Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Rochester

OpenTable

Updated 05 October 2026

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Rochester? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Chester's Kitchen & Bar

4.8

4.8 (1730)

$30 and under

American

Rochester

About the restaurant

Please contact the restaurant for bookings over 6 people! Thank you!

Nestled in the Galleria in downtown Rochester, MN, just steps from the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, Chester’s Kitchen & Bar blends warm hospitality with upscale style.

Whether you are a local, visiting family, or a Mayo guest, you will find a welcoming atmosphere and a menu tailored to your needs, with accommodations for a wide range of food preferences. Perfect for both casual meals and special occasions, Chester’s offers a garden atrium, lush patio, and private dining for up to 40 guests.

Consistently earning a glowing 4.8 out of 5 on OpenTable from more than 1,500 reviews, diners praise the excellent food, service, and attentive staff, along with favorites like parmesan crusted walleye, slow braised short ribs, and decadent chocolate cake.

Patio and Bar Booth seating are first-come, first-served.

Top review

SaraGold

Dined on 15 Oct 2026

Food was delicious! The filet and carrot cake were particularly good. Service was excellent. This is a gem!

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Popular dish

MEDITERRANEAN ANGEL HAIR

Popular dish

PARMESAN CRUSTED WALLEYE

Popular dish

WALLEYE TACO BOWL

Terza Ristorante

4.8

4.8 (2236)

$30 and under

Italian

Rochester

About the restaurant

Welcome to Terza!

Terza was created in the spirit of Dell’ Anima which means “soul of the pasta” and celebrating the bountiful flavors of Italy with friends & family. We are committed to organic Glen plum tomatoes, sustainable Norwegian salmon, fresh fish and wild caught calamari. All of our recipes, fresh pastas and desserts are hand-crafted in house with amoré!

Top review

LennyGold

Dined 3 days ago

We always eat at Terza when we’re in Rochester! The food is always delicious and the service is always excellent! Amber is a wonderful server! Five Stars!

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Popular dish

Parmesan Walleye

Five West Kitchen + Bar

4.8

4.8 (1090)

$30 and under

American

Rochester

About the restaurant

Contemporary American comfort food in an exciting atmosphere.

Top review

DaleGold

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent Service and Food. A wonderful place to meet and visit with friends.

Thai Pop

4.8

4.8 (859)

$31 to $50

Thai

Rochester

About the restaurant

Bringing the past to the present, Thailand to Minnesota, and the passion for good food and drinks to you.

Top review

Sura

Dined 7 days ago

Truly outstanding. Flavors were really spectacular. Ask the waitstaff what to order and follow their lead.

Our Paladar

4.8

4.8 (418)

$31 to $50

American

Rochester

About the restaurant

Chefs Nick Diaz and Kiefer Manning have been hard at work renovating the historic Chicago & Great Western Railroad Depot into a cozy and inviting restaurant for you to enjoy. Our Paladar offers a locally sourced, seasonal dinner menu. You can look forward to handmade breads and pastas along with small and main plates. Patio seating is available when the season allows. The team at Our Paladar cannot wait to welcome you!

Top review

Bekka

Dined 4 days ago

We had the most amazing experience tonight! The food was incredible, every bite leaving your taste buds anticipating the next incredible bite. We chose this as the best spot in Rochester to share with my aunt and uncle who were in town and I'm so glad we did!

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4.7

4.7 (1520)

$31 to $50

American

Rochester

About the restaurant

Our Chef’s take inspiration from Billy Madison who drew a blue duck because he had never seen one before, and he wanted to see a blue duck! Well, since our chefs love classic Adam Sandler humor and innovative cooking, we thought that Bleu Duck was the perfect name to showcase our fun environment and staff as well as our unique and creative menu. Just like Billy, we like to try things that you’ve never seen before!

Bleu Duck Kitchen and Oyster Bar is a full-service restaurant that provides a fun and welcoming atmosphere where linens meet a casual feel to create the new concept of “fun-dining”. We treat each customer as a welcomed friend and aim to provide them with an experience that is both personal and unique every time they visit.

Top review

David

Dined on 14 Oct 2026

Excellent and awesome as always! Our favorite restaurant by far!

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Twigs Tavern & Grille

4.6

4.6 (1131)

$30 and under

American

Rochester

About the restaurant

Fresh American Fare at Twigs
In July 2008, Twigs Tavern and Grille opened to bring fresh flavors in a relaxing atmosphere to Rochester, Minnesota. Featuring Rochester's only restaurant with a dedicated gluten-free kitchen and a diverse menu of small plates, entrées, and the Hot Rock, our dishes feature an innovative mix of cultural flavors from around the world and fresh ingredients. Share small plates with your friends or fill up with one amazing entrée. Find a personalized and memorable dining experience waiting for you at Twigs Tavern and Grille.

Gluten-Free Dining
In addition to our lunch and dinner menu of soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrées, our restaurant offers one of the most extensive gluten-free menus in Rochester. All gluten-free meals are prepared by our specially trained staff in a separate kitchen area with dedicated equipment to help prevent cross contamination.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined on 6 Oct 2026

All sorts of things were good. We loved the gluten free menu!!!!! The only negative is that out bench seats at the booth by the wall were exceedingly uncomfortable. The seat had ridges and sinkholes.

Latitude 44

4.6

4.6 (388)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Rochester

About the restaurant

Latitude 44 is a Modern American restaurant, featuring thoughtful food and beverage offerings within an energetic, casual chic ambiance. Our service driven mentality provides a welcoming and memorable experience for each guest.

Located in the historic Castle building in downtown Rochester, MN, Latitude 44 delivers an unparalleled atmosphere whether our guests are dining or enjoying an evening of cocktails in our comfortably appointed cocktail lounge.

The cocktail program consists of an array of offerings from playful to sophisticated. Our mixologists have an extensive knowledge of both wine and spirts.

Simply stated, Latitude 44 is a "vibe" you don't want to miss.

Top review

Keith

Dined 3 days ago

My eighth time here. The highlight of my visits to Mayos. I’ve experienced most items on the menu, all of which have been superb. The many servers I’ve had are well-versed on the menu, professional, and welcoming attitude.

CRAVE - Rochester

4.4

4.4 (1097)

$30 and under

American

Rochester

About the restaurant

CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar was built out of a passion to create a dining experience unlike any other. We combine quality-sourced ingredients, chic ambiance, outstanding service, and diverse menu choices to create an unforgettable dining experience. The energy of the restaurant is all encompassing – the buzz of guests and staff, the warm and open design, the modern sushi bar, the fresh spin on American cuisine, and the sense of discovery around every corner. A CRAVE guest will leave knowing they experienced just the right mix of great food, entertainment, and service in what can only be defined as The CRAVE Experience.

Top review

Laura

Dined on 12 Oct 2026

Excellent food. Excellent service. Excellent surroundings. Always our first choice when we are in town.

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4.4

4.4 (274)

$31 to $50

American

Lanesboro

About the restaurant

Fast casual cuisine by Executive Chef Tyler Shipton consists of a more inviting sit-down ambiance with counter side ordering and food delivered to your table. Elevated Fast Casual is for the casual on the go, date night ideal and kid friendly.

Award winning burgers - Handmade pastas and soups - organic/scratch kitchen - rotating season items and chef’s specials
Hand crafted cocktails, wines from around the world, rotating craft beer on tap
Located along the stunning Root River - Lanesboro, MN
*Indoor dining (April/May/November/December)
*Outdoor dining (Memorial weekend to to mid October)

Top review

Andre

Dined on 2 Oct 2026

Every visit - great service and a memorable experience.

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