ORBS Restaurant & Bar

We visited ORBS for the first time with a couple of friends, and while we all enjoyed our food and the drinks were particularly good, we thought it was seriously overpriced. My husband and I ordered a sampler of their signature meatballs and a couple of other small plates – a sharing philosophy we follow at almost every restaurant we visit. While 3 dishes and drinks almost always fills us up (and provides leftovers!), when we left ORBS, we were still hungry despite the large tab – good thing Hedonist Ice Cream is down the street!

Orbs is one of the best restaurants in Rochester. I always feel like I’m getting my money’s worth. My husband and I love going here for dinner. You don’t have to like meatballs either. These chefs can take any ingredient and make it into the best dish you’ve ever had.
Their burger may be the best in Rochester (and yes, I’ve been to Good Luck). Amazingly done and with great fries!
My husband ordered a steak there that is the finest steak I’ve ever tasted. It was so tender and flavorful.
I never liked duck until I tried it at Orbs. Instead of being greasy, which was my usual experience with duck, the skin was crispy, the meat was moist and flavorful and the accompaniments complemented it perfectly.
I’ve also had a dish with mussels and homemade chorizo in (I believe) a vodka sauce. It is one of my favorite dishes.
Their vegetarian dishes (like the farro risotto) are also excellent.
Happy Hour is a golden time! Orbs has a great bar and if you like cocktails, this is the place to be. I highly recommend the La Rosa and the Ginger Rogers.
The owner comes around to the tables to talk to the customers and make sure they are happy. The waitresses are friendly and kind. There is a laid-​back atmosphere but with an air of sophistication. I am quite comfortable here dressed up or dressed down.

I have been to Orbs three times now for dinner, and I am always pleasantly surprised by the menu, quality of the food, service and awesome mixed drinks.
My most recent visit was this past Friday for fish fries. I went with 3 friends in time for happy hour. We all had cocktails but decided against appetizers because photos of the fish fry here on Unilocal make it look huge, and that was what we wanted.
Two of us got the ‘standard’ fish fry, which is a massive piece of cod fish, coated in a beer batter, served on top of a mountain of fresh-​cut, salt-​and-​vinegar fries, with a small side of fennel-​based coleslaw and a spicy mayo/​remoulade instead of the traditional tartar sauce. One of us got the fish but had it broiled, which they will do if you ask — he also subbed out the fries for a beautiful looking salad. The fourth person in our party had the chef’s ball, which is a really large (bigger than a fist) meatball on top of a thick piece of Italian bread smothered in house tomato sauce.
Portions are definitely generous, and all of us found our meals totally delicious and very satisfying.
Couple notes — now that the weather is nice, you can sit outside in front — at the time of night that we were there (6:30 pm) it was pretty hot out, so we opted to eat inside, but by the time we finished and were exiting, the entire outdoor area was jammed.
Also, they only accept reservations for groups of 6 or more; we really wanted to make sure we got seated for the fish fry, so I tried to get us reservations even though we were only 4 and I was told that as long as you get there before 6:30/7 pm on a Friday, you should be OK getting seated — and we were.
And, all around us, folks were eating poutine, the night’s special seafood stew, the burger, and some of their various meatball combos — everyone we observed was cleaning their plates and seemed pretty happy!
Last — there is parking on the side and in the back! I did not know this, so advised all my friends to find street parking. But they found the lot on their own and I ended up the only one out on the street… no need to get frustrated driving around, reading street signs or trying to parallel park.

Came in for Sunday brunch 20 minutes after they opened and the place was packed. My boyfriend and I ended up sitting at a sharing table with another couple but we didn’t mind. There was still room.
We were seated and the hostess didn’t even give us any menus when she did. We had to wait about 5 minutes or so until or waitress came to us to bring us water. She was nice and apologized for that
We ordered the poutine to share at first and I got the balls benny as my meal.
The poutine was delicious, from the fries, to the cheese, to the egg on top, everything went well together. My boyfriend even liked it and he does not even like cheese.
The balls benny was good too. The meat was tender, the eggs were poached nicely but I just wish my potatoes that it came with were a little crisp. The sauce on the top was just a little too much for me.
It was good but I’m not sure if it was the best brunch I’ve ever had. I might have to come back for dinner
BTW the noise level is pretty loud

My wife and I love this place. Very unique and the atmosphere is laid back. Their «balls» themed is what got us to check this place out and it didn’t disappoint. Unique cocktails and beers were amazing. Ricotta and olive pesto you have to try. Tried their balls flight and every individual balls were delicious. Also ordered their special of the day — NY strip. It was delicious that we could’ve ordered another one. Thank you for the great experience!

You know what you don’t see enough of? Restaurants with a theme of ‘balls.’
ORBS isn’t messing around; they’ve truly embraced the motif. They’ve got Balls Vodka on the menu, at least a few ball-​shaped dishes for brunch (I don’t know if I should include the Morning Wood or not), and all sorts of balls for dinner.
As a big fan of ball-​shaped foods at brunch, so I couldn’t resist the Balls Benny with the chorizo hash. It was heavy as hell in the best possible way (especially with a nicely balanced Breakfast Margarita).
My wife doesn’t love balls as much as I do (despite having more than me), but she was mighty pleased with her Rockin’ Beet salad just the same. She was less pleased with the fact that I inhaled my balls so quickly, and left none for her. We usually share balls.
We rolled through here just before the kitchen closed between brunch and dinner, and I really appreciated them staying open to accommodate us. It was actually awesome to see that you could order some Kitchen Kool-​aid added on to your check (beer for the cooks after their shift is over). More restaurants need to do this.
We didn’t get dessert, but I imagine they have some sort of penis cake available.

As a vegetarian at a meatball place, I was pleasantly surprised with Orbs’ brunch. We both had delicious entrees and great drinks. The service was also really good and the vibe was awesome. I had a kale/​seitan dish and the flavors were incredible. The mushroom gravy was rich and delicious and I was legitimately blown back after the first bite. It did get a little heavy by the end of the dish and I found myself searching for a fresh element on the plate, but it was generally awesome. I will definitely be going back in the near future!

I’d go again, but I’d not go out of my way to get a seat.
Went here because I heard good things. Got excited that it was a place that served ONLY round things. Turns out that’s just their signature thing. Totally fine. It’d be funny if that were the case…
ANYWAYS, I got the classic balls and a cocktail with a funny name. The cocktail tasted like what I would imagine a horse to taste like, or if we went to a petting zoo, and then pet a bunch of dirty goats, and then licked my hand. I’m not a whiskey fan, so that was my first mistake. The balls were ok, but the tomato sauce was runny and too acidic for my taste. When they say «rustic bread» it means «hard bread that will cut you.»
Also tried the mac and cheese which was also watery, and kinda bland. The POUTINE WAS EXQUISITE however. If I come back, that is what I am ordering, no question.
The desserts were ok, but it was like there were 2 too many flavors in the combination for my taste. Like, carmel, soft-​hot-​fried-​dough balls, powdered sugar, and then banana mush? No need for mush. The frozen treat of the day was some amazing chocolate thing that was delectable though.
The people were nice enough, but it was really hard not to feel like I was being judged for not having a face piercing or some kind of visible tattoo. Definitely a place that was going for «trendy» and hit the nail on the head with a fedora and ear gauges.

So sad I didnt get to try their bone marrow before their menu changed, but I ordered the seafood special, rabbit, and pork shoulder.
The seafood special had salmon, white fish, shrimp, sausage, mussels, and clams, all cooked in a tomato sauce. This could feed three people, huge portion, the mussels and clams were perfect but fish cooked poorly.
Rabbit with heirloom carrots was surprisingly filling and flavorful, first time having rabbit and am so glad I did that at Orbs.
Pork shoulder was good but was more like a pulled pork sandwich.

We went to Orbs for Brunch on Saturday, before leaving on a road trip.
Turns out they were just opening and we were seated quickly. The drinks were great, and the coffee was really good.
I ordered the chicken and waffles and it was tasty. I especially loved the chorizo home fries.
My friend ordered the skillet, and it comes with a sausage meatball. The sausage meatball was pink in the middle. My friend tossed it aside and ate the rest of the skillet. We mentioned that to the waiter, and showed him the meatball, but he seemed unfazed. Perhaps they’re into serving medium rare sausage.
The food, otherwise, was great. But the whole meatball debacle left a bad taste in our mouths. I may go there for brunch if my friends want to go. I’ll just make sure we don’t order the meatballs.
Ironic for a place named Orbs.
I mentioned this to another friend of mine and he said that the same thing happened to him, so I guess there’s a pattern.

We had such a great experience at Orbs, I don’t know how I could give them anything but 5 stars!
We arrived around 8pm on a Friday night and were seated promptly at a cozy table for two in the corner. I was immediately digging the vibe of the place– it feels very welcoming and laid back, totally unpretentious. I was also a fan of the noise level– they were playing chill music and you could hear the person you were eating with talk, unlike a few other local restaurants where you practically have to shout to be heard. Really neat black and white wedding photos on the walls.
Originally, we were just going to order entrees, but after our server informed us about the sharing style of the place, we decided to try a whole
Smörgåsbord of different stuff. We started with the beet salad, which was delicious (but sadly small). We also ordered draft beers; they had a pretty solid selection.
Dinner was comprised of the Cuban, a side of Mac and cheese, fries, and a ball flight. Hot damn, that Cuban may be the best I’ve had in Rochester! And believe me, I don’t say that lightly. The pork was brined in dos Equis, corona, cinnamon, and oranges– YUM! Much moister than any other Cuban I’ve had. It was a little messy. Mac and cheese and fries were great too!
I think your fatal flaw here would be to focus too much on the balls. The ball flight was good– but not life changing or amazing. My fave was the falafel and my boyfriend’s fave was the buffalo. The regular angus was good– but more for the quality of the meat than the sauce and flavors.
Last but not least, we indulged in dessert! It was an odd but delicious conglomeration: brown sugar ice cream, caramel popcorn, marshmallows, chocolate sauce, and toffee. Just the right amount for two people after eating a large meal!
Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable! I’d say the food was a little slow to come out, but that also probably has something to do with the fact that I showed up starving. Great place, intimate ambiance, and awesome food! Will be back.

So I’ve been to brunch here a few times and it is always excellent. Great food, very attentive staff and GREAT Bloody Mary’s, assuming you like them hot. I happen to. It gets crowded right at 12 when they open so get there early if you have a good sized crew or don’t kind sitting at the bar.
Enjoy!

Much better experience the second time around! The food (I believe a New Orleans special) the first time I was here was mediocre and I didn’t get a chance to review. I’m glad I made it for brunch because the food was very good! Maybe brunch has their killer meals because it was hectic this Sunday afternoon and we waited for some time to get seated. The wait time didn’t feel agonizingly long at the bar catching up with an old friend.
My friend suggested ORBS because he wanted a Bloody Mary. My eyes lit up because I haven’t had one in oh, about a year. I took my time enjoying the seasoned glass rim and herby-​spicy sips. Apparently I savored the drink for too long that my friend finished it off so not to waste the goodness. Like I mentioned, it’s been a year.
Anyway, I ordered the Vermonter and I have no words other than flavorful, super crispy, yet melts in your mouth awesomeness. Where do you go wrong when you see the words waffle, over easy egg, and bacon? It’s a must try!
Since I ordered first, I stole my bf’s choice (we like to order different dishes to taste) so he made a last minute decision with the special of the day — poutine short rib. As the waitress wrote it down, that’s when she realized she wrote it incorrectly on the board. It was supposed to be poutine chicken, but she said she would take care of it. They should make it a dish because it was really good. His dish was flavorful and hearty. The cheese tied it together nicely.
Very glad I gave it another try!

We went to Orbs last weekend for the very first time. I called prior to ask the hostess what would be the best time to go so the wait/​crowd wasn’t so intense. She said anytime before 7:00. So at 6:30 we walked in. Hostess tells us it’s a 1.5 hour wait. Annoyance level increased but we made our way to the busy bar to get a cocktail. I won’t hold it against the hostess — maybe it was a random influx of patrons with the same idea as me.
Now the only reason ORBS is not getting a 5 star review is the bar/​bartenders. This new trend of fancy cocktails with 100 ingredients is not making for a quick bar experience. We literally stood in front of the bar for 20 minutes with no one acknowledging us — because they were so busy muddling every possible herb for people’s cocktails. At one point I think she took out a blowtorch for a roasted marshmallow at the bottom of a glass. This cocktail trend has gotten ridiculous. My husband and I joked that there should be a designated bartender for just wine. We finally received our wine and we found a seat near the bar and waited… and waited… but they surprised us and in 45 minutes we had a table. Worst part of the evening was now over.
We ordered a couple dishes to share. The ORB trio (Veggie, Pork, and Marinara). All fabulous. Good start to the meal. Next we had the Poutine with the protein (that night it was braised short rib). Poutine was good — probably one of the best we have had in Rochester. We thought we were going to order an entrée but the food was already stuffing us — but I insisted on ordering something green! So I ordered the Raw Kale Salad to finish off our meal. It was perfectly seasoned and tender. Great end to our fried food tasting.
The one reason I chose ORBS for dinner was because they actually had Sfingi on the dessert menu. My grandmother used to make these little italian donuts and I have not had them in years so I ordered them as soon as we were done with our meal. That night the Sfingi were with a toffee candy and dessert sauce. I don’t normally get emotional over food but I actually teared up after the first bite. It brought me back. If the pastry chef is reading this — Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.
Because of our great experience we ordered the kitchen staff a pitcher of beer (look at the bottom of your dessert menu’s!) — which was fun to hear the fanfare from the kitchen of banging and cheering for their job well done!
One thing I did love was that the two TV’s above the bar were playing old school black and white movies. Great ambiance and nice touch.
We will be back — hopefully next time we have just as good of an experience with the fancy (extremely busy) bartenders… Food was outstanding.

I love Orbs, I got hooked on them after they made an appearance at the Unilocal Mac Attack event.
The first time I tried Orbs, I got the Meatball sampler, with a side of Mac and Cheese (since I already knew it was delish). They have a lot of great options for cute little plates to go along with their cocktails.
Cocktails are a part of Orbs’ thing. I usually get wine and beer when I am out, but I always get one of their special mixed drinks. I enjoy dining at the bar when I come as well. The bartenders will ask you what you like, and are happy to make you something to suit your preferences.
The second time I went to Orbs I treated myself to their special of the day: lambchop over butternut squash, and veggies. It was delectable.
Orbs has recently changed their menu. I was sad that they took out their Asian Meatballs, but they have since, added other dishes.
I tried the Duck Breast over pilaf the most recently. It was cooked wonderfully, with lots of sweet notes from the maple glaze.
I will definitely continue frequenting this charming spot.

Really enjoyed my nights I’ve been at Orbs. Most recently went there on a Tuesday night and had their happy hour $ 6 cocktails. It’s more like a «happy night» than just «happy hour» because the deals are good all night. Specifically enjoyed the Phi Manila (sweet & creamy) and The Italian Peche (lovely light peach flavor). Also had the Last of the Oaxacans which wasn’t my favorite but was interesting– ingredients include a charred poblano giving the drink a «smoky» flavor. Our bartender Sarah was great. Also love that they have orb shapes ice cubes.
Amazing poutine, possibly the best I’ve ever had — but buy to share as it is quite generous in size. Shared this between three people with perfect amount for all of us.
Very comfortable and welcoming atmosphere while also having upscale décor.
I’ve only sat at the bar and not come for an actual meal, but definitely plan to return.

I feel super comfortable here. It’s a great atmosphere. The bartenders are wonderful and the owner always comes up to say hi. A homey vibe.
My favorites include the angus beef with the marinara. Hearty and filling. The veggie appetizer (falafel balls). Buffalo meatballs are a must-​try too. Chicken meatball with hot sauce and bleu cheese. Tender and savory. Great with a beer. For dinner dishes, I’ll usually go for the sliders and mix and match. Chicken and beef are my go-​tos. Gotta do the mac & cheese side as well.
Their daily specials are pretty fab too. Always something new and exciting outside the typical meatball dish i.e. taco Tuesday.
I’m also a fan of their cocktail menu. Blood orange margarita I had back in Feb was well-​balanced, not too sweet and the perfect drink to kick off happy hour.
The fact that their takeout/​leftover bags are called ball sacks is hilarious. Of course, worth a mention.
I still really hate that I haven’t been for brunch so… priorities. I will make that happen because I *need* to have their balls & biscuits dish (sausage meatballs, biscuits, homemade chorizo hash, and gravy). Can you see my eyes bulging in excitement a la Roger Rabbit?

I’ve been lazy writing reviews lately, but this place was sooo good that it resurrected my inner Unilocaler! Orbs may possibly be my favorite restaurant here in Rochester.
We came here a few nights ago for Restaurant week and was very impressed with their offerings for $ 20 – 25. Bone marrow and perfectly cooked cod for $ 20? Add $ 5 and get an amazing demonstration of dessert table art right in front of you? Not gonna lie I want to come back just for the table art.
Bone marrow served was a generous size, considering other marrows I’ve had in other larger cities where you literally have to scrape the inside of the bone to finish the provided bread.
Octopus appetizer was delish too, a little over done for my liking but not bad. Sauce was really good (the bf ended up using some bread from the marrow app to soak up the octopus sauce) and the chorizo (I think?) was super flavorful.
My bf’s duck entrée was perfectly done– he was done licking his plate in less than 10 minutes. He’s a very picky eater and hard to please, so it really says something for him to enjoy something so much.
My cod entrée was soft, buttery and just ridiculous. I hate with fish is over cooked or under cooked but this was done perfectly, flaked perfectly with my fork and melted right in my mouth.
We shared the dessert table art, which was a fantastic experience. I went to the restroom after they cleared out our entrée dishes, expecting this «table art» to be on our table when I got back. But the staff waited for me because it was a demonstration and experience that I couldn’t miss. They started by blow torching two marshmallows (which turned a few heads in the restaurant), and then proceeded to decorate a piece of paper with stuff like chocolate, salted caramel, different types of crumbles and granola. I don’t really remember what everything was because I was frankly just distracted by how pretty everything was. On top of that there were 2 edible flowers!
Amazing experience overall. I want to come back for brunch for sure, and try their regular menu of ballz: D

I’m not a big fan of meatballs, but Orbs changed my mind. I had a variety of their balls and was impressed with every one I tasted. I ordered their sliders and went with the recommendations they had on the menu with regards to meat and sauce (beef in marinara, spicy pork in arrabbiata, and chicken rice in mushroom gravy). My favorite combo was definitely the spicy pork in arrabbiata but the meat that stood out was the beef. Got to taste the beef in burger form as well and it held its own within layers of cheese, greens, and egg. The fries that came with both dishes have Parmesan sprinkled over them, so needless to say, they were great.
I tried two cocktails as well that were their specials for that night. I really enjoyed the smoked, orb-​shaped ice ball they throw in there. The smokiness added to the citrus flavor of the drink without overpowering it. The drinks on their specials menu are $ 5 from 4 – 7 so make sure you get there early so you can stock up.
One regret: I didn’t get the fish fry. People around me ordered it and it looked golden, crispy and HUGE. Please get it and tell me how great it was.

Orbs is great. I first learned of them from a Unilocal Mac N’ Cheese event where I tried some of their delicious mac n’ cheese and received some coupons. Last night, my girlfriend and I didn’t feel like cooking. We remembered that we had some coupons, and Orbs is only 2 miles away from our apartment, so we hopped in the car and checked it out.
The inside looks great. There are a lot of small tables meant for just a couple people and give you a nice little intimate feeling, but there are a few larger tables for groups to sit at. The bar has about 12 – 16 seats, and the bartenders are very friendly and knowledgeable about the food and drinks. They clearly do their homework. They also have some cool chalkboard art on a giant chalkboard to the left of the bar.
The food is delicious! There are meatballs galore on the menu, and they are fantastic. My girlfriend chose the Bits and Pieces platter that came with 3 buffalo chicken, 3 Asian, and 3 veggie meatballs, and ordered a side of mac n’ cheese. The meatballs were fun little bite size snacks. I loved the buffalo chicken, but my girlfriend loved the Asian meatballs, and the mac n’ cheese was very good. I chose to try the Arancini and I was not disappointed. They rest the arancini on a bed of marinara sauce, peas, pulled beef, and large chunks of bacon. I was in heaven. And it was such a difficult choice of what to try because everything looked so good. I think at this point it’s needless to say that I will definitely be back in the near future to try some more meatballs.