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Henrietta, N.Y. —
For music fanatics and foodies, there’s a place that tries to satisfy both — Lovin’ Cup in Henrietta. And many would agree that it fulfills its mission.
My boyfriend Dan and I decided to put the restaurant to the test and sat down for a post-work dinner. The bistro is located at Park Point at RIT and has been open for a few years.
The atmosphere
When first stepping into Lovin’ Cup, your eye is immediately drawn to the extraordinary wine rack hanging behind the bar. It takes up the whole wall and is an intricate and a creative metal sculpture. The wine rack was designed by local artist Chris Ward (who is the brother of Lovin’ Cup co-owner Erik Ward). A stage is set up to the left of the doorway where live music is played almost every night of the week.
The Park Point plaza has student housing above the many restaurants and bars. The Thursday night we went, Lovin’ Cup was filled with professionals getting drinks and dinner after work, with students scattered in the booths.
Portraits of Keith Richards adorn the walls, along with a dark painting of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” The artwork that hangs in the eatery changes frequently, so the next time you stop in it may look different.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was playing on the radio, along with other great tunes from the past.
The food
When we opened the menu, we noticed that every item has a name taken from a song title or lyric, like “Go Ask Alice” for stuffed mushrooms, and “Sweet Jane” for sweet potato wedges.
Dan and I decided to go with a nacho appetizer called “Burnin’ Down the House” ($7.99). We opted to go with the half order ($4.99) and added ground beef for an extra $1.99. The nachos were smothered with cheeses, olives, tomatoes, scallions, black beans and fresh corn. The half portion was perfect for two as an appetizer and was served with chunky salsa and sour cream. Don’t be fooled by the name, the nachos aren’t spicy.
For my entree, I chose the “Bleu Suede Shoes” ($8.99). The chicken-wing pizza came with a white sauce and blue cheese. The white sauce, described as their “special wing sauce,” was tangy and the crust wasn’t too thin. The chicken was generous and the meat was juicy and flavorful. It was an interesting take on a typical specialty chicken-wing pizza. The portion was large — I had enough to take home for lunch for the next day.
For music fanatics and foodies, there’s a place that tries to satisfy both — Lovin’ Cup in Henrietta. And many would agree that it fulfills its mission.
My boyfriend Dan and I decided to put the restaurant to the test and sat down for a post-work dinner. The bistro is located at Park Point at RIT and has been open for a few years.
The atmosphere
When first stepping into Lovin’ Cup, your eye is immediately drawn to the extraordinary wine rack hanging behind the bar. It takes up the whole wall and is an intricate and a creative metal sculpture. The wine rack was designed by local artist Chris Ward (who is the brother of Lovin’ Cup co-owner Erik Ward). A stage is set up to the left of the doorway where live music is played almost every night of the week.
The Park Point plaza has student housing above the many restaurants and bars. The Thursday night we went, Lovin’ Cup was filled with professionals getting drinks and dinner after work, with students scattered in the booths.
Portraits of Keith Richards adorn the walls, along with a dark painting of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” The artwork that hangs in the eatery changes frequently, so the next time you stop in it may look different.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was playing on the radio, along with other great tunes from the past.
The food
When we opened the menu, we noticed that every item has a name taken from a song title or lyric, like “Go Ask Alice” for stuffed mushrooms, and “Sweet Jane” for sweet potato wedges.
Dan and I decided to go with a nacho appetizer called “Burnin’ Down the House” ($7.99). We opted to go with the half order ($4.99) and added ground beef for an extra $1.99. The nachos were smothered with cheeses, olives, tomatoes, scallions, black beans and fresh corn. The half portion was perfect for two as an appetizer and was served with chunky salsa and sour cream. Don’t be fooled by the name, the nachos aren’t spicy.
For my entree, I chose the “Bleu Suede Shoes” ($8.99). The chicken-wing pizza came with a white sauce and blue cheese. The white sauce, described as their “special wing sauce,” was tangy and the crust wasn’t too thin. The chicken was generous and the meat was juicy and flavorful. It was an interesting take on a typical specialty chicken-wing pizza. The portion was large — I had enough to take home for lunch for the next day.
Dan ordered “French Kissin’,” a take on a French dip sandwich ($8.49). The sandwich came with sweet potato fries. Dan thought the sandwich was delicious and the fries were crispy and not too sweet. The fresh roast beef was thinly cut and tender. The au jus sauce nicely complemented the sandwich — but the best part was the Kimmelweck roll, which was soft, salty and not soggy.
Since we were enjoying the vibe inside so much, Dan and I stayed a little bit longer and worked up an appetite for dessert. Desserts vary by day and are displayed in a clear refrigerator. I ordered a piece of chocolate cake ($4.75), which was bigger than I could have asked for, and had a rich texture and flavor. Dan ordered a “Jillian’s Delights” that was transported from Cheesy Eddie’s ($2.99). Dan likened the oatmeal sandwich with cream cheese filling to a Little Debbie’s Oatmeal Creme Pies. The cookie was a bit frozen and difficult to eat but the flavor was good.
The drinks
The bar at Lovin’ Cup is cozy, and once it gets late enough, the whole restaurant serves as a bar. About half a dozen beers are currently on draft and the restaurant often rotates draft selections. Bottled beer choices are plentiful, running from ales to lagers to porters.
The restaurant has a full bar with specialty cocktails to choose from including “Muddy Waters,” a hot caramel latte with Kahlua.
Next time
I’d like to come back and enjoy their live music. Almost every day of the week, Lovin’ cup has music scheduled, including jazz night, Lovin’ Cup Idol and open mic night. Check out the Lovin’ Cup website for a complete calendar listing of live music acts and open mic nights.
Final thoughts
Lovin’ Cup is a combination of good music, unique food items and a great atmosphere. Definitely a must for any music lover, and certainly a restaurant any foodie can appreciate.
