Rocktown Kitchen — Restaurant in Harrisonburg

We were greeted right away and seated to a table. We went at 8pm on a Wednesday so it was not busy. We were the only ones sitting at a booth. Everyone else was at the bar.

There is parking right out front if it isn’t full. There are not many places though and they are parallel spots. If full, you'll probably need to go to a parking lot but those aren't too far away. There may be parking closer but we aren’t from the area so we don’t know for sure.

We like the atmosphere and character of the restaurant. There was exposed brick on the walls and dark wood for the booth seats and wood tables. It seems finer dining but it is a casual dress type of restaurant. We wore shorts and t-shirts. Like I mentioned earlier there is a bar area that maybe has 8 or so seats. There are two TVs above the bar/alcohol bottles. The rest of the restaurant from what I saw sitting down are tables and booths. This place is really nice looking inside.

Our waitress (Haleigh S) was really friendly and extremely helpful with the food questions and knowledge with everything since she mentioned she has tried everything on the menu.

I ordered the berry lemonade with rum and asked for it weak. It was very tasty. There were a lot of berry bits on the bottom and floating in the drink though so it can easily clog the straw. I prefer it to taste like berries rather than have the berries all in the drink for me to eat/drink but it still was tasty and I would order it again if I chose not to try something else on the drink menu.

We got one of the specials for our appetizer which was a special for the night: fried mozzarella that had a balsamic glaze with olive hash on the side. The glaze tasted like balsamic honey mustard. I didn’t mind the glaze and I do not like balsamic too much but I do like honey mustard. The mozzarella was good but not great.

I ordered the filet medallions which was a special. They had a demi glaze which was awesome. It was perfect for the steak and a little sweet which cut down on the pepper taste that the steak was seasoned with so that wasn’t overpowering. It was a perfect marriage. The steak was cooked a perfect medium and very tender. My dish came with buttermilk mashed potatoes and they were good but not fantastic. I got brussels sprouts with my dish too which were good. 4 stars for those. They had bacon mixed in and were sautéed but they would be better fried. I ordered a side of sweet potato fries crispy and they were crispy but maybe a bit too much. They would have been even better with some honey drizzled on top.

My date ordered the peach BBQ salmon. It came with asparagus and slaw. The peach BBQ was good and melds well with the flavors but doesn’t overpower the fish. The slaw went well with the salmon. It was warm creaminess. The asparagus was yummy. Salmon cooked perfectly.

I ordered the chocolate brownie and I chose vanilla ice cream to go with it. I asked for no pecans. On top of my ice cream was a chocolate drizzle and raspberry drizzle. The brownie was melt in your mouth goodness. 5 stars.

We would go back again. The food was not mind-blowing but it was great service, good food, and a great atmosphere and...

Rocktown Kitchen in Harrisonburg, VA is a hidden gem that has become a must-visit for us every year during our stay at our timeshare. This charming restaurant never fails to impress us with its delectable food, top-notch service, and fantastic drink selection.

One of the things that truly sets Rocktown Kitchen apart is their exceptional customer service. During our recent visit, our waitress, Josey, went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and special. Not only did she warmly greet us, but she also extended her warm hospitality to our furry companions. It was heartwarming to see her bring water for our pets, making them feel included in the dining experience. It's little touches like these that truly make a difference.

Now, let's talk about the food. My choice was the meatloaf with a side of creamy mac and cheese and perfectly seasoned string beans. Let me tell you, this meatloaf was the best I've ever had. It was moist, flavorful, and simply melted in my mouth. The sides were equally impressive, with the mac and cheese being rich and comforting, and the string beans adding a delightful crunch to the plate.

My wife opted for the mouthwatering ginger salmon, and she couldn't stop raving about it. The salmon was perfectly cooked, tender, and bursting with flavor. The ginger added a delightful twist to the dish, making it an unforgettable culinary experience.

What surprised us the most was that Rocktown Kitchen even prepared a special treat for our fur babies. They served up grilled chicken cut into bite-sized chunks, ensuring our furry companions could partake in the deliciousness too. This thoughtful gesture truly made our dining experience all the more enjoyable.

The atmosphere at Rocktown Kitchen is cozy and inviting, with a touch of rustic charm. The staff members are friendly, attentive, and create a welcoming environment for everyone. It's evident that they take pride in what they do and genuinely care about their customers.

If you ever find yourself in Harrisonburg, VA, do yourself a favor and make sure to visit Rocktown Kitchen. You won't be disappointed. From the exceptional service to the mouthwatering food and delightful drinks, this place has it all. A big shoutout to Josey for being an outstanding waitress and hostess. Your kindness and exceptional service made our visit...

If you’re seeking the thrill of spending Manhattan-level prices in a Harrisonburg strip mall for the culinary equivalent of a crime against pasta, look no further than Rocktown Kitchen. This establishment dares to serve up an experience so bafflingly bad it borders on performance art. Unfortunately, it’s the kind of art that makes you wonder if you’re the subject of an elaborate prank.

I made the grave mistake of ordering the “Wild Mushroom & Sweet Vermouth Linguini,” seduced by the menu’s promises of roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, truffle oil, and other buzzwords designed to inflate both expectations and the bill. What arrived at the table could only be described as an unmitigated disaster: a soggy bowl of noodles drowning in a swamp of grease and watery runoff. The supposed “truffle oil” was either a $3 bottle of synthetic nonsense or nonexistent altogether, and the flavor? Think of the limp handshake of pasta dishes—forgettable, uncomfortable, and vaguely insulting.

The garlic cloves were there, raw, I suppose, though their presence did little to lift the dish from its glistening puddle of culinary apathy. The sun-dried tomatoes, billed as a highlight, tasted as if they’d spent a little too long reminiscing about better days in the back of a pantry. And the parmesan cheese? Let’s just say I suspect it came pre-grated from a shaker and should have been left off entirely.

To add insult to indigestion, the price tag was jaw-dropping for this area. For the cost of this oily travesty, I could have treated myself to a genuinely transformative meal in Manhattan—or at least paid for the therapy I’d need after this experience.

The restaurant itself seems hellbent on charging prices roughly akin to what I could expect in the Lower East Side. Yet despite their ambitions, they forgot the most critical element of Manhattan dining: quality… and napkins not made of paper.

In conclusion, Rocktown Kitchen, serves up the perfect storm of bad decisions: overpriced, overhyped, and over-oiled. If you’re in Harrisonburg (I’m so sorry) and want pasta, go to literally any other establishment, there is an Olive Garden down the road. I’ve never been but I assume it’s equal or better (this is an insult). Or better yet, make it at home. Your wallet, stomach, and dignity...