Mamasan’s Restaurant, the Thai and Vietnamese Restaurant that has been a mainstay in Rochester's food scene since the 1980s, has reopened in a new location at 583 East Main St. downtown.
Be Walters, a native of Vietnam, opened Mamasan’s in a former doughnut shop at 309 University Avenue in 1984. The cozy eatery with a pink-and-aqua color scheme was one of the first restaurants to introduce Rochesterians to dishes like pad thai and spring rolls. It became hugely popular with the downtown lunch crowd. Among its early fans was radio personality Brother Wease, who would visit with a large group most Thursdays and talk up the restaurant on the air.
In 2003, Walters opened a second location in a former Denny's at 2800 Monroe Ave. in Brighton. The spacious,
brightly colored dining room was accented by modern art from local artists. The original University Avenue restaurant eventually closed.
Since 2020, the restaurant has moved to two small locations on Mount Hope Avenue near College Town.
Walters said she's owned the property, roughly two blocks for the original location, for "a long time," along with two other building in the area.
"I believe in this area," she said, and she's wanted to open something there for awhile. "If I want to do something, I never go away."
The new space has a cheerful color scheme similar to its previous locations, accented by modern artwork and decorative elements that came from Brighton. Large windows flood the space with light, which has a mixture of conventional height tables and two tall counters.
Unsurprisingly, Brother Wease and his wife, Doreen Levin, were among the early customers to the restaurant. Both had missed Walters' food; Doreen Levin usually orders fresh spring rolls and garlic chicken, while Wease often orders the Vietnamese noodle salad. "The food is exemplary," Brother Wease said, saying they hadn't found anything like it near their winter residence in Florida.
About Walters he said, "She's a wonderful woman and a dear friend."
If you go
Mamasan's Restaurant is at 583 E. Main St., roughly a block east of Eastman Theatre, near where the Inner Loop meets University Avenue. It has its own parking lot next to the building, and street parking is available as well; street parking is free after 6 p.m. Dine-in and takeout is available; delivery is not yet offered.
Mamasan's is open 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; noon to 9 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sunday and Monday.
Tracy Schuhmacher has been food and drink reporter for the past 11 years. Notice a food establishment open or close near you? Email her at tracys@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Mamasan's Vietnamese and Thai restaurant reopens in new location
