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Experience new American cuisine, reimagined. Introducing Shell: an intimate restaurant focusing on seasonality and exquisite service for the Rochester dining audience, led by executive chef Cruz Nieves. Chef Cruz Nieves is the executive chef behind the Shell culinary team. With nearly 20 years of industry experience, Nieves’ culinary journey has taken him through prestigious kitchens such as Del Posto and Gabriel Kreuther in New York, NY, as well as Rella and Snug Harbor. His creativity, technical range, and attention to detail expertly blend to craft your dining experience.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 50 Pleasant St, Rochester, NY 14604
Phone: (585) 880-4392
Website: https://shell-restaurant.com/
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Order and Reservations
Reservations: resy.com
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Shell is a refined New American fine dining experience in the heart of downtown Rochester. Helmed by Chef Cruz Nieves, Shell brings thoughtful, …
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Reviews
Kelly MacCracken
wow. what a fun, unique elevated dining experience unlike anything in Rochester. We were blown away with every bite, each dish was perfectly executed: flavor, concept, texture, presentation. We loved the open kitchen design. We sat at the bar watching the master chefs at work adding an element of entertainment to the night. We felt like we were treated as there special guests that they wanted to impress. Chef Cruz & Marko sent little surprise tastings, explanation of dishes, honest recommendations and cared about the occasion we were celebrating: a cancer free screening. It’s a pretty place, with some pretty cool, caring and talented people thats what made Shell so special. …
… moreCindy DeLee
Though we love the Rochester food scene, we hadn’t come across anything that rivaled our favorite restaurant in Boston until now. The intimate setting, attentive service, and immaculate decor… Amazing work! Chef Cruz has his hands in everything, and you can really feel the love he put into the whole place. It’s gonna be our new special occasion restaurant.
My favorite: oysters. Cocktail: root & stem.
Husband’s favorites: lobster roll and the mezcal apple cocktail.
… moreMy favorite: oysters. Cocktail: root & stem.
Husband’s favorites: lobster roll and the mezcal apple cocktail.
Victoria S
I’ve visited Shell twice now, and both experiences have been delicious. The oysters were a highlight—fresh and flavorful—even if I’m not a big fan of the pebbles used in the presentation. The duck, while tender, could have used a bit more seasoning to really shine. The cod was cooked perfectly, though the red sauce gravy wasn’t quite to my taste. On the other hand, the pork belly was absolutely spot-on—rich, balanced, and memorable.
One unexpected standout was the cornbread with its topping—phenomenal. Honestly, it deserves a place on the menu as a dedicated appetizer.
The wine list may look short at first glance, but don’t let that fool you. Ask for what you typically enjoy, and chances are they’ll have it. Overall, Shell delivers a refined dining experience with standout dishes and attentive service, making it well worth a visit.
… moreOne unexpected standout was the cornbread with its topping—phenomenal. Honestly, it deserves a place on the menu as a dedicated appetizer.
The wine list may look short at first glance, but don’t let that fool you. Ask for what you typically enjoy, and chances are they’ll have it. Overall, Shell delivers a refined dining experience with standout dishes and attentive service, making it well worth a visit.
Meghan O’Keefe
What an exceptional dining experience in Rochester! We were able to sit with a full view of the kitchen and watching and interacting with the chefs and staff really elevated our experience. The food is unbelievable with a stand out wine list.
While it is fine dining and is more expensive, it’s not as expensive as similar restaurants and the standard of excellence is evident.
Well worth a visit if you’re in Rochester, you will not be disappointed!
… moreWhile it is fine dining and is more expensive, it’s not as expensive as similar restaurants and the standard of excellence is evident.
Well worth a visit if you’re in Rochester, you will not be disappointed!
Brittany Eick
I was excited to try out this new fine dining experience. It’s not the full experience of an 8 course meal and wine pairings, but the atmosphere is pretty much the same. My husband and I were celebrating our two year anniversary!
The dinner starts with an amuse-bouche. Ours was a salmon crostini. We then opted to start with the oysters and the lobster roll. It was my first time trying caviar and it was delicious! Our main course was the shrimp ragu and the duck. Again both were so delicious!
For drinks I had the night light which was light and refreshing and not too boozy. Then I had a glass of Chardonnay from Sandhi. Honestly one of my favorite Chardonnays that I have tried.
We skipped on dessert because we had a cake waiting for us at home. If you are looking for a fine dining restaurant in Rochester, this is as close as it gets. Be prepared for the price and the portion sizes, but it is so worth it!
… moreThe dinner starts with an amuse-bouche. Ours was a salmon crostini. We then opted to start with the oysters and the lobster roll. It was my first time trying caviar and it was delicious! Our main course was the shrimp ragu and the duck. Again both were so delicious!
For drinks I had the night light which was light and refreshing and not too boozy. Then I had a glass of Chardonnay from Sandhi. Honestly one of my favorite Chardonnays that I have tried.
We skipped on dessert because we had a cake waiting for us at home. If you are looking for a fine dining restaurant in Rochester, this is as close as it gets. Be prepared for the price and the portion sizes, but it is so worth it!
Christina
My new favorite go-to spot. I love to grab a drink or dinner at the bar. Everything from the drinks and music to the ambiance and food made with the freshest ingredients is 10/10. The best staff and chefs. Such a vibe. Obsessed!
… moreCol Raimond
We were super excited to try Shell! We saw Chef Cruz in Food Fight last year and he was super impressive. Unfortunately, Shell didn’t hit the way we hoped it would.
We ordered several things to share. The absolute best was the “steak frites.” It was a lovely and creative take on this classic steak & fries dish. It was a steak tartare over potatoes = a delight
We started with the bread & butter. We were told it was the chef’s take on scallion pancakes served with miso butter. Honestly, these were solid rolls: fresh, fluffy, flavorful. Basically what you want from a roll. We didn’t get scallion pancake though and the miso was lost in the butter. $12? A bit steep for 4 small dinner roles to be honest.
Next was the tartare (great!) and crab empanadas. The presentation of the empanadas was on point. 10/10 for the tiny Tabasco! We tasted the crab flavor but the citrus was a bit overpowering. At $10 per empanada, this, like many of the offerings, felt unnecessarily weirdly pretentious.
Up until this point, things were nicely paced. Next was a flurry of everything else we ordered all at once: the cabbage, lobster rolls, and raviolo arrived all together.
The cabbage was creative with a bit of heat – we liked it! The raviolo was one big ravioli. It was unique! Unfortunately, the sauce was super sweet and we got a chef boyardee vibe. Oof. Either way, $26 for a ravioli is a stretch. It was short ribs. Nice. But not $26 nice.
The lobster roll was actually 2 tiny sliders. For $36 you can get a full lobster roll stuffed with fresh buttery lobster meat. These two small bites were topped with caviar. Maybe that’s why it’s so pricey. But, um…I’m gonna take a beat here and ask why you’d top a delicate lobster slider with caviar? Is it extravagance for extravagance sake? It was def unnecessary.
At the end of the day, this was the theme of our experience: it was pretentious. It is what someone who has never visited a wildly good Michelin star restaurant imagines as fine dining.
A couple of final notes: our server was walking through the dining room like a nervous parakeet. It was sorta distracting. Plus, he didn’t notice that it took over 20 mins for a cocktail to arrive or that water glasses were empty. The gentleman who brought out the food was INCREDIBLE. He described the dishes beautifully and even chased down our missing cocktail.
Not for nothing, but our receipt listed an amuse bouche for $0. We didn’t receive that. The overall experience was probably 3.25 based on overall experience and value. Old stand-by’s like Good Luck still hold the standard for excellence in the Roc.
… moreWe ordered several things to share. The absolute best was the “steak frites.” It was a lovely and creative take on this classic steak & fries dish. It was a steak tartare over potatoes = a delight
We started with the bread & butter. We were told it was the chef’s take on scallion pancakes served with miso butter. Honestly, these were solid rolls: fresh, fluffy, flavorful. Basically what you want from a roll. We didn’t get scallion pancake though and the miso was lost in the butter. $12? A bit steep for 4 small dinner roles to be honest.
Next was the tartare (great!) and crab empanadas. The presentation of the empanadas was on point. 10/10 for the tiny Tabasco! We tasted the crab flavor but the citrus was a bit overpowering. At $10 per empanada, this, like many of the offerings, felt unnecessarily weirdly pretentious.
Up until this point, things were nicely paced. Next was a flurry of everything else we ordered all at once: the cabbage, lobster rolls, and raviolo arrived all together.
The cabbage was creative with a bit of heat – we liked it! The raviolo was one big ravioli. It was unique! Unfortunately, the sauce was super sweet and we got a chef boyardee vibe. Oof. Either way, $26 for a ravioli is a stretch. It was short ribs. Nice. But not $26 nice.
The lobster roll was actually 2 tiny sliders. For $36 you can get a full lobster roll stuffed with fresh buttery lobster meat. These two small bites were topped with caviar. Maybe that’s why it’s so pricey. But, um…I’m gonna take a beat here and ask why you’d top a delicate lobster slider with caviar? Is it extravagance for extravagance sake? It was def unnecessary.
At the end of the day, this was the theme of our experience: it was pretentious. It is what someone who has never visited a wildly good Michelin star restaurant imagines as fine dining.
A couple of final notes: our server was walking through the dining room like a nervous parakeet. It was sorta distracting. Plus, he didn’t notice that it took over 20 mins for a cocktail to arrive or that water glasses were empty. The gentleman who brought out the food was INCREDIBLE. He described the dishes beautifully and even chased down our missing cocktail.
Not for nothing, but our receipt listed an amuse bouche for $0. We didn’t receive that. The overall experience was probably 3.25 based on overall experience and value. Old stand-by’s like Good Luck still hold the standard for excellence in the Roc.
Anna Nutsa
We got bar seats on a Friday night for my birthday dinner, and the experience was phenomenal from start to finish.
First off- food and drinks. The Tiger Lily and Whiskey River (not sure if I’m getting the names right) cocktails were exactly what we were looking for. We ordered the crab empanadas as an appetizer, and the sharp citrus bite paired with smooth real crab filling and crunchy- NOT greasy- empanada shell was perfection. For entrees, we ordered the shrimp ragu per the server’s recommendation, along with the duck. Gosh… I’ll be dreaming about that ragu for the rest of my life. The flavors were exquisitely balanced, and the textures were top-notch. The duck breast, dumplings, and sauces were absolutely ravishing too. Last but not least, we ordered the coquito flan and Cafecito 43 to close the night off. I am not a coconut fan in the slightest, but after the server’s convincing, we decided to give it a go… and WOW. It was fudgy, velvety, loaded with toasted notes, and absolutely addicting. As soon as I took a sip of the Cafecito, I was blown away. I’ve never tasted espresso like that in my life, not even in Italy (don’t come for me)
Now can we talk about the service?? We were greeted with a smile at the door and prompt seating by Lily. Our two servers were upbeat, personable, and very knowledgeable about the menu. They joked about eavesdropping on our conversations, but I was impressed by how attentive they were to every detail. It’s a true mark of good hospitality. Shane was particularly a gem. He exuded passion for his work and proudly explained how he infused the vodka with cranberries for my cocktail and how he brewed the espresso and made the coquito himself for the Cafecito. We had a great time bantering with him. Chef Cruz came over to us at the end and asked how everything was for us, which was very gracious considering how busy how he was.
100/10. I’m already dreaming about the next time I come. Shell, keep it up- your quality truly sets you apart!
… moreFirst off- food and drinks. The Tiger Lily and Whiskey River (not sure if I’m getting the names right) cocktails were exactly what we were looking for. We ordered the crab empanadas as an appetizer, and the sharp citrus bite paired with smooth real crab filling and crunchy- NOT greasy- empanada shell was perfection. For entrees, we ordered the shrimp ragu per the server’s recommendation, along with the duck. Gosh… I’ll be dreaming about that ragu for the rest of my life. The flavors were exquisitely balanced, and the textures were top-notch. The duck breast, dumplings, and sauces were absolutely ravishing too. Last but not least, we ordered the coquito flan and Cafecito 43 to close the night off. I am not a coconut fan in the slightest, but after the server’s convincing, we decided to give it a go… and WOW. It was fudgy, velvety, loaded with toasted notes, and absolutely addicting. As soon as I took a sip of the Cafecito, I was blown away. I’ve never tasted espresso like that in my life, not even in Italy (don’t come for me)
Now can we talk about the service?? We were greeted with a smile at the door and prompt seating by Lily. Our two servers were upbeat, personable, and very knowledgeable about the menu. They joked about eavesdropping on our conversations, but I was impressed by how attentive they were to every detail. It’s a true mark of good hospitality. Shane was particularly a gem. He exuded passion for his work and proudly explained how he infused the vodka with cranberries for my cocktail and how he brewed the espresso and made the coquito himself for the Cafecito. We had a great time bantering with him. Chef Cruz came over to us at the end and asked how everything was for us, which was very gracious considering how busy how he was.
100/10. I’m already dreaming about the next time I come. Shell, keep it up- your quality truly sets you apart!
Heaven Lee
The food was nothing short of a masterpiece every bite a celebration of flavor. The oysters were silky and irresistibly creamy, gliding across the palate like ocean waves meeting velvet. Then came the salmon crudo an absolute revelation. Each mouthful burst with layers of delicate richness, perfectly balanced and seasoned to perfection. Every dish told its own story, but together they created an experience so divine, it lingered long after the last taste.
… moreMegan Record
Shell is such a gem and every dish is composed with intention, creativity, and passion.
The salmon crudo was fresh and bright, the grilled shrimp had the perfect smoky char, and the lobster roll was elevated with tarragon and caviar. The grilled cabbage and summer greens turned simple ingredients into something unforgettable. For mains, the pork belly was perfectly glazed, the ravioli was rich and velvety, and the duck was tender, with just the right touch of peach.
Shell is the kind of experience where every dish leaves an impression and makes you want to drag all your friends and family there to watch them love it too!
… moreThe salmon crudo was fresh and bright, the grilled shrimp had the perfect smoky char, and the lobster roll was elevated with tarragon and caviar. The grilled cabbage and summer greens turned simple ingredients into something unforgettable. For mains, the pork belly was perfectly glazed, the ravioli was rich and velvety, and the duck was tender, with just the right touch of peach.
Shell is the kind of experience where every dish leaves an impression and makes you want to drag all your friends and family there to watch them love it too!