Although unaware of the conversion, wife and I were pleasantly surprised. Casual vibe is complemented by decent comfort food. Spouse had excellently prepared grilled salmon with broccoli rabe. I dined on a scrumptious cheese lasagne with rich tomato sauce. Excellent value compared to other spots on the shore.Vegetarian options: Cheese
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Italian
Paul
Just so you know if you don't know, this is their new place, same location. They did a fantastic job converting the restaurant into this must try marketplace/cafe/deli whatever you want to call it. Nice vibes, nice people.The sandwiches and antipasti ordered was fantastic. Insanely fresh ingredients. It was everything I hoped for but didn't expect.They have three types of Grandma pies, will be trying one...all three?... in the next few days. The guy in there says it's the best on the island and without trying it yet I already believe him!They have an assortment of sauces and breads and pasta you can buy as well.Place is total legit Italian. ?Stop reading reviews and just go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Special
Vanessa
We were always a fan of "Rock's" when they were a restaurant. And now as a market, WOW, just WOW... our lunch today was unbelievable. I had the 'So Special' and my boyfriend had the Parma. So fresh, so good. And the staff is very friendly! Is tonight, by 6pm, too soon to go back?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paulette Drogon
It's gone. Loved this BYOB restaurant. NOW, it is only take out and not the whole menu they had, although they made my favorite dish for me but who knows for how long.The staff was wonderful but I want to sit down and have a nice meal there. So sad and disappointed. I had been going there every year since it opened.Come back.
Nadooch P.
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY. It takes a special kind of chef to cook the taste out of shellfish. I ordered the Zuppa di Pesce, which is one of my favorite dishes to have when I'm in the mood for seafood. Waiting in anticipation for what was to come. Man oh man what a let down. First of all the linguine was not al dente, it was al mushy, is it too hard to please your costumer and to give them wht they ask for ugh!!!! Then the flavor of the shellfish was completely watered down and all this for $38.00. Look price is only an issue in the absence of value and at Rockafellas what's absent is the value but definitely not the price. And don't even get me started on the management, they will not take responsibility for their lack of quality.My advice STAY AWAY!!!!!
Ken R.
Besides being pricey, it's so smelly and garlicky, you'll smell it on your clothes for days. Not great
Vince Capo
We've been going to Rockafellas every year prior to the pandemic and always had a good meal but last night sorry to say we all disappointed with the food . Meatballs were dry, eggplant Parm did not taste good and then the sword fish special with risotto was bland had to add salt and that was 46 bucks not sure if this was a off night in the kitchen or maybe they are using cheaper ingredients maybe we will give it another shot next time we are in the area
Gregory Franzese
Food and staff very good, only down side, no reservations, tough for a group..
Tom L.
This place was so good. Great waitress. The people next to us gave her a hard time because she carded them for bringing wine and they had no ID! Amateurs. She did her job and was nice about it! Great food, great place!
Michele C.
Delicious food! Great service! BYOB. One of my favorite places down the shore.Definitely recommend
Had a horrible and offensive experience at Rockafellas tonight and will unfortunately NEVER return. This place is run so poorly now which is sad because it used to be a great establishment. The owner and her brother DO NOT care about any bad reviews or constructive criticism they are cocky and arrogant. One of their rude and ill-mannered waiters made a derogatory comment about my family while standing in front of the kitchen within ear shot of us. No one, let alone a paying customers, deserves to be treated so poorly and called an a******* Like all of the other recent reviews, the food has gone to crap and the ingredients they use are not good quality. Not authentic or worth the wait at all.
Jo B
Long wait no matter the day or time. Great friendly staff. Beautiful decor. Salads and bread for all. Meals were ok, definitely had better in prior years. Very large portions.
John Sissy
Amazing we so good eat appetizer and classic Chicken Parm we coming soon food truck trailer breakfast and lunch 8x30
S J.
This place used to be a great place. Something has changed big time. The last two times we went there was horrible. I went last week with five others and not one of us enjoyed the meal. The server was great but the food was not! All six of us said we would never go back. We are all permanent residents in Ortley and are disappointed that we have to scratch this off our "go to" list.
Cakes A.
Really not good at all, not worth even trying. Waitress was amazing aside from that I won't be back
Although unaware of the conversion, wife and I were pleasantly surprised. Casual vibe is complemented by decent comfort food. Spouse had excellently prepared grilled salmon with broccoli rabe. I dined on a scrumptious cheese lasagne with rich tomato sauce. Excellent value compared to other spots on the shore.Vegetarian options: Cheese
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Italian
Just so you know if you don't know, this is their new place, same location. They did a fantastic job converting the restaurant into this must try marketplace/cafe/deli whatever you want to call it. Nice vibes, nice people.The sandwiches and antipasti ordered was fantastic. Insanely fresh ingredients. It was everything I hoped for but didn't expect.They have three types of Grandma pies, will be trying one...all three?... in the next few days. The guy in there says it's the best on the island and without trying it yet I already believe him!They have an assortment of sauces and breads and pasta you can buy as well.Place is total legit Italian. ?Stop reading reviews and just go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Special
We were always a fan of "Rock's" when they were a restaurant. And now as a market, WOW, just WOW... our lunch today was unbelievable. I had the 'So Special' and my boyfriend had the Parma. So fresh, so good. And the staff is very friendly! Is tonight, by 6pm, too soon to go back?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's gone. Loved this BYOB restaurant. NOW, it is only take out and not the whole menu they had, although they made my favorite dish for me but who knows for how long.The staff was wonderful but I want to sit down and have a nice meal there. So sad and disappointed. I had been going there every year since it opened.Come back.
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY. It takes a special kind of chef to cook the taste out of shellfish. I ordered the Zuppa di Pesce, which is one of my favorite dishes to have when I'm in the mood for seafood. Waiting in anticipation for what was to come. Man oh man what a let down. First of all the linguine was not al dente, it was al mushy, is it too hard to please your costumer and to give them wht they ask for ugh!!!! Then the flavor of the shellfish was completely watered down and all this for $38.00. Look price is only an issue in the absence of value and at Rockafellas what's absent is the value but definitely not the price. And don't even get me started on the management, they will not take responsibility for their lack of quality.My advice STAY AWAY!!!!!
Besides being pricey, it's so smelly and garlicky, you'll smell it on your clothes for days. Not great
We've been going to Rockafellas every year prior to the pandemic and always had a good meal but last night sorry to say we all disappointed with the food . Meatballs were dry, eggplant Parm did not taste good and then the sword fish special with risotto was bland had to add salt and that was 46 bucks not sure if this was a off night in the kitchen or maybe they are using cheaper ingredients maybe we will give it another shot next time we are in the area
Food and staff very good, only down side, no reservations, tough for a group..
This place was so good. Great waitress. The people next to us gave her a hard time because she carded them for bringing wine and they had no ID! Amateurs. She did her job and was nice about it! Great food, great place!
Delicious food! Great service! BYOB. One of my favorite places down the shore.Definitely recommend
Restaurantji Recommends
Had a horrible and offensive experience at Rockafellas tonight and will unfortunately NEVER return. This place is run so poorly now which is sad because it used to be a great establishment. The owner and her brother DO NOT care about any bad reviews or constructive criticism they are cocky and arrogant. One of their rude and ill-mannered waiters made a derogatory comment about my family while standing in front of the kitchen within ear shot of us. No one, let alone a paying customers, deserves to be treated so poorly and called an a******* Like all of the other recent reviews, the food has gone to crap and the ingredients they use are not good quality. Not authentic or worth the wait at all.
Long wait no matter the day or time. Great friendly staff. Beautiful decor. Salads and bread for all. Meals were ok, definitely had better in prior years. Very large portions.
Amazing we so good eat appetizer and classic Chicken Parm we coming soon food truck trailer breakfast and lunch 8x30
This place used to be a great place. Something has changed big time. The last two times we went there was horrible. I went last week with five others and not one of us enjoyed the meal. The server was great but the food was not! All six of us said we would never go back. We are all permanent residents in Ortley and are disappointed that we have to scratch this off our "go to" list.
Really not good at all, not worth even trying. Waitress was amazing aside from that I won't be back