Let the bread be the reason you try this place; it is to die for. I'm not a fan of their recent steak swaps, but they do make a fine piece of meat. Veggie tacos are a must!
(5)
John G.
The menu is ok. Ambiance is great. Try the Guinness onion rings!
(3)
Kavya J.
Been to redwood room before and was impressed, so wanted to try 300 first too. Loved the ambience of the place. They have a nice menu. We ordered onion rings (which were burnt) but still better than onion rings at a lot of other places. Their signature corn is amazing, and so is their signature mashed potatoes. The bread was fresh and yummy. We ordered chicken Alfredo pasta (one of the best Alfredo pasta I have ever had), trout (another great entree) and fried shrimp. Loved every single thing we ordered. Amazing service, beautiful ambience, creative menu and a lot of variety in drinks. Will definitely be back to try more!
(4)
Dionne H.
I visited the restaurant to attend a group meeting. I knew in advanced that we'd have a special menu prepared for our group. The menu was surpisingly filled with many entree options. In addition, we ordered three appetizers. Unfortunately, I can only provide details about the onion rings. They were delicious. In fact, it took everything I had to resist the urges of the 12 year old in me & make the onion rings my main course. Once my id was no longer in control of my actions, I ordered the filet with mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were so buttery with a smooth consistency- the perfect compliment to my steak. In short, the meal was a Midwestern woman's dream of a perfectly prepared meal of meat and potatoes. I would certainly choose the restaurant again for another group gathering.
(4)
Layan A.
Dinner with friends. Not packed on a Friday night. The place is big, atmosphere dark and cosy. Similar to redwood room but without live music. I had the chicken fettuccini Alfredo. Not bad but not spectacular. The portion was massive. Nice place to hang out. But if you're looking for great food, I would look elsewhere (Rochester has a surprisingly good number of great restaurants). Service was good.
(3)
Milk M.
When I saw the Bavette steak, listed on the menu as a unique cut if local beef, I had to give it a try. It was hands down in the top five steaks I ever have had at a restaurant. Every side dish, from their signature creamed corn to the mashed potatoes, was delicious. The complimentary bread was fresh, warm and perfect to dip in the steak jus. It is a fairly pricey dinner, but well worth the money.
I was told this one of the best places in Rochester and that it had the most up-scale food. It was average at best... I guess this sentiment is indicative of the blandness and lack of creativity of the food landscape in the general area (sorry Rochester). That being said the food itself was OK. The ambience of the place is OK and relaxed with a hint of up-scale but seemed a little confused as to what it is trying to be... it's on the dark side (which I prefer) but has odd ceiling lighting and the wait staff needs some serious training on timing and how to approach a table without interrupting conversations. The menu has enough variety to accommodate a wide range of people but all of the dishes were pretty bland and lacked anything to distinguish them from higher-end diner food (except for the presentation which was pretty good). The other 4 people in my group all agreed that their individual dishes were pretty unremarkable. In my 7 days in Rochester I ate out quite a bit and unfortunately this was one of the better restaurants (it wouldn't last in a more metropolitan area). I suppose I would eat there again given the other choices.
(3)
Steven W.
Martini with dry ice bubbles and a killer prime rim ... With great staff and cool atmosphere. What's not to like?
(5)
Tasha L.
I had very high hopes for 300 First. The ambiance is appealing and contemporary and the prawns appetizer was delicious. The smoking martinis are also a cool menu item. However, the service was sub-par. I believe our waitress came to our table maybe 2-3 times our whole 2 hour visit. She was also very cold and aloof. She was too busy conversing with friends and the cook staff it seemed. The scallops were so smokey that my dinner date literally choked when he bit into one. I will probably not be going back to 300 First any time soon.
(2)
Jack C.
My wife and I were in Rochester recently (Mayo Clinic), and we decided to try a restaurant that we hadn't been to before, and 300 First was our choice. The ambiance of the place is great! Large, leather seats and orange track lighting in the lounge area, opened brick face throughout, copper artwork on the walls and a fireplace all make for a great backdrop to one amazing dining experience! We started off with some Pork Wings (on specials menu), and those were excellent! I can't remember what kind of dipping sauce they came with (Jim Beam/honey mustard?), but that put these over the top! My wife had the Salmon Special (same menu) with a side of House Rice, and I had the Grilled Molasses Pork Tenderloin. I'm not a huge salmon fan, but I did try a bite of my wife's dish, and it was pretty good (for salmon). My pork tenderloin was probably the best I've ever had! It's marinated with coffee, molasses and thyme, and topped with a coffee-molasses glaze, served on top of a bed of mashed potatoes with a side of braised red cabbage. Meals average around $20, so it's definitely not a cheap place to eat, but it's totally worth the price!
(5)
Amanda W.
They have these incredible steaming martinis that they place dry ice into. This place is great for just drinks or a nice night out for supper. Food is excellent, a bit richer and also a bit more expensive. Most entrees around $20+ or so
(4)
Sarah M.
This was one of the highest listed restaurants in Rochester according to Yelp, and I was really disappointed. The place looked really fun, the service was really friendly...so I thought we were off to a good start. The food was all around disappointing - I didn't like one thing that we ordered. We started with the beer battered onion rings which were really greasy and tasteless. For the main course, I had a special of apple butter salmon and there were just too many things going on with it. They sprinkled it with sweet potato crisps which was just too much and too sweet. It was served over a bed of rice which was probably the only decent thing about it - but there wasn't very much. The only good thing that I can think of was that the salmon was a good sized piece. My Dad had the saddest looking piece of chicken that I've ever seen. It was so small! I don't think that a child would have even been full off of it. Pitiful. My Mom had chicken with some kind of cream sauce which was apparently DUMPED on top of it. I've never seen so much sauce - it was way too much. My Mom was sick for the rest of the night because of it. Disappointing all around. Try Chesters instead. We didn't have one bad meal there and went 3 times.
(2)
Tisa H.
This restaurant impressed me so much the first time, I had to come back a second time to make sure the experience was real. It was real! The drinks are beyond delicious. I was a bit suspicious about the smoking martinis, but the worries were not warranted. The little drop of dry ice that is added to make the smoke, causes the drink to bubble. This forces delectable aromas of the drink to release. For the Bonzai, my favorite, it's the scent of ginger from the ginger liqueur added to Hendricks gin. If you are a gin lover like me, I beg you to try it. The peach cosmopolitan was sweeter, but no less tasty with the scent of peach erupting from the bubles. For the meal the cedar plank salmon was perfect. Not too dry, not too rare, but just right. Juicy with the perfect amount of salt, spices, and chargilled flavor. Again, I went two times for this dish. Service was so pleasant. I may return for thirds.
(4)
Jennifer H.
Two stars because the drinks are excellent but super pricey. Food is definitely not worth the price. Bartender was M.I.A. for 15 minutes on a Saturday night, and we had to grab a waitress on our own to place our order. The waitress was very helpful and nice, so we tipped her. Cozy and hip decor but not worth the prices!
(2)
Melanie F.
Stopped in here looking for food and some music- was not disappointed!! Wine and food were great! The music was by Fernando Ufret- he was amazing! You definitely want to check him out!! Would come back here in a heartbeat!
(5)
Stuart T.
Traveling to Rochester on business. Tried all the places. Several good choices - but this is my favorite.
(5)
Heather C.
Wow!!! I loved this place. The food was amazing and the service was friendly! I had the chicken cordon bleu my Mom had the fillet and my brother had the salmon. Everyone enjoyed their dinner. This place has great food and has an amazing wait staff. If I ever come back to Rochester I will be coming back here! I can't praise this place enough!
(5)
Thomas C.
I have been here on two occasions. Food is way over priced for what it is. Cocktails were awful, the special cocktail of the day tasted like rocket fuel, and waitress made no attempt to address our visible disgust. If you are going over to this side of town, then I would recommend the Redwood room, if the wait is tolerable.
(2)
TDawg T.
$20 for one chicken breast????????!?? Is this because it was take-out and you can get away with that???? We are home now and starving. Thanks a LOT!!!!!!! And a $38 steak should be twice as thick as this one. Come on guys.
(1)
Jeff J.
I travel both nationally and internationally and eat out nightly. I was surprised to find this place. AA perfect dinner after a long day. Nicki was our server and was exceptional. Personable, attentive and knowledgeable she took care of our table easily and made for a beautiful dinner. All food from start to finish was exceptional;. Strongly recommend.
(5)
Nicole B.
The ambiance is one of the best in Rochester. The very long wait is a pain (our fault, not theirs!), so make sure you get reservations. The mixed drinks are marvelous, and the food is superb. I've been twice, and both experiences were excellent. Glad to have them here!
(5)
Jason W.
Great atmosphere with old style decor. Plenty of wine selection. Not the biggest menu but the meals definitely don't lack on taste. Service was on par for price of menu items. In my opinion the items are priced a little high. Steaks are $5-6 overpriced for the quality served but they are full flavored. There is a small bar area with couches for a late night cocktail if you like that kind of thing.
(4)
Carissa G.
This place seems like Rochester's attempt at a trendy restaurant and sadly they have failed on all accounts. The service is bad, the food is bad, and some of it is just cheesy (i.e. dry ice martinis).
(3)
Natalie Y.
Disappointed. I moved back to Rochester and remember hearing great things about this place. The boyfriend and I decided to enjoy date night here. His 'medium rare' steak was cooked medium well. My salmon had nice flavoring but was accompanied by bland rice and spinach- I've made fancier versions at home. Lastly, i ordered a smoking martini. It wasn't smoking. Nor was it all that good. Sad to admit that we likely won't return.
(2)
Harry H.
Excellent food and good service. After a month in Rochester this is the best we've found.
(5)
Mr. B.
The waitress recommended the onions rings and they were very tasty. Perhaps too large of an order. The Atlantic Salmon was a great size and tasted awesome. The Smoking Martinis were fun to look at and to drink. They smoke until they're empty due to dry ice. Our waitress provided restaurant history and menu advise. She was awesome! The interior was designed with a mix of brick, copper, leather chairs, marble bar, mix matched light fixtures, writing on the doors, tables/booth at ground level, and raised booths.
(5)
Jim B.
So, I'm in Rochester, having driven from Chicago to visit the Mayo Clinic. I look on Yelp for a well reviewed restaurant and read glowing reviews about 300. In particular, their Prime Rib is called out as being not to miss - as was their house specialty Creamed Corn. Well, I'm a sucker for good Prime Rib and decided to get the much hyped corn. OMG! What a disappointment! This was the absolutely toughest piece of meat I have ever had the misfortune to order ... And, at $26.95, very hard to swallow (pun intended!) Also, I should mention the corn was topped with some unpleasant, very hard crunchy bits of unfathomable source. The house vinagarette was nice, so it wasn't a total loss ... Giving them 2 stars only because my waitress was VERY nice and accommodating ... The food: I'm sorry but not worth more than 1 star ... Sigh ...
(2)
Sam M.
Sometimes you know what you want but you don't know where to find it. For me 300 first was a yelp in the dark - I went based solely on the yelp reviews and it's location in Rochester. Anniversary night, so a good filet was in order. 300 First serves a great filet and a relaxed dining atmosphere. Dinner started off simply with some nice Spanish red wine. I ordered the filet and my wife ordered the filet wellington. They were two very different approaches to a filet. My filet arrived a perfect medium with a nice spice to the outside to complement the flavor of the meat. Delicious potatoes (horseradish?) and asparagus rounded out the plate. My wife's filet wellington was wrapped in a delicious puff pastry with a delicious sauce inside. I have never had wellington before, but I liked this. The plate had the same sides as mine. When time for dessert arrived, both my wife and I wanted cheesecake. They had creme brulee but nothing else jumped out at us. So instead we just had another glass of wine. Overall a great evening, the kind you only get once in awhile.
(5)
Justin S.
This is one of my preferred locations for me & my wife on a date night. You'll love the exposed ceilings & brick with a splash neon accents. Prices are reasonable compared to the old broadstreet cafe days. Another popular destination is just below downstairs in the Redwood room.
(5)
Jim H.
We came here with a group of five and had a reservation for 7pm. We checked in when we arrived 10 min early and went to the bar to have a drink, expecting to be seated within a few minutes. To make a long long long story (nightmare?) short, it took well over an hour to get seated. The bar service was poor, almost nonexistent. Twice we had to flag down the bartender. After being seated, our orders took another 35 minutes to arrive. Some entrees were cold. At least they didn't get the orders wrong.
(2)
Katie Z.
My filet mignon was so tasteless, I would've sent it back if I hasn't been on an interview dinner. Shrimp appetizer was great, but calamari was overcooked. The pork wings were delicious, but the accompanying sauce was dreadful (try the Dijon sauce that comes with the onion rings instead). Would not come back here unless it was a business dinner
(3)
Kevin Z.
Our waitress was Kristi. She deserves recognition for making our experience at 300 First so memorable. Thanks Kristi!
(5)
Lorraine N.
exceptional cocktails, atmosphere, food......I love the smoking martinis, chocolate martinis, bread, salads----service......oh yeah----and the creme brulee' yummy.....excellent choice for a date, girls night out, impressive.....
(5)
Michael M.
I had a great dinner at the bar this week. Attentive staff, flexible kitchen and great food! Would highly recommend if you are in Rochester. The price vs. quality was excellent.
(4)
Michael K.
Amazing prime rib. Its kind of dark, romantic type setting. A bit spendy though. Good for date night.
(4)
Lisa T.
I went here the other night with my coworkers and it was very good, my fillet was perfect, my wine was awesome. The place is not too fancy but its very contemporary. The music is a bit loud. They serve amazing bread also.
(4)
Xavi T.
Had a great dinner here with my wife on 1/26/13. Duck Pasta dish was very good, my wife had prawn appetizer that was very good as well. For Entrees we had chix breast for her, fillet for me. Fillet seasoned & cooked to perfection! Decore & ambiance very plesant and warm. Why a 4star & not 5? Menu written carlessly (Duck pasta listed in the fish section???), and the winelist has typos. Also, the best bread in Rochester is served there, but is served in cheap plastic bowls that you'd find in a dive bar. But don't let those small details detract from the fact that the all-around experience there was a wholly positive one, and I'll certainly be back for more!!
(4)
Kara C.
Perfect meal and awesome service! I am very picky on my steak (I hate any fat), but I could eat the whole thing. Mashed potatoes and asparagus was great, too. The kids and adults were all happy with their meals. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Annie K.
The food here is amazing. I had the House Salad, Cedar Plank Atlantic Salmon, and finished off with the Creme Brulee. Every dish was superbly executed. The salad was crisp, not drenched in dressing, had a nice crunch from the sunflower seeds and bread crumbs. The salmon was oh so tender and so buttery on a bed of some mixed vegetables. I really was too full to eat anything else afterwards but managed to savor a couple bites of the creme brulee and was so sad that I couldn't finish it off. The ambiance seemed very relaxed but I will say the restaurant is a bit too dim.
(5)
Allen O.
This is my favorite restaurant I. Rochester. The food is always great. They have a molasses coffee encrusted pork tenderloin, which is one of the best things I've ordered In A restaurant.
(5)
Keith F.
Nice atmosphere and service quality was fair. Prime rib average quality. Price point pretty good. In aggregate a 3 star experience
(3)
Dave A.
I rarely give five stars, and I wasn't expecting to after reading the reviews before I went there for the first time. However, I must say it was a thoroughly wonderful experience. The service was excellent...friendly, fast, and efficient. The food (both my wife and I had prime rib) was perfectly cooked. The vegetables were warm and slightly crisp, the creamed corn creamy and flavorful, the skillet corn bread tasty, the mashed potatoes superb (especially when mixed with the horseradish that came with the prime rib), and the prime rib was fork tender. Even the beer, lacking at many restaurants in Rochester, was good. Not a large selection on tap, but what they had was top notch. Overall, a very nice dining experience. Not the cheapest place to eat, but worth the price.
(5)
Carrie M.
Been there twice and enjoyed the experience both times. Somewhat limited menu but excellent food! We've had everything from fish to chicken to filet. All very good.
(5)
Benjamin S.
My meal at 300 First was an enjoyable but highly incongruous experience. The quality of both my food and the service was excelllent, but the atmosphere and appearance of the restaurant were rather perplexing. The dissonance first became noticeable immediately upon entering. The decor is stunning; featuring warm lighting, tasteful art, and beautiful hardwood surfaces. These elegant furnishings are unfortunately paired with an upbeat, synthesizer-heavy 80's soundtrack - decidedly more energetic than the understated decor. Half of the servers were dressed in faded jeans and tank tops, while the kitchen staff wore professional black coats. The service was excellent, but our servers looked like they worked at a bar rather than an upscale restaurant. The menu featured wonderful steaks and seafood options, but they were offered alongside lurid dry ice-laced cocktails. 300 First's identity seems uncomfortably torn between an elegant restaurant, and a trendy lounge/bar. The overall experience is not at all unenjoyable, but the incongruity in 300 First's stylistic choices detracts from the experience. Fantastic food, but the atmosphere needs work.
(3)
Andy B.
This is a great place for an expense account. The food and drinks are really tasty, I wouldn't call the portions by any means "generous". I'm not asking for a heaping pile of food, but when I pay $19 for scallops and polenta cakes, it'd be nice to get more than 6 medium to small sized scallops and a 2 small chunks of grilled polenta. The smokey martinis are great, not terribly strong, but certainly a fun novelty. I would definitely check this place out, but the bring the checkbook, it might hurt.
(4)
Amy R.
Nice place in Rochester. Smoking martini's are fun. atmosphere is charming. Didn't try any food, just drank all night. Would visit again maybe to try their food.
(3)
Elder Z.
This review should be more like three and a half. The food was really good. I had a HUGE slab of well aged and flavorful prime rib, and the dining experience (cozy fire, low lighting) was great. The service was, well, lacking. Our waiter was kind of rushed telling us the specials, and ran off to get drinks then rushed to take our order. After we got our food we saw him only once more. They seem to be short handed, it would have been nice to get more attention. Again, the food was great. I had some really earthy mushrooms topping off my prime rib, and some tasty corn on the side. We started with the squash ravioli which comes in really good caramelized onion sauce. We finished the meal with a real simple creme brulee. Their bartender needs to measure himself, as the martini I got as a pre dinner cocktail was really uneven, and the old fashioned my girlfriend got was all over the place. I overall liked this place, will probably be back.
(4)
Scott R.
I've been in the area on business 3 different weeks this month. I am going to make sure I come back every time. The food is excellent, the decor is very warm, and it's much easier to park on that side of town. The prime rib and potatoes were incredible.
(5)
David W.
I really like 300 First. It's great for a meal out with that special someone, (great date spot!), a drink at the bar, or dessert on one of the comfy chairs they have. 300 First has a really cool, cozy vibe. The service is very leisurely (so don't come here if you're in a rush--come to linger), the food is good (albeit a little spendy) and the drinks are fantastic. My only complaint (other than the price) is that the menu selection (including desserts) is somewhat limited.
(5)
Otis R.
Very good restaurant. It is the old Broadstreet Cafe with a revised and revamped menu. The ambiance is good. Love the smoking martinis
(4)
Ed R.
Excellent place to dine. My first visit here was for dinner - it is a great date spot or good place to go with a few friends, I would say it's prices are reasonable and their menu is very good, I think they have something for everyone. I had a steak which was quite good, as were the sides and appetizers. However, from the sound of their menu they pride themselves on corn-fed beef, which strikes me as odd since grass-fed is better... I'm not sure why you would want to claim you have corn-fed when most everything you buy is. My second visit was for lunch - they have Kobe beef burgers for under 10 bucks (American Kobe, but still quality). This burger competes with Newt's (if not better) - so I was certainly happy. Lunch was quick and reasonable. Service for both visits was good, attentive waitress, good on refilling water, asked how the food was, made sure we were doing okay.
(4)
Billy N.
Very nice restaurant and very pricey. Nice atmosphere and decor.
(4)
Katharine A.
This is THE BEST restaurant in Rochester. The corn bread was amazing! My absolute favorite item is the butternut squash ravioli. It is one of those appetizers that you want to lick the plate and don't care who is looking!!!
(5)
amy s.
My friends and I love to go here! Its a great place to meet up after work for some good drinks and dinner! I really like the pot roast sandwich, bacon and blue cheese wedge salad, and "smoking" martinis! The service is great! One time I ordered calimari and they brought me out a plate with mostly the tenicles, not rings...and i really only eat the rings, and the waitress could tell by my face i guess that i wasn't expecting it to be that way, so right away she was like "is everything ok" and when i told her what was wrong she took it back to the kitchen right away and came back w/ a plate of mostly rings!!! I thought that was awesome and i was so impressed that they paid such close attention and were willing to take the extra time to make sure that i really liked what i had ordered! Great atmosphere too! I love the little lounge area in the front!
(5)
Bob J.
Disappointing 16 oz ribeye as significant portion of serving was fat. Asked for rare and got rare. Mashed potatoes tasty. Good beer selection.
(2)
Tara L.
Good food, creative, for the ingredients used. Drinks were fun and well made. Contemporary feel, especially for Rochester. Service was friendly. The Risotto Cakes were excellent!
(4)
Claire G.
I wanted togove this 4 stars but might need to wait for another experience. We called the restaurant at 8:15 on Friday night, to inquire about getting a table for 2. They made it sound like they were really busy but they'd put my name down and maybe I could get in at 8:45. It was like they were doing me a favor but wouldn't make any promises. We got there at 8:45 and had no problem finding a table. I have no idea why the hostess had made it sound like we'd be lucky to get one. We were seated and the server promptly brought our drinks and answered questions about the menu. It took her awhile to get back to get our order, however. They specialize in steaks. They also have a nice fish menu. I had the special, which was pistachio crusted amberjack on bed of julienned sweet potatoes and fresh spinach. It also had a coconut lemongrass sauce. Delicious! When she was describing the different fish preparations, the server made a point to tell us that they cook all their fish all the way through, as if that was a good thing. I asked whether they could prepare it medium rare. She said that they could if i wanted it that way, but that they've been preparing things more done. Once again, it was as if I was lucky to get something that I requested. I just got the impression that this place and the employees think they're pretty cool. Just an attitude issue. My husband had the flatiron steak, which was just ok. My fish was definitely medium, not medium rare. It was good but I can't imagine how overcooked it would have been if I had not requested medium rare. We had tomato basil soup to start,which was abroth based soup with lots of chunks of tomatoes. Really good! The double chocolate bread pudding was also really good. It was made if chocolate bread, drizzles with a vanilla custard and chocolate sauce. The interior of this place is beautiful with exposed beams and bricks and nice lighting. They have a few tvs near the bar. I thought the music was too loud for a restaurant. It was more appropriate for a bar setting. I'm a big fan of rock music but it seemed odd in this setting. Overall I liked the food and setting but just think a few changes would make it a lot better.
(3)
Dave B.
Food is outstanding, love the mashed potatoes. Only downfall is the terribly slow service you endure to eat there.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Dave D.
Let the bread be the reason you try this place; it is to die for. I'm not a fan of their recent steak swaps, but they do make a fine piece of meat. Veggie tacos are a must!
(5)John G.
The menu is ok. Ambiance is great. Try the Guinness onion rings!
(3)Kavya J.
Been to redwood room before and was impressed, so wanted to try 300 first too. Loved the ambience of the place. They have a nice menu. We ordered onion rings (which were burnt) but still better than onion rings at a lot of other places. Their signature corn is amazing, and so is their signature mashed potatoes. The bread was fresh and yummy. We ordered chicken Alfredo pasta (one of the best Alfredo pasta I have ever had), trout (another great entree) and fried shrimp. Loved every single thing we ordered. Amazing service, beautiful ambience, creative menu and a lot of variety in drinks. Will definitely be back to try more!
(4)Dionne H.
I visited the restaurant to attend a group meeting. I knew in advanced that we'd have a special menu prepared for our group. The menu was surpisingly filled with many entree options. In addition, we ordered three appetizers. Unfortunately, I can only provide details about the onion rings. They were delicious. In fact, it took everything I had to resist the urges of the 12 year old in me & make the onion rings my main course. Once my id was no longer in control of my actions, I ordered the filet with mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were so buttery with a smooth consistency- the perfect compliment to my steak. In short, the meal was a Midwestern woman's dream of a perfectly prepared meal of meat and potatoes. I would certainly choose the restaurant again for another group gathering.
(4)Layan A.
Dinner with friends. Not packed on a Friday night. The place is big, atmosphere dark and cosy. Similar to redwood room but without live music. I had the chicken fettuccini Alfredo. Not bad but not spectacular. The portion was massive. Nice place to hang out. But if you're looking for great food, I would look elsewhere (Rochester has a surprisingly good number of great restaurants). Service was good.
(3)Milk M.
When I saw the Bavette steak, listed on the menu as a unique cut if local beef, I had to give it a try. It was hands down in the top five steaks I ever have had at a restaurant. Every side dish, from their signature creamed corn to the mashed potatoes, was delicious. The complimentary bread was fresh, warm and perfect to dip in the steak jus. It is a fairly pricey dinner, but well worth the money.
(4)Jennifer H.
This is one of our favorites for the all-too-rare date night. We like to have a smokin' martini occasionally with an appetizer. When we stay for a meal we find consistently excellent food, friendly staff and quiet understated atmosphere. Favorites from past meals have included steak, risotto, and the desserts (especially the creme brûlée).
(5)James N.
I was told this one of the best places in Rochester and that it had the most up-scale food. It was average at best... I guess this sentiment is indicative of the blandness and lack of creativity of the food landscape in the general area (sorry Rochester). That being said the food itself was OK. The ambience of the place is OK and relaxed with a hint of up-scale but seemed a little confused as to what it is trying to be... it's on the dark side (which I prefer) but has odd ceiling lighting and the wait staff needs some serious training on timing and how to approach a table without interrupting conversations. The menu has enough variety to accommodate a wide range of people but all of the dishes were pretty bland and lacked anything to distinguish them from higher-end diner food (except for the presentation which was pretty good). The other 4 people in my group all agreed that their individual dishes were pretty unremarkable. In my 7 days in Rochester I ate out quite a bit and unfortunately this was one of the better restaurants (it wouldn't last in a more metropolitan area). I suppose I would eat there again given the other choices.
(3)Steven W.
Martini with dry ice bubbles and a killer prime rim ... With great staff and cool atmosphere. What's not to like?
(5)Tasha L.
I had very high hopes for 300 First. The ambiance is appealing and contemporary and the prawns appetizer was delicious. The smoking martinis are also a cool menu item. However, the service was sub-par. I believe our waitress came to our table maybe 2-3 times our whole 2 hour visit. She was also very cold and aloof. She was too busy conversing with friends and the cook staff it seemed. The scallops were so smokey that my dinner date literally choked when he bit into one. I will probably not be going back to 300 First any time soon.
(2)Jack C.
My wife and I were in Rochester recently (Mayo Clinic), and we decided to try a restaurant that we hadn't been to before, and 300 First was our choice. The ambiance of the place is great! Large, leather seats and orange track lighting in the lounge area, opened brick face throughout, copper artwork on the walls and a fireplace all make for a great backdrop to one amazing dining experience! We started off with some Pork Wings (on specials menu), and those were excellent! I can't remember what kind of dipping sauce they came with (Jim Beam/honey mustard?), but that put these over the top! My wife had the Salmon Special (same menu) with a side of House Rice, and I had the Grilled Molasses Pork Tenderloin. I'm not a huge salmon fan, but I did try a bite of my wife's dish, and it was pretty good (for salmon). My pork tenderloin was probably the best I've ever had! It's marinated with coffee, molasses and thyme, and topped with a coffee-molasses glaze, served on top of a bed of mashed potatoes with a side of braised red cabbage. Meals average around $20, so it's definitely not a cheap place to eat, but it's totally worth the price!
(5)Amanda W.
They have these incredible steaming martinis that they place dry ice into. This place is great for just drinks or a nice night out for supper. Food is excellent, a bit richer and also a bit more expensive. Most entrees around $20+ or so
(4)Sarah M.
This was one of the highest listed restaurants in Rochester according to Yelp, and I was really disappointed. The place looked really fun, the service was really friendly...so I thought we were off to a good start. The food was all around disappointing - I didn't like one thing that we ordered. We started with the beer battered onion rings which were really greasy and tasteless. For the main course, I had a special of apple butter salmon and there were just too many things going on with it. They sprinkled it with sweet potato crisps which was just too much and too sweet. It was served over a bed of rice which was probably the only decent thing about it - but there wasn't very much. The only good thing that I can think of was that the salmon was a good sized piece. My Dad had the saddest looking piece of chicken that I've ever seen. It was so small! I don't think that a child would have even been full off of it. Pitiful. My Mom had chicken with some kind of cream sauce which was apparently DUMPED on top of it. I've never seen so much sauce - it was way too much. My Mom was sick for the rest of the night because of it. Disappointing all around. Try Chesters instead. We didn't have one bad meal there and went 3 times.
(2)Tisa H.
This restaurant impressed me so much the first time, I had to come back a second time to make sure the experience was real. It was real! The drinks are beyond delicious. I was a bit suspicious about the smoking martinis, but the worries were not warranted. The little drop of dry ice that is added to make the smoke, causes the drink to bubble. This forces delectable aromas of the drink to release. For the Bonzai, my favorite, it's the scent of ginger from the ginger liqueur added to Hendricks gin. If you are a gin lover like me, I beg you to try it. The peach cosmopolitan was sweeter, but no less tasty with the scent of peach erupting from the bubles. For the meal the cedar plank salmon was perfect. Not too dry, not too rare, but just right. Juicy with the perfect amount of salt, spices, and chargilled flavor. Again, I went two times for this dish. Service was so pleasant. I may return for thirds.
(4)Jennifer H.
Two stars because the drinks are excellent but super pricey. Food is definitely not worth the price. Bartender was M.I.A. for 15 minutes on a Saturday night, and we had to grab a waitress on our own to place our order. The waitress was very helpful and nice, so we tipped her. Cozy and hip decor but not worth the prices!
(2)Melanie F.
Stopped in here looking for food and some music- was not disappointed!! Wine and food were great! The music was by Fernando Ufret- he was amazing! You definitely want to check him out!! Would come back here in a heartbeat!
(5)Stuart T.
Traveling to Rochester on business. Tried all the places. Several good choices - but this is my favorite.
(5)Heather C.
Wow!!! I loved this place. The food was amazing and the service was friendly! I had the chicken cordon bleu my Mom had the fillet and my brother had the salmon. Everyone enjoyed their dinner. This place has great food and has an amazing wait staff. If I ever come back to Rochester I will be coming back here! I can't praise this place enough!
(5)Thomas C.
I have been here on two occasions. Food is way over priced for what it is. Cocktails were awful, the special cocktail of the day tasted like rocket fuel, and waitress made no attempt to address our visible disgust. If you are going over to this side of town, then I would recommend the Redwood room, if the wait is tolerable.
(2)TDawg T.
$20 for one chicken breast????????!?? Is this because it was take-out and you can get away with that???? We are home now and starving. Thanks a LOT!!!!!!! And a $38 steak should be twice as thick as this one. Come on guys.
(1)Jeff J.
I travel both nationally and internationally and eat out nightly. I was surprised to find this place. AA perfect dinner after a long day. Nicki was our server and was exceptional. Personable, attentive and knowledgeable she took care of our table easily and made for a beautiful dinner. All food from start to finish was exceptional;. Strongly recommend.
(5)Nicole B.
The ambiance is one of the best in Rochester. The very long wait is a pain (our fault, not theirs!), so make sure you get reservations. The mixed drinks are marvelous, and the food is superb. I've been twice, and both experiences were excellent. Glad to have them here!
(5)Jason W.
Great atmosphere with old style decor. Plenty of wine selection. Not the biggest menu but the meals definitely don't lack on taste. Service was on par for price of menu items. In my opinion the items are priced a little high. Steaks are $5-6 overpriced for the quality served but they are full flavored. There is a small bar area with couches for a late night cocktail if you like that kind of thing.
(4)Carissa G.
This place seems like Rochester's attempt at a trendy restaurant and sadly they have failed on all accounts. The service is bad, the food is bad, and some of it is just cheesy (i.e. dry ice martinis).
(3)Natalie Y.
Disappointed. I moved back to Rochester and remember hearing great things about this place. The boyfriend and I decided to enjoy date night here. His 'medium rare' steak was cooked medium well. My salmon had nice flavoring but was accompanied by bland rice and spinach- I've made fancier versions at home. Lastly, i ordered a smoking martini. It wasn't smoking. Nor was it all that good. Sad to admit that we likely won't return.
(2)Harry H.
Excellent food and good service. After a month in Rochester this is the best we've found.
(5)Mr. B.
The waitress recommended the onions rings and they were very tasty. Perhaps too large of an order. The Atlantic Salmon was a great size and tasted awesome. The Smoking Martinis were fun to look at and to drink. They smoke until they're empty due to dry ice. Our waitress provided restaurant history and menu advise. She was awesome! The interior was designed with a mix of brick, copper, leather chairs, marble bar, mix matched light fixtures, writing on the doors, tables/booth at ground level, and raised booths.
(5)Jim B.
So, I'm in Rochester, having driven from Chicago to visit the Mayo Clinic. I look on Yelp for a well reviewed restaurant and read glowing reviews about 300. In particular, their Prime Rib is called out as being not to miss - as was their house specialty Creamed Corn. Well, I'm a sucker for good Prime Rib and decided to get the much hyped corn. OMG! What a disappointment! This was the absolutely toughest piece of meat I have ever had the misfortune to order ... And, at $26.95, very hard to swallow (pun intended!) Also, I should mention the corn was topped with some unpleasant, very hard crunchy bits of unfathomable source. The house vinagarette was nice, so it wasn't a total loss ... Giving them 2 stars only because my waitress was VERY nice and accommodating ... The food: I'm sorry but not worth more than 1 star ... Sigh ...
(2)Sam M.
Sometimes you know what you want but you don't know where to find it. For me 300 first was a yelp in the dark - I went based solely on the yelp reviews and it's location in Rochester. Anniversary night, so a good filet was in order. 300 First serves a great filet and a relaxed dining atmosphere. Dinner started off simply with some nice Spanish red wine. I ordered the filet and my wife ordered the filet wellington. They were two very different approaches to a filet. My filet arrived a perfect medium with a nice spice to the outside to complement the flavor of the meat. Delicious potatoes (horseradish?) and asparagus rounded out the plate. My wife's filet wellington was wrapped in a delicious puff pastry with a delicious sauce inside. I have never had wellington before, but I liked this. The plate had the same sides as mine. When time for dessert arrived, both my wife and I wanted cheesecake. They had creme brulee but nothing else jumped out at us. So instead we just had another glass of wine. Overall a great evening, the kind you only get once in awhile.
(5)Justin S.
This is one of my preferred locations for me & my wife on a date night. You'll love the exposed ceilings & brick with a splash neon accents. Prices are reasonable compared to the old broadstreet cafe days. Another popular destination is just below downstairs in the Redwood room.
(5)Jim H.
We came here with a group of five and had a reservation for 7pm. We checked in when we arrived 10 min early and went to the bar to have a drink, expecting to be seated within a few minutes. To make a long long long story (nightmare?) short, it took well over an hour to get seated. The bar service was poor, almost nonexistent. Twice we had to flag down the bartender. After being seated, our orders took another 35 minutes to arrive. Some entrees were cold. At least they didn't get the orders wrong.
(2)Katie Z.
My filet mignon was so tasteless, I would've sent it back if I hasn't been on an interview dinner. Shrimp appetizer was great, but calamari was overcooked. The pork wings were delicious, but the accompanying sauce was dreadful (try the Dijon sauce that comes with the onion rings instead). Would not come back here unless it was a business dinner
(3)Kevin Z.
Our waitress was Kristi. She deserves recognition for making our experience at 300 First so memorable. Thanks Kristi!
(5)Lorraine N.
exceptional cocktails, atmosphere, food......I love the smoking martinis, chocolate martinis, bread, salads----service......oh yeah----and the creme brulee' yummy.....excellent choice for a date, girls night out, impressive.....
(5)Michael M.
I had a great dinner at the bar this week. Attentive staff, flexible kitchen and great food! Would highly recommend if you are in Rochester. The price vs. quality was excellent.
(4)Michael K.
Amazing prime rib. Its kind of dark, romantic type setting. A bit spendy though. Good for date night.
(4)Lisa T.
I went here the other night with my coworkers and it was very good, my fillet was perfect, my wine was awesome. The place is not too fancy but its very contemporary. The music is a bit loud. They serve amazing bread also.
(4)Xavi T.
Had a great dinner here with my wife on 1/26/13. Duck Pasta dish was very good, my wife had prawn appetizer that was very good as well. For Entrees we had chix breast for her, fillet for me. Fillet seasoned & cooked to perfection! Decore & ambiance very plesant and warm. Why a 4star & not 5? Menu written carlessly (Duck pasta listed in the fish section???), and the winelist has typos. Also, the best bread in Rochester is served there, but is served in cheap plastic bowls that you'd find in a dive bar. But don't let those small details detract from the fact that the all-around experience there was a wholly positive one, and I'll certainly be back for more!!
(4)Kara C.
Perfect meal and awesome service! I am very picky on my steak (I hate any fat), but I could eat the whole thing. Mashed potatoes and asparagus was great, too. The kids and adults were all happy with their meals. Will definitely be back!
(5)Annie K.
The food here is amazing. I had the House Salad, Cedar Plank Atlantic Salmon, and finished off with the Creme Brulee. Every dish was superbly executed. The salad was crisp, not drenched in dressing, had a nice crunch from the sunflower seeds and bread crumbs. The salmon was oh so tender and so buttery on a bed of some mixed vegetables. I really was too full to eat anything else afterwards but managed to savor a couple bites of the creme brulee and was so sad that I couldn't finish it off. The ambiance seemed very relaxed but I will say the restaurant is a bit too dim.
(5)Allen O.
This is my favorite restaurant I. Rochester. The food is always great. They have a molasses coffee encrusted pork tenderloin, which is one of the best things I've ordered In A restaurant.
(5)Keith F.
Nice atmosphere and service quality was fair. Prime rib average quality. Price point pretty good. In aggregate a 3 star experience
(3)Dave A.
I rarely give five stars, and I wasn't expecting to after reading the reviews before I went there for the first time. However, I must say it was a thoroughly wonderful experience. The service was excellent...friendly, fast, and efficient. The food (both my wife and I had prime rib) was perfectly cooked. The vegetables were warm and slightly crisp, the creamed corn creamy and flavorful, the skillet corn bread tasty, the mashed potatoes superb (especially when mixed with the horseradish that came with the prime rib), and the prime rib was fork tender. Even the beer, lacking at many restaurants in Rochester, was good. Not a large selection on tap, but what they had was top notch. Overall, a very nice dining experience. Not the cheapest place to eat, but worth the price.
(5)Carrie M.
Been there twice and enjoyed the experience both times. Somewhat limited menu but excellent food! We've had everything from fish to chicken to filet. All very good.
(5)Benjamin S.
My meal at 300 First was an enjoyable but highly incongruous experience. The quality of both my food and the service was excelllent, but the atmosphere and appearance of the restaurant were rather perplexing. The dissonance first became noticeable immediately upon entering. The decor is stunning; featuring warm lighting, tasteful art, and beautiful hardwood surfaces. These elegant furnishings are unfortunately paired with an upbeat, synthesizer-heavy 80's soundtrack - decidedly more energetic than the understated decor. Half of the servers were dressed in faded jeans and tank tops, while the kitchen staff wore professional black coats. The service was excellent, but our servers looked like they worked at a bar rather than an upscale restaurant. The menu featured wonderful steaks and seafood options, but they were offered alongside lurid dry ice-laced cocktails. 300 First's identity seems uncomfortably torn between an elegant restaurant, and a trendy lounge/bar. The overall experience is not at all unenjoyable, but the incongruity in 300 First's stylistic choices detracts from the experience. Fantastic food, but the atmosphere needs work.
(3)Andy B.
This is a great place for an expense account. The food and drinks are really tasty, I wouldn't call the portions by any means "generous". I'm not asking for a heaping pile of food, but when I pay $19 for scallops and polenta cakes, it'd be nice to get more than 6 medium to small sized scallops and a 2 small chunks of grilled polenta. The smokey martinis are great, not terribly strong, but certainly a fun novelty. I would definitely check this place out, but the bring the checkbook, it might hurt.
(4)Amy R.
Nice place in Rochester. Smoking martini's are fun. atmosphere is charming. Didn't try any food, just drank all night. Would visit again maybe to try their food.
(3)Elder Z.
This review should be more like three and a half. The food was really good. I had a HUGE slab of well aged and flavorful prime rib, and the dining experience (cozy fire, low lighting) was great. The service was, well, lacking. Our waiter was kind of rushed telling us the specials, and ran off to get drinks then rushed to take our order. After we got our food we saw him only once more. They seem to be short handed, it would have been nice to get more attention. Again, the food was great. I had some really earthy mushrooms topping off my prime rib, and some tasty corn on the side. We started with the squash ravioli which comes in really good caramelized onion sauce. We finished the meal with a real simple creme brulee. Their bartender needs to measure himself, as the martini I got as a pre dinner cocktail was really uneven, and the old fashioned my girlfriend got was all over the place. I overall liked this place, will probably be back.
(4)Scott R.
I've been in the area on business 3 different weeks this month. I am going to make sure I come back every time. The food is excellent, the decor is very warm, and it's much easier to park on that side of town. The prime rib and potatoes were incredible.
(5)David W.
I really like 300 First. It's great for a meal out with that special someone, (great date spot!), a drink at the bar, or dessert on one of the comfy chairs they have. 300 First has a really cool, cozy vibe. The service is very leisurely (so don't come here if you're in a rush--come to linger), the food is good (albeit a little spendy) and the drinks are fantastic. My only complaint (other than the price) is that the menu selection (including desserts) is somewhat limited.
(5)Otis R.
Very good restaurant. It is the old Broadstreet Cafe with a revised and revamped menu. The ambiance is good. Love the smoking martinis
(4)Ed R.
Excellent place to dine. My first visit here was for dinner - it is a great date spot or good place to go with a few friends, I would say it's prices are reasonable and their menu is very good, I think they have something for everyone. I had a steak which was quite good, as were the sides and appetizers. However, from the sound of their menu they pride themselves on corn-fed beef, which strikes me as odd since grass-fed is better... I'm not sure why you would want to claim you have corn-fed when most everything you buy is. My second visit was for lunch - they have Kobe beef burgers for under 10 bucks (American Kobe, but still quality). This burger competes with Newt's (if not better) - so I was certainly happy. Lunch was quick and reasonable. Service for both visits was good, attentive waitress, good on refilling water, asked how the food was, made sure we were doing okay.
(4)Billy N.
Very nice restaurant and very pricey. Nice atmosphere and decor.
(4)Katharine A.
This is THE BEST restaurant in Rochester. The corn bread was amazing! My absolute favorite item is the butternut squash ravioli. It is one of those appetizers that you want to lick the plate and don't care who is looking!!!
(5)amy s.
My friends and I love to go here! Its a great place to meet up after work for some good drinks and dinner! I really like the pot roast sandwich, bacon and blue cheese wedge salad, and "smoking" martinis! The service is great! One time I ordered calimari and they brought me out a plate with mostly the tenicles, not rings...and i really only eat the rings, and the waitress could tell by my face i guess that i wasn't expecting it to be that way, so right away she was like "is everything ok" and when i told her what was wrong she took it back to the kitchen right away and came back w/ a plate of mostly rings!!! I thought that was awesome and i was so impressed that they paid such close attention and were willing to take the extra time to make sure that i really liked what i had ordered! Great atmosphere too! I love the little lounge area in the front!
(5)Bob J.
Disappointing 16 oz ribeye as significant portion of serving was fat. Asked for rare and got rare. Mashed potatoes tasty. Good beer selection.
(2)Tara L.
Good food, creative, for the ingredients used. Drinks were fun and well made. Contemporary feel, especially for Rochester. Service was friendly. The Risotto Cakes were excellent!
(4)Claire G.
I wanted togove this 4 stars but might need to wait for another experience. We called the restaurant at 8:15 on Friday night, to inquire about getting a table for 2. They made it sound like they were really busy but they'd put my name down and maybe I could get in at 8:45. It was like they were doing me a favor but wouldn't make any promises. We got there at 8:45 and had no problem finding a table. I have no idea why the hostess had made it sound like we'd be lucky to get one. We were seated and the server promptly brought our drinks and answered questions about the menu. It took her awhile to get back to get our order, however. They specialize in steaks. They also have a nice fish menu. I had the special, which was pistachio crusted amberjack on bed of julienned sweet potatoes and fresh spinach. It also had a coconut lemongrass sauce. Delicious! When she was describing the different fish preparations, the server made a point to tell us that they cook all their fish all the way through, as if that was a good thing. I asked whether they could prepare it medium rare. She said that they could if i wanted it that way, but that they've been preparing things more done. Once again, it was as if I was lucky to get something that I requested. I just got the impression that this place and the employees think they're pretty cool. Just an attitude issue. My husband had the flatiron steak, which was just ok. My fish was definitely medium, not medium rare. It was good but I can't imagine how overcooked it would have been if I had not requested medium rare. We had tomato basil soup to start,which was abroth based soup with lots of chunks of tomatoes. Really good! The double chocolate bread pudding was also really good. It was made if chocolate bread, drizzles with a vanilla custard and chocolate sauce. The interior of this place is beautiful with exposed beams and bricks and nice lighting. They have a few tvs near the bar. I thought the music was too loud for a restaurant. It was more appropriate for a bar setting. I'm a big fan of rock music but it seemed odd in this setting. Overall I liked the food and setting but just think a few changes would make it a lot better.
(3)Dave B.
Food is outstanding, love the mashed potatoes. Only downfall is the terribly slow service you endure to eat there.
(4)