LDR Char Pit

LDR Char Pit is a family restaurant in Rochester's Charlotte neighborhood that has been serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner since 1945. The name comes from the initials of the original owner's three children — Linda, Donald, and Richard. Situated on Lake Avenue near the Lake Ontario beach area, the restaurant has built a loyal following over eight decades with its straightforward, counter-service approach to classic American diner food. The dining room features a long counter with roughly 20 stools along with tables and booths, and the walls display vintage Charlotte photographs, maps, and historic newspaper clippings.

LDR Char Pit cuts and grinds its own beef on-site — a practice the restaurant has maintained since opening. The burger blend combines top round and ribeye, cooked over charcoal and finished on a flat-top grill. Beyond burgers, the menu includes:

• Steak sandwiches, including the Steak Bomber
• Rochester-style garbage plates in several variations
• A Rochester Turkey Reuben made with turkey roasted and sliced in-house
• All-day breakfast using fresh-cracked eggs
• Friday fish fry with table service on Friday evenings
• Zweigle's hot dogs, a Rochester staple
• Rice pudding and other homemade desserts

The restaurant also keeps a condiment bar stocked with house-made Rochester-style hot sauce.

LDR Char Pit has maintained its identity as a neighborhood charcoal-grill restaurant for over 80 years, with its hand-cut, house-battered onion rings and freshly ground burgers drawing both Charlotte locals and visitors heading to or from the nearby beach. The restaurant roasts its own turkey and cuts its own beef daily, setting it apart from typical diners that rely on pre-processed ingredients. Its seasonal rhythm mirrors the Charlotte waterfront — busy in summer with beachgoers and sustained by a base of regulars through the quieter winter months.

LDR Char Pit sits at 4753 Lake Avenue in Charlotte, Rochester's lakefront neighborhood along the shore of Lake Ontario. The restaurant is a short drive from Ontario Beach Park and the Charlotte Pier, making it a common stop for visitors to the waterfront. Charlotte has a small-town feel distinct from the rest of Rochester, with its own commercial strip along Lake Avenue. Street parking is available along Lake Avenue near the restaurant. The shop is open daily from 7 AM to 8 PM.