To-go meals to enjoy during downtown's summer activities

If you're late for a very important date with an activity like Sidewalk Sessions, the Pop-Up Art Cart, Music at The Deck, or Games on the Go, have no fear! Grab-and-go or made to order, here are the to-go options from nearby downtown restaurants to save the day while you savor the fun.

Almadina Restaurant

Menu: Anything from its amazing offerings: from a gyro to a chicken schwarma sandwich or perhaps dessert first kind of lunch with an order of baklava!
How to place an order: Call 507-206-4057 or place in person at Almadina.

Auntie Anne's Pretzel

Menu: Pretzels in any form (soft, nuggets, or dogs) with any kind of dip you fancy is what you'll find from Auntie Anne's Pretzel. One of the best parts? It's so close to the activity action, you can almost smell the fresh pretzel goodness!
How to place to-go order: Online here or place in person at Auntie Anne's Pretzel.

BB's Express

Menu: With "express" right in its name, BB's Express is sure to provide goodness that is pizza...or nachos...or fresh salads or sandwiches!
How to place to-go order: Online here or place in person at BB's Express.

Benedict's

Menu: Sandwiches come in all styles and sizes with Benedict's variety! Or maybe you would like breakfast later in the day. Whichever you choose, Benedict's can make it just for you!
How to place to-go order: Online here.

Blue Diamond Indian Restaurant

Menu: For international food you can take on the run, look no further than Blue Diamond Indian Restaurant! With changing daily specials, you can try something different every time you come downtown for these summer activities.
How to place an order: Place in person at Blue Diamond.

Bravo Espresso

Menu: If just a coffee will do for you, Bravo can make your flavor to order! Grab a pastry to go for a mid-day pick-me-up.
How to place an order: Place in person at Bravo.

Bruegger's Bagels

Menu: How about a build your own deli lunch sandwich to enjoy outside! Choose your type of meat and toppings, allow Bruegger's Bagels to wrap it up, and take with you to enjoy! They also have a selection of other signature sandwiches like the Leonardo da Veggie that sounds delightful.
How to place an order: Place in person at Bruegger's.

Cafe Steam

Menu: If Cafe Steam can make it, it can be put in a cup to go! Order from a variety of coffee brews to tea flavors from either the Broadway or Doubletree skyway locations.
How to place an order: Online here or place in person.

Caribou Coffee

Menu: All-day breakfast plus coffee? Yes, please! Order fulfilling oatmeal, a sweet treat bakery item, or breakfast sandwich, and get a crafted coffee to go and you'll be set.
How to place an order: Online here or stop in person to Caribou.

Carroll's Corn

Menu: Pop on by Carroll's Corn for a quick snack to enjoy at downtown's summer activities. Cheese, caramel, triple mix, or a specialty flavor like buffalo or jalapeño cheddar, Carroll's Corn has tasty treats even the kiddos will love!
How to place an order: Online here or stop in person to Carroll's Corn.

Chez Bojji

Menu: A block away from Central Park, where the Games on the Go ping pong table is, is Chez Bojji, where you can get fine dining to go!
How to place an order: Online here for meals after 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Chinese Chinh's Express

Menu: WOK this way toward the 1st Avenue Food Court for some Chinese food on the go! Chinese Chinh's has some of the best around, and it's so close to Peace Plaza.
How to place an order: Online here or place in person at Chinese Chinh's.

Chocolaterie Stam

Menu: On warm summer days that we're sure to have, enjoy a scoop of Chocolaterie Stam's fresh Italian gelato. Good thing you won't have to go far (the shop is just inside the Galleria near Peace Plaza) and have your cool treat melt before you can enjoy it!
How to place an order: Place in person at Chocolaterie Stam.

Cinnabon

Menu: Oh, those summer nights! Or in the case of Summer in the City, the day. Make the summer sweet by stopping by Cinnabon and nabbing a bakery delight or a cool drink.
How to place an order: Place in person at Cinnabon.

City Market

Menu: The ultimate grab and go lunch spot! City Market offers award winning (we're not kidding: they were voted best deli and sandwiches the past seven years) menu items that are perfect for enjoying outside.
How to place an order: Online here or place in person at City Market.

Corona's Tacos

Menu: It doesn't get more authentic (and fast) than Corona's Tacos! From quesadillas to burrito bowls to vampiritos, all can be made to take on the go with you.
How to place an order: Online here or place in person at Corona's Tacos.

Crave

Menu: Surf and turf meets grab and go! Crave offers both land and sea options to take with you to any of the summer activities.
How to place an order: Online here or place in person at Crave.

Dunkin' Donuts

Menu: Up the block from Peace Plaza, where most of the summer activities occur, is Dunkin' Donuts. A place to find espressos and coffees, tees, frozen drinks, sandwiches, snacks, and more, all to enjoy outdoors.
How to place an order: Place in person at Dunkin' Donuts.

Fiddlehead Coffee Co.

Menu: Teas, coffees, and club soda seltzers, oh my! Head around the block now and stop in to Fiddlehead for all this and more.
How to place an order: Place in person at Fiddlehead.

The Fit Loon

Menu: Not only will the sun and its associated fun brighten your day; so will the shakes and teas from The Fit Loon! Packed with vitamins, minerals, protein, and/or fiber, it will be sure to elevate your mood.
How to place an order: Order here or place in person at The Fit Loon.

Fuzzy's Italian Ice and Ice Cream

Menu: Italian ice, custards, and konafa, oh my! All these and more are the decadent desserts you can pick up in a jiffy from Fuzzy's Italian Ice and Ice Cream.
How to place an order: Place in person at Fuzzy's.

Hollandberry Pannekoeken

Menu: If you're choosing a Games on the Grass adventure in Central Park, might we suggest nearby Hollandberry Pannekoeken? With Dutch classics like Schnitzel or mettwurst, why not be adventurous with your to-go meal option, as well!
How to place an order: Online here.

Kabab Restaurant

Menu: Curries in a hurry; that's what Kabab Restaurant can offer you if you are headed to a downtown summer activity. Or how about a lamb burger with fries or a traditional gyro. No matter what you choose, Kabab's will make a great meal!
How to place an order: Online here.

Mango Thai

Menu: No need to travel across the sea: Mango Thai brings Thailand tastes right to you in downtown Rochester. If you know exactly when you want to pick up your eats, Mango Thai's online ordering system lets you pick a time at 15 minute intervals. Now that's convenient and fast!
How to place an order: Online here.

Mezza9 Cafe & Bakery

Menu: Coffees and desserts are Mezza9's specialty. Like its salted caramel cold brew or butterfly pea flower matcha latte or the macaron, everything on the menu is delectable and ready to take with you!
How to place an order: Place in person at Mezza9.

MOKA

Menu: While we don't know the exact number of steps between Sidewalk Sessions and MOKA, we do know it's extremely close. So much so that if you need a quick coffee/tea beverage, this is the spot! (And if you want to count the steps between the two, we'll gladly add it to this blog.)
How to place an order: Online here or place in person at MOKA.

Newt's Express

Menu: Newt's takes burgers to the next level. What's even better is you can drop in, order, and take your meal to the next level, too: to the outdoors for taking part in downtown's summer activities.
How to place an order: Place in person.

Olde Brick House

Menu: Good things come to those who wait. But why do that when you could place your order for true Irish fare through Olde Brick House's website! Get everything from bangers and mash to Celtic meatloaf to a reuben ready for pick up in no time.
How to place an order: Online here.

Pasquale's Neighborhood Pizzeria

Menu: Amazing eats like pizza by the slice, whole pies, calzones, strombolis, New York Cheesecake, and freshly made cannolis are all menu items from Pasquale's to enjoy on the go!
How to place to-go order: Online here, place in person at Pasquale's, or order through DoorDash here.

People's Food Co-op

Menu: As soon as you walk in to People's Food Co-op, you'll find endless possibilities for grab-and-go meals. But the real treasures await you in the Co-op Cafe, where you can order what you see on the menu, or take advantage of the box lunch menu.
How to place an order: Call 507-289-9061, extension 3051 within 48 hours or pick up something from the Co-op Cafe in person.

Popus Gourmet Popcorn

Menu: "Pop" on by Popus Gourmet Popcorn for more than 25 flavors of popcorn and sweet treats like saltwater taffy, chocolate-covered nuts, and many more candies.
How to place an order: Shop in person at Popus.

QDOBA Mexican Eats

Menu: Make your own Mexican masterpiece of a meal when you choose QDOBA. Its website touts "30 flavor-packed ingredients and more than 150 million" combinations, so what are you waiting for? Place your order now!
How to place an order: Online here or place in person at QDOBA.

Redwood Room

Menu: New American cuisine...to go! When you order online from The Redwood Room, that is exactly what you get for enjoying Games on the Go.
How to place an order: Online here for orders after 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Salad Brothers Cafe and Deli

Menu: Healthy salads are a short walk from all the activities! And Salad Brothers' staff are so efficient, you will be in and out with your lunch in no time.
How to place an order: Place in person at Salad Brothers.

Saladworks

Menu: Whatever you fancy from the menu, Saladworks can make it to take!
How to place to-go order: Online here or pick up in person at Saladworks.

The Tap House on Historic 3rd

Menu: Whether you are looking for sharables with a friend or a south of the border experience just for you to enjoy, get it all to go with The Tap House's online menu.
How to place an order: Order online for meals after 2 p.m daily.

Tea Time

Menu: Bubble tea to go with the music and art in Peace Plaza, anyone? We thought so! That's why Tea Time will be ready to make whatever tea fits your craving the day you decide to enjoy.
How to place an order: Online here or place in person at Tea Time.

Terza Ristorante

Menu: Get great Italian to go when you order from Terza's expansive menu of classic dishes, salads, or pizzas. They even have a kids menu!
How to place to-go order: Online here for meals after 3 p.m. daily.

Thai Garden

Menu: Get great food to go in no Thaime! (Get it: "in no time"?!) With Thai Garden mere steps away from Peace Plaza in the 1st Avenue food court, you can grab lunch quickly and get down to enjoy Sidewalk Sessions, Pop-Up Art Cart, or the Games on the Go cart.
How to place to-go order: Online here or pick up in person at Thai Garden.

ThaiPop

Menu: Once you've had ThaiPop, you'll be craving it. The freshest of ingredients will make you think you're in Thailand without ever having set foot outside downtown Rochester.
How to place an order: Online here or place in person at ThaiPop.

Tilda's Pizzeria

Menu: Not just your average pizza place, Tilda's offers one-of-a-kind wood-fired pizzas that can be boxed and easily transported to any of the summer activities, though the closest is the Games on the Go ping pong table in Central Park.
How to place to-go order: Online here for meals after 4 p.m. daily.

Victoria's Ristorante

Menu: For all thinks Italian, think Victoria's Ristorante, which is so close to Peace Plaza and downtown summer fun. Whether you hit up the Express deli (or as they like to say, prendi e vai!, meaning grab and go in Italian) for some quick eats or order something delicious from its regular lunch menu, everything will be molto bene (that, we found out, is Italian for very good)!
How to place an order: Online here or order in person at Victoria's.

Wabi Sabi Express

Menu: And last but certainly not least is Wabi Sabi Express, where you can get true Japanese poke bowls with quick counter service! If Ramen or sushi is more your style, they have that, as well. Take a stroll up to the 1st Avenue Food Court and grab your take-out from Wabi Sabi.
How to place an order: Online here or place in person at Wabi Sabi.

The Well Dining

Menu: One of the newest restaurants on the downtown culinary scene is The Well Dining, which offers comfort food with a unique twist. When picking up your to-go order, be sure to take in their beautiful decor (and plan a return trip to enjoy their eats indoors).
How to place to-go order: Online here.

Explore other dining options while in downtown with this list of restaurants.