June Keenan

A group of us ladies went to a Drag Brunch for the 10am sitting on a Sunday. The restaurant is cozy yet spacious with a small bar. Considering everyone inside was ordering at once, the food came out pretty quickly and the service was good. The show was fantastic. Definitely entertaining!

Alias M

Really awesome place. Came here for dinner and brunch and the cocktails were amazing! The service was great and the food was cooked to perfection. My only critique would be that although the food was cooked well, there was a serious lack of seasoning/flavor. The chicken and churros for example, the chicken was juicy and crispy and the churros were fluffy with a little crunch to the outside but boy some seasoning to the breading and on the chicken and cinnamon and brown sugar with a side of maple syrup for the churros would've gone a long way! Same with the tofu in other dishes! Perfectly cooked, but needing more in the flavor department. Guess you gotta cater to your audience though. Certain audiences are used to unseasoned food, so I get it.

Alyssa Gacioch

My family and I recently dined at Crisp- We were greeted by a cozy atmosphere that felt like a home away from home. The warm, inviting decor, complete with rustic wooded accents and soft ambient lighting, sets the perfect backdrop for a relaxed meal with family and friends. What really enhanced the experience was the attentive and knowledgeable staff. Our server was remarkably versed in the menu offerings. They took time to explain dishes and offered great recommendations. The owners love for hospitality shine through in every aspect of the establishment. Their dedication to creating a welcoming environment is reflected not only in the warm service but also in the carefully crafted menu that celebrates classic Southern flavors. Each dish is prepared with care, making every bite a delightful experience. I will highly recommend Crisp to my relatives and friends that live within the Rochester area.

Nickolas Woll

Easily my favorite restaurant to visit in Rochester and completely unparalleled on a Monday when so many places are closed. The cocktails are wonderfully crafted, all the food I have enjoyed has been incredible. Mandatory to try the chicken appetizer. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. This is such a welcoming space. For the quality of the food and service, the prices are very fair.

Elisabeth Bostwick

We had a fantastic time at Crisp! It was our first visit and we enjoyed our time. All staff we encountered were kind, helpful and professional. We even met one of the owners — you can tell there is a lot of heart behind Crisp. The atmosphere is perfect for gathering with family and friends, or a date night. It’s very welcoming. We enjoyed all of the food — the devil egg flight, braised beef and carrot (mashed potatoes were amaaaazing), mac and cheese (the best ever), and drink — were all incredible! This was our first visit and we look forward to returning! Thank you to all restaurant staff for a wonderful visit.

+3

Maura Palumbo

As a vegan… WOW. What a gem of a place to find… we will definitely be returning many times. They really cater to us vegans while not being a totally vegan restaurant. She even fried my fries in the vegan fryer when usually they don’t! Thanks so much! The gluten free bun was amazing! Which is hard to find. They know how to cook the tofu PERFECTLY! All fresh food. Clean atmosphere, beautiful space. Really sweet owner. My hubby and his parents came and their food was unbelievably good as well. Our table got the vegan meatloaf, the veggie burger with GF bun, baja fish tacos and a regular burger, … also for apps —crispy chili fried tofu, deviled eggs, Honey truffle popcorn chicken (They said their meals were fresh, amazing and they can’t wait to try more things on the menu) You must go here and eat!! Esp as a vegan hehehe… 💜🩷💚🥰

Lauren

I have to admit I was a little thrown off by the name, especially as someone who is trying to eat healthier and avoid fried food. Crisp is known for good vegan options, so we gave them a chance and were very glad we did. I was leery of the “crispy vegan burrito,” fearing that it was going to be somehow deep fried, but our waitress explained that it’s so named because the vegetables inside are crunchy. Lol. I ended up LOVING the burrito. It’s a great healthier option (just bursting with vegetables), and I loved that they swapped out the tortilla chips for green beans. My husband got the vegan meatloaf because who can pass up vegan meatloaf? We were warned that the portion is on the smaller side, and it is only a small slice of meatloaf, but it comes with a ton of green beans and a bed of carrot mash, so it ends up being filling. The meatloaf is delicious - chewy and hearty and fresh. We were also extremely impressed with the vegan charcuterie board, made with meats from Grass Fed (epic small batch seitan) and cheese from Spirit and Abundance. It was beautifully assembled and all the meats, cheeses, and accompaniments were tasty. We were so pleased with our meal here. We were glad we got past the weird name and generic aesthetic and gave them a chance. We will definitely be back!

Janine G

We decided to try something new and now we’re hooked - Crisp has become a regular spot for us! The Baja Fish Tacos are fantastic, and the Vegan Tacos (made with Impossible “meat”) are so good you’d never guess they’re plant-based. The drinks? Impeccable. We usually order Old Fashioneds, and unlike most places where they’re hit or miss, Crisp nails it every time. Other standouts: Heaven in a Bowl and the Crispy Vegan Burrito—both worth ordering and perfect comfort food. The service is top-notch, and while parking can be tricky, it’s never been an issue. Crisp has earned a spot as one of our favorites, balancing quality with great pricing—we’ll definitely keep coming back! In fact, I'm visiting again tomorrow with a friend. Thank you Crisp!

Went to Crisp on date night as a new place we haven’t been to before, drinks were great, the ambiance and staff were awesome and the food was priced appropriately. We’re trying out new places and said we would add Crisp into the rotation, not too many complaints on the food we got the Deviled Eggs as an appetizer, the Chicken & Churros, and the Baja Fish Tacos. For the Chicken & Churros the Churros were fantastic, just wish that there was more of the hot honey on it. Overall a great place for a date night.

We went for the first time last night and had a wonderful time. The full review is based on vegan options, and alcohol free drinks. We had an 8 PM Second Serving dinner reservation, which means we sat in the backroom away from the live music. We also had a great "breeze" from the opening backdoor. In the summer that's probably refreshing, but when it's zero degrees out it's uncomfortable. It was cool to walk through the kitchen, though, and felt "hip." We got the vegan charcuterie board, fried chili tofu (with 3 radish slices) to start. The charcuterie was great, but for $25 it needs either another set of bread or some crackers. We ran out of carbs and "mini plates" quickly. The tofu was absolutely delicious. It had a texture like it had been frozen, which gives it a heartier, more chewable texture. Highly recommended. The mocktails were reasonably priced. I don't (and never have) drink, so it tasted like something had gone bad. Lol They use 100% alcohol - free, zero proof drink from Ritual. My wife's was great and we could (probably should have) ordered more, because... Something went wrong in the kitchen. We ordered the meatloaf and stuffed pepper and it took nearly 30 minutes. My understanding is that this is unusual, and they were suitably apologetic. This isn't Applebee's, you're going to wait a bit for good food, but this was a lot. The stuffed pepper was delicious, but lacking much spice. A scotch bonnet supplement would be perfect, but maybe too spicy for many. The sauce was too tomato forward and tasted like pasta sauce. There was also a leaf still in my pepper, but I don't know if that was intentional. The carrots also needed more sear. The meatloaf was good, and it tasted homemade. They use a local vegan "butcher" (Grass Fed) but are trying to in-house more stuff. They actually do a superb job of explaining, listening, and understanding. I had zero concerns that we were being taken care of. The desserts were lacking. The only vegan option was candied pecans, which on the charcuterie and is not a dessert. My wife got the peanut butter pie which she really enjoyed and felt unique, like "a cross between cheesecake and ice cream " Not vegan, though. Overall, we loved it and will definitely try it again. The care and attention is amazing. For the cost of the meal we did want a little more. For two people you can easily spend $125-150 with tip. Rochester needs places like this, and the crowded dining roomshowed that we can support it. This is an easy recommendation. Oh, last thing... They need chopsticks available.

I’ve been to CRISP dozens of times—mostly for brunch, but I recently went for dinner too and it was just as great. My go-to brunch dishes are the chicken & biscuits Benedict and the chicken & churros. I love the Southern comfort food, but really appreciate that they also offer lighter, healthier options. And Monday brunch? Absolute genius and something you don’t really find anywhere else. Their mimosas have my ideal champagne-to-OJ ratio and the staff is always welcoming. The owner, Wendi, is almost always on site, which I genuinely appreciate—it shows how much care goes into the place. CRISP is a must visit.

Erica Gottfried

Eh. This place is decent. It’s good value for your money as portions are large so I bump it up to 4 stars. But the food quality is just eh. Got the beef and carrots and my beef was overcooked, chewy, and not very flavorful. It’s slightly pricey but portions are large as aforementioned. Service was pretty fast. Not too busy when I went, though.

Johnny Jams

It was a nice place. I didn't like being seated in the back room. The front had much more energy. The drinks were great, but they don't let you customize a drink (at least our waiter didn't). When I asked about a skinny spicy margaritas, he said "I have no idea what you're talking about"!

Vini Falciano

April 2022: All of us had great meals. Food is great, drinks are tasty, and everyone was so friendly. Very glad to have a nice place in our neighborhood. Check it out; you'll really like it! AND ... two words: Bah-Runch! June 2022 update: One can already see differences since it opened. Most restaurants slip a bit when very busy. We're glad they're doing well, even with a small penalty to the customer. August 2023 update: Chx & Churros still rockin'. Speculoos Ice Cream Cake ... YUM. August 2025 update: Getting pricy and quality faltering but still a good place to check out.

+6

MD062010

First time visiting Crisp- all of our food was good- the catfish was very beautifully blackened and the braised beef and carrot is comfort in a bowl. I also love that they offer deviled eggs as an appetizer! The harvest grain bowl was quite nice and the churros are the best I have had in Rochester. My only critique was that cocktails were eh… not terrible. But not spectacular. And the hush puppies would benefit from being a bit softer. Overall- this place is well worth visiting. Especially if you’re looking for comfort food. Service was friendly and attentive and the restaurant is clean and well organized. Keep in mind- street parking only- however, locating a parking space was not an issue.

+1

The food was good, and the drinks were good. The deviled egg flight was a novel idea but failed to deliver. A scant few embellishments on top didn't really alter the flavor that much. The embellishments should have been mixed through the yolk mix. The server was attentive. However, it is winter with temperatures in the teens. We were seated in front of the door. There was a thin, ineffective curtain to keep out the cold when the door opened. It was frigid in there and made the whole experience unenjoyable. They need to build a vestibule or have a heater blasting right there. There are a few parking spaces to the side but otherwise it is street parking. Fine for nicer weather but trickier in winter. The food and service was good enough we might try again in summer, but we won't be back until then.

Reginald Everdyke

The atmosphere is nice, the wait staff are nice. The food not so much. I ordered the chorizo "bennie" which is a Mexican style eggs Benedict. My eggs were extremely overcooked. Instead of a nice warm runny yoke, mine were rock solid. The cook had to have known they weren't right but sent the dish out anyway. Ordered two bloody mary's. The menu price was $12, I was charged $14. I guess there's an up charge for ordering the "spicy" version. I don't complain about bad food at the restaurant, I just never come back.