What an incredible disappointment. We visited at 12:30 on a Saturday in late fall, and from the time we walked in to when we left – about 20 minutes total – we watched the supply on hand deplete from 6 soups to 1. You’d never it know looking at the menu, though; the employees had not bothered to update the magnetic menu so our transaction went something like this: me: «I’d like the chicken noodle soup combo with a caesar salad.» unenthusiastic employee: «We’re out of chicken noodle soup.» me: «I’ll take the tomato soup then.» her: «We don’t have that, either.» me: «Okay, I’ll have the cream of broccoli instead.» her: «You can’t do the caesar salad as a combo.» After a few infuriating minutes I managed to order a soup and salad combo but the frustration was repeated with every customer who ordered after us. On a chilly Saturday afternoon it was utterly bewildering that they were seemingly out of 80% of their signature menu items. When our food did arrive we were hardly pleased. According to the menu the caesar salad comes topped with«shaved parmesan» but mine looked as though someone had dumped an entire can of cheap grated cheese product onto it. The cheesy bread we ordered was stale and the soup was okay, but nothing to write home about. To add insult to injury the shop was filthy. I get that it’s in a quaint Park Ave location with worn hardwood floors and a peeling tin ceiling, but there’s no excuse for the dust and grime in the tables and on the railings. Frankly, it was unappetizing. From now on I’m going to their location in Henrietta or not at all.
Jennifer O.
Place rating: 3 Rochester, NY
This is my first time here and I could see why people really like it but my sandwich was only average. I got the chicken Caesar on garlic cheese bread. Was pretty awkward trying to eat it, we were going to take it to go and walk on park ave with it but the bread was falling apart and that wasn’t possible. The sandwich was good but there was too much bread and it tended to make my mouth a little dry. I tried my boyfriends sandwich with grapes and walnuts and that was very good he had it on a croissant roll. I definitely have to come back and try the soup and maybe a different sandwich but it was very hot outside and not a good soup day. They have limited hours during the day and they are closed on the weekends. I’ve also seen some tips on here telling you to ask for the cheese bread to be warmed up, that sounds like a great idea.
Carolyn N.
Place rating: 2 Rochester, NY
I’ve heard a of of really great things about this place and thought I’d give it a try. The first time I went, they were out of over half the soups they had listed. I was able to overlook it because there were other soups I wanted to try. The broccoli and cheddar soup was salty, greasy and not that well flavored. There was very little broccoli in the soup itself and it left me feeling excessively oily. The sandwiches leave quite a lot to be desired. The bread has the consistency of wonder bread in that it sticks to the roof of my mouth and gets really gummy. Again, the flavor was disappointing and the grease level was pretty consistent across the board. The second time I went there, the online ordering didn’t work at all. I placed my order over the phone and when I picked up my order, one sandwich was on the wrong bread and they completely forgot to make one of them! I won’t be returning to this Nathan’s again.
Anne S.
Place rating: 5 Canandaigua, NY
Nathan’s has the best. homemade sous and unique sandwiches and salads. The atmosphere is casual in a warehouse environment. Love it!!!
Ashley L.
Place rating: 5 Bernards, NJ
Nathans is a great franchise. Their soups are all made in house, and are really great. Try the smoked chicken and sweet corn chowder on Wednesdays, it’s to die for. They also have a wide selection of house made breads that are great for dunking in soups. Pro tip: ask them to microwave the cheese bread for thirty seconds, the cheese gets all stringy and yummy and warm bread is the best. As far as sandwiches go, I recommend the chicken bacon roasted red peppers on a croissant, super yummy.
Saul M.
Place rating: 4 Rochester, NY
Nathan’s has three locations including one at RIT but I always go to Park Avenue. Their Italian Wedding is a go to for me but everyday they have a different selection of fantastic soups. They have a nice Sweet Potato Chipotle bisque, which is a good blend of sweet and spicy. I was really sad when they stopped making Italian Sausage Stew, which was my absolute favorite!!! I am so happy that they redid the space to allow you to eat your soup there. It makes for a quick good meal.
Kris R.
Place rating: 4 Irondequoit, NY
Nathans soup is so delicious. the Chicken Divan with a side of cheese bread is to die for. this shop is a perfect fit for the park avenue scene. friendly service. i would recomend this to anyone looking for a great homemade soup made daily with fresh ingredients. i havent tried any of their sandwiches yet, so i cannot comment on that. but i am looking forward to it!
MaKenna R.
Place rating: 5 Rochester, NY
Best soup ever. Hands down. Cheesy Pasta Meatball, Cream of Chicken and Biscuit, Buffalo Chicken Soup, and I can’t forget about the Potato Bacon. Their sandwiches are amazing. I’m partial to the tuna salad. The employees that work there are AWESOME, and remember my name every time I come in there! The owner also works at this location sometimes and is extremely friendly. I highly recommend Nathans! I’m addicted!
Breanna B.
Place rating: 4 Rochester, NY
What’s more comforting than a pipping hot cup of soup? It’s my favorite lunch meal and Nathan’s sure does deliver the goods. It’s a quaint shop on Park Ave, perfect for a takeout lunch as there’s little room to sit an eat. The staff I’ve encountered have been friendly and helpful when struggling between a few different options. They offer a variety of soups, many rotating daily. Although the chili, Italian wedding and chicken noodle are regular staples on the menu. On my most recent visit, I enjoyed a cup of the broccoli cheddar with a half tuna croissant. The soup was on the thick side, but tasted delicious as the cheddar flavor was not overpowering. I’m pretty much game for any kind of lunch meat on a croissant. The croissant ebbed my hunger pangs with its fluffy, buttery goodness. Beyond that, I’m always down for trying their homemade breads with an order of soup. The garlic & cheese and jalapeño & cheese bread will knock your socks off. What better to pair your soup with than a fluffy, thick sliced chunk of homemade bread. Saltines no more! This is the real deal for takeout, you’ll get serious bang for your buck. They knock off 10% if you get soup with a side like bread or a sandwich.
Rich Y.
Place rating: 2 Rochester, NY
I ordered the beef stew as I have many times before without disappointment. Unfortunately this time and the last I found myself yelling the old Wendy’s catch phrase. «where’s the beef ?!». It was more like a bowl of brown gravy than a stew. A few carrots and mini potatoes later I was still starved and tossed the remaining gravy to the trash. Wincing as I realized the styrofoam holding this mess of a meal will rot in a landfill for a thousand years.
Alex C.
Place rating: 2 Rochester, NY
I ordered the gazpacho the other day, but what I got was more like soupy salsa. I know that gazpacho is a COLD soup, but that doesn’t mean that you put the onions and peppers into AFTER it’s already chilled. Any DECENT gazpacho has the vegetables slightly cooked before being chilled, NOT the raw vegetables that they put in it here. And, while we’re at it, who the h3ll serves saltines with cold soup??? Sadly, I doubt there are many Rochesterians who would know better…
Travis J.
Place rating: 4 Rochester, NY
I don’t think I could say one bad word about Nathan’s. I get lunch here at least once a week since it’s a block from work and home. Everything I’ve tried has been great and the cold soups in the summer time are a god send. Quick good food. Can’t go wrong.
Ben W.
Place rating: 4 Guerneville, CA
If it were not for the fact that Nathan’s still uses styrofoam, they would get five stars. I ate here all throughout college and stop in whenever I am in Rochester. No need to use a spoon for the soups with the cheese bread for dunking. Consistently hearty options and true taste. Now get some smarter containers!
Jennifer J.
Place rating: 4 Rochester, NY
Cold dessert soups = genius. If you want an actual lunch, the potato and sausage soup is excellent, but I was disappointed by the tuna and egg croissant. I would go with the chicken, grape and walnut instead.