Yes, Rochester, NY, is considered a solid, emerging foodie city, recognized for its diverse culinary scene, high concentration of restaurants per capita (51 per 10,000 residents), and, as shown in Visit Rochester's blog, top-tier ranking among foodie destinations. The city boasts James Beard-nominated chefs, a Michelin-starred chef restaurant, a bustling public market, and, according to Visit Rochester's article, iconic, unique local dishes.
Food lovers, take note: Two Upstate New York cities have been ranked among the best in the nation for culinary discoveries and unique flavors. WalletHub has ranked 182 cities on their list of “Best Foodie Cities in America.” Buffalo and Rochester landed in the top 50 cities, ranking No. 32 and No. 46, respectively.
While London often dominates, Sheffield was recently crowned the UK's Foodie Capital in late 2023/2024 by reports from Accor and others, praised for its vibrant food festivals (like Sheffield Food Festival) and thriving street food scene, especially the monthly Peddler Market, while Liverpool also gained accolades in 2025 from Time Out for its diverse and affordable restaurants and markets. There isn't one single official title, as different reports highlight various cities, but Sheffield, Liverpool, and London are top contenders, alongside rising stars like Newcastle and Birmingham.
Rochester is the birthplace of Kodak film, created by George Eastman in 1888. Learn more at the George Eastman Museum. The city is known for its "Garbage Plate", which consists of a plate piled high with various combinations of meats, chili, baked beans, macaroni salad, fried potatoes, sauces, and more.
The Smugtown moninker comes from G. Curtis Gerling's 1957 book called “Smugtown, USA.” In the book, Smugtown is a nickname for Rochester, one detailing the city's history of millionaires and other institutions. It is meant as an indictment of the city's ass-kissing culture. (Thanks, RocWiki!)
One of Rochester most famous connections is that with Charles Dickens. His family moved to Chatham when his was five years of age. After moving away from Chatham he later returned to Gad's Hill place in Higham. By then many of his novels were published and read around the world.
There's no single "most popular" spot, but Greggs is consistently ranked #1 for public opinion and popularity, while Co-op Food and Costa Express have the most locations, showing widespread availability, with McDonald's, JD Wetherspoon, and Subway also leading in popularity. For broader dining, Indian cuisine is the UK's favorite food type, with cities like Manchester and Birmingham leading the charge.
Where do rich people shop for groceries in the UK? Waitrose is the most popular supermarket for wealthy shoppers in the UK, renowned for its high-quality products and prestigious reputation.
Rochester is in Monroe County. Living in Rochester offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents rent their homes. In Rochester there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Rochester and residents tend to be liberal.
Rochester's fame stems from two main places: Rochester, England, known for its deep history, Victorian charm, and strong ties to Charles Dickens, and Rochester, New York, famous as a hub for innovation, optics, and iconic brands like Kodak and Xerox, plus its unique "Garbage Plate" dish. Both cities boast rich heritage, but their claims to fame are distinct, with the English town offering medieval castles and literary lore, while the American city shines in technological history and local cuisine.
Yes, Rochester, UK is highly worth visiting, especially for a day trip, offering a rich mix of medieval history with its castle and cathedral, strong Charles Dickens connections (like Restoration House), charming cobbled streets with independent shops, and a pleasant riverside setting, all easily accessible from London. It's a compact, walkable town packed with history, making it ideal for a few hours or a full day of exploration.
Residents of Rochester, N.Y., are called "Rochesterians." Ergo, people from Rochester, Minn., should be called "Rochesterians," although I know of no city ordinance that addresses the question. Rochesterian is not to be confused with Rotarian, which is what members of the Rotary service club are called.
Blase Thomas Golisano (born November 14, 1941) is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder of Paychex, which offers payroll and human resources services to businesses. Golisano owned Greenlight Networks, a fiber internet provider based in Rochester, New York, from 2019 to 2022.
Lou Gramm, lead singer of Foreigner, and Gene Cornish of The Rascals might be the best-known pop musicians from Rochester. Gary Lewis (of Gary Lewis and the Playboys) came to the area late in life but now calls it home.
Mississippi and Kentucky follow closely, with high rates of obesity and sugar consumption, indicating dietary challenges and a heavy reliance on fast food options. Delaware's high alcohol consumption, combined with a high number of fast food chains, places it among the states with the least healthy eating patterns.
San Francisco, California, is the culinary capital of the United States, followed by Oakland, California, and Seattle, Washington. Seattle has the most cuisine diversity in the US. San Francisco has the highest ratio of mom-and-pop to chain restaurants. Restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada, are rated the highest in the US.
