Decided to check out Rock Falls Friday night (7-31-2015) for dinner. While having drinks at the bar, we ordered the Friday fish special and Oxtail Osso Bucco along with a couple of New Orleans style oysters. The waitress asked if we wanted the oysters at the bar and I said we would start the meal with them at the table. She returned a few minutes later and said our table was ready. We sat down and within minutes our oysters were served. They were very tasty and lead us to believe we were in for a treat. After a few minutes, another couple was seated next to us, and 5-8 minutes later received their food. Our waitress picked up the empty oyster plate and asked if I wanted to keep my fork, I told her I would take a new one and she said she would be right back. We sat there talking quietly and I could hear the other couple comparing notes about the breading and taste of their fish plates. Neither one of them was impressed with the quality of the food, but I didn’t want to draw my wives’ attention to their conversation and skew her opinion of the food before we were served. When they finished eating, the man asked what we thought about the quality of our food and I told him we were still waiting for our entrees. He just rolled his eyes and shook his head. Several minutes later the bartender came to our table and told us our food would be “right out, your ticket got lost in the shuffle but there were only 2 tickets in front of it so your food will be out shortly, would you like another drink while you wait?” I ordered another and the bartender returned within minutes with my drink. If our ticket was lost in the shuffle, it should be the first ticket to be made, not third in line. 10 minutes later the owner/chef appeared with our food and apologized for the long wait. At this point it was 45 minutes since we were seated. He asked if we needed anything and I told him I needed a fork. The bartender promptly brought me a new fork. The oxtail Osso Bucco was served with a smear of white beans, 4 tail sections smothered in a tomato reduction with basil pesto drizzled over everything. The smear was just that, maybe 1 tablespoon of white bean puree spread across the plate. The basil overpowered the tomato, the meat and everything else. This was the worst representation of Osso Bucco I had ever had. My wife’s fish plate was over breaded and the fish had no flavor, the tartar sauce and French fries were good. After we finished eating, our waitress finally returned. This was the first time she was back to our table since she took the empty oyster plate 50 minutes earlier. She presented the bill, they did comp us 1 drink for the 45 minute wait.
As with any new business there are growing pains, but a 45 minute wait for your order in the restaurant business is unacceptable. I’ll give it a few months and return in Nov-Dec and try again (if they are still in business.) With service like this, they won’t be retaining any new customers and they will start to lose their regulars.
UPDATE: I noticed that the OWNER posted a review a few days after I gave him a bad review. I've never met anyone with the name Olen, but the owners name is Olen Rice and Olen R gives the place a 5 star review? Haven't been back like I thought I would because if he can't take criticism and has to post a 5 star review FOR HIS OWN RESTAURANT, I will not be...
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