ARCHIVE: Chicago Rock Cafe, Newport
Reviews 14th December 2005 Matt and Cat 3
UPDATE: The Chicago Rock Cafe has closed its doors. The building is now home to the William Coppin. The review below is for archive purposes only.
Well, another day, another food chain. Senses dulled by unsatisfactory experiences in many franchise eateries, Matt and Cat had low expectations when they ventured into the Chicago Rock Cafe, which, despite its name, is known as a kind of hangout for young folk ‘on the pull’ more than as a restaurant. But, splendidly, they were wrong. Very wrong. It was great. And here’s why.
It’s set out as a ‘vertical drinking’ establishment, without doubt. But that’s not a problem if you don’t want any of that. It’s open all day, and your reviewers went in the early evening, long before the place had any hardened teeny alco-pop swiggers in there. It was spacious, clean and inviting, and the staff were very attentive. Shown to a table, they were given a menu, and immediately had their attention drawn to the very reasonable 2-for-1 offer (valid until 7pm), which not only applies to food but also drink, so for the price of a pint of beer, you get (can you guess?) two pints. Matt, sadly, did not work this out and so ordered a pint, and got two pints. As he was to drive home shortly, he then had the agony of sending one brimming pint glass back. Such sacrifice. Don’t make his mistake – order a half pint and get a whole one.
The food soon arrived, and it was fresh and appetising. A very basic menu served well has to beat fancy food messed up any day. In the Rock Cafe you won’t find much to challenge the palette, but what there is you will be very happy to try – every dish on the menu looked eatable. Cat’s lasagne was hot and fresh, not microwaved until curled at the edges as is so often the case in pub grub, and Matt’s salad was freshly cut, with no dried edges or brown lettuce.
The ambience was slightly curious, with the venue set up to appear to be an 80’s themed nightclub, the staff seemed to be waiting around for the dancers to arrive. From the kitchen emerged the loud but irregular sound of BBC Radio 1 on a radio which competed uncomfortably with the pop videos playing on the main screens. Relaxing and intimate it was not.
At the end of the meal, the best part of all – the bill. It was so tiny Matt and Cat had to query it. It has to be said that they ate very well, and drank, for less then the cost of a takeaway at KFC, or indeed pretty much anywhere. For two dinners plus drinks it was less than the cost of a single dish with rice at the Balti King. This place is cheap – but only in price. The experience is better than the price might lead you to expect. If you can cope with the venue it provides some of the most outstanding eating out value for money in Newport.
Chicago Rock Cafe, Newport
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I had a disgusting experience in here. The food was fine and good value, but my experince was ruined by a group of 3 drunk overweight little thugs. They sauntered in, obviously smashed out of their minds even though they were only about 16, and ordered 15 burgers between them. The stuffed them down, belched, and just as I left one of was sick all over a group of young women, covering one of them, unforunately in a dress which offered little protection, in sick which stank of beer and fat. She was clearly very upset and was in tears after the yobs had run out. It was the most disgusting thing ive ever seen
After leaving several messages on their answerphone to book a table, we eventually drove into town to book in person. Although the restaurant was fully booked, we were promised a table. At 8.30pm we were scouring the menus presented & we ordered nachos, the roasted veggie club and the luxury leek & cheese half pounder veggie burger. We also ordered the Echo Fall wine. Our Nachos were zoomed almost imediately to our table but were somehow a bit upside down & messy. We think that the dips would have been better served alongside, despite the messyness they were enjoyable. The mains arrived without delay, wow the half pounder looked humungus but perhaps a little too chargrilled but surprisingly very very tasty, the veggie club was the strangest club we’ve seen : USA clubs are fillings stacked inbetween toasted bread, the chicargo club is served on a rustic roll. Nevertheless absolutely yummy. Both meals were served with a splodge of silky coleslaw and skinny fries. The fires which were a bit Macky Dees for K. After gorging this feast there was absolutely no room for puds although they sounded fab. The meal and wine cost much less than expected and the staff were the best unmentionable tip and finished the night listening and dancing to Eton Road. We can say we had a fabulous Wednesday evening. Chicargo Rock gets the big thumbs up from the Two Veggies
Following the recent refurbishement take the time to visit Chicago Rock Cafe. I wanted to keep this a secret but the burger night every Wednesday has fanstastic burgers with all the trimmings. Better than the other local “buy a burger and get a beer establishments”. You know who you are. It has friendly young staff and nothing is too much for them. Recommend it highly.