Where in the world is Churchville, NY? It is west of the City of Rochester in the north part of the Town of Riga in Monroe County. The village is named after Samuel Church, an early settler.
Not only does this little village have a variety of food fare, it has public appeal to locals and visitors alike. You can grab a bite to eat and then go to Churchville Park or take your food with you. The park has athletic fields, pickleball, tennis courts, a golf course, swings, and picnic areas. In the winter, you can go cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, or ice skating. That’s where my dad taught me how to ice skate. The summer season is my favorite, though.
In the heart of Churchville, NY stands a historic three-story brick building that was built in 1885. Originally, it was the general store. In 1946, it was renovated and transformed into a fine dining restaurant located 15 minutes from downtown Rochester off exit 3 on 490 West.
Visiting other destinations in New York? Check out our other guides:
- 5 Must-Try Vegan Pizza Brooklyn
- 10 Must-Try Jersey City Restaurants
- 10 Must-Try Restaurants In Rochester NY
- 5 Best Restaurants in LeRoy, New York
- 7 Must-Try Batavia Restaurants
7 Must-try Churchville, NY Restaurants
The Johnson House
19 South Main Street // 585-293-1111
The Naughton family has been running The Johnson House for over 40 years. It’s known near and far for their hospitality and quality food. Reservations are a must. Call after 12pm EST to reserve your table.
Ask for a table by the open-hearth grill, fireplace or baby grand piano. There is live music on the weekends. Treat yourself and dress your best. Business casual is the common attire.
When you come through the front door, go downstairs to the Paul Revere dining lounge (now named the Naughton Lounge to honor their family and Irish heritage). The hostess will greet you and seat you. The dim lights and soft glow create a comfortable atmosphere. There are three private party rooms upstairs.
Beer, wine, or a specialty martini around the bar, piano, or at your table is a delightful way to acquaint yourself with the place. Try a Chocolate Martini or a Bikini Martini.
Think big. Start with the Jumbo Shrimp appetizer served with homemade spicy cocktail sauce. Your other appetizer options are clams casino, steamed clams or stuffed mushroom caps.
Speaking of clams, the New England Clam Chowder soup is a creamy blend with carefully chosen clams and diced potatoes. Not a clam fan? Then the French Onion Au Gratin soup may suit your fancy. The broth is simmered slowly with caramelized onions, sherry, homemade seasoned croutons, and broiled mozzarella cheese. Talk about one of the best Churchville NY restaurants.
High-quality steaks and chops are cut daily and cooked to order in their open-hearth pit. This popular steak house has the most tender filet mignon. Filet mignon with lobster tail tantalizes my tastebuds. All entreés include a choice of two: Tossed Salad, Potato, Pasta, Wild Rice, or a seasonal vegetable. My favorite side is the tossed salad with Russian dressing.
Bread and butter are served while you peruse the menu. It’s easy to fill up on the bread. I could make a meal on just the bread and salad but then I’d miss out on the rest of the delicious courses.
The mainstay menu items feature steak, chicken, lamb, chops, and seafood. Two unique favorites are Chateaubriand and Steak Stilton.
The Steak Stilton is two four-ounce filets served on a bed of demi-glace and topped with melted stilton blue cheese. The Chateaubriand for two is charbroiled and carved tableside.
Another prime choice is the Prime Rib Au Jus. It’s tender and juicy. Pair it with something from the seafood menu and it’s a marriage made on your plate.
Can’t decide on what kind of seafood you want? Opt for the Broiled Seafood Platter with broiled Lobster, Shrimp, Scallops, and Clams Casino.
Complete your dining experience with a specialty coffee and decadent dessert. You’re in New York (Western New York), so have some New York Cheesecake. You can’t go wrong with the Chocolate Ganache Cake. If you have a dining partner, each of you order something different and share. That’s what I do.
You have an open invitation at The Johnson House, one of the best Churchville, NY restaurants. The warmth, rich history and exquisite cuisine await you. Remember to make reservations to dine at this restaurant.
My Kinda Place
7100 Buffalo Road, Churchville, NY 14428 // 585-299-7083
My Kinda Place, formerly known as Churchville Family Restaurant and Bar, offers a friendly atmosphere along with their food fare.
This is a popular place for breakfast featuring all your morning favorites.
On the lunch menu you’ll find homemade soups, salads, wraps and burgers. They grind fresh beef for their burgers right on the premises.
If you prefer a hot dog, get a Zweigle red or white. Zweigle’s originated locally in Rochester NY and is found primarily in the Western New York area and some parts of Central New York. Zweigle’s is a fifth-generation, family-owned business that carries forward the legacy of quality and excellence.
Have you ever heard of white hots? They are a Western New York favorite composed of uncured and unsmoked pork, beef, and veal, which leaves the meat white.
The lunch menu also offers club sandwiches and lunch platters, Philly Steak and Patty Melts.
Just wing it and get some chicken wings. My Kinda Place says, “We never weigh our wings. We only count them. We count to 12 not 10.” Your choices are Cajun, mild, medium, hot, Boss sauce, or Bob’s House Sauce (Buffalo garlic-parm). Definitely one of the best Churchville restaurants if you’re lookin’ for wings.
Dinner is available on Friday nights. Featured dishes are stuffed peppers, cabbage and sausage stew, baked macaroni and cheese with crumbled bacon and chicken French. You may find some comfort food dishes you like, such as tuna-noodle casserole, ham and scalloped potatoes and shepherd’s pie, or Louisiana chicken.
A classic on Fridays is their beer-battered or broiled fish.
Speaking of classics, Monday night is Cruise Night. Cruise-in to see the classic rides. Cruise-ins are gatherings of people who drive their classic or muscle cars on a regular basis or people who just like to look at cars.
Drive your classic car in or look at the ones there. By the way, if you want to look at new cars, Barnard Chevrolet is just across the street.
Armstrong’s Main Street Deli
8 South Main Street, Churchville, NY 14428 // 585-293-2150
Lunch, dinner, and catering are available at this family-run deli and a favorite amongst the Churchville, NY restaurants.
People come from all over the Rochester area for some of their classic soups, sandwiches, subs, wraps, and other specialties. Some regular customers come in just for Lucybelle’s famous chicken soup when they don’t feel well, which is available for curb-side pickup.
“Egg-cellent” Egg Sandwiches are available on hard rolls, round rolls, toast, or wraps. The Western Egg Sandwich is popular. It’s made with bacon, sausage, or ham, cheese, chopped onions, peppers, and tomatoes.
They use quality ingredients. Boar’s Head cold cuts are the best. They prepare everything fresh. I enjoy seeing them make my order and the loving care that goes into it.
They say, “A panini tastes better with better bread and a meatball sub tastes better with fresh (not frozen) meatballs. That’s why we do it.”
Wraps are available on white, wheat, spinach, or garlic.
Get a hot or cold submarine. It’s always a tossup for me between the Homemade Meatball or Italian Sausage sub.
They have pizza too? Yes, they do. The Margherita is made with a thin crust, sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, oil, and seasonings. It wouldn’t be one of the best Churchville NY restaurants if it didn’t have pizza.
You will enjoy the food and the friendly, comfortable atmosphere. It’s like coming home.
Churchville Grill
42 South Main Street, Churchville, NY 14428 // 585-299-7058
The transformation of Churchville Grill is impressive. It has a sports bar feel with TV screens at the bar and the far end of the dining area. The hostess is quick to greet you and seat you.
The daily specials are written on the chalkboard, including the Hummus of the day. A full menu is available to see, as well.
Creative cuisine is served.
For starters, I always choose a homemade soup as a stand alone or with my meal.
Recently featured was the Iceberg Wedge Salad with iceberg lettuce, chopped bacon, grape tomato, pickled red onion and a house made bleu cheese with a balsamic vinegar drizzle.
Fish Tacos are made with Cajun seared fish, fresh pico di gallo, cheddar cheese, lettuce and a spicy chipotle ranch sauce served with chips salsa and sour cream.
The Smoked Chicken Wings are hot, crispy and meaty. They have a new chicken wing sauce: Churchville Gold Barbeque.
Bryan’s Smokehouse Burger is a grilled burger, cheddar cheese, sweet barbeque sauce, bacon, and onion straws.
Recommendations for the pasta lovers are Vodka Fettuccini, Chicken Marsala, Smoked Lasagna, or Linguine with White Clam Sauce.
Beverages include local beer options, sodas, or a cocktail from the bar.
Check the daily specials and try one of their signature classy meals. The Churchville Grill brought style and flare to Churchville NY. Give a shout out to the owner, Joe Bonafedo, and his amazing chefs.
Sit back and watch the game while you wait. No matter what you get on your plate, it will be a home run. This is definitely one of the best Churchville NY restaurants.
Stone’s Countryside
6120 Buffalo Road, Churchville, NY 14428 // 585-293-1520
This family restaurant has been owned by the Stones since 1978, and is the place where families come together. True homemade hospitality and it’s one of the best Churchville ,NY restaurants.
The family ties created are not only among the employees, but also among the clientele. Generations of families come here. What’s the best feature? Lois, the matriarch of the family who started it all with her husband, Ted.
You may enter a visitor just passing through, but you’ll leave as family.
They have been there for the community and then the community was there for them when a fire struck the restaurant in 2020.
Now they’re back better than ever. Dan Stone said, “We went with a retro look. I hope you are as excited as we are. That is the way it looked the first time I saw it 43 years ago. The memories. The laughs. The wonderful people I met at this bar.”
Their variety of homemade soups are delicious. I call so often to ask about the soups of the day that they recognize my voice and know my question before I ask.
There is something for everyone in every season. During the summer season the Churchville Golf Course is nearby so the Golfer’s Special is popular. After I hung out with my dad on the golf course, he would take me to this popular tavern and bar.
The winter season draws snowmobilers since the restaurant is on a snowmobile trail. I remember riding on the back of a snowmobile in my high school days and stopping in for a warm welcome and hot meal. It was a cozy experience.
Friday fish fries are big sellers, and other specials include prime rib and Delmonico steak. Chicken and biscuits are featured on Tuesdays. That was my mom’s favorite.
Dan and his family will be sure to pull something special out of their back pocket just for you.
Sunny Garden
12 South Main Street, Churchville, NY 14428 // 585-293-3218
Conveniently located on South Main Street, you can park on the street or in the public parking lot. Many locals are pleased that there is a Chinese restaurant amongst the Churchville, NY restaurants.
Whether you order ahead or walk in, the service is fast at Sunny Garden. What impresses me is seeing how they train up their children in the business. They learn customer service skills and how to handle money. These young entrepreneurs in the making provide great service.
The House Special Lo Mein is a good choice as a side or a main course. Sweet and Sour Chicken, General Tso Chicken and Sesame Chicken are my favorites.
Combination platters are a great way to go. Those include the main dish with pork fried rice and an egg roll. Do you like to dip your egg roll in duck sauce like I do?
Beef, pork, chicken, and seafood dishes are included on the menu. A seafood favorite is the Shrimp with Chinese Vegetables.
The wok is hot. You can hear and see it sizzle as the chef chops and stir fries expertly. Some like the hot and spicy dishes and others prefer sweet and sour. The veggies are crisp and crunchy. The broccoli is bright green, pleasing to the eye and the palate.
Don’t forget to get some soup. It’s always Wonton soup for me, I like to sprinkle in some crispy Chinese noodles.
Fortune cookies are included if you’re into that. Grab your preferred condiment packets and some napkins. If it’s a nice day and you want to eat outside, there are picnic tables in the village near the gazebo and a couple more by the refurbished yellow caboose. Churchville Park is nearby too with swings and pickle ball.
Next time you’re in the mood for Chinese food, you can get some at Sunny Garden, one of the best Churchville NY restaurants, just off the 490 expressway.
Pontillo’s Pizzerias
32 South Main Street, Churchville, NY // 585-293-1414
A very successful history to be sure. Today, almost 70 years later, Pontillo’s has over 20 locations. Churchville is proud to be counted as one of them. Here’s why it’s one of the best Churchville NY restaurants.
“We’re very definitely a hometown business,” said Dave Pontillo. “Most of our shops are still family owned and all of them are owned and operated by local residents. We’re very proud to be known as a Western New York original and want to thank our customers for their continued loyalty.”
A loyal customer indeed. That’s me. I know their phone number by heart. Pizzas come in small, medium, large, or a sheet. Remember to include some wings and things.
Personally, I like to keep it simple and order the pepperoni pizza and chicken wings with Boss sauce. There are a variety toppings and sauces to choose from.
They’ll make it just how you like it, and the smiles are free.
Final Thoughts About the Best Churchville, NY Restaurants
Churchville has a fantastic culinary scene. This city offers a wide variety of cuisine, and each of the restaurants on this list improves the dining experience.
Churchville has a restaurant for everyone, whether you’re a foodie, a family-dinner person or a “get something to go” type of diner. Restaurants in this city offer delectable meals, soothing colors and pleasant wait staff, which will surely satisfy your needs.
They also give unique ambiances, whether you go to eat in an ancient brick house or a retro diner. You should definitely try each one at least once, and I can almost guarantee that your meal experience will always be fantastic. What was your favorite amongst the Churchville, NY restaurants?
Which of these restaurants in Churchville will you try first? Let us know in the comments section below!
