R O C K in the USA...I mean ROQ in Pardise Valley!
Came here last weekend to celebrate two birthdays. Lets start with the events leading up to the celebration. I was hoping to order a cake from the pastry chef at the Montelucia but after 7 phone calls, 1 returned phone call and a conversation with the Executive Chef, I decided against the $10/slice cake. Lets see...8 people x $10/slice = $80 plus 20% gratuity...uhm no. I love my friends and I'm sure the cake is delicious but that's a bit much for a chocolate cake. I ended up ordering our cake from Barbs Bakery for $40 (Sooo good).
We arrived at 7:30pm and were seated rather quickly. The grounds are really beautiful and made for a nice backdrop. I noticed small firepits scattered throughout the patio area which looked like a great place for happy hour. The seating was a bit odd. Let me explain - the chairs were higher like a 42" bar stool but the table had this lower edge that didn't allow you to pull in your chair or fit your knees under the table. It made for a rather uncomfortable experience. It seemed like the ergonomics got overlooked when buying the furniture. All night long it seemed like one of us were banging our knees into the lower edge of the table.
Jill was our server for the night and she did a great job. With 8 people it made things go a bit slow but we were in no hurry. I felt bad for Jill as it seemed like she was waiting on quite a few tables at once and it took a very long time for her to come take our dinner order.
I was surprised to see the menu as it was a bit small. It's al a carte style so it can get rather pricey fast. We shared a few of the frie trios which were a really nice treat. I loved loved loved the sweet potato fries and really wanted to try the Japanese style fries but had not takers at my table. I ordered the chicken with balsamic vinegar reduction, caramelized onions and bleu cheese and a side of asparagus & portabello mushrooms. When I cut into the chicken it was a little dry and I was worried the entire entree would be dried out. Lucky for me it was just the edges that were dry. The combination of flavors were nice together. Everyone seemed satisfied with the food but I'm not sure anyone of us would rave about it.