality and selection of vegetarian dishes. The menu (which had a huge number of choices, both veg and non-veg) has several items on each page marked "can be made vegan upon request." Kudos for a restaurant that is willing to accommodate hard-to-please vegans AND print it on their menu!
My dining companions and I were very impressed with the buffet. While a few found it spicier than they preferred, most of us thought it was some of the best Indian food we've had. The onion pakoras were done perfectly, fresh naan (not vegan) was brought to the table, and the delicious curries (especially the eggplant curry!) were not typical buffet fare. Our next visit was for Saturday dinner. Our water glasses never idled, the staff was attentive and plentiful, and the food was great. Because my timid dining companion asked for our dishes to be spiced "medium," they were quite mild, so they are able to accommodate all heat preferences.
The restaurant's decor is light and attractive, and is unusual in that it features an open kitchen, so you can see the food being prepared. I am looking forward to trying the Sunday buffet as well, where I am told dosas (South Indian crepes - mmm) are delivered fresh to your table! So try out this new restaurant and let them know you appreciate the vegan-friendly attitude!

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Sticky Lips BBQ March 2005 American cuisine website

Sticky Lips BBQ might be a good place to take non-vegan relatives and friends. Besides the regular barbecue fare, it has a choice of 3 vegan entrees: grilled BBQ tofu steak, smoked ratatouille dinner, and mushroom black bean skillet. Other menu offerings include an eggplant sandwich, fried green tomatoes, and deep fried pickles. You might try side dishes like sweet potato fries, black beans and rice, ratatouille, or Cajun corn.
Vegetarian offerings include nachos, a 4-cheese salad, and honey-glazed cornbread. You may choose from three types of barbecue sauce: cherry, mustard, and regular red. Large portions will insure that you're not hungry an hour after eating, and you'll probably take home leftovers.
Sticky Lips has 40's and 50's vintage decor and music. Upstairs is the main seating area under a classic tin ceiling, with a smaller dining area and takeout downstairs. We had good service with a knowledgeable, vegan-friendly server. However, it was hard to carry on a conversation over the music, and it became noisier as more customers arrived. You may park in a large lot off Atlantic Ave.

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Golden Dynasty Chinese Restaurant February 2002 Asian cuisine website

This restaurant uses many of the new soy protein products in its dishes, and having a separate vegetarian menu with a large, varied selection of choices was a nice surprise. Try the delicious and interestingly textured vegetarian bamboo wrap as an alternative to spring rolls. Two of these, filled with glutinous rice, shitake mushroom, carrot, chestnut and soy protein in bamboo leaves, might be enough for a light lunch.
Several spicy dishes may be ordered from mild to hot. Sun Bay Treasure with ginger and basil is a favorite of mine with round soy protein, shaped like meatballs. Do'ban Delight is another with peas, water chestnuts and spicy red bean sauce over soy protein textured like roast beef. One dish contains soy protein tasting similar to fish. I didn't care for that one, but my son did. All the traditional tofu and vegetable dishes are also available at the top of the menu.
Tea is served with the meal along with orange slices and fortune cookie afterwards. The service is quick although the dishes are not always consistent! (different cooks?) I would recommend trying this for lunch or dinner.

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Reviews
New Health Cafe	January 2006	Vegetarian cuisine	website
The New Health Café, at the Natural Oasis Market and Wellness Center, is a new vegetarian eatery in town. It boasts good food, naturally prepared for your health and happiness. As you walk in, you are met with the fragrance of incense. Joseph Ferrera, the owner, offers vegan and gluten free options, and will do it your way for 25 cents per item. You may call the café head for take out. Four of us had lunch in December and enjoyed the food. The service was slow, but they’ve added extra help since then. The café’s cozy, with about four tables and a fireplace burning between the market and dining area. The sweet potato fries were excellent - baked instead of fried and lightly seasoned with a bit of cinnamon-sugar. The chicken-less salad side was also very good. A companion recommended both the hummus side dish and lentil soup. The ginger soup had mixed reviews. The tofu eggs and home fries served nearby looked and smelled delicious. A non-vegan at our table enjoyed the regular egg version. On another visit, my son tried the vegetarian lasagna and liked it. Brunch items include tofu cutlets, grilled eggplant steak, spaghetti with meatless balls, and vegan soups, sandwiches and sides. The café bakes vegan breads, cakes and pies on site. The owner has been making adjustments for a few months, and is currently working on price changes and a new menu. Some customers were confused and dissatisfied with large bill overcharges, but I’ve been assured that they now use a calculator and have customer checks. So, with that problem solved, I will recommend this place. We wish them luck and continued success.
	Back to top of page
Pattaya Thai	May 2005	Asian cuisine	website
Pattaya Thai has a warm, friendly staff and setting, near the 4 corners in Penfield. With plenty of room between tables, it is easy to carry on a conversation. The dining area is fairly large with an attractive decor. Pattaya Thai has a large vegetarian menu, and most of the entrees are vegan. There are many choices on it to round out a meal, with 4 appetizers, 3 soups, and 6 desserts. The vegetables always appear fresh, and the meals freshly made. The portions are generous, but if you are very hungry, you might not have leftovers. The tea and water glasses are always kept full. My favorite dish is Gaeng Ped Veggie, a red curry dish with coconut, basil, lime leaves, Thai aubergine, and many other vegetables. My dining companion had the Spicy Veggie meal, with jalapeno pepper and fresh veggies. It was very spicy, but he finished every drop! My two sons enjoyed their meals on another occasion. At that time, we all enjoyed smoothies and egg rolls. Ice cream is offered on birthdays, but we didn't have any.
	Back to top of page
Aja Noodle Company	April 2005	Asian cuisine	website
Aja Noodle Company offers a variety of Asian dishes in a contemporary setting. Menu items marked with a "V" can be made vegan. These include 5 appetizers, 3 salads, one soup bowl dinner, 2 noodle bowl dinners, and 4 rice bowl dinners. Be sure to tell your server if you are vegan, to avoid dishes with a chicken, beef, or fish base. Aja Noodle's vegan offerings include 3 appetizers (cabbage wrap, edamame, and wassabe peas), one soup (miso ramen), 2 salads (cabbage and peanut noodle). This restaurant offers options for flavoring items from less to more spicy. Sadly, no vegan desserts are offered to round out an otherwise appealing menu. We experienced quick, attentive service. Tea refills came often. Vegetables are crisp and not overcooked. One dish to try is the Chinese black bean noodle bowl. The rice ribbon noodles were very tasty, but there were not many beans or vegetables. Another entree is the Szechwan stir fry rice bowl. It has a nice mix of vegetables in a spicy sauce. The restaurant has a Feng Shui-inspired decor, low light, with both tables and a few booths. The dining area's sounds bounce off uncarpeted floors, hardly absorbed by white fabric shapes hung from the ceiling. Fortunately, the background noise didn't overwhelm conversation. Aja Noodle Company seems to be frequented by a generally younger crowd. Our waitress mentioned that their clientele includes many vegetarians.
	Back to top of page
Tandoor of India	February 2005	Indian cuisine	website
The owners of Thali of India have opened a great new Indian restaurant in the Jefferson Plaza in Henrietta. Though it is not a vegetarian restaurant, I was impressed with the quality and selection of vegetarian dishes. The menu (which had a huge number of choices, both veg and non-veg) has several items on each page marked "can be made vegan upon request." Kudos for a restaurant that is willing to accommodate hard-to-please vegans AND print it on their menu! My dining companions and I were very impressed with the buffet. While a few found it spicier than they preferred, most of us thought it was some of the best Indian food we've had. The onion pakoras were done perfectly, fresh naan (not vegan) was brought to the table, and the delicious curries (especially the eggplant curry!) were not typical buffet fare. Our next visit was for Saturday dinner. Our water glasses never idled, the staff was attentive and plentiful, and the food was great. Because my timid dining companion asked for our dishes to be spiced "medium," they were quite mild, so they are able to accommodate all heat preferences. The restaurant's decor is light and attractive, and is unusual in that it features an open kitchen, so you can see the food being prepared. I am looking forward to trying the Sunday buffet as well, where I am told dosas (South Indian crepes - mmm) are delivered fresh to your table! So try out this new restaurant and let them know you appreciate the vegan-friendly attitude!
	Back to top of page
Sticky Lips BBQ	March 2005	American cuisine	website
Sticky Lips BBQ might be a good place to take non-vegan relatives and friends. Besides the regular barbecue fare, it has a choice of 3 vegan entrees: grilled BBQ tofu steak, smoked ratatouille dinner, and mushroom black bean skillet. Other menu offerings include an eggplant sandwich, fried green tomatoes, and deep fried pickles. You might try side dishes like sweet potato fries, black beans and rice, ratatouille, or Cajun corn. Vegetarian offerings include nachos, a 4-cheese salad, and honey-glazed cornbread. You may choose from three types of barbecue sauce: cherry, mustard, and regular red. Large portions will insure that you're not hungry an hour after eating, and you'll probably take home leftovers. Sticky Lips has 40's and 50's vintage decor and music. Upstairs is the main seating area under a classic tin ceiling, with a smaller dining area and takeout downstairs. We had good service with a knowledgeable, vegan-friendly server. However, it was hard to carry on a conversation over the music, and it became noisier as more customers arrived. You may park in a large lot off Atlantic Ave.
	Back to top of page
Golden Dynasty Chinese Restaurant	February 2002	Asian cuisine	website
This restaurant uses many of the new soy protein products in its dishes, and having a separate vegetarian menu with a large, varied selection of choices was a nice surprise. Try the delicious and interestingly textured vegetarian bamboo wrap as an alternative to spring rolls. Two of these, filled with glutinous rice, shitake mushroom, carrot, chestnut and soy protein in bamboo leaves, might be enough for a light lunch. Several spicy dishes may be ordered from mild to hot. Sun Bay Treasure with ginger and basil is a favorite of mine with round soy protein, shaped like meatballs. Do'ban Delight is another with peas, water chestnuts and spicy red bean sauce over soy protein textured like roast beef. One dish contains soy protein tasting similar to fish. I didn't care for that one, but my son did. All the traditional tofu and vegetable dishes are also available at the top of the menu. Tea is served with the meal along with orange slices and fortune cookie afterwards. The service is quick although the dishes are not always consistent! (different cooks?) I would recommend trying this for lunch or dinner.
	Back to top of page

Last update April 2005