Rockit Relaunch

One of the swankest and most popular bar/restaurants in River North is ready for its relaunch. Rockit Bar & Grill just underwent an extensive redesign and menu revamp, in line with its 10-year anniversary of the downtown entertainment nexus. Now it’s once again ready for its close-up. 

Rockit Bar & Grill 2.0 is the masterwork of partners Billy Dec, Brad Young, and Arturo Gomez, along with food and beverage director Kevin Hickey and executive chef Amanda Downing. This A-Team aligned, the new Rockit offers a one-two punch of chef-driven dining and a sleek space. The team worked with Kara Mann for the design update, who exhibits her penchant for rock-, art-, and fashion-inspired architecture perfectly in sync with Rockit’s rock ’n’ roll persona. Newly painted dark walls, hulking timber beams, and a refreshing pared down rawness serve as a befitting backdrop for the full-fledged Rockit experience. A new 50-foot Carrara marble bar greets guests as they mosey into the restaurant, while soft leather banquettes fill out the downstairs dining area. Other notable fixtures include a brass-encased elevator bank, a DJ booth surrounded by lounge areas, original artwork created for Rockit, and an LED light system.

Food-wise, Hickey and Downing have tag-teamed a menu that smartly showcases a new take on modern American cuisine. Expect items like fried pork belly nuggets, “Not Your Mama’s” tot casserole, bison sloppy Joe sandwiches, and a foot-long house-smoked beef and pork sausage called the Abe Froman. All that hefty comfort pairs well with craft beer, house cocktails, and Rockit’s venerable wine and Champagne list.

Rockit Bar & Grill
22 W. Hubbard Street, Chicago
(312) 645-6000
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