Rockit Bar & Grill
Categories: Bars, Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near North Side22 W Hubbard
(between Dearborn St & State St)
Chicago, IL 60610 (312) 645-6000
- Nearest Transit:
Grand (Red)
Merchandise Mart (Purple Express, Brown)
State/Lake (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Green, Pink)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m.
Sat 11:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m.
Sun 10:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Valet
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Music: DJ, Live
- Best Nights: Mon, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: Yes
32 reviews
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
"This restaurant was the perfect place for a Sunday night dinner to finish off a crazy weekend. It was laid back and casual. I felt like I…" read more »
182 Reviews for Rockit Bar & Grill
I would say my enjoyment of Rockit is inversly proportionate to the size of the crowd there. The bigger the crowd, the worse the food, and the service and of course the higher percentage of douche-y people. This in itself is not terribly out of the ordinary. The food here, when it is done well, is very good. Fancy schmancy bar food, but good food. Fancy pricey drinks, but generally good tasting ones. Since the price of food does not change it seems silly to pay the same price when you know both food, service, and atmosphere are crappy. Eat here when its not busy. If you want to be part of the scenery then come here when it is crowded and avoid eating, buy a drink (an expensive one). Since I would come here more for the food and not as a bar, I'll rate it as a restaurant, it loses some stars for price and unnevenness.
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When my work supervisor suggested that we go to dinner here after the work picnic I was very worried. This place is in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Chicago and I just don't have the money. So when we were seated and checked out the menu I was in awe. Sandwiches for $10 that include sweet potato fries?! Awesome! It was so good! Beers are $4 which in my book is absurd but it was downtown Chicago, it's not really Rockit's fault.
I saw on here that it says it's not good for kids. I have to disagree. Supervisor's boyfriend had his daughter that weekend and she came along to dinner. One of the waitresses came over and told us she was a teacher and then went into a little Speech/Performance for the little girl. It was great. It's little extras like that that will bring me back to this place.
ps. the mac and cheese is to. die. for.
I've only been here for lunch as this neighborhood in the evening is not my kind of scene. However, Rockit has nailed the lunch crowd head on. Their burgers are top notch and the Rockit Burger on a pretzel bun should not be missed! I had a kobe burger during their June special, and it fell waaay short of their standard Rockit Burger so stick with the classic.
I also don't get the Truffle fries, but apparently the rest of the clientele weeps for them, so try them because I'm in the minority on passing these up when I visit.
If you work in the area, head here for a fun Friday lunch (or earlier in the week if your boss is away!). Daytime servers are sweet, but not all of them are up on their game, so you may be there longer than an hour. This place fills up FAST, so get there by 11:30 or you'll be waiting waiting waiting and may end up heading for the Subway down the block in order to get back to your office in time to put cover sheets on your TPS reports before you clock out.
If you'd rather do takeout, go for it! They package the food well and it will not wilt on your walk back to the office kitchen.
If you must drive here - BEWARE THE VALETS!!! I work a few doors down and my co-worker's car was hit by them and they didn't even tell the owner of the other car what had happened. Shady McGradys! Park far away and cab it! Seriously!
I'm basing this review on the food. I have been here several times in the pm, and cannot deal with the crowd. Weekends are filled with cheeseballs trying too hard.
However, I've been ISO the perfect crabcake....and I'm infactuated with Rockits. They're super easy on the filling and generous with the meat...chunks...not the stringy canned crap. The outside is crisped up just enough without a trace of filler sogginess left on the plate. Yummm!
I also recommend the French onion soup (especially in the winter)...lotsa cheese, lotsa bread and the soup part isn't too greasy.
Bring mints if you plan on breathing after the truffle fries. Personally, I dig plain ole French fries.
Servers can be flaky...(-1 star).
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We went here during a visit to Chicago on a friend's recommendation. They made us wait for a table for several minutes, even though there were open tables, until I pointed out one on the patio out front. The atmosphere inside is loud and cacophonous, and is your basic industrial dark barroom. Nothing special at all.
The bread basket they brought out before the meal was pretty good, with an interesting assortment. I ordered a white goose (?) local draft beer that was very good, and my wife's caramel apple martini was terrific. It might be worth sacrificing your machismo to get one of those, if you like your alcohol to taste like candy.
Anyway, the most important part of the meal was the food, of course. I ordered the Kobe beef burger and my wife ordered a grilled chicken salad. The burger was juicy but absolutely flavorless, and had an off-putting sweetness to it. The textures were not pleasant. I sought refuge in the truffle oil fries, but they were no better. Her salad was average but not great.
Another $75 down the drain, where we'd have been more satisfied picking up Subway on the way back to the hotel.
Once the trendiness wears off of this place, the food won't be enough to hold it together. I don't think it warrants a second try. I would probably go again just for drinks and maybe see what's on the dessert menu, though.
Lara and i were looking for someplace new and different to eat. We stumbled across this place and we decided to give it a try. Looking at the address of this place, we were expecting over glorified bar food. We were happily mistaken.
The place was dark and not overly packed as we were there on a Thursday around 6:00. I guess the big crowds don't start coming in until later in the night. The place was dark and very comfortable. We were expecting it to be crowded and noisy so a big plus for them.
We were also expecting somewhat indifferent service, but our server was great. Well at least in my opinion it was great. He was very attentive and friendly but not over the top at all. He was either on top of his game because he was training someone that night, but I am thinking that he sincerely did an excellent job. Once again our expectations were exceeded.
Once again , we were both expecting sticker shock when we opened the menu and once again the prices were not as bad as we thought hey were going to be. I ordered the Reuben sandwich with sweet potato fries and Lara ordered the pulled pork sandwich. Now the burning question was: Could this place deliver with a decent value. the answer: Yes they did!
The Reuben was huge and they also provided a huge pile of sweet potato fries which were delicious! I know I just ordered a Reuben but they did use some quality ingredients. They did not skimp on the quality or quantity.
Everything fell into place very nicely on this visit. Can they keep up this level on subsequent visits? Only time will tell. They definitely exceeded our expectations on our inaugural trip. Next time, I am trying the lobster burger!
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I went to Rockit with a bunch of coworkers after a drunken boat ride two years ago. We saw Trixie, Chad, Joey Slotnik, and John C. Reilly there. I went up to JCR and gushed about how cool I think he is, and he looked at me like I was a crazy broad with a turnip growing out of my head.
Anyway, based on that experience I was not expecting to like Rockit at all when Dave & I went there for dinner one evening. But we were hungry and it was starting to rain, so I figured what the heck, I'll go there & come up with a bunch more snarky things for my Yelp review.
Mea culpa. I really liked it!
The food was freakin' GOOD! For starters, they bring you a little bread basket that includes chocolate bread (5 stars). Smear a little butter on, and it's like eating a not-too-sweet brownie. Yum! The sweet potato fries (5) were the best I've ever had anywhere; crispy and thin but still with palpable potato flesh inside. The regular French fries (5) were thick and cooked perfectly (a little longer than most) so they were crispy. The BBQ pork sandwich (4) was very good, and they cheerfully put it on a pretzel roll for me. It was served with cole slaw (3), which I can usually take or leave and this was no exception. Dave loved his Reuben (not my bag so I can't comment). Portions were very generous, and we both left with unfinished plates and uncomfortable food babies in our stomachs.
I was also very much into the atmosphere. From the cool menus (made of all different LP covers) to the lighting (sexxxxxy!) to the wonderful booth (soft chocolately leather which cradled and warmed my milky ass), I can see myself coming back here again and again. I don't know that I would come here much at night when they are really hopping due to my serious aversion to crowds and the see-and-be-seen culture that I expect, but for an early-ish dinner I could not have asked for better.
Service was excellent: friendly, efficient, and accommodating. As good as I can hope for in a casual restaurant. Prices were reasonable, especially considering the quantity and quality.
I can't wait to come back & try some more from their tempting menu.
Quality / Taste (40%): 4.4
Service (20%): 5
Atmosphere (20%): 4.5
Value (20%): 4
Overall: 4.5
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I went to Rockit for my friend's 22nd birthday, and was really excited about it until I arrived and saw that we were seated literally 2 steps from the door. Our group of 10 apparently couldn't fit anywhere in the main dining room despite the reservations made well in advance. The food was disappointing.. not horrible but definitely not impressive and not reason enough for me to go back. I had the Cajun Salmon with Pasta, and the pasta tasted like one of those Stouffer's TV dinners. The salmon was also on the bland side. Most of the people in our party had either the Lobster Burger or the Rockit Burger. The latter I heard was just a regular burger but slightly bigger. As for the Lobster Burger.. well, my friend ordered it without knowing that it's 99% shrimp, and she's actually allergic, so be warned!!!
I really wanted to like this place but I didn't. Overall unimpressive and I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon.
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Not my scene these days but...
I liked the elevator taking you to two DIFFERENT atmospheres.
First floor was mellow and on a Saturday night NOT packed. SWEET.
Second floor was where the party was...
My girlfriends and I got a booth easily and played "Dare or Dare" with the crowd. It was quite entertaining and accommodating. We got everything from a man's underwear to a condom to a man proposing on his knee. Works for me...maybe not in that order...but nevertheless, it works.
I did not like the long line, but it moved quickly, and the no cover charge made me smile. They had some of the NICEST bouncers in this city.
Oh, and they had pool tables in what seems a bit of a 'nightclub' atmosphere...awesome! However, not quarters but $15 bucks for 30 min and 30 bucks for an hour. What is that...50 cents per minute...f*ck you guys!
And....
As for the $5 dollar water bottles...wtf?
We kept looking for the dance floor....but Rockit is missing that piece.
Probably will never step foot in here by choice....but when the girls want to get wild....not such a bad place.
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I got the $20 burger, it was okay but have had much better for much cheaper. I also had a couple of cherry lemonade vodka drinks that were soooo good.
The crowd wasn't as bad as I was expecting after reading other yelp reviews however I did get there early.
When we were leaving we walked past a table of 5 and every single one of them was texting or talking on their phone - Why bother going out with your friends?
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based on food alone...it would have been a 5 for me...but i was really disappointed with the service. i went here with my future inlaws on a wednesday night, and the hostess said she could seat us right away. 15 minutes later we were just standing there kind of awkwardly as the hostess talked to this other girl about her hair. there was another party that seemed to have been forgotten about as well. once we were seated, my fiance didn't get a menu, which the waitress noticed right away and said she would grab one "right away." no menu was ever brought :(
ok...fast forward to the sweet potato fries and lobster gnocchi. i was close to tears as i ate this meal! there were HUGE pieces of lobster in my dish and the sauce was amazing. the VCR martini (vodka, cranberry ,redbull) was nothing great, but i didn't even care once i got my food. i think after every single bite i did one of those annoying, eyes closed, "UHHHHHHH!" my arteries kept telling me no, but my stomach was begging for more.
i'll definitely be going back, but i would hesitate before recommending it to others just because of the service...i'll see how they are next time though!
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If I could move Rockit to my neighborhood, I would! My review is 100% because of the food. I do like the environment, but it's not why I keep going back!
They have the best burger on a pretzel bun. Order the truffle fries ($2 more, but so worth it)!
They also have the best dirty martini. Belvedere Vodka is the key. Plus, they will use blue cheese stuffed olives.
I read the yelp reviews before I came here with my friends, and fully expected to see some super famous people, but there weren't any. NONE, can you believe it? Very disappointing, fellow yelpers.
There were, however, other funny characters, including the large, drunk guy who stumbled into my chair (though he apologized kindly while grabbing my body with his whole hand as he tried to find his balance), white girls with fake blonde hair and dresses designed to reveal the probably very meaningful chinese tattoos on their back, a powder lady who took up three quarters of the bathroom space with thousands of mysterious bottles and containers, and many other happy people.
The food was spectacular and something to tell one's friends about the next day. "Burger with fries"? No, make that a Kobe beef burger, with brie cheese, fried shallots, date aioli, and truffle fries on the side. TRUFFLE FRIES, y'all. Best seven dollar fries I've ever had.
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Putting the pretense aside, Rockit always seems to deliver.
Yes, Rockit does have some rather obnoxious "I was on a reality show" patrons, but it also has amazing drinks (Please to god try the Bomb Pop) and has exceptional food. The outdoor seating is very relaxing and you'll actually forget that the girl at the next table was the runner-up on The Bachelor.
The upstairs bar is nice for an after-work drink with colleagues, or fun for shooting some pool. Rockit always seems to be busy, so arriving early will help.
We showed up at about 8:30pm, and the place was really busy, but we still got a table in just 30 minutes or so.
I thought the food was delicious, and I would go back, since that is the point of a restaurant.
The crowd was that annoying mix of youth and money. I hear this is a place to "be seen" but I couldn't care less about that. And frankly, I don't get it. It was dark enough that seeing anyone would be hard, and crowded enough that picking them out of a group would be even more difficult.
There wasn't enough room at the bar to call this place a "bar and grill." We had to wait down by the bathrooms because there was absolutely no way to get close to the bar.
Speaking of bathrooms; I know this place was trying to be fancy, but washroom attendants? At a "bar and grill?!" Totally unnecessary.
But seriously, the food was amazing. I tried a bit of everything at the table, and I liked it all. Kudos to the chef.
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Well, we had to try this place because 1) the Lobster Burger intrigued me (I love lobster) and 2) because I tend to want to try anything that Dee W. reviews - even with only fair- to-middling impressions...
Well, after two visits - we found it a mixed bag. The service/servers were very good on both occasions.
Dee W. (who is the resident expert on Calamari was right on the mark about the squid: very ordinary.
And the Truffle Fries - while very good - weren't exciting enough to warrent the 2nd visit (which was just kind of accidental) The Sweet Potato Fries would have been wonderful if they'd just cut back a little on the brown sugar!
The first time - the Lobster Burger was pretty good (very flavorful and lobstery) - the second time - it was dry and boring - so it is hit or miss -which is not good at $20 a shot...
Though a bit overly-pricey, the Rockit Burger with Truffle Fries (go for medium RARE) can be very delish. (And the Filet Mignon Steak is superior to many, if not most of the famous steakhouses...)
I also agree with the Danny l. - re: the Rockit Pockit - a kind of Philly Cheese Steak "Eggroll" - it's pretty good - and the chocolate Bread Pudding is almost worth the 800 calorie sacrifice...
We meant to try the intriguing sounding Lamb Hot Pot - has anyone tried it? I'm not sure if we will be going back there again - probably only if we are in the neighborhood.
The highlight was the Truffle Fries - which while not exactly "dazzling" were better than many versions I've sampled around town.
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I have no idea why celebrities come here except that they are friends with the pseudo-celebrity owner. It is packed with drunk, loud clones (girls with over flat ironed hair and men in conspicuous work wear that screams, "I work for a hedge fund!") having boring conversations.
It gets a whole extra star because it is not Coyote ugly or Howl at the moon.
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Completely agree with Amy G's review! This place is ridiculously crowded and filled with very fake sorority girls and frat boys. Absolutely no diversity. I could do without it.
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I get my fix of Bon Jovi every time I go here. Just don't get caught there when it's packed.
I met up my sister and her friends from Michigan out here, and it was fun. Even on a Monday the place can get busy. The wings are pretty good here, and basically surpasses your average bar food. I had some of my sister's salad, and ordered the lobster sandwich. This must be the equivalent to a crabby pattie, lobster version - what would this be, a lobbie pattie?! It was very good, and perfect with any alcoholic beverage. The prices are more on the higher end since it is downtown and better quality food. We had the bartender make a shot for us, and she let some ice chunks fall through... I think she was in training, but I'm sure she'll get better.
First time there and thought the food was disgusting. Turkey burger was horrible. Shrimp appetizer tasted like calimari....tough and chewy. Will never eat there again.
Wow...Rockit Bar.....wow....
I do have a personal vendetta against Rockit Bar, but that's another story.
Overall, bad service from girls in tiny skirts they took off their cabbage patch dolls earlier in the day (I have no problem with your tiny skirts as long as the service is good - if not, I'm totally going to pull out the skirt card). Men roaming the bar who look like they've taken longer to get ready than you have (not a turn on boys!) And an overall sense of "you aren't good enough to be here."
There are way better bars in the city, don't waste your time with this one!
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Tomorrow Night, Jeremy Piven will be at Rockit Bar and Grill hosting the Annual PIven Theatre Workshop Benefit. Come check it out. Go to www.rockitbarandgrill.com for more information!
Rockit is boring.. make that SERIOUSLY boring. On the weekends, it gets packed with tourists. How do I know they are tourists? It's the weirdest and most diverse crowd I've ever seen. The only reason I don't like going to a tourist-attraction is because tourists are like government workers. They always move slow, never know what they're doing and rarely impress.
Beer costs $5, mixed drinks at least $8.
I have seen three professional athletes on seperate days. This is the only reason I won't give it a 1 star. I like sports and seeing athletes in their own dormain is kind of cool.
The bouncers will let you know a couple dozen times where you can't stand. They love power. Forget being hospitable to paying patron's. They are ALL business. Also, since when did being 6'4 with a bald head AUTOMATICALLY make you tough. Just once, I want to see a bouncer who is 5'8 with dreadlocks.
The music sucks. The DJ playlist includes a lot of 80's and 90's rock anthems. Steeeeeeeve Perry.
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Go here if you are a douche bag.
If you're not a douche bag, don't go here.
If you do not know what a douche bag is, go here to find out.
(Disclaimer: There are exceptions to every rule)
(... just don't forget your pink popped collar)
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I love Rockit. I go at least once every week with my friends. We usually order all the side dishes and the pomegranate mojitos--really good. I'm especially partial to the mac n' cheese and truffle fries. I just found out they're doing Karaoke on Tuesday nights, so that's an awesome addition! I'm going tonight!
I would probably only come here to eat lunch or dinner and get out. This isn't a hang out place for me. But the main reason I would come is for the food, and it's a good place for business lunches when you're not paying. The Rockit burger with truffle fries is probably the best burger I have ever had, including Kuma's. But for $20, it better be.
I have only drank here once with a group in the upstairs. And it was fine. Appetizers were all good. The clientele would keep me away from here most of the time. And truthfully, the place tries to be edgy and cool, but it's just not authentic cool, and if anything, it's suit and tie. Though the album cover menus are pretty clever. It's not rock and roll.
Amazing food! Love the pretzel buns on the burgers, and they have those awesome steak fries. I always leave stuffed here without even eating half my food. Every server I've had here has been awesome, and the drinks are always made very well.
Drinks are priced normally for a downtown bar. Speaking of the bar, the downstairs bar is fine and the bartenders are friendly. I haven't ventured upstairs in probably 2 years, but I remember it being crowded on the weekends (of course), and the service varies, but again, I think that's typical for any downtown bar on a weekend.
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They should call it the Kobe Bryant burger and be done with it.
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I've only been to Rockit a few times and one of those times was to over imbibe with a friend whom I thought I'd never see again..Whodduthunk that five months later that we'd be moving out to San Francisco to be her neighbor? If I knew then what I know now..I would have gladly held off the over imbibing until we reconnected in the Bay Area..Let me tell ya' why.
Said friend had gotten together a large contingent of her friends to meet up at Rockit on a weeknight around 5-ish..No big deal. We all knew that Rockit would be more than easy to navigate. No lines, no crowds to push through..Easy breezy..or so we thought..
Upon entering, you are greeted with a large host stand and a hostess who seemed more concerned with which side her bangs flipped to..Because it seriously took her a few moments to realize that two patrons had just walked in the door..and was not able to offer us any tables for a large group..DO YOU REMEMBER THAT IT'S 5:00 P.M. ON A THURSDAY? Well..there were tables GALORE!..So, we saddle up to the bar and order a round of drinks...First..they didn't the first two beers that I wanted on tap..I understand why this happens in a bar, as I work in a bar, but...there's an incredibly easy way to remedy the situation...INFORM YOUR GUESTS BEFORE THEY EVEN ORDER..I was let down ..not once, but TWICE..even before I got my first beer in hand!
As more of my friend's guests started to arrive, we thought it best to ask if we could move to the upper level...which of course, the host neglected to offer us..For, as soon as we ascended the stairs, we were greeted with ...AN EMPTY ROOM!...So..of course we took up shop at a few tables, seeing as we were expecting at least 12 or more people.
This room is almost cavernous. In the middle of the room lies a massive, rectangular bar. On the west side of the upstairs are massive booths with small flat panels along the wall. Toward the back of this part of Rockit there are a few high-end pool tables..and a few high boys by the elevator. A nice, wanna-be rustic bar..The one redeeming factor of the upstairs bar was the cute..i mean CUTE bartender whom I couldn't keep my eyes off of..I mean..I am tipping you ..so you should at least let me oggle you!
As a party, we ordered a sampler platter of app's..which ended up being a big bucket of fried stuff...Everything was discernable from the next thing..I was so stoked to try their "famous" sweet potato fries only to plop a wet noodle of a fry in my mouth with way too much sweet-salty seasoning on them.
Rockit is open during lunch..which can be a saving grace in this neck of the woods. Where being a creature of habit can create issues..As I tend to eat at the same place over and over..So, it's nice to walk down the street..grab an above average burger and a beer before I head back into the comfy confines of my own bar!
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This place is one of those all -in one kind of spot. Eat downstairs and then head upstairs to dance. I personally think the food is great and the service is outstanding. I had me a very good steak and it was awesome!
On another night, I showed up ready to check out the dance floor and it was not hot! As soon as I walked in, a group of girls were ready to chop my head off, pulling my hat... Oh we love your hat, your hat is sooo sexy! Really? Well, thanks! I guess the hat gets all the attention and Im left out...Fine!
The music was all Karaoke style and nothing to dance to! Think " Brown Eye Girl" from Van Morrison, "You are my inspiration" from Chicago. Not my style, because Comcast already have Karaoke ON DEMAND I can surely sing to, which I do sometimes.. :) I wanted to dance, not sing!
Bottom line, the food is great, but the joint upstairs should be transformed into a Karaoke bar instead!
Came here last night for a friends birthday. First time here! Turns out it was in the upstairs area. Right off the bat I had a hot little waitress saying "I'll be your server tonight" Oh yeah she was hot, but actually was attentive to our group and always made sure we had fresh drinks!
The upstairs area was pretty nice, our party was by the pool tables. They had a "keeper of the table" to make sure people weren't using it to rest drinks on or coats........he was pretty funny. but everywhere you looked they had "Reserved" cards, on tables on pool tables.....pretty funny.
Then I made my way to the bathroom, finally had to go. and "Oh NO" they had a bathroom guy. i hate those guys. i can wash my own hands and get a paper towel, why should i pay you to give it to me and then take a piece of gum?? i tipped him once but that was about it.
a card on a table next to me had the name "Billy" reserved. Suddenly Billy Dec comes strutting in with an entourage of hot girls. lucky bastard! i said hi to him but then the "keeper of the table" said it was a private area now and my buddy and I had to move.
few negatives about the night.....i had to journey to the bottom level of the bar to use the ATM. which then whacks you for a $2.95 service fee and a cash limit of $100. pretty sneaky! and the price of drinks went up throughout the night. my beers were the standard $5.00 all night, but then suddenly after midnight they jumped to $6.00??? what was that about??
overall, I did have a good time.....typical downtown bar with overpriced drinks and yeah i did stay away from shots cause I knew they'd be ridiculous...but tons of eye candy to look at.........I'd try it again!
*i don't care how good it is, i'd never pay $20 for a hamburger*
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LOVE LOVE LOVE the Sunday brunch!!!! The bloody-mary bar is YUMSTER! It has everything you can think of adding to a basic bloody...and, I mean EVERYTHING. Personally, I like to load up on the grilled shrimp and tobasco to make my Sunday complete.
The staff is great, especially the bartenders however, the seating staff sucks serious ass. They are Ugg-wearing, counterfeit tan, Paris Hilton-wannabe bitches, plan and simple. I can't stand them and every single time I walk into this place, I dread being face to face with them. UGH on the UGGS.
I recommend the Sunday brunch - not too loud, a killer bloody-mary bar, and the food is fan-fucking-tastic.
*cheers*
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Everybody said anything possible about this place, but I'd like to say something nice since my last reviews were kind of nasty.
I went on a Wednesday night. It was 'late' (10pm is it really late???) and it was very quiet, most of the tables were empty.
I ate at the bar and I felt very comfortable. The staff was very nice and we had a nice talk. Food was good and I'm looking forward to go back.
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As a bar/lounge, I think Rockit is over-rated and certainly not worth waiting in line for. I'm not saying this place is bad. In fact, I like the place. The drinks, food, service, and facilities are good, but not special enough to wait in line for. The atmosphere is casual, staff and clientele generally good-looking, and considering Rockit is so popular, the scene is relatively-unpretentious. The bathroom is well-kept by an attendant, so tip the guy!
What truly stands out is their Kobe beef burger with truffle fries ($20). I'm a major carnivore and burger-experienced. With that having been said, Rockit has the best burger I've ever tasted. It's not a huge, Flintstone's burger like what many Chicago restaurants offer, but filling and the quality makes up for quantity. The beef is fantastically rich and moist without being greasy. The accompanying steak fries drizzled with truffle oil is almost as impressive. I recommend not applying ketchup to the burger nor fries. As with most good food, you don't want to mask the chef's original intent of flavor. Now some of you guys might be thinking, "$20 burger, Kobe, truffle? That's not Chicago. L.A. maybe." Believe me, I'm far from a foo-foo, fancy-pants, metro kind of guy, hence my Dick Butkus man-crush. Though I think Dick Butkus would even like this burger.
Just a hint: the menu states their lobster burger won some big award in 2007. It costs the same as the Kobe burger, but not as good. The patty is too firm and not moist. It also lacks the sweetness that you'd expect from lobster. Yes, in this case, beef actually beats lobster!
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To be fair, I like the food. If you go there on the early end or during the week, it's usually no wait and the service is good, though the wait staff is not as pleasant, efficient, or attentive as the bus staff is. Their burgers are pretty good but they have a really good turkey burger I would recommend. Their regular fries are thick cut but their sweet potato fries are better. Also, they have a good bread basket (pretzel rolls are my favorite).
Now, if you do end up going on the later end, or for drinks, prepare yourself for frat daddies and sorority girls. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but if you are 8+ years removed from college, I don't think it's ok to still be wearing your dirty frayed baseball cap backwards.
Weekend nights are strange b/c the above-mentioned group tries to make it their club. So, imagine them drinking with their beers waving high above their heads and "dancing" to rock music.
Go for the food, don't stay for the drinks, unless you want beer accidentally spilled on you during one of their fits of dancing.
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It was okay, just okay.
The food was okay, my mojito was pretty tasteless and the service was really slow (especially given the 20% tip added on for groups).
I can't think of a reason to go back.
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Bar: Get great drinks and crowd. But can get super duper crowded on a busy night.
Food: Some good bar food, and good brunch. Overpriced, and lousy service in general.
Waste of time. Felt touristy. Out of towners
asked if we could eat here. It felt like an
overpriced Hard Rock Cafe. Mediocre food,
with an equally craptacular atmosphere.
Come on, River North. Stop trying to entertain us.
Pee Ess: There is no difference betwixt your truffle oil fries + your regular fries.
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