When brothers Fausto and Massimo Albano opened Lemoncello Cafe and Lounge (137 W. Commercial St., East Rochester) a year and a half ago, it was with the dream of being a part of East Rochester's reawakening. Many people would argue that the pair has been successful in that goal. Now the duo, along with new partners Giovanni Castelli, Jr. and Gianluca Isopi, plans to do the something similar for newly booming Farmington with the new venture Prosecco Italian Restaurant and Jazz Bar (named for the Italian sparkling white wine), which opened earlier this month in the space formerly inhabited by Carmen's Ice Cream and Miniature Golf.

"Carmen's owner came to Lemoncello and he loved what we did there," Massimo says. "So he asked us to take over and renovate the Carmen's space. He was so excited about Farmington that he made us really excited, too."

While the neighboring areas of Victor and Canandaigua have many fine-dining establishments, Farmington itself has only a handful by comparison. And yet, Farmington is a convenient location for Rochester residents to stop for a meal on their way to destinations in the Finger Lakes. With an authentic Italian menu (influenced by its owners, all four of whom hail from Italy) and an ambiance that exudes casual elegance, Prosecco may just become a destination itself.

The menu features a wide range of appetizers, salads, pastas, entrees, and pizzas with notable selections in every category. There's arancini (fried risotto balls), made fresh daily by co-owner and executive chef Castelli with rotating ingredients; fettuccine con funghi with oven-roasted mushrooms sauteed with shallots, tarragon, and asparagus in a light truffle cream sauce, topped with goat cheese; and Castelli's specialty, cioppino, which combines shrimp, clams, mussels, and scallops in a light tomato broth served over spaghetti.

Co-owner and pizza chef Isopi, who owned a pizzeria in Abruzzi, Italy, for years, also does his part by offering a dozen varieties of pizza, including the frutti di mare topped with clams, shrimp, and anchovies; the Italiana made with prosciutto cotto, grape tomatoes, arugula, and shaved parmigiano-reggiano; or the ligure topped with chicken, pesto, caramelized onions, and sun-dried tomatoes.

The restaurant's interior is dressed in co-owner Fausto's adept decorative handiwork (he also renovated Lemoncello's interior), with a gorgeous cement-top community-style table, inlaid stone and tiles on the floors and walls, and a raised, semi-circle stage adorned with a large decorative curtain rod for the restaurant's daily live music. Outside, the restaurant has two patios (one on either side) for eating alfresco in nicer weather and, remaining from its previous incarnation, a miniature golf course that the owners intend to keep running in the spring and summer.

"It makes a great waiting area for adults with children," says Massimo.

To find Prosecco in City Newspaper's online Restaurant Guide - including a map, user reviews, and more - click here.

Italian Restaurant is located at 1550 Route 332 in Farmington. Prices range from $8 to $26. It is open for lunch Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and for dinner Monday-Thursday 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5-11 p.m., and Sunday 4-9 p.m. For more information, call (585) 924-8000 or visit proseccoitalianrestaurant.com.

Brunch-alicious

Wegmans-owned Next Door Bar and Grill is now serving brunch on Sundays 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The brunch menu includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches, specialty brunch entrees, and drinks. Notable items include fried organic green tomatoes served with tomato jam, jumbo lump crab, arugula salad, and herbed ricotta; deviled eggs benedict served with country ham and Cajun hollandaise; duck confit salad with arugula, frisee (curly endive), sunchokes, currant mustard vinaigrette, and crispy shiitake mushrooms; and shrimp and grits served with a trio of peppers, applewood-smoked bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese. Drink choices include bloody marys, mimosas, screwdrivers, and a peach cocktail made with sparkling wine and peach liquor.

Next Door Bar and Grill is located at 3220 Monroe Ave. Brunch prices range from $6 to $15. For more information call (585) 249-4575 or visit nextdoorbarandgrill.com.

Come fly with me

National chain Wings Over [Insert City Name Here] has opened its first area location - Wings Over Rochester - in Henrietta, in a space formerly inhabited by a KFC. The chain is known for its large variety of wings and self-proclaimed "jet-speed" delivery service. The menu features regular and boneless wings with a choice of more than 20 sauces (including unique choices like spicy teriyaki, citrus chipotle, and sweet onion barbeque), ribs, burgers, and salads.

To find Wings Over Rochester in City Newspaper's online Restaurant Guide - including a map, user reviews, and more - click here.

Wings Over Rochester is located at 2973 W. Henrietta Road. Prices for single diners range from $5 to $16, though family combos and larger orders of wings cost up to $120. The restaurant is open Monday-Wednesday 4 p.m.-1 a.m., Thursday 4 p.m.-3 a.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-3 a.m., and Sunday noon-1 a.m. For more information, call (585) 272-9464 or visit wingsoverrochester.com.

Ho, ho, ho

Dressing up like a ho for Halloween in order to score cheap food is a bad idea, but dressing up like a hoe for the same purpose is wholly encouraged. In fact, if you show up on Halloween (Monday, October 31) to any of the three area locations of the national chain Chipotle Mexican Grill (3349 Monroe Ave.; 640 Jefferson Road; 1360 Mount Hope Ave.) dressed in a costume inspired by family farms you'll receive one of its design-your-own burritos for only $2 (typically $6.45-$6.85). Plus, you'll be entered into a costume contest with a chance to win $2,500, $1,000, or a burrito party for 10. And if that's not enough reason to dress as a garden tool or farm animal while noshing on a burrito, all proceeds (up to $1 million dollars) also benefit the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation and FarmAid, both of which support family farms. For more information, visit chipotle.com.

Closing

After more than four years in Corn Hill Landing, Virtu (284 Exchange Blvd.) closed suddenly earlier this month. The popular upscale restaurant was known for its seasonally updated bistro menu that featured tasting and sharing plates, pastas, and entrees ranging from braised short ribs to pan-seared ahi tuna. Attempts to reach owner David Alkaher went unreturned, but a legal summons has been posted on the restaurant's door and the restaurant has been lights out since its appearance on October 7.

Do you have a restaurant or food tip for our Chow Hound? Send it to food@rochester-citynews.com.