Stepping through the doors of Roaring Fork is an indulgence for one’s senses. If you don’t believe me, close your eyes when you enter and let your nose lead the way. It will be obvious very quickly that Roaring Fork is definitely Cooking With Fire. A smoky aroma that permeates the entire restaurant is mouth watering and brings forth the illusion of cooking over a desert campfire – but when you open your eyes, you will delightfully see that the rustic ambiance stops there.
Feast your eyes on an urban, yet comfortable restaurant that is beautiful, functional and energetic. An exhibition kitchen features under counter lighting, creating a visual marquee for the bustling chefs at the grill. Through the broad expanse of windows, the image of the fire in the kitchen is cooled by the sight of a rippling lake situated just beyond the outdoor patio. Your ears will hear the unmistakable sizzle of meats being seared over an open flame, and your body will feel happily relaxed when it slides into a comfortable red leather booth.
Now comes the best for last: taste. Specializing in open fire, rotisserie, and wood oven cooking, Roaring Fork offers entrees featuring beef, chicken, lamb, pork, and fresh fish. Flavors such as Green chiles, poblano, rosemary and cilantro unite to create True American Comfort Food.
We visited Roaring Fork for brunch last Easter Sunday. Although they were offering fabulous sounding specials such as rosemary and garlic encrusted leg of lamb, prime rib with creamy horseradish, and roasted gulf snapper, we opted for the regular Sunday Brunch favorites. Our feast included Roasted Chicken Enchiladas with Eggs, Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict with corn cakes, a Big Ass burger (because, well, sometimes you just gotta have a big ass burger),
“just spicy enough” Green Chile Mac and heavenly Cheesy Grits with fresh jalapeno, cheddar and smoky bacon.
Our meal began with freshly made, amazing, scrumptious cinnamon rolls. Like the picture? It doesn’t come close to the real thing.
Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict was my entree choice, partly because I have had the smoked salmon at the bar during happy hour and it’s the best I have ever had, and partly because I am a bona fide Eggs Benedict Fiend. The fresh and smoky salmon arrived sitting atop a crunchy corn cake, a delicious twist on the usual English Muffin. Perfectly Poached Eggs came next and were complimented by cilantro bearnaise and satisfyingly crunchy breakfast potatoes. (It disappeared from my plate very quickly, I’m embarrassed to say, and if anyone tells my trainer Willie Stark that I ate all of this, I will vehemently deny it.)
And Chicken Enchiladas with eggs? What an awesome combination! The chile and tortilla flavors were understated enough to allow the smokiness of the roasted chicken to shine through, and the over easy eggs perched on top were also cooked to perfection. Cilantro lime rice and black beans completed this Southwestern breakfast original. The Big Ass burger definitely earns its name. Huge, thick and juicy, it’s served with a cast iron kettle filled with fries, crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, just like they should be. Too stuffed to try the strawberry shortcake, we were regretting that when we saw someone else’s dessert waiting to be taken to their table. Brief but suppressed impulse: grab it and run!
Roaring Fork is NOW OFFERING HALF PRICED BOTTLES OF WINE on Sunday at both locations. Reserve wines are featured on this special, so wine snobs, make your way to Roaring Fork next Sunday!
We visited Roaring Fork’s north location this time, it’s located 10850 Stonelake Blvd, near Braker, but there is another Roaring Fork on Congress downtown. For more information about both location’s happy hours and special food events please visit Austinontherocks.com. A final note: If you visit the bar with a friend, try the smoked salmon with toast points and then split the rotisserie chicken with black beans and tortillas. It’s the perfect amount of food, and they are both personal AOTR favorites.
Happy Brunching from Taylore, Blake, Gary and myself!
