Nate Rifkin Lento is consistently my fiancées and my favorite restaurant, and I dont think they get nearly enough recognition for how good they are compared to places in the area like Redd, Good Luck, Nosh, Cure, and others.
This is one of few places in Rochester where it feels like the chef and team have been given creative license to experiment with new dishes consistently, and it works. Its not easy for a restaurant to have a menu that updates as much as Lentos to be as consistently good as they are. Both their kitchen and table staff are excellent. We have made it a habit to stop by every couple months to try their latest options.
Some tips and notes from our visits over the last couple years:
- If you like mixed drinks on the sweeter side, try the Lady Marmalade
- Order the bread service. Its a few bucks for a square of decadent focaccia sized for two. The focaccia has a different blend of ingredients each time weve come (I think they switch it up daily?), so its fun to see what the nightly variation is.
- Their fish dishes are usually spectacular. This latest time we went I ordered the miso black cod (as someone who usually does not go for cod) and it blew me away. The exception to this rule seems to be the fish fry; for some reason the couple times weve ordered it, its come out overcooked.
- The "quartino" specials for wine are usually a good blend and come as a glass and a half with a small carafe (I didnt know what a "quartino" was, in case others are in the same boat)
