This restaurant is much beloved in Rochester, but it needs help. Â Their tiny menu is very limited and does not seem to ever change. Â It would be great if it changed at least seasonally. Â The music limits conversation and can sometimes be lacking.
We took a friend the last time she visited and the band had written the own music, which was horribly depressing. Â We left wanting to cry.
We would love to love this restaurant again
I really want to like Redwood Room, but I just cannot get excited about mediocre food. The ambiance is perfect for a date night (dimly lit, usually live music) but the food has been pretty disappointing.
Their Apple Cider Pork is decent but covered in a too-sweet brown sugar sauce. Â Luckily the heaping mashed potatoes save the dish. Â The shrimp risotto is just so-so, with a lot of corn as filler and not as creamy as a well-made risotto should be. Â Also got the house salad but should have asked for dressing on the side, as the romaine was drenched and wilted on the plate.
Biggest disappointment: Â the SOUPS! Â On one occasion, a soup described as "spicy chicken with rice" by our server ended up more like a bland minestrone with cubes of chicken that tasted like it came from a can. Â I sent it back for a cup of Tomato Basil, which had the consistency of ketchup and was just as sweet. Â The only way I could eat it was by sopping my bread in it (luckily there was a lot of that to fill up on).
Probably won't go back again unless someone else is footing the bill.
Awesome date-night ambiance: low lights, acoustic musicians playing, great looking bar...somehow the food got lost in this equation. Â
I really do recommend Redwood because it is just so cozy and feels like the spot to go with your loved one. Â The prices aren't too high, either. Â Still, the food is just so so-so. Â Don't expect your socks to be knocked off. Â Also, don't order the spaghetti; it's just not that good (the steak is much better).
When we first moved to Rochester 6 months ago, this place (below 300 First) was called Pazzo. It served decent Italian food, but everyone was always telling us that the old place, the Redwood Room, was soooo good and they wished it hadn't closed down. So one night we show up for Pazzo and the Redwood Room is magically reappeared. We decided to give it a shot and see what the hype was about.
I don't know what the hype was about. We even had to wait like 30 minutes to be seated because the place was packed. In the meantime this live band was playing that was simply awful. It was these two hippies who maybe smoked a few too many prior to the performance, they were going off key and off rhythm constantly. They were actually playing the tambourine. I'm all about good hippie music with tambourines, but this was not that.
I had a tomato basil soup that was the worst I've ever had, ever. I could not eat it. It was like watery ketchup, sweet instead of savory. I did send it back and they took it off the bill. We also had risotto fritters, they were okay but just tasted like fried breading. I also had the shrimp and sweet corn risotto without the pancetta. It was very sweet, too sweet, like a rice and corn pudding. I ended up taking most of it home and re-cooking it the next day, adding different ingredients to the risotto to balance out the sweetness. They really don't have enough vegetarian options on this menu.
We went here for dinner and really enjoyed the food. I got the apple cider pork and my boyfriend got the bivette steak with mashed potatoes instead of fingerling potatoes. The mashed potatoes were out of this world! My pork was fantastic. A bit on the sweet side, but if you avoid the sauce and give each bite a good dose of potatoes for balance, it's amazing. They serve bread with olive oil and parmesan cheese which is really, really good. We also had the house special wine and beer, and they were both tasty. I'd definitely go back if I were to be in the area again.
Review Source:Dare I say this is the coziest restaurant in Rochester? Great ambiance.
I came here on a sunny summer evening, but Redwood room would be great on a blustery winter night. We came during the week, so there wasn't any live music. Great place to bring a date? I think so.
We had a large group (~20 people) and we called ahead to warn them that we would be swarming. They said that the wait would be about an hour, and they couldn't guarantee us that they would be able to seat us together. The restaurant was modestly sized and considerably full on a weeknight. When we arrived, they worked to cut down the wait. They made some space in the back of the restaurant and recruited an extra waitress from 300 First, the restaurant upstairs that is owned by the same company. Our hour wait turned into fifteen minutes.
As we waited for our tables to be set up, we had drinks at the bar. They had Bell's Oberon on tap (great summer beer) but sadly didn't serve it with a orange wedge. Maybe no-one told the bartender that Oberon comes with a slice of orange? They serve Blue Moon with orange, why not Oberon? I guess I could have asked, but I didn't want to be picky. They also had Harp, Fat Tire and Summit Extra Pale Ale on tap. Not the most extensive selection, but definitely something for everyone. They also had a good selection of bottles. Drink prices were average.
The place has a really cool ambiance. Dark, with candles lighting all of the tables. (It was so dark that the bartender had to check IDs by candle light.) We were served warm bread with olive oil and parmersan cheese as we waited for our entrees. It was good, although nothing to write home about. It's bread. Nothing more, nothing less.
I was looking forward to ordering the Butternut Squash Ravioli. Unfortunately, the waitress told me they "sold out." How does that happen? Meh, I ended up with the "Featured Entree" of Spaghetti and Meatballs. It came with a house salad, which was quite good (the dressing selection was a bit lacking). I grazed quite lightly on the bread, in fear that the entree would be over-sized. I was pleasently surprized to find that the entree was sized just-right for me to finish it at the perfect level of full-ness. Completely satisfied, but not gorged. Everyone's entree was this way. The presentation of the entrees was very artsy. Nice touch! The food was good quality. There's not really much you can do with spaghetti and meatballs, so I'm not going to complain that the meal wasn't out-of-this-world. But I really did like it.
The Chicken Basillini was also pretty popular with the group I came with. I didn't order it because I initially worried that the cream sauce might be too heavy. I snuck a bite off the plate next to mine and found my worries were unfounded. It's definitely worth a shot if you like creamy chicken pasta dishes. A friend also had crème brûlée. Yum!
The pace was leisurely, and they didn't mind at all that we lingered for a half hour after we had all finished. Overall, our night out at the Redwood room was a good night.
You'll pay a bit for your food (Entrees $13-20) but you'll be satisfied. The ambiance is cozy, the service is great, and the food is quality. I will be back again soon--maybe I'll try a night they have music.
Side note: The restaurant is in the basement portion of a building, and you have to go down the stairs. We didn't see an elevator.
While the menu is limited, they do well with their entrees. Â My favorite is the butternut squash ravioli and my husband loves the jumbalaya (he says it is the best he's ever had). Â They have an appetizer that I love, but I can't quite remember what is in it - it's a lightly breaded cheese that is so much better than this review implies - sorry, Redwood Room.
The cocktails are fabulous - they make a mean Manhattan and Bloody Mary.
If the restaurant isn't too busy, you will probably have good service. Â However, the whole restaurant is very small and dark (great for a romantic evening) and only seats maybe 50 people - so when it is full, good luck getting your server's attention.
Overall - recommended for date night or a more intimate setting for a small group.
My husband and I ate at Redwood Room and felt that the food was really bland. Â However, if you go there not hungy and are looking for a good drink and to chill out and listen to some music, then its great! :) The white russians are awesome and come with hazelnuts, which is a great bonus!
Review Source:The Redwood Room came highly recommended to us from several people at work, so one night we thought we would try it out. We enjoyed the live music and found the menu interesting, especially for southern Minnesota.
My husband ordered pork tenderloin and found it delicious and tender. I ordered the lasagna and was surprised by the plating. The lasagna was constructed as it was plated and had crisp noodles. It was delicious and an experience as it made me rethink how lasagna can be served.
Excellent food and atmosphere.
One of my favorite restaurants in Rochester. Â Good wine and beer menu, fun food choices, excellent waitstaff. Â Reasonably priced.
Many nights they have live music, which can get to be a bit loud if you're there to talk with friends and are seated by the speakers.
I heartily recommend this place if you're visiting Rochester for any reason.
I worked in Rochester about a year and 1/2 ago and the local management took me for dinner and it was delicious. Â I had the pork chop and asked for vegetables instead of potatoes. Â It was so good when I was back again in January for work I selected to go here with my manager who flew in for my yearly review.
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