Kandis's

Kandis's is a family-run soul food restaurant and bar located at 701 Lake Ave in Rochester, NY. Operating under the name Kandis's Food & Drink, the establishment serves as both a dining spot and a neighborhood gathering place along the Lake Avenue corridor. The restaurant occupies a space in the Maplewood section of Rochester's northwest side, offering a casual setting where guests can eat, drink, and enjoy live entertainment throughout the week.

The menu at Kandis's centers on soul food staples with a strong emphasis on seafood. Signature items include:

• Fried haddock and fish fry platters served with hush puppies
• Grouper and salmon preparations
• Chicken wings
• Mac salad

Beyond the food, Kandis's operates a full bar with cocktails and runs weekly entertainment programming. Wednesday nights feature karaoke paired with customer appreciation specials, including complimentary food offerings. The bar area also has games available for patrons.

Kandis's has built its identity around generous seafood plates — particularly its fried fish and hush puppies — served in a clean, relaxed bar-and-grill atmosphere. As a family-run operation, the restaurant emphasizes a community-oriented approach, hosting regular themed nights that double as social events for the surrounding neighborhood. The combination of soul food, a full bar, and weekly karaoke has made it a consistent draw for locals looking for both a meal and an evening out.

Kandis's sits on Lake Avenue just north of the Driving Park Avenue intersection, placing it within Rochester's Maplewood neighborhood on the city's northwest side. The area is well served by the RTS Route 1 bus, which runs frequently along Lake Avenue. Maplewood Park and the Maplewood Rose Garden — both Frederick Law Olmsted-designed landscapes along the Genesee River gorge — are a short distance north on the same road. A shopping plaza anchored by a Tops supermarket is nearby at the Lake and Driving Park corner. Street parking is available along Lake Avenue.