Rolo’s

Rolo’s: A Michelin Bib Gourmand Wood-Fired Bar & Grill in Ridgewood

Rolo’s, at 853 Onderdonk Avenue, is a neighborhood wood-fired bar and grill that’s become one of Ridgewood’s genuine gems — a Michelin Bib Gourmand for good-quality, good-value cooking. The first room holds an easygoing bar with a real talent for cocktails; further in, the dining room comes alive as a roaring wood-fire grill bathes the tables in amber light. Globe lights, handsome wood floors, and a dim, buzzy, conversational vibe.

There’s no posted happy hour, but that front bar is the kind of place you can just walk into for a drink.

The Bar

The front room is a proper cocktail bar — walk-in friendly, no reservation needed for a drink:

• An easygoing bar with a talent for well-made cocktails
• No posted happy hour, but an easy drop-in for a drink and a snack
• Reservations are for the dining room; the bar takes walk-ins

The Drinks

A tight, thoughtful cocktail list — the Strawberry Passionfruit Punsch (rum, strawberry cordial, passion fruit, lime tiki bitters) is a regular favorite — and a list built to pair with the wood-fired kitchen.

The Food

Fire is the key to much of the goodness here, starting with the fluffy, smoky polenta bread smeared with Calabrian chili butter or sesame and wild oregano. Other favorites: crispy “war style” potatoes and croquettes, a green two-layer lasagna, dry-aged steaks with green garlic butter, housemade mortadella, crudo, and a much-celebrated double cheeseburger. There’s weekend brunch and a daytime café and bakery, too.

The Room

Handsome wood floors, globe lights, the glow of the wood-fire grill, and a friendly, casual cadre of servers add warmth to an already welcoming space — the kind of place where everyone either is a regular or is about to become one.

Who Rolo’s Is For

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