Review of Black Rock Bar & Grill in Hartland
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Black Rock Bar & Grill is a sports bar and restaurant with a casual, fun atmosphere. That being said, the Black Rock stands out because of its "black rock" or hot-rock cooking method.
Review
First and foremost, Black Rock Bar & Grill is a sports bar, complete with multiple TVs, long bar, subdued lighting, loud volume and live entertainment on the weekends. Located in Hartland by the intersection of M-59 (Highland Road) and US-23, the restaurant takes up two storefronts on one end of a plaza.
In other words, it is very accessible and parking is a breeze. The restaurant has a separate bar area and two dining rooms filled with wooden tables and booths.
While the large menu has just about every item you'd expect of a sports bar – chicken, seafood, pizza, sandwiches and pizza dogs -- the restaurant's specialty is its unique hot-rock cooking method for steaks and seafood.
The restaurant serves partially cooked Angus Certified Beef and/or Shrimp & Scallops on a super-heated “black rock.” Lest you imagine a Benihana chef at table's edge, think again. The black rock is about the size of a side plate and is served recessed in a custom-made dish to the individual diner. This hopefully diminishes the chance of burns as only the surface of the rock is exposed.
$15.99 Steak Special
While the steak portion of the menu at Black Rock includes a Filet Mignon option, even the most discerning steak eater â?? those fearful of fat and gristle â?? would be satisfied with the cut of meat used in the $15.99 special.
Served in a large cube, the Angus Certified Beef seemed much larger than the advertized eight ounces. The large hunk of lean meat is served partially cooked on a hot, black rock. This allows the diner to get involved in the cooking method and control exactly how pink each bite. That being said, the method is no more taxing than the usual process of cutting a steak into fork-sized bites. The only difference is that each bite is held against the rock for a few moments (to taste) before eaten. In other words, if the bite is too pink (red), it's all on you!
The ability to eat the steak seconds after retrieving it from the heat source results in a bite that is very juicy, hot and cooked to perfection. If you are distracted while eating by sports or socializing, no problem; the thickness of the steak insures the meat doesn't end up overcooked as it sits atop the rock.
While the steak is so flavorful that it does not need sauce, the cup of tangy Remoulade Sauce is worth a try. In fact, it would be nice if there were several dipping sauces included.
Note: The special comes with your choice of two sides.
Appetizers
Served on a large platter, the portion of Pretzels and Cheese could easily stuff a party of four. The large, soft pretzels were deeply browned, allowing the thick pretzel to be fully cooked and soft on the inside without being mushy. The pretzels were lightly salted, allowing the cheese â?? served as a fondue â?? to be the star of the show.
The Deep-Fried Asparagus was served with tempura-like batter. It's lightness allowed the taste of the tender asparagus to come through. While the plate was filled to overflowing and the asparagus tender, the spicy and flavorful Remoulade Sauce made the dish memorable.
The Apple Crisp dessert was served in a large portion and with a large dollop of vanilla ice cream. The "crisp" was overcooked in parts, however, resulting in some hard, crusty sections.
Service
The waitress was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive.
Visit Their Website
Visit Their Website
Black Rock Bar & Grill is a sports bar and restaurant with a casual, fun atmosphere. That being said, the Black Rock stands out because of its "black rock" or hot-rock cooking method.
Review
First and foremost, Black Rock Bar & Grill is a sports bar, complete with multiple TVs, long bar, subdued lighting, loud volume and live entertainment on the weekends. Located in Hartland by the intersection of M-59 (Highland Road) and US-23, the restaurant takes up two storefronts on one end of a plaza.
In other words, it is very accessible and parking is a breeze. The restaurant has a separate bar area and two dining rooms filled with wooden tables and booths.
Menu
While the large menu has just about every item you'd expect of a sports bar – chicken, seafood, pizza, sandwiches and pizza dogs -- the restaurant's specialty is its unique hot-rock cooking method for steaks and seafood.
Hot Rock Cooking
The restaurant serves partially cooked Angus Certified Beef and/or Shrimp & Scallops on a super-heated “black rock.” Lest you imagine a Benihana chef at table's edge, think again. The black rock is about the size of a side plate and is served recessed in a custom-made dish to the individual diner. This hopefully diminishes the chance of burns as only the surface of the rock is exposed.
$15.99 Steak Special
While the steak portion of the menu at Black Rock includes a Filet Mignon option, even the most discerning steak eater â?? those fearful of fat and gristle â?? would be satisfied with the cut of meat used in the $15.99 special.
Served in a large cube, the Angus Certified Beef seemed much larger than the advertized eight ounces. The large hunk of lean meat is served partially cooked on a hot, black rock. This allows the diner to get involved in the cooking method and control exactly how pink each bite. That being said, the method is no more taxing than the usual process of cutting a steak into fork-sized bites. The only difference is that each bite is held against the rock for a few moments (to taste) before eaten. In other words, if the bite is too pink (red), it's all on you!
The ability to eat the steak seconds after retrieving it from the heat source results in a bite that is very juicy, hot and cooked to perfection. If you are distracted while eating by sports or socializing, no problem; the thickness of the steak insures the meat doesn't end up overcooked as it sits atop the rock.
While the steak is so flavorful that it does not need sauce, the cup of tangy Remoulade Sauce is worth a try. In fact, it would be nice if there were several dipping sauces included.
Note: The special comes with your choice of two sides.
Appetizers
Served on a large platter, the portion of Pretzels and Cheese could easily stuff a party of four. The large, soft pretzels were deeply browned, allowing the thick pretzel to be fully cooked and soft on the inside without being mushy. The pretzels were lightly salted, allowing the cheese â?? served as a fondue â?? to be the star of the show.
The Deep-Fried Asparagus was served with tempura-like batter. It's lightness allowed the taste of the tender asparagus to come through. While the plate was filled to overflowing and the asparagus tender, the spicy and flavorful Remoulade Sauce made the dish memorable.
Dessert
The Apple Crisp dessert was served in a large portion and with a large dollop of vanilla ice cream. The "crisp" was overcooked in parts, however, resulting in some hard, crusty sections.
Service
The waitress was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive.
Pros:
- Casual
- Good value
- Live music
- Okay for kids
Cons:
- Loud and busy
Description:
- Sports bar with distinctive cooking method
- Casual restaurant with a large menu
- Located off two major highways
- Plaza parking
Visit Their Website
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