Top 10 American food in Rochester, Minnesota, United States

April 25, 2020 Flossie Demartino

Find out what American restaurants to try in Rochester. Rochester is a city founded in 1854 in the U.S. State of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County located on the Zumbro River's south fork in Southeast Minnesota. It is Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest city located outside the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2015, the Rochester metropolitan area has a population of 215,884. According to the 2010 United States Census the city has a population of 106,769. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the 2016 population was 114,011. It is the home of the Mayo Clinic and formerly, one of IBM's largest facilities. The city has long been rated as one of the best places to live in the United States by multiple publications such as Money and is one of the most educated cities in the world.
Things to do in Rochester

10. Newt's North

5231 E Frontage Rd NW Highway 52, Rochester, MN 55901-4156 American, Bar, Pub Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast Takeout, Seating, Parking Available, Free Off-Street Parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Table Service, Accepts Credit Cards +1 507-226-8266 http://live2dine.com/newts-north
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 265 reviews

Newt's North

Reviewed By Wendi R

Me and my daughter stopped here on a last-minute trip to Rochester. I got a Marvin's Burger which was absolutely perfect. My daughter loved the fresh popcorn as well as her entree if you have a chance stop by the food is great and so is the service. We will definitely be stopping back again. They also have one of the absolute best unsweet teas I've ever had.

9. Twigs Tavern & Grille

Centerstone Plaza Hotel Soldiers Field - Mayo Clinic Area, Rochester, MN 55902 American Lunch, Dinner, Drinks Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Free Off-Street Parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Fre [email protected] +1 507-288-0206 http://www.soldiersfield.com/home/restaurant.html
Food
Service
Value
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4 based on 442 reviews

Twigs Tavern & Grille

Rochester's only restaurant with a dedicated Gluten-Free kitchen. Discover a unique and exciting dining experience at Twigs Tavern and Grille. Locally owned, Twigs offers many delectable menu options in a warm atmosphere. Gather around our Hot Rock Grilli

Reviewed By carolb1974

We started with the signature parmesan bread poppers. They were good but too rich for me, my sister in law ate them all and raved!Our table ordered a couple of flatheads with steak and other toppings. Delicious. Salad with chicken was also excellent.Another great place in Rochester to enjoy. Off the mai track.It makes us very happy to hear about your lovely dinner on our patio! We are glad that you enjoyed the brazi bites to start your dining experience and finished with delicious meals.Thanks for coming in and sharing your experience!Sincerely,Taryn Ferguson

8. Cafe Presto

1223 2nd St SW, Rochester, MN 55902-1941 Mexican, American, Cafe Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Brunch Delivery, Takeout, Seating, Free Off-Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service +1 507-289-2690 http://cfpresto.com
Food
Service
Value
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Overall Ratings

4 based on 188 reviews

Cafe Presto

Family owned restaurant for over 30 years. Fast, quick and delicious meals in a comfortable setting. Check out local favorites or try something new from the updated menu including wood fire pizzas

Reviewed By MinnesotaRandy

The food here is good! Unfortunately the service is slow, if not very slow. The restraunt was not busy at the time we came in. They have a nice variety of menu items, some being unique that you cannot find at a typical restraunt. The prices here are good. The Canadian Honker is typically $2-3 more for a similar item and the food is just as good if not better at Cafe Presto without the Honker wait time. The service at the Canadian Honker is undeniably much better. Cafe Presto has a small town cafe atmosphere which is quaint.

7. Newt's

216 1/2 1st Ave SW Upper level, Rochester, MN 55902-3129 American, Bar, Pub Lunch, Dinner, Late Night Takeout, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service +1 507-289-0577 http://www.live2dine.com/newts
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 831 reviews

Newt's

Reviewed By skatesy

This bar / burger establishment is located near the Gonda building. Take the steps up to the second level. Good service and reasonably priced. Typical burger and sandwich fare.....pretty good deep fried cod dinner and the onion rings were great. Good waitress. We were there around 5:30 and it kinda looked to me like a working mans saloon, but the kitchen isn't half bad either.

6. Tonic

1217 2nd St SW, Rochester, MN 55902-1941 Ukrainian, American, Cafe, Soups Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Takeout, Seating, Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Highchairs Available [email protected] +1 507-258-5224 http://www.tonicfreshjuice.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 191 reviews

Tonic

Tonic is a neighborhood gathering place. It’s the perfect place for meeting friends for a cup of tea, enjoying a smoothie made with locally sourced ingredients, or feeding your entire family. We know our community. We know our suppliers. And we know that

Reviewed By John B

We shared the $15 Avocado Cobb salad and it was terrific. We also shared a Very Very Berry Smoothie that was equally tasty. Service was a bit slow even though we arrived after the peak lunch time, but everyone was very friendly and trying to help. And the food is so good and healthy that we will plan a return visit to try something else.

5. Forager Brewery

1005 6th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901-2741 American, Bar, Pizza, Pub Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night, Drinks Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Wine and Beer, Live Music +1 507-258-7490 http://www.foragerbrewery.com
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

4 based on 316 reviews

Forager Brewery

Our casual family-friendly restaurant in Rochester, MN offers a full menu of vibrant dishes made from the freshest seasonally available ingredients inspired by our bountiful region. Discover a new favorite each time you visit as our menu changes to integr

Reviewed By K8383

Great beer, but even better food. All locally grown ingredients and masterful culinary skills. They take Mac n Cheese and have some fun with it, and avoid over charging you for a sliver of food like some hotsy totsy Lower Manhattan joint. Portions are generous and the variety works for everyone (like lactose intolerant individuals like me) with the prices being solid. Staff is very friendly and caring, which sometimes could be tough to find at breweries. Parking can be tough and there could be a wait, but they’ve got a texting program that actually sends you updates on your place in line while you hit the bar to kill time. Keep doing wonderful things, Forager.

4. Pescara

150 S Broadway, Rochester, MN 55903-1200 American, Seafood, International Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night, Drinks Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Parking Available, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Reservations, Seating, Valet Parking, Accepts Credit Cards, [email protected] +1 507-280-6900 http://pescarafresh.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 820 reviews

Pescara

Pescara invites those with an appetite for fresh, forward food to share small plates, savor fine wine and enjoy selections from sea and land. Located in the newly renovated DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Rochester, it"s the perfect place to gather for busin

Reviewed By Betsy R

This is my "special occasion" restaurant, and they did not disappoint! The food was fabulous; three people ordered three different items, along with three appetizers and three side dishes (and we had two desserts). We moaned with delight as we tasted every item. Our server, Jake, was great, and I also noticed the manager (I believe it was the manager) walking around and taking plates away; nice touch to show he's willing to do the total job. I want to especially thank Jake (our waiter) for his discreet way of telling me my card was declined; turns out my card had been compromised the day before, and I had forgotten to call the credit card company. He was a class act, and I appreciated his sensitivity (and also glad I had some cash!). The ONLY thing I would change about this location is the table set-up. There were some tight areas, and I know I hit someone's chair walking to my table, and saw it happen to the same table more than once. It's certainly not a showstopper for me ... for food and service that good, I don't mind a bump or two! :-)Thank you so much for this great review! We love when our guests take time to share their experience and also remember the name of their server so we can share their compliments directly to them!We are so happy that Jake took such great care of you! It sounds like everything that you ordered was prepared perfectly! We will also share this with our kitchen team!We will look into your comments as well about the set up in the dining room. Sometimes though comfy chairs can take up a little more room if the tables get out of order!We look forward to seeing you again soon!

3. Canadian Honker Restaurant & Lounge

1203 2nd St SW, Rochester, MN 55902-1941 American, Bar, Soups Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music [email protected] +1 507-282-6572 http://restaurant.canadianhonker.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 1299 reviews

Reviewed By warriordad

We had a great brunch last Sunday. Restaurant was crowded, always a good sign. Super nice server, quick efficient service. Didn't feel rushed at all, even though it was busy. Best of all, the meals were delicious. Has a local vibe, but is clean and clearly has been a local favorite for some time.We are so grateful for your kind review. Thanks for sharing your opinion with us and others. We are delighted that you enjoyed our delicious brunch on Sunday. Thank you for mentioning your friendly and attentive service, clean atmosphere and consistently great dining experiences over the years. We look forward to serving you again, Warriordad.

2. Chester's Kitchen and Bar

111 S Broadway # 108 University Square, Rochester, MN 55904 American, Contemporary Drinks, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service [email protected] +1 507-424-1211 http://www.chesterskb.com
Food
Service
Value
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Overall Ratings

4 based on 1797 reviews

Chester's Kitchen and Bar

"Why Chester's?" We get asked this often and the answer is quite simple...it's a friendly, comfortable and traditional name. This is a direct reflection of how we want you to feel in our restaurant. The other connection we made is a tribute to the city, R

Reviewed By timlitz

Great food, been multiple times. Unfortunately not best environment this time around. Had a group of five cram in around a table for four right next to us for a Chesters server group training session. Couldn’t have cared less that we were there. Very loud trainer barking out info and asking questions. Hard for us to have a conversation. We mentioned it to manager who came and talked with the trainer. He obviously cared less (as did the manager) as they continued on. 1pm lunch on October 24 in case owner might want to follow up with staff. Doubt we will be back! If they could care less about us, why should we give them our business???Our GM has reached out to you and we sincerely apologize for the disruption to your meal.Our managers do sincerely care and have spoken to the new trainer about the situation.We do hope that you will consider coming back and letting us do right by you as we take all of our reviews seriously.

10 Things to Do in Rochester That You Shouldn't Miss

1. Cameo Restaurant

121 Broadway Ave N Ste 100, Rochester, MN 55906-3720 American Dinner, Lunch, Brunch, Late Night, Drinks Reservations, Seating, Table Service, Takeout, Street Parking, Serves Alcohol, Digital Payments, Free Wifi [email protected] +1 507-361-2070 http://www.cameoatthecastle.com
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

4 based on 25 reviews

Cameo Restaurant

Cameo at the Castle is a restaurant that focuses on global comfort food in an upscale setting. We serve craft cocktails, beer and wine from around the world and have something on our menu for any type of occasion. The restaurant has space for large partie

Reviewed By Laura N

I want to really like this place, and hope this never happens again. The ambience is cool, though It was a quiet night so Id like to see what it’s like on a busy evening. We were enjoying dinner with friends and all our dishes arrived. Everyone had a lovely meal-except my husband. He found a large piece of plastic in his pasta. It took his appetite away and at the end of his meal, he showed it to the waiter. The manager(?) came over to apologize and offer dessert which we turned down. The rest of us were full and he lost his appetite. While the apology was fine we were shocked that my husband was charged FULL PRICE for the meal! Very disappointing after finding something totally unacceptable in his dish.I hope this won’t happen again. I’d like to enjoy this place and would want a better ending to a night out that cost over $80.Laura,I am incredibly embarrassed to hear about your experience. Can you reach out to me at [email protected] to discuss further? Thank you!

Where to Eat in Rochester: The Best Restaurants and Bars

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