Posted March 3, 2013
By RACHEL JANOSEC
If you are looking for a burger bar/ gastro pub close by that gets you in and out with a full stomach and smile on your face, then ROK:BRGR in Sunset Place is the place to go.
The classic burger at ROK:BRGR in Sunset Place, Miami.
This time of year in Miami makes for the perfect weather to eat outside on a late evening and ROK:BRGR offers both outside and inside seating with a very cool atmosphere.
On Wednesdays, the burger joint offers live music outside, which makes for a calm and relaxing setting.
Although this restaurant is a chain and many would think that it is just another burger and beer place, it is more than that. The small all-brown leather menu adds to the chill and cool environment and inside the menu was even more surprising. I didn’t just find a list of burgers, sides, buns and beers. The top of the menu offered snacks and bar bites which included: Kobe hot dogs, primo’s meatballs, lobster mac and cheese, tuna tacos and fried pickles, yes fried pickles.
None of these items are items one would usually find at a regular burger place like say Shake Shack, which also just recently opened in the area right on U.S. 1.
Some other featured items on the menu that ROK:BRGR is known for is there famous onion rings, fries and tater tots. The tots are $8 and are topped with aged Vermont cheese, bacon, sour cream and chives, and as an appetizer were to die for. Along with the house-made chili for $8 and spinach and artichoke dip for $9, these were all very tasty and filling.
The appetizers and sides were difficult to choose from because there are so many different styles of each item. The fries are between $5 and $7 and can come as sweet potato fries, thin cut, thick cut, with gravy on top, with garlic aioli on top, or just with cheese. This is a tough decision if you are a potato lover and what better goes with burgers then fries, and maybe beer.
The drink menu wasn’t too out of this world; it basically had domestic and imported beer, wine and normal cocktails that any place would have. The wines per glass are around $9 to $12 and $25 per bottle. But on Wednesdays, ROK;BRGR offers half-off any bottle of wine and happy hour every day from 4-7 p.m., but I had just missed it. They have draft beers for $4 and domestic for $5, which is basically typical for a restaurant like this.
A feature of the menu that really stood out was their “greens” section, so basically if you’re a vegan or vegetarian you can still go out with your friends and enjoy this place. It had a chop salad, caesar salad, beet and goat cheese salad and a wedge salad, all which you could add a turkey, tuna, or veggie burger to for only $6 or $8. The salads there are around $10, but they are pretty large in size.
All the burgers come with a side of fries but, for an upcharge of $2, one can get a salad on the side instead, which is nice for people watching their figures and not wanting all that greasy food.
And now to the burgers. They offer sliders, which are mini burgers served on mini brioche buns. They have meatball, short rib and bacon burger sliders available. This option would be for the person who doesn’t eat much. Or if you want to share they offer something called the grand tasting, which is two of each of the sliders for $26.
But their signature burgers of course are the main focus of the menu. The classic burger is the go to. It is a 10 ounce certified Angus beef burger with yellow American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle, all on a sesame bun for only $11 plus fries on the side. This burger is delicious, not too greasy, big in size and can be served with chipotle or pineapple ketchup.
Some of the other burgers they offer have interesting names, which keeps the setting funny, and laid back. ROK:BRGR has the D Wade Burger, morning glory burger, King James Burger and the Big Three Burger which, if you finish in 20 minutes, you receive a free draft beer of your choice! At one point on the menu, ROK:BRGR had burgers named after the three leading Miami Heat players.
Although ROK:BRGR was only opened in South Florida in the late summer, it definitely has its act together. The atmosphere was on-point with the feel of the menu, both being very fun yet very relaxing and calm at the same time.
The servers were attentive but not too much in your face. They cleared the table right after one course was finished, but not before asking if you are done. The prices were reasonable for a burger restaurant like this and they had great offers almost everyday of the week. There was plenty of seating, both outside and inside, and the seats were comfortable and cool red leather booths. The live performer playing John Mayer and Jack Johnson covers was excellent and not too loud or over-powering so that you couldn’t hear the waiter or your friend right next to you talk.
- ROK:BRGR, 5800 SW 73rd St., South Miami, 305-663-6099, no reservations needed.
- Mondays-Thursdays: 11:30 a.m.-12 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays: 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m., Sundays: 11:30 a.m.-12 a.m., opened for lunch and dinner.
- Cuisine: burgers and beer, American comfort food, under $20 per person without drinks.
- No dress code enforced.
- Opened August 2012.
- All card accepted, cash, no checks.
- 4 out of 5 stars overall for food, atmosphere and service.
- Indoor and outdoor seating.
- Get the amount of food you pay for plus more.
- Meter parking available on surrounding streets.