I frequented this establishment quite regularly over the past year and have come to the conclusion that it is just sort of all right. Let me first mention that you should be using some GPS or have a good understanding of where the restaurant is because it lacks a sign or any markings of any kind. The exterior is just a brick, square building with a parking lot behind it. If you are lost, it is diagonally across the street and to the left if you are at the nearby Publix and are facing Rosewood. Good luck and Godspeed.
The service ranges (can be 1/5 or 3.5/5) and the food is mediocre but its got a nice divey/local feel and is considered a local favorite (I've been told at least). My personal favorite menu items are the pimento cheese burger and the pimento cheese fries.
The burgers don't come with fries but if you order them separately you get quite a lot (enough to share with three people I would think). I do not recommend getting the chicken burger. Stick to beef. They have pretty good prices on a couple of random beers (duck rabbit stout and rogue dead guy) although the other beer prices are normal. The place stays open pretty late (11:00PM on weekdays I think?) which makes it convenient if you had to delay dinner.
They have special events like trivia night and some arcade games. There is outdoor seating available and they have a room that can be rented out to groups.
Rockaways has a soft spot in my heart as the original local burger place. Their burgers are cheap and good. They are known for their pimento cheese burgers and fries. Although it may sound boring, I love the regular hamburger because I like how well cooked the patty is. With so many good side dishes: I like to bring enough friends so we can split pimento cheese fries, fried mushrooms and another side of choice. Be warned it's not a glamorous trendy burger joint as so many that have popped up in Columbia. Also, the service is usually okay to bad. However, that does add to the dive appeal. Â If I looking for a good burger and brews, Rockaways is my go-to.
Review Source:College, no service, so-so food and overpriced!
They were NOT busy (half tables empty) and everything was wrong, and it took over an hour to get our food.
- the pimento burger had almost no pimento cheese and instead of "let me get you some from the kitchen" the idiot's response was "I can't cook and wait tables"
- Ordered a salad with no onions, it came with 1 cop of onions dumped on top. I asked 3x for a small plate or cup to put them in, it never came. I put them on a piece of paper on the table. (was not going to send it back- might not have ever seen it again)
- one order came after everyone else had eaten
- we asked for hot sauce and cocktail sauce for shrimp, etc and none of it ever arrived
Another round of drinks - they never came -
TERRIBLE hung-over-college-student service! They don't care and you know it quick!
I'm not really sure why this place is rated so highly. Â I was told about it by a bartender at another place. Â He explained there is no sign so a person really has to be on the lookout to find it by address alone. Â It was either a Fri or Sat evening when I was there. Â The place seemed rather slow for about 7-8 p.m. Â I ordered a dozen oysters to start and a pimento cheese burger. Â The service was very slow considering there was no crowd yet. Â I was not impressed by the oysters especially compared to that place downtown which starts with the letter P. Â The burger...it was ok. Â It certainly did not live up to the hype given by both a couple locals and all these yelp comments. Â Maybe it was an off night, maybe the cooks didn't put their heart into the burger.
Review Source:This is an excellent place to go and watch a game. They have a very large beer selection that is usually all in-stock, they have wings, burgers, and sandwiches to snack on, and they have enough TVs that you can pretty much sit anywhere you like. The pimento burger they had was pretty good, but in my opinion the one that is served at Pawley's Front Porch has a bit more spicy bite to it. Their wings are good, and they have a few random games to kill time (big buck hunter, golden tee, etc.) so that's always a plus. My one gripe is that both times I have gone here the service has been poor (slow, forgotten orders, etc.), but maybe it was due to it being a sunday and not heavily staffed.
This place is not hard to find, but don't expect a giant neon sign on the building, it's pretty nondescript.
Was totally looking forward to this place due to it's good reviews. I even got the pimento cheeseburger. Â What I experienced was average atmosphere and very average food. The burger was the best thing we had but still nothing special. Â Fries are just frozen crinkles and the tap selection was next to nothing. Just didn't dig it.
Review Source:A friend of mine lived in Columbia for about 9 yrs & this was one of his favorite places to go - it was within walking distance of his house, it had really good food & he just liked the ambiance of the place. I went with him a few times on my visits & one year, around July 4th, I had a great Shrimp Etouffee with a cold beer (not sure if that's the best drink to compliment the dish) - it was SCORCHINGLY hot outside that night too, about 97. But the food was GOOOOOOOOOD.
Review Source:I love Rockaways, I have been going since I was in Middle School. The Burgers are great and the pimento cheese fries are the best. The only problem I have is every now and then I will get crappy service. Like other reviews have said, if you can get past that the food is great and its good for a quick bite.
Review Source:You have to know about Rockaway's if you go here. One of my professors at the beginning of the semester goes, "How many of y'all know what Rockaway's is? For those of you who don't, figure it out by the end of the semester and DO NOT ask me or any of you knowledgeable classmates." It's a great place to go with a small group for a GOOD burger. The service is so-so but the food makes it worth it. I just love how there's no advertising/signage for Rockaway's and you have to find out about it through word of mouth--or Yelp!
Review Source:This is one of the places I miss most in Columbia. Â Rockaways was always a place I could get out of for dirt cheap with a full belly and a buzz. Â I've eaten just about everything they have...but the pimento cheeseburger has always been the "go to". Â The service at Rockaways has been hit or miss over the years, but something I was always willing to overlook. Â
Try: Â The pimento cheeseburger and a rootbeer float
Avoid: Â Getting seated in the hidden corner booth
Yeah the place is hard to find. Â Put it in to your GPS and you'll find it. Â Decor is pretty cool and nicer than I expected. Â So I ordered a dozen oysters as a starter before my pimento cheese burger that everyone here raves about. Wait, wait, wait. Hmm. Â My burger comes out. Then low and behold so does the plate of oysters. So I am eating a burger with a side of a dozen oysters. Pretty ridiculous service especially when you consider that not only did I clearly state the obvious that I wanted the oysters to start, but any server with common sense would know that. Â She looked dumbfounded when I asked about this.
The pimento cheeseburger was ok if you are in to a bunch of crap covering up the taste of your beef. Â I prefer my pimento cheese with celery sticks and my burger with nothing but salt and lots of black pepper and a touch of ketchup and mustard. Â I can't fault them for my ordering a cheeseburger which I could never be satisfied with. Â The quality of the pimento cheese was otherwise good....again, with celery or toast. Â The oysters were pretty good but not in the same league as Pearlz in the Vista. For a better burger, hit Pawleys (though the atmosphere here is much better).
I was very happy that I got to eat here on my visit to Columbia....the food came out so quickly! Great tasting burger with no wait, gets 5 stars in my yelping. They don't have signage so you might drive right past it. Oh...another odd thing, there was a poster on the wall over the booth I was sitting in which had swastikas on it....that was strange?
Review Source:If you like pimento cheese, Rockaway's is an absolute must! Â The pimento cheese burger and pimento cheese fries are simply to die for. Â Have eaten here 10+ times and haven't tried anything else on the menu, so I am certainly biased - but the cheese burger is done right! Â Definitely not your typical cola food.
Review Source:This place will change how you think of burgers here in the Columbia.  Every variety of this ground beef mecca is worth a try.  From the jalapeno cheeseburger to the signature Pimento cheeseburger.  The best part about the burgers is that you get the sense that it was grilled in the backyard.  If burgers aren't your thing then try  some of their side items like the fried okra (which is proof that God exists) to the pimento cheese fries.  And their salads aren't too bad either but if you're coming here for the rabbit food then you've missed the point of this place entirely.
The ONLY thing that keeps this place from getting 5 stars is the service. Â While friendly, most of the time, this place seems to be understaffed for the amount tables they have.
I reccommend their Trivia Night on Wed (8-10:30ish), lots of fun.
This place is a must stop for visitors and locals alike
Is there such a thing as Comfort Burgers?
The pimento cheese burger is very good! It may just be the best burger in Columbia? It's in the style of an overgrown slider, the bun must be steamed with the burger and cheese? The meat patty is very flavorful, what you can taste of it through the thick and gooey pimento cheese! It has got to be close to the ultimate cheese burger!
We were gluttons for the cheese- ordered the side of pimento cheese fries! they are served with a smidgen of jalapeno peppers on the side that tops them off well! I swear these fries, with a little Heinz, brings back memories of grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup :)
Of course, as spelled out in the multitude of other reviews, the place can be hard to find with no signage and all. The service was good- not too crowded on Sunday evening. The building is very good size, and is comfortable and casual.
Definitely would recommend!
So I just moved here from Louisiana/Texas, and could not figure out why EVERY local menu had something involving pimento cheese on it, since I always associated it with some mid-century relic made with Velveeta.
My buddy who is also new here hear Rockaway had great burgers, so we headed over there and both opted for the pimento cheese hamburger. It was most excellent. The meat was very flavorful and juicy and it had just the right about of cheesy goodness on it. The bun and lettuce also did their jobs quite well in adding good texture and a touch of flavor.
Also, 50 cent oysters?! WOOHOO!!!! They were really nice and fresh, and when you ask for Tabasco, you get the cute little travel bottles, which are always fun.
Service was prompt and friendly. It was a little loud in there, but it is a sports bar and Carolina had just beat Georgia, so it was expected. The music choices (Michael Jackson and the Gamecock fight song) definitely added to the fun atmosphere.
Will definitely be going back for oysters and burgers.
Also, can anyone tell me if the figure by the Guiness keg is an angel sipping a pint?
I am not a fan of Rockaways. Â The service is just terrible. Â I have been several times and I have never had good service, the food comes out cold, you can't get a drink refill or find a decent seat. Â The food is okay, but nothing to write home about. Â Just fried food and burgers.
The place gets rather busy and it is very awkward to find a table without a hostess. Â I have given this place many chances and it just doesn't cut it.
This place has no signage but its hard to miss because you will see the parking lot and side lot full of cars. The service here is always very good and quite frankly not bad on the eyes either. The burgers are very good but I don't know if I can buy the hype about being the best in Columbia. The Rockaway pimento cheese burger is the way to go. Everything else on the menu is pretty standard fare. This place is definitely true Columbia and if you know who you are looking for you will be surprised who eats there. I have seen Senators & CEO's eating and drinking in there.
Sidebar: the original rockaways burned down. It was a good burger (that much has stayed the same) but more of a seedy bar feel. They used to be notorious for USC football players having an excessively good time there. The new brick building is family friendly and has a nice cozy porch if you want to eat outside.
I found the burger to be succulent and the service was very solid. They had tonnes of bottles of beer but no witbier even though there was a hoegaarden sign in the parking lot. It is difficult to find but looks like a large warehouse. It has nothing to do as an athletic club but it is a swell place.
Review Source:Hit or miss. Sometimes you will get the best pimento cheese burger you will ever taste in your life along with the best pimento cheese fries the world has ever seen. (yes I know I have a thing for pimento cheese) But sometimes the service is wretched and the burgers are overcooked and the pimento cheese is cold. But I must say the chance of getting an amazing burger is worth playing the Rockaway's lottery.
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