Thanks to Hollywood gossip magazines, we now have words like Brangelina and Kimye in our lexicon. Megan Rattray and Shawn Hoock have embraced the combination trend and used it to name their new restaurant, Shmeg's (3027 Buffalo Road, Gates). If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?
Rattray and Hoock met while both working at the Bay Side Pub in Webster. Rattray always wanted to open her own place and Hoock was looking for a new venue to showcase his self-taught culinary skills — Hoock was the owner of General Hoock & Sons, which was also in Gates.
Shmeg's serves breakfast and lunch six days a week in a space that features 1950's retro-style tables and chairs, and a L-shaped counter surrounding the open kitchen. Popular menu items include The Curly Bomber ($14.99 for whole, $9.99 for half), a submarine sandwich stuffed with curly fries, shaved steak, and burgers. The restaurant's breakfast sandwiches, or "fists," can be ordered with two to five eggs and include meat and cheese. The "Chubby" is a customer favorite ($5.99). The Plate X-M ($9.99) is reminiscent of a breakfast garbage plate: there's a pile of homefries, homemade sausage, cheese, eggs, and toast, and all marked with a bacon "x." Most menu items can be made vegetarians for those that want to skip the meat.
The bread is made from scratch by Hoock at Shmeg's and transformed into menu items like the Mick Toast ($7.07) — the bread is battered and covered in Frosted Flakes and made French-toast style. If you're more of a pancake fan, order the J.J. Cakes ($4.30), which are six silver dollar pancakes, or the One Big Bad Griddle Cake ($4.29) — you can add blueberries or chocolate chips if you're feeling saucy.
Shmeg's Restaurant is located at 3027 Buffalo Road, and is open Tuesday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. 481-2036. Find more on Shmeg's on its Facebook page, facebook.com/shmegsrestaurant.
Quick Bites
Restaurant 2 Vine (24 Winthrop Street) has partnered with Special Touch Bakery, a division of Holy Childhood, to offer homemade apple crumb pie on its menu. One dollar of every sale is returned to Holy Childhood. Eating pie for charity? I can get on board with that.
The Hopchester Brew Fest, the first beer festival of 2015, will be held on Friday, January 23, and Saturday, January 24, at the Harro East Ballroom. The event will showcase 40 breweries from around the country. VIP ($65) and general admission ($45) tickets are for sale at hopchester.ticketleap.com.
Openings
Saha Med Grill has opened a second location at 14 South Main Street in Pittsford.
Mamma Lucia, a restaurant serving food inspired by Italian, German, and Bosnian traditions, has opened at 2500 East Avenue, on the first floor of the Renaissance building in the space formerly occupied by Flour City Grill.
The Kitchen, a reservation-only "intimate culinary dining experience," has opened at 5 South Main Street in Pittsford.
Nox Craft Cocktails & Comfort Food has opened in Village Gate (302 North Goodman Street). The self-proclaimed "nerd bar" features a laundry list of craft cocktails and belly-warming dishes like macaroni and cheese and bacon-wrapped meatloaf.
Moe's Southwest Grill (1377 Mt. Hope Avenue) and Corner Bakery Café (1367 Mt. Hope Avenue) are now both open in College Town.
Closings
Cibon (688 Park Avenue) has closed for remodeling and rebranding. The space will reopen as Roux, a French restaurant and wine bar. Follow its Facebook page for updates on the reopen.
Quaker Steak & Lube has closed its location at 2205 Buffalo Road.
Chow Hound is a food and restaurant news column. Do you have a tip? Send it to [email protected].
