The Arnett Cafe

The Arnett Cafe is a family-owned breakfast and lunch restaurant at 332 Arnett Blvd in Rochester's 19th Ward neighborhood. The Brown and Wright families opened the cafe in the summer of 2013, aiming to fill a gap in the local dining scene. Co-owner Norman Brown grew up in the 19th Ward before leaving Rochester to pursue a business career, eventually returning to establish the restaurant in his home neighborhood. Operating under the motto "Dining with a Southern Flair," the cafe has built a steady following largely through word of mouth and was featured on WXXI News in 2017 as a Rochester small-business success story.

The Arnett Cafe serves breakfast and lunch with a Southern-inflected soul food menu. Signature dishes include:

• Chicken & Waffles
• Shrimp & Grits
• Fish & Grits
• Steak & Eggs
• Salmon patties
• Belgian waffles, French toast, and short or full stack pancakes
• Cheese and vegetable omelettes served with home fries

The lunch menu adds an AC Signature Burger, turkey club, grilled marinated chicken breast, fish sandwich, and Zweigle's hot dogs — a Rochester staple. Sides range from sweet potato fries and coleslaw to mac salad. Beverages include coffee, hot chocolate, and house-made strawberry lemonade. The cafe is closed Mondays, open Tuesday through Thursday from 7 AM to 2 PM, and Friday through Sunday from 8 AM to 4 PM.

The Arnett Cafe is known for bringing Southern comfort-food dishes to Rochester that were not widely available in the area when it opened, particularly its Chicken & Waffles and Shrimp & Grits. As a Black-owned, family-run restaurant with over a decade of continuous operation in the 19th Ward, it has become a neighborhood anchor on Arnett Boulevard.

The cafe sits on Arnett Boulevard in the heart of the 19th Ward, one of Rochester's most historically diverse neighborhoods. The 19th Ward Community Association, established in 1965, is among the oldest neighborhood associations in the country, and the area maintains a strong tradition of locally owned businesses and civic engagement. The restaurant is a short drive west of downtown Rochester, accessible from Genesee Street. Street parking is available along Arnett Boulevard.