Enjoyed the open street side dining on a beautiful summer night. The Asian fare is outstanding along with attentive service. Thee Mongolian beef was perfect with just the right seasoning and a nice char on the beef. The vegetables in both dish and my wife's scallops were about as good as I've had in any Asian restaurant. I definitely will return to this establishment.
(4)
Chris J.
I really want to give 4 stars - but to be fair, price vs. value is the issue. 3 people, no alcohol at $70 means they compete more with PF Changs than the average Chinese restaurant. That is not very expensive but it does drive higher expectations. - we loved the ambiance & decor - very modern and fun - the service was great - soups were good, especially the wonton soup - calamari was great - egg rolls were ok - General Tsao's chicken was good - Mongolian beef was disappointing - more like a bland ginger beef - Chicken lo mein was ok - but not much flavor I hope to give them another try as maybe it was an off night. Or we ordered the wrong main courses for our taste.
(3)
Chinmay A.
Three of us went for dinner on a Friday. This was easily the worst place in Rochester. We ordered sweet and sour chicken and calamari. The calamari was soggy and tasteless, the chicken was uncooked and the pineapple we almost rotten. We returned the food and nobody even bothered, they didn't inquire about what was wrong, no apologies, nothing. They just took it back and that's that. All this after waiting for a half an hour on the most regular dishes on a not so packed evening. I feel bad for the waiters of this place.
(1)
Meredith E.
I was hoping for a step above the local Chinese take out joint, but Ganbei did not even compete. Leftovers are the best part of ordering Chinese, and I could not even open the box. The food at Ganbei has no flavor. None at all. I ordered the scallops and they were over cooked and chewy. The accompanying vegetables were boring. Our server didn't give a f. He didn't even ask for our drink order. The menu was very expensive for the portion and quality. Sitting on Main Street feeling the cool breeze was the best part. But I can have the same feeling at Kruse and Muer. I won't be returning to Ganbei and will be returning to Oceania.
(2)
Austin G.
My family and I love this place. The Sweet and Sour chicken is really fantastic and I love the egg rolls they give you with the meal. Get the crab and cheese appetizer and the pot stickers.
(5)
Juvianne D.
Amazing food! Everything here is perfect! Clean place, everyone is so nice & also the ducken noodles are the best!!! ( I believe that's what's its called)
(5)
Saphire J.
I got a Groupon for this place, and thank goodness I did. The food was eh. It is definitely an American-style Chinese restaruant. When I got and tasted my food, I wasn't floored with the taste. It was alright, but nothing to rave about. I got the egg drop soup, beef balamaki, and lo mien noodles. I recommend the beef balamaki, but not the other two things. This place is way too overpriced for non-authentic Chinese food. I THINK they say their cooks are from China, but the food does not reflect that. The atmosphere is welcoming, though. Overall, it was "A-OK."
(3)
Michael K.
We decided to give Ganbei a try, having heard good things about it. My wife and I were not very impressed. Reservation - I knew that Saturday was going to be busy with Rochester hopping due to the Kris Kringle festival and other happenings. I called a couple of days ahead and requested a reservation, only to get to the restaurant and find that we did not have a reserved table. Whoever took the reservation messed up. The hostess was able to get us a table right away, but she told us how 'lucky' we were that we got the last one. Not a good first impression. Service - The service was very poor to start off and left a very bad second. We sat there for 10 minutes with nobody coming up to us for anything. Finally a frazzled waiter appeared, and said how slammed he was, and took our drink order. Ten minutes later, we hadn't seen him at all. We were apparently the only table in our section that he had. We were about 30 seconds away from standing up and leaving when he showed up with the drinks. Another table in our section did get new occupants and he took that table, so we did start seeing a little more of him after that, but it was not a good way to start. I saw the hostess leaving her spot to bus tables, so I think a big part of the problem here is that they don't have adequate staffing to handle full capacity. Having been open for a few months now, there isn't any real excuse for this. Food / Value - The food was pretty good but there was nothing really special about it. Our favorite takeout place is Ping's, and we both said that while the food was good, we could have ordered the same thing from Ping's, paid 30% less, and gotten 30% more. While the food was good, the value was lacking, and this was even with a 20% off food coupon that I found online prior to our visit. Decor - The restaurant was very nice and tastefully laid out. Many Asian restaurants go over the top in their decor to the point of gawdiness, but there wasn't any of that here. It's very nice, and while they have a lot of tables in the rooms, they have them laid out in ways that don't make you feel intruded on by neighboring tables. Overall - Our experience here was OK. My wife and I agreed that while it wasn't awful when it was all said and done, nor was it anything special enough to draw us back on a regular basis. They had a Groupon in the past that we missed, and if they offered that again, we might go, but otherwise, we'll either go to other downtown restaurants that are worth it (Kruse & Muer is our favorite) or if we're in the mood for Chinese, stick to takeout at Pings or Oceania that gives us much better value.
(2)
Margaret P.
We found this restaurant from Groupon and decided to try it. The decor was great, the rooms were clean and well lit. The service was friendly and efficient. We had the calamari, the wonton and egg drop sous and the beef lo mein and red thai chicken curry. Everything was wonderful. We will definitely go back.
(4)
Andrew S.
Really good wonton soup! Cool place. My waitress was really nice and great. Wasn't busy at all for lunch and sat on the patio.
(4)
Toby K.
OK, I'm ABSOLUTELY baffled as to HOW this place is getting five star ratings..... To sum up - Very poorly executed, overpriced Americanized Chinese food (same sauce on three different dishes we ordered!), with terrible service (I, at one point, had to walk over to the bar to get my beer). Two stars are just for the great location in lovely downtown Rochester and ambience. MUCH better food at less price at Pei Wei.
(2)
K L.
Fully deserves five stars. Ingredients are fresh, dishes tasty and beautifully cooked. Sesame chicken is crispy not soggy. We have eaten in and taken food away and have been happy with both.
(5)
Kathy R.
Have been there twice with girlfriends.had one of the specials...OUTSTANDING!! Service very good and food phenomenal. Would highly recommend. Reservations accepted.
(4)
Robert B.
I ordered the General Tsao's chicken. It was sweet. Very sweet. Like eating caramel corn with meat in it. The service was good but I was the only customer in the entire restaurant the whole time. The decor was stellar which made the entree a bit disappointing. The ambiance says, "Asian Fusion" while the food says, "Panda Express".
(2)
Mike R.
Poor quality chicken..... I really wanted to love the food here so it aches me to give it a bad review. My first experience here wasn't great and I was just there to pick up a menu, which wasn't available due to their "soft open." Tip #1, don't have a "soft open" without having everything set up, and that includes your website and having your menus available for carryout. Tip #2, train your host/hostesses, or anyone who answers the phone to take a carryout order to know and understand your menu. When they have to put you on hold, twice, to ask the mgr for an answer for 2 very easy questions, your aren't prepared to be 'on the floor.' People make mistakes, I get it, but combine my service complaints with the quality of the food and i will not be back. Did i mention the quality of the food?..... Let me just say this, I have had better chicken from the chinese restaurant down the street, for lunch, for $4.50. If I am going to a 'fine dining' restaurant, i def expect better quality. When an upgrade to this place is Pei Wei, dat aint good!
(2)
A G.
Wow this is quite the place, not your typical Chinese restaurant. Well decorated in modern Chinoiserie. I have to admit the food was a bit sweet for my taste but since everything is made to order next time I will order it to my liking. The food was good, don't get me wrong just too sweet for my palate. I personally like the atmosphere and decor. What I enjoyed the most are the awesome well made drinks. Nice twist on Chinese food, good atmosphere and even better drinks. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Vickie H.
Couldn't wait to check this place out. LOVE Chinese food, and not a lot of good Chinese food in area. Went for lunch. 3 or 4 tables seated. Stood and waited to be seated for a little bit, but ok. Food was delicious. Fresh and made there. Got to leave out those pesky carrots which annoy me so. Egg roll was fresh and hot. So crispy. Mongolian beef was excellent. Meat was tender and flavorful. All served with white rice. Generous portion. BUT, my favorite thing was the wonton soup. Wontons were deliciously stuffed and tender. Could tell they were made in house. Service was a tad slow, but I only saw one server working. Little pricey, $11 for entree and soup. Worth it! We'll be back.
(4)
Paula D.
Good, fresh Chinese food. Good service. Nice looking decor and we will be coming back soon to try other dishes
(5)
Paul P.
Really good Chinese food in Rochester...at last!! Even my wife liked it and she is a VERY fussy food critic. C'mon people, lets frequent this place and keep in going so I can satisfy my Chinese cravings whenever they hit!!
(4)
Brenden J.
Great environment, great food and great service. The portion sizes are large which justifies the cost. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Linda S.
I have enjoyed every dish I've tried so far. The food tastes fresh and was delivered to our table piping hot. Good egg rolls, terrific calamari, Kung Pao Chicken has just the right amount of heat. Attentive service. Beautiful atmosphere. It's great to have a Chinese restaurant that has stye and class. My advice - don't get carry out, go there to eat.
(4)
Ann H.
My husband and I had dinner here last Saturday night and it was so good. The atmosphere, food, service and price is great. I highly recommend this place
(5)
matt o.
it's like PF changs minus the decent food. I think my wife's comment sums it up..."an American chef cooking from a Chinese cookbook written by an American"
(2)
Karen K.
This place is awesome! Stopped in for lunch with my mom and got to enjoy cocktails as well. Martini selection is GREAT! Food is to die for. We had the lettuce wraps... YUM and the drunken noodles which were FANTASTIC!!! Fresh, fresh ingredients. Food took a little while to reach the table, but we were in no hurry and enjoyed relaxing. Owner talked with us for a while, very pleasant guy! Decor is very nice as well, relaxing yet up scale! Will definitely be back soon! Best Chinese in the area!
(5)
Mark S.
Wow! Love it! Food was fantastic as was the service. We'll be back soon! (PF Changs has nothing on this place. Trust me)
(5)
Kathy R.
Have been there twice with girlfriends.had one of the specials...OUTSTANDING!! Service very good and food phenomenal. Would highly recommend. Reservations accepted.
(4)
Robert B.
I ordered the General Tsao's chicken. It was sweet. Very sweet. Like eating caramel corn with meat in it. The service was good but I was the only customer in the entire restaurant the whole time. The decor was stellar which made the entree a bit disappointing. The ambiance says, "Asian Fusion" while the food says, "Panda Express".
(2)
Linda S.
I have enjoyed every dish I've tried so far. The food tastes fresh and was delivered to our table piping hot. Good egg rolls, terrific calamari, Kung Pao Chicken has just the right amount of heat. Attentive service. Beautiful atmosphere. It's great to have a Chinese restaurant that has stye and class. My advice - don't get carry out, go there to eat.
(4)
Ann H.
My husband and I had dinner here last Saturday night and it was so good. The atmosphere, food, service and price is great. I highly recommend this place
(5)
Meredith E.
I was hoping for a step above the local Chinese take out joint, but Ganbei did not even compete. Leftovers are the best part of ordering Chinese, and I could not even open the box. The food at Ganbei has no flavor. None at all. I ordered the scallops and they were over cooked and chewy. The accompanying vegetables were boring. Our server didn't give a f. He didn't even ask for our drink order. The menu was very expensive for the portion and quality. Sitting on Main Street feeling the cool breeze was the best part. But I can have the same feeling at Kruse and Muer. I won't be returning to Ganbei and will be returning to Oceania.
(2)
Dano R.
Enjoyed the open street side dining on a beautiful summer night. The Asian fare is outstanding along with attentive service. Thee Mongolian beef was perfect with just the right seasoning and a nice char on the beef. The vegetables in both dish and my wife's scallops were about as good as I've had in any Asian restaurant. I definitely will return to this establishment.
(4)
Chris J.
I really want to give 4 stars - but to be fair, price vs. value is the issue. 3 people, no alcohol at $70 means they compete more with PF Changs than the average Chinese restaurant. That is not very expensive but it does drive higher expectations. - we loved the ambiance & decor - very modern and fun - the service was great - soups were good, especially the wonton soup - calamari was great - egg rolls were ok - General Tsao's chicken was good - Mongolian beef was disappointing - more like a bland ginger beef - Chicken lo mein was ok - but not much flavor I hope to give them another try as maybe it was an off night. Or we ordered the wrong main courses for our taste.
(3)
Chinmay A.
Three of us went for dinner on a Friday. This was easily the worst place in Rochester. We ordered sweet and sour chicken and calamari. The calamari was soggy and tasteless, the chicken was uncooked and the pineapple we almost rotten. We returned the food and nobody even bothered, they didn't inquire about what was wrong, no apologies, nothing. They just took it back and that's that. All this after waiting for a half an hour on the most regular dishes on a not so packed evening. I feel bad for the waiters of this place.
(1)
Austin G.
My family and I love this place. The Sweet and Sour chicken is really fantastic and I love the egg rolls they give you with the meal. Get the crab and cheese appetizer and the pot stickers.
(5)
Juvianne D.
Amazing food! Everything here is perfect! Clean place, everyone is so nice & also the ducken noodles are the best!!! ( I believe that's what's its called)
(5)
Saphire J.
I got a Groupon for this place, and thank goodness I did. The food was eh. It is definitely an American-style Chinese restaruant. When I got and tasted my food, I wasn't floored with the taste. It was alright, but nothing to rave about. I got the egg drop soup, beef balamaki, and lo mien noodles. I recommend the beef balamaki, but not the other two things. This place is way too overpriced for non-authentic Chinese food. I THINK they say their cooks are from China, but the food does not reflect that. The atmosphere is welcoming, though. Overall, it was "A-OK."
(3)
Toby K.
OK, I'm ABSOLUTELY baffled as to HOW this place is getting five star ratings..... To sum up - Very poorly executed, overpriced Americanized Chinese food (same sauce on three different dishes we ordered!), with terrible service (I, at one point, had to walk over to the bar to get my beer). Two stars are just for the great location in lovely downtown Rochester and ambience. MUCH better food at less price at Pei Wei.
(2)
K L.
Fully deserves five stars. Ingredients are fresh, dishes tasty and beautifully cooked. Sesame chicken is crispy not soggy. We have eaten in and taken food away and have been happy with both.
(5)
Mike R.
Poor quality chicken..... I really wanted to love the food here so it aches me to give it a bad review. My first experience here wasn't great and I was just there to pick up a menu, which wasn't available due to their "soft open." Tip #1, don't have a "soft open" without having everything set up, and that includes your website and having your menus available for carryout. Tip #2, train your host/hostesses, or anyone who answers the phone to take a carryout order to know and understand your menu. When they have to put you on hold, twice, to ask the mgr for an answer for 2 very easy questions, your aren't prepared to be 'on the floor.' People make mistakes, I get it, but combine my service complaints with the quality of the food and i will not be back. Did i mention the quality of the food?..... Let me just say this, I have had better chicken from the chinese restaurant down the street, for lunch, for $4.50. If I am going to a 'fine dining' restaurant, i def expect better quality. When an upgrade to this place is Pei Wei, dat aint good!
(2)
A G.
Wow this is quite the place, not your typical Chinese restaurant. Well decorated in modern Chinoiserie. I have to admit the food was a bit sweet for my taste but since everything is made to order next time I will order it to my liking. The food was good, don't get me wrong just too sweet for my palate. I personally like the atmosphere and decor. What I enjoyed the most are the awesome well made drinks. Nice twist on Chinese food, good atmosphere and even better drinks. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Michael K.
We decided to give Ganbei a try, having heard good things about it. My wife and I were not very impressed. Reservation - I knew that Saturday was going to be busy with Rochester hopping due to the Kris Kringle festival and other happenings. I called a couple of days ahead and requested a reservation, only to get to the restaurant and find that we did not have a reserved table. Whoever took the reservation messed up. The hostess was able to get us a table right away, but she told us how 'lucky' we were that we got the last one. Not a good first impression. Service - The service was very poor to start off and left a very bad second. We sat there for 10 minutes with nobody coming up to us for anything. Finally a frazzled waiter appeared, and said how slammed he was, and took our drink order. Ten minutes later, we hadn't seen him at all. We were apparently the only table in our section that he had. We were about 30 seconds away from standing up and leaving when he showed up with the drinks. Another table in our section did get new occupants and he took that table, so we did start seeing a little more of him after that, but it was not a good way to start. I saw the hostess leaving her spot to bus tables, so I think a big part of the problem here is that they don't have adequate staffing to handle full capacity. Having been open for a few months now, there isn't any real excuse for this. Food / Value - The food was pretty good but there was nothing really special about it. Our favorite takeout place is Ping's, and we both said that while the food was good, we could have ordered the same thing from Ping's, paid 30% less, and gotten 30% more. While the food was good, the value was lacking, and this was even with a 20% off food coupon that I found online prior to our visit. Decor - The restaurant was very nice and tastefully laid out. Many Asian restaurants go over the top in their decor to the point of gawdiness, but there wasn't any of that here. It's very nice, and while they have a lot of tables in the rooms, they have them laid out in ways that don't make you feel intruded on by neighboring tables. Overall - Our experience here was OK. My wife and I agreed that while it wasn't awful when it was all said and done, nor was it anything special enough to draw us back on a regular basis. They had a Groupon in the past that we missed, and if they offered that again, we might go, but otherwise, we'll either go to other downtown restaurants that are worth it (Kruse & Muer is our favorite) or if we're in the mood for Chinese, stick to takeout at Pings or Oceania that gives us much better value.
(2)
Margaret P.
We found this restaurant from Groupon and decided to try it. The decor was great, the rooms were clean and well lit. The service was friendly and efficient. We had the calamari, the wonton and egg drop sous and the beef lo mein and red thai chicken curry. Everything was wonderful. We will definitely go back.
(4)
Andrew S.
Really good wonton soup! Cool place. My waitress was really nice and great. Wasn't busy at all for lunch and sat on the patio.
(4)
Vickie H.
Couldn't wait to check this place out. LOVE Chinese food, and not a lot of good Chinese food in area. Went for lunch. 3 or 4 tables seated. Stood and waited to be seated for a little bit, but ok. Food was delicious. Fresh and made there. Got to leave out those pesky carrots which annoy me so. Egg roll was fresh and hot. So crispy. Mongolian beef was excellent. Meat was tender and flavorful. All served with white rice. Generous portion. BUT, my favorite thing was the wonton soup. Wontons were deliciously stuffed and tender. Could tell they were made in house. Service was a tad slow, but I only saw one server working. Little pricey, $11 for entree and soup. Worth it! We'll be back.
(4)
Paula D.
Good, fresh Chinese food. Good service. Nice looking decor and we will be coming back soon to try other dishes
(5)
Paul P.
Really good Chinese food in Rochester...at last!! Even my wife liked it and she is a VERY fussy food critic. C'mon people, lets frequent this place and keep in going so I can satisfy my Chinese cravings whenever they hit!!
(4)
Brenden J.
Great environment, great food and great service. The portion sizes are large which justifies the cost. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
matt o.
it's like PF changs minus the decent food. I think my wife's comment sums it up..."an American chef cooking from a Chinese cookbook written by an American"
(2)
Karen K.
This place is awesome! Stopped in for lunch with my mom and got to enjoy cocktails as well. Martini selection is GREAT! Food is to die for. We had the lettuce wraps... YUM and the drunken noodles which were FANTASTIC!!! Fresh, fresh ingredients. Food took a little while to reach the table, but we were in no hurry and enjoyed relaxing. Owner talked with us for a while, very pleasant guy! Decor is very nice as well, relaxing yet up scale! Will definitely be back soon! Best Chinese in the area!
(5)
Mark S.
Wow! Love it! Food was fantastic as was the service. We'll be back soon! (PF Changs has nothing on this place. Trust me)
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Dano R.
Enjoyed the open street side dining on a beautiful summer night. The Asian fare is outstanding along with attentive service. Thee Mongolian beef was perfect with just the right seasoning and a nice char on the beef. The vegetables in both dish and my wife's scallops were about as good as I've had in any Asian restaurant. I definitely will return to this establishment.
(4)Chris J.
I really want to give 4 stars - but to be fair, price vs. value is the issue. 3 people, no alcohol at $70 means they compete more with PF Changs than the average Chinese restaurant. That is not very expensive but it does drive higher expectations. - we loved the ambiance & decor - very modern and fun - the service was great - soups were good, especially the wonton soup - calamari was great - egg rolls were ok - General Tsao's chicken was good - Mongolian beef was disappointing - more like a bland ginger beef - Chicken lo mein was ok - but not much flavor I hope to give them another try as maybe it was an off night. Or we ordered the wrong main courses for our taste.
(3)Chinmay A.
Three of us went for dinner on a Friday. This was easily the worst place in Rochester. We ordered sweet and sour chicken and calamari. The calamari was soggy and tasteless, the chicken was uncooked and the pineapple we almost rotten. We returned the food and nobody even bothered, they didn't inquire about what was wrong, no apologies, nothing. They just took it back and that's that. All this after waiting for a half an hour on the most regular dishes on a not so packed evening. I feel bad for the waiters of this place.
(1)Meredith E.
I was hoping for a step above the local Chinese take out joint, but Ganbei did not even compete. Leftovers are the best part of ordering Chinese, and I could not even open the box. The food at Ganbei has no flavor. None at all. I ordered the scallops and they were over cooked and chewy. The accompanying vegetables were boring. Our server didn't give a f. He didn't even ask for our drink order. The menu was very expensive for the portion and quality. Sitting on Main Street feeling the cool breeze was the best part. But I can have the same feeling at Kruse and Muer. I won't be returning to Ganbei and will be returning to Oceania.
(2)Austin G.
My family and I love this place. The Sweet and Sour chicken is really fantastic and I love the egg rolls they give you with the meal. Get the crab and cheese appetizer and the pot stickers.
(5)Juvianne D.
Amazing food! Everything here is perfect! Clean place, everyone is so nice & also the ducken noodles are the best!!! ( I believe that's what's its called)
(5)Saphire J.
I got a Groupon for this place, and thank goodness I did. The food was eh. It is definitely an American-style Chinese restaruant. When I got and tasted my food, I wasn't floored with the taste. It was alright, but nothing to rave about. I got the egg drop soup, beef balamaki, and lo mien noodles. I recommend the beef balamaki, but not the other two things. This place is way too overpriced for non-authentic Chinese food. I THINK they say their cooks are from China, but the food does not reflect that. The atmosphere is welcoming, though. Overall, it was "A-OK."
(3)Michael K.
We decided to give Ganbei a try, having heard good things about it. My wife and I were not very impressed. Reservation - I knew that Saturday was going to be busy with Rochester hopping due to the Kris Kringle festival and other happenings. I called a couple of days ahead and requested a reservation, only to get to the restaurant and find that we did not have a reserved table. Whoever took the reservation messed up. The hostess was able to get us a table right away, but she told us how 'lucky' we were that we got the last one. Not a good first impression. Service - The service was very poor to start off and left a very bad second. We sat there for 10 minutes with nobody coming up to us for anything. Finally a frazzled waiter appeared, and said how slammed he was, and took our drink order. Ten minutes later, we hadn't seen him at all. We were apparently the only table in our section that he had. We were about 30 seconds away from standing up and leaving when he showed up with the drinks. Another table in our section did get new occupants and he took that table, so we did start seeing a little more of him after that, but it was not a good way to start. I saw the hostess leaving her spot to bus tables, so I think a big part of the problem here is that they don't have adequate staffing to handle full capacity. Having been open for a few months now, there isn't any real excuse for this. Food / Value - The food was pretty good but there was nothing really special about it. Our favorite takeout place is Ping's, and we both said that while the food was good, we could have ordered the same thing from Ping's, paid 30% less, and gotten 30% more. While the food was good, the value was lacking, and this was even with a 20% off food coupon that I found online prior to our visit. Decor - The restaurant was very nice and tastefully laid out. Many Asian restaurants go over the top in their decor to the point of gawdiness, but there wasn't any of that here. It's very nice, and while they have a lot of tables in the rooms, they have them laid out in ways that don't make you feel intruded on by neighboring tables. Overall - Our experience here was OK. My wife and I agreed that while it wasn't awful when it was all said and done, nor was it anything special enough to draw us back on a regular basis. They had a Groupon in the past that we missed, and if they offered that again, we might go, but otherwise, we'll either go to other downtown restaurants that are worth it (Kruse & Muer is our favorite) or if we're in the mood for Chinese, stick to takeout at Pings or Oceania that gives us much better value.
(2)Margaret P.
We found this restaurant from Groupon and decided to try it. The decor was great, the rooms were clean and well lit. The service was friendly and efficient. We had the calamari, the wonton and egg drop sous and the beef lo mein and red thai chicken curry. Everything was wonderful. We will definitely go back.
(4)Andrew S.
Really good wonton soup! Cool place. My waitress was really nice and great. Wasn't busy at all for lunch and sat on the patio.
(4)Toby K.
OK, I'm ABSOLUTELY baffled as to HOW this place is getting five star ratings..... To sum up - Very poorly executed, overpriced Americanized Chinese food (same sauce on three different dishes we ordered!), with terrible service (I, at one point, had to walk over to the bar to get my beer). Two stars are just for the great location in lovely downtown Rochester and ambience. MUCH better food at less price at Pei Wei.
(2)K L.
Fully deserves five stars. Ingredients are fresh, dishes tasty and beautifully cooked. Sesame chicken is crispy not soggy. We have eaten in and taken food away and have been happy with both.
(5)Kathy R.
Have been there twice with girlfriends.had one of the specials...OUTSTANDING!! Service very good and food phenomenal. Would highly recommend. Reservations accepted.
(4)Robert B.
I ordered the General Tsao's chicken. It was sweet. Very sweet. Like eating caramel corn with meat in it. The service was good but I was the only customer in the entire restaurant the whole time. The decor was stellar which made the entree a bit disappointing. The ambiance says, "Asian Fusion" while the food says, "Panda Express".
(2)Mike R.
Poor quality chicken..... I really wanted to love the food here so it aches me to give it a bad review. My first experience here wasn't great and I was just there to pick up a menu, which wasn't available due to their "soft open." Tip #1, don't have a "soft open" without having everything set up, and that includes your website and having your menus available for carryout. Tip #2, train your host/hostesses, or anyone who answers the phone to take a carryout order to know and understand your menu. When they have to put you on hold, twice, to ask the mgr for an answer for 2 very easy questions, your aren't prepared to be 'on the floor.' People make mistakes, I get it, but combine my service complaints with the quality of the food and i will not be back. Did i mention the quality of the food?..... Let me just say this, I have had better chicken from the chinese restaurant down the street, for lunch, for $4.50. If I am going to a 'fine dining' restaurant, i def expect better quality. When an upgrade to this place is Pei Wei, dat aint good!
(2)A G.
Wow this is quite the place, not your typical Chinese restaurant. Well decorated in modern Chinoiserie. I have to admit the food was a bit sweet for my taste but since everything is made to order next time I will order it to my liking. The food was good, don't get me wrong just too sweet for my palate. I personally like the atmosphere and decor. What I enjoyed the most are the awesome well made drinks. Nice twist on Chinese food, good atmosphere and even better drinks. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)Vickie H.
Couldn't wait to check this place out. LOVE Chinese food, and not a lot of good Chinese food in area. Went for lunch. 3 or 4 tables seated. Stood and waited to be seated for a little bit, but ok. Food was delicious. Fresh and made there. Got to leave out those pesky carrots which annoy me so. Egg roll was fresh and hot. So crispy. Mongolian beef was excellent. Meat was tender and flavorful. All served with white rice. Generous portion. BUT, my favorite thing was the wonton soup. Wontons were deliciously stuffed and tender. Could tell they were made in house. Service was a tad slow, but I only saw one server working. Little pricey, $11 for entree and soup. Worth it! We'll be back.
(4)Paula D.
Good, fresh Chinese food. Good service. Nice looking decor and we will be coming back soon to try other dishes
(5)Paul P.
Really good Chinese food in Rochester...at last!! Even my wife liked it and she is a VERY fussy food critic. C'mon people, lets frequent this place and keep in going so I can satisfy my Chinese cravings whenever they hit!!
(4)Brenden J.
Great environment, great food and great service. The portion sizes are large which justifies the cost. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Linda S.
I have enjoyed every dish I've tried so far. The food tastes fresh and was delivered to our table piping hot. Good egg rolls, terrific calamari, Kung Pao Chicken has just the right amount of heat. Attentive service. Beautiful atmosphere. It's great to have a Chinese restaurant that has stye and class. My advice - don't get carry out, go there to eat.
(4)Ann H.
My husband and I had dinner here last Saturday night and it was so good. The atmosphere, food, service and price is great. I highly recommend this place
(5)matt o.
it's like PF changs minus the decent food. I think my wife's comment sums it up..."an American chef cooking from a Chinese cookbook written by an American"
(2)Karen K.
This place is awesome! Stopped in for lunch with my mom and got to enjoy cocktails as well. Martini selection is GREAT! Food is to die for. We had the lettuce wraps... YUM and the drunken noodles which were FANTASTIC!!! Fresh, fresh ingredients. Food took a little while to reach the table, but we were in no hurry and enjoyed relaxing. Owner talked with us for a while, very pleasant guy! Decor is very nice as well, relaxing yet up scale! Will definitely be back soon! Best Chinese in the area!
(5)Mark S.
Wow! Love it! Food was fantastic as was the service. We'll be back soon! (PF Changs has nothing on this place. Trust me)
(5)Kathy R.
Have been there twice with girlfriends.had one of the specials...OUTSTANDING!! Service very good and food phenomenal. Would highly recommend. Reservations accepted.
(4)Robert B.
I ordered the General Tsao's chicken. It was sweet. Very sweet. Like eating caramel corn with meat in it. The service was good but I was the only customer in the entire restaurant the whole time. The decor was stellar which made the entree a bit disappointing. The ambiance says, "Asian Fusion" while the food says, "Panda Express".
(2)Linda S.
I have enjoyed every dish I've tried so far. The food tastes fresh and was delivered to our table piping hot. Good egg rolls, terrific calamari, Kung Pao Chicken has just the right amount of heat. Attentive service. Beautiful atmosphere. It's great to have a Chinese restaurant that has stye and class. My advice - don't get carry out, go there to eat.
(4)Ann H.
My husband and I had dinner here last Saturday night and it was so good. The atmosphere, food, service and price is great. I highly recommend this place
(5)Meredith E.
I was hoping for a step above the local Chinese take out joint, but Ganbei did not even compete. Leftovers are the best part of ordering Chinese, and I could not even open the box. The food at Ganbei has no flavor. None at all. I ordered the scallops and they were over cooked and chewy. The accompanying vegetables were boring. Our server didn't give a f. He didn't even ask for our drink order. The menu was very expensive for the portion and quality. Sitting on Main Street feeling the cool breeze was the best part. But I can have the same feeling at Kruse and Muer. I won't be returning to Ganbei and will be returning to Oceania.
(2)Dano R.
Enjoyed the open street side dining on a beautiful summer night. The Asian fare is outstanding along with attentive service. Thee Mongolian beef was perfect with just the right seasoning and a nice char on the beef. The vegetables in both dish and my wife's scallops were about as good as I've had in any Asian restaurant. I definitely will return to this establishment.
(4)Chris J.
I really want to give 4 stars - but to be fair, price vs. value is the issue. 3 people, no alcohol at $70 means they compete more with PF Changs than the average Chinese restaurant. That is not very expensive but it does drive higher expectations. - we loved the ambiance & decor - very modern and fun - the service was great - soups were good, especially the wonton soup - calamari was great - egg rolls were ok - General Tsao's chicken was good - Mongolian beef was disappointing - more like a bland ginger beef - Chicken lo mein was ok - but not much flavor I hope to give them another try as maybe it was an off night. Or we ordered the wrong main courses for our taste.
(3)Chinmay A.
Three of us went for dinner on a Friday. This was easily the worst place in Rochester. We ordered sweet and sour chicken and calamari. The calamari was soggy and tasteless, the chicken was uncooked and the pineapple we almost rotten. We returned the food and nobody even bothered, they didn't inquire about what was wrong, no apologies, nothing. They just took it back and that's that. All this after waiting for a half an hour on the most regular dishes on a not so packed evening. I feel bad for the waiters of this place.
(1)Austin G.
My family and I love this place. The Sweet and Sour chicken is really fantastic and I love the egg rolls they give you with the meal. Get the crab and cheese appetizer and the pot stickers.
(5)Juvianne D.
Amazing food! Everything here is perfect! Clean place, everyone is so nice & also the ducken noodles are the best!!! ( I believe that's what's its called)
(5)Saphire J.
I got a Groupon for this place, and thank goodness I did. The food was eh. It is definitely an American-style Chinese restaruant. When I got and tasted my food, I wasn't floored with the taste. It was alright, but nothing to rave about. I got the egg drop soup, beef balamaki, and lo mien noodles. I recommend the beef balamaki, but not the other two things. This place is way too overpriced for non-authentic Chinese food. I THINK they say their cooks are from China, but the food does not reflect that. The atmosphere is welcoming, though. Overall, it was "A-OK."
(3)Toby K.
OK, I'm ABSOLUTELY baffled as to HOW this place is getting five star ratings..... To sum up - Very poorly executed, overpriced Americanized Chinese food (same sauce on three different dishes we ordered!), with terrible service (I, at one point, had to walk over to the bar to get my beer). Two stars are just for the great location in lovely downtown Rochester and ambience. MUCH better food at less price at Pei Wei.
(2)K L.
Fully deserves five stars. Ingredients are fresh, dishes tasty and beautifully cooked. Sesame chicken is crispy not soggy. We have eaten in and taken food away and have been happy with both.
(5)Mike R.
Poor quality chicken..... I really wanted to love the food here so it aches me to give it a bad review. My first experience here wasn't great and I was just there to pick up a menu, which wasn't available due to their "soft open." Tip #1, don't have a "soft open" without having everything set up, and that includes your website and having your menus available for carryout. Tip #2, train your host/hostesses, or anyone who answers the phone to take a carryout order to know and understand your menu. When they have to put you on hold, twice, to ask the mgr for an answer for 2 very easy questions, your aren't prepared to be 'on the floor.' People make mistakes, I get it, but combine my service complaints with the quality of the food and i will not be back. Did i mention the quality of the food?..... Let me just say this, I have had better chicken from the chinese restaurant down the street, for lunch, for $4.50. If I am going to a 'fine dining' restaurant, i def expect better quality. When an upgrade to this place is Pei Wei, dat aint good!
(2)A G.
Wow this is quite the place, not your typical Chinese restaurant. Well decorated in modern Chinoiserie. I have to admit the food was a bit sweet for my taste but since everything is made to order next time I will order it to my liking. The food was good, don't get me wrong just too sweet for my palate. I personally like the atmosphere and decor. What I enjoyed the most are the awesome well made drinks. Nice twist on Chinese food, good atmosphere and even better drinks. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)Michael K.
We decided to give Ganbei a try, having heard good things about it. My wife and I were not very impressed. Reservation - I knew that Saturday was going to be busy with Rochester hopping due to the Kris Kringle festival and other happenings. I called a couple of days ahead and requested a reservation, only to get to the restaurant and find that we did not have a reserved table. Whoever took the reservation messed up. The hostess was able to get us a table right away, but she told us how 'lucky' we were that we got the last one. Not a good first impression. Service - The service was very poor to start off and left a very bad second. We sat there for 10 minutes with nobody coming up to us for anything. Finally a frazzled waiter appeared, and said how slammed he was, and took our drink order. Ten minutes later, we hadn't seen him at all. We were apparently the only table in our section that he had. We were about 30 seconds away from standing up and leaving when he showed up with the drinks. Another table in our section did get new occupants and he took that table, so we did start seeing a little more of him after that, but it was not a good way to start. I saw the hostess leaving her spot to bus tables, so I think a big part of the problem here is that they don't have adequate staffing to handle full capacity. Having been open for a few months now, there isn't any real excuse for this. Food / Value - The food was pretty good but there was nothing really special about it. Our favorite takeout place is Ping's, and we both said that while the food was good, we could have ordered the same thing from Ping's, paid 30% less, and gotten 30% more. While the food was good, the value was lacking, and this was even with a 20% off food coupon that I found online prior to our visit. Decor - The restaurant was very nice and tastefully laid out. Many Asian restaurants go over the top in their decor to the point of gawdiness, but there wasn't any of that here. It's very nice, and while they have a lot of tables in the rooms, they have them laid out in ways that don't make you feel intruded on by neighboring tables. Overall - Our experience here was OK. My wife and I agreed that while it wasn't awful when it was all said and done, nor was it anything special enough to draw us back on a regular basis. They had a Groupon in the past that we missed, and if they offered that again, we might go, but otherwise, we'll either go to other downtown restaurants that are worth it (Kruse & Muer is our favorite) or if we're in the mood for Chinese, stick to takeout at Pings or Oceania that gives us much better value.
(2)Margaret P.
We found this restaurant from Groupon and decided to try it. The decor was great, the rooms were clean and well lit. The service was friendly and efficient. We had the calamari, the wonton and egg drop sous and the beef lo mein and red thai chicken curry. Everything was wonderful. We will definitely go back.
(4)Andrew S.
Really good wonton soup! Cool place. My waitress was really nice and great. Wasn't busy at all for lunch and sat on the patio.
(4)Vickie H.
Couldn't wait to check this place out. LOVE Chinese food, and not a lot of good Chinese food in area. Went for lunch. 3 or 4 tables seated. Stood and waited to be seated for a little bit, but ok. Food was delicious. Fresh and made there. Got to leave out those pesky carrots which annoy me so. Egg roll was fresh and hot. So crispy. Mongolian beef was excellent. Meat was tender and flavorful. All served with white rice. Generous portion. BUT, my favorite thing was the wonton soup. Wontons were deliciously stuffed and tender. Could tell they were made in house. Service was a tad slow, but I only saw one server working. Little pricey, $11 for entree and soup. Worth it! We'll be back.
(4)Paula D.
Good, fresh Chinese food. Good service. Nice looking decor and we will be coming back soon to try other dishes
(5)Paul P.
Really good Chinese food in Rochester...at last!! Even my wife liked it and she is a VERY fussy food critic. C'mon people, lets frequent this place and keep in going so I can satisfy my Chinese cravings whenever they hit!!
(4)Brenden J.
Great environment, great food and great service. The portion sizes are large which justifies the cost. Can't wait to go back!
(5)matt o.
it's like PF changs minus the decent food. I think my wife's comment sums it up..."an American chef cooking from a Chinese cookbook written by an American"
(2)Karen K.
This place is awesome! Stopped in for lunch with my mom and got to enjoy cocktails as well. Martini selection is GREAT! Food is to die for. We had the lettuce wraps... YUM and the drunken noodles which were FANTASTIC!!! Fresh, fresh ingredients. Food took a little while to reach the table, but we were in no hurry and enjoyed relaxing. Owner talked with us for a while, very pleasant guy! Decor is very nice as well, relaxing yet up scale! Will definitely be back soon! Best Chinese in the area!
(5)Mark S.
Wow! Love it! Food was fantastic as was the service. We'll be back soon! (PF Changs has nothing on this place. Trust me)
(5)