Restaurant & Bar Rochester NY

People often ask, “What was this before it was Yianni’s?” The answer is originally it was Pizza Kitchen in the 1970’s, then it was Astis’s, and after that, Tony Rigatoni’s. “That’s right!”, is the usual response. But of course, there’s more to the story. John Bakolas, affectionately known as Yianni, realized his dream to open his own restaurant, and so Yianni’s was established and opened its doors on June 23, 1988.

John emigrated from Greece at age 7 with his parents and younger brother. By the time he was 13, he’d begun working in the restaurant business, ultimately learning all aspects of the trade. He worked at various restaurants throughout the years, even meeting his wife, Susan, at one of them. Eventually they married, settled in Gates and started a family. The restaurant dream became a reality. John worked tirelessly, determined to succeed and beat the odds that were laid against him by many. Since then, Yianni’s has been known throughout the community for excellent food, an impressive atmosphere and friendly servers that are often mistaken for family. We have stood the test of time.