Restaurant
Unclaimed profileCure
Rochester, NY · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Cure's cocktail program is the draw: 15 drinks at a uniform $13, built on techniques like milk punch and smoked ice. The wine list leans French with regional range, and the beer and zero-proof lists hold their own. A place for drinkers who want craft precision without pretension.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Like a Shark, a reposado tequila and grapefruit number finished with rosemary-smoked ice. The Sazerac de Cure is a proper New Orleans-style build with Ferrand brandy and rye, and the Benny B's Caddy shows off the milk punch technique with Japanese whisky and hojicha.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail enthusiasts who appreciate technique-driven drinks, wine drinkers interested in French regional variety, and anyone wanting a thoughtful nonalcoholic option. The uniform $13 cocktail price keeps it accessible for exploring the menu.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails are $13 each. Wines range from $9 by the glass to $128 a bottle. Beer and cider run $6 to $12, and nonalcoholic drinks from $3 to $11. A cocktail plus a glass of wine lands around $25 before tax and tip.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail menu applies serious technique—milk punch, clarification, carbonation—across a lineup that includes a Sazerac variation and a hojicha-infused whisky drink. The wine list covers eight French regions, and the house amaro is offered as a $9 mini shot.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Fifteen cocktails at a flat $13, showcasing techniques like milk punch, clarified juice, and smoked ice. The menu spans tequila, sherry, rum, gin, and whisky builds, with brunch options at $9. A recent customer praised the inventive program and noted the ability to order off-menu.
Menu strengths
- — Uniform $13 pricing encourages exploration across the full menu.
- — Creative techniques—milk punch, clarification, smoked ice—are applied across multiple drinks.
- — Menu includes both classics with a twist and original compositions.
Standout selections
- — Like a Shark: reposado tequila, grapefruit, China-China, blanc vermouth, rosemary-smoked ice
- — Sazerac de Cure: Ferrand brandy, rye, sugar, bitters, absinthe, candy
- — Benny B's Caddy: Toki Black Japanese whisky, cantaloupe, hojicha milk punch, Bénédictine
Pricing: $13 each
Wine
The wine list is entirely French, covering Champagne, Alsace, Loire, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Sud-Ouest, and Languedoc. Both by-the-glass and bottle formats are available, with several selections offered in both. Price points range from a $32 bottle to a $128 Burgundy.
Menu strengths
- — Regional diversity spans eight French wine regions.; Multiple wines offered by the glass and bottle, allowing flexibility.
Standout selections
- — Gonet-Médeville, Marne Valley Brut 1er Cru NV ($111 bottle)
- — Domaine Dirler-Cadé, Haut-Rhin Riesling 2022 ($62 bottle); Denis Meunier, Vouvray Chenin Blanc 2023 ($16 glass / $60 bottle)
Pricing: $9-$16 glass, $32-$128 bottle
Beer
A compact list of international lagers—Sapporo, Żywiec, Stiegl—plus a rotating Other Half IPA and a French cider. Two nonalcoholic beers are available. Prices are moderate, from $6 to $12.
Menu strengths
- — International lager selection is well-chosen.; Rotating IPA from Other Half keeps the list current.
Standout selections
- — Stiegl Goldbräu ($12, 500ml); Other Half Rotating IPA ($10, 16oz)
Pricing: $6-$12
Nonalcoholic
Nonalcoholic options include crafted mocktails like the Phony Negroni and Ginger Nojito, plus a full coffee program with espresso, cold brew, and latte. Prices range from $3 for coffee to $11 for the more elaborate mocktails.
Menu strengths
- — Mocktails are built with intention, including a negroni-style and a mojito-style.
- — Coffee drinks extend the nonalcoholic range.; Price points accommodate any budget.
Standout selections
- — Phony Negroni ($8); Ginger Nojito ($11); Basil-Fraise Limonade ($11)
Pricing: $3-$11
Spirits
The spirits program is minimal as a standalone category, with only a house amaro mini shot listed. This is not a place for a deep back-bar exploration.
Menu strengths
- — House amaro mini shot is a distinctive offering at $9.
Standout selections
- — Amaro Maison — $9 — House amaro mini shot
Pricing: Amaro Maison $9
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