Restaurant Week: Rockwell’s Doesn’t Disappoint

If you're looking for bang for your restaurant buck during Grand Rapids' Restaurant Week, Rockwell-Republic may be the place for you.

Restaurant Week 2015 rages on, offering three course meals at most places for just $28 (some restaurants will double that up for the same low price). I obviously can't hit every place that's offering the deal, but if Rockwell-Republic, 45. S. Division, is any indication, you can get a lot of quality for that price.

I dropped in to Rockwell late Saturday after a long day of moving. The choices offered as part of the Restaurant Week menu were all tempting, but I went with the Diablo Sushi Roll as an appetizer, followed by the Korean barbeque entree, and then Berry Cheesecake for dessert. I wasn't disappointed.

It was a pleasant evening following a hot day of lugging and unloading boxes, so the fact that we got seated on Rockwell's outdoor back deck was a bonus, as the night had cooled off and the sunset was leaving the downtown buildings with a nice pink hue.

The romantic feel was perfect for a night out with my date, and the food just added to the great ambiance. The Diablo Roll is a big appetizer, and the full eight piece size was perfect for sharing. The ahi tuna roll was spiced nicely with jalapeno and a sriracha sauce and the avocado added a delicious touch. The roll is also offered with a steak option.

The main dish, the Korean Barbeque, was a huge portion served in a bowl with Udon noodles and fresh vegetables. The sauce was a sweet treat, and the beef was tender and slow cooked to near perfection. A touch of curry made it that much more unique. By itself, I would highly recommend this option, but combined with the roll, this was a pretty quality meal for the price.

The whole thing was made that much better by the tasty berry cheesecake topper. Marbled with blueberries and black berries, and surrounded by just the right amount of graham crust, it melted in my mouth, and once again was of a size I could share with my date. Which was good, because she opted just for an entree, which was also a good size serving.

Other entree choices available for Restaurant Week at Rockwell include a Roasted, almond encrusted halibut and a Seared Swordfish. You can see their entire Restaurant Week menu here.

Restaurant Week continues through Saturday, August 22.