By: Sharon Aron Baron
Looking for a fine dining experience? How about later on knocking back a few drinks at a hip fashionable club while a DJ spins some dance music? Well, you no longer have to drive to South Beach to find it. Gaston Garcia Founder and CEO of ROC Resto Lounge has the solution. Now you only need to drive north to the Coral Square Mall to get the whole South Beach experience.
Garcia explains that because there are mostly chain restaurants in the area, there isn’t much to do after dinner. “This is more affordable offering more diversity and more entertainment.”
“We wanted to fill the void. If you see the reviews on Yelp, the most common feedback was, ‘We needed this, we really need a thing like this in Coral Springs.’”
ROC Resto Lounge has now taken over a portion of the Coral Square Mall, and if you have driven by the southern entrance near Atlantic Boulevard, you can’t miss the colorful display with its huge large screen TV’s and large outdoor bar, but make sure you take a peak inside because there’s much more to this place.
Inside there’s a nightclub, restaurant, fashion boutique, cafe, coffee bar, two indoor and one outdoor bar and a DJ sitting at the helm playing music that keeps the place feeling like a club.
The restaurant has a full menu and the prices are reasonable. Our waiter’s name was Billy and they even have a server’s assistant as well. After one week since opening day, Billy really knew the menu well, and made some great recommendations for us.
Appetizers include Chicken & Waffles, Tostaditas, Chicken Satay and Dragon Shrimp.
I tried the Dragon Shrimp for $10. These were crispy, spicy baby shrimp with sweet orange and ginger aioli and they were delicious. We loved the way they were in a Chinese takeout bag served with chopsticks.
Next up I tried the Miso & Ginger Sea Bass at $29 which included tempura asparagus and jasmine rice. I didn’t even need a knife to cut the sea bass because it was so tender and tasty. Great suggestion from Billy. My husband really enjoyed his ROC Star Burger at $14 which was a half pound Angus beef burger, with an over easy egg, aged cheddar, bacon and onion marmalade, brioche bun and included fries.
We also had a gelato trio for desert which were three small bowls of vanilla, caramel and banana with a waffle inside of each.
ROC Resto allows anyone under 21 before 10 p.m but after that, something interesting happens to the restaurant concept inside. A doorman stands in front and everyone is carded. Restaurant tables are moved aside, and the large round tables in the booths are changed into small cocktail tables, and the place turns into a party. On weekends, there is also an aerial acrobat who performs from the ceiling after 10 p.m, and occasionally live bands.
Many people are walking in and discovering ROC Resto and while many are from Coral Springs, Garcia said that he has met others from Parkland, Tamarac, Coconut Creek, Boca Raton, and Delray Beach.
“Last Wednesday we had a live band we have another live band planned for this Saturday around 10:30.”
When we left, the place was getting packed with people much younger than my husband and I. Definitely something Coral Springs needs.
“My goal is is for everyone to feel like a VIP without a VIP price,” said Garcia. “Everyone is a VIP here.”
ROC Resto Lounge & Fashion – Florida
9225 W. Atlantic Blvd,
Coral Springs, FL 33071
Phone. 954-755-8383
Open everyday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.. Saturday and Sunday Brunch
Free parking or valet parking is available at the mall in front of the outdoor lounge located between the two Macy’s stores.
