Rochester Main Street

Finally, for a meal on
the run, few pizzerias
match the pies from
Brooklyn (433 Main
St., 248-650-0692), and
few chains offer as
juicy, succulent, and
tender chicken and ribs
as homegrown Chicken
Shack (213 W.
University, 248-656-
1100).

SHOPPING

n riving— creeping along, actual-

ly, depending on time of day —
north from Troy and Rochester
Hills along Rochester Road, past a
sea of sprawling commercial and
residential development, down-
town Rochester appears in the dis-
tance, a tidy, miniature urban
oasis.

Historic buildings, old-fashioned
light posts, a meandering river,
greenery. A respite, to be sure,
from the frenzied pace of life a
few short blocks away.

DINING

Rochester's appeal is that it effort-
lessly mixes small town charms
with big city ambience. A died-in-

the-wool soda fountain, Red
Knapps Dairy Bar (304 Main St.,
248-651-4545), is a de rigueur stop
for a burger and malted, while the
luxuriously appointed Brookshire
(600 E. University, 248-652-2600)
in the equally regal Royal Park
Hotel is sublimely grand in decor,
food and service.
And in between these extremes
there's a dizzying array of choices,
from the smartly dressed, always
flavorful Andiamo Osteria (401
Main St., 248-601-9300) to the
classic American fare at Rochester
Chop House & Oyster Bar (306
Main St., 248-651-2266), and long-
time favorite Kruse & Muer on
Main (327 Main St., 248-652-
9400).
A couple of places draw crowds

28 • October 20, 2005 • MainStreets

to restored Rochester icons.
Handcrafted brews and an eclectic
menu await visitors to the
Rochester Mills Beer Co. (400
Water St., 248-650-5080), housed
in the historic Western Knitting
Mill, while Gus O'Connor's Public
House (324 Main St., 248-608-
2537) — built by hand in Ireland,
dismantled and shipped here, then
rebuilt by the same Irish craftsmen
from the Emerald Isle — is at home
in the former Mitzelfeld's depart-
ment store. Take a break from the
diet and do not miss Gus' home-
made potato chips.
Another don't-miss is Home
Bakery (300 Main St., 248-651-
4830) and its outstanding selection
of baked goods, plus jaw-dropping
special occasion cakes.

With plenty of free
parking scattered
around, shopping
downtown Rochester is
never a rushed affair.
Perhaps it's the turn-
of-the-last-century aes-
thetic. Or simply the
theory that like-minded
businesses do best when
they cluster together.
Whatever the reason,
downtown Rochester is
an antique, interior
design and knick-knack
lovers' paradise.
There's Chapman House (311
Walnut., 248-651-2157), Tally Ho!
Antiques (404 Main St., 248-652-
6860), Hepplewhite's (434 Main,
248-651-4710) and Haig's of
Rochester (311 Main St., 248-652-
3660), which specializes in fine
jewelry and Asian antiques.
Downtown Rochester is also
home to a singular selection of
specialty stores including The Silk
Worm (400 Main, 248-651-1900)
for silk florals, plants and decora-
tive accessories, Halfway Down
The Stairs Children's Bookshop
(114 E. Fourth, 248-652-6066),
Skeins on Main Yarn Co. (428
Main, 248-656-9300) for knitting
supplies and classes, and
Notations Fine Stationery (407
Main, 248-651-8700).