This page is for archiving comments prior to 2009 for Hogans Hideaway.
2005-11-20 20:52:10 Awsome. I think I'm going to take Heather there for dinner tommrow! —FarMcKon
2005-11-20 20:54:09 Sweet! —HeatherYager
2005-12-05 11:36:13 Hogan's has an awesome Seafood Chowder that's served only on Fridays. —PatrickLewis
2006-05-02 22:17:54 I highly recomend anything on the specials list lunch or dinner, the service is great 99% of the time —MatthewVanHook
2006-05-23 14:21:00 The atmosphere was really cool, but the service was painfully slow. I was with a group of 8, though, so maybe they just meant to leave us alone so we could talk and relax. The food was good, but not quite as good as I expected based on what I had heard. The specials were overpriced. I will definitely give it another try, though, but not with 8 people. —RachelBlumenthal
2006-06-08 02:00:57 I (actually, myself and a fried) went there one Friday and the service was absurdly slow. 15 minutes to get bread to the table, another 20 to get salads. We had been waiting for over an hour by the time our dinner came out. I got the Friday Fish Fry special, which was overcooked and full of bones. —DanielMiner
2006-09-08 17:15:04 Went there for the first time last week and loved it. Great food, friendly service. Had the Apricot Blonde beer and it was great! I wanted to go back and was so disappointed it was closed two days over the Labor Day weekend. I'll just have to go back next time I'm in Rochester. —EllenMartin
2006-11-26 15:09:58 There's always been a good special every time I've been, and the bread and salads are very good. The service has always been excellent for me, never slow. —StevenDibelius
2006-12-08 12:23:34 Tried Hogan's out last night and had a good time. The decor is a bit to eclectic for my tastes, but was pretty well done for the genre. Both the soup of the day and the vegetarian chili were nicely spiced and served pipping hot. Our entrees (from the cheaper end of the menu) weren't anything to write home about, but nearby dinners ordering off the specials menu were very pleased with their selections. In contrast to the service complaint, I feel on the whole Hogan's has the best service I've encountered in Rochester. Sure, you can always find a good server at any restaurant - but here we encountered numerous employees (2 waitresses, 1 valet, 1 busboy, 1 bartender, 1 host/manager) and they were all friendly, accommodating and professional. —EllenKelsey
2006-12-30 21:55:15 If your looking to dine out in Rochester this place needs to be on the " short list" (of course if you skip the places that specialize in Italian already) Other reviewers' perceptions of slow service aside. Central location ,cozy eclectic decor,friendly staff, non-static menu(i.e.black board specials),lunch , brunch or dinner selections, Prices are reasonable, Hey ,it's not a dinergo eat near the lake and look at the bill. —JoeMurty
2006-12-31 15:43:29 The best burgers in all of Rochester. Service has never been a problem for us here. They carry a nice selection of custom brewcrafters beer. Blackboard specials are always fabulous. Upstairs is a bar like atmosphere with wooden tables and booth seating. Downstairs is a little nicer, with some interesting and ever changing artwork on the walls and an impressive collection of old hats. We go here for any special celebrations. Suitable for older children (think teens). If you can get the mussels (usually on special) do it, they are fab. —DeniseElliott
2007-05-12 14:44:01 I've honestly never understood the appeal of the place. I live nearby and am constantly being dragged there by visiting friends. Specials are good, but often overpriced ($15-30 is optimistic... I usually see $30-40). The regular menu is nothing to write home about, standard sandwich fare. —AlixHamilton
2007-05-13 14:50:05 I agree, I don't think it is anything special but so many people love it. I do like going there for drinks on the Saturday morning of Park Ave weekend to watch the Buddhahood. —BadFish
2007-07-14 23:51:43 I hate that I always forget about this place. Every time I go it is good and I vow to return again soon. Then I forget again. lol. —RalphMeranto
2007-08-03 09:59:47 I've been a faithful patron for years but now can only afford to go for lunch, dinner prices have gotten very high. I love their pan-seared tuna or salmon and I have never had bad service here. I find their chefs creative and their food flavorful. I mostly order from the specials. —JuneSylvesterWales
2007-08-20 01:21:03 I can remember going to Hogan's in the late 80's when I was in High school with my girlfriends. The food was always fantastic! I have always loved going there, and would bring family and friends from out of town there. However, what the hell has happend? In the past 2 years they have gone down hill. I went with my husband today for lunch. It was ( I hate to say) total crap! I had french onion soup, I guess that's what you could call it. It arrived ice cold, the cheese wasn't put under the broiler..it was microwaved. EW. The service was fantatic. The food not so good. Would I go back, probably not. —JenniferWynne
2007-08-31 06:40:46 Hogan's can be either great or mediocre. It is the most inconsistent restaurant I've been to in Rochester, and it's frustrating for me because when it's great, I love it, and when it's mediocre, I resent paying for the disappointment. I haven't been there for about 5 years now after the last disappointment, but when they had their coffee crusted steak going well, that was a meal to die for. But sometimes the food just sucked so badly.... —KatieSchmitz
2007-09-02 08:37:46 It's difficult for me to comprehend that some of these comments were made regarding the same restaurant that I have frequented dozens of times each year. The service has always been thoughtful and attentive and the food reasonably priced. $8 for homemade bread, a fresh salad, and a big steaming bowl of homemade soup is terribly reasonable. The specials do in fact run $15-30 (with a few rare exceptions), but are typically huge in size and again are served with fresh bread and salad. Another one of my favorites is the delicious (and generous) slice of homemade quiche, served with salad and a glass of wine for about $11. It should be noted that Hogan's is well-known for using fresh, local ingredients and for paying all of its employees a living wage. If deliciously fresh food cooked and served by happy, appropriately-paid staff doesn't warrant a couple more dollars out of my pocket, than I don't know what does. —RochesterGuy
2007-11-13 11:00:49 My favourite non-ethnic restaurant for taking vegetarian friends to dinner. Nice atmosphere. Yummy eggplant parm. I never order the specials, and have never had a bad meal here either. —AutumnHaag
2007-11-14 12:12:53 I used to go to Hogan’s in the 80’s and 90’s with some regularity, but it’s been a good 10 years since I was there. I always had very good experiences and meals. I especially like the look and feel of the place. So recently when I had 4 co-workers from out of town I thought this might be a good place to take them for an authentic Rochester dining experience. Bad choice! The service was pitifully slow. Without saying a word to each other it was clear everyone felt the food was barely edible because we all left at least 80% of our meals uneaten. I was embarrassed for having suggested the place and as we walked out the door I apologized to my co-workers. The next day they all took great pleasure in giving me a hard time for trying to “poison” them with bad food. I’d heard Hogan’s was “hit or miss” lately. Unfortunately I never guessed “miss” could be so bad. —ZedOmega
2007-11-28 11:48:12 Great food. Great atmosphere. Very cool decorations. A fun place to dine. —RocGuy14610
2007-12-11 17:28:31 I'm from Austin Texas which has some of the most eclectic restaurants and food-styles. Moving up to Rochester was quite a change as there seemed to be only Italian-and crappy at that, pizza, and something called a "Texas Hot". I do not understand what it is but...Hogan's Hidaway has some of the best food around. The produce is fresh almost daily and the specials are created daily. The staff is always accomodating and cheery. I am a bit apalled by the comments on this page as I have never had a problem with the food that could not be fixed. If the service has been slow its because all of Rochester came in at the same time. Compared to MANY other restaurants in the area, Hogan's is so fairly priced its unbelieveable; especially considering most food is going up due to gas prices. I love this restaurant and thank my friend Mark for introducing me to it. —TexasTransplant
2008-01-17 18:14:45 I went for the first time recently. I must say that I heard a lot of good things going in. My friends (who are more seasoned) were all disappointed in the meal, so I would imagine it was just an off night. I did have a big issue, though: One of my friends ordered the mulled cider which tasted pretty good, so I ordered one. The waitress gave me the spiked cider without asking or telling me. Not only did it cost $4 more than my friend's, but it had a hefty dose of brandy that I didn't catch (it was really spiced) until I started getting a buzz. Let's just say I really didn't feel like driving right after :-( —DaveMilitello
2008-01-25 11:57:40 My beau and I went here last (Thursday) evening for dinner before attending an RPO concert. Nice atmosphere, attentive service, great beer (he had the Hogan's Park Avenue Ale, I had the Pale Ale). However, we ordered off the specials menu and both of us were underwhelmed. The salads were decent, the bread was tasty but a bit too yeasty. I ordered the pan-seared salmon special and my beau had the chicken saute special. There wasn't anything special about either of these dishes. In fact, they were both quite unremarkable. We've had much better meals at other area restaurants for the $18-25 per plate prices. If you want bang for your buck, stick to the regular burger/sandwich menu. If you're looking for a more upscale meal, at those prices, go somewhere else. —HeidiWinfield
2008-03-21 09:00:37 This place is ok. The staff is fantastic which makes up for the so-so meals I have had there. My husband and I used to go there when were dating as he lived around the corner. He loves it much more than I do. It's a great Park Ave. location and the decor is cool. —DianaLicata-Wright
2008-03-21 10:29:34 Hogans serves great food in a REALLY down to earth crunchy atmosphere.
Everything is homemade and service is attentive. I love going to dinner there on a low key night.
BTW, this is not a place to take a date, unless she has armpit hair and dreadlocks. —MrRochester
2008-03-27 20:41:44 Mary Beth, Amy and Mark are the best servers in Rochester, I like the laid back atmosphere and those are pretty much the only reasons for going there. The food is usually terrible and I dont know where an upscale diner like this gets off charging $25-$30 for a "special". We go once every 4 months when its too late to go anywhere else. Tip the excellent waiters well... —JamesPatrick
2008-04-09 20:32:57 I've been here for lunch a couple of times (weekdays), with just one other person both times. Service was very quick. The lentil burger is delicious, and very filling. Good atmosphere, too. —OwenThompson
2008-05-05 17:21:52 I finally made it here last weekend, and I was pleased with my meal. My porkchop was properly cooked and came smothered with a tasty raspberry chutney. At $16 with sides and a salad, it was a bargain. The specials hovered around $15-$20, toppping out at $24.
I was at a table with 8 people, and everyone seemed satisfied with their meals. Service was friendly and efficient —EastSideStephen
2008-05-09 10:53:34 A comfortable place to eat, is how I think of Hogan's. I go there often with my girlfriends since the food is good and the atmosphere cozy. It's our choice when girls' night demands comfort food. The homemade pasta is great (comes with the eggplant parm dinner which is my fav). Portions are a good size as well. Although Hogan's is far from perfect (limited parking, occasional slow service) it's always worth the effort. The bartender is friendly, the other customers are polite, and it's affordable. *** Note - please don't confuse me with "RochGirl." One letter can make a big difference!*** —RocGirl
2008-05-11 20:23:40 My Husband and I stopped in tonight after not having been here in quite some time. I had the Park Ave. Pale Ale which was smooth, a little nutty - a delicious example of an American Amber. My husband had a Hogan's Pale Ale - light and hoppy. We both ordered burgers which were perfectly cooked and served on wonderfully fresh rolls. I had the strawberry soup as a side which was refreshing and good but reminded me of thin strawberry yogurt; my husband had a cup of soup of the day, a mexican corn tortilla soup - flavorful and well executed. For dessert, we shared a piece of the Blackout Torte which was rich and moist but not too rich or too sweet which often happens with super-chocolatey cakes. Overall a good experience including the service - regardless of the fact that it's a bit pricey for what's offered, we'll definitely have to come back more often heading into the nicer weather. —StephanieTodd
2008-05-11 21:56:22 Great! Always great! I love this place, my wife an I come here all the time! —WilliamSmyth
2008-06-02 16:55:07 A favorite of mine. Good draught beer selection, awesome freshly baked bread, tasty salad dressings. Their specials can sometimes be hit and miss, but they do have some amazing ones. Where else can you get blueberry soup? —MariahBetz
2008-09-02 20:25:58 Went here last Friday night. Let me preface this by saying that we have come to Hogans probably 30 to 40 times over the past few years. What we had that night could be summed up in two words: terrible service. I've had slow service here before, but this was totally unacceptable. Every component of the meal was slow. I ordered a burger, my wife a tuna sandwich. An hour later, we had our food. When we alluded to this to the waitress, she made no effort to be apologetic. She could have said ANYTHING and I could have forgiven this, but she basically set the food down and walked away. What was funny was that she barely did anything for us. She didn't refill our drinks, or our water, or take our dishes away, or ask if everything was ok. Now, at this point, I wasn't going to mention that the burger I ordered "medium-rare" was in fact very well done. We will likely give the place another shot. I LOVE their vegetarian burger, and tuna sandwiches. But if the service is this bad again, or I wait another hour for a hamburger, I'm getting up and walking out. Let them eat it. —DavidGottfried
2008-10-27 12:46:37 I'm a big fan of this place and have been going here for at least 10 years - the omelette, quiche and specials change all the time yet you can always count on the staples to be there as well. The sweet potato fries rock. Its very reasonably priced for what you get ($11 quiche/salad/wine is a steal). —MarcusKroll
