City of Rochester
News Release
(Friday, July 20, 2012) – Mayor Thomas S. Richards, City Neighborhood and Business Development Commissioner R. Carlos Carballada and City Councilmember Elaine Spaull joined owner Tim Tompkins and Robert and Barbara Duffy for a ribbon cutting celebrating the grand opening of Benedettos Restaurant, 289 Alexander St. yesterday.
Beginning today, Benedettos offers casual Italian-American cuisine in a quaint and cozy environment during dinner hours. The premises re-emerged following a $250,000 renovation and features two private dining areas across two floors and a first floor has a full bar with additional seating. Large, classical-era Italian murals decorate the walls and the interior has been handsomely redone. The restaurant will serve a menu planned and executed by chef Charles Saccardi.
Chef Saccardi has worked in the restaurant industry for more than two decades and has been recognized nationally for his culinary talents. He worked in top restaurants in Cleveland, Boston, New Orleans, New York City and San Francisco in addition to Rochester. He worked in the kitchens of some of the world’s most noted chef’s including David Bouley, Jacques Pepin and Thomas Keller. He was one of the chef’s on Julia Child’s TV series working alongside celebrity chefs Charlie Trotter, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Daniel Boulud.
The restaurant will feature an interior bar towards the front of the first floor of the building. The majority of the space is occupied with tables and chairs to accommodate approximately 140 patrons inside, with additional seating for approximately 30 within the outdoor, gated patio areas. Benedettos will feature a full menu, complemented with a fully licensed bar, serving bottled & draft beer, liquor and wine. The majority of food and beverage transactions will be handled via table service.
The addition of Benedettos further solidifies East Avenue and Alexander Street as a restaurant and entertainment destination and between 20 to 30 jobs are being created as a result of the restaurant’s opening.
Benedettos is open Mondays through Saturdays at 4:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
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News Media: For more information, contact Ron Vales or Chef Saccardi at 454-5000.