Lento Restaurant

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Rochester! We love the $ 1 oyster nights and the local farm to table menu. We enjoy the ever changing cocktail menu and wine/​beer offerings.
We rotate through items on the menu with confidence to order items we wouldn’t normally– rabbit, fois gras, duck etc. We have come to trust and know the chef will dish up something flavorful and unique. When we go out to eat, we like to order things that we normally wouldn’t make at home. This fits the bill.
We almost always start out with the cheese plate because we are rather obsessed with the grilled fruit and nut bread, paired with the chèvre.
I have also enjoyed their seasonal soups like beet and ginger or white bean with pork broth. You can often make a meal out of oysters and the small plates.
This restaurant is consistently great and has the atmosphere we enjoy.

Came again on a Tuesday night to finally try to $ 1 oysters. Definately recommend it because you can’t beat the price and they have pretty good selection of oysters, my favourite was from Chesapeake.
I also ordered a vegetarian lentil burger, but just tasted like a falafel on brioche bread (even though I ordered sesame.) not worth the$ 14 at all.
Please do come for the oysters as that was past expectations, especially for $ 1. Clean, fresh, and plenty in stock. I like the variety and ability to experiment.
3÷1÷16 Came yet again for $ 1 Oyster night. My favourite sweeter oysters that they carry here are the Chesapeake, French Kiss, and Copps Island. Ask for any dipping sauce; horse radish paired with their garlic dip is ¹⁰⁄₁₀.

Went a few weeks ago. Had the fried olive and tuna as appetizers. Tuna was great. I had a rabbit sausage which was just awesome and the gf has a venison burger that was perfect.
I wish I liked oysters more since that seems a big part of the experience there. But the food was to notch and left me wanting more

Positives: Fresh and locally sourced ingredients inspire a diverse array of dishes and concepts. Service matches the personality of the restaurant; very laid-​back («lento» = slow) and organic. Crafted cocktails are an added plus (they make many of their syrups and mixers themselves). Lobster salad and ½ chicken were tasty (porcini mushroom dust on the chicken rub was awesome).
Negatives: Very small table and close dining quarters. Chairs were small and uncomfortable (I am not one to complain about that type of stuff). Glad to have tried the place, but nothing unforgettable.

Lento has good service & food. Priced right too!
But the noise level is very high. Don’t come here F you expect to have a conversation … And bring ear plugs just to think!!!

Nice farm to table experience in Rochester. Nice oyster bar, seating at the bar, and inventive menu. My favorite was the three wings — rabbit /​pheasant /​chicken, each finished in a different way. Relaxed casual environment.

We took a group of 4 out-​of-​town friends here for a dinner last summer, and I was seriously disappointed in all aspects of the meal. The service was incidental, as though our waiter kept forgetting about us; things like water glasses not being filled were a problem. Our courses came out at different times, making eating together difficult. (I don’t like to begin eating until everyone has their food; maybe it’s my problem.) The poutine with duck fat fries was so greasy, over-​salted, and the fries so limp and stale-​tasting, that I nearly sent it back. The only thing that restrained me was that our guests were paying for the meal and it seemed rude to make an issue about the food.
It is a very noisy space, so I had lots of time to think while I was watching other people trying to shout across the table at each other. Halfway through the dinner, I wished that we’d just taken them to Nick’s for a garbage plate. The food would have been better, cheaper, and a lot less pretentious.
I think Lento started out well, and with good intentions, but in the last few years it’s become another place fetishizing «locally sourced» food with lots of brags on the menu and not much in the way of food that’s interesting, or even, in the cast of the poutine, palatable.

3.5−4 stars.
Pros:
–Lots of people on staff so fairly fast service– allowing for ~30 min wait time for initial appetizers to come out.
–My server was really into it– walked everyone he had through the menu, was very patient and always checked in at regular intervals.
–Food was beautiful and most of it tasted amazing.
Cons:
–Our busboy/​girl had such a sour face on– when I mentioned there was a bone in the rillettes I’m not sure it ever got back to the kitchen.
-*There was a bone in the rillettes* Large enough to crack a tooth if someone chomped on it directly, I’m just glad I found it before my parents did.
–Food was a little hit or miss, a lot of effort went into prep but no one was a fan of the rabbit cutlet– really just not to our liking, it was cooked excellently. We agreed the foie gras appetizer and Duck tasting course were the best.
Misc:
–not dressy atmosphere
–for 3 people; 2 appetizers with mains were more than enough. we were struggling to finish the 1 dessert and went home promptly to sleep.

I love Lento, the seafood is always high quality it’s and the staff is engaging. They have a decent happy hour 4 – 6, $ 5 wines & cocktails. Most weekdays offer $ 1 oysters (some are $ 2) which is a great deal. I also love the local cheese platter! Just tried the grilled octopus — brand new to the menu, definitely recommend!

My husband and I have enjoyed Lento for years. However, in mid-​2014 we noticed a shift at this restaurant that was all for the better. The whole team at Lento just started to feel «on» for every meal we had there. It quickly became our favorite special-​night-​out place to eat in Rochester, and still is today. I recently selected it as the spot for my birthday dinner and they, as usual, didn’t disappoint. The cocktails are fresh, creative & awesome (how many others are infusing their vodka with rose tea leaves?). The oysters are fresh & delicious and their variety is always great — especially if you ask for some polar opposites, it’s fun to taste the differences! Apps have also always been good — especially the foie gras (omg — it’s last meal worthy) and the poutine for me. Their salads are also awesomely constructed & perfectly dressed.
This fall (just like last fall) I love their homemade ravioli with sage brown butter. I literally crave it all the time year-​round it’s so delicious. Their steaks have been amazing. The rabbit dish was insane and we have loved several duck dishes as well as their pastas. Basically we love everything on the menu — including the desserts! You really can’t go wrong.
Super fresh, local ingredients, frequent menu updates, and creative spot-​on execution makes Lento a winner every time. I can’t wait to go back!

I have only been here once, and I never like to pass final judgement on a restaurant after only 1 visit. Two Fridays ago my girlfriend and I walked to the Village Gate for dinner. We were going to eat at The Gate House, but they had an hour-​long wait, so we decided to try our luck with something new. Lento also had a wait for a table, but they had a few seats at the bar open, so we sat there and ate. The bartenders were friendly and attentive, and the bar top was a nice tiled counter. The lighting a little dark, but it gave the restaurant a nice, calm, laid back feel to it. Everything was fine, until my food came out. After seeing the size of my girlfriend’s cheeseburger, I felt that the price was too high. It was thick, but not very wide. It almost looked like somebody grilled a meatball and put it on a bun. My food was the real issue for me. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich that came with coleslaw and baked beans. Everything was good, but it was completely dry. The pulled pork had no BBQ sauce on it, which made it difficult to choke down. The coleslaw had a light amount of Italian dressing on it to give it some flavor, but it also came out to me basically as seasoned dry cabbage (not what I expect when I think of coleslaw). And finally, the baked beans looked like they were cooked in a pot with some dry seasoning, and they weren’t left in long enough. They were a little hard and under cooked. This would easily be a 4.5 star review if somebody in the kitchen just would have added a little sauce to my food.
This will not stop me from giving Lento another chance, but it was not a good way to start off my first impression of them.

Had the pleasure of eating with a friend here on 11÷2÷15. Wonderful experience from start to finish. An amazing selection of Oysters, Finger Lakes wine, and desserts. This is the epitome of farm to table, with the farms the restaurant uses up on a chalk board, and a well educated staff on their ingredients. Our waiter was amazing, perfect personality, service time, and attentiveness. The big attraction for me was the dollar oyster happy hour, with the selection they have, simply amazing. Wonderful wonderful restaurant. Highly recommend it, as it has something for everyone. A must stop in Rochester. ENJOY!!!

I’ve always had good food at Lento. Their poutine, burgers, and pumpkin ravioli are all very tasty and clearly made with high-​quality, fresh ingredients. The poutine was a little excessively cheesy, in my humble opinion. The burger was cooked very well. The last time I ordered the pumpkin ravioli was many moons ago, so I can’t really comment on that.
I enjoy the no corkage fee nights (Wednesdays) — it seems like a great deal, no matter how much you paid for the wine you brought.
The outdoor seating is also very nice and pleasant in the summer and early fall. Our waiter was courteous and prompt as well.
No major complaints, just missing a 5^th star due to overall lack of «wow» factor in my previous visits.

Decided to give this place a try when a friend recommended this place to me. I was even more motivated to go when I heard that on Tuesdays there was $ 1 oysters special. Made reservations as I heard that it can get quickly crowded especially on the Tuesday $ 1 oyster special.
The oysters were great everything tasted fresh and each oyster had a unique flavor. Our initial plan was to just eat oysters, but we decided to order some of the entrees as it would require us eating a lot of oyster to get full and the bill will add up. We ordered the rabbit leg, lasagna and the strip steak. It was my first time having rabbit and I was pleasantly surprised it was very juicy and tender. I sampled some of the strip steak and that was cooked to perfection. The lasagna was just okay for me.
Service was great as my water kept getting refilled, and I didn’t have to grab my waitresses attention.
Overall I was happy to experience the food there as the restaurant prides itself on using local fresh ingredients and supporting the local farmers. Just by eating the food you could tell everything was made fresh. Price wise it is kind of bit expensive, but this can due to the quality of food you will be getting.
I would probably come back here for a special occasion like to celebrate a birthday or if I have a hankering for some oysters.

Been here a few times. Never disappointed. I’ve seen some reviews where people complain about the amount of food you get for the price. I’d much rather get an awesome, healthy, farm to table meal, all while supporting the local farms.
Fresh seafood bar is amazing. I wish I could eat clams but I’ve had the shrimp and the crab and both are superb. Have to fight a little with the crab. Their cheese selection is great, being Italian cheese is a must for me and I never have a complaint with the choices. The staff is amazing. Very personable and they are knowledgeable. They have happy hour specials and on Wednesday, they have a no corkage fee so hey all you wine-o’s bring those bottles. I love
this place time and time again. Well worth the price. Great food and even better service? Yes please.

Call me crazy, but I’m not crazy about Lento. I find like I am always waiting, just waiting while I’m there. I understand that «fresh food» and shucking of the oysters take a while but when it gets to be an hour that is too much they need to put more staff on. Also the last two times I’ve been there I didn’t even have a waitress to begin with. I waited 10 minutes to say something to the hostess and finally they got the ball moving. I usually only go there Tuesdays and they know they’re really busy that night so why not staff better.
The things I like about lento: 1. Tuesday dollar oyster night 2. no corkage fee on Wednesday nights
The things I don’t like about lento: 1. their «changing menu». They claim they change every week but most of the items are always the same with a couple different things. Plus if they have a couple really good things on their specials menu they shouldn’t take them off like the squid ink pasta I had with scallops and shrimp etc. I would come back for that but it’s never on the menu
2. Overpricing. Some of the dishes are way overpriced. For example, the grass-​fed cheeseburger is $ 14 and it is smaller than my fist. We had an oyster that was just about as big as my burger. They basically Gave me a slider. Their entrees are usually between 30 and 40 dollars. Sorry, but for some of them, that’s crazy. 3. Poor service like I said above 4. Their happy hour is only until 6 and I don’t go to work until 5. If more bars put their happy hour until 7 I would go there way more often. 5. My bill is the biggest here when I go out, I don’t know what I’m ordering but it never fails.

Fabulous experience with the food being really fresh, great service and attention to detail. The pork chop was my choice after we shared a series of appetizers. The concept of farm fresh really works well and the freshness of the ingredients and the carte of the chef in putting things together comes through clearly in the taste and the combinations. Liked it a lot — will be back.

I guess farm-​to-​table equals more expensive thus making this a difficult review to write. While in general the food was very tasty the portions for the price were very small. For example:
We ordered their poutine which was quite good, though it could have used a bit more gravy. The price for it was reasonable for gourmet poutine… BUT I ordered the bacon option for another $ 4 and I needed a microscope to find the bacon — it was a total rip-​off. Even if the bacon was handcrafted and artisanal it was not worth it!
Similarly the burger was nicely done but for $ 14 it was slightly bigger than a slider. We’ve had plenty of gourmet burgers around town priced from $ 14-​$ 20 but this was really disappointingly expensive for what you got. And the quarter of a chicken had a fabulous rhubarb sauce but that was the smallest chicken quarter I have ever seen (I’m sure it was free range, organic and named Fred — reminds me of an episode of Portlandia). So while the food is very good you have to pay a lot more for the «better quality».
Perhaps we just don’t find the value in the farm-​to-​table concept…
Finally, the service was rather slow and inattentive from the main server (the back servers did a great job on the water, etc.) which seemed out of place for the class of restaurant.

Although I still think that Lento has great good, I’m disappointed that they seemed to have done away away with the $ 1 oysters from 4pm to 6pm during the week. I think $ 1 oyster night is limited to Tuesdays? Thursdays? I don’t even know.
I went on a Wednesday night recently and ordered my usual oysters and the bill was shockingly higher than I expected. I haven’t been back since.

This review is solely based on the Tuesday night Happy Hour $ 1 Oyster special.
Always a good time when I visit. Which, again, is only on Tuesday nights. The oysters are very clean and fresh tasting. The mignonette sauce they are served with is very addicting! Still I switch back and forth from cocktail and horseradish as well. The blue point oysters are probably a crowd favorite and sell out fast… so get there early to enjoy these sweet puppies.
Their beer and wine selection is ok with some good locals. Through I’d like to see more Rochester beers and FLX wines on the menu since they pride themselves in local ingredients.
Everything is apparently cooked in duck fat. I do not mind it as much as I thought I would. I don’t care too much for their calimari dish, though their poutine is yummy and packs a power punch of flavor. Do yourself a favor and get it with the bacon if you are thinking of trying it. MmmHmmM! I wonder if they would let me get a fried duck egg on top…
You can also make your own cheese plate based on the local varieties they have available. Which are also on special on Tuesday. I believe they are $ 3 per cheese. A good way to open up the appetite. I forget where they get their bread but I do have to mention the one with cranberry that seems to disappear. I am not a huge fan of fruit in bread, but if you are, make sure you get a slice before everyone at your table steals your opportunity.
My overall experience makes me feel that I will be disappointed making a visit if there isn’t an Oyster special happening. So I will continue to devour the oysters while I still can :) I hear that it is very nice in these warmer temperatures, with outside seating, when they offer oyster special during… MY WORK HOURS! HRM! Guess I will have to take a half day sometime!