The Rock Restaurant — Restaurant in Normal

Nestled in the heart of Uptown Normal at 203 West North Street, The Rock Restaurant delivers a vibrant mix of Mediterranean flair and American comfort with a side of hometown charm. The exposed brick walls and bustling energy create a cozy, eclectic vibe perfect for casual dining, while brothers Said and Charbel Salida’s hands-on presence adds a warm, family-run touch to the experience.

The Feast

• Super Gyro with Jalapeño & Fries: A standout star, featuring tender lamb-beef blend shaved fresh from the rotisserie, wrapped in pillowy pita with crisp veggies and a kick of jalapeño. Paired with golden, perfectly salted fries, it’s a crave-worthy classic.

• Buffalo Chicken Sandwich: A hearty crunch of breaded chicken drenched in tangy buffalo sauce, balanced by cool ranch and fresh lettuce. Messy in the best way.

• Corn Nuggets & Mac and Cheese Bites: The corn nuggets-sweet, crispy, and addictive-contrast with the gooey, fried macaroni pockets. Ideal for sharing (or not).

• Desserts: The tiramisu surprised with its bold coffee punch and creamy layers, while the baklava offered flaky, honey-drenched layers-though the portion felt modest for the price.

• The Verdict The Rock masters comfort.   food with Mediterranean soul, though some dishes shine brighter than others. Service is speedy and friendly, and the Salida brothers’ pride in their craft is palpable. Don’t miss the gyro combo or the people-watching from their Uptown patio. A solid choice for a satisfying, no-fuss meal with just enough flair to keep you...

Unfortunately, after hearing mixed experiences from others, we visited the Rock last night. For three people, the bill was $55. The first item arrived still frozen. When I went up to the counter to let them know, the employee who was training a new employee, stared at me then picked up the food with her bare hands and then looked back at me. I shared that it was still frozen in the middle. She said she would go talk to the manager. All I was expecting was for a fresh order to be cooked completely. And 3-4 minutes of discussing it with her manager, in plain sight of me, she ultimately came back and said they would replace the order and bring it out when it was finished. Seemed very odd sequence of events. This did sum up the service however. They were not helpful or welcoming, could not provide descriptions or differences between menu items and then we saw interactions the manager had with other customers where she would not say anything at all. She would walk up to the table, aggressively deliver the food, in one case bagged to go and the other for dine in, without saying anything at all and not even making eye contact. Food was simple fast-food quality, at best, when cooked completely. While I wanted to like the Rock and have another Uptown option for food, the combination of terrible service, poorly prepared and low quality food, I can safely say I will not return and will not be able to recommend...

Cooked from frozen, extremely dry and bland gyro burger. Tasted like mustard and not much else. I asked specifically what was included in the burger and he did not mention mustard or ketchup, otherwise I'd have asked for none. Very skimpy lettuce and onion - just a tiny pinch on the bottom bun. The spinach pie was very unpleasantly tangy spinach in a completely rubbery bland crust that was mostly filled with air and not even heated up. No feta, cooked till the spinach was black - not what I expected. Service was dry as well. Not a single smile from a single employee the entire time we were there. It was dead - completely empty at late lunch time on a Friday. Pepsi was coming out of the fountain clear. Incredibly overpriced hospital cafeteria food. Anyone who rates this food well is maybe needi g to get out and try some more things and get exposed to...