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2005-11-22 12:12:29 2 Vine's competition is not Hogans - it is places like Pearl and Edibles. All of those places have $5-7 side salads. If you have your expectations straight, I think 2 Vine is one of the best dining experiences around. The waitstaff is slightly pretentious, agreed, but there are worse (start with Pearl). —RottenChester
2005-11-22 14:03:00 I agree that 2 Vine is not always exceptional - few restaurants are. However, their relatively small menu and short list of specials allows them to maintain a fairly high standard. Also, though 2 Vine is certainly not cheap, their price/value is pretty good compared to the "fine dining" competition. —RottenChester
2006-01-22 16:05:31 This place has a lively and trendy French bistro atmosphere. Reservations are necessary. Food and service are excellent. —BenMargolis
2006-02-15 12:34:14 Beware—this isn't a place for a quiet, romantic date. It is extremely loud, tables are pretty much on top of each other, and you generally have to shout to be heard. But it's a lot of fun and the food was great. When I went with BenMargolis, he got a big bowl of oysters or mussels or something similar, and the waitress was pretty much lurking behind our table and would immediately pick up and replace a bowl as soon as Ben filled it with shells. —RachelBlumenthal
2006-04-30 19:02:03 I dind't find the place pretentious - it reminded me of trendy California restaurants when I lived there. —BrentIrvine
2006-06-10 15:56:03 2 Vine is a bit too casual, considering, but you can't beat their location. The food is also consistent - the same cannot be said about most upscale places around here. Lastly, they're affordable (in their class). The patrons can be obnoxious at times. The staff may not be the 'smartest' on first try, but once they 'recognize' you they seem to make an effort to please. Overall, the easiest/no-brainer spot in ROC given its location and consitent food. Nothing adventurous here, though. —ChristineLeo
2006-07-26 13:21:23 Observed: the sauteed calamari seems to have increased in portion - though not as 'striking' as when the special first appeared, and the bok choy is skimpier than before. Entrees have matured in their flavoring since years ago; however, it's still recommended to 'aim low' when instructing on doneness, i.e. "med-rare" tuna is no fun turning up solid white. Service is typically acceptable, unless there's only 1 active server in your area, who drops off one thing and forgets you for the next 15 min. But none of this matters - they've survived where others nearby (Tonic, Karma, Pearl - as restaurants, not bars) have perished. —ChristineLeo
2006-09-01 13:01:33 I've had mixed experiences so I suggest approaching the place from the perspective of a decent meal in a cool atmosphere. The place looks great and the food is good, just don’t expect it to be a “fine dining” experience. And yes the place is loud but it’s also trendy so I expect it to be loud. The service can be slow so you’ll end up spending more time talking with your dining companion(s) than expected, but that’s not a bad thing at all. —ZedOmega
2006-09-15 05:12:03 We LOVE 2Vine, especially for a more bistro atmosphere. I think they are very reasonably priced in the food department. Cocktails can be a bit pricey, but what the heck. VERY different from Hogan's...this is more of an "event" night out! —KarenMask
2006-12-13 12:28:50 Try the roast chicken plate for two... delicious. Yes it's a bit loud, but it's never bothered me. Service has always been great. —JohnBarry
2007-01-24 16:28:59 Certainly a fun place with consistently good food, but pretentious is an understatement. The last two times I've gone we've waited nearly an hour past our reservation time before being seated. The management needs to realize they aren't running some super trendy NYC restaurant. I probably won't go back. Anyone have ideas for a similar restaurant where management actually makes an attempt to meet the reservation? —RochCon
2007-01-24 17:05:04 I went a week or so ago (it was my second time; I have a vague memory of my first as being decent but a little overhyped), and like RochCon, I waited an extremely long time after my reservation to be seated. You'd think by now they would have the system figured out a little better. Anyway, I did notice a note at the bottom of the menu reminding patrons that the tables are reserved at two-hour intervals. We were finally seated and the waiter came over and recited about 5 minutes worth of specials and brought us bread and water. He forgot my drink order and I had to remind him of it after waiting for about 15 minutes. Despite these frustrations, the food was delicious and we got to hear the opera-singing waiter serenade the table next to us. Based on the quality of the food, I'd go back, but I would definitely try to go on a less busy night. What's the point of making reservations if you're going to have to sit around for an hour anyway? —RachelBlumenthal
2007-02-10 17:05:04 Made reservations for 745 on Saturday. Got there at 730. Waited, waited, waited. By 915, there were still 3 parties ahead of us for a table, so we left. Based on the previous reviews, it seems like this is either Olympic-level incompetence, or a strategy used by the owner to make the place seem more desirable. Either way I won't be back. Way better places available (like Sienna, Black and Blue, Tastings) without the hassle.
2007-07-10 14:39:56 I've been here a half dozen times with mixed results. The food is excellent, but the staff can be snobs. I went here for dinner and was treated contemptuously by the staff. Rude hostess, rude server, and rude manager when I called the next day to complain. Not sure if they treat everyone like that - or just me because I look like I'm about 16. I had much better luck sitting at the bar. —RocGirl
2007-07-11 00:17:00 WARNING: AC is either not working or non-existent. On a 90+ degree day it can get pretty brutal. —WegmansFiend
2007-08-05 09:56:05 We and another couple dined at 2 Vine last night. We arrived promptly for our 7:00 p.m. reservations, and were taken to our table outside the minute we arrived (and ushered past the crowd of people who obviously did not have reservations). Shannon, our server was VERY knowledgeable and attentive (and NOT the least bit snobby). Her timing was perfect throughout the meal with drinks, wine, bread, appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts and coffees, all arriving in perfect timing. Never once did we have to flag her down for anything, nor were we rushed out either. The rest of the wait staff was courteous and unobtrusive. For a very busy, warm summer evening, they got it all right.
Yes, it was pricey, but we certainly got what we paid for. We are definitely going back and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a fine dining experience in Rochester.
2007-08-31 11:06:12 I have eaten here 3 times and I have never had a good meal. I am in the monority though as everyone I know enjoys 2Vine.
Its a nice space and they have a great beer selection. I always have a Duvel when I visit the bar.
Trendy restaurant. —MrRochester
2007-08-31 12:13:18 Go to dinner early! I went with family on a Wednesday night during the Jazz Festival this year. We got in at 5pm without a reservation and without waiting and we basically had our waiter to ourselves. By the time we left, around 6-6:30, it was just starting to pick up. —DaveMahon
2007-10-03 17:32:31 The pork chops the other night (Monday) were really greasy and "heavy", could barely finish half a portion during the dinner. Good soups, wines. Slow, relaxed service. Desert OK, but not exciting. Excellent ambience though, and one waiter does sing great opera right in front of you! —XenonIce
2007-10-27 22:11:03 2 Vine is HORRIBLE! The waitstaff is very snotty, and the managers are quite frankly complete assholes.
I've been entertaining clients in Rochester for the past 4 years, and have had the worst experiences at 2 Vine. When I asked to speak to the manager, Jerry, my server pointed me to the bar, where I found Jerry drinking a martini! When he finally stumbled over, he was rude and very impolite when I had asked a simple question.
The bathroom for some reason was a complete mess the last time I was in there as well.
All in all the food is good but overpriced. Don't even think about trying to have an intelligent conversation with the manager, he is a moron! —RobertThurston
2007-12-01 09:40:13 You are either a complete liar, or mistaken as to who you were talking to. I have worked for the Jerry's (both owners are named Jerry) for 2 years and neither one of them would EVER drink while at 2 Vine. I can assure you that your story has some holes in it! —ElizBremmer
2007-12-01 17:54:44 One of my favorite restaurants. We go a few times per year and have never had any bad experiences like those posted here. We always had reservations and were always seated promptly. Staff has always been professional and the food top notch. Love the steak frites. —RocDiner
2008-02-02 15:09:11 As a semi-regular at 2Vine, I thought the previous post about one of the owners being drunk was sketchy. I brought it up in conversation
with the bartenders last time I was in for dinner (I usually eat at the
bar). I was told by one of them that he had worked there for well over
a year and had never once seen either of the owners have even 1 drink
at the restaurant. Def a fishy post. Anyway, for anyone who hasnt
been there, for my money, this is the best, most consistent restaurant
in Rochester. Drinks are a bit overpriced, food on the other hand is
good value for what you get. Top quality. Shout out to Meghan and
Joe, who always go out of there way to take care of me at the bar —DrKennethNoisewater
2008-03-30 10:11:48 We stopped going here a year ago because of the bad service and the loud,classless, nouveau riche, wanna-be crowd but decided to give it one more shot last night. It appears that nothing has changed. We had a 9:30pm reservation and at 10:30 we still had not been seated. (with no apology form the staff) If you want to be ignored by a hostess and surround yourself with middle age suburbanites screaming at each other...this is the place for you. If not—go to Tapas or Eros. —JamesPatrick
2008-03-30 12:24:48 Lots of attitude from the loud mouthed, self important, suburban patrons. I stopped going here a while ago for that very reason, but some friends wanted to go so I though I would try it again. Alas, nothing has changed at 2Vine. Same loud Pittsford blowhards, same staff that has the attitude of, your lucky to be here were so fabulous. NOT. We had reservations and waited over an hour with no apology from the hostess. It was busy and I am sure she has a hard job but when you are charging as much as 2Vine for a boring tired menu you could at least offer your patrons a drink at the bar while they wait or at the very least..a simple "sorry". Nothing...just attitude. Same your time and go to Eros around the corner or Tapas on St.Paul Street. This has put the nail in the 2Vine coffin for me. —BrianArt
2008-03-30 19:27:23 I still eat at 2 Vine occasionally and it remains about the same as it has been for the last couple of years. The menu hasn't really changed much, which makes me less likely to return, but if you value consistency, then you'll think that's a good thing. 2 Vine is pretty expensive as Rochester restaurants go, so if the service were as terrible as some say on this page, I wonder how the place could stay in business. I've never had notably bad service here.
As for the noise — the interior is all hard surfaces, so the place is noisy. Also, you're going to sit very close to other diners, so if your neighbors are obnoxious, then you're going to hear most of what they have to say.
Dinner and drinks for 2 at 2 Vine is usually about $100, so the people who eat here tend to be people who want to drop that kind of money on dinner. Maybe that means that more "Pittsford blowhards" dine here, but that's going to be true of other places in the same price range. —RottenChester
2008-04-28 23:42:02 Bright and bustling. This is the place where everyone comes, loosens up with a drink and indulges themselves. In keeping with this theme, the food is not particularly innovative or creative. It is rich, portions are large, service is attentive. If those are your expectations, you may find 2 Vine a completely satisfactory experience. If you're looking for food / an experience that will pique your senses / intelligence, 2 Vine will disappoint. Not a good date place, possibly a good place to go with a group of friends (who are not shy in the decibel department) —SmitaRao
2008-05-02 15:50:37 I have not been recently, but have been several times in the past. More than 10 times. After reading some of these comments, I feel as though I need to stick up for 2Vine.
Every single time, my 2Vine experience has been perfect. Their staff has been attentive, the food delicious, and the desserts yummy. Really love this place. —VinceCardillo
2008-06-16 19:46:27 The food is overpriced and the restaurant is noisy. I would not recommend. —MrJenkins
2008-06-16 19:48:35 For a great meal... go somewhere else. I agree with the last post. WAY TOO LOUD! The food was decent, but I couldn't even hear my date sitting next to me. —MingTao
2008-07-19 20:23:51 Ate here last night with my wife... one of our favorite places in town. We walked in on a Friday night at about 8:30pm with no reservation and got a table right away. Apparently, even 2 Vine suffers from Rochester's early to bed mentality where everyone eats dinner at 7pm. Had the bouillabaisse and it was fantastic. Wife had the lemon sole and it was also delicious. —DavidGottfried
2008-10-04 16:38:45 Probably my favorite restaurant in Rochester. It is a fun atmosphere, very good food, and the service has always been enjoyable. I definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to have a fun night out. —JaredStrohl
2008-10-27 15:54:24 Been here once so far. It was a nice experience; food was good, not great. My duck was certainly over cooked and there was a hair in the rosotto. Other than that, I liked the fact that it was high-end food in a restaurant where you didn't have to keep your voice down. And then came this Saturday night. I made a reservation and when I showed up (with my entire party) 2 minutes early, we were asked to wait at the bar...for 45 minutes! In the end, we left and had a wonderful meal elsewhere in town. It was like the Seinfeld episode where Jerry reserved a certain car, but they ran out of that model. "You know how to take the reservation, but you don't know how to keep the reservation, and that's really the most important part of the reservation." Needless to say, I was very disappointed. The staff didn't seem to care that we were leaving nor that they were irresponsible in how they treated us and many other patrons who sat around waiting for long periods of time. The food just isn't that good to treat me that way and expect to have my business in the future. —BGR
2008-12-21 17:02:10 2 Vine is a great place to dine out. I like their location and atmosphere. I even liked it that they re-used the building materials. I agree that it can get noisy when it is very busy. I guess when it comes to good food and alcohol... They'll banter on happily and loudly that they forget that there are others. Also, I think they need to do something with drafty front door. Cold air came up to us and I felt this was becoming very annoying when it is busy. Overall, very great place to eat and enjoy the great selections of wines. —RocCritic
2009-03-22 14:05:21 Sometimes the food is amazing— the kind you want to savor slowly without talking to your table companions— and sometimes it is just good, in a way that makes you wonder if you got overcharged. Excellent pork and steak entrees. Great service. Sometimes very noisy and crowded. —OxfordWriter
2009-04-13 16:44:18 First off, it is not casual (I'd say more business casual). Crowd is mostly mid-thirties and above. You have two choices in which you can sit (inner dining room or outer dining room, the latter having more windows and the bar). Food was cooked perfectly, not a flaw in the preparation of any dish. However, none of the dishes (crab-cakes, fish and mushroom risotto, panna cotta) had any good surprises. I expect a twist, a sprinkle of culinary intuition, from such a highly-touted restaurant. One of the best? Yes. The best? No. —TryingtheBest
