Peppers

Peppers

Normally I don't plug restaurants I've been to, but this time is an exception. The reason for the exception: It's tough to find an eatery that serves great home cooking at reasonable prices in and around Rochester, NY or anywhere for that matter.

Peppers Deli and Pastas on 101 East Lake Road in Canandaigua, NY is one of those finds that are worth mentioning. My good pal, Carla, and I celebrated her birthday at Peppers two weeks ago. She had a chicken pot pie that was loaded with tender white meat of chicken, vegetables, and topped with a delectable crust. I had the Italian trio special which consisted of three cheese-stuffed jumbo shells, chicken parmesan, and eggplant parmesan. It makes my mouth salivate just thinking about it.

The chef and owner, Darren Canova, came to our table to personally introduce himself and to be sure we enjoyed his cusine, proudly explaining that everything is made from scratch. Our server, John, was excellent. He was very attentive without being overly solicitous. Carla's and my dinner came with a salad. I ordered a house Merlot. The total for both dinners was $33 and change; a real bargain for the excellent preparation and amount of food we got.

For any of you who decide to go boating, fishing, or swimming in Canandaigua Lake or are just passing through this beautiful area, be sure to stop in at Peppers on East Lake Road. It's a positive taste experience you'll never forget.

Oh yes, Peppers is a 45-minute drive from Rochester for me. I'd drive 60 minutes to go back there for dinner. It was that good.