The Daily Refresher

We came here after dinner at Ox and Stone, sat at the bar and we have Peter as our bartender/​mixologist. He was great, asked us what our preferences were and a whole bunch of questions.
He started making drinks and after drinks, they were drinks off the menu and all of them were good.
We didn’t try any food so I can’t really comment on that, the service and everything else were spot on!
This is one of my favorite spot and will certainly visit when I’m in Rochester.

I adore this place. The upstairs makes you feel like you’ve wandered into someone’s living room with their antique couches and oriental rugs. You most likely won’t sit in them if you saddle up at the bar with Pete. His stories and drinks will keep you entertained and happy. Ask for his banana bread shot and the story of how he discovered it.

Top 5 bars I have ever visited… Anywhere. Such a great atmosphere. I’ve been to these «speak easy» style places in various parts of the country tand I honestly don’t believe any of them comoare to the refresher. I will say, friday/​Saturday night service is slow. But one has to expect that. The type of drinks made and the effort it takes to make them requires a lot of time. This is a great happy hour, weekday, or early evening spot. I purposely avoid this place after 9pm on weekends.
The drinks: I have never had a better Moscow mule in my life! My first and second favorite mules are made by 2 bartenders here (the doctor and Pete). Draft beer selection is excellent.
Grear atmosphere. Great bartenders who have great conversation with patrons. I hope this place stays open for a long time!

The reviews on the Daily Refresher seem to be split between two separate experiences. Most reviews primarily focus on the physical bar and the others are based on the food truck behind the building. This adds up to a confusing mix of reviews for two separate experiences. Anyway, my review is primarily based on my experiences as a patron of the bar itself. The only thing I can say about the food truck is that you can smell the fries from a mile away on a Friday or Saturday night. Their menu offers limited options, but you’ll be hard pressed to find that there aren’t several customers enjoying the food. This is always a great sign.
I’ve held off on review Daily Refresher for quite sometime now due to mixed feelings.
The Good:
When I have a libation, I can appreciate an artisanal hand crafted cocktail and The Daily Refresher does just that. Each time we go, we spend a significant amount of time trying to decide on which cocktail to try next. While there are plenty of choices, with creative names, we often end up asking fellow customers advice on their choices. There is a vibrant energy and mix of mellow and artsy that can be found here. The crowd mostly seems to appeal to mid-​twenties and up.
The Not so Good:
Getting service at this extremely busy bar can take quite some time on a Saturday or Friday night. This contributed to our most recent concern. We noticed everyone around was getting service while we were being overlooked. Finally after the other patrons had been served, the bartender hesitantly apologized and made our drinks.
Average at best, but worth visiting if wandering through the East Avenue or Alexander area.

I really wanted to like this place. I gave it another try as I found the décor really nice and the vibe cool, but I honestly was so disappointed by this bar and I won’t be back.
The drinks are ridiculously expensive for no reason and the bartenders are so rude. One of them actually screamed at my friend for trying to order a drink and the other one laughed in my face as I asked them about their draft selection.
I don’t know if that’s their «thing,» being a «trendy» bar and all, to be rude to their customers, but it really rubbed me the wrong way. There are plenty of better places to go in Rochester and I won’t be coming back.
Also, they literally kicked us out of the restaurant and took away my drink (which was half full) while I wasn’t looking. Not in good taste!

Daily Refresher. Had an amazing pre thanksgiving night. My mom is a huge whiskey fan and she fell in love with the place. I have lived in many cities and Am in the industry myself and was blown away by the staff. Jake downstairs was amazing and the guys upstairs hilarious! I am moving soon to Denver but am a Rochester native. Customer for life! Thanks for an amazing night for my first night out in weeks! #dailyrefresher

I ordered two double whiskey diets, and it turned out the diet coke was skunked. I reported it and the bartender upstairs with the fake hipster Rochester beard told me to wait after doubting me when I said both tasted weird. I waited 5 – 10 minutes and asked if I could just have 4 – 5 shots in compensation. This guy told me I was too loud and I was waiting patiently. This place is absolutely terrible.

Had the garlic fries last night. Simply put? They’re unforgettable. They taste great and they’ll be on your mind (and breath) for the rest of the week. Seriously, no amount of brushing and mouthwash will get rid of all the fresh garlic you’re consuming with every bite of those perfectly-​cut, crispy fries. The loaded fries are also great and come with pulled pork and a cheese sauce. Pretty sure the base for these fries has garlic on them as well so be forewarned.
You also can’t go wrong ordering cocktails here. The bartenders are really knowledgeable and can recommend something you will love. I really like the «Aviation» that comes with vodka, violet liqueur, maraschino, and lemon and the «Clint Eastwood» that comes with mango-​jalapeño infused tequila, triple sec, lime and cucumber. If you’re not feeling anything on their cocktail menu, you can ask the bartenders to custom make your cocktail with your favorite base spirit. The cocktails are a bit on the expensive side, ranging from $ 9-&15, but they’re well worth it so give them a try.

The ambiance is great here and they have clever ways to appeal to their clientele like offering a unique bottle service. You buy a bottle and they keep it for you there and make your drinks from your bottle.
The cocktails always fall short for me. They sound interesting but I’d recommend sticking to the simple options.
People only think the food is good when they’re drunk so do yourself a favor and don’t try it without being buzzed.
The last time I was here I ordered fries and literally waited 20 minutes because the people in front of me ordered something complicated and the lady gave my fries to someone else. At this point I wished she’s give me my money back because she proceeded to over season them with whatever she offered to add as an extra. Multitasking was clearly a struggle and there should’ve been someone else helping her!
The bathrooms need some serious improvement because the situation is not pretty.
Overall it’s one of the best bars to go to in the east end.

My experience was predominantly spent upstairs, where we were directed after searching for scotch downstairs. So up we go, and the upstairs has arguably an even better vibe than downstairs. «Speakeasy» fits the bill.
So… single malt scotch. You’re not allowed to bitch about the price of drinks if you’re ordering glasses of scotch, especially single malts. Just be grateful if there’s a good selection, apologize to your credit card in advance, and hand it over to the bar tender for the evening. Once you’ve stopped worrying about price, look around and absorb the fact that you’re in a freakin’ library of single malts. Do they have everything? I dunno… but if you’ve already tried everything they do have, then please invite me to your Château for your next soirée.
The barkeeps were dressed like they were ready to serve John Dillinger. They were witty, friendly, and super knowledgeable about the spirits they were dishing out. I can definitely say that I learned things that I wouldn’t have learned on my own, and I appreciate them sharing their knowledge.
Now most of y’awl aren’t going there for a scotch flight, and I respect that. Fear not, because this place has merits coming out the wazzoo. It’s chill (albeit slightly louder than I would have preferred), dimly lit, and loungey. Funky (but not overboard) décor. Everything feels like it’s made out of super sturdy wood. There’s a couple of couches upstairs, outdoor seating on a deck, and a little patio area downstairs. I did order something other than scotch at the end of the night, which was a Rye Old Fashioned, and it was great. I’d been watching the bartender light them on fire all night long, and I just had to get one. I can only imagine that their other cocktails are as good as other reviewers claim them to be.
Food? Well by now you must know about the food truck right? Technically, I’m knocking off 1 star because this can be a bit of a boon for some, but I was on the fence about it. I suppose that could deter some people who are looking for a sit-​down dinner, but trust me when I say that the food truck can be an oasis on the right night. It’s down in the patio, and that waffle battered chicken is good enough to bring you to tears at 1am. And seriously now, if the food truck setup isn’t enough for you, there’s so many places where you can grab a dinner nearby, and The Daily Refresher is worth migrating to afterwards.
Scotch geeks: this is a good spot for you. Other places have good selection (Old Toad, even Magpie, and some others), but at TDR it is truly ABOUT THE BOOZE. Honestly, the selection of bourbon, gin, rye, rum, and other spirits was so vast that I sort of felt like I was limiting myself by sticking to scotch. Nothing here comes cheap, but you absolutely get what you pay for. Sure, I could’ve bought 2 gallons of J&B for what I spent at the Refresher, but I came to broaden my horizons and was not disappointed.

This place is run by the same guys who run Ox and Stone and El Dorado’s. Needless to say the common theme in all these places is their top of the line cocktail menu. From classics like the Manhattan, Old Fashioned’s, Mojito’s, Caiprinha’s etc. to fancier ones like the Mule, the Espanol Harlem etc, this place is extremely fun to hang out on a weekend. Insides are like the Prohibition with a backyard that opens up to a patio upstairs and benches and a food truck downstairs. They recently added corn hole as well for those of you who like to play games while drinking.
Definitely a must visit on the East and Alexander strip. Cool, trendy, hip and fancy.

Really cool little bar tucked onto east end ave in Rochester New York.
Walk in and see a really old school, stone setting. With a bartender that seems to have stepped right out from the 50’s (Or at least mine did) and a really extensive wall full of liquor. Some of which may be very unfamiliar to you.
The cocktail list wasn’t too extensive, but what I did appreciate was how subtle, even the more intricate cocktails were.
I chose the Velveteen. Which was made with American Harvest Vodka, Pear Nectar, Elderflower Liquor and Cardamom Syrup. And was really really good. Elderflower flavor didn’t punch me in the mouth like I expected it too, which was nice. And the sweetness of the pear was really what brought it all together. Defiantly a cocktail worth checking out!

This place is becoming one of my favorite places in Rochester to get drinks
Their drink choices are wonderful, their bar is great, and the service is always lovely.
The building is two stories, with two different bars at each level, and a deck on the back of the second story Behind the building they have a food truck that does serve some good stuff, even if the menu is limited.
It really is a great place to hang out and have some drinks with friends, and not be overwhelmed by too much noise or annoying crowds.
My only gripe would be that their food (that’s not food truck food) is hit or miss, but they are located near a few places that serve good food, so I can stumble over those places if I feel I need to eat something.

This bar is really cool; love the old couches on the upper level and the fact that you can save your own bottle for when you go. The bartender on the bottom level was the coolest EVER and I swear he knows the answer to anything. (Like a good retort for your ex’s new wife, or the various ways to get to Antarctica. Really. A-​n-​y-​t-​h-​i-​n-​g.)
The down-​side is we got hungry – and the food truck wasn’t there because of the crappy weather.
…wha? No food? Time to go… :(
Great ambiance and ALL kinds of booze, though.

I swung by here for the first time this past Friday in my current quest to try all the restaurant/​bars within walking distance of work… what really drew me here was their collection of whiskey, omg, it’s like bourbon heaven lol
I started out downstairs right as they opened, so it was just myself and the bartender, Jacob, I believe, he gave me the run down on countless bourbons and ryes and clearly knows his stuff, both whiskeys he recommended were amazing, perhaps we just have similar tastes, as being an amateur whiskey «enthusiast» myself can be very hit and miss, both were hits
next I went upstairs to visually explore a bit more before I headed out back to grab some dinner, for that, I ordered the Cuban and the garlic fries, both were tasty and reasonably priced, I’m sure I had enough fries for three lol
I’ll definitely be back, not just to explore more whiskey, but for a quick bite to eat as well… their only flaw is that the bar and food truck operate separately, so you have to pay separately instead of just handling one bill… minor inconvenience

This place feels cozy. I love that there is a bar downstairs and upstairs — with outdoor seating. Friendly staff who put a lot of care into their drinks. The food truck is delicious too.

Free champage on New Years eve. Classy, classy.

I think this is one of the first bars I ever went to in Rochester. It was a Tuesday night (sucks that it’s closed Sunday and Monday), almost nobody else was there, and we sat down at the bar. Jake the bartender was there, and basically was the coolest bartender ever. We sat there talking about mysticisim/​supernatural occurrences in Rochester (of which he was incredibly knowledgable), he was super friendly, and discounted my Chartreuse. Definitely cemented my love for the bar.
However, coming here on the weekends is a bit of a different story, especially in the winter when you can’t go outside in the back. It really goes for the old-​timey hipster vibe, but they play the music so loud that you have to scream just to be heard from a seat away. I’m the kind of guy who really enjoys talking to people (and hearing them) at bars, so the noise level is a huge turn-​off for me. It’s definitely not a good place for a group larger than four people.
That said, in the summer, it’s much better, as you can hang out outside in the back. They have an amazing foodtruck that makes AMAZING fries, run by another AMAZINGLY friendly person named Jodie (sp?). She was such a nice person, and even remembered me and my friends’ names when we came back.

The drinks are pretty good, and the décor is really nice. The only reason I’m taking off two stars is because of the noise level.
TL;DR: Amazing staff, good drinks, way too loud on the weekends.

I have friends who are absolutely obsessed with this place and for good reason.
Go out back for plenty of outdoor seating and a food truck. The pulled pork fries are good, but the pulled pork makes them a bit too soggy for my tastes. I recommend getting the *garlic* fries instead. And I mean garlic in bold because they certainly aren’t skimping when they say that.
The Chic-​In-​Waffle is perfection. For $ 2-​$ 3, you get two drumsticks coated with heaven (waffle batter) with another little pool of heaven (maple syrup) to dip them in. Comfort food at its best (unlike some bar food, you definitely don’t need to be drunk to enjoy these).
And don’t even limit yourself to the bar downstairs and the food truck in the back. Make a slight left when you enter or use the stairs in the back to get to the top level, where there is another full bar. Lots of comfy seating. Sophisticated but laid back vibe.
Respect to Jake the bartender. His drinks are excellent and his swag is even more so. Some of the cocktails can be on the pricey side for Rochester, so come prepared. A great place to take out-​of-​towners.

I came in for a quick dinner on a Thursday and was awed by the quaint, English tavern look. The Victorian couches upstairs added a nice touch to the ambiance.
From there, my first experience gradually went downhill. We were two customers out of the total five that were there so it was shocking that the service was slow. The food took quite some time to come out and when served, we were not told that they ran out of the side of chips. When asked about only getting the sandwich, we were just told, ‘oh, we ran out’, without being offered any other accommodations and charged the full price of the meals. No biggie — it’s just chips and about $ 1-​$ 2 savings, however to me, it’s not only the food, but also the customer service that is a part of the experience. Even though we were the only customers upstairs, it felt like it was packed given the lack of service received. The only time we were waited on was when the bartender took our order, the server gave us our food, and when asked for napkins and refills of our drinks.
Food wise, we ordered the pulled pork and the daily sandwiches and they were just mediocre, nothing special. I was surprised since I heard good things about the food truck.
Truly disappointed, especially because this would be a fitting place to get away and travel to a different era.