5 /5 Adam S: Located within an 1881 church, Saint 1881 brings well made cocktails and small plates to the heart of downtown Rochester in a unique, modern setting.
We visited on a Thursday post-dinner, and it wasnt super busy. The service was pleasant, helpful, and very attentive, while not imposing. Cocktails were fab: of course we tried the spicy margarita, which is made with pineapple but can ask for it without. We also made an off-menu request, essentially a spicy grapefruit margarita, which was cheerfully made without hesitation.
The charcuterie board was likely one of the best charcuterie boards Ive had: the meats and accompanying accoutrements, from dates and candied pecans, to pickles, pickled capers, and marmalade were outstanding. I would have liked a bit more variety on the cheese, but overall it was a nice addition to our cocktails.
Other reviews have shared that the prices are high - however, for the cocktails I found them comparable to other types of upscale cocktail bars and restaurants in Rochester at ~$16 per cocktail. The small plates can definitely add up, though.
We really enjoyed our visit to Saint 1881. Will have to come back and try some of their espresso cocktails too.