"Possibly the best place in Negril to watch the sun go down from Rockhouse's wood-hewn terraced restaurant - which incidentally offers the best food in Negril" Elle Magazine
"Possibly the best place in Negril to watch the sun go down from Rockhouse's wood-hewn terraced restaurant - which incidentally offers the best food in Negril" Elle Magazine
Jamaican cuisine is a complex mix of all the cultures that have come to her shores. The native Arawak Amerindians, the Chinese, the Spanish, the English and the Indians all brought their own culinary staples and cooking techniques when they settled on the island. Even the Rastafarians, upholding the ideals of vegetarianism, have placed new emphasis on natural foods. Drawing from these diverse roots, the Rockhouse Restaurant creates "new Jamaican cuisine", a lighter, modern interpretation of classic Jamaican cooking designed to enhance your island experience, yet remain accessible to those not familiar with Caribbean food.
The Hotel's award winning Jamaican executive chef, Kevin Broderick, worked with Fabian Ippoliti, Managing Director and co-owner of the Rockhouse, to develop the restaurant's menu. The Rockhouse Menu honors the tradition of Jamaican cuisine, with humble but tasty coconut toast, ackee and salt fish, and jerk chicken spiced with a scotch bonnet sauce. However, the best dishes are constructed from a fusion of different origins, creating mixtures of tanginess, hot pepper, rich sauces, the flavorful spice of curries, and the cool sweetness of tropical fruits. Signature dishes include Lobster Blaze, Crab Turnover and Blackened Mahi Mahi served with mango chutney. Aspiring to give even long-term guests a rich epicurean experience, the substantial menu is supplemented by a rotating specials board. Meals are complemented by a solid international Wine List, island inspired cocktails and Jamaica's famous Blue Mountain coffee.
The Rockhouse Restaurant and Bar is also designed to live in harmony with the natural environment. The thatched-roof, airy bar tiers down to an outdoor balcony suspended directly over Pristine Cove where the service is attentive and respectful. With reggae playing in the background while the ocean laps against the rocks below, it's an unpretentious, relaxed environment sure to lull you into a tropical mood.
Only a leisurely stroll away through tropical gardens, you'll find the Fin Walled Pool Bar. Lunch of chicken, fish, jerk crayfish or the Rockhouse burger is grilled on an open barbecue and served with your choice of salad. Whether sitting at a table above Pristine Cove or lounging poolside, dining at the Rockhouse is a truly Jamaican experience.
Rockhouse also introduces a new restaurant and bar "Pushcart" located right next door at Pirates Cave. A "Pushcart" is used for street vending and provides the inspiration for the new menu which is drawn from the street food of Jamaica and the Caribbean. Guests can indulge in "peppered shrimp" inspired by road side vending in Middle Quarters, St. Elizabeth where they rush your car with flavorful hot peppered shrimp in clear plastic bags; or try "fish with bammy" like that of vendors in Port Royal; and "homemade jerk sausage" made famous by Jamaica's 'jerk center' at Boston, Portland. The menu will also feature other traditional Jamaican home cooking favorites such as "curried goat", "escoveitched fish", "peanut porridge" and an array of local desserts sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Pushcart also features an open kitchen design evoking the Jamaican street food experience, an excellent rum bar, and phenomenal sunset views. The Pirates Cave location has a rich history including being the location of two famous movies. In the 1950's the Jules Verne classic '20,000 Leagues Under The Sea' was filmed in the cave directly below the new restaurant. In the 1970's the Steve McQueen classic 'Papillon' was filmed on the cliffs where the star actor jumped off to make his escape from Devil's Island. Pushcart will offer Rockhouse guests casual dining, and will compliment the Rockhouse Restaurant which continues to provide a more refined Caribbean epicurean experience.
At all the restaurants at Rockhouse the vibe is laid back; you'll find that bare feet are more common than dress shoes. As the restaurant's menu cover most appropriately warns &ndash "Visiting Rockhouse for lunch can lead to staying for the sunset, ordering a cocktail, booking for dinner, checking in for a week, and coming back every year for the rest of your life ... Don't say we didn't warn you!"
The Rockhouse restaurant is open from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven days a week. During these hours you may also order room service. Pushcart is open from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Pool Grill is open for lunch from 12 noon until 4:00 p.m. daily, and for beverages from 11:00 a.m. to sunset.
"The menu is in keeping with the general ethos of Rockhouse. It's distinctly Jamaican, yet global enough to keep worldly (read finicky) international guests happy. The emphasis is on fresh, simple flavors that reflect the country's heritage and natural resources."
"Negril is a town with a partying spirit, and at the Rockhouse the social center is the hotel's restaurant, an indoor-outdoor terrace cantilevered over the water. The menu brings local food up to date in smart, refreshing ways. And – finally! – on each table was a bottle of the condiment Pickapeppa, an aged puree of tamarinds and Scotch bonnets that to our minds is Jamaica's best, and most overlooked, export."
"Perched high on one of West End's coral cliffs, Rockhouse is arguably the most romantic restaurant in Negril. Rockhouse serves up New Jamaican fare, a good international wine list, and cliff-top views from its tiki-torch-lit deck, along with a big helping of Negril's spectacular sunsets. Try the curried island shrimp in a papaya boat or the Red Stripe beer-battered snapper."
"This is the most architecturally dramatic restaurant, with some of the best food, in Negril. Come here for a sense of vertigo (if you happen to lean over the railing), flashes of décor you might have expected on the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, and one of the most worldly and international crowds in town."
"Negril's finest waterside eatery offers "new Jamaican cuisine" in what is unquestionably a beautiful setting. Perched on the edge of Pristine Cove, simple furniture, flaming torches and a wicked soundtrack all conspire to realize a delightful eating experience."
