From the moment I walked into Velvet Belly, I knew I was going to love it. I had a reservation but told the host I was happy to sit and wait at the bar. The bartender was incredibly friendly and handed me a drink menu right away. I ordered the Shark Bait cocktail and it was not only delicious, but beautifully presented, I actually had to send a picture of it to my friends. Since it was my first time there, I spent a little time just taking in the atmosphere. The only way I can describe the space is sexy and romantic. The ambiance really sets the mood for a fun night out. There were couples on dates, groups of friends catching up, and the whole room just had this lively but intimate energy. My sister arrived for her birthday dinner and the manager, Alexander, introduced himself and showed us to our table, which was a really nice touch. Our server Nicole was fantastic, friendly, attentive, and made the experience even better. We decided to order a little bit of everything and it did not disappoint. The spicy roll, nine pieces of sashimi, and the SFG roll were all excellent. The Wagyu tartare was my personal favorite, absolutely incredible. The trumpet mushrooms were delicious, the oysters were amazing, and I ended up ordering four different cocktails because each one was simply that good. This is definitely a place I’ll be bringing people for dates in the future. And their happy hour is amazing, $1 oysters is hard to beat. Velvet Belly delivered great food, great drinks, and a great atmosphere. I’ll absolutely be back.

If you haven’t been to Velvet Belly I suggest you get there as quickly as possible. The service is amazing, only to be outdone by the food. From the sushi to the Wagyu steak and sides to the absolutely delicious drinks and dessert this is an experience! Best flavors I’ve experienced in years. This will be our new go to restaurant, unbelievable atmosphere, Unbelievable fresh food, unbelievable service.

We came in for my birthday and were absolutely blown away! The service was incredible, truly just the kindest group of people, and the vibes were perfect. We were a group of 6 and ordered a ton, everything was delicious. Our top picks were the tuna crispy rice, oysters (duh), the shrimp tempura roll, and the key lime pie for dessert. I can't reiterate enough how absolutely perfect everything was. We will 100% be back!

Eric Shoen

This was so fun. What a great date night. We tried four different cocktails, shishito peppers, the poke bowl, and the steak frites. All had wonderful and distinct flavors. Some I didn’t love but understood. Tried the ice cream cake for dessert. Definitely a fun place. A bit on the expensive side. Bar tender was out of this world and she made some great choices for us. Parking was easy. Decor is fun.

Leanna Rhoads

Went here for the first time back in August to celebrate on my birthday. It exceeded my expectations! Service, presentation, drinks, food, atmosphere, I loved it all. They even gave me my dessert for free. I can see myself coming back a lot for their happy hour in the summer! I am going to the NYE prix fixe and i am really looking forward to that experience.

Aaron G.

Out of this world good!!! The mocktails, appetizers, and mains were just amazing. The service was on point. Everything was just perfect!

HoserRacing

First time in, I had found Velvet Belly while looking for a good place to eat for my last night in Rochester. So glad I found it! Giovanni was great, I asked him about several different things before starting. The happy hour selections were wonderful! I started with a Captain's Log and a half dozen oysters. Nice and fresh, that little bit of briny flavor, they were delicious! The Captain's Log with the mix of mezcal had a nice smoky flavor without all of the headache of having to smoke the drink. After that, I had Jesse's Salt Bread, it was great! The only suggestion I can give is to soften the butter before serving it, but the ricotta and pepper jam with that bread was a great combination. Then the Duck Fat Brussels Sprouts. Holy cow! Those were without a doubt some of the best Brussels sprouts I have ever eaten! The crispy leaves with the richness of the duck fat made for an excellent combination. Then to finish everything off, the Yuzu Breeze and, per Giovanni's recommendation, the Olive Oil cake. Dang! That hit the spot! The Yuzu Breeze is smooth, with a little burn, and reminded me of how a very strong ginger ale bites. Those could be dangerous on a hot day. And the olive oil cake - ooooh, that was so worth saying screw the diet for! It may have been my first time in, but it definitely won't be my last!

Robert Peckham

What a great dining experience. The food is obviously seafood focused and they did a great job with that. We had a few appetizers that were delicious. Then I had the nigiri which was exceptionally good. The drinks were awesome. The highlight was our waitress Sara. She was a sweetheart and really made great suggestions for us. Final thought they have excellent Tequila options that are not common in Rochester!

Tracy Hutchinson

The Velvet Belly is, without question, one of the best dining experiences you’ll find in Rochester—and honestly, it rivals restaurants in much larger cities. This is fine dining at its best, right in our backyard. Chef and owner Jeremy is clearly a master of his craft. Every dish is beautifully prepared, with a balance of creativity and precision that’s rare to find. The staff are just as exceptional—genuinely friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the food they serve. You feel welcome from the moment you walk in. Favorites? Hard to choose, but the beef carpaccio is a must-try, as is the sushi (yes, in Rochester—trust me), calamari, and the mussels are some of the best we’ve ever had. And don’t skip dessert—every course is crafted with the same attention to detail.. not only beautifully prepared, but delicious. Whether you're celebrating something special or just want an unforgettable night out, The Velvet Belly delivers a big-city experience with small-town heart. Highly, highly recommend!

Roy Tompkins

Excellent food and service! Rochester has so many restaurants and we tend to keep going back to our favorites. We've overlooked this one and were recently shown the error of our ways. A chef friend mentioned how great the happy hour menu is so we had to find out for ourselves. The creative craft cocktail menu is impressive and the one we selected was divine. I had a glass of the house pour rosé from Provénce which was delicious and a split of Môet Champagne which was offered at a special price with a dozen oysters. We feasted on dollar oysters, spicy edamame, a yellowtail roll, raw fish "nachos" and a couple of yellowtail "tacos" which are a sort of deconstructed sushi, the fish wrapped in a nori "shell". Dessert was a sublime olive oil pistachio cake with burnt honey ice cream and orange. I'm normally unimpressed by most restaurant desserts but this one was exceptional. Our bartender/server was Antonio and he was friendly, knowledgeable and unobtrusive. In other words perfect. This place gets my vote and we will definitely be back.