AWESOME - Hawaiian burrito! Roasted potatoes! Atmosphere!
I LOVED this place. The menu has so many original and interesting dishes it was difficult to make up my mind. I settled on the Hawaiian Burrito, and it was just melt-in-your-mouth FANTASTIC. Also, the potato wedges are a great alternative to the standard "french-fry or chips" carb options. Roasted to prefection - not too crispy, not too soft.
We were there during a weekday lunch hour, and though the place was busy, the service was great. The decor is charming urban chic, and comfortable. Some of the folks I knew were regulars, and it seems there are a lot of regulars! The staff knew my dining companions and were very welcoming and accommodating.
I highly recommend Octane, and am looking for a good excuse to drive back to Rockford and stop in again...
I've been to Octane twice. It is a lot of fun. I'm not sure what my waiter's name was but he is always very nice. I've gone there once by myself and once with friends. It shines a great light on Rockford. The decorations are so artsy, and the food is to die for. I feel the need to go here every time I go downtown. I recommend the Hawaiian wrap. It is so good.
Review Source:I live blocks from this place and I keep giving it second, third, fourth, fifth chances, but Octane always disappoints. Â I'd like to write a review of the food, but my stay rarely gets that far because the service is so horrible and snotty. Â In the past five times I've been there, I've left without ordering three times because I've been ignored-- just flat out ignored. Â One time I sat for twenty minutes while they seated and served several other tables without even bringing me water. Â When I finally got up to ask somebody for service, they said they thought I was finished and waiting for my check-- even if I was waiting twenty minutes for my check that counts as a horrible oversight. Â The bottom line is that they just aren't nice at Octane and I never feel like I'm welcome. Â For my money, I'll walk the extra six blocks up to State Street and patronize Wired Cafe, Social and Abreo where you can actually get good service.
Review Source:My buddy Noah introduced me to this place, being a lifelong Rockford resident I'm upset I never knew about Octane. I've eaten here a handful of times and every time the service and food has been phenomenal. I would recommend trying something new everything because this place is outstanding.
Review Source:What else is there to say? Expansive, eclectic menu; I haven't had a bad entree ever from here. Beer and coffee selections are both well above average. Service has always been good. The only gripe I have had is that they do not split checks for larger groups. Luckily, all the positives far outweigh the single negative.
Review Source:Fun environment, clearly a favorite with the locals.
Stopped in before an Icehogs game and was pleased with menu and ambience.
Shared nacho platter--great idea making the chili vegetarian--and the blackened salmon salad.
Nachos are nachos, fun finger food, but I really liked my salad. The dressing was amazing--may ask for it on the side next time due to spice, and I generally like my salad with a tad bit less dressing.
Wrapped up with coffee to-go.
However, what really made me like this place was the kindness of the waitress accommodating us despite there being less than an hour before an event, and she suggested we scoot our table and chairs a bit more away from the door, where it was cold and drafty.
Lastly, I had been charging my phone on the wall outlet, and of course, I walked off without it.
I remembered not long after leaving and returned. They had noticed immediately and run out after us, but I speed walk everywhere--I'm tough to catch. Nonetheless, my phone and charger were safe and secure!
Will make a habit of stopping in here before every game when I make it out to Rockford!
Last night My good friend and I went to Octane for Dinner and drinks, we decided on the Butterfish, and as usual it was beyond our expectations, the presentation was perfect and the dish was awesome !!!! I love the new Chef (Patrick) Â Â I have yet to have anything that I have not enjoyed at Octane, from the great atmosphere, friendly employees I always feel welcome when I walk through the doors and they make a fantastic iced coffee !!! I always recommend this place to all the people who are looking for great food at good price !!!
Review Source:Hello Yelpers! Â
I just have to say, it is a pleasure to write my first yelp review for one of my MOST FAVORITE places in downtown Rockford...Octane! Â
First of all, the coffee and espresso is delish. Â I asked one of the waitresses last time I was there what kind of coffee they serve and low and behold, it is their own custom blend, which is probably why I love it so much. Â It definitely makes my afternoons better.
Second - they have a great lunch menu that they use on the weekends, so I found out when I stopped in the saturday that beer fest was going on....ummm the Sunburst!? Â A heavenly sandwich with garlic mushrooms, arugula and a fried egg...I was really in heaven! Â Pair that with the potato wedges (which I found out were homemade also) and it was the perfect lunch. Â Also on that lunch menu, Peanut Butter and Jelly crepes? C'mon, I almost had to take a nap after all of that....that is when the espresso comes in handy! Â I am a big fan here, I will be back for more Saturday lunches.
Third - probably also one of my favorite places to have a mojito or martini if I am out downtown...I have never had a bartender fail me there yet, or cease to entertain me. Â My husband loves the microbrew selection in the cooler as well...win-win on date day/night! Â
Finally, I always love the fun atmosphere! Â Whether it is busy or slow, Octane is a fun experience in my book. The service I receive is always friendly, personable and fun. Â This makes up for the nights when downtown seems really hopping and Octane gets really busy...trust me, it is worth the wait. Â
Not splitting checks can be a major bummer when with a big group, but not the end of the world.
If you like delicious food and a fun time...hit this place up! Â I highly recommend one of my favorite places in Rock-town!
I have been to Octane MANY times. Â I have never been disappointed. Â Until now.
Apparently the new "Executive Chef" is making some changes to their classic menu items.  The Atomic Burger has always been amazing, and I am very hard to impress.  The one I ordered last Saturday night was terrible.  They should change the name to "Bland Burger," and be done with it.  Normally, it comes on a Ciabatta bread.  Instead, it came on a too-large plain, untoasted bum  About 25% larger than the burger.  Bore me.  The burger itself was cooked exactly how I wanted it, but there was no salsa sauce on it, only cheese.  I had to put ketchup on it to give it some flavor.  The "pickles" they had on the side were plain cucumbers.  NOT.  I go there specifically for the Atomic Burger, as do several of my friends.  It was fantastic.
I tried to complain to a manager, but it was only the guy that screwed  it up in the first place.  I will give it ONE more try.  If something doesn't get corrected, that will be it for me.  I can get a bland burger anywhere.
The blue corn chips and salsa were good. Â Server was good. Â They discounted our entrees 35%. Â So what? Â I wanted what I ordered.
BTW-it was 7 PM on a Saturday night and they were not busy. Â Hmmm. Â Sad.
I will first start with the positives: the food at Octane is very good and they have a lot of great interesting menu choices.
However, whenever I go to Octane, I Â usually go with a large group of people from work. Consequently, we usually ask the wait staff to split the check. Every time we request this, the servers usually throw tantrums about it. Yesterday, a waitress flatly refused to do it.
I refuse to believe that it is that difficult to ring people up individually. In fact, this a problem they should be used to since they get a lot of lunch business from the court house. I strongly suggest that this restaurant make more of an effort to accommodate large groups. For now, we will probably go elsewhere.
This certainly looks like a cool joint. I found the burgers to be severely overpriced for what they put on the plate. For $10+ you would expect a gourmet burger but it was nothing better that what you get at a hole in wall place. I still haven't figured out how I ended up with $19 bill after just ordering a burger and a coke ($2.99). The service was slow and by the time we finished our lunch it was so way past our lunch hour that I did not even bothered to unravel the mystery of my bill. I could only guess that they charged me every time I got a refill. The ambiance was nice but  the food, the service and the level of execution of both, together with the price leave a lot to be desired.
Review Source:I had been meaning to visit this establishment for quite some time, and when I had a mean hankering for a burger I basically told my girlfriend come hell or high water we are going to Octane tonight.
When you get there, a kind lady opens the door for you and greets you with a smile. Â Not something you always see anymore, and I was impressed. Â The noise level is somewhat elevated, but after all it is a "lounge", and we were still able to have a conversation about all the interesting decor in the place without losing our voices.
The drink menu is noteworthy.  On this particular occasion, I wanted a beer...the heat that day had been oppressive and I needed to hydrate!  Their beer list is broken down into categories including belgians, ipas, a variety of ales, and of course your classier more pretentious beers such as Schlitz.  They had a very good selection of Two Brothers beers, so I went with a Resistance IPA...très rafraîchissant!  They also had specialty cocktails including a kiwi mojito, which my dining partner ordered.  A stiff drink with muddled mint, lime, and kiwi, she enjoyed it immensely.  There was a lot of description on the different wines they serve in the menu, which was fun to read and next time I go back, I may want to partake in a few.
Our waitress was attentive and informative. Â She told us about the night's drink specials and entrees. Â I had my mind set on a burger, otherwise the specials sounded very fancy and delicious. Â I ordered the Sanford and Son burger, which is an angus beef patty made to order and built how you want it. Â I got it medium with asiago cheese, roasted garlic, spinach and artichoke dip, bacon, lettuce, onion, and tomato on a toasted brioche bun. Â The burger was cooked perfectly, with a nice pink center (I live dangerously). Â My girlfriend had the bruschetta flatbread which had a nice balsamic reduction that gave it a pleasant sweetness that complemented the basil and tomato well. Â Extremely delicious.
I can't say enough good about this place. Â It is a charm tucked away in downtown, and I will be going back on a regular basis.
When this restaurant opened, it was one of the first five Internet cafés in America, offering free WiFi and an inviting, great-looking atmosphere. Fifteen years later, Octane InterLounge still offers these much more common amenities, but stays ahead of the curve with their contemporary menu and wonderful bar staff.
My favorite place with food and drink in Rockford, I've been here at least a half-dozen times--since moving to Rockford in August 2011--and Octane consistently delivers. The appetizers are creative, the food is terrific, and although there are no beers on tap, the selection is good and the bartender is so excellent that I stick with cocktails most of the time anyway (save beer specials).
My favorites here:
Nachos appetizer
Fat Albert Potatoes appetizer - mashed potatoes with your choice of about twelve different items blended in (various cheeses, bacon, broccoli, etc.)
Ricky Ricardo - a Cuban sandwich with a secret delicious sauce and huge tasty potato wedges
Any pasta
Anything from the bar, especially a Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet
On a lesser note, if you have a dog he or she may sit outside with you provided your animal is friendly.
I am likely over-hyping this place, but I am unashamed because I love it. You know those songs on the radio that you simply love to death, regardless of if it's actually a great song or you have just grown to love it on some deeper level? Such is my relationship with Octane. I hope you visit, and I hope you love it as well.
My wife and I went out for a quick bite to Octane based on the reviews by others. First thing I noticed was online they had about a dozen different burgers but in their menu only a couple.
We didn't go over the top in our ordering because neither of us were all that hungry , but we did get some chips and salsa for a light appetizer. The blue corn chips and salsa were quite tasty.
I ordered a Bleu Burger (one of their specialties) and clearly communicated that I wanted it slightly pink and definitely not well done. The short of it was, my burger was lousy.
Expecting a "gourmet" burger (for $10) I was met with an overcooked, dry hockey puck on a ciabatta bun with a small dollop of bleu cheese sauce on the top. (I'm guessing it was a quarter pound burger, but then again as much as they cooked it, it could have started out as a half pounder.) It could have used twice the amount of bleu cheese sauce and maybe something else to dazzle me as if they had given a little thought to what they were presenting.
The potato wedges that came with it were just okay, but nothing that I would remember.
My wife ordered some kind of portabella sandwich and she would agree with the 2-star (Meh. I've experienced better) rating.
So, for the record...I HATE giving low ratings and I want to like every place I go to, but if you can't get a burger right then it's hard to give the benefit of the doubt.
P.S. My server did ask us how everything was, but I was kind of surprised by the way she "asked" as it was more of a statement, so I couldn't muster up a complaint. She said, "Isn't that burger just soooo perfect!?"
I love Octane. It's just got great atmosphere and guaranteed savory food. It's difficult to get a table without a reservation, but that's a sign of how good the food is. Some of the servers are not quite as attentive. Last weekend, we had to go up to the bar to get refills on our water and iced tea. The special- ravioli stuffed with sausage and broccoli with a fire roasted sauce- was out of this world!
Review Source:My fiance and I love Octane! Â Octane describes its own environment best- Upbeat Casual Dining. Â The food is great; they have a choice of wine, craft beers, fanciful cocktails, and an assortment of delicious coffee drinks. Â And, I am not lying about the food; they offer great salads, flat breads, sandwiches, pastas, and a decent steak or sorts. Â They run awesome specials and their soups have never disappointed. Â The atmosphere is unique to Rockford. Â And, it is never too loud; you can always have conversation while hearing the music subtly in the background. Â Try it; Octane will not leave you wanting more!
Review Source:I'm not very familiar with Rockford, so it came as a shock to me when we wandered into this part of town on a Saturday night and found--nothing. Although it was about 7 p.m., the streets were deserted, and it felt like 5 o'clock in the morning. We were just about to take that as a sign from to the universe to get out when we found Octane, our intended destination.
Octane was the breath of life in a ghost town. There were people here! Lights! Life!
Inside its double-doored entryway (as someone who has always lived in Chicagoland and survived countless brutal winters, I always appreciate this thoughtful bit of architecture), Octane bursts with life, creativity, and energy, as well as the rare combination of food, coffee, and booze.
We were only there for drinks and snacks, but they were quite enjoyable--the spinach and artichoke dip was hearty and delicious, and my mojito was full of minty deliciousness.
I loved some of the little touches there as well--impressive artwork from local high schoolers on the way to the restroom, a trendy bar area with colorful lighting and a club-like vibe, the well-lit and cheerful front room, and a nice-looking meeting room in the back that would have been great for a private party.
Our waitress was a lot of fun, too: patient but helpful, with just the right amount of sass (she let out an "oh, snap" when we chided our friend for hogging the drink menu).
A great place to fuel up, hang out, and let loose. Love it!
Love this place!
It is rare to find a place where you can come back and always get great service and food! Been here several times and never been disappointed...too bad my love life can't say the same..I kid I kid! They have a great selection of beer and oh yes they do carry Matilda! Not really a big pasta fan, but their Octane Blue is faaannntasstiicc! Big, tender pieces of steak, portabella mushrooms and the sauce is just to die for! The seafood quesadillas are wonderful! Big chunks of shrimp, crab, super cheesy and the dipping sauce is great! The portions are big enough and are reasonably priced. Another tip, do try the caipirinhas here. Yes, they are great, but watch out it sneaks up on you and after a few you just may not know how you got home that night.
The coffee drinker in me wants to spend more time enjoying their coffee drinks. Â I wish I lived in downtown; I would spend my mornings there.
Most of our visits, however, are spent over dinner. Â To me, most of the menu is eclectic twists on traditional plates. Â Try one of their burgers!
 I've never had a bad meal here.  Portion sizes are perfect; you leave having eaten enough.
Octane was the site of my first date with my now ex. Â The year was 1997, and Octane was more like a dive-y coffee bar than the funky-upscale establishment it has become over the years. Â He had a blue Mountain Dew, and we sat on the patio with his friends from Rworld.
In the intervening years, Octane has lost the grunge-y proto-hipster feel and has turned into an upstanding and delicious spot for dinner and a drink.  I love the flatbreads - both savory and sweet - and the cocktails.  I've never been able to face down Der Doppelgänger - four shots of espresso, steamed chocolate milk, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream - though it seems like back in the day, they used to kick it up another notch by brewing the espresso with Water Joe.  Remember Water Joe?  What a bad idea that was.
I rarely get to Octane when I'm back in town but, like Zouyan L., I'm always happy when someone suggests it.
I had heard of this place for years. Mostly from staff and patrons of other bars I frequent. Based on the personality of the people that always told me about it and when they said they where going, I always pictured Octane to be more of a dance club than what it truly is, a small bar with great decor and almost an hipster atmosphere. The lay out is interesting in that there is a hair studio in the back, and there is a long walk to the bathrooms.
I walked in with my wife, and we happened to be downtown and wanted to try someplace new. This was bookmarked as a place to try and it was open, so I figured. What the heck. When I opened the door and the first thing I heard was Jazz music, I know my preconceived idea of Octane was wrong. We were there around 1 in the afternoon, so it wasn't too busy, we grabbed seats at the bar and that's when the good times started.
Because we both had the day off, we thought we'd live it up a little and try their signature drinks. One of the items on the menu was the Mojito, and since we both love Mojitos and are on the look for the perfect one, that's what we ordered. I was a little surprised to find out that none of the staff there knew how to make a mojito. It was on their list of signature drinks, so I figured any bartender there should know how to make it. To give them credit, they tried real hard and to be honest, who orders Mojitos at 1 in the afternoon in April? The mojito's where okay... I doubt I'll order another from them.
However, we played with their other signature drinks and since our bartender was very nice and apologetic about the Mojito, we had him make us a drink that he specializes in. It was a Neapolitan coffee drink. It was fantastic! We sampled many other drinks and for the most part, they where either really good or at least decent.
I wasn't in a beer mood. (Gasp, I know!) but they did have a decent selection of craft beers and mainstream ones. Including Schlitz. (gag). I joked around with them bartenders and staff about the fact they have some good craft beers for the beer snobs and Schlitz for the occasional Backwoods American that might frequent. I was surprised that they didn't have anything on tap at all.
I will say that even though their drinks were good, they were small. Most of the drinks we ordered were served in martini glasses and they used the smallest martini glasses I've seen.
Octane is a gem in Rockford. In the midst of the normal chain bars and restaurants in the area is a place that is totally different. The decor is music centric, old album covers are everywhere. The food is great, if not a bit pricey. The beer selection is filled with smaller breweries and they have great speciality drinks. The service is a tad lacking but it's not terrible. The one real issue is the bathroom always seems to smell bad. Not sure why but it just stinks. I love going here and I wish Rockford had more of these type of places around.
Review Source:My feelings for Octane are now mixed. I ordered from here and picked up about 3 times while I was at work and the food is AMAZING. I have tryed the Hawaiian Burrito and the Thai flat bread and a Burger with Pulled pork. YUM. So I thought I would take my fiance out after work for a late night treat. Dessert and a drink maybe. We showed up about a half hour before the kitchens close... I use to work at restraunts and didnt want to be "that couple" who shows up after you already scrubbed the kitchen clean. The waiter seemed annoyed that we were interested in the menu. that irked me. I brushed it off and ordered the iced tea of the day. he told me it was Raspberry Vanilla... I got it and it was Blackberry, with maybe some vanilla at some point. yuck. The desert menu was a little lacking, so I ordered a Thai Flatbread instead, and my fiance just ordered a turtle mocha. The Mocha was fantastic and was gone before I blinked. He was a little upset it was so small for the price. We love the decor and the art and were having fun looking at all of it. A party of about 15 came in right after us and I had to listen to the cook argue with the waiter about how he shouldnt have let them in and how the kitchens closing soon yadda yadda.... that stuff is meant to be bitched about... IN THE KITCHEN. I felt like I was intruding or something. The group was rather annoying so we moved to another part of the restaurant. So we were perfectly chill, till about a half hour later. I had already went thru my nasty iced tea and we sat bored without my flat bread. My fiance pointed out the group of 15 who ordered way after me was being served. :( 45 minutes for a flat bread.... are you kidding me. The waiter kinda apologized. I had a piece of it before I asked for a box and took it home.
Delicious food, Pompous wait staff.
I may be a little harsh... but you never know whos gonna review you.
Octane is a great place for a meal before catching a show downtown or for a quickie business lunch during the daytime. Make sure to make reservations if you plan on eating here before a show if you want a table, as they can be busy before some of the more popular shows.
Although the wine selection needs a bit of work in my opinion (but is better than many local places), the bottled beer selection is pretty decent (with a few "crafty" gems and some decent imports to go along with their "hipster" cans). The coffee, from which Octane gets its name (by way of its former internet-cafe-roots), is certainly tasty, with several ways of having it prepared, including as espresso-based beverages.
The food portions could be a bit larger in my opinion (they are realistically-sized instead of being the heaping-sizes most places serve) and I sometimes have personal issues with a few of the pasta dishes' preparation methods, they generally taste decent and their flatbreads are indeed wonderfully tasty, and the visual presentation of all is usually worthy of a mention. Several items on the menu are vegetarian and vegan-friendly (for those non-meat-eaters who like to eat more than merely greens or salad when dining out--I like the hummus plate, for example). I also wish they had more-and better-desserts than they do at the present time.
After most are done with eating, later nights one can find colorful locals laughing and hipsters holding-court mixed with "girl's night out" women sipping fancy mixed drinks. Daytimes one usually sees local hipsters mingling with politicians and downtown office workers. All times of day have people toting laptops to make use of Octane's free wifi hotspot while sipping coffees.
Growing up in the Greater Rockford Area, I got used to be excited about chain restaurants coming to town like Chili's. Â
I was so misguided in my youth, that's now for certain. Â
Now, a wise lass, I appreciate places that stand out. Â Places that offer something extra other than a fried onion in a fancy shape. Â Places that don't have the "TM" behind its name. Â And dammit, I hate flair on a server's uniform. Â Octane fits the bill on all accounts. Â
High five to Rockford, you have a kick ass restaurant in your down-town area that is not a chain...suck on that, Applebee's/Chili's.
Octane is in close proximity to the courthouse, which makes for a perfect lunch stop when I have to make the trek out to Winnebago County. Â The menu is great, lots of salads, lots of yummy sandwiches....and the evening small plates (unfortunately not available for lunching) look great as well.
I enjoyed a cup of coffee (what, I'm an old lady now, I drink coffee at lunch sometimes) and the Three's Company sandwich, an open-faced chicken sandwich topped with artichoke, spinach and asiago cheese. Â Fabu. Â I had to hack at it with a fork and knife, but it was awesome. Â I also loved that I was able to get the perfectly spiced tomato soup on the side.
Our server was sweet, attentive, and the only flair visible was her sweet ink.
If I lived in the Rock permanently (not gonna happen, sorry, Grandma), I would definitely make this place a frequent stop for lunches and for happy hours.
I used to avoid this place like the plague. All the little emo/hipster/punk rock kids I went to high school with talked about this place. And they were snotty, so I thought this place must suck.
Well high school is long gone, and this place is still here. I heard their sandwiches kicked ass. And my mom and I went, and the waiter was so nice. For Rockford, that's a rarity it seems. He deserves a star. Actually everyone there. The food is totally yummy. The prices are decent, like Perkins prices. The poppy seed dressing is sooo good. That's a recipe worth asking for! The menu is cute, lots of choices. I am going back, praying I don't run into any asshole from high school.
If Rockford had, say, four to six places like Octane, and they were all within three blocks of one another, and there were three more J.R. Kortman Gallery-type gift shops and a couple of coffeehouses and a few clothing stores and an independent movie theater in the same area, it could call itself a real city.
Good food, great ambiance, reasonably priced. May it live long and prosper.
Hell yeah! Â I went here for the first time a couple days ago...and wow! Â I had the "Blue Note" burger (LOVELY garlic, blue cheese, and dijon thing on what seemed to be flatbread--and I usually don't even LIKE flatbread (which pita and such no longer count as)--but THIS was yummy and I would have eaten it by itself, without the burger) Â Now, I thought THAT was good, but my cousin gave me a bite of the Humongous Fungus sandwich she had and.....swoon! Â No offense, but I never thought I'd see a place where veggies actually and truly have it better! Â No WONDER they go here all the time--it's hard out there for a veggie! Â At least usually, (tell me I'm wrong)--that's why I'm still not one and prolly never will be! C'mon, tell me it's not true--and yet this place breaks the mold. Â They are also one of those "cute tasty coffee places that also serves beer and wine," ALWAYS a good thing ;)
Yeah, I need to start, uh, going out to Rockford more! Â (I was missing Rockford anyway haha but WOW, this adds another reason to miss it!) Â VERY friendly and attentive waiter.
I eat here at least 3 times a week when I'm in town! When you hear people say "upbeat casual dining" this is what they mean! It's food you know and love with it's own unique twist to it... the only problem I have with Octane is there are too many of my favorite meals to eat in one sitting which forces me back a couple times a week to fulfill my cravings.
A tip to the wise... order their specials whenever you can because they are always signature dishes of the chef's personality and passion! Â
Also probably the best place in town for soup!!!
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