Cafe Menu
Made-From-Scratch Food, Fine Coffees & Trendy Atmosphere
Come by Founder’s Cafe and experience what a real cafe tastes like. We are a cafe/tea and coffeehouse serving award-winning micro roast organic and fair-traded coffees, teas, freshly baked goods, handmade soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and paninis using only the freshest ingredients and artisan baked breads, as well as daily specials. All in a friendly, comfortable, and relaxed atmosphere and located in the historic Academy building in downtown Rochester, New York.
Gotta question about any of our food? We have a phone!
Contact us by calling 585-770-1721. Sign up for our email list to get the latest Founder’s updates!
BREAKFAST:
Benny – $4.75
Smoked ham, two eggs, and lemon-parsley aioli on a Ciabatta roll.
Denver – $5.25
Two eggs, smoked ham, sautéed peppers and caramelized onions, and cheddar cheese on a Ciabatta roll.
Florentine – $5.25
Two eggs, sautéed spinach, tomato, and lemon-parsley aioli on a Ciabatta roll.
American Classic – $4.75
Your choice of ham, bacon, or sausage, two eggs, and cheddar cheese on a Ciabatta roll.
Tardy Student – $4.25
Two scrambled eggs, choice of cheese on buttered honey wheat toast.
Breakfast Burrito – $4.95
Scrambled eggs, cheese, sautéed peppers and onions, and your choice of ham or bacon on a garlic herb wrap
Oatmeal – $3.75
A nice cup of hot oatmeal served with maple syrup. We have cinnamon, brown sugar, and raisins if you wish.
SALADS:
Traditional Cobb Salad – $9.15
Marinated and oven roasted breast of chicken, applewood smoked bacon, grape tomato, blue cheese crumbles, hard-boiled egg quarters with mesclun spring mix and your choice of house-made dressing.
Best Cobb this side of California!
Founders Classic Caesar Salad – $7.85
Chopped romaine lettuce, Italian radicchio lettuce, anchovy-free Caesar dressing, fresh ground black pepper, shaved Parmesan cheese, and house-made garlic & herb croutons. An American staple done right!
Founders Favorite – $8.25
Mesclun spring mix and spinach, chopped walnuts, dried cranberries, bleu cheese crumbles, and honey-rosemary balsamic vinaigrette. Peppery, tangy, sweet, sharp, and earthy. In short, perfect!
The Greek – $8.25
Cucumber, feta cheese, assorted Greek olives, red onion, lemon wedge, and grape tomatoes with mesclun spring mix and lemon-basil vinaigrette.
Founders House Salad – $7.75
Mixed greens, red onion, grape tomato, cucumber, house made garlic & herb croutons, Founders House Vinaigrette, shaved Parmesan cheese and fresh ground black pepper. Who says house salads are boring?
Herb Roasted Vegetable Salad – $8.25
An assortment of freshly roasted and herbed vegetables on a bed of spring mix. Try it with the Lemon Basil Vinaigrette.
Add roasted chicken breast strips, chicken salad or tuna salad for $2.75
Side salads can be added to any sandwich or soup for $2.15
Feel free to substitute any of our house-made dressings!
Ranch * Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette Honey-Rosemary Balsamic * Bleu Cheese * Founders House Vinaigrette * Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar
PANINIS:
Smoked Turkey and Pesto Panini – $9.30
Thin sliced smoked turkey breast with provolone cheese, fresh sliced vine tomato, and handmade basil pesto.
Herb Roasted Veggie Panini (Vegan) – $9.30
A colorful assortment of herb roasted veggies, including (but not limited to) eggplant, summer squash, zucchini, fresh baby spinach, bell peppers, fresh sliced vine tomato, and our Roasted Red Pepper coulis sauce. Even meat eaters love it!
Add Cheese $1.00
Chicken Caprese Panini – $9.05
Oven roasted chicken breast, mozzarella and tomatoes, basil pesto and balsamic vinaigrette, drizzled with herb-infused extra virgin olive oil. An Italian delight served right here in Rochester!
The Carnivore – $10.30
Black Forest ham, smoked turkey, imported capicola, genoa salami, applewood smoked bacon, and plenty of aged NY cheddar. Served with house made Honey Dijon. We won’t lie; this sandwich just might eat you!
Artisan Five Cheese and Tomato – $9.05
Fresh sliced vine tomato, fresh cut herbs, aged NY cheddar, premium Swiss cheese, mozzarella, shaved parmesan, and provolone cheeses grilled to perfection.
Add Bacon $1.75
Chipotle Turkey Avocado – $10.30
Smoked turkey breast slices and provolone cheese, house-made chipotle bacon mayonnaise and one-half fresh avocado. Spicy and delicious!
Caprese Sandwich – $9.05
Sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. Topped off with a little basil-garlic aioli. Delicious!
Cajun Chicken & Bleu Cheese Panini – $9.05
Lightly spiced and oven roasted whole chicken breast strips, caramelized onions and house made creamy bleu cheese dressing. This one is addictive, folks. Just ask the boss!
Founders Cuban – $9.75
We start with roasted pork. Then add ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickle slices, then top it off with yellow mustard. Then we grill it to toasty melty perfection on the panini press.
JEF (Jambon Et Fromage) – $9.30
First, some Black Forest Ham, then we top it with brie. Next, for some sweetness and crunch, some sliced apples. For more contrast, a helping of honey Dijon. Finally, a little nap on the panini press. Only then is it ready for your mouth.
HOT SANDWICHES:
Thanksgiving Sandwich – $9.75
The best thing about Thanksgiving put between two slices of sourdough bread. Sliced turkey breast, stuffing and gravy. Finished with cranberry aioli.
The Rachel (Turkey Reuben) – $8.95
All of the deliciousness, with less of the guilt with this modified Reuben made with smoked turkey in place of the corned beef. So turkey, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and 1000 Island Dressing grilled on sourdough bread.
Reuben – $8.95
All of the deliciousness and ALL of the guilt with this traditional Reuben made with lean corned beef. Same as above, but with a little more impact on the cholesterol. We serve this on marble rye.
BLT – $7.95
Do I really have to explain it? Okay. A nice portion of applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, and sliced tomato served on toasted honey wheat bread. With mayo, of course.
Hot Corned Beef – $7.95
On toasted marble rye with mustard. Who needs anything more? Oh yeah-make it a Reuben for a buck more.
Hot Pastrami – $7.95
See above (except it’s Pastrami!) On toasted marble rye with mustard. Just like your deli man in Brooklyn used to make. Of course you can make it a Pastrami Reuben for a buck more.
Hot Pastrami & Turkey Combo – $10.30
Hungry for a sandwich you need both hands to hold? A full portion of hot pastrami on top of a full portion of smoked turkey. Served on marble rye with Thousand Island dressing. Oy!
BIG Pastrami – $14.95
Jonesing for massive quantities of smoked meat? This is the sandwich for you. A full pound of hot pastrami in between two slices of marble rye. This sandwich is so big, I had to have the toothpicks to hold it together custom-made.
Grilled Cheese – $7.95
On buttered honey wheat bread, we add whatever cheese please you.
Add Bacon or Ham $1.75
Meatball Hero – $8.95
On hero roll, we put delicious baked meatballs and our house-made tomato sauce. Want to add mozzarella? Kick a buck.
COLD SANDWICHES AND WRAPS:
Smoked Turkey on Honey Wheat – $9.15
Thin sliced smoked turkey breast, premium Swiss cheese, spring mix, red onion, fresh sliced vine tomato, on lightly toasted honey wheat bread with our house made Sweet Cranberry Aioli. Smoky and sweet!
Buffalo Chicken Wrap- $8.25
Our own twist on an upstate New York classic: oven roasted chicken breast and romaine lettuce with house-made blue cheese dressing and sriracha sauce.
Add Cheese $1.00
Founders Tuna Salad – $8.25
House made daily with celery, parsley, dill and red onion. Served on lightly toasted honey wheat bread
OR a spinach herb wrap with fresh sliced vine tomato, spring mix and our house-made Lemon Parsley Aioli. Make it a Tuna Melt with aged NY Cheddar for only $1.00!
Founders Chicken Salad – $8.25
Our family recipe, made with oven roasted chicken breast, fresh grapes, walnuts, celery, raisins, almonds, and fresh apple, prepared with fresh sliced vine tomato and our house-made Sweet Cranberry Aioli.
Ham and Swiss – $8.25
A simple American classic! A generous helping of Black Forest ham topped with premium Swiss cheese and our house-made Horseradish-Chive Aioli. Not a Swiss cheese fan? No problem. We’d love to prepare this delicious offering with any cheese you prefer.
Chicken Spinach Pesto Wrap – $9.15
Marinated and oven roasted chicken breast strips, red onion, fresh sliced vine tomato, mozzarella, baby spinach, and handmade pesto sauce in a garlic and herb wrap. Try it with Bacon for a smoky kick!
The Herbivore (Vegan) – $7.85
Abundant selection of fresh semi-seasonal vegetables including (but not limited to) English cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, fresh sliced vine tomato, spring mix and baby spinach, on lightly toasted honey wheat bread or a garlic pesto wrap with our house-made Rosemary Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Add cheese $1.00
Italian Trio Wrap – $8.25
Our take on Rochester’s favorite sub! Genoa salami, Black Forest ham, imported capicola, provolone, spring mix, red onion, and fresh sliced vine tomato with our Horseradish-Chive Aioli. Fuggetaboutit!
Smoked Turkey and Provolone Wrap – $8.75
Smoked turkey breast, provolone, red onion, fresh sliced vine tomato and spring mix with our house-made Basil-Garlic Aioli. Simply delicious!
Add Bacon $1.75
COLD SANDWICHES, WRAPS, AND MORE:
Turkey Club – $9.75
Our first triple decker starts with a BLT. Then we add another layer of smoked turkey breast.
Banh Mi – $9.15
We start with a toasted mini-baguette, then layer roasted pork, pickled vegetables, and cilantro. It’s topped off with some sriracha aioli. Sliced jalapeños too, if you wish.
Chicken Caesar Wrap – $8.45
Your favorite salad in a hand-held version. Herb roasted chicken, romaine lettuce, and caesar dressing all rolled neatly into a wrap.
Egg Salad – $7.95
My mom’s egg salad recipe on our honey wheat bread. Simple and good. Finished with lettuce and tomato.
Chicken Salad Club – $9.75
Another diner favorite triple decker starts with a BLT. Then we add another tier of chicken salad.
Herb Roasted Chicken Club – $9.75
Are you getting the pattern? Triple decker with roasted chicken breast this time.
Tuna Salad Club – $9.45
Do I really have to explain it again. Okay. Another diner favorite triple decker starts with a BLT. Then we add another tier of tuna salad.
Egg Salad Club – $9.45
I’m not going to explain it, if you haven’t figured it out by now.
YOU MAY SUBSTITUTE ANY OF OUR HOUSE-MADE AIOLIS AND SAUCES IF YOU WISH:
Honey Dijon Sauce * Basil-Garlic Aioli * House-Made Basil Pesto Sauce * Horseradish-Chive Aioli * Lemon-Parsley Aioli * Roasted Red Pepper Coulis Sauce * Sweet Cranberry Aioli
MORE:
Soup – We also scratch make hot & cold soups daily. Check your weekly emails or our Facebook page for the soup schedule.
Rice Bowls – $9.95 We rotate each day between white and brown rice, and quinoa. Current choices:
- Southwestern – Cajun chicken, roasted corn, seasoned black beans, and salsa.
- Greek – Herb roasted chicken, feta, olives, cucumber, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki.
- Banh Mi – Roasted smoked pork, pickled vegetables, cilantro, jalapeños, and sriracha.
- Herb Roasted Vegetable – Roasted eggplant, red peppers, zucchini, squash, and hummus.
- Cali Roll – Crab stick, cucumber, avocado, nori, pickled ginger, and wasabi.
Quiche – We bake quiche all week. Again, check your email or our Facebook page for our offerings.
COFFEE MENU:
QUICK CUP 12 oz : $1.95 16 oz : $2.45 |
CAFE AU LAIT 12 oz : $2.55 16 oz : $3.10 |
POUROVER 8 oz : $3.75 |
ESPRESSO Single : $2.15 Double : $2.65 |
AMERICANO 12 oz : $2.75 16 oz : $3.25 |
CLEVER 12 oz : $3.75 |
CAPPUCCINO Single : $3.25 Double : $3.75 |
ICED COFFEE 16 oz : $2.75 24 oz : $3.70 |
AEROPRESS 8 oz : $2.75 12 oz : $3.25 |
CAFE LATTE 12 oz : $3.65 16 oz : $4.20 |
ICED LATTE 16 oz : $3.65 24 oz : $4.75 |
CHEMEX $6.45 |
MOCHA 12 oz : $3.85 16 oz : $4.50 |
ICED MOCHA 16 oz : $4.35 24 oz : $5.20 |
FRENCH PRESS $6.45 |
MACCHIATO (ITALIAN) Single : $2.45 Double : $2.75 |
FROZEN LATTE 16 oz : $4.35 24 oz : $5.20 |
HOT CHOCOLATE 12 oz : $3.50 16 oz : $4.25 |
MACCHIATO LATTE 12 oz : $3.65 16 oz : $4.20 |
RED EYE 12 oz : $2.85 16 oz : $3.35 |
FLAT WHITE 12 oz : $3.65 16 oz : $4.20 |
FLAVOR SHOTS $.50
Vanilla * Caramel * Hazelnut * Raspberry