Rockland’s doesn’t have much table space. Actually, they only have one large table, a huge slab of slightly curved wood with some stools around it. On the table is a large bowl of peanuts, a just as large ashcan for shells, and a small wooden pedestal with half a dozen bottles of different hot sauce. Their labels contain words like “Scotch Bonnet,” and “Habanero.” These words promise warm sensations and a little bit of pain for the adventurous. The total scoville units ensconced in little bottles on the hot sauce wall number in the millions.
If you face Wisconsin Avenue, you can watch the lunch crowd roll in just after noon but you would miss the smokey wonder of the kitchen. The grill is wood fueled, and the cooks will stoke the fire every now and again through the doors. Once the orders start piling up, the grill starts piling up, and the scent and smoke of barbecue fills the entire restaurant.
Yesterday was sunny, and the light from the skylight lit the smoke from the kitchen just wonderfully. I’ll have to come back with a camera.
Oh, and the food is great. The sandwiches are full portions and the ribs are fantastic.
Rocklands’s is conveniently located near JP’s and Good Guys, two bars of local repute. If that’s not your flavor, then it’s also conveniently located by Max’s Best Ice Cream, an ice cream parlor of local repute. The Mexican Vanilla comes highly recommended.
That’s the ice cream.