Bitter Honey

Bitter Honey is a Mexican-inspired restaurant situated in Rochester's Public Market District at 127 Railroad St. Founded by Zack Mikida in partnership with SCN Hospitality — the upstate restaurant group behind The Revelry, Branca Midtown, and Patron Saint Steakhouse — the restaurant opened in the fall of 2017 after roughly five years of concept development. The name itself comes from the oil that agave plants release during extraction and cooking at Mexican distilleries, a nod to the spirit-forward identity of the bar program. Bitter Honey operates as a casual, family-style neighborhood spot focused on elevated Mexican fare and a mezcal-driven cocktail list.

The kitchen, led by Executive Chef Bennett Hallenbeck, turns out tacos, enchiladas, and taquetas built on house-made corn tortillas — the team produces close to a thousand of them per day on weekends. The bar carries an extensive tequila and mezcal selection and runs a passport program that lets guests work through 50 varieties of each spirit. Handcrafted margaritas and other mezcal-based cocktails round out the drinks menu. Additional details worth noting:

• Happy hour available on weekday evenings
• Outdoor patio seating
• Private events and catering
• Dietary accommodations including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options
• Reservations accepted through Resy

Hours run Tuesday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday.

Bitter Honey is known for its house-made tortilla program and a spirit selection that puts tequila and mezcal front and center. The concept grew directly from founder Zack Mikida's travels through Mexico, where the hospitality and food culture shaped the restaurant's family-style approach to dining. As part of the SCN Hospitality portfolio — which also includes Velvet Belly and Ziggy's — it shares a restaurant group with deep roots in the Rochester dining scene dating back to 2013.

The restaurant occupies Suite 110 at 127 Railroad Street in Rochester's Public Market District, just steps from the Rochester Public Market. Free parking is available in the lot directly across the street. The neighborhood blends market vendors, small businesses, and a growing cluster of restaurants, making it a walkable destination for an evening out on the east side of the city.