The Loop
318 First Ave SW, Rochester, MN, 55902
The Loop Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Rochester for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rochester for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rochester for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
318 First Ave SW
Rochester, MN, 55902 - Phone (507) 226-8644
- Website https://www.thelooprochester.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner, Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Music : DJ, Music Videos, Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Mon, Thu, Fri
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Pat S.
I went to this place on Wednesday at 7, got a table no problem, took a few minutes for waitress to come but since it was the first time we could look around. Nice place. Ordered a cougar martini, just ok can't recommend, and meatloaf sandwich, well that sandwich cover my dinner and lunch the next day and I can't get it off my mind. So very tasty with BBQ or not both ways super yummy. Pricing was ok too since I got 2 meals, the fries have parm on them and made them even better. Good Job. I will try again and see if service comes more quickly since friends have commented on price and speed too. Another plus big screen all over the place.
(3)Jon W.
With the more well-known and locally marketed Newt's grabbing all the attention for their burgers, The Loop blows them away. They cook the patty to order and what you're served is a succulent piece of meat that soaks the tasty bun with juice, but doesn't fall apart. The fries are perfectly cooked with a hint of garlic. The burgers are 5/5, but the rest of the food, in my opinion, is 3/5. Not bad at all, but not great. There are people that love the entire menu, however. Out-of-towners from Chicago have said the burgers are as good as they have ever had. The atmosphere is clean and "trendy," although I hate using that word. Seating spills to the sidewalk, making it a unique place to catch a meal. I highly recommend.
(4)Lisa S.
I hit the Loop every time I am town because they pour the best gin and tonic! of coarse it doesn't hurt that I get it made with Hendricks! I ought to try something different as far as my meal goes but I always seem to get the walleye sandwich with sweet potato fries. Its wonderful. My husband got the turkey avocado wrap and caesar salad. Both are of good size and we were definitely full. Its a great lunch place and has a cool vibe. The waitstaff are all great and seem happy to work there. Over all it seems to be a well run restaurant. We will definitely always make this a stop when we come through Rochester
(5)Christine F.
I've been here a few times and it's always been great. One of the more happening and trendy places in Rochester. It gets pretty crowded at lunch with all of the Mayo Clinic employees, but I've never had to wait for a table. Good and friendly service, reasonable prices.
(4)Holly M.
I've been to the loop a few times now. Each time the food and service has been very good. I can personally recommend the smoked chicken nachos, buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, and their garlic fries! There are a ton of TVs if you want to watch the game. If you order a bloody mary it's a little dull so you may want to add a little spice to it!
(4)Natalie W.
For the week I've been in Rochester, we've been here 3 times. More to come later as I'm enjoying my Mark West Pinot Noir and Chicken Nachos right now ;) As an out of towner, one of the only places worth coming in my humble opinion. Just maybe not on a Saturday night...
(5)Jennifer H.
Great atmosphere, outdoor dining, excellent food for a variety of tastes. Love the roasted beet salad with candied pecans and chèvre.
(5)Jenna J.
We love the Loop. Only restaurant in Rochester that we routinely visit for lunch/dinner AND order for take out. Favorites are the steak salad and the buffalo chicken wontons. Of course, the garlic fries are also a big win for this place. Skip the burgers, way more interesting stuff on the menu.
(5)Bob J.
Items on menu are hit or miss. Last time I got a steak and it was delicious. Tonight I ordered a steak sandwich rare. It was to have grilled onions and jalapeño cheese sauce. What I got was a well done shaved beef sandwich that resembled a Philly Steak sandwich you would buy from a food truck. The waitress never mentioned the sheer impossibility of getting it rare. On the other hand, the restaurant serves Surly Furious.
(3)Zoe H.
This restaurant would better be considered a lounge with full kitchen. Amazing cocktails and appetizers. The calamari was some of the best I've had, which is especially surprising to find in this area. The seating is mostly small, closely spaced cocktail tables and bar seating. There are a few booths set aside for larger parties. Lots and lots of TVs on every wall, if that's what you're looking for. A great place for a casual date or a night out with friends. Dinner and a drink for two, and a shared app ended up ~$70 Pros: Really reasonably priced super tasty entrees, good selection of tap beers, free parking right across the street, central downtown location, hip modern feel, very clean, quick turn over on our order even with most tables full. Staff was friendly and service was prompt. Ideal place to get a fun evening out started. Cons: If what you are looking for is a quiet intimate dinner, this may not be the place. By lots and lots of TVs on every wall, I very much mean that. Every surface that can have a TV does, and there was music far above talking level while we were there (8:30pm). I would agree with the other reviews that the service is rather uninspired. For the treat that the restaurant provides for the area, the waiters probably need better compensation, because they do not seem excited about their jobs. TL;DR: None of the cons are a deal breaker. If you are a local or passing through Rochester checking out this fun, hip nightspot is definitely worth your time. Drinks and snacks over dinner.
(4)Katelyn S.
Great food, ambience, and the prices are reasonable, for a downtown restaurant. One of my favorites! The pork belly tacos are particularly good!
(5)Stuart T.
Traveling to Rochester on business. I ate at the Loop 3 times. Awesome Mac and cheese. Limited menu but everything is good. Very modern look and great bar staff.
(4)Brady K.
Great restaurant in downtown Roch. Great food, decent service (nothing spectacular). I had the jalapeño Mac and cheese burger. It was absolutely amazing. The flavor was right on point. The also do these French fries with parm and garlic. Absolutely a must try for lunch if you're in the neighborhood!
(4)Ashlea L.
I came here with my boyfriend's family & we had a great time ordering drinks & appetizers at happy hour. The place is super cute/trendy inside & I loved the way that the patio was set up, even though we set at a large table inside. They have a large list of beers to choose from & my bf's aunt loves their mojitos. We all picked out a couple of apps & everything was good. My favorites included the chicken nachos (mmm smoked chicken) & steak lettuce wraps. My boyfriend & I brought his brother & girlfriend back the next night for a late night drink & couldn't believe how it was now a club like atmosphere! The dance floor was packed & the DJ was awesome.
(4)Alexa D.
Considering what's around it the loop is better than average. The service was better than most others in the area and their $2 off apps and $1 off drinks at happy hour made me want to come back. I had the lettuce wraps, which were my favorite, and we tried the quinoa cakes and hummus platter as well. Sitting outside was a nice switch from being stuck inside.
(4)Sean B.
I'm a fan of this place, but not a huge fan. I would give 3.5 stars if I could. I spent many a nights here living in Rochester for a year. The ambiance is great. It's a dimly lit beautiful restaurant/bar downtown. The workers are extremely nice and friendly. The food is hit or miss. I'm a fan of the veggie burgers, and always loved their wines. The appetizers, not so much. It's a fun place to come with a group, drink some wine, and relax. My second favorite place to go in Rochester after The Doggery.
(4)Ashlee K.
Hey The Loop. You're a pretty cool place. The atmosphere is a lot of fun, and totally not what you would expect from the outside. We went for lunch, so this might be an atypical experience from what one might find during the dinner rush. We had the Smoked Chicken Nachos to start, and we might have been VERY hungry, but they seemed like some of the most delicious nachos we'd had recently. I love nachos that have black beans on them though. So maybe I'm biased. I had the buttermilk fried chicken at the suggestion of other yelp reviews and was not disappointed. The gravy was delicious, and the garlic aioli was perfection. The service was friendly, and the waitress even turned on a St. Louis Cardinals game for us in Twins Country. That's hospitality. If you're in Downtown Rochester, give The Loop a visit and find your favorite dish!
(4)Kah P.
Causal relaxed place with good food. Some of our favorite include the roasted beet salad, chicken nachos (best in Rochester! the chips are very cirspy), steak lettuce wraps (marinated pieces of steak drizzled in sweet sauce with cabbage slaw) and jaguar chicken pesto pizza.
(4)Jeff B.
Stopped in for a quick lunch on a weekday. Had great service and good food. The fried egg burger was delicious. My friend had the Mexicali burger and also enjoyed it. Good tap beer selection and once again... Great service!
(4)Carrie P.
Solid Food, I cannot say I have ever had something here I haven't liked. The Boursin Chicken is my favorite and some great drinks too. I am always up for dinner at the loop!
(4)Gail F.
Solid place for food and wine. (See my photo which shows most of their red selections). I had the Jalapeno Hummus to start. Well, I actually had the Malbec to start which was great. On to the hummus...it was pretty good. It came with some cucumber, artichoke, and grape tomatoes cut up. I dipped all of those in the hummus rather than the pita that also came with this app. However, the pita looked so soft and it was warm so I tried a small piece with the hummus and ended up nearly eating every piece. If I wasn't watching my bread intake that pita would have completely disappeared into my belly. Bottom line, if you like hummus with pita get this app. For my entree I ordered the Veggie Burger. There was a nice selection of other entrees in addition to about six varieties of burgers, but I really wanted a veggie burger. It was delicious and the bun was so soft. I got my burger with Pepper Jack cheese but they will put any cheese you like. I was surprised by the menu when I first saw the choices because after reading several reviews on here, I was expecting a limited menu. However, I saw steak, pasta, burgers, a nice assortment of sides (I had the grilled asparagus) and several desserts. Did not seem limited to me at all unless comparing it to a diner menu (which just isn't fair since this place is nowhere near similar to a diner). All in all, I enjoyed this place. I am from Philly and spend a lot of time in NYC, so I can be a tough critic. The only slightly negative thing would be that they did not have cappuccino and I was dying for a cappuccino after dinner. Oh, friendly servers/ bartenders (I sat at the bar by myself).
(4)Trevor W.
Cool atmosphere - new and modern Uninspired service - no experience no passion for the place Average food - nothing to write home about - Mac and cheese burger was pretty good - sweet potato fries pretty standard but cut too small Amazing wine - get the Malbec Dessert - again uninspired - cookies and ice cream - cookies not sweet enough and enough for a table of four
(3)Brian B.
Stopped in for a snack on New Year's Day with some friends and their kids. I was not expecting too much and on that everything delivered. Though our cheese curds and chicken chipotle dip came out relatively quickly, they were altogether unimpressive. Our beverages took ages which was totally inexplicable as we were the only table in the restaurant when we were seated. Probably a fine sportsbar/nightspot, but there is really nothing special here.
(2)Natalie Y.
Love their cocktails! Remind me of the unique creations I enjoyed on the East Coast. All are tasty. Their food is good, just not great. To pay $20-30 per entrée I expect a high quality meal. The food is tasty but not worth the price ( this coming from someone who routinely will pay that amount for a nice night out).
(4)Kelly F.
I really liked this place. Great atmosphere good food. Nice bar area Tv' all around to watch sports if you want. I had the salmon blt very good with garlic fries and my friend had squash risotto. For dessert we had chocolate chip cookies and ice cream ice cream delicious and cookies gooey and warm
(4)sum l.
Went for a light lunch with my family, my daughter ordered a kids meal comes with drink and pizza ( huge pizza ) adult size!!! And for me just a French onion soup (good) My husband rave about theirs breakfast burger and sweet potato fries, Drinks menu very extensive . Excellent dessert menu, love the ambience the only thing why only three stars instead of four is the service, sucks!!!
(3)Alison S.
The people here are really rude. I tried to make a reservation and was told they don't take "call aheads" the day of. It's a reservation!! This is incredibly inconvenient for people who only have a short window of time while visiting people in the hospital. When I explained, the woman on the phone couldnt care less. Also their food isn't great so it's not worth it.
(1)Michelle A.
New favorite Rochester spot! Not only is this an actually cool looking restaurant and bar with a beautiful interior, the food is great, too. Really, this is one of the few spots in all of Rochester with both great food as well as great atmosphere and decent prices. Definitely the spot to visit if you want to start a good night on the town.
(4)Tina B.
Me & my sister went here the other night for the first time. Really nice place and very cool inside. The waiter was super friendly and the food was very good. I had the lime chicken pasta and it was awesome. My sister had the fish tacos and she said it was really good too. My martini was just right also. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)Jeremy C.
Really enjoyed this place. The atmosphere is modern, unique and clean. The service was very friendly, accommodating and helpful. The food presentation and quality was awesome. I did the chicken which was served a large bed of greens. The beer selection was good with a fair number of unique brews on tap. Surely the kind of place that we would go back to.
(5)Siobhan M.
The first time I went here was late on a Saturday night and it was packed. Nice crowd. The service was good, I never waited more than 5 minutes to be served. The interior of this bar is fabulous, a nice change from Dooley's across the street. It's very classy with all dark wood, raised booths, and great lighting. I have been here for brunch too. My breakfast was basic but good. The waitress we had was very friendly and attentive. Not a huge fan of the dj....He played very random stuff and it didn't seem to suit the crowd.
(4)Dave D.
Our go-to place for vegetarian fare. With the loop VEGGIE burger (my favorite), royal and other pizzas, sweet chili tofu, and tofu salads, this place never misses when it comes to food. The filet is nothing short of complete satisfaction on top of it. The pizzas are small (and tasty!), but good to couple with an appetizer and split with a pal. The service is spotty in smiles and personality but typically prompt. Overall, this is an excellent place for most any occasion.
(5)Brian C.
A fun place with good food and a bright vibe . Have tried the fish tacos and salmon. The tacos were excellent with fresh cole slaw , black beans and rice. Wine by the glass list is extensive for a Rochester bar. In all , one of the best places in town
(4)Sergio G.
Great drinks, great appetizers, great atmosphere, like a high end sports bar with lots of TV's around. The GF and I order the mash blue ball which is like a mojito but made with vodka, it was amazing and by far our favorite drink there. The food was wholesome and they serve large portions. I ordered the saffron risotto which was tasty. My GF ordered the Jumbalaya and it was not to her liking. Se mentioned it was sweet and indeed it was cause it had pineapple in it. However, I liked the combination. The highlight was the garlic fries, very very tasty. We would go again indeed! PS I had their Mac and cheese bites before but not this time and those balls are ridiculous, make sure you get those.
(4)E S.
Had a steak sandwich. So dry, mostly a hard bun with cold meat. I had heard this place was good...I guess people have become accustomed to bad food and a long wait for it. Never again. ..
(1)Lisa H.
Had a good dinner here while in Rochester for a training. I had the chicken piccata and side of brussles sprouts. Both were good, especially the chicken, which was served with veggies (arugula, cucumber, tomatoes, olives) in a very nice sauce. Atmosphere is relaxed and modern and service was good.
(4)Sankar B.
"The Loop" is a nice local downtown restaurant with nice ambience and excellent food. I strongly recommend
(5)Natacia S.
Killer Industry deals for servers on weekdays after 10pm. Creative drinks with friendly bartenders! One of my favorite spots in town for cheesecake (always different flavors). Food does take a little while even when it's slow but it's a place you don't mind hanging around for a bit.
(4)David W.
The Loop is a cool hangout. A great place to grab drinks with friends. Good DJ for dancing on weekends. The food is OK but nothing to write home about. I like the nachos, but the pizzas didn't hit the mark for me.
(3)Olivia H.
A friend and I went on the recommendation of another friend, and it was one of the more pleasant experiences I've had at a sports bar/restaurant. The TVs were everywhere, but the lights and general design of the place really helped give it a more intimate setting. The walleye and avocado chicken melt were both stellar, and don't even get me started on the mac n cheese--delicious. I would come back but would make sure there wasn't a game.
(4)Thomas C.
Awful drinks, crowd tends to be on rougher side especially at wkends, and the limited food I have subjected myself to in here was substandard. Would not recommend
(2)P R.
One of the best places in rochester... Fresh food, unique drinks, and usually good service. The atmosphere is nice both inside and out. Their appetizers are the best option to split and the chocolate chippers for desert are amazing. Always a go to for my friends or family!
(5)Alli Y.
Love the atmosphere in the Loop - the drinks are delicious and the service is pretty good. The dance floor at night is a fun touch. I've also had brunch here and it's super yummy too!
(5)Hazel S.
Mediocre food and service. The atmosphere -- with large TVs covering the walls and dated music playing -- was also subpar. This place seems to be trying to be several things at once -- a chic nightclub, fine dining and a sports bar. I went on a Thursday night because the kitchen was open late. I had the steak and arugula salad. I was pretty surprised by what I got, which was a huge amount of unevenly cooked, poorly trimmed meat and some mushy potatoes (cooked twice?) under a gigantic mount of greens. It was both poorly prepared and fairly cumbersome to eat since you had to somehow cut up your steak which was under a five inch high pile of arugula. The preparation was a bit off, but the food tasted OK if a bit bland. This is a dish with five ingredients. How hard is it to put it together properly? It wasn't the quality I'd expect for the prices here, which are on the high side. I'd recommend it purely as one of the very few places to get food late at night, you might be safe if you stick to really simple dishes like fries.
(2)Mika B.
Good food and a little healthier than most places. The pizzas are good and the portions are just right. It is a bit of an awkward transition when they are trying to switch from a restaurant to a nightclub atmosphere. Good drinks and great staff.
(3)Jess J.
Really enjoyed our meal here! We were seated near the kitchen and did a little "plate watching". Lots of yummy things walking by. Our table ordered the tiger pizza, jalapeño Mac and cheese burger, the loop burger, and the avacado chicken melt. The burgers were big and juicy. A little more rare than ordered so beware if you are squeamish of pink but I never mind. Not sure Mac and cheese ever adds much to a burger but the cheese sauce added a good punch of cheese to the party. The chicken melt was also juicy and had good flavor. If you are hankering for a chicken sandwich I would certainly recommend it. My pizza had a great thin crust with just enough goat cheese to not scare away my husband.
(5)Amanda W.
Favorite place to eat. Brunch? $3 Mimosas. HELLO! Breakfast Pizza and Breakfast and steak burrito are delicious! Lunch and Dinner? Southwest Mac and Cheese, Chicken Nachos, and Chopped Salad are great. I've never had anything there that I haven't enjoyed. They also have a seasonal list of drinks that rotate. Always very well-crafted and taste great! Turns into a bit more of a bar scene as the night gets later and especially on weekends (past 8pm or so).
(5)Christina V.
This is my favorite place to eat in rochester. We love the steak and potato salad and steak lettuce roll ups. The staff was very friendly and accommodating to my gluten free needs and three year old.
(5)Vivian L.
Came here for lunch on my 21st birthday, the waitress was super sweet and bought me my first drink! Service was a bit slow, but really friendly. The food is great here, although a tad bit pricey. I tried their fried shrimp sandwich (po' boy) and it was delicious. Had a taste of two other dishes and thought it was yummy too. A great place for a light lunch, friendly service, and drinks; but on the pricier end for lunch.
(5)Lincoln H.
Busy, noisy, good food and drink. Hip and happening.
(4)Keren W.
Loved the food. Great vegetarian choices. Glad my Hubby & I shared our entrees because the plates were full & super garlic-y. I love garlic but if you don't, just know you'll leave wearing garlic socks on your teeth!
(4)A H.
Food was outstanding. The mac and cheese bites were great as well as the walleye sandwich. The food was out to the table fast and hot. Had to wait for a table but the bar was nice to sit at and have a drink. Server was not very nice when asked simple questions and did not check back at all but I will give her some credit that the place was busy.
(4)Jim S.
The Loop is a frequent stop for me after work. They have great food, good beers on tap, and the prices are very reasonable. The bartenders are friendly and remember my favorite beer each time I come in. The ambience is very modern and contemporary, just what Rochester needs!
(5)Steve Z.
Some may say that finding veggie options is alien in Rochester. I'd say "OK"
(2)Lisa B.
My son found this spot while in school. So we went there today and seriously it took us forever to make up our minds. The choices are exciting, fresh and different. I ordered Tequila Lime Chicken Pasta, my son had the Breakfast Burger and his friend ordered the jalapeño with fired mac n cheese Burger. Incredible. I disagree with the small serving review below, our servings were incredible, the burgers were HUGE. The service was great but that may have been by my handsome young company :-) We So wanted dessert but we were stuffed AND took food home with us, Next time.. Dessert FIRST :-) I heard when they open the front doors and the dining pours out to the sidewalk it's absolutely incredible and the atmosphere is stunning. The bar was so crisp and clean, the way The Loop looks is fresh and contemporary and I will be returning!
(5)Carolyn P.
I went at lunch with a group of friends from the office. I ordered the veggie burger & house side salad. The veggie burger was soft, salty, and greasy, the consistency of mashed potatoes, and slid off the bun as you tried to eat it. I couldn't eat it. The side salad was very small, but made with quality ingredients. I left very hungry and disappointed. I only recommend this restaurant if you are a meat eater.
(1)Dave A.
My wife and I had lunch here on a Sunday. The restaurant was only about 20% occupied, at best. We had the smoked chicken nachos for an appetizer, and that was a meal for two in itself. Because we had a gift card, we went ahead and order a couple of pizzas (Yellow Jacket and the Comet). The food was very good, reasonably priced, and deserves four stars. However, our server was less attentive than I would have liked. The menus were left on the table, and used dishes piled up as our meal progressed. Meanwhile three or four servers stood around chatting back near the kitchen. At one point, our server disappeared (on break?) and a different server brought our pizzas. My server took my ice tea glass to refill it and, she did actually refill it, leaving the used lemon wedge the bottom of the glass and adding a fresh one to the top of the glass. At the end of the meal, our server struggled with applying the gift card to the bill and had to get the lead server to help. Then she scrimped on the take out box for our leftovers and we ended up stacking pieces of pizza to get them to fit in the single box she brought us. Is any of this a big deal? No, and I rarely notice little things like this. However, I did notice this time (particularly the menus and dirty dishes left on the table). Not bad service, just not great. When you spend $40 on lunch, you deserve great service.
(3)Kris W.
I've only eaten here once, and I would go again in a heartbeat! There are plenty of health friendly options on the menu and the service was great! Nice beer selection as well.
(4)Kelly M.
Can't believe I am the first one to review based on how packed it was the other night! My date and I were very pleased with our meal... everything from the atmosphere, the drinks, and of course the food. So I'll start from walking in... great dining environment! Nice, but not too stuffy. Adequate space between tables (loved the big booths!) and the lights are very unique. The kitchen is open, which I enjoy. The restaurant kind of reminds me of Chester's, but a little more open. Nice big bar with a good selection of liquor and multiple TVs throughout. Extensive drink menu to choose from. There were so many delicious sounding martinis that it was hard to narrow down... but I finally went with the "pillow mint" which was like a Shamrock Shake with alcohol. Chocolatey, minty, and delicious! And only $7! Was very pleased with the prices of drinks. My date had a beer - boring. They had a good list though. The food... there were so many things we wanted to try. We ended up getting the buffalo chicken wontons as an appetizer, fish tacos (would probably not get again... fairly bland), and a burger (pesto, cheese, can't remember the name). Try the sweet potato fries! There were many more things on the menu we wanted to try (fondue? yum. Potstickers... yes please... etc...) - I can't wait to be back! And of course dessert. Unfortunately, they were out of our #1 choice (the donuts) so we went with the fried Snickers. Delicious! Warm, gooey, peanuty, chocolatey... Anyway, I was a fan. And it was great to see they were busy on a week night. Rochester definitely needs more places like this so I'm hoping they're here to stay! And they have out door seating which will be great once the weather decides what it's doing. One negative I can think of - the water refills were lacking... and the glasses were small to begin with. Not a huge deal... but noticeable. Hey, I had to include something so you didn't think I was getting paid by the owners to write this great review :) (I'm not).
(4)Jeremy H.
Nice atmosphere, decent prices (upper end of Rochester prices, maybe $16-20 for an entree), below average food in my opinion. Between the four of us, two of us got fish tacos, the other two got some burgers. I really, really disliked the fish tacos. I'll admit.. I'm not a fan of fish mostly, but I do enjoy fish tacos a lot (strange, I know). These fish tacos were pretty terrible, though, and another person who got them agreed (and he's a big fan of fish). My problems were essentially this - the fish used is unseasoned and simply grilled, leaving it extremely fishy tasting with no added texture. The coleslaw is extremely vinegar-y and unpleasant. And to top it off, there's just a huge chunk of avocado placed on top. No cilantro or anything. The whole thing just tasted unpleasant and boring. The pineapple rice that came with it was a little mushy, but more importantly, just tasted odd and unpleasant (pineapple in rice is a no-go for me I guess). My favorite part of the meal was the side of beans.. that should tell you something. I also got a side of sweet potato fries, and those were actually pretty good. The other two guys got some burgers. They were cooked to order and they enjoyed them, but they both made the same comment that they could have gotten the same quality burger for $6 vs. the $12 they paid. We all ordered dessert - three of us got the cookies and ice cream. While it was good.. who on Earth decided the portions on these things? With this dessert, you get TEN decently sized cookies, which taste good, but were way too many. You then get this tiny, tiny 3-bite scoop of ice cream to go with it. Seriously, halve the amount of cookies and at least double the amount of ice cream. The cookies were so rich and sweet that you really needed the ice cream to take off some of the sweetness of it. The last guy guy the deep fried snickers bar. He wasn't a fan of it as he said it was too salty for dessert. All in all, I wasn't really impressed. Wound up paying $30 + tip for the meal. I would probably give it a second try, but I would never again go for their fish tacos. The owners/chefs should swing by Pescaras and try their fish tacos if they want to know what a good fish taco tastes like.
(2)William F.
The Loop has really picked up its game and is probably the best restaurant in downtown Rochester at the moment. When I first visited it in May, 2012, shortly after it opened, I was very disappointed and gave it one star--I would have given it zero if that had been an option. I don't think any restaurant around here has ever made such a dynamic turnaround--most go the other way. Quite obviously, some people who knew something about food were put in charge of the kitchen. It certainly shows. I've been here three times in the past month, and each time the food has been really good, far above Rochester baseline. Last night, I had a po'boy with fried shrimp and a house salad. Granted, the salad was a little limp but the po'boy was fantastic. My companion had a chicken dish that he raved about. The service was a little slow, but the place was packed and the waittress was very nice. Plus, they have a very refreshing strawberry lemonade. Bottom line--the Loop has become a very good restaurant.
(4)Mat W.
Went for lunch today. Been here about 5 times. Overall, just bland food, and today was a bit taken aback by prices. Had a chicken sandwich with BBQ, but sauce was basically flavorless. I was sad. In the past had fish tacos, were way too salty. Been to brunch/lunch on a Sunday, just eh. Isn't a top choice, too pricey for bland food.
(2)Alison H.
I think depending on what you order, this place could be either 3 or 4 Rochester stars. Clearly some menu items are more successful than others. I've been a few times now and sampled a good number of the offerings, so I feel like I got a pretty good sense of the place. - unrateable: mac and cheese side, the menu calls it an 'alfredo sauce' but it tasted a lot like Velveeta. That said, I have a secret love for Velveeta and so I enjoyed this. - 3 star dishes: salmon salad, fish tacos. I'm actually not sure the quinoa veggie burger deserves 3 stars. It's sort of low on flavor and crumbly. But I give them points for having an in-house-made veggie burger. Sweet chili tofu appetizer. - 4 star dishes: sweet potato fries, crab cakes (surprisingly good). Atmosphere is pretty nice and makes you feel like a trend-ster. Waitresses ranged from decent to attentive but annoying (trying to upsell everything). I'd say this is a great place to meet your friends for drinks and a light meal.
(3)James A.
Surprisingly bland. Visited 3 times to give it a fair try (it was voted best new restaurant in Rochester!), but it always underwhelmed. Also found some inconsistency - friend ordered a Bloody Mary and I later decided to do the same: they had different garnishes, appearance & taste. Their signature dish (lobster Mac & cheese) was poor quality & uninteresting. Not necessarily bad food, but disappointing food that puts The Loop very low on my list of local places to go.
(2)Josh L.
Well, where do I start... The atmosphere is cool, industrial, open, and loud; I'm fine with all of that. What I wasn't impressed by was the food(hit or miss) My wife and I decided to have the Deviled Eggs, Wild Rice Burger, Plain Burger, sweet potato fries and regular fries and share it all. I'll go in order. Deviled Eggs: Eggs were very good, a little on the small size but good, what bugged me was the arugula that was on the plate was Wilted and not dressed, if an item is listed on the menu as a part of the dish it should be enjoyable to eat. All they need to do is dress it with a little olive oil and lemon juice and the app would have been a star. Wild Rice Burger: Cooked Medium Rare, not how we asked for it but don't dislike medium rare burgers. Wheres the wild rice? I didn't find a single grain. bun was barely toasted. Plain Burger: Requested Medium and received Medium Well. Had it dressed with bacon, blue, and avocado. Burger was DRY, toppings were good, especially the bacon. Sweet Potato Fries: Best in town! Regular Fries: First delivered ice cold and then they came out hot fresh and delicious. Overall, not a great first impression, but not a complete let down. Was very surprised to get a $50 bill for 1 beer, 1 drink, an appetizer and 2 burgers during "happy hour". We'll try it again.
(2)Michael S.
This place has it all! A great atmosphere, sweet soundtrack, excellent service, food & drinks. I had the very best jerk chicken I've ever had. That's saying a lot since I frequently channel the spirit of a Rastafarian gourmet Nat E. Dred ;-)
(5)Cindy A.
I've been to The Loop restuarant twice now, once for an evening of appetizers and drinks wth a friend, and secondly for an anniversary lunch with my husband. The service was good both times, with the waitress sitting us each time appropriately to our mood. The food came relatively quickly, the portion sizes were adequate, and good.
(3)Layan A.
This is a brunch review. It seemed like this is the only place open in Rochester on a Saturday for brunch! (Do people not do brunch on Saturdays?! I do!) Anyway, It was great. The atmosphere is trendy and comfortable. The menu was not too big but diverse enough. I had their creme brûlée French toast which was delicious. One thing I didn't like was that they didn't have turkey sausage or bacon. I don't eat pork. I also tried the turkey egg croissant sandwich which I loved!! So yummy. In fact everyone's food looked delicious, and everyone was satisfied. Our server was attentive and super sweet. Coffee was good. I have no complaints other than please get turkey bacon :) Oh and maybe add a smoked salmon option... Mmmmmm. I'll be back, thank you for a lovely experience.
(5)Scott O.
The Loop is a nice addition to the downtown area. While it is a restaurant/bar, it has a nice, comfortable feel without seeming shady or pub-like. Later at night (when I'm soundly asleep), word is they clear some tables and a dance floor emerges! The food is very consistent, for the most part. There have been a couple appetizers with an unnecessary "sauce". The best dishes are the variety of salads. Have tried many and each is refreshing and balanced. The other main entrees tried have been consistently tasty. Have not tried any desserts here as usually quite full!
(4)George M.
Stopped in for lunch. Had a cup of the soup of the day which was Tomato Basil. It was a creamy version of it and very tasty. Then the blackened chicken spinach quinoa feta salad. The mango dressing was excellent and all ingredients were fresh. I would order it again minus the blackened spices, it would be much better simply grilled with bit of salt and pepper. I couldn't taste chicken, way too much blackened spices. 3 stars for that. If it was seasoned correctly would give them 4stars all day. The decor in this place is great and it was packed for lunch but seats at the bar were open. Waited a bit until a bartender came over and then when she did she went first to a couple whom sat down after me and I know she saw them sit down and me already seated for several minutes. I was kinda pissed at that. Why are you helping them first? Clearly you saw them sit down AFTER me. Whatever.
(3)Mike H.
What a great place. Excellent food, selection of beers and service. Great ambience and a nice patio, Went to this place as hommage to my late buddy Tony D (his haunt). That was awesome but old Tony had great taste, this is a real find and I hope to be back!
(4)Pat S.
I went to this place on Wednesday at 7, got a table no problem, took a few minutes for waitress to come but since it was the first time we could look around. Nice place. Ordered a cougar martini, just ok can't recommend, and meatloaf sandwich, well that sandwich cover my dinner and lunch the next day and I can't get it off my mind. So very tasty with BBQ or not both ways super yummy. Pricing was ok too since I got 2 meals, the fries have parm on them and made them even better. Good Job. I will try again and see if service comes more quickly since friends have commented on price and speed too. Another plus big screen all over the place.
(3)Lincoln H.
Busy, noisy, good food and drink. Hip and happening.
(4)Kristi O.
I am new to town and have been on the hunt to find my new favorite go-to places. The Loop seemed to hold a lot of potential. The atmosphere was GREAT! I loved the decor and it had all the makings of a trendy new hotspot. I wavered over the high sticker price of the $14 fish tacos but decided to go for it at the persuasion of the waitress. One bite in, I sure regretted that decision! They were mushy, lukewarm, and tasteless. My friend let me try her Raptor pizza which was half off during happy hour...another bust. All you could taste was the buffalo sauce. In a final attempt at redemption I order the maple pecan pie for dessert. The side of ice-cream ended up being the best tasting part of the whole meal. The pie was bland and way too crusty. The service was okay--not too friendly. Also I like when a server will be honest about their favorite menu items rather than a general "it's all good" response or pushing you towards higher priced items. It was overall such a poor experience I'm not sure if I will ever try their food again. I will probably go back and try out their drink menu, because like I said, the ambience was happening, but I will save my $30 tab for another establishment.
(2)William F.
The Loop has really picked up its game and is probably the best restaurant in downtown Rochester at the moment. When I first visited it in May, 2012, shortly after it opened, I was very disappointed and gave it one star--I would have given it zero if that had been an option. I don't think any restaurant around here has ever made such a dynamic turnaround--most go the other way. Quite obviously, some people who knew something about food were put in charge of the kitchen. It certainly shows. I've been here three times in the past month, and each time the food has been really good, far above Rochester baseline. Last night, I had a po'boy with fried shrimp and a house salad. Granted, the salad was a little limp but the po'boy was fantastic. My companion had a chicken dish that he raved about. The service was a little slow, but the place was packed and the waittress was very nice. Plus, they have a very refreshing strawberry lemonade. Bottom line--the Loop has become a very good restaurant.
(4)Mat W.
Went for lunch today. Been here about 5 times. Overall, just bland food, and today was a bit taken aback by prices. Had a chicken sandwich with BBQ, but sauce was basically flavorless. I was sad. In the past had fish tacos, were way too salty. Been to brunch/lunch on a Sunday, just eh. Isn't a top choice, too pricey for bland food.
(2)Kristi O.
I am new to town and have been on the hunt to find my new favorite go-to places. The Loop seemed to hold a lot of potential. The atmosphere was GREAT! I loved the decor and it had all the makings of a trendy new hotspot. I wavered over the high sticker price of the $14 fish tacos but decided to go for it at the persuasion of the waitress. One bite in, I sure regretted that decision! They were mushy, lukewarm, and tasteless. My friend let me try her Raptor pizza which was half off during happy hour...another bust. All you could taste was the buffalo sauce. In a final attempt at redemption I order the maple pecan pie for dessert. The side of ice-cream ended up being the best tasting part of the whole meal. The pie was bland and way too crusty. The service was okay--not too friendly. Also I like when a server will be honest about their favorite menu items rather than a general "it's all good" response or pushing you towards higher priced items. It was overall such a poor experience I'm not sure if I will ever try their food again. I will probably go back and try out their drink menu, because like I said, the ambience was happening, but I will save my $30 tab for another establishment.
(2)Katelyn S.
Great food, ambience, and the prices are reasonable, for a downtown restaurant. One of my favorites! The pork belly tacos are particularly good!
(5)Alexa D.
Considering what's around it the loop is better than average. The service was better than most others in the area and their $2 off apps and $1 off drinks at happy hour made me want to come back. I had the lettuce wraps, which were my favorite, and we tried the quinoa cakes and hummus platter as well. Sitting outside was a nice switch from being stuck inside.
(4)Layan A.
This is a brunch review. It seemed like this is the only place open in Rochester on a Saturday for brunch! (Do people not do brunch on Saturdays?! I do!) Anyway, It was great. The atmosphere is trendy and comfortable. The menu was not too big but diverse enough. I had their creme brûlée French toast which was delicious. One thing I didn't like was that they didn't have turkey sausage or bacon. I don't eat pork. I also tried the turkey egg croissant sandwich which I loved!! So yummy. In fact everyone's food looked delicious, and everyone was satisfied. Our server was attentive and super sweet. Coffee was good. I have no complaints other than please get turkey bacon :) Oh and maybe add a smoked salmon option... Mmmmmm. I'll be back, thank you for a lovely experience.
(5)Scott O.
The Loop is a nice addition to the downtown area. While it is a restaurant/bar, it has a nice, comfortable feel without seeming shady or pub-like. Later at night (when I'm soundly asleep), word is they clear some tables and a dance floor emerges! The food is very consistent, for the most part. There have been a couple appetizers with an unnecessary "sauce". The best dishes are the variety of salads. Have tried many and each is refreshing and balanced. The other main entrees tried have been consistently tasty. Have not tried any desserts here as usually quite full!
(4)Jon W.
With the more well-known and locally marketed Newt's grabbing all the attention for their burgers, The Loop blows them away. They cook the patty to order and what you're served is a succulent piece of meat that soaks the tasty bun with juice, but doesn't fall apart. The fries are perfectly cooked with a hint of garlic. The burgers are 5/5, but the rest of the food, in my opinion, is 3/5. Not bad at all, but not great. There are people that love the entire menu, however. Out-of-towners from Chicago have said the burgers are as good as they have ever had. The atmosphere is clean and "trendy," although I hate using that word. Seating spills to the sidewalk, making it a unique place to catch a meal. I highly recommend.
(4)Lisa S.
I hit the Loop every time I am town because they pour the best gin and tonic! of coarse it doesn't hurt that I get it made with Hendricks! I ought to try something different as far as my meal goes but I always seem to get the walleye sandwich with sweet potato fries. Its wonderful. My husband got the turkey avocado wrap and caesar salad. Both are of good size and we were definitely full. Its a great lunch place and has a cool vibe. The waitstaff are all great and seem happy to work there. Over all it seems to be a well run restaurant. We will definitely always make this a stop when we come through Rochester
(5)Christine F.
I've been here a few times and it's always been great. One of the more happening and trendy places in Rochester. It gets pretty crowded at lunch with all of the Mayo Clinic employees, but I've never had to wait for a table. Good and friendly service, reasonable prices.
(4)Holly M.
I've been to the loop a few times now. Each time the food and service has been very good. I can personally recommend the smoked chicken nachos, buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, and their garlic fries! There are a ton of TVs if you want to watch the game. If you order a bloody mary it's a little dull so you may want to add a little spice to it!
(4)Natalie W.
For the week I've been in Rochester, we've been here 3 times. More to come later as I'm enjoying my Mark West Pinot Noir and Chicken Nachos right now ;) As an out of towner, one of the only places worth coming in my humble opinion. Just maybe not on a Saturday night...
(5)Jennifer H.
Great atmosphere, outdoor dining, excellent food for a variety of tastes. Love the roasted beet salad with candied pecans and chèvre.
(5)Jenna J.
We love the Loop. Only restaurant in Rochester that we routinely visit for lunch/dinner AND order for take out. Favorites are the steak salad and the buffalo chicken wontons. Of course, the garlic fries are also a big win for this place. Skip the burgers, way more interesting stuff on the menu.
(5)George M.
Stopped in for lunch. Had a cup of the soup of the day which was Tomato Basil. It was a creamy version of it and very tasty. Then the blackened chicken spinach quinoa feta salad. The mango dressing was excellent and all ingredients were fresh. I would order it again minus the blackened spices, it would be much better simply grilled with bit of salt and pepper. I couldn't taste chicken, way too much blackened spices. 3 stars for that. If it was seasoned correctly would give them 4stars all day. The decor in this place is great and it was packed for lunch but seats at the bar were open. Waited a bit until a bartender came over and then when she did she went first to a couple whom sat down after me and I know she saw them sit down and me already seated for several minutes. I was kinda pissed at that. Why are you helping them first? Clearly you saw them sit down AFTER me. Whatever.
(3)Mike H.
What a great place. Excellent food, selection of beers and service. Great ambience and a nice patio, Went to this place as hommage to my late buddy Tony D (his haunt). That was awesome but old Tony had great taste, this is a real find and I hope to be back!
(4)Bob J.
Items on menu are hit or miss. Last time I got a steak and it was delicious. Tonight I ordered a steak sandwich rare. It was to have grilled onions and jalapeño cheese sauce. What I got was a well done shaved beef sandwich that resembled a Philly Steak sandwich you would buy from a food truck. The waitress never mentioned the sheer impossibility of getting it rare. On the other hand, the restaurant serves Surly Furious.
(3)Trevor W.
Cool atmosphere - new and modern Uninspired service - no experience no passion for the place Average food - nothing to write home about - Mac and cheese burger was pretty good - sweet potato fries pretty standard but cut too small Amazing wine - get the Malbec Dessert - again uninspired - cookies and ice cream - cookies not sweet enough and enough for a table of four
(3)Zoe H.
This restaurant would better be considered a lounge with full kitchen. Amazing cocktails and appetizers. The calamari was some of the best I've had, which is especially surprising to find in this area. The seating is mostly small, closely spaced cocktail tables and bar seating. There are a few booths set aside for larger parties. Lots and lots of TVs on every wall, if that's what you're looking for. A great place for a casual date or a night out with friends. Dinner and a drink for two, and a shared app ended up ~$70 Pros: Really reasonably priced super tasty entrees, good selection of tap beers, free parking right across the street, central downtown location, hip modern feel, very clean, quick turn over on our order even with most tables full. Staff was friendly and service was prompt. Ideal place to get a fun evening out started. Cons: If what you are looking for is a quiet intimate dinner, this may not be the place. By lots and lots of TVs on every wall, I very much mean that. Every surface that can have a TV does, and there was music far above talking level while we were there (8:30pm). I would agree with the other reviews that the service is rather uninspired. For the treat that the restaurant provides for the area, the waiters probably need better compensation, because they do not seem excited about their jobs. TL;DR: None of the cons are a deal breaker. If you are a local or passing through Rochester checking out this fun, hip nightspot is definitely worth your time. Drinks and snacks over dinner.
(4)Gail F.
Solid place for food and wine. (See my photo which shows most of their red selections). I had the Jalapeno Hummus to start. Well, I actually had the Malbec to start which was great. On to the hummus...it was pretty good. It came with some cucumber, artichoke, and grape tomatoes cut up. I dipped all of those in the hummus rather than the pita that also came with this app. However, the pita looked so soft and it was warm so I tried a small piece with the hummus and ended up nearly eating every piece. If I wasn't watching my bread intake that pita would have completely disappeared into my belly. Bottom line, if you like hummus with pita get this app. For my entree I ordered the Veggie Burger. There was a nice selection of other entrees in addition to about six varieties of burgers, but I really wanted a veggie burger. It was delicious and the bun was so soft. I got my burger with Pepper Jack cheese but they will put any cheese you like. I was surprised by the menu when I first saw the choices because after reading several reviews on here, I was expecting a limited menu. However, I saw steak, pasta, burgers, a nice assortment of sides (I had the grilled asparagus) and several desserts. Did not seem limited to me at all unless comparing it to a diner menu (which just isn't fair since this place is nowhere near similar to a diner). All in all, I enjoyed this place. I am from Philly and spend a lot of time in NYC, so I can be a tough critic. The only slightly negative thing would be that they did not have cappuccino and I was dying for a cappuccino after dinner. Oh, friendly servers/ bartenders (I sat at the bar by myself).
(4)Brian B.
Stopped in for a snack on New Year's Day with some friends and their kids. I was not expecting too much and on that everything delivered. Though our cheese curds and chicken chipotle dip came out relatively quickly, they were altogether unimpressive. Our beverages took ages which was totally inexplicable as we were the only table in the restaurant when we were seated. Probably a fine sportsbar/nightspot, but there is really nothing special here.
(2)Stuart T.
Traveling to Rochester on business. I ate at the Loop 3 times. Awesome Mac and cheese. Limited menu but everything is good. Very modern look and great bar staff.
(4)Brady K.
Great restaurant in downtown Roch. Great food, decent service (nothing spectacular). I had the jalapeño Mac and cheese burger. It was absolutely amazing. The flavor was right on point. The also do these French fries with parm and garlic. Absolutely a must try for lunch if you're in the neighborhood!
(4)Ashlea L.
I came here with my boyfriend's family & we had a great time ordering drinks & appetizers at happy hour. The place is super cute/trendy inside & I loved the way that the patio was set up, even though we set at a large table inside. They have a large list of beers to choose from & my bf's aunt loves their mojitos. We all picked out a couple of apps & everything was good. My favorites included the chicken nachos (mmm smoked chicken) & steak lettuce wraps. My boyfriend & I brought his brother & girlfriend back the next night for a late night drink & couldn't believe how it was now a club like atmosphere! The dance floor was packed & the DJ was awesome.
(4)Sean B.
I'm a fan of this place, but not a huge fan. I would give 3.5 stars if I could. I spent many a nights here living in Rochester for a year. The ambiance is great. It's a dimly lit beautiful restaurant/bar downtown. The workers are extremely nice and friendly. The food is hit or miss. I'm a fan of the veggie burgers, and always loved their wines. The appetizers, not so much. It's a fun place to come with a group, drink some wine, and relax. My second favorite place to go in Rochester after The Doggery.
(4)Natacia S.
Killer Industry deals for servers on weekdays after 10pm. Creative drinks with friendly bartenders! One of my favorite spots in town for cheesecake (always different flavors). Food does take a little while even when it's slow but it's a place you don't mind hanging around for a bit.
(4)David W.
The Loop is a cool hangout. A great place to grab drinks with friends. Good DJ for dancing on weekends. The food is OK but nothing to write home about. I like the nachos, but the pizzas didn't hit the mark for me.
(3)Ashlee K.
Hey The Loop. You're a pretty cool place. The atmosphere is a lot of fun, and totally not what you would expect from the outside. We went for lunch, so this might be an atypical experience from what one might find during the dinner rush. We had the Smoked Chicken Nachos to start, and we might have been VERY hungry, but they seemed like some of the most delicious nachos we'd had recently. I love nachos that have black beans on them though. So maybe I'm biased. I had the buttermilk fried chicken at the suggestion of other yelp reviews and was not disappointed. The gravy was delicious, and the garlic aioli was perfection. The service was friendly, and the waitress even turned on a St. Louis Cardinals game for us in Twins Country. That's hospitality. If you're in Downtown Rochester, give The Loop a visit and find your favorite dish!
(4)Kah P.
Causal relaxed place with good food. Some of our favorite include the roasted beet salad, chicken nachos (best in Rochester! the chips are very cirspy), steak lettuce wraps (marinated pieces of steak drizzled in sweet sauce with cabbage slaw) and jaguar chicken pesto pizza.
(4)Jeff B.
Stopped in for a quick lunch on a weekday. Had great service and good food. The fried egg burger was delicious. My friend had the Mexicali burger and also enjoyed it. Good tap beer selection and once again... Great service!
(4)Carrie P.
Solid Food, I cannot say I have ever had something here I haven't liked. The Boursin Chicken is my favorite and some great drinks too. I am always up for dinner at the loop!
(4)Sergio G.
Great drinks, great appetizers, great atmosphere, like a high end sports bar with lots of TV's around. The GF and I order the mash blue ball which is like a mojito but made with vodka, it was amazing and by far our favorite drink there. The food was wholesome and they serve large portions. I ordered the saffron risotto which was tasty. My GF ordered the Jumbalaya and it was not to her liking. Se mentioned it was sweet and indeed it was cause it had pineapple in it. However, I liked the combination. The highlight was the garlic fries, very very tasty. We would go again indeed! PS I had their Mac and cheese bites before but not this time and those balls are ridiculous, make sure you get those.
(4)E S.
Had a steak sandwich. So dry, mostly a hard bun with cold meat. I had heard this place was good...I guess people have become accustomed to bad food and a long wait for it. Never again. ..
(1)Lisa H.
Had a good dinner here while in Rochester for a training. I had the chicken piccata and side of brussles sprouts. Both were good, especially the chicken, which was served with veggies (arugula, cucumber, tomatoes, olives) in a very nice sauce. Atmosphere is relaxed and modern and service was good.
(4)Sankar B.
"The Loop" is a nice local downtown restaurant with nice ambience and excellent food. I strongly recommend
(5)Olivia H.
A friend and I went on the recommendation of another friend, and it was one of the more pleasant experiences I've had at a sports bar/restaurant. The TVs were everywhere, but the lights and general design of the place really helped give it a more intimate setting. The walleye and avocado chicken melt were both stellar, and don't even get me started on the mac n cheese--delicious. I would come back but would make sure there wasn't a game.
(4)Thomas C.
Awful drinks, crowd tends to be on rougher side especially at wkends, and the limited food I have subjected myself to in here was substandard. Would not recommend
(2)Hazel S.
Mediocre food and service. The atmosphere -- with large TVs covering the walls and dated music playing -- was also subpar. This place seems to be trying to be several things at once -- a chic nightclub, fine dining and a sports bar. I went on a Thursday night because the kitchen was open late. I had the steak and arugula salad. I was pretty surprised by what I got, which was a huge amount of unevenly cooked, poorly trimmed meat and some mushy potatoes (cooked twice?) under a gigantic mount of greens. It was both poorly prepared and fairly cumbersome to eat since you had to somehow cut up your steak which was under a five inch high pile of arugula. The preparation was a bit off, but the food tasted OK if a bit bland. This is a dish with five ingredients. How hard is it to put it together properly? It wasn't the quality I'd expect for the prices here, which are on the high side. I'd recommend it purely as one of the very few places to get food late at night, you might be safe if you stick to really simple dishes like fries.
(2)Mika B.
Good food and a little healthier than most places. The pizzas are good and the portions are just right. It is a bit of an awkward transition when they are trying to switch from a restaurant to a nightclub atmosphere. Good drinks and great staff.
(3)Jess J.
Really enjoyed our meal here! We were seated near the kitchen and did a little "plate watching". Lots of yummy things walking by. Our table ordered the tiger pizza, jalapeño Mac and cheese burger, the loop burger, and the avacado chicken melt. The burgers were big and juicy. A little more rare than ordered so beware if you are squeamish of pink but I never mind. Not sure Mac and cheese ever adds much to a burger but the cheese sauce added a good punch of cheese to the party. The chicken melt was also juicy and had good flavor. If you are hankering for a chicken sandwich I would certainly recommend it. My pizza had a great thin crust with just enough goat cheese to not scare away my husband.
(5)Amanda W.
Favorite place to eat. Brunch? $3 Mimosas. HELLO! Breakfast Pizza and Breakfast and steak burrito are delicious! Lunch and Dinner? Southwest Mac and Cheese, Chicken Nachos, and Chopped Salad are great. I've never had anything there that I haven't enjoyed. They also have a seasonal list of drinks that rotate. Always very well-crafted and taste great! Turns into a bit more of a bar scene as the night gets later and especially on weekends (past 8pm or so).
(5)Christina V.
This is my favorite place to eat in rochester. We love the steak and potato salad and steak lettuce roll ups. The staff was very friendly and accommodating to my gluten free needs and three year old.
(5)Vivian L.
Came here for lunch on my 21st birthday, the waitress was super sweet and bought me my first drink! Service was a bit slow, but really friendly. The food is great here, although a tad bit pricey. I tried their fried shrimp sandwich (po' boy) and it was delicious. Had a taste of two other dishes and thought it was yummy too. A great place for a light lunch, friendly service, and drinks; but on the pricier end for lunch.
(5)Natalie Y.
Love their cocktails! Remind me of the unique creations I enjoyed on the East Coast. All are tasty. Their food is good, just not great. To pay $20-30 per entrée I expect a high quality meal. The food is tasty but not worth the price ( this coming from someone who routinely will pay that amount for a nice night out).
(4)sum l.
Went for a light lunch with my family, my daughter ordered a kids meal comes with drink and pizza ( huge pizza ) adult size!!! And for me just a French onion soup (good) My husband rave about theirs breakfast burger and sweet potato fries, Drinks menu very extensive . Excellent dessert menu, love the ambience the only thing why only three stars instead of four is the service, sucks!!!
(3)Alison S.
The people here are really rude. I tried to make a reservation and was told they don't take "call aheads" the day of. It's a reservation!! This is incredibly inconvenient for people who only have a short window of time while visiting people in the hospital. When I explained, the woman on the phone couldnt care less. Also their food isn't great so it's not worth it.
(1)Michelle A.
New favorite Rochester spot! Not only is this an actually cool looking restaurant and bar with a beautiful interior, the food is great, too. Really, this is one of the few spots in all of Rochester with both great food as well as great atmosphere and decent prices. Definitely the spot to visit if you want to start a good night on the town.
(4)Kelly F.
I really liked this place. Great atmosphere good food. Nice bar area Tv' all around to watch sports if you want. I had the salmon blt very good with garlic fries and my friend had squash risotto. For dessert we had chocolate chip cookies and ice cream ice cream delicious and cookies gooey and warm
(4)Vincent P.
Baja chicken soup was excellent to start with followed with a Southwest wrap. Service at the bar was little less than average due to the fact that it wasn't too busy and didn't check back till I was finished with an empty glass for a while. Not the end of the world but room for improvement. I would definitely come back
(4)Dave D.
Our go-to place for vegetarian fare. With the loop VEGGIE burger (my favorite), royal and other pizzas, sweet chili tofu, and tofu salads, this place never misses when it comes to food. The filet is nothing short of complete satisfaction on top of it. The pizzas are small (and tasty!), but good to couple with an appetizer and split with a pal. The service is spotty in smiles and personality but typically prompt. Overall, this is an excellent place for most any occasion.
(5)Brian C.
A fun place with good food and a bright vibe . Have tried the fish tacos and salmon. The tacos were excellent with fresh cole slaw , black beans and rice. Wine by the glass list is extensive for a Rochester bar. In all , one of the best places in town
(4)Lisa B.
My son found this spot while in school. So we went there today and seriously it took us forever to make up our minds. The choices are exciting, fresh and different. I ordered Tequila Lime Chicken Pasta, my son had the Breakfast Burger and his friend ordered the jalapeño with fired mac n cheese Burger. Incredible. I disagree with the small serving review below, our servings were incredible, the burgers were HUGE. The service was great but that may have been by my handsome young company :-) We So wanted dessert but we were stuffed AND took food home with us, Next time.. Dessert FIRST :-) I heard when they open the front doors and the dining pours out to the sidewalk it's absolutely incredible and the atmosphere is stunning. The bar was so crisp and clean, the way The Loop looks is fresh and contemporary and I will be returning!
(5)Keren W.
Loved the food. Great vegetarian choices. Glad my Hubby & I shared our entrees because the plates were full & super garlic-y. I love garlic but if you don't, just know you'll leave wearing garlic socks on your teeth!
(4)A H.
Food was outstanding. The mac and cheese bites were great as well as the walleye sandwich. The food was out to the table fast and hot. Had to wait for a table but the bar was nice to sit at and have a drink. Server was not very nice when asked simple questions and did not check back at all but I will give her some credit that the place was busy.
(4)Jim S.
The Loop is a frequent stop for me after work. They have great food, good beers on tap, and the prices are very reasonable. The bartenders are friendly and remember my favorite beer each time I come in. The ambience is very modern and contemporary, just what Rochester needs!
(5)Steve Z.
Some may say that finding veggie options is alien in Rochester. I'd say "OK"
(2)P R.
One of the best places in rochester... Fresh food, unique drinks, and usually good service. The atmosphere is nice both inside and out. Their appetizers are the best option to split and the chocolate chippers for desert are amazing. Always a go to for my friends or family!
(5)Alli Y.
Love the atmosphere in the Loop - the drinks are delicious and the service is pretty good. The dance floor at night is a fun touch. I've also had brunch here and it's super yummy too!
(5)Carolyn P.
I went at lunch with a group of friends from the office. I ordered the veggie burger & house side salad. The veggie burger was soft, salty, and greasy, the consistency of mashed potatoes, and slid off the bun as you tried to eat it. I couldn't eat it. The side salad was very small, but made with quality ingredients. I left very hungry and disappointed. I only recommend this restaurant if you are a meat eater.
(1)Dave A.
My wife and I had lunch here on a Sunday. The restaurant was only about 20% occupied, at best. We had the smoked chicken nachos for an appetizer, and that was a meal for two in itself. Because we had a gift card, we went ahead and order a couple of pizzas (Yellow Jacket and the Comet). The food was very good, reasonably priced, and deserves four stars. However, our server was less attentive than I would have liked. The menus were left on the table, and used dishes piled up as our meal progressed. Meanwhile three or four servers stood around chatting back near the kitchen. At one point, our server disappeared (on break?) and a different server brought our pizzas. My server took my ice tea glass to refill it and, she did actually refill it, leaving the used lemon wedge the bottom of the glass and adding a fresh one to the top of the glass. At the end of the meal, our server struggled with applying the gift card to the bill and had to get the lead server to help. Then she scrimped on the take out box for our leftovers and we ended up stacking pieces of pizza to get them to fit in the single box she brought us. Is any of this a big deal? No, and I rarely notice little things like this. However, I did notice this time (particularly the menus and dirty dishes left on the table). Not bad service, just not great. When you spend $40 on lunch, you deserve great service.
(3)Kris W.
I've only eaten here once, and I would go again in a heartbeat! There are plenty of health friendly options on the menu and the service was great! Nice beer selection as well.
(4)Kelly M.
Can't believe I am the first one to review based on how packed it was the other night! My date and I were very pleased with our meal... everything from the atmosphere, the drinks, and of course the food. So I'll start from walking in... great dining environment! Nice, but not too stuffy. Adequate space between tables (loved the big booths!) and the lights are very unique. The kitchen is open, which I enjoy. The restaurant kind of reminds me of Chester's, but a little more open. Nice big bar with a good selection of liquor and multiple TVs throughout. Extensive drink menu to choose from. There were so many delicious sounding martinis that it was hard to narrow down... but I finally went with the "pillow mint" which was like a Shamrock Shake with alcohol. Chocolatey, minty, and delicious! And only $7! Was very pleased with the prices of drinks. My date had a beer - boring. They had a good list though. The food... there were so many things we wanted to try. We ended up getting the buffalo chicken wontons as an appetizer, fish tacos (would probably not get again... fairly bland), and a burger (pesto, cheese, can't remember the name). Try the sweet potato fries! There were many more things on the menu we wanted to try (fondue? yum. Potstickers... yes please... etc...) - I can't wait to be back! And of course dessert. Unfortunately, they were out of our #1 choice (the donuts) so we went with the fried Snickers. Delicious! Warm, gooey, peanuty, chocolatey... Anyway, I was a fan. And it was great to see they were busy on a week night. Rochester definitely needs more places like this so I'm hoping they're here to stay! And they have out door seating which will be great once the weather decides what it's doing. One negative I can think of - the water refills were lacking... and the glasses were small to begin with. Not a huge deal... but noticeable. Hey, I had to include something so you didn't think I was getting paid by the owners to write this great review :) (I'm not).
(4)Alison H.
I think depending on what you order, this place could be either 3 or 4 Rochester stars. Clearly some menu items are more successful than others. I've been a few times now and sampled a good number of the offerings, so I feel like I got a pretty good sense of the place. - unrateable: mac and cheese side, the menu calls it an 'alfredo sauce' but it tasted a lot like Velveeta. That said, I have a secret love for Velveeta and so I enjoyed this. - 3 star dishes: salmon salad, fish tacos. I'm actually not sure the quinoa veggie burger deserves 3 stars. It's sort of low on flavor and crumbly. But I give them points for having an in-house-made veggie burger. Sweet chili tofu appetizer. - 4 star dishes: sweet potato fries, crab cakes (surprisingly good). Atmosphere is pretty nice and makes you feel like a trend-ster. Waitresses ranged from decent to attentive but annoying (trying to upsell everything). I'd say this is a great place to meet your friends for drinks and a light meal.
(3)James A.
Surprisingly bland. Visited 3 times to give it a fair try (it was voted best new restaurant in Rochester!), but it always underwhelmed. Also found some inconsistency - friend ordered a Bloody Mary and I later decided to do the same: they had different garnishes, appearance & taste. Their signature dish (lobster Mac & cheese) was poor quality & uninteresting. Not necessarily bad food, but disappointing food that puts The Loop very low on my list of local places to go.
(2)Josh L.
Well, where do I start... The atmosphere is cool, industrial, open, and loud; I'm fine with all of that. What I wasn't impressed by was the food(hit or miss) My wife and I decided to have the Deviled Eggs, Wild Rice Burger, Plain Burger, sweet potato fries and regular fries and share it all. I'll go in order. Deviled Eggs: Eggs were very good, a little on the small size but good, what bugged me was the arugula that was on the plate was Wilted and not dressed, if an item is listed on the menu as a part of the dish it should be enjoyable to eat. All they need to do is dress it with a little olive oil and lemon juice and the app would have been a star. Wild Rice Burger: Cooked Medium Rare, not how we asked for it but don't dislike medium rare burgers. Wheres the wild rice? I didn't find a single grain. bun was barely toasted. Plain Burger: Requested Medium and received Medium Well. Had it dressed with bacon, blue, and avocado. Burger was DRY, toppings were good, especially the bacon. Sweet Potato Fries: Best in town! Regular Fries: First delivered ice cold and then they came out hot fresh and delicious. Overall, not a great first impression, but not a complete let down. Was very surprised to get a $50 bill for 1 beer, 1 drink, an appetizer and 2 burgers during "happy hour". We'll try it again.
(2)Michael S.
This place has it all! A great atmosphere, sweet soundtrack, excellent service, food & drinks. I had the very best jerk chicken I've ever had. That's saying a lot since I frequently channel the spirit of a Rastafarian gourmet Nat E. Dred ;-)
(5)Cindy A.
I've been to The Loop restuarant twice now, once for an evening of appetizers and drinks wth a friend, and secondly for an anniversary lunch with my husband. The service was good both times, with the waitress sitting us each time appropriately to our mood. The food came relatively quickly, the portion sizes were adequate, and good.
(3)Tina B.
Me & my sister went here the other night for the first time. Really nice place and very cool inside. The waiter was super friendly and the food was very good. I had the lime chicken pasta and it was awesome. My sister had the fish tacos and she said it was really good too. My martini was just right also. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)Jeremy C.
Really enjoyed this place. The atmosphere is modern, unique and clean. The service was very friendly, accommodating and helpful. The food presentation and quality was awesome. I did the chicken which was served a large bed of greens. The beer selection was good with a fair number of unique brews on tap. Surely the kind of place that we would go back to.
(5)Siobhan M.
The first time I went here was late on a Saturday night and it was packed. Nice crowd. The service was good, I never waited more than 5 minutes to be served. The interior of this bar is fabulous, a nice change from Dooley's across the street. It's very classy with all dark wood, raised booths, and great lighting. I have been here for brunch too. My breakfast was basic but good. The waitress we had was very friendly and attentive. Not a huge fan of the dj....He played very random stuff and it didn't seem to suit the crowd.
(4)Jeremy H.
Nice atmosphere, decent prices (upper end of Rochester prices, maybe $16-20 for an entree), below average food in my opinion. Between the four of us, two of us got fish tacos, the other two got some burgers. I really, really disliked the fish tacos. I'll admit.. I'm not a fan of fish mostly, but I do enjoy fish tacos a lot (strange, I know). These fish tacos were pretty terrible, though, and another person who got them agreed (and he's a big fan of fish). My problems were essentially this - the fish used is unseasoned and simply grilled, leaving it extremely fishy tasting with no added texture. The coleslaw is extremely vinegar-y and unpleasant. And to top it off, there's just a huge chunk of avocado placed on top. No cilantro or anything. The whole thing just tasted unpleasant and boring. The pineapple rice that came with it was a little mushy, but more importantly, just tasted odd and unpleasant (pineapple in rice is a no-go for me I guess). My favorite part of the meal was the side of beans.. that should tell you something. I also got a side of sweet potato fries, and those were actually pretty good. The other two guys got some burgers. They were cooked to order and they enjoyed them, but they both made the same comment that they could have gotten the same quality burger for $6 vs. the $12 they paid. We all ordered dessert - three of us got the cookies and ice cream. While it was good.. who on Earth decided the portions on these things? With this dessert, you get TEN decently sized cookies, which taste good, but were way too many. You then get this tiny, tiny 3-bite scoop of ice cream to go with it. Seriously, halve the amount of cookies and at least double the amount of ice cream. The cookies were so rich and sweet that you really needed the ice cream to take off some of the sweetness of it. The last guy guy the deep fried snickers bar. He wasn't a fan of it as he said it was too salty for dessert. All in all, I wasn't really impressed. Wound up paying $30 + tip for the meal. I would probably give it a second try, but I would never again go for their fish tacos. The owners/chefs should swing by Pescaras and try their fish tacos if they want to know what a good fish taco tastes like.
(2)