The Rocky Hill Inn – The Neighborhood Gastro Pub

The Rocky Hill Inn is under the helm of chef/owner Evan Blomgren. It has evolved into a gastro pub since it’s opening in 2008, which according to its website, refers to a bar and restaurant that serves high end beer and food without pretension. The Rocky Hill Inn is actually a bar, tavern, and fine dining restaurant, all wrapped into one with the same menu, giving patrons a few options.

The bar can be your first stop, or your only stop. Not every restaurant has a liquor license in this area, so it’s great to have the choice of sitting at the bar, or having a craft beer with dinner in the tavern or dining room. They also serve wine, cocktails, and after dinner drinks.

The tavern is great for casual dining with or without kids. You can eat their famous burger, shepard’s pie, or fish and chips there, but you can also order sesame yellow fin tuna sashimi or local grilled double bone pork chop with chipotle sweet potato purée without feeling the need to dress up.

The dining room has transformed since first opening. They’ve removed the table clothes, and have gone for a more consistent look throughout. This area has three ‘spaces’ with two fireplaces, which makes it cozy. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, you can dress up (or not) and order something like the seared Maine diver scallops with wild mushrooms, pancetta risotto and white truffle oil, and it can quite romantic or great for business lunches or dinners.

My first experience at the Rocky Hill Inn was on Valentine’s Day just after they opened. We ate in the dining room, and I found it to be an idyllic setting. I ordered duck confit risotto as an appetizer (no longer on the menu), and I was sold! I loved it so much, I ordered it several times. One evening, I went out with a large group of friends and someone recommended the Griggstown Farm chicken. I wondered how great chicken could be. It’s just chicken. I was wrong. It was very flavorful, and now I’ve added it as one of my favorites.

What I like about this place is you can go in wearing jeans and a t-shirt, sit at the bar and watch a game while drinking one of over two and a half dozen draft or bottled beer with a burger, bring the kids to eat mac ‘n cheese with smoked bacon for lunch in the tavern, or dress up for a date, sit at the bar for a cocktail before dinner in the dining room, and return after your meal for a Glenlivet or Bailey’s to finish the evening.

The Rocky Hill Inn is a nice neighborhood restaurant, offering something for everyone. I highly recommend giving it a try if you haven’t already eaten there.