Looking for a new spot to launch an impromptu happy hour, two gal pals and I headed to River Rock Kitchen, located just off of the sparkling lobby of the new Westin Wilmington hotel on the Riverfront.
River Rock’s bright, modern space is accented with fun Mason jar chandeliers and communal high-top tables. We staked out our territory in comfy barstools at the bar that extends down a wall of windows.
In true HH fashion, we started with glasses of bubbly, but the cocktail menu has plenty of choices, including the refreshing Blue Rock Martini – which we were lucky enough to sample, courtesy of our expert and attentive bartender/server.
Executive Chef David Lattomus’ menu encourages sharing plates, and we were happy to oblige. Our smorgasbord included the warm asparagus topped with bacon butter and a 40-hour egg; pan-seared jumbo lump crabcake; Brussels sprouts with pancetta, roasted shallots & brown butter; hand-cut fries coated in parmesan and fresh-cracked black pepper; and the roasted beet salad. Don’t judge – remember, we were sharing plates.
Although none of our picks disappointed, my hands-down faves were the asparagus with its gooey, creamy egg (even if I did drip a bit of 40-hour egg on my white capris) and the crispy fries with a nice peppery kick.
While we didn’t indulge in dessert (it was only happy hour, after all), we planned a return visit to sample more of the menu, definitely including the double-chocolate brownie.
River Rock Kitchen’s menu also boasts impressive breakfast offerings – omelets, steel-cut oatmeal, smoothies and THE WILMINGTON WAFFLE (white chocolate chips, fresh blackberries, dark chocolate drizzle, vanilla crème Anglaise). The dinner menu features Lattomus’ inventive, locally sourced creations including house-made pasta, crispy duck breast and pan-seared scallops.
INdulge yourself in this new Riverfront foodie hangout!
Visit River Rock Kitchen’s Profile Page for more info!