The lunch hour is often the one respite workers have from their dull weekday routines, and yet even lunch can become monotonous if you don't change it up every once in a while. For those who work downtown (and those willing to drive), Hot Rosita's is ready to spice up your mid-day food break.

Hot Rosita's opened last month, and is co-owned by locals Mitchell Redlo and David Romilly, who thought the downtown scene was lacking in what they describe as a "fresh, fast, casual Mexican grill." The restaurant (unaffiliated with the former downtown eatery of the same name) aims to please every palate with a small, five-item menu that lets customers customize meat and fillings to create numerous options, a similar concept to the popular fast-food chain Chipotle. Diners can choose from three tacos, a burrito, a burrito bowl, a salad, or chili. Meat choices include chicken, ground beef, shredded beef or pork, and grilled shrimp; sauteed peppers and onions are also offered as a vegetarian option. Then you can stack on the fillings, including cilantro lime rice, black or pinto beans, a choice of salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and more.

While Hot Rosita's might have a comparable model to other restaurants, it mixes things up by offering customers locally sourced food served up by head chef Christian Wandtke. And if you're worried about stretching your wallet too much on lunch, you'll be happy to know that not a single item on the menu costs more than $6. The restaurant offers dine-in seating for up to 60 people (you can watch your food being prepared in the open kitchen), or take-out service.

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

Hot Rosita's is located at 17 E. Main Street, and is open for lunch weekdays only 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. For more information, visit hotrositas.com or call 454-2001.

Drink and be social

Rohrbach Brewing Company is starting a new monthly tradition. Beginning Thursday, February 25, at 6:30 p.m. the brewery-restaurant will host the first-ever Brewtopia Social, a chance to sample beer and food and listen to local beer expert and author Steve Hodos expound on beer history, facts, and trivia. Rohrbach will also be offering samples of its newest brew, English Mild, for the first time. Future Brewtopia Socials will be held on the last Thursday of every month. The cost to attend the social is $12.

Rohrbach Brewing Company is located at 3859 Buffalo Rd. For more information, visit rohrbachs.com or call 594-9800.

Cooking classes

Mario's is now offering cooking classes. The first class, "The Art of Making Homemade Pasta," was offered on January 30. The next two classes, "Making Great Italian Pasta Sauces" and an Italian desserts class (yet unnamed), will run Saturday, February 27, and Saturday, March 27, respectively. Class participants can watch as the chefs prepare various foods, as well as sample various wines. Each class costs $50. Mario's is located at 2740 Monroe Ave. For more information, or to register, call 271-1111.

Closings

Local restaurant owner Donna DiMarzo has closed two of her restaurants: Corn Hill Landing comfort-food haven Corn Hill Grill and East Avenue tapas restaurant and bar The Social. DiMarzo closed Corn Hill Grill back in November in an effort to downsize. "I was running too many places at the same time and wanted to concentrate on the others I have," she says. "We were there almost two years - we had a good run." As for The Social, DiMarzo has sold the space to a new owner (details to follow in an upcoming column), but wants it clear that her decision had nothing to do with the success of the restaurant, which was still quite popular - and will be missed by many (including this writer).

El Parian Mexican Grille in Henrietta closed last month. The Mexican restaurant offered a wide variety of choices from quesadillas and fajitas to burritos and enchiladas; it was also known for its margarita specials. Attempts to reach the owner to determine the reason for its closing went unreturned, but the phone has been disconnected, the sign has been taken down, and U-Hauls were spotted outside of the restaurant at the end of last month.

Cuomo's Neighborhood Deli and Market on Park Ave closed at the end of last year. The fairly new shop had a good reputation for its soups and sandwiches, especially the meatball sub (made with homemade meatballs) and the plentiful Italian BLT. The owners posted the following message on their Facebook page in December: "Thanks to all our customers and friends who have supported us in 2009. As the year comes to a finish we will also be closing our deli at the end of this year. It has been a pleasure serving you this year and we wish you the best. Our last day will be Thursday, December 31st. Have a Happy New Year."

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