Review Chortke - Rochester

My family went for a meal and the atmosphere of the restaurant was so nice and unexpected. Service was kind and efficient, not super helpful with giving us advice on food selections-- she said everything was good. The food was good, some dishes better than others. Star of the show was the pistachio cheesecake that happened to be in the rotation. Plenty of parking. Will be back soon to this hidden gem.

The ambiance is very cute. The food is even better. Appetizer portions are surprisingly larger than I thought, very shareable. The flavor of the kebab and rice is so good. The scallops were perfectly cooked. A bit on the pricey side. Our server Chris was very kind. The benches along the wall were beautiful but for someone as short as 5 feet was a bit uncomfy as my feet didn’t touch the floor.

I am so relieved Chortke is re-opened! We checked out the newly renovated, dine-in restaurant and it was AMAZING. Every dish was perfectly delicious, the decor is beautifully redone, and we had phenomenal service. There is no picture of the nan-e-barbari bread they served ahead of dinner because we ate it all too fast. Same goes for our appetizers: octopus (grilled and fried to a perfect crunch), and the persian twist wings (served with an eggplant yogurt so good you could eat it with a spoon). If you’re craving Persian classics look closely at the entrees. The beef chelo (first pic) is a kubideh (ground beef) kabob with Chortke’s classic rice. The saffron chicken thigh is also served with rice, authentic Persian barberries, and was perfectly seasoned. Other dishes have a Persian twist: the stuffed chicken (with traditional sumac), and the wild sea scallops (with dill and pomegranate). We left so stuffed we couldn’t make it to dessert. If you haven’t been to this restaurant, take it from a fellow Persian, and go! You’ll also get to feel great about supporting a small business owned by one of the nicest, most hardworking couples I’ve ever met.

Renovation looks beautiful and food is incredible!! We enjoyed every item we ordered. Great and warm service too. Will be back again!

Our family ate here frequently before. We loved it then and love the changes. It’s new and fresh. It’s definitely a different vibe and a full service restaurant now. Flavors are great with more dinner options. The kebab is traditional & authentic….It’s as good as ever. There are also surprises on the menu so you’ll have options if you want explore new flavors or stick with the traditional favorites. Well-designed atmosphere and decor! It’s also a family owned business…👌🏼 We ate too fast so I forgot to add food pics. Will be back

A recent snowy night at Chortke kept the dining room quiet, but the food and experience was raucously good. The space feels like a piazza, with warm hues, tile floor, faux trees, a fountain, and woven-basket lampshades. The decor, tableware, and seating feels intentional and complementary, a chic old-world palette. All the dishes on this recent night were sublime - the Brussels sprouts appetizer being a particular surprise winner of the evening. Honey, pomegranate seeds, a bit of heat, and curls of parmesan topped whole roasted Brussels, blackened on the exterior and creamy within. Persian-inspired saffron-infused wings were crispy and spicy with a highly spiced but cooling dipping sauce also kicked off the evening. For entrees, the sweet-spicy oven-baked salmon was a stack of inventive textures, with diaphanous wisps of fried leeks and hearty grilled broccolini. The chelo kebab leans closer to a traditional Persian dish and was deliciously spiced. Rumors of several Persian dishes returning to the menu are exciting. Chortke's Persian roots, plus its creative and flavorful twists on traditional ingredients and preparations, promises plenty more reasons to travel out of norm, right here in Rochester.

We had dinner here last night, it was amazing! I cannot recommend the wings enough. When I made the dinner reservation online, there was a section asking if you were celebrating anything special. I noted it was our anniversary not thinking much of it. After dinner, our server brought out a hand written card and a long stem rosé congratulating us. It was the most thoughtful thing I’ve ever seen at a restaurant. The staff was very friendly and helpful with food selections. I’d recommend it to anyone.

I went here a few weeks ago and the food was absolutely amazing. They are doing a renovation though and were take-out only. When I walked in I didn’t think they were open but they did have a sign outside stating they were under renovation. They guy at the counter was really nice and very helpful as well. I think he was one of the owners. Overall, I would definitely go back as the food tasted great and was reasonably priced considering the portions they give.

A bit pricey but tasty! The store needs better ventilation though, beware that your clothes and hair may smell like smoke/grilled meat after your meal. They also have a Chortke Cafe which serves illy coffee and they said is gonna open week after next. NEW EDIT FOR THE REMODELED RESTAURANT: I can’t help but feeling like I really missed the old Chortke where food was better… The new space is beautiful and a whole different vibe, but the food was not up to par with the looks of the space. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t memorable and didn’t make you go “mmmmm wow THAT is good”. We’re willing to spend more on date nights once in a while, but for this price range we expected better. Besides the classic Kubideh, other things on the menu with a “Persian twist” to the flavors honestly felt a little gimmicky… There is a fine line between innovative fusion food and just throwing spices in things. Overall, it was a okay place for a dinner date- ambience was great, but our table was too small, the cushions were too tall, and the adjacent guests were too close to us where we sat. FIY your hair and clothes will smell like food after your leave- not necessarily a bad thing for me. LOVED the tiles and the walls but the fishing basket ceiling lamps were not it. I still gave a five star review because I’m really rooting for you guys and I love the direction of your growth, and maybe in a year I’ll come back and be blown out of my mind.

Chortke is one of those restaurants that takes you on a journey- from the decor to the Persian spices to the unique menu. My husband and I felt like we had entered a different country and were no longer in Rochester! The food was high quality and the sets were detailed with delicious flavor profiles. We were very impressed with the fresh, buttery-textured 45 day dry-aged steak, as with the spicy shrimp, which featured Persian spices we had never experienced with shrimp before! Every spice, every set, every detail was executed to perfection. To top it off, all the staff was friendly, attentive, courteous, and professional. The ambience was delightfully peaceful and relaxed, with elegant ethnic decor touches all around. There are all kinds of cozy nooks and comfortable seats- be it cushioned window seats, sofas, or cushioned chairs. We cannot recommend this place enough. If you enjoy unique flavors, high-quality food, and a pleasant ambience, you will enjoy Chortke!

Absolutely 10 out of 10. Vibe was amazing. Food was amazing. The owners are amazing and take care of their employees and customers. Will definitely be back.

Great food! Got a Mediterranean pizza to share that was superb and then the giant lamb shank that fell off the bone and was surrounded by great sides. Staff was very attentive and it was a cozy atmosphere. Definitely would go back again!

Very cool vibe and feels like you are somewhere else not Rochester. Cool people and helpful staff.

Absolutely delicious food. Between two people we had lamb lollipops, brussels sprouts, spicy chicken pasta, the stuffed chicken and pistachio cheesecake. Insane. I had never tried Persian cuisine before and it was cooked perfectly and bursting with flavors. Great wine and beer list too. Will be back five times over.

Stunning place to eat. From the absolutely amazing service to the mouth watering food. I can't recommend this place enough. It was my first time visiting but it definitely won't be my last. 11/10 recommend to everyone that loves great food and wants to be treated like a member of the family.

Fantastic place... the customer service was super friendly & helpful. The seating area was bright, clean & comfortable. The food... holy cow... excellent! The beef kabob had great flavor & was super tender! Same for the chicken. The "spicy" kabobs were not heat spice but flavorful spice, a generous amount of saffron & other great herbs. We got 2x combo plates with salad. Generous portions for the salad, rice & meat.

This one is on my bucket list, and finally made it today. It’s a vast place and a lot of seating. It’s kinda authentic middle eastern restaurant. Whatever the food they are making possesses a good quality. Tables and everything are clean and tidy. Coming to food, it tastes really great. Missed the desserts as they are out of them. I had rice with spicy chicken. It’s some delicious stuff with a great aroma. Quantity is good. But, it’s bit expensive comparable but worth a shot. They have wifi too.

My colleague and I were in Rochester for business (from Boston). When I searched for Persian restaurant, I found Chortke. Figured let’s give it a try. Ended up talking to the owner who was very friendly. The food was great. Very much enjoyed the spicy shrimp as an appetizer. Tried Chelo Kabab as well as some chicken dish. They only have two desserts but both were awesome. Overall, a very nice restaurant. Next time I’m back in Rochester, I’ll come back here again. Keep up the great work.

My son and I have been huge fans for years, having discovered Chortke shortly after it opened. We are even bigger fans after the remodeling! For those dismayed by the idea of change, let me reassure you that what you notice now is that the ambiance and presentation is now up to the very high standard that the food has always been. Even on a gloomy evening, it now gives the impression that the diners are eating in an open air, Mediterranean plaza. And the food has really gone beyond what I thought was possible. Both of us thought the tiger shrimp, the salmon, and the pistachio cheesecake were among the best things we have had in any restaurant, anywhere. The chef works a special magic with vegetables- the Brussels sprouts, the charred broccolini and the bacon sweet potato hash weren't just plate filling afterthoughts, they were taste sensations, and very complimentary to the main dish. A+++. We can't wait to go back!