Bill Gray's Restaurants
Forget the national fast food hamburger chains when you are looking for a quick meal in Rochester, New York. Instead, look for your nearest Bill Gray's restaurant. Voted best Fish Fry, Burgers, and Hot Dogs by Rochester Area residents five years running, Bill Gray's has made-to-order food unlike anywhere else.
For newcomers and visitors, the first thing to know is that a hamburger isn't a hamburger at Bill Gray's. It's ground steak, and they'll make it anyway you like it without a catchy jingle or re-heated food. Whether your order is for take-out or eat-in, it's made fresh to order, and you are paged back to the counter when your meal is ready.
Bill Gray's has a full menu to please just about any palate, and if you are really in a healthy mood, you can always get a salad. However, a full range of ground steak sandwiches, including the one they tout as "World's Best Cheeseburger" are available, as well as hot dogs, chicken, Italian sausage, veggie burgers, and pulled pork sandwiches. Combination meals can save you a little money, and you have your option of traditional fries, curly fries, or onion rings. Kid-sized meals are also available.
If you are really lucky, you'll choose a Bill Gray's Restaurant with Abbott's Custard. This local favorite is a custard unlike any other, and while most Abbott's locations are closed for the winter months, the ones inside Bill Gray's are open year-round for ice cream, sundaes, and shakes.
A recent trip there for lunch was just as delicious as the last time we were there, with generous fry portions, sandwiches served on hard rolls (another local convention), and everything hot and fresh. You never have to worry about your food sitting around, and when you ask for extra pickles, they are plentiful and crisp, unlike the national chains.
The restaurants themselves are spacious, clean, and very kid friendly, with plenty of high chairs and boosters. The one we visited included a game room to keep kids occupied if you are waiting for food, and most Bill Gray's locations feature children's entertainment at least one night a week. Tons of drink choices are available, including milk and juice, and they were more than happy to accommodate bunless burgers for the baby.
One topping not to be overlooked is Bill Gray's famous hot sauce. They also have some incredible fried veggies for sides.
There is a good reason why Bill Gray's has been around since 1938. If you are looking for a great burger when in Rochester, they are well worth the trip, and with 13 restaurants in the Rochester area, including one inside the Strong National Museum of Play, there's bound to be one conveniently located.
Bill Gray's Restaurants
Corporate Office
964 Ridge Road
Webster, NY 14580
585.787.0150
http://www.billgrays.com
