Tom Wahl's Brighton

Tom Wahl's Brighton is a fast-casual burger restaurant at 2545 Monroe Avenue in the Brighton neighborhood of Rochester, NY. It is part of a regional chain that traces its roots to a roadside stand opened by World War II veteran Tom Wahl Sr. on March 19, 1955, in Avon, New York. The original operation started with just homemade root beer and ice cream cones before expanding into hand-ground steak sandwiches and hot dogs. Tom Wahl Sr. sold the business to Bill Gray's Inc. in 1986, and the company has since grown to include locations across the Finger Lakes region, including Brighton, Greece, Canandaigua, Fairport, Pittsford, and Newark. The Brighton location opened on February 26, 2014.

The menu centers on ground steak burgers, including the signature Wahlburger — a ground steak patty topped with Swiss cheese, grilled ham, lettuce, and a house-made sauce. Other staples include:

• Hand-cut crinkle fries
• Handcrafted root beer, brewed on-site using the same process Tom Wahl Sr. developed at the original location
• Abbott's Frozen Custard and soft-serve ice cream
• Root beer floats made with the house-brewed root beer
• Hot dogs and additional sandwich options

The restaurant is open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM and offers both dine-in and online ordering for pickup and delivery.

Tom Wahl's holds a notable place in Rochester-area food history. The original Avon location was added to the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry in December 2023, a designation recognizing businesses that have operated for at least 50 years and contributed to their community's identity. The chain also held the federal trademark on the name "Wahlburger" and licensed it to the Wahlberg brothers for their restaurant venture in 2011. The Brighton location carries the chain's mid-century identity, with a dining room styled after a 1950s burger stand featuring vintage black-and-white photographs on the walls.

The Brighton location sits along the Monroe Avenue corridor in the Town of Brighton, east of the Twelve Corners area. Monroe Avenue is one of Rochester's busiest commercial stretches, lined with restaurants, shops, and retail plazas. The restaurant is a short drive from Brighton Commons and the Twelve Corners intersection, making it accessible from surrounding neighborhoods in southeastern Monroe County. On-site parking is available.