Dining
Le Bon Vie in Penfield offers a mix of French, Italian, Mediterranean, and other cuisines. PHOTO BY MATT DETURCK
The good life [ CHOW HOUND ] BY SUSIE HUME
After virtually growing up in a restaurant and spending years as a server at a laundry list of Rochester restaurants ranging from upscale eateries to pizzerias, Molly Scahill knew one thing for sure — she never wanted to own a restaurant herself. But in the midst of working two jobs, attending school fulltime, and raising a son, Scahill, 23, decided to rethink her decision. “In this economy you need a trade, and this is my trade,” Scahill says. “It’s what I know best, so I decided to put school on the back burner. It’s a lot of hard work and that’s why I never wanted to do it before, but trust me, it’s easier than working two jobs and going to school.” Last year Scahill checked out the space formerly occupied by Legends Grill in Penfield and decided it was the perfect spot to open a restaurant. After her friend and former boss Anthony Dapice closed his restaurant, the downtown upscale eatery Pazzo Cucina (where Scahill was previously a server), Scahill invited him to work for her as the executive chef of her new venture. Dapice agreed and Le Bon Vie (French for “the good life”) was born. The restaurant, which opened in July and received its liquor license earlier this month, offers a wide variety of cuisines including Italian, French, Mediterranean, Asian, and Louisiana French Quarter. The idea, Scahill says, was to “bring a little bit of the good life from everywhere here.” The affordable, yet upscale menu includes options like a roasted ginger Atlantic salmon served with a ginger-soy butter sauce, filet mignon with gorgonzola and walnuts, shrimp stew fay (a cross between a stew and an
etouffee), and local favorites like chicken and artichoke French. And if you want to compliment Scahill directly for your dining experience, she might just be your table’s server. “Instead of being the owner who is just yelling orders at everyone, I choose to be out there helping because this is a team effort. Plus, I love serving and I want to set a good example for the other servers,” she says. Le Bon Vie is located at 1778 Penfield Road. Lunch prices range from $6 to $12, and dinners $8-$23. It is open for lunch Tuesday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and dinner Tuesday-Sunday 4:30-9 p.m. For more information, call 264-9899.
Fall menu changes and specials
In an effort to please those interested in meals that are lighter on the stomach and the wallet, Blue Cactus Mexican Grille has added a “mid-week budget pleezer” menu that is available all day Monday through Thursday, and Fridays until 3 p.m. The menu offers five entrée combinations, all priced at $7.50: Cheese quesadillas with black-bean soup, chicken enchilada salad with French fries, cheese enchilada served with sopa de lima (a chickenbased soup with lime and vegetables), chilaquiles (somewhat akin to a Mexican lasagna with tortilla pieces, salsa, pork, cheese, and more), and a fiesta plate with two chicken taquitos, a beef empanada, and French fries. In addition, the restaurant is also offering its popular “Taco Tuesday” promotion again, featuring all-youcan-eat tacos every Tuesday for just $12, or $6 for children under 12. Blue Cactus Mexican
Grille is located at 5 Lift Bridge Lane in Fairport. For more information, call 377-9590 or visit bluecactusmexicangrille.com. The Distillery has also released a new menu featuring two new appetizers and six new entrees. Entrée additions include blackened mahi mahi served over field greens, chicken lo mein, a Carolina BBQ burger (featuring pulled pork and coleslaw), tomato basil pizza, and a hummus appetizer and sandwich. The Distillery has four locations in the Rochester area: 1142 Mount Hope Ave (271-4105), 300 Paddy Creek Cir in Greece (621-1620), 3010 Winton Road S in Henrietta (339-3010), and 10 Square Drive in Victor (924-2337). For more information, visit thedistillery.com. The recently opened Crab Shack is now offering weeknight happy-hour food and drink specials. Monday is “cans and clams” night featuring a dozen steamed clams and a Heineken for $8.95; Tuesday is “kegs and legs” night offering a half pound snow crab cluster and any draft beer for $8.95; Wednesday is “oysters and Blue Points” serving up a half dozen blue point oysters paired with a Blue Point Toasted Lager for $12.95; and Thursday is “buckets and beers” night where patrons can enjoy a half pound bucket of crispy shrimp and any draft beer for $8.95. Additional drink specials are being offered nightly like $2 glasses of wine and $2 bottled beers. The Crab Shack is located 749 East Henrietta Road. For more information, call 427-7420 or visit crabshackrochester.com.
Temporary closing
Spot Coffee (200 East Ave) closed its doors
earlier this month to begin renovations that are expected to take several months. The lengthy and pricey makeover (slated to cost $400,000, according to President of U.S. Operations Richard Gress) will feature such changes as a new bar and kitchen updates that will allow the coffeehouse/eatery to serve gourmet pizzas (offered at some of Spot’s other locations in Western New York and Canada) and all-day breakfast. The café’s owners are working with the Rochester Preservation Board to keep the building’s historical integrity intact.
Closing
Henrietta Caribbean restaurant Island Fresh Cuisine has closed the restaurant portion of its business. According to the recording on its voicemail, “Island Fresh Cuisine no longer offers dining services. We’re glad to provide outside catering for your private party or office event.” Those interested in catering services are instructed to e-mail islandfreshcuisine@ yahoo.com or leave a voicemail at 424-2150. Attempts to reach the owner for comment on the change in services went unreturned. rochestercitynewspaper.com
City