09/01/08

Good food, bad service

by AMEAR

On a lazy Labor Day afternoon we decided to stop by at the Red Rock since the location is so perfect right next to the ocean, plus the place had a cool vibe to it from the outside. We got a table right away, but that is where the good service stopped. We placed a very basic order for two salads and 1 chicken blt and it took forever for the food to come. No drink refills unless asked for. The food was good but it didn't make up for the lack of service. If you have the time and the patience to wait, then stop here, since the view is incredible.

• Pros: Incredible views of Boston
• Cons: Service

07/07/08

VERY DISAPPOINTED

by jms6576

I had gone to Red Rock a few years back with a group of people and we hung out at the bar and had apps and drinks which was great. The other night I decided I would try it for dinner.....WHAT A LET DOWN. First off, we were seated on the ramp that connects the bar and the dining area with the high traffic of patrons and waitstaff bombing by us and bumping my elbows...not a smart location for a table. We ordered the Yum Yum Ribs for an appetizer and apparently they must have thought I said hold the Yum Yum, because they were bland and had no flavor. We ordered out meals which were the Filet Mignon, mine wasn't bad althought the mushroom risotto had very little flavor, but the person I was with didn't get it the way they asked and the woman said she would take it back and have it cooked a lil more while they eat their sides??? Why would you want to eat your sides without your $36 Filet?? When we asked for a refill on our drinks, we didn't get them until after we were done eating. None the less, I WILL NOT BE RETURNING unless there are some MAJOR service changes and some taste to the food. Red Rock is given FAR TOO MUCH recognition than it really deserves, average food, average interior design, and below average service.

• Pros: nothing comes to mind except the view
• Cons: where should i start?

05/12/08

cold food & arrogance at a high price!

by piscesparadox

I'm going to keep this short- DON'T BOTHER. The food is terrible and a man with big coke bottle, black rimmed glasses who might be the owner is beyond rude! I will never eat there again and I hope you won't either. Lets stick together and teach this guy a lesson. Whatever happened to "the customer is always right"? I don't think this guy ever heard the saying.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Let me make a list.......

05/12/08

Avoid! Period

by pamelaswrld3

Bad attitudes, overpriced food. I went there with my family for Mothers Day brunch(think 4 adults and 2 children). We had reservations for 11:30 in the morning. We sit down and order some drinks, we open our menus to find out that brunch isn't being served but overpriced dinner entrees , the LOWEST being $28 and $6 for each side dish. I don't know about you , but filet mignon or salmon doesn't appeal to me at 11:30 in the morning. We ask the waiter for the bruch menu and he replies that dinner is all that is being served today. We look over the menu and decide that nothing is really appealing to us this early and decide we'll take our brunch elswhere. I get up from the table to inform the host and hostess that we understood that the restaurant would be serving brunch not dinner and that we would be leaving(just to be polite). Lets just say that being polite was a one way street. We get the check from the waiter for the drinks and were about to leave when a very rude "manager" came over to our table with the sole reason of embarrassing us. We were told in a condescending attitude that "yes", we were told that only dinner was going to be served today, EVERYONE was told" he said. Not sure how he knew that seeing that he wasn't the person whom we spoke to on the phone when we made the reservation. He then said, "could you please take your drinks over to the bar" in a very rude manner. Not sure if he knows that you can't have a six year old and ten year old sit at a bar that serves alcohol! Its against the law. Needless to say we left feeling very uncomfortable. Don't we have the right as patrons to go to a restaurant and if we don't like the menu we can get up and leave? This restaurant is in America, isn't it? Its safe to say that I will never go back there again! In my review the lowest star rating I could give was one star but it deserved no stars!

Also, NO PARKING! And good luck trying to find a spot.

• Cons: Extremely rude! Overpriced entrees

03/17/08

Try it, you'll like it

by lou1296

Wow,

I have been to Red Rock many times during the past four years, and I was shocked to read the extremely negative reviews listed below. This section could use some balance (and some substance).

My wife enjoy living close to Boston, and take frequent advantage of this. We eat our once, or twice, a week, and enjoy experiementing with new places and new menus. We learned about Red Rock after watching a review by Billy Costa (Billy highly recommended it). We acknowledge that not all restaurants appeal to all customers, so let me try to illuminate.

Red Rock is a Boston-style restaurant located on the water in Swampscott. The restaurant has a couple of patios (one waterside, one not), a couple of dining rooms, and a modest size bar. The restaurant has live entertainment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday brunch.

The menu has a nice variety of raw shell fish, other appetizers, main courses and gourmet pizzas. They serve generous cocktails (we like the martinis) and they have a rather extensive wine list. The raw bar selections and the gourmet pizzas are outstanding. The other appetizers are good enough to offer a tapas-style dining experience. The main courses are very good, but not as great as the raw bar, appetizers, and pizza selections.

The restaurant is pricey for a suburban location, but not more expensive than a city-located location, or an on-the-water location. The bar area is jumping, busy, crowded, but all of that can mean fun (if you're in the mood for it). The greenhouse dining room is better than the back room, and the waterside patio is better than the back patio.

The bathrooms can use some work, but not (in our opinion) the basis for choosing/not choosing the restaurant. The owners are frequently present, intimately involved in the restaurant operation, and have always been helpful, friendly and caring.

The Red Rock is solid choice for a high-end dining experience. Try it, you'll like it.

• Pros: Overall Experience, Great raw bar, appetizer menu, gourmet pizzas
• Cons: Bathrooms

02/11/08

A train wreck in the guise of a restaurant

by jmlove

Went for Sunday Brunch with reservations. We arrived and were seated in the back where there was a distinct smell of urine coming from under a utility door. The hostess noted it too and said they'd send someone over to clean it up right away. I guess she was just BSing us as noone ever came to clean it. We then ordered our meals, service was decent but busy. Then our meals came burnt. The eggs were all over cooked and burnt, the bacon was a hodgepodge of sorts (2 pieces on my plate, one was dry as if it had been cooked hours ago, the other rubbery and recently undercooked). The toast, which was just one piece (who serves just one piece of toast?!) was literally charcoaled and burnt on all three of our plates. No butter or jam was served to spread on the charred shingle, we had to ask for it. Everything was quite horrible in taste. Oh and being February you expect it to be a little cold I suppose, but the room was freezing, all three of us had to eat with our jackets on to keep from shiverring to death. You'd think they could spare a few dimes on a cold wet day and turn the heat up a little. I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant with so many negatives in a single visit! The view is not worth the pain believe me.

• Pros: The view is pretty good, decor is nice
• Cons: Food was ridiculously burnt/overcooked. Cold. Loud. A lovely smell of urine. No parking.

07/19/07

Not as great as you may of been told.

by magirl29

I have been to the Red Rock on more than one occasion. My first experience in March was pleasant, but I will not return after my second visit. I feel it is important to tell you what you may not know.

What you may not of been told.........

1) It is often crowded and noisy making it hard to talk with others.

2) There is no parking.

3) On my second visit the restaurant ran out of bread. Not a big deal if our entrees didn't take so long. I think we waited about 40 minutes. Then our deserts took another 20 mintues. I have heard since that this happens frequently.

4) The only have one men's room and a ladies's room with 2 stalls. From what I have heard from others the ladies room overflows all the time leaving only 1 stall.

5) Servers are always pleasant, but I observe them to be TOO busy and not giving great service for the prices.

6) The view isn't that great. Yow can see water, but faces the edge by the street.

7) I have also observed the owner behaving in such a way that proves he is unworthy of customer patronage. He is unprofessional and arrogant.

You are better of trying Antonia's at the Beach in Revere. They have GREAT food, parking, a beautiful atmosphere, and a better view of the ocean. Plus, a owner that deserves your hard earned dollars.

• Pros: Nice atmosphere
• Cons: Crowded, everything takes too long, etc

07/15/07

Will Return For Appetizers..

by angelfish780

After reading most of the previous reviews, i was skeptical, but was looking for a waterfront dining experience for a special occasion and decided to venture over to Red Rock Bistro nonetheless.

The appetizers were great. The entrees are mediocre at best. I would suggest going for drinks and filling up on a few appetizers and enjoying the view.

The service was great, our waitress was helpful and friendly. I think the owner was working that night and he was nothing but friendly. I was pleasantly surprised, especially after reading all the nasty reviews.

Don't shy away from this place, it has many great qualities to offer!

PS, try the king crab cake, it's de-lish.

• Pros: Gorgeous views..
• Cons: Window seating can get very steamy in the summer!

05/09/07

The view DOES NOT make up for their poor business practices, dishonesty, and downright rudeness.

by mariabucina

I was thrilled to bring my friend to Red Rock Bistro last Monday. I should have been given a heads up when I phoned to make sure they were open for lunch and the rude owner said, "We're open every day!" and hung up. No thank you, good bye, just click. But we went anyway . . .

At the entry they have a large sign that says Jumbo Shrimp 2 for $1.00 All Day, along with a few other specials. So, we got our table and ordered three orders of the 2 for $1.00 shrimp, as well as lunch entrees, drinks, etc.. SURPRISE SURPISE when we got the bill and the shrimp cost $21.00!!!! The waiter spoke with the owner who basically said too bad, the 2 for $1 are only at the bar and are grilled skewered shrimp - even though their BIG sign in the entryway says NEITHER. He didn't even take off a penny. Shame on him, we will never go back and will be sure to tell everyone to STAY AWAY.

• Pros: nothing makes their dishonesty and rudeness worth it

11/26/06

Killer views give this seafood bistro the edge on Swampscott's harbor.

by Eric Grossman

The Scene
The Red Rock Bistro is a lot like Swampscott itself: a transition zone between gritty Lynn and proper Marblehead. Many Cape Cod restaurants would kill for the view across broad tidal flats to the Boston city skyline. A youngish crowd hangs at the bar, while families, older couples and gangs of friends take the dining room tables. Live music is featured on weekend nights and Sunday afternoons.

The Food
The menu is strong on seafood with contemporary accompaniments: pickled peppers and lemon caper aioili with the popular crispy calamari, or raisin-pistachio couscous with honey-glazed Atlantic salmon. Fresh and simple salads (bibb lettuce, apple slices, spiced pecans and Great Hill Blue cheese, for example) make an excellent counterpoint to richer entrees. Non-fish eaters can also feast on double-thick pork chops and half-pound angus burgers. Thin-crust wood-grilled pizzas come in eclectic varieties (e.g. lobster, fig jam and bleu cheese).