LATEST NEWSRECENT REVIEWSRECENT COMMENTSLATEST POSTSOTHER STUFF
Last Update: Feb 20th, 2011
Roccos night

Rocco's Tacos Blasts Off on Las Olas

Rocco's Tacos is finally here. Rocco's grand opening on Friday was an event for the ages, as locals lined up for Free drinks and good music. The place was filled shortly after the 8pm start, and the party was still rocking at 11pm when the free drinks expired. The line to get in is something that this particular venue had never seen before; Smith and Jones opened quietly. Louie, Louie's? Who even remembers that.

Roccos line

The opening of Rocco's is the most significant hospitality event in Fort Lauderdale since I've lived here. All of the openings in the past few years: Yolo, Vibe, The W, Rare, Solita; all represent a forced transition to some misguided vision of a more upscale, Miami style scene. Rocco's is the kind of place that embodies everything that drew so many of us to Fort Lauderdale in the first place; a casual drinkery with good, unique food, crankin' music and a seemingly unending flow of drunken babes who are more interested in having fun than being "seen".

Yolo and Vibe are for other people. They're for the people out west who come to Las Olas to pretend they're important. Rocco's is for us. A place for everyone in the neighborhood to share guacamole, watch a game and knock down a few. There's been a lot of speculation about whether Rocco's or any other place could be successful on the "other" end of Las Olas. Problematic parking, a doomed location, blah, blah, blah. Mark my words; Rocco's will be a major hit. Not because they have the best food or the hottest bartenders; but simply because it's so much better than anyplace else in the entire city in terms of overall appeal and ambience.

I've been accused of many things, but shilling isn't one of them. While I will disclose that I graduated from the same high school as Rocco (boy could I go for a Branchinelli's pizza..); I've never met Rocco, either now or then. He's done a tremendous job with this place. All I can say is get on line now for Cinco de Mayo; it's going to be out of control.

With all that said, Rocco's Tacos isn't perfect. To read an objective, comprehensive assessment of the place, read my review.

The grand opening was quite a party; a 3 hour open bar that seemed to reinvigorate an entire class of people. I could try to describe it , but you can get a better idea by watching a video.

Comment Policy Add Comment

Next: GG's of New York