Julien's Journal May 2016 (Volume 41, Number 5) | Page 57

RESTAURANT REVIEW by Heather HutchinsonSchuster and Becca Dargatz FAST FACTS Play All Day Sunrise Burger River Rock Kitchen and Tap 450 Main St. Dubuque, IA 52001 [email protected] [phone] Family-friendly restaurant open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations not required, however suggested for large groups. Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Saturday-Sunday 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Herky’s Mac and Cheese. Photos contributed by Hutchinson-Schuster and Holiday Inn, Dubuque THE RIVER ROCK KITCHEN AND TAP Norm Granback, the hotel’s General Manager for the past nine years, took time to share with Julien’s Journal the journey the restaurant has undertaken to become the River Rock Kitchen and Tap. Norm is very excited about the new restaurant and the menu. He personally taste-tested all of the menu selections that comprise today’s menu. The inspirations for the restaurant and the menu came from the mighty Mississippi, local entertainment, state colleges, and the tri-state area in general. The bar is the center of the restaurant. The beers on tap are all craft beers from the tristate area. A brew menu features the name of the beers, what brewery they are from, where the brewery is located, as well as a short description of the beer and the alcohol content. Domestic beers are available by the bottle. If craft cocktails and spirits are more your taste, the menu features signature cocktails and a selection of Moscow Mules as well. The River Rock Kitchen and Tap also has an extensive wine list. Eight of the wines on the menu are part of the restaurants “Winemotion” system. Norm is very proud of this state of the art wine preservation system and River Rock is one of only three restaurants in town that feature this system. What makes this wine preservation system so unique is that it keeps the wine fresh and at the perfect temperature through the use of argon gas and a closed system. This in turn keeps oxygen from reaching the wine and tainting the flavor. The eight wines, which are part of this system, are available in one ounce to nine ounce glasses. Wine flights and beer flights are available for tasting. Taste Happy hour is every Monday RESTAURANT through Friday from 3:00 -6:00 p.m. and features half price cocktails, half price beer, and half price house wine, as well as a feature appetizer for only $6. cocktails, half price beer, and half price house wine, as well as a featured appetizer for o