Rokerij

The service is terrible. My friend and I sat at the bar and we frequently joked about helping ourselves. It wasn’t busy at all but the bartender had more important places to be.
The filet mignon came with hollandaise sauce, having eaten the sauce for breakfast, I didn’t want it for dinner so I was going to get a seafood dish if they couldn’t hold the sauce. The bartender said he would have it put on the side. When it comes out, the meat is covered in hollandaise. A server or bar back drops off the plate and they are gone before I turn around. I ate my broccoli while I waited for the bartender to surface, I wanted to point out my steak and his error. My friend had nearly finished his meal while I waited. I finally gave in and ate it otherwise I might still be there right now waiting for him. It was delicious but it’s hard to enjoy good food when the service sucks.

Dined here Saturday night with another couple and we were all impressed. Great service, cool atmosphere, and awesome food. Started in the basement bar which reminded us of what a speak easy would have been like then upstairs for apps and dinner. We are adding this to our favorite date spots.

So sad to post this because we usually love this place! I came with my family (5 people) and it took them a while «to see if they could find us a table» and we were the only people in the restaurant. They are apparently under new management which means the only things available for happy hour now are the drinks and that’s only if you sit at the bar. We arrived at 4 pm and were told we could not order from the lunch menu, which is fine but then we could not order the prime rib from the dinner menu for another hour. None of the servers were fully sure of what we could and could not order or alter and none of these new rules were posted or stated anywhere. It seemed like everyone was just standing around waiting for us to order somethings so they could go talk about it and then come back to tell us we couldn’t order it. Officially not worth the the prices.

We ate here for New Year’s Eve, and it was just perfect! We are in the basement, and it was a really cool atmosphere and the service was wonderful!
Their bacon wrapped scallops were AMAZING, and I’m not even that crazy about sea food.
I’ve only eaten here about 5 times in the past several years, and I’m not sure why. I LOVED their enchiladas! You get a choice of 3 — I tried the shrimp, cheese & chicken. My husband had steak that he loved.
They have a great margarita & they can make it without the spicy tequila.
The cream brûlée wasn’t blah that night & a bit watery or something.
We’ll definitely be back sooner this time!:-). Our friends said they have a great happy hour.

Overpriced for the quality. (The food was ok, the drinks and the service were great.) The ambiance is good if you like to eat inside of a bar area. My fiancé got food poisoning 4 hours after eating the Salmon but when told the management said «it’s impossible to get food poisoning that fast, it takes 24 hours». (It was the only thing she ate since that morning — 7 hours prior.)
We will not be going back.

Was unfortunately disappointed in our dining experience here. The menu has a good mix of Southwestern food, with some European dishes like schnitzel thrown into the menu. There is also a separate menu on the chalkboard which includes steak and seafood. I had the sea bass with roasted cauliflower and tried some rack of lamb with Brussels sprouts.
The portion of food was good, but when I received my food my first thought was «This is it? I paid $ 39 for this?» The food looked like it was dumped on my plate with no special thought on plating and was simply breaded fish and cauliflower. Now this is fine if I’m getting an informal casual meal but for the price a little panache or maybe more elements in the dish would be nice so I feel like I’m eating something that looks better and more varied than what I could eat at home. The sea bass was breaded and crusted with pine nuts, and covered in a sweet sauce. I couldn’t remember what the sauce consisted of and it tasted too generically sweet for me. It needed some acid to balance out the flavor and I used a lemon wedge on an iced tea glass to squeeze some juice on the fish which made it taste a lot better. The cauliflower was well prepared and had some nice caramelization along the edges from roasting.
I tried some lamb too ($ 39) which was perfectly medium rare, but could use just a touch more seasoning. It had a smoky flavor which was nice.
Since we were the lone table in the corner next to the bar, our waiter was actually the bartender. He did a good job though helping the bar patrons while serving and refilling our drinks. Note that sodas are by the bottle but iced tea has unlimited refills.
Overall while I thought the food was OK, it was very overpriced for what you get. Also note that the parking here seems to be strictly valet (Although complimentary).
I do love the atmosphere here though, with the dark wood, the dim lighting, excellent music (A mix of artists from Santana to Beck), and the lush, comfortable seating.
P. S. For those that are wondering (I definitely was before I came here!) it’s pronounced ro-​ker-​ee and it means «smokehouse» in Dutch.

Excellent specials and great food. I had the steak with crab legs and it was cooked just how I ordered it. We had 7 people in our party so they gave us a private room which worked out swell. I recommend dining downstairs where there are comfy chairs and a fireplace. The brie and steak on crostini appetizer is to die for!

I can’t believe it has taken me so long to review! We have been visiting the Rokerij for years now, and it has only gotten better with time.
The Rokerij is actually our favorite Sunday brunch. We come almost every week and sit at the bar top, where Brittany always takes such great care for her patrons. Her bar back is one of the best in town, always keeping glasses of water full and any odds and ends delivered with our meal.
We have had just about everything on the brunch menu. The breakfast burrito is the best bang for your buck, especially with their delectable red sauce and chorizo.
The carne adovada is fabulous. Enjoy it with a side of eggs, or as an egg Benedict dish. Wonderful!
Of course, their special Dutch pancake is out of this world. So sweet, but with a bit of a crunch on the outside and a fluffy center and served with warmed syrup. If you are ever presented with the opportunity, be sure to order the peppered bacon for an extra special treat with any dish!

Damn I hate to rate this place this low but they really dropped the ball last night. I was able to get a last minute reservation at 8pm for our anniversary and that was more than gracious. Friends of mine have been talking about this place for years and I finally got the opportunity to try it out first hand.
When we arrived there was complimentary valet which was awesome. Never having been here before it took a little asking around to find the downstairs bar where we had our reservation. The hostess was super nice and helpful and told us our table wasn’t ready yet but that the bartenders would know we were waiting.
The stairway down to the bar is fun, yeah that sounds silly but it’s cool. The downstairs bar ambience is sexy to say the least, including a fireplace:) It’s small yet welcoming and very warm. We took a seat on the couch and one of the bartenders came by to get our drink order and informed us that he knew we were waiting for a table and that he would take care of us all night. That he did.
We were informed our table would be a little late because the people were still sitting around a bit. No worries, we were all about taking it slow and enjoying ourselves. Once we were sat, our server came by and gave us a very informed, detailed explaination of the specials, and honestly EVERYTHING sounded amazing. Granted we usually eat dinner around 7pm and at this point it was around 8:20 ish. We were hungry:)
Orders were placed and wine was enjoyed, and then we waited. A very long time. Once our food finally came around I was pretty damn unhappy. Our server himself told us that our ticket time was 50 minutes! Apparently a 40 top came in and their food was a priority over the few smaller tables. Almost an hour after ordering we finally got our food and I could definitely tell our food was an afterthought. It tasted good, not amazing, and was barely just warm enough. Couldn’t tell if it had been sitting around or was thrown together half assed. Our server did the best he could but not once did a manager come by to apologize for the food issue.
They comp’ed us 2 drinks and gave us a free dessert. I dunno, I just left with a bad taste in my mouth. Definitely not an anniversary dinner I feel proud about bringing my husband to. That’s frustrating.
Like I said, ambience/​drinks and service were top notch. The kitchen and management really fell through on this tonight. First and probably the last time I’ll come here.
What a shame.

Down the stairs to to a subterranean bar and restaurant. A cozy underworld, lit by candle light and fireplace. With no windows, time stands still. Bartender Perry served up the drinks, and some great happy hour dishes during this journey through the change in the continuum of space-​time. Walking up the stairs I noticed it was dark. What happened to the sun? What happened to the last three hours? Maybe we were abducted. Maybe Perry is an alien?!
To Trisha S. — There are no high-​chairs because this is an «adult» restaurant, not a Chuck E. Cheese. Get a baby sitter, and stop ruining everyone’s dinner. And I know that you’re going to say «But my child is» STOP! Your kid is an annoying, dinner disrupting troll, just like everybody else’s.

My trip to Arizona wouldn’t be perfectly awesome if I don’t come here.;)
There was few hours left for me before heading back home. I was trying not to overeat at breakfast by having only half of the BLT club sandwich, a little bit of salad & half cup of latte, guinea pig was doing this on purpose to save the stomach for later.;) A little walk from Fashion Square Mall & Old Town Scottsdale has helped to sweat off that breakfast a little bit .
From this restaurant to the airport is only 8 min drive so it’s perfect for us (my sister & I) to spend a little time together & say goodbye .
It look like there’s two part, one is called «Richardson’s» and one is «Rokerij» which John D has suggested it to me so we went in there.
Amazing that the waiter, his name is Mark was already there, opened the door & directed us to the table. It was dark inside and gorgeous decorations. If you want Happy Hour, you have to seat at the bar .
We choose the table this time for more comfortable & cozier.
Darn, we were overwhelmed how friendly & wonderful service with Mark, especially he’s super handsome and my sister keep raving about him .;) Too bad that we didn’t have that much time otherwise I would ask for his phone number to hook them up, lol .;)
We share one bottle of bud light beer.
We weren’t that hungry so we just go with some appetizers .
— Bacon wrapped shrimp (five shrimp over dipping sauce). Omg, you’ll die for it, very delicious just one shrimp was burned but too little to waste it .;)
— 3 Oyster baked with spinach, bacon & jalapeño hollandaise. It’s Bomb. I usually don’t like oyster but I could eat 10 plate of this.;) Calling my sugar Daddy, lol !!!
— Grilled Octopus Salad was added when we feel that we we still have room for some food. The dressing is fantastic & grilled octopus is perfect for the taste. However the veggies were so bitter that we gave up a little in the end…;)
Mark was going back & forth to make sure if foods are ok and if we need anything else. My sister & I were jiggering while he went to get our check «Darn, you’re so cute, can I take you home ?»., haha .
It was amazing experience, we had fun, good foods & wonderful service. It will be my spot to go for my next time here. There’s still so much stuff to try but my biggest wish is that Mark is still there, lol .
Thanks for such a lovely time and also thanks to John D for referring me, you’re my Hero!!!

Finally decided to check this out recently. Great atmosphere, great food, and great drinks. I’m not sure what can be said that is not found in other reviews, but Rokerij is very good. It’s a grill, so vegetarians might not find it too their liking, but others will enjoy their evening. If you’re looking for a nice place to eat or drink, check it out.

I’m really confused by what this restaurant is trying to be — Mexican? Tex mex? A steak house? A seafood restaurant? Italian? It’s all over the place! While the ambiance is nice and service is good, the food in my opinion was just okay despite a pretty big menu. I tried the carne adovada and it was way too spicy and practically inedible. I left most of my meal untouched. Nothing in its description made me think it would be ridiculously spicy. I also tried the cheesecake and crème brûlée desserts. The cheesecake was weird, not the traditional type but more like a whipped cream and it was too sour. The crème brûlée was just ok. This unfortunately is not a restaurant I would come back to.

We love Dick’s Hideaway and have gone several times but have not ventured north to Rokerij. I have heard that they are comparably but just in a more romantic and cozy setting. So for our recent date night, we thought we’d drive pass Dick’s and give Rokerij a try.
The menu is similar, actually maybe a little more extensive. They have a larger selection of entrees and fish specials of the day. They have a little more than half of what Dick’s offer and then some. I had a really hard time deciding because they had so many specials. I opted for the fish trio so I can have a variety of flavors. The BF didn’t venture far and went for the usual Carne Adovada.
I felt all my fish with their accompanied sauces were very mild. I have had several fish dishes at Dick’s and they all have been heavy seasoned and flavorful — exactly what you expect from a New Mexican restaurant. I didn’t get that here. My BF’s Carne Adovada was identical to Dick’s so he enjoyed his meal.
I’m not sure if I would come back. I think I will stick to Dick’s. It’s a tiny bit closer, slightly lower cost but most importantly tastes better! I can only see myself picking Rokerij over Dick’s if I’m looking for better ambiance.

I came here for HH around 5pm and it was bright outside. I walk down the stairs, open the door and «hello, darkness!» My eyes had to adjust for a little bit. The bar was filled with people and HH is only available at the bar top so make sure you snag seats at the bar. The ambiance was cute — rustic, romantic and dark.
My order: two margaritas, artichoke dip, shrimp piri piri, and calamari. The margaritas were delightful and full of alcohol! I was pretty happy after consuming half the glass. The artichoke dip was so gross! I ate two bites and couldn’t eat anymore. It tasted old. The shrimp piri piri and calamari were good though.
Overall, check came out to $ 34 before tip — a little high than other HH places I’ve been to. Make sure you have cash to tip the valet guy. Not sure if I will be back but glad I came to try it out.

If I were to choose a place to go on a romantic date in Phoenix, Rokerij would be at the top. It also would be near the top of my list for places to bring a friend visiting Phoenix. Honestly, Rokerij is near the top of all my lists.
Your experience begins when you head down a flight of stairs into what appears to be a small rock-​walled cavern. There are cozy chairs next to a fireplace if you want to chill with friends, romantic booths hidden away in niches (definitely reserve these in advance if you want one!) and spots at a bar where we witnessed bar staff chatting about patrons casually about life and doing everything that a bartenders do in classy places that they don’t in, you know, Scottsdale.
The food is spectacular. I tried the carne adovada and liked it, but Phoenix is full of good authentic Mexican food. The star here for me was really the Seared Pecan Trout, which apparently is local from Arizona and wild-​caught. The fish is melt-​in-​your-​mouth buttery with absolutely incredible flavor. Pair it with the brussel sprouts and a glass of wine for a wonderful (and actually healthy!) meal. We lucked out and caught a «half off bottles of wine» happy hour, but it looks like there’s a good selection of cocktails on the menu as well.
¹⁰⁄₁₀ would come again.

This place is rockin’ on so many levels. My group decided to go downstairs, and I am so glad we did. The dungeon-​like entrance so reminded me of some great European restaurants that I’ve been to in the same vein.
Once downstairs, our party of four sat at the bar corner so we could talk to one another, and because all the tables were reserved. If you want a table downstairs even on a Sunday night, I would suggest that you call for reservations! The bar, however, was a great experience.
Nicole, our server, was knowledgeable and sweet. She recommended the trout that one member of my party had that was soooo good.
They don’t skimp on the food either. My plate was brimming over with food, and Nicole kindly boxed up what I couldn’t eat.
With half price (starred on the menu) bottles of wine night, we opened a bottle of red cab that easily slid down our throats.
Great food, great server, great experience.

Location: the restaurant isn’t big, but the atmosphere is definitely cozy and romantic. This will be a great place to go for a date night. Parking lot is a bit tight. However, you should be able to find a parking without any problem. They have a lunch and dinner menu. Some items listed on dinner menu might not be available during lunch. Check with your waiter/​waitress first if you want to know if it is available or not.
Service: our waitress was super friendly and came by to check up on his very often. 100% great service.
Food: I ordered the roasted duck dish and it was absolutely delicious. The duck meat is juicy and it blends in very good with the sauce. The crème brûlée was amazing. It has right amount of sweet and it is very creamy.
Rating: I will definitely come back here again with my friends to enjoy different meals next time.

Excellent place for dinner. I suggest you make reservations ahead of time if you want a good spot. Valet only (no ticket fee). It shares entrance space with Richardson’s (Rokerij is on the right). We were immediately greeted at the entrance and led downstairs into the bar area to an exclusive booth that was extremely intimate. Truly about as private as it gets — highly recommend for dating (its at the end of the bar set back the from the main wall so if you situate yourselves in a certain way — NO ONE can see you except the bartender).
Service was excellent and personable. I ordered from the «special» menu — a trinity of flavors: the medallions were cooked perfectly and wonderfully flavorful, I enjoyed the bacon wrapped shrimp, the Mexican sausage was ok (more like breakfast sausage on beans). My guest really enjoyed her meal. I highly recommend the spot we had downstairs. I met some of the staff behind the bar upstairs before we left — great guys. All around great experience.
If you are seated in the downstairs area be sure to exit using the stone stairs — its really cool.

When pressed for that *one* place to visit in Phoenix, there is only Rokerij. Somehow — magically — the space is designed to feel intimate. Cozy. But the space meanders around. (The booths have room to seat parties of four to six, depending on the side of the fireplace you’re gazing at.)
Dates would be impressed. As would a business partner or your girlfriends. The hushed tones of the dark room encourage whispered conversation. The food and wine has always been impeccably delivered.
The Oysters — just stop. Whatever you’re doing can wait. Go. I promise you, your palate will enjoy the menu. I have a few photos up of sliders, scallops wrapped in bacon and artichoke dip. But that is an injustice. Rokerij offers a robust menu.
Happy hour is quite generous. If you’re not sure pay attention: Happy hour is *every day* until 6pm. (Reverse HH is 10pm to midnight.) Alas, the true secrets of happy hour are best revealed by calling in. They change often and may not make it to Facebook or their website in time. Visit often and you’ll know the inside scoop!
Currently… Wonderful, hearty glasses of wine are poured for ½ the normal price. All appetizers are $ 2 – 3 off a plate. But you *must* sit at the bar.
The bartenders are well versed in their product knowledge. The table staff are stunning. Visiting here is like visiting dear, close friends. Special note: The space is ADA accessible.
Parking is valet.
Thanks Rokerij!