A behemoth has been erected in Wylie, Texas. A shining neon barn, affixed with flames and guitars, holds court over the Country Club and FM 544 intersection. It looks like the perverted restaurant love child of Bret Michaels and Guy Fieri.
The Rock Wood Fired Kitchen is powered by one gimmick: "Rock and Roll, Dude!" Every dish is named after a classic rock song, the whole restaurant is lit up like a neon spaceship, and they show music videos on the televisions above the bar where they serve "rocktails" in children's beach pails, complete with the small shovel, just in case the straw was not delivering the alcohol to your face fast enough. They are "famous" for their hand-tossed wood fired pizzas. Their website says they offer "Foods for all Moods."
I went recently, on your behalf, dear reader. Our server was charming and personable and dealt with our constant stream of questions regarding their drinks and menu like a true pro. We ordered some very cheesy, very loaded nachos on his recommendation, and I ordered The Rockstar rocktail. It came with a Rockstar energy drink turned upside down inside of it with cherries on top. It tasted like energy drinks and a shitload of liquor. Just like college. I was appalled and delighted.
Everyone in our party of five wound up ordering one of their pizzas, besides our lone Burger Man. I had the "Stairway to Heaven," which was garlic butter and mozzarella baked onto the crust and then topped with baby arugula, tomato, prosciutto, and parmesan. The crust was flavorful and the toppings were fresh. It was pretty good -- not good enough to be famous, but how many pizzas are, really?
You do get to keep your bucket afterwards, and my partner tried to persuade me to do otherwise, but I firmly told him that I needed it as proof of my conquest. It's all so over the top and gimmicky and completely unashamed of it. It's best if you just go with it. Or get drunk.
In the end, I can't say I wasn't fully expecting Guy Fieri to pop out from behind the bar and tell me to "put on your roccasins, cause you're takin' a trip to Flavor Town!" Because I definitely was. But I was pleasantly surprised by just about everything else. The food was decent, the drinks were strong, and I got a souvenir bucket. What more do you want?
