Great menu with a lot of choices for food and coffee. Very friendly and helpful staff. Nice cafe in the heart of the city to grab and go or dine in.

Amazing staff, amazing food. The place where you really feel like to be there

Great Cafe! Its within walking distance from the Hyatt, Hilton and Holiday Inn. The proprietor, Mike was friendly, the indoor dining is perfect for the building and theres outdoor eating too! We would definitely visit here again.

My order was taking a little long (nothing crazy) and the nice manager lady came up to me and handled it before i even had a chance to notify staff that i was waiting longer than usual. She gave me a free baked good and apologized for the wait. Great service, accommodating staff, and good food (:

It is rare I post reviews but they truly deserve this review. I had my bridal shower here today, and they went above any expectations that I had! Every person went out of their way to compliment the food, and hospitality. The owners were amazing while picking out the menu, and the day of! Every single one of my bridesmaids complimented how helpful the owners were throughout the event, even down to providing take out containers and boxes at the end of the event. You can tell they take pride in their business! I HIGHLY recommend Founders Cafe for jus a quick pop in, or your next event!

Loved the food. Coffee was very tasty too! Served the food right to you so you can do your work and not have to stand and wait and waste time.

Great foods, amazing coffee unlike any other coffee stores. It tastes like incredibly high quality coffee. Very deaf friendly!!

The is a great place to get a quick bit for lunch. Its located in a absolutely beautiful historic building, and fits in very well there! The food is very good, and tastes fresh. I forget what I ordered, but it was delicious! Make sure to stop here if you need some lunch! I highly recommended this place.

Friendly. Amazing location. Tasty and great prices! Lots of little treats inside too. Must come

Our office orders from Founders frequently, but today exceeded all of our expectations. Due to covid our office cookout turned into a last minute catered event. For about 28 adults, Founders was able to take our order last minute, individually box everyones lunch and write the individuals name and item on top. SUPER IMPRESSIVE! Our lunch was delicious!

This place is AMAZING! Not only is everything made by scratch, with makes everything taste awesome just on its own, the service was incredible. She knew we were on a road trip, and she even brought us a free snack back! If we are ever back in town, we are definitely coming back! We highly recommend this place! 👌

Founders has been a regular lunchtime spot for me since its opening. Food is always fresh and tasty. Their mushroom soup is to die for.

Had an unbelievable meal here! The lobster roll was fantastic!!! The owner came over to check in and was very friendly. I highly recommend this place

Nice spot for breakfast good atmosphere, Friendly service and of course tasty food / coffee.

Would give zero stars if possible. My turkey wrap which was mostly lettuce and incredibly over priced- took 20 minutes to make after watching the staff scream at each other (i mean- Ive seen better team work at a burger king) it was pretty easy to decide that this place was a massive mistake for lunch. Bad food, bad price, bad vibe.

Food is always delicious and staff is great - its our Saturday staple, cant recommend Founders highly enough 👍

We would add more stars if possible....I put together an order for a few of us women at work...and let me tell you...its impossible to please them all!!...IMPOSSIBLE!!...every single one of them LOVED their lunch from Founder Cafe...There is one nurse ...I have never heard her talk so much!! And we all ordered different items...each one was freshly made with quality ingredients by someone who obviously loves what they do....this person is gifted!! Add to that free delivery and great pricing....there is no down side to this...today is Wednesday we are already putting an order together for Friday!!...oh yeah...we we ill be ordering at least twice a week..at the very least!!....They have a bacon Festival coming up...a bacon festival!!!!....it doesnt get any better...nope!!!We are in love!!!

Amazing amazing amazing! I had to set a breakfast for a work function and needed everything separately wrapped. They did an amazing job and even delivered. They showed up on time, brought it all in and set it up on platters all separately wrapped. It was so good everyone raved about it. The breakfast sandwiches were amazing, the muffins so fresh and the quiche was to die for. I am so happy i found this place. I am definitely going back.

This place is great! Delicious food, fantastic service and an awesome place to eat! Try it once and youll going back!!

Was so excited to go have brunch. Then I found out my wallet was at home on my dresser. I will he returning

Really good food and worker is really friendly toward deaf people

Founders Cafe serves quality food with great service. There are a lot of menu options and the place is always clean!

GREAT food, GREAT service, GREAT beverages. Asked if they had vets discount...they didnt. She(one of the managers) comped me with a complimentary coffee with my order! i am now a regular and a loyal customer forever. And I recommend it to everyone ! Excellent little 💎

Founders brings our team quality sandwiches on a weekly basis that everyone loves. Their food is fresh and delicious. They are easy to work with, flexible when I need to make changes, and always deliver on time. Their prices are incredible, particularly when you think of the high quality ingredients and variety available. Founders is one of my favorite local caterers to work with and I recommend them to everyone.

VERY DISSATISFIED!!!!THE FOOD WAS GROSS🤢🤢🤢I ORDERED A BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAP WHICH HAD NO CHICKEN JUST LETTUCE AND TOMATO ......I HAD A BLUEBERRY BAR THAT WAS MOLDED AND I WILL NEVER GO BACK. FOR $16 I AM NOT PLEASED. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE😡😡😡THERE WAS 4 WOMEN STANDING THERE TALKING WHILE I WAITED 8 MINUTES UNTIL MY ORDER WAS TAKEN........NO I WASNT MISTAKEN IT WAS DEFINITELY MOLDED AND AS FAR AS COMING UP TO GET IT FIXED NO THANK YOU I WILL JUST NEVER COME BACK AND AS I STATED CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE ....

Good cozy place, nice service, Coffee needs improvement but over all must visit place

Founders Cafe never fails to be fabulous! Owner Mike Ellman always delivers our big, heavy orders with a smile and friendly conversation. Whether for small lunch meetings or over a dozen team members, everyone can order exactly what they want. We can always count on salads, sandwiches and paninis to be homemade, fresh, and creatively-assembled. The delicious pickles and a small piece of chocolate in the sandwich boxes are a fun treat, too. Now...back to the last bites of this Almond Joy cookie! Thanks again, Mike and crew!

Met a friend for coffee on a Mon after a Sat snowfall. The signs indicating where the shop is located were covered in snow, the sidewalks less than shoveled and the streets typical city plow job. The place is spacious, staff friendly and quick to fill the order. The chairs are not comfortable in any manner but the table tops are very unique. It is located in a historic building but unfortunately, they did not capitalize on that in any way. The coffee was medium hot but a tad bitter...like a Starbucks. There appears to be a menu for breakfast and lunch with OK prices.

I have had Founders Cafe cater multiple events in my office and they have had outstanding food, price and service!! also followed guidelines and having everything individually wrapped!! Thank you Mike @ Founders!!! Highly recommended!!!

A great place to stop by and grab a bite while in downtown Rochester. This eatery is a combination coffee shop and cafe. They clearly have coffee and tea with specialty drinks that would be great in the morning. Then they have great sandwiches including panini sandwiches and also delicious wraps. The ingredients are incredibly fresh and the customer service was friendly and helpful. Located in the Academy Building, the location is ideal especially if you are in the heart of the downtown area. Parking would likely be on street or in a parking lot.

You Have to Go Here!Driving through on our way to Syracuse and told my wife to pick a place to stop for lunch. Not knowing the area she looked on her phone and found Founders Cafe. We pulled up to a beautiful historic building and went inside. We were greeted by Michael the owner and I ordered a Pastrami Reuben and my wife ordered the Thanksgiving Sandwich and a Cookie. We were given a number for our order on a small placard with a Bio of local politician. That was cool! The food came fast and I my Reuben was fantastic, however, when I took a bite of my wifes Thanksgiving Sandwich, I was jealous. It was the best Thanksgiving Sandwich Ever! and the cookie was amazing. Michael engaged us during the meal for some great conversation and some history about the building being a school and now converted into apartments. It was a wonderful and memorable experience. Cant wait to go back and try the Banh Mi Sandwich that he described as the Greatest Sandwich of All Time. You can tell that Michael takes pride in everything he offers and is a class act. Wish we had a Founders Cafe in Syracuse!

Fresh Ingredients, a Robust menu that is always being added to, amazing weekly specials, and the most perfect Cafe Staff a customer could ask for. The food is always amazing, and when you can sit and enjoy your meal, the atmosphere is always worth it. Plus, some amazing banana muffins!

Great tea selection. One of my favorite food corner at this location. This place was wonderful. Staff were nice. Food was great. Great coffee. Great location.

This place is a great way to start your day. They pretty much have everything here and the service is always the best.

I have been here twice so far. Food has been amazing and the owners are almost always here. Place is very busy for a reason. I will continue to return here without a doubt!

Ive been meaning to try this place and i wouldnt go here again simply due to the service. Placed an order and when we got there a half hour late it still wasnt ready. They chastised my husband for using grubhub and said they dont even check the app for orders. And then got our order wrong....Thank you for responding to my message! I appreciate what you said, Ill come by and give it another try, no need to treat me. It means a lot you took the time to respond to me!

Delicious variety of sandwiches. And their chocolate chip cookie is loaded with chocolate! Friendly service

The espresso tastes like warmed soy sauce the carnivores panini left a lot to be desired one thing that I noticed is people that ordered their food after me receive their food before me and they werent that busy

Thank you Mike for your pastrami week! Fantastic pastrami. Had the Pastrami Reuben which was out of this world. Our entire team at work got the reuben and everyone raved how good. Hats off Mike for a job well done.

Nice small cafe located inside, down the hall and to the left.

Maria and Mike are great and have quite the establishment going. My favorite is the Benny breakfast sandwich with ravioli. My girl loves the Avocado toast with a latte. Havent tried lunch here yet, but plan on very soon. We really enjoy this place and the atmosphere and vibe is friendly.

Nice gem located in the heart of down town in the academy building (near the monroe county building ). Food good and the staff is super friendly. I like the coffee and atmosphere too.

The atmosphere and service was nice, but the food was mediocre. Good portions, but nothing I couldnt make myself at home and not worth the prices.

Good food and service nice atmosphere

Coffee is good... no issues with lettuce..

If you havent tried the here then youre missing out big time. The meals here are fantastic and would recommend you try them out with the whole family.

I ordered lunch from here today for a work event. The whole process was seamless. Mike and his team were a pleasure to work with. They were very professional and accommodating over the phone over multiple phone calls. We ordered 10 different kinds of sandwiches, dessert (cookies and brownies) and chips. The food was absolutely delicious with generous proportions and well received by all. They even labeled all the sandwiches per my request. Lastly, they also have free delivery. All in all, it was exceptional service and food. Would highly recommend!

If you need a place to rest your mind and fill your belly, this is the place to be. If you find yourself wandering and seeking a friendly smile, by jove this is the place to be. Out of the cold and into a cozy cafe, youll be greeted with a warm smile and a cheerful hello. You may think to yourself as I did, I wish I had found this place sooner. So by all means walk on in and experience this for yourself. Also the Turkey, avocado, and chipotle panini was amazing

One of the best paninis Ive had! Always so kind and welcoming

Delicious and definitely fresh food.

Delicious sandwiches and deserts. Thanksgiving sandwich, chicken caprese panini, and the banh mi are my top 3. They sometimes have the only decent lobster roll Ive had outside of New England as a special.

Best place to get lunch downtown. This little gem is tucked inside the historic academy building. Great food and friendly staff. The owner is always there. The specials are amazing. I recommend the Benny for breakfast. It is my favourite. The coffee is really good too.TEMPORARY NOTE They are open for takeout during the covid shutdown too.

A lovely small cafe that serves amazing gourmet sandwiches and coffee beverages. Its nestled right downtown so its an easy walk for those who work in centre city. If youre looking for a cozy spot for a lunch date or a location to get some work done on your laptop, this place will not disappoint.

Great coffee, nice location & the paninis are amazing! My job just had them cater sandwiches, salads & wraps which were all great. Highly recommend. I eat there once every week or two.

Caprese Panini was delicious!!

Just had a great late lunch. I ate their roast beef and swiss as well as the mac n cheese. My friend had their blackbean quinoa (That may not be spelled correctly). The food was great as well as the coffee!

Great little place with great service

A nice little hideout for breakfast.

I ordered 18 lunches with a couple of dietary requests and I should have given them more notice, still, my business with the owners was very personal without being patronizing. The food was very good. Prices are reasonable with service/delivery on target. For sure all my future catered lunches will be from the Founders Cafe. A real treasure.

Cant say enough great things about Founders Cafe. They are in a convenient central location of downtown Rochester and their food is absolutely delicious. My favorites are the wraps, salads and mac salad. Founders also provides catering which my whole office always enjoys! Thanks!!

Fresh food, lovely staff, great coffee! Love the Founders theme, just brilliant.

I had a delicious breakfast sandwich (the Benny) and coffee this morning. The people working there are very friendly and the table tops are cool (looks like waves made from strips of paper inside acrylic). I will return next time Im in Rochester.

No better spot in the city to get a panini!

Good food and freindly staff

Nice gem located in the heart of down town in the academy building (near the monroe county building ). Food good and the staff is super friendly. I like the coffee and atmosphere too.

Excellent food, service, and staff! If I could give this place 10 stars, I would!! Unfortunately I can’t, so 5 stars will have to suffice!

My panini was so delicious I had to come write a review. This place takes time with their menu, the food is outstanding. The quality is above any other. Best sandwich Ive ever had.

Chicken salad sandwich was DELICIOUS. Very fresh ingredients, and the pickles were exquisite! Will be recommending to family and friends!

Love Founders Cafe!! Their food is absolutely delicious and they always have friendly service. Whether getting breakfast, lunch, or just for a coffee break I always enjoy what I get and the staff. Their delivery service is also super convenient - our office sometimes makes a large order and gets it delivered right to us.

Founders is the best!!! So many amazing food options and friendly & accommodating owners. Ordered delivery and it was delivered right on time! All around great service. Thanks!

I order from here frequently for lunch - since I work pretty close, I often run over to pick up myself but they also offer free deliver FTW! Their soups are awesome, their sandwiches delicious and today we ordered pie (for Pi Day, duh) and the peanut butter pie was divine!

Founders Cafe catered a fantastic lunch at our office! Amazing sandwiches, wraps, salads and sides! Highly recommend and a big thanks to Founders Cafe!

I liked this place. It was small but cozy. I had a London fog latte that was good and some soup. The Italian wedding soup and I thought it was really well made. I saw other peoples sandwiches and salads and they also looked good, it I cant speak to their taste. They also offer wifi.

Ive loved Founders Cafe from day one of going there. Never had a bad meal there, always delicious and well-prepared sandwiches, paninis, salads, soups, coffee, cookies... I could go on. And I will. Its a great spot downtown, my favorite down there, and Mike & Maria are always welcoming and lovely hosts.They also have a whole bunch of other snacks & drinks and the specials rotate daily. The annual free Seder Mike & Maria host is also very special.Great place, without a doubt. Best lunch around. And they serve breakfast, too! Love it.

I just had my bridal shower here and they were beyond amazing. The location was beautiful, food was great, and everything was wonderful. It really could not have been a better venue or service provided throughout the entire shower. Beyond happy with the choice!

Food is good but we ordered catering three times and there was something wrong with the logistics each time. Food was boxed when it should have been on a platter so I had to take each sandwich out of each box and find a platter to put them on and once they forgot the large side to go with the catering order. I want to use them more as they are a small business but not worth the risk of hoping the order is right when you are serving for a business lunch.

My coworkers and I make daily trips for coffee/lunch. I have never had a bad meal here! The staff really care about the customer and the food is always delicious. The buffalo chicken wrap is amazing and the tomato basil soup deserves some kind of best soup ever award!

Founders Cafe has great salads and sandwiches. I highly recommend their chicken salad, its my favorite!

Great lunch spot right in downtown Rochester! Love the different variety of wraps they offer!

Such a nice little spot for lunch. Delicious food, lots of options, the boss Mike is great. Im on a diet and was easily able to find something that fit what I can have as well as customizing current menu options. Needless to say, Im a big fan!

Founders recently catered a lunch at my company and it was fantastic! The team was so friendly and the food was delicious. Ill definitely be making a trip to Founders in the future to try out the rest of their menu!

Founders is a fantastic lunch spot either for sitting and eating inside the cafe or getting food to go. I ordered a wrap and a salad from them and it is consistently delicious! I work right downtown on Main and its super convenient. Especially during the winter, they offer free delivery which is super clutch!

Thank you for the response and the explanation! I see now my experience was a misunderstanding and I retract my prior post and have deleted it, except for the part below about what I enjoyed...which still holds true.“The food was good, and of the two folks working behind the counter, the woman was congenial and helpful.”Again, thank you for taking the time to explain, and I apologize for misunderstanding and thinking you had been upset and discourteous. Now i understand that you simply didn’t hear the exchange and it was not intentional. I misread the situation, and I will happily return now that I understand.

Founders Cafe is a wonderful location downtown Rochester of which obtains freshly prepared lunch and dinner options! Based on the menus wide variety, there is an option that will make anyone and everyone hungry! I strongly recommend all to head over to Founders and check out the cool environment!

Very good

Good service and friendly service

Really great quality coffee and food. Great variety and cool staff.

Mike (the owner) is very personable and friendly. The sandwiches are ALWAYS amazing as advertised and having them personally delivered by Mike definitely adds a nice touch. I’m a forever customer :)

I had a wonderful lunch at founders cafe. I ate the turkey and the ham sandwiches. Quite tasty. I would suggest getting the chicken Caesar wrap. May be the best I had.

Ive ordered from Founders before (free delivery?!), and their turkey/avocado/BACON MAYO sandwich is one of my favorites. Today they catered a lunch at my office and while catered sandwiches rarely travel well, these ones were perfectly fresh and delicious. Try the chicken salad!

Nice cozy cafe.

Delicious food & great service. They never disappoint! Best cafe in Rochester!

Service was fast and staff was friendly. I got a sandwich one day and salad the next and they were both delicious. I took advantage of the warm, sunny weather and ate outside in the sidewalk seating area. They brought my meals directly to me once they were ready.

It has nice taste but still taste can be improvised. There are many better restaurants in Surat for dhosa. Overall average restaurant. Delicious food. Nice service and low price. Different variety of Dosas available here. Swiggy is also available. Superb taste...

I am updating my review since Ive omitted most meat out of my diet. I wanted to truly give Founders a thumbs up for their vegetarian options... salads and the Herbivore sandwich are so delicious! You dont need meat to enjoy this bad boy, the fresh crisp vegetable selection, along with choice bread (so tasty) are top notch.The only thing I could ask for is more plant based options! I love this business! :-) Mike Ellman and his staff are amazing! Great work! I will be back soon.And hungry!

I went here the other day to try out something new while I was in town for a conference. I ordered The Carnivore panini and a Cookies N Cream cookie. That had to be one of the best paninis/sandwiches I have ever had and the cookie was also a nice touch to close out my meal. Next time Im in town, you bet Ill be going to Founders.

We found this place by mistake and it was a great experience. I had the best veggie sandwich ever, so tasty! And his owner was very friendly. The place is silent and with good vibes to rest and enjoy a tasty meal in a nice and chill environment!

Great food, very fresh. The mac salad had some great flavor. If youre looking for a great lunch in Rochester I would highly recommend Founders Cafe.

Had Founders for a catered work lunch...was AWESOME! Great selection of wraps and sandwiches. I would definitely order their food again in the future.

Really love their salads - always super delicious food and nice atmosphere. They do great catering for my office as well!