Ellisons Bar & Grill

Having seen very positive reviews of Ellisons by some regulars who are Unilocal Elites I figured that we had to finally try it out… plus it is pretty close to where we live.
It is a bit of a hole-​in-​the-​wall in a non-​descript strip mall in the city but I wouldn’t call it a dive.
We grabbed a booth in the bar area since it seemed livelier on this Friday night and not quite as brightly lit as the back room. We could tell that this was a real neighborhood joint, Cheers-​like, since most of the folks at the bar knew each other.
We both ordered the beer battered fish fry and it was very good. Light and fluffy and not greasy. The coleslaw was excellent and the regular fries were descent. The order of sweet potato fries came out burnt (why did they even plate them?) but the waitress quickly replaced them with a hot batch of properly cooked SP fries.
Speaking of our server she was super friendly and attentive at the beginning though we had a hard time tracking her down at the end of our meal. Not sure what happened.
We liked the neighborhood feel of Ellisons and we will be back.

Ellisons is up for sale due to owner looking to retire. I hope someone buys it!

My fiancé and I love this place. We go once a week for great food, service, and drinks! We discovered this place one Friday during lent for a new fish fry place. boy did we hit the jack-​pot. The fish is amazing. It is just lightly battered and fried so you can still taste all of the delicious fish. Since then we have tried a bunch of their menu items. Garlic parm anything there is good. The shrimp app. is great as well as their wings. Even better wings are only 55 cents each on Thursday. The wait staff and bartenders are very friendly too. I’m so glad we found this little gem.

We had dinner here and it was delicious. We ordered wings. They split the order of 10 in two different sauces. We each ordered a melt– a burger melt and turkey melt with a choice of sides. I had mac salad, a little too much mayonnaise for my liking but it was ok. My husband ordered the garlic parmesan fries. So good !! There was a pretty good beer selection too.

Probably can just keep this short and simple:
Decent beers.
Decent food and menu (for a bar).
Good service.
I like that it is in my neighborhood.
Please order the garlic fries.

Ellison’s is one of those «driven by it a million times and always wondered about it» kind of places. Given the sketchy strip mall it’s located in, I knew I’d have to be feeling adventurous to try it, and a few weeks ago, after a couple of beers at L&M Lanes, I was in just that sort of mood. Reading the Unilocal reviews was also encouraging.
I’m sorry to say that the ambiance was a bit of a buzzkill. I was hoping for a dive bar, but the space reminded me of nothing so much as a new suburban home in a development. A large bar area but with a very small bar, and just one row of maybe five booths — they could easily fit some tables in between. Hardly anything on the walls. That horrible inset light fixtures on a slanted ceiling, like the ranch I lived in when I was 9. It just seemed too new, and somehow depressing…
However, the server was super, and the food was great. My Fella had the fish fry, which we both agreed was amazing. The fries and slaw were very good, too. I had wings — a solid offering. Maybe not the best wings in Rochester, but definitely filled the hole and I’d get them again with no hesitation — but I’d get them to go. I’m not sure what it is about this place, but it’s not anyplace I want to sit and drink.
So, probably more of a 3.5 stars for food, 3 (or even less) for atmosphere. Since it’s right down the road from us, I can see ordering from Ellison’s on nights when he wants fish and I want a burger or wings, or vice versa, but for the times when we want to enjoy a couple of pints and maybe make conversation with the regulars AND have great food, we’ll still to Merchant’s Grill or Johnny’s or any one of a number of other places.

Best chili! We just attended the chili cook off at Genesee Arts and decided this chili is the best of the seventeen we tried! Loved it. Can’t wait to go and try out the other items on the menu.

It’s official. This place is my jam. My go-​to for a drink or dinner in a pinch. Or when I’m straight up lazy and don’t want to walk/​drive anywhere outside the ‘hood.
The essence of a dive bar, but updated, clean, and run by nice people. It can get a little loud in the bar when there are a lot of people there. I have yet to sit in the dining room because I really enjoy sitting at the bar and chatting with the bartenders. It’s also kinda amazing that we don’t run into too many people we know… Willy and I like to avoid that when we just want a night to relax.
Now that they have a selection of craft brews on the menu (and cucumber vodka!), I’m won over. I’ve enjoyed a few pints from Bell’s, Ithaca Flower Power, 3HB and more.
Here’s what you need to order:
— Burgers are hearty and homemade — not gourmet — but a great bar burger cooked to order (I prefer medium). Ellison’s burger with homemade 1000 Island dressing and bacon is my #1 choice.
— Chili with cornbread. This chili is kick ass. It’s like it’s been marinating for days, the flavors are so well-​balanced and just enough heat that doesn’t overwhelm. It’s a standard chili packed with a few different meats, green peppers, kidney beans, and topped with a dollop of sour cream and cheddar cheese. The cornbread is just how I like it – much like cake, it’s moist, fluffy and slightly sweet. Perfect for a dunk in the soup. Go for the bowl. You’ll finish it no problem.
— Chicken wings — fried, so the outside is crispy and the inside is super succulent. The wings aren’t overly doused in sauce so it’s just a subtle buffalo flavor and their homemade bleu cheese sauce seals the deal. Homemade dressings are where it’s at.
— Fish fry! It’s on Fridays (of course) — beer battered and just falls apart it’s so crisp and delicious melting in your mouth.
— Their mac salad is a step above the rest. They make it with these snail shell like noodles — I might have to say it’s the best I’ve ever had. That’s a serious statement and I mean it.
— I can’t resist their fries either. Crispy and golden brown. Like a square version of a steak fry so it’s obviously better.
I’m really glad to have this place around the corner. You’ll see me there now more often. A solid option for a beer and really awesome homemade pub food with a hint of Greece.

Newly renovated and looking great! Do yourself a favor and order the pear martini — my personal fave.

Went there to pick up something to eat because I wasn’t feeling well.
Was greeted by a friendly crowd of locals and the service was equally friendly.
The food was good, but not great, however they get extra points for being so close to my house!
I can walk there, get beer and wings and walk back home, in warm weather, of course!