The Half Rel Kitchen - Rochester

Four couples gathered for dinner on Saturday evening at The Half Barrel. We were warmly welcomed, and the cocktails were not only beautiful but also incredibly tasty. The appetizers we ordered were delicious as well. The service was attentive and friendly, contributing to a delightful evening.

We had a reservation for around seven and were seated at around 7:15. It took an hour and fifteen minutes for our food to arrive. I would have expected some kind of compensation for the wait. However, the meal was good and our server was friendly. It seems they were short-staffed for a Saturday.

We visited on a Saturday night, and the restaurant was quite full. The drink selection was impressive, but our calamari was mediocre; it tasted like frozen food and was heavily breaded. Our waiter was hard to find and not very attentive when we needed assistance. We waited for half an hour for our meals, which were good, but not exceptional enough to justify the long wait.

Our group enjoyed a lot of delicious dine options, including some gluten free options. our server was fantastic and accommodating.

The food and service were both excellent and this is one of my favorite places in Rochester. I sat at the bar, and had a beer. I ate the French Onion Soup which was excellent and I am picky about French Onion Soup. I also had a wonderful fresh salad! Yum! I will be back.