Introducing Bar Rocco, by James Beard Award-winning chef and author Rocco DiSpirito (pictured left). From leading hospitality group Apicii, in partnership with Extell Development, Bar Rocco is an Italian American brasserie, now open in the Kimpton Era Midtown New York, the newly completed hotel on West 48th Street, adjacent to Rockefeller Center.

A Refined Yet Approachable Italian American Brasserie

Bar Rocco is a refined yet approachable Italian American brasserie, with its name serving a playful nod to both Chef Rocco DiSpirito and the restaurant's direct view of Rockefeller Center. The restaurant presents an Italian-inspired market-driven menu, informed by Chef Rocco’s frequent visits to regional greenmarkets and long-standing relationships with local farmers and purveyors.

Food

Bar Rocco offers expansive menus for dinner, lunch, and breakfast, showcasing some playful DiSpirito signatures as well as authentic recipes rooted in his heritage and upbringing.

Dinner menu offerings are divided into seven sections: Small Plates, Raw, Salads, Steaks & Chops, Pastas, Mains, and Sides. Yellowtail Carpaccio (celery salad, lemon, dijonaise, and 18 month aged Parmigiano Reggiano), Spicy Tuna Tartare (horseradish, wasabi, crème fraîche, toasted filone, and over easy quail egg), and a Colossal Shrimp Cocktail (smoky cocktail sauce, celery hearts, and caper remoulade) anchor a robust raw menu, while additional starters like Arancini Nero (squid ink risotto, Argentine shrimp, and saffron aioli) and DiSpirito's namesake Oysters "Rocco-Feller" (six Beau Soleil oysters served warm, crisp guanciale, and ocean-herbal velouté) round out the small plates. Ideal for sharing or savored solo, the Giant Butter Bean Hummus (pistachio crumble and Roman garlic bread) and The Bar Rocco Cobb (poached chicken, watercress, crispy bacon lardon, avocado, and chive-gorgonzola dressing) offer options for all appetites.

DiSpirito's pasta creations command attention, from the decadent Pappardelle Genovese (24-hour smoked short rib ragù) to the Paccheri Pesto Rossa (Argentine red shrimp, slow-cooked pomodoro, and basil) and the comforting Sunday Gravy Lasagna (Mama's Meatballs, sausage, Sunday ragu, and béchamel).

Bar Rocco's steaks and chops include a tender 6 oz. Petite Filet (garlicky broccolini and béarnaise sauce) and a 16 oz. Boneless Ribeye (aged balsamic vinegar, creamy potato purée, charred cipollini onions, and garlicky broccolini). From the mains: a bright and buttery Chicken Puttanesca (spicy tomato sauce and fresh ricotta gnudi); a classic Fish & Chips (fresh haddock, tartare sauce, and lemon aioli) served with french fries; and Rocco's Big Italian Burger (aged wagyu blend, provolone, lettuce, heirloom tomato, red onion, special sauce, and dijon vinaigrette) are each a reflection of DiSpirito's knack for elevating the familiar. And no visit would be complete without a side of the Hester Street Home Fries (double-fried russet potatoes with lemon aioli), a heartwarming tribute from Chef Rocco to his mother's beloved home cooking.

Beverage

Bar Rocco's cocktail program showcases an elegant lineup of timeless classics, including the Manhattan (rye whiskey, dry vermouth, luxardo maraschino, bigallet china china, and orange bitters) and the Negroni (gin, sweet vermouth, and campari), alongside inventive reimaginings like the Italian Margarita (tequila, amaretto, lime juice, and simple syrup) and Bar Rocco's Smoked Old Fashioned (bourbon, sherry, fig syrup, orange bitters, and angostura bitters). Guests can also take the reins with a build-your-own martini program. The wine list offers a thoughtfully curated selection of reds, whites, and rosés by the glass and bottle, rounded out by a selection of beers.

Design

An Italian American Brasserie brought to life by SLCE Architects and INC Architecture & Design, Bar Rocco's bold mosaic floors, wood paneled walls, and warm lighting set the stage for a timeless New York dining moment. Handsome red and brown leather banquette seating lines the soaring space with floor-to-ceiling windows framing a direct view of Rockefeller Center. With sleek marble tabletop surfaces throughout, a showstopping scarlet ceramic bar serves as a focal point in the room, lending the whole space the convivial energy of a classic brasserie.

If you are interested in reservations, please click HERE.

Image courtesy of Bar Rocco