cuisine
From Left: Rocco pictured with derby winner anthony bonomo, CEO of Time Warner Dick Parsons, rocco dispirito and Bethany Frankel
for parties. “I will bring a dead party to life,” he says. “You can have people come in my restaurant, all sitting like this, all nervous and I make sure they’re blasting the music and they shake a little bit, because that was not a fun party. That’s a talent! You cannot make a party if you don’t have it.” To allow his customers to have exactly the kind of party—big or small, corporate or private, elegant or over-the-top, he has given meticulous attention to entertaining details in a way only a true party animal could do. ROC has two smaller private rooms upstairs named after their daughters—one for parties of six to eight, one for parties of ten to fourteen— each with different, beautiful handmade tables and stunning light fixtures that make it appear as if you’re spending a fortune even when you’re not. They have a third small room with a long communal table and can fit 80 in the upstairs dining or 150 if you take over the whole place. There are gigantic pull-down screens both upstairs and at the bar for presentations, slide shows or sporting events and an incredible sound system. Not to mention, of course, the food; the extensive wine, bourbon and cocktail offerings and the services of Rocco himself. “I mean, I could come here tonight, by myself, with one table and make these people all stand up and dance,” he says. “Let’s do it.” Weddings, first communions, retirement parties, Stacy and Rocco have done it all over the years, and, every time, they do it with genuine gusto and enthusiasm. But they’re just as excited to be seating guests for dinner, lunch and now brunch at their
146 TOPS LOUISVILLE | December 2017
ROC restaurant 1327 Bardstown Rd. 502.459.7878.