Rochester’s Favorite Restaurants 2025

You voted. We tallied. Let's eat.

It’s our 26th annual Best Restaurants issue. And this is the magazine you keep in your car all year long, for when someone asks “Where should we eat tonight?”

Photos by Joe Ahlquist, Maya Giron and Ken Klotzbach.

winner: Bitter & Pour
18 Third St. SW (lower level)| 507-322-6320 | bitterandpour.com

runners-up: Our Paladar; Bleu Duck Kitchen; Sorellina’s; Olde Brick House; 1928 Cocktails and Bites; Chester’s Kitchen and Bar

winner: Jalapeno Popper Egg Rolls at Purple Goat
3708 N. Broadway Ave.| 507-361-5144 | creativecuisineco.com/purple-goat

runner-up: Burrata at Our Paladar; Calamari at Bleu Duck Kitchen; Buffalo Chicken Wontons at Five West; Deviled Eggs at Marrow; Steamed Mussels at Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar; Hand-Sliced Onion Rings at Canadian Honker; Noi’s Egg Rolls at Whistle Binkies

winner: Hot Chip Burger Bar
1190 16th St. SW | 507-424-0080 | hotchipburgerbar.com

runners-up: Townies Grill’d Philly Subs and More; Newt’s; Purple Goat, Brothers; Red Cow, Pappy’s Place

winner: Benedict’s
10 E Center St. 2nd Floor | 507-361-1208 | benedictsrochester.com

runners-up: Canadian Honker; Hollandberry Pannekoeken; Brothers Bar & Grill; Five West; Novios Café; Rooster’s; Grandma’s Kitchen

winner: Pinnacle Catering by Powers Ventures (formerly Canadian Honker)
2112 2nd Street SW, Suite 100 | 507-258-4633 | pinnaclecateringmn.com

runners-up: Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar; Nupa; Catering By Design; Smoak BBQ; Hy-Vee

winner: Little Thistle Brewing
2031 14th St. NW | 507-226-8014| littlethistlebeer.com

runners-up: Thesis Beer Project; The Workshop Food Hall & Bar; Beetle’s Bar and Grill; Pappy’s Place; LTS Brewing Company

winner: Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse
10 E. Center St. | 507-361-2560 | pittsburghbluesteak.com

runners-up: Chester’s Kitchen and Bar; Whistle Binkies On the Lake; Whistle Binkies Olde World Pub; Five West; Thai Pop; Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar

winner: Charlie’s Eatery & Pub
1654 US-52 | 507-285-9229 | charlieseateryandpub.com

runners-up: Eagles Club; VFW Post 1215 Mess Hall Tavern & Grill; Our Paladar; Bleu Duck Kitchen; Purple Goat; Zen Fusion Hibachi & Lounge; Whistle Binkies On the Lake; Whistle Binkies Olde World Pub

winner: The Doug at Little Thistle Brewing
2031 14th St. NW | 507-226-8014 | littlethistlebeer.com

runners-up: The Nillerzzzzz at Forager Brewery and Cafe; The Yellow Jacket Imperial IPA at Kinney Creek Brewery; Thesis Pieces at Thesis Beer Project

winner: Wildwood Sports Bar and Grill
1517 16th St. SW | 507-226-8380 | wildwoodsportsbarandgrill.com

runners-up: Bleu Duck Kitchen; Townies Grill’d Philly Subs and More; Purple Goat; Newt’s; Beetle’s Bar And Grill

winner: Palmetto Room
20 4th Street SE (below Our Paladar) | 507-206-0483 | ourpaladar.com/palmettoroom

runners-up: 1928 Cocktails and Bites; Bull’s Bierhaus; Eddie’s Rey de la Birria

winner: Ruth’s Chris Steak House
20 2nd Ave SW | 507-246-2344 | ruthschris.com

runners-up: Red’s Savoy Pizza; Big Head Burrito; Lumi; Eddie’s Rey de la Birria; Mill Valley Kitchen

winner: Bloom Acai Cafe
2483 Commerce Dr. NW| 507-258-4025 | mybloombowl.com

runners-up: Indigo Açaí Bowls; Nupa South; People’s Food Co-op; Crisp and Green; Saladworks; Old Abe & Co.; Nautical Bowls; The Fit Loon

winner: Great Harvest Bread Co.
706 N. Broadway Ave. | 507-286-1101 | 2483 Commerce Drive | 507-258-5300 | greatharvestrochester.com

runners-up: Mezza9 Cafe & Desserts; Hy-Vee; Don Panchos Bakery; Freddy’s Bakery & Cafe

winner: Bleu Duck Kitchen
14 4th St. SW | 507-258-4663 | bleuduckkitchen.com

runners-up: Our Paladar; Purple Goat; Thai Pop; Marrow; CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar; Bebap Korean Eats; Latitude 44

winner: Townies Grill’d Philly Subs and More
244 Soldiers Field Dr. SW | 507-516-1050 | towniesubs.com

runners-up: Bleu Duck Kitchen; Purple Goat; Rooster’s; Newt’s; Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse; Olde Brick House; Wildwood Sports Bar and Grill; Whistle Binkies

winner: Wildwood Sports Bar and Grill
1517 16th St. SW | 507-226-8380 | wildwoodsportsbarandgrill.com

runners-up: Purple Goat; Townies Grill’d Philly Subs and More; Newt’s; Brothers Bar & Grill; Buffalo Wild Wings

winner: Townies Grill’d Philly Subs and More
244 Soldiers Field Dr. SW | 507-516-1050 | towniesubs.com

runners-up: City Market; Tinn’s Grilled Philly Steak Subs; Pappy’s Place; Chester’s Kitchen and Bar; Homeboy Sandwich Co.; Old Abe & Co.

winner: Annie’s Toast at Thai Pop
4 Third St. SW | 507-226-8146 | thaipopmn.com

runners-up: Tres Leches at Our Paladar; Tiramisu Cheesecake at Sorellina’s; Crepe Cake at Bleu Duck Kitchen; Danish Donuts at Marrow; Bunnie’s Coconut Cake at Canadian Honker; Salted Carmel Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake at Mr. Pizza North; Chocolate Cake at Chester’s Kitchen & Bar

winner: Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse
10 E. Center St. | 507-361-2560 | pittsburghbluesteak.com

runners-up: Ruth’s Chris Steak House; Zen Fusion Hibachi & Lounge; Our Paladar; Texas Roadhouse; Pappy’s Place; Chester’s Kitchen & Bar

winner: Twigs Tavern and Grille
401 Sixth St. SW | 507-288-0206 | twigstavernandgrille.com

runners-up: The Tap House on Historic Third St.; Whistle Binkies On the Lake; Hot Chip; Purple Goat; Five West

winner: Saladworks
Marriott Subway Level101 1st Ave SW | 507-361-3333 | restaurants.saladworks.com/mn/rochester

runners-up: Purple Goat; Zen Fusion Hibachi & Lounge; Crisp & Green; Pappy’s Place; Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar; Salad Brothers; Sorellina’s

winner: Mechi’s Chicken at Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar
7 First Ave. SW | 507-280-6232 | victoriasmn.com

runners-up: Gnudi at Our Paladar; Chicken Rosa Verde at Sorellina’s; Chicken Alfredo at Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar; Butternut Ravioli at Twigs; Gnocchi at Terza; Gnocchi at Latitude 44

winner: CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar
220 Broadway Ave. S | 507-512-3800 | craverochestermn.com

runners-up: Our Paladar; Zen Fusion Hibachi & Lounge; Bleu Duck Kitchen; Red Lobster; Kumo Sushi; Ichi Tokyo; Ootori Sushi; Canadian Honker

winner: The Redwood Room
300 First Ave. NW | 507-281-2978 | creativecuisineco.com

runners-up: Marrow; Bleu Duck Kitchen; Our Paladar; Terza; Latitude 44; Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar; Sorellina’s

winner: Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria
130 Fifth St. SW | 507-424-7800 | pnpizza.com

runners-up: Mr. Pizza North; Mr Pizza South; Red’s Savoy; Pi Pizza; Tilda’s Pizzeria; BB’s Pizzaria; Zadeos Pizza

winner: Cafe Steam
Three locations | steam.coffee

runners-up: Cafe Aqui; St. James Coffee; MOKA; Bravo Espresso & Gourmet; Old Abe & Co.; Novios Café; Spyhouse Coffee Roasters; Scooter’s Coffee

winner: Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar
7 First Ave. SW | 507-280-6232 | victoriasmn.com

runners-up: Sorellina’s; Our Paladar; Bleu Duck Kitchen; Purple Goat; Marrow; Nupa South; Five West; Canadian Honker

winner: Ivy Shepherd at Our Paladar
20 4th Street SE | 507-206-0483 | ourpaladar.com

runners-up: Enrique Barajas at Townies Grill’d Philly Subs and More; Kylie McFarland at Purple Goat; Kasey Kephart at Bleu Duck Kitchen; Corbin Holmen at Bleu Duck Kitchen; Angie Mundt at Uncle John’s Bar and Grill

winner: Thai Pop

4 Third St. SW | 507-226-8146 | thaipopmn.com

runners-up: Zen Fusion Hibachi & Lounge; First Meeting Noodle; Hunan Garden; Bebap Korean Eats; Pho Chau; Ichi Tokyo; Mango Thai; Ootori Sushi

winner: Old Abe & Co.

832 7th St. NW | 507-271-0294 | oldabecoffee.com

runners-up: Bloom Acai Cafe; Indigo Açaí Bowls; Boxcar Hippie; Thai Pop; Forager Brewery and Cafe; Twigs; Nupa; Crisp & Green

winner: Los Arcos Kitchen & Cantina

7386 Airport View Dr. SW | 507-206-0302 | 3539 22nd Ave. NW | 507-322-6047 | losarcoskitchen.com

runners-up: El Carambas; Boxcar Hippie; Fiesta Cafe Bar; Corona’s Tacos; Taco JED; Eddie’s Rey de la Birria; The Compadres

winner: Hubbell House
502 N. Main St., Mantorville | 507-635-2331 | hubbellhouserestaurant.com

runners-up: Two Sister’s Kitchen in Oronoco; The Pondy Restaurant and Bar in Mazeppa; TT’s Tilted Tavern in Byron; Wildwood Sports Bar and Grill in Byron

winner: Taqueria Pato Azul in La Crosse
127 4th St. S, La Crosse, Wis.| 608-519-3036 | taqueriapatoazul.com

runners-up: Four Daughters in Spring Valley; J&J BBQ in Nelson, Wis.; Juniper’s Restaurant in Lanesboro; Kelly’s Lake House Bar & Grill in Lake City; Dan’s Bar and Grill in Hampton; BJ’s Bar, Grill and Kampground in Theilman; Harbor View Cafe in Pepin, Wis.

winner: The Tap House on Historic Third St.
10 3rd St SW | 507-258-4017 | taphousemn.com

runners-up: Bitter & Pour; Palmetto Room; Our Paladar; Bleu Duck Kitchen; The Tap House West End; Chester’s Kitchen and Bar; Marrow

winner: Townies Grill’d Philly Subs and More

244 Soldiers Field Dr. SW | 507-516-1050 | towniesubs.com

runners-up: Palmetto Room; Bitter & Pour; Purple Goat; The Thirsty Belgian; 1928 Cocktails and Bites

winner: Our Paladar
20 4th Street SE | 507-206-0483 | ourpaladar.com

runners-up: Bleu Duck Kitchen; Marrow; Thai Pop; Five West; Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar; Canadian Honker; Sorellina’s; Chester’s Kitchen and Bar