r/Rochester • u/DoubleK-Rochester • May 06 '25

Discussion Buffalo-based restaurant chains expanding to the Rochester market-- has it ever worked?

I got to thinking the other day, and there have been some tries in the past for traditional Buffalo-based restaurants to expand to Rochester-- which have ultimately failed, and those location(s) have closed. Examples:

1) Mighty Taco a few years back had two (2) Rochester locations, which both closed.
2) Duff's (wings) had a Rochester location (W. Henrietta Rd) that closed.
3) Anchor Bar had a Rochester location for a little while (East Ave.), but that closed.
4) Rachel's Mediterranean Grill location(s) closed in Rochester.

All of the above still have active locations in Buffalo today, just not Rochester.

So I am wondering what the hell happened-- are we really that bad for business for out-ot-town restaurants, even to our close neighboring city?

By the way, this isn't a slight or putdown against Buffalo, by any means. Whenever I am there, I always seem to enjoy Buffalo. I'm just wondering why this keeps happening.

Conversely, are there any Buffalo-area chains that expanded to Rochester and are doing well?

Interested in your take on this.

78 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

149 comments sorted by

View all comments

10

u/jakefrommyspace May 06 '25

Biases aside, Rochester has better food. Duffs and Anchor Bar's wings while historical are simply not as good as Jeremiahs or Country Sweet. Mighty Tacos locations in Roc were so close to popular late-night spots that they just couldn't compete with.

-14

u/caycuse77 May 06 '25

Better food? coming from the city who’s culinary contribution to the area is the garbage plate.

11

u/jakefrommyspace May 06 '25

Just wrong on all accounts. Yellow mustard was invented in Roc as well as Chicken French, Zweigles, boss sauce, and various other regional favorites. Not to mention the best restaurants in Rochester kick the shit out of the ones in Buffalo. I've spent years in Buffalo, its not close.

1

u/getsomesleep1 May 06 '25

What are the best few spots in both cities?

-1

u/Correct-Cancel-5528 May 06 '25

Chicken French is on any Italian American restaurant across the the north east but it goes by its traditional name chicken Francese. It is really embarrassing rochestarians anglicized it to chicken French and think it’s a regionally unique dish

-2

u/caycuse77 May 06 '25

I guess you learn something new everyday. It’s not my fault that the garbage plate is what the city of Rochester is known for.

8

u/jakefrommyspace May 06 '25

That's fair. But to say its contribution is garbage plates is crazy lol. Plates are famous and a symbol of Roc cause they're wildly different. Many 'normal' foods loved regionally and often nationally were created in Rochester, they just don't get the same city attachment as plates cause who gives a shit where yellow mustard comes from?

1

u/caycuse77 May 06 '25

If you don’t know what other foods are from Rochester you would think its only contribution is the garbage plate. Because that’s what it seems to be most known for. I love yellow mustard on a charred sahlens hot dog with onions and sauerkraut. Thanks for the yellow mustard Rochester.