Outdoor seating
Yes
Dons Original in Rochester
Categories
Location on the map
Rochester, Monroe County, New York, US
Service options
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Delivery
No
Health and safety
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Fast service
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Offerings
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Kids' menu
Yes
Quick bite
Yes
Small plates
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Amenities
Good for kids
Yes
High chairs
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Cosy
Yes
Historic
Yes
Crowd
Groups
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Phone: +1 585-323-1177
Site: http://www.donsoriginal.com/
Site: http://www.donsoriginal.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:11AM–9PM
- Tuesday:11AM–10PM
- Wednesday:11AM–10PM
- Thursday:11AM–10PM
- Friday:11AM–10PM
- Saturday:11AM–10PM
- Sunday:11AM–9PM
Dons Original in other cities:
Comments (199)
A true Rochester original. An authentic Rochester Hot Dog stand thats open year round. Its near Seabreeze Amusement Park. I love the fresh onion rings and they have one of the meatiest Rochester Hot sauce some. They also bottle the sauce and you can buy it right there. Great place.. Lots of memories on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Started going there in the 60s. Much has changed throughout the years in the area but the food is still the Best around. The staff is friendly and courteous. Will gladly travel the distance again
The staff is very friendly and I live their sauce. It is very clean and the ice cream is excellent.
Classic experience with good food and good service. The burgers and hotdogs are excellent and the shakes are fantastic! I think this place is wonderful for grabbing a bite to eat after a day on the lake or at Seabreeze next door!
We went here after a day at seabreeze, so we didnt get there until 8:30 and they closed at 9. The staff was delightful and didnt rush us at all. Food was great! Everything tasted fresh. Onion rings were delicious.Atmosphere is like a step back in time. Classic 70s style burger joint, seems original, yet didnt seem dingy, still pretty clean.
Place was very crowded and the only place to sit had a group of children that were unruly the food is overpriced an example is 6.95 for onion rings. everything is sold a la carte. Food was average,its a hamburger and hots restaurant.
I have heard about these burgers for a few years and never made it there. Finally got there after a long cold day fishing before a 6 hour ride home. One of the best burgers I have ever had. Half way home I was wishing I had another.
Awesome place with great people! The atmosphere was also cool sitting at the bar to eat.
We love Dons original. The ground round is excellent and the hots are tasty.
This place is crazy busy no matter what day if week you go. That said, always receive fast friendly service. If the weather is hot, expect to see a line by the ice cream window. Great variety of flavors in soft serve or scoops. One of the few places I know where you can get a true old fashioned banana split or hot fudge sundae. The outdoor dining is kept up and clean with plenty of parking. Great place to hang out by the lake or stroll over to the beach just a few steps away. Out on a date or dinner with the kids, fun place to go to grab a bite or ice cream treat!
Food isnt nearly as good as it used to be. Horrible onion rings and fries.
Great food been going there since I was 7yrs old im 62 now!
All the way back in the last century, circa 1960s and 70s, my grandmother used to haul me and my brother up from Irondequoit for root beers and red hots. Then it was Don & Bobs and it forever set my high standard for hot dogs and window tray, car hop-based meals.
Flavors and the smells always bring it back to my childhood when our parents brought me and my siblings there
Lovely diner, stop by for a frozen custard milkshake which we enjoyed on the waterfront.
Still one of the best cheeseburgers around Rochester ! Always stop when Im back in town!
Excellent food!! The establishment is clean and the staff are attentive.
Yummy, old style burgers, good service and the best chocolate almond custard around. The kids who work there are young but they bust their a-ss especially when its busy... great views and sits on the bay. Great for the grandkids.
Dons was great! Quiet around 6pm... Couple of booths available inside and several tables outside. Health and safety guidelines seemed to be enforced reasonably. Food was cooked well and the homemade pickles are delicious! Burgers are definitely greasy off the grill so if thats not your thing then Id try the hots or chicken.
Fries were great. I ordered a hard roll with my ground. The roll was falling into crumbs. Had to wait a long time for service. The two people next to me got tired of waiting and walked out. I spoke with a server. She took my order right away and food was served up quick. They seem to me more interested in filling takeout and Grubhub orders than customers at the counter. Probably won’t go back if this doesn’t change. There other good choices in Sea Breeze.
Been there forever for a reason. Cheeseburger hot sauce and onions....delish.
I went to get Ice cream at Don’s last night around 7ish, very busy for ice cream but I don’t mind waiting, but my experience was awful!!! They had a young boy that couldn’t be more than 17 working all by himself with no help at all. This young man did his best but when you have a line all the way into the road and you put pressure on a young employee like that you should be ashamed to be in business. Even though I waited a half hour I gave the young man a $10 tip for a $4 ice cream because I see his worth if you don’t. Do better Don’s!!!! This is unacceptable!!!
One of the best places to grab a burger in town. This restaurant is a classic that was introduced to me by my parents who used to come here as kids. I have never had a bad experience here, and look forward to my next visit
They have alil of everything. Something basic, tasty food though.
Food was good but service is very very slow
My fiance and I decided to go down to the pier for some frozen custard it was 9:45PM and no one else was in line we get to the window and the lady says we are closed now and slams the window. THEY DONT CLOSE TIL 10! I think it was a bit rude and they should of served us!
Slow service. Line 1: 5 ppl waiting outside for foodLine 2: 1 person waiting for ice cream Over 1/2 hour outside waiting due to the employees were in the woods with 3 people ordering.1/2 wait inside for 3 burgers and an order of fries. Loved my bc burger but not worth waiting an hour for.
Some places have come and gone that make plates. good to, see some places never sacrifice quality no matter how long theyve been in business. Keep up the good work and the passion to make great food. Youre one the last of a dying breed
The food and staff were awesome. I havent been there in a long time. The onion rings have not changed a bit, still delicious! Good covid set up for food and for ice cream.The people that are outside and just dropped their trash on the ground really annoyed me, glad I didnt see anyone do it, very disrespectful!
Dons Original is one of those places thats perfect for the warm Spring and Summer times, even tho its open all year long, when you want something quick and tasty 😋 They also have Abbotts Ice Cream 🍦
I was the only person in the whole place wearing a mask!I noticed that some customers were laughing at me for being masked.Dont go here til the pandemic is over if you value good health.
The food is always excellent and the staff is great
Dons is our go-to spot for ice cream! Their pricing is comparable to other ice cream places as is their selection. My kiddo loves his cones, but hasnt quite figured out how to actually eat it as such. Instead of making it seem like an inconvenience to do a dish with the cone loose on top (similar to the clown hat), weve had nothing but smiles and politeness for our request. My fiancé and I stopped in today for lunch (his first time ever!) as well. The guys were very attentive, they didnt lose us in the shuffle despite several larger parties coming in at the same time. We received our order faster than either of us expected, and both guys checked in with us regularly. He said its the best burger hes ever had, and hes already planning our next trip down! I have never been disappointed with anything on the menu. Dons has my favorite steak fries. Theyre crisp on the outside yet soft inside. Hands down one of my favorite places for any craving!
Best place to get milkshakes from in all of rochester
My first time at Dons Original and even at 32 degrees weather the Chocolate and walnuts ice cream was amazing... Also the Black Coffee...I am defenetly going back next week. Servers were friendly and professionals..
Website says open till 10 PM, Google displays hours to 10, called to place an order at 9 and was told they are closed. Drive over, open sign on, hours sign in the window shows open to 10, open signs are all on. Stopped at the door told sorry we close at 9 by an employee, turning away a lot of business tonight. Guess I’ll find somewhere else. Sad because I enjoy Don’s over any other place in town.
Quality food at a reasonable price. A great burger and fry place to stop at on your way down to enjoy the water.
Quality food, fast. We got to listen to the wait staff call out orders to the cook. All the food was cooked to perfection. Prices were very reasonable, too. Large portions make this the place to visit multiple times.
Great. Food. Burgers were very good and tender. Hot sauce. Excellent.Very. Expensive. Though
Amazing food, nice laid back atmosphere. Our server was Haley and she was awesome. We came in close to closing time on a Friday night so Im sure they had a busy evening, but Haley was patient and friendly with us and went out of her way to make sure we had everything we needed. It was refreshing to get such down-to-earth service, we really felt at home. We will be making Dons Original our new go-to dinner spot for our nights at the lakefront!
What is not to love about an old fashion burger joint on the lake? I have so many fond memories of this place as a child and hope to see it standing strong when I have kids of my own to create new memories. Nothing wrong with the Bill Grays next door,, but this is a step up in quality and authenticity. The staff is always very pleasant. Can get very busy due to the size but with the fast service you will not be waiting long.
Great place to eat its worth the trip there where ever you live. Large menu offerings including iconic burgers & localy made hot dogs cooked the way you want. Located close to the Bay and the inlet to Lake Ontario and of course dont forget to try their custard. Can get busy but worth the short wait. Enjoy!
Really cool restaurant! When you walk into this little place you totally can see how it was when it opened back in like the 40s or 50s, cause it really hasnt changed!!! Mostly a big long bar with stools seating and the menu is mostly from the 50s too! Very awesome little burger joint thats a blast from the past. That has a long history in Rochester due to its great food! Perfect example of, if its good why change?
Havent been there in 20 yrs. Still the best burger youll ever put in your face!!!
Onion rings are fresh and delicious. This place is a Sea Breeze landmark.
Great burgers and custard!
The food is absolutely amazing. Definitely recommend this place.Try the Big Plate when you go there.Must be really hopping during the summer months. In January when I went there was a steady stream of people coming and going.
An Irondequoit icon serving Awesome Food! Had a rib-eye steak sandwich and onion rings... The Bomb!
Best plate spot in town. Fight me! But not just plates, everything is wonderful! Love the old lunch counter.
Counter service like you remember from the 50’s with great burgers and hots cooked to order. Great onion rings and other fried options. Service is quick and efficient; fun to watch and listen to! Ice cream and other delicious treats are available too.
No idea what the food us like. I keep trying to place pick up orders and cant which seems odd as they are on grubhub. I just want to walk up grab my order and go enjoy the lake, next door i can do that so i am about done trying and failing to place pick up orders from dons
Ate there yesterday will not be back. Unfriendly staff, (thats ok) but why on earth is my food sitting directly under a cold blowing fan while I wait for my burger to cook! So get my food, it comes slapped together buns cold and a little smushed, no care barely any onions when I asked for extra, fries cold, onion rings cold and not just cold- cold enough for the grease to get hard on them and to top it off most are broken. Maybe just a bad day for the grumpy staff? Seems to have pretty good reviews. I was with 3 other people we shared the same opinion.
Hadnt had them in over 30 years and even better than I remembered great burgers
The food has been consistently good over the years. The counter staff was very attentive. But I think for a warm sunny late afternoon they should have had someone stationed in the ice cream portion of the restaurant. People would wait outside and have to go inside and request someone.
Always a great burger. Stayed loyal since the Don and Bob days in the 70s. Bill who? Tom who? Charly who? Red what? Itll always be Dons!
Best burger stop, love this place! Limited seating, great food, great scenery right next to the lake.
Dons is great local food with great people. Sat on the sun porch with philly cheese steak and cheeseburgers. Satisfied customers all around. See ya next time.
Went here with my family during covid. Its hilarious watching people walk in only to get yelled at and told to leave for not wearing a mask. The food was also very good. Will definitely return and highly recommend.
Had an excellent burger and fries. Fun place to just drop in and eat....
Great fast service, took less than 10 minutes for food to come out. Prices are reasonable but keep in mind most things like lettuce or tomatoes are an extra charge. Much less crowded in the winter and you can use the Irondequoit Bay Inlet Bridge to get there.
Best burger in town! Excellent flavor and cooked just right! Tried others but theirs is delicious! Quality remains the same year after year! Now if they would only open the Outlet Bridge sooner!
Me and my husband always eat at Dons original and we love the food and the staff there are so friendly and happy and if we have any problems they see to it that we get our food the way we want it.
Getting away overpriced for the amount of food it is no longer a good value to go there.
Interesting little diner near Lake Ontario. Food was good, but not outstanding. Served quickly, on paper products. Pricey, $15 for a bacon cheeseburger, fries and a soda, plus tip. Ok, but probably will be my only trip
Normally the family loves this place but, Sunday it wasnt the normal experiance we usually have. The waitress was rude and very snippy and the relish on the burger was old with a funny taste and smell. We normally visit 3 to 5 times during the winter months to get our summer fix and up to 10 times in the summer. But after this experience I dont think we will be returning.
I havent been to rochester in far too long. Last night had a dream of these burgers and the meat sauce.As soon as the pandemic is over, i am planning a road trip to the place where quality predominates!
Had a great cheeseburger, with very good hot sauce. Onions rings were crunchy and hot.Very good.
Stopped in on a sunny warm fall weekday, a couple months after the end of the summer crush. Enjoyed a perfectly made ground steak (a hamburger) with my favorite version of Rochester hot sauce. I accompanied it with freshly made steak fries (with more hot sauce for dipping), and a real milkshake. Had to wait for the fries, they dont serve reheated fries that have been sitting around. Friendly counter service and grill cook.
Never mind there were cockroaches crawling across the countertop or that there weren’t enough stools to sit on or that I was overcharged for a Tasteless barbecue beef sandwich that made me ill and when tried to run to the bathroom that was locked so I had to throw up in the bushes! Thanks a lot you were a great place to go with family years ago now you’ve fallen into a sad state of dirty dull boring Bad food and the waitresses ended up doing most of the cooking,the food was terrible for my guests as well! Sad to say “Bob’s has jumped the shark!” Crazy expensive and with good real competition from Tom Wahl’s clean nice fresh tasty restaurant next-door that puts a nail in the coffin of Don’s original.
The burgers here are so freaking good and the service staff are the best. You have to also check out their menu selection, they have everything here.
I have been going to Dons Original since I was eight years old or younger. Quality is STILL on point. The BEST chocolate almond ice cream EVER! Another Rochester Gem.
We sat in line for 30 minutes for ice cream.... The ONLY girl Working... Took orders 1 order at a time. There was only 5 or 6 people in front of us, 4 of them had THE SAME EXACT ORDER..... She could have expedited mych quick... The worse part is when we got our order it was the smallest scoop in a dish I have ever had!! It was not a full,scoop.... And it cost us 5.75 each.... Ill go,again,because ive gone forever.... But if I heard new ownership took over, i would strongly suggest discussing efficiency with the staff.
So delicious every time! Very friendly and hard-working staff. Folks, please tip your servers at Dons. You may be eating at a counter, but they are your wait staff. Also, when you want to get their attention, say excuse me instead of hey, honey.
It was good my onion rings were great my burger was great I will be going there again and the service is on point
Place your order at the counter, pick up & enjoy the tastes of SUMMER!! Hots, hamburgers, BBQ beef & chicken, etc. Nice location on the Bay, & once temps cooperate, youll be able to eat outside on picnic tables. Now there are limited tables inside along with seating at counter. Finishing touch is always a chocolate almond custard......Always a fun spot!!
Service was a little slow... but the food was good and the employees were great... the atmosphere is awesome and thats why we go!!!
Even putting the nostalgia aside, this is my favorite place in Rochester. Food is simple and delicious as good as any diner can get. Efficient and friendly staff and a great atmosphere all around, close to Irondequoit Bay. Highly recommended to at least try once.
Always love Dons Original for over 50 years. Unfortunately the waitress behind the counter was rude. From Rochester Now in NH. Always visit Dons for great food. Thank you
There was a small girl that took my order and I waited 30 minutes to get it. She has no business working in that place. She was slow while there was a young man who was clearly more confident and was taking orders 4 at a time. This poor girl could only process one thing at a time and was too timid to work in a fast pace job. Usually the food and serviceis pretty good and thats why I went there. She was clearly outshined by her co workers
Great times 😄, great food and I love the view and history.
My girlfriend and myself, after having dinner at another establishment, decided to go to Dons Original for desert. After looking over the ice cream menu on the outside of the restaurant we went inside and ordered two banana splits. While we were enjoying our ice cream and they were very good, I was just about to finish and I was down to the last couple of spoonfuls and I found a piece of hard clear plastic in my mouth. I asks for the manager, who was Sarah, and I told her what had happened then Sarah and her coworker, who made our banana splits, went to the area/room where the ice cream machines are to see if they could find out where the piece of plastic may have come from but after inspecting that area the girls came back and I asks what they had found, Sarah said They couldnt find anything that was broken or looked like the piece of plastic that Id found and that I,Sarah, was sending a picture of the piece of plastic to her boss and it must have come from their supplier, but that was it no Im sorry from Sarah about what had happened or I can give you your money back for the one banana split, but the girl who made our banana splits did apologize to us a couple of times and I told her it wasnt her fault and nothing else was said so we finished and left.I wouldnt think that this would be common practice at a establishment such as Dons Original that has been in the Rochester area for years, decades. Im sorry that this happened but I do not know if well be returning to Dons.
Great Burgers, Great Service, Best Onion Rings and if you are still hungry...Chocolate Almond Ice Cream, is a Wonderful Treat! Just wish they had coupons on occasion. Thats why so many people go to the guy a few doors down! lol
It was a mild spring evening and there seemed to only be 3 people working which was plenty because of the small crowd that was there. The food came out quick and hot. Service was very kind and prompt. Dons always has been a family favorite.
Classic hot dog stand that hasnt changed much since it opened. Burgers are great and prices arent terrible. Usually not too busy during the off season, but seating is a little limited. Can get some big lines during the summer when Seabreeze is open.
Classic Rochester burger joint. Yummy greasy onion rings. Usually, staff is on point. Today was a different matter. Order came incomplete and wrong. Food was fine.
Went to don Bobs Culver road 5/6/21 ordered steak sandwich no good hardly any steak on it ground round look like a hamburger to me they had no culinary skills spent 25 bucks
Best hamburger in Sea Breeze. Quality of meat is better than its larger neighboring restaurant. Original layout, make the burgers in the open behind the counter. Fries, Onion rings, Burgers are best in the area.
Food was good, service was terribLe. Waited for 15 mins before someone took our order. Finally grabbed a worker after they kept taking customers randomly walking in and standing at the counter. He acted annoyed that I complained and continued taking someone elses order until I raised my voice. Couldnt tell who was in charge. All the employees looked at us like we were the problem. Absolutely terrible. A bunch of kids running the restaurant. Good way to loose business.
The food here is amazing. The service was so-so. We sat at the counter and had to flag someone down for assistance and it wasnt very busy. I suspect it was an off day. None of the staff were very friendly. Their food was definitely worth it.
I am a little disappointed with my second experience here at Dons original. The food was mediocre. $6 for kraft Mac and Cheese....dont really understand the rave about the meat hot. My service was ok at best.... Ordered and waited 10 minutes for drinks 3 servers on, had to ask another server to get them. I will try at a different time.
The original ground steak sandwich had a wonderful flavor and the steak fries were a beautiful golden color
This place brings on feelings of mastalgia for myself and family. However, the arent handling the changes that Covid19 has caused well. The service was slow and not the friendly, inviting service that Im used to receiving. I have been going there for over 30 years and may not go back.
Great friendly service, great food and clean!
Best burgers in town! Been going her since I was a young kid and Im 30 now.
The place you want to find when youre on the water. Friendly service, menu with everything youd expect, quick delivery of food after ordering and a bonus - their freshly made ice cream custard. Unbelievable.
Had a banana milkshake it was good but the wait was unbelievable! Waiters walked right past me many times an didnt even ask if i waned to order.. sitting right at the counter the whole time .
The food was amazing! I highly recommend the burgers and onion rings.
Great food, fast service, classic atmosphere. If you’re looking for a bite in sea breeze this is the place to go for classic eats! Everything is fresh and made to order right in front of you. Highly recommend!
Over priced, rolls tasted old and rock hard, $5 for old cold onion rings. Ice cream is yuck and when asked for strawberry sauce they put syrup on it. Overall waste of money.
Never disappointed, love it here!
My fiance and I come here at least once a week, and usually everything is...decent. This time, we ordered 3 burgers and well-done fries. The girl behind the grill, WHO IS NEVER PLEASANT, forgot our fries, and never appologized. When we got the fries finally (after our burgers were 75% gone) only mine were well done. Then, in the middle of eating and using my ketchup, a server asks me if im done with the ketchup to give to another customer instead of walking around the counter to grab an unoccupied ketchup. Food is great, CUSTOMER SERVICE IS LACKING TO SAY THE LEAST. Probably will not return.
Sneak away of Dont Tell your Momwith my 8 year old for ice cream. 91 degree Fahrenheit Labor day required a father/son ice cream ( chocolate almond custard). Reasonable service with acceptable pricing for the area. Ample parking.
Great food with a great atmosphere. Friendly staff that actually listen to details of your order, like well done... or extra whatever. Great place to eat, right on the lake, even in the off season.
WellThis is what I get 🍔 a well done cheeseburger on a hard roll with lettuce and tomato.... then loaded with absolutely every single topping they have (extra hot sauce) and pickles on the side... YUM🍦 save room for a small dish of chocolate almond ice cream for dessert👌
Great service, food and prices.Manager helped out while busy, unlike other competitors. Burgers. And rings and kids menu...amazing
Delicious burger, onion rings and custard. The staff are super friendly too.
A great hot dog, hamburg stand by the lake. A tradition in Rochester! A must place to visit and have a great meal and top it off with an ice cream from Abbotts.
I believe there is potential an is a land mark for many but with so many young workers and so many old patrons the food just isnt the same bill Grays has everything on you.sorry...not sorry.
The last of the 1940s hot dog stands left - all the others have been overtaken by the chains including local chains like Bill Grays - Dons food is great & they deserve our support.
This place has been around forever and has such a nice feel to it. It is old and a little rundown, but the food is great. We always go when we visit!
Long time favorite! A Rochester classic.
Burger was chewey. Fries under cooked. Hot sauce tastes like chili. Havent been there in years. Probably wont go back ever.
Food was good. They ran out of fish on Friday. Waitress was awesome. Parking not an issue this time. Prices reasonable.
Usually good but workers have screwed up our orders multiple times and refuse to fix them because they think we ordered something else. Also, workers have refused on multiple occasions to service the custard line. Luckily, Bill Grays is right next door!
Excellent burger and custard place probably one of the cleanest you will ever find
No one can beat their onion rings. They are made fresh daily and are exceptional.
Great onion rings!
Oldie but a Goodie ... Good old hamburgers and yummy chocolate almond chip ice cream ... The beautiful view of Lake Ontario is just across the road, of course stop for a drink or two at Margies, its a tradition 😊
Great food / great service 👍
Super cute! Old 50s feel. The burger was really moist and yummy. Quick and friendly service. Ill be back.
Very disappointed we went to show a friend a old style hamburger joint.. had ice cream and there was something in it ? Not ice cream looked like plastic... when we showed it to the young girl she shrugged and walked away. no sorry from anyone... so sad
Celebrating my husbands 65 th birthday at his all time favorite burger place! ALWAYS delicious!
There is something about Dons that wont let you score anything below a 5. Its the hand battered onion rings, the homemade custard milkshakes, and meat hot sauce on burgers or sausage patties that makes our Roc scene what it is today from good ole roots that dont change.
Absolutely best burgers ...have to go here everytime in Rochester.. melt in your mouth meat.. pickles and great onion rings!
Can it get any better than this on the shore of Lake Ontario. You can even pick up and take your food across the street to Marges Lakeside. Dons custard is the absolute best!!!
Love the homemade BBQ sauce. Onion rings are great too. Would be 5 stars if it werent so expensive.
We eventually got milkshakes. Someone go get a job there and help that guy out hes doing his best
I have been going here since the beginning of time and each visit is like seeing an old friend. The food is always delicious and the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming.
By far the smoothest, richeat & tastiest ice cream custard weve EVER had!! No matter when or why we come to Rochester, we will always find a reason to end up at Dons Original.
Great food but crazy expensive. I always say i wont go back when i get my bill but i always end up going back bc the food is so damn good
Buns where dry, no kids cups, no lids for cups, burgers where absolutely disappointing in flavor and server had me running back and forth to the counter for lids, straws, napkins, ketchup... then when I thought I could finnaly sit and eat, she says oh yeah by the way you have to pay your bill now.. needless to say it was cold at that point, kids here done eating and the taste of the food other then the onion rings which where delicious ,,,, was absolutely disappointing!
Awesome place, great burgers and onion rings. I always stop here when Im down near the Bay
Been coming for years- this time we came- both had masks on- was deciding my order and was told to wait outside-went outside waited for my wife to get her order- was dissatisfied because I only had part of my order- will not be back until the virus is over! Gary & Diane
What a great family restaurant Hots , Hamburgers , Frys & Fish diners are Great! But to top it off Abbott Ice cream parlor is in the restaurant also Love it :)
Fun little burger stand with good food. If its crowded, Ill go to Bill Greys instead, theyre simply better at managing crowds and the food is at least as good and they have much more seating
Under the COVID guidelines this is STILL the best place to get a cheeseburger. Great service, great food. Highly recommend it.
I love the white hot dogs; try the hot sauce, it was great, generous extra order of pickles, excellent onion rings and a milkshake for Mom that she loved.
One of my favorites the meat hot sauce is absolutely fantastic.
Great custard ice cream! I strongly recommend the cookies and cream variety. Singles are huge! Doubles must be ridiculous.
The best tasting burgers in town always fresh and cooked perfectly. Great service !
I have been eating here since the late 50s, when its name was Don and Bobs, and its motto where the elite meet to eat! Still the best burger in the county.
Ugh. I was almost done with my blt and noticed green mold on the bread. We did get our money back but no other compensation. The manager just apologized and said he hoped I didnt eat too much mold. What????? Never going there again.
What a great treasure in this tiny town. Its not the cleanest or nicest, but food is good, and its been there FOREVER. Its kinda nastalgic for me. Perhaps someone else might give it 3 stars? But I love it.
Steaks are bad great atmosphere but food at least the bbq chicken is just meh!!. Now the custard is the truth but the food just keeping it real is just okay.
This place was ok, just didnt like when I asked the gay waiter if we could have some water he flipped his hand like no girl does. And said Im not your waiter. So stupid. Zero team work.
Great fish fry tonight-big portion and coating was excellent!
Love this place. Been there forever. Great burgurs. Great rings. Great ice cream. Pass Bill Grays and go to Dons.
Was just okay this time most other times I have really good food there but this time it was not but I still gave it four stars because of all my past experiences
Terrible service. Food was just ok. And then my husband was VERY sick for the next 12 hours. Needless to say, we will not be going back.
Wow, what a fun place to visit. Really enjoyed the grounds, yummy!
Awesome food. I love the porker! Ive been going here my whole life and its always delicious and good service.
Food was great. Hard to get servers attention
Old school burger and hot dog stand type of restaurant with a good menu for such a place and also ice cream dessert options.Not fancy, but not meant to be.
Dons is a long time institution for burgers and ice cream. Good place to go if you want something near Seabreeze.
Overall was not very thrilled. Just going to leave it at that. Did not get sick just bad service.
A good place to be in family, good service and delicious food.
Great burger joint, including similar style food. Service was fast on a busy 4th of July evening.
Great ice cream! Sloppy delicious burgers & dogs. Slow service when super busy, but worth it.
Love the burgers i would have rated a 5 but onion rings were not hot.
Great old fashioned Rochester Burger, make sure to get both the fry and onion rings, You wont be sorry
Worlds greatest cheeseburger Bill Grays? Definitely NOT! Dons original still the best, and by far the best Hot sauce.
I have come here for over 50 years. Its not what it use to be. Food is bland. Prices are high for the food that they serve.
Very poor service. Was not even acknowledge. Was inside for 5 minutes and the girl walked past me 3 or 4 times. Only 3 others inside and they were already eating. I got no service at all so I left. Very disappointing. Would not recommend Dons to anyone.
Cute diner, didnt eat the food there. Got ice cream, it tasted artificial and like metal. Wont be going back.
Serve at the counter was great! Ate outside on their picnic tables!
We had a family outing that day and then we stopped at McDonalds to eat and the food was delicious
Still the classic hamburger/hotdog emporium at Seabreeze. Nothing fancy, just solid food with a great location on the bay.
Excellent food and customer service exceptional onion rings.
Food is awesome! Need more organized way for patrons to place order during their busy times.
Been going to Dons for decades. Consistently good food, clean and most often cute, cheerful, hardworking staff. Bravo!
Great food . Service not so much
This was my first job when I was 15 yrs old and the food never changes...great food, great customer service. Thank you...
Great ground rounds, very efficient staff. Worth the trip.
Great place to go as always.
Great food.
Great burger !
They have the best meat hot sauce in Rochester.
Great place! The order did not take long and my burger was delicious!
Good burgers. Onion rings were really good too
Been coming here since I was baby 68 years same location. Love it year round .
Its not like it used to be when it was Don and Bobs. Today I had a hot dog and a milkshake it came to $9.02 a little outrageous. Also it was not a footlong hot dog. A little disappointed.
When its real busy, it can be hard to be waited on. Food is very good
Been going there for years. Always great and best cheeseburger and onion rings
Best onion rings in the County. Fresh battered sweet onions.
Love it here cheese burger hot sauce mustard homemade onion rings allllll day
I love the food there. Its cute and affordable for like a cute date
Fantastic food! They need more staff. But I still recommend this place.
Been awhile....good as I remember....topped off with the best chocolate almond custard around
One of the best cheeseburgers around, friendly staff and in a great location to get away from the city.
Total reviews rating 4.4
199 Reviews for Dons Original 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-21Love Dons Original! My burger was great and the fries were in fact golden and delicious! The Philly Cheesesteak sandwich left something to be desired, so Ground Rounds are the way to go.
Review №2
2022-04-08Ive been coming here since I was a small child and the atmosphere is very inviting and laid back. Takes you back in time with the vibe. The grill is visible so you can watch the chefs prepare your meals. They have so many options for food and even many kids options and even serve icecream as well! Staff was prompt to serving their customers and extremely friendly to me and others. They offer both indoor bar stool style, booth and tables as well as many outdoor seating arrangements so pick a spot you like and enjoy their delicious menu items. You have to try out this gem of a restaurant if your in the area!
Review №3
2022-05-19Dons is great. I love the place personally. Its my favorite local burger 🍔 joint.I always get the ground steak meal and thats a little over $11. Ground steak, fries and a drink. They offer hard or soft roll and either grilled or off the char for your hamburger.But..they are also know for their rib-eye steak sandwiches.Its competition next store gets a lot of hype but Dons is the hidden gem. Give it a try.
Review №4
2022-05-28Great location to have an ice cream or a sitdown lunch or dinner. Very friendly. Close to the lake. Always fun to visit.
Review №5
2021-08-09A place that took the advice do one thing well and you have a restaurant. The burger or ground round as its called here is one of thee best in its 1/3lb weight class at the $5 mark. It can be made to order with your choice of toppings and condiments.My suggestions dont stop there... Skip the combo and get a frozen custard instead. I cant recommend getting the combo for an extra $5. The run of the mill 1/2lb of steak fries and watered down 12 Oz fountain drink is expensive.
Review №6
2022-07-01Hadnt been here in years. It did not disappoint. And loved the way the workers interacted just like the good old days and with a smile. . They looked liked they enjoyed their job. Refreshing to see.
Review №7
2020-10-10Don’s Originals since 1945! Classic dive diner grounds, hots, fries, custard all delicious. Wife and I got a “big” plate (garbage plate) it was really good meaty taste with relish and steak fries mac salad was perfect w out drenching it in mayo. Service was fast and all the waitresses were super cheerful! Prices around the same as Bill Grays $11.99 for a play. Overall a great lunch would def recommend it!
Review №8
2021-08-27I grew up in Rochester and my mother started taking me to Don & Bobs (now Dons Original) in Seabreeze in the early 50s. Their burger (ground round sandwich) is the perfection of this American classic. And, the hot sauce they make on the premises using a closely-guarded recipe, makes it a truly unique experience. I order my sandwich on a regular hamburger bun with everything plus extra hot sauce, and add a little ketchup for sweetness. Their motto is Where Quality Predominates. Remarkably, theyve consistently lived up to that promise for the 70 years Ive been going there. If youre in Rochester, this is a must stop. If you like burgers, I guarantee you will be amazed and delighted
Review №9
2022-06-29Great friendly service. Food was done quickly. The place is everything its supposed to be. The location is right near a park and seabreeze, not far from the water as well.
Review №10
2022-07-02Serves the type of burgers popular around Rochester. Pretty good, nothing flashy, nice location.