The Other Critics

Bauer Respects Hog & Rocks, Predictably Gives It a ‘Bomb’ Sound Rating

The octopus dish with pickled jalapenos at Hog & Rocks.
The octopus dish with pickled jalapenos at Hog & Rocks. Photo: Brian Smeets/Grub Street

With the crush of openings over the summer, Mr. Bauer is just now getting around to reviewing Hog & Rocks, the ham, oyster, and cocktail bar with a full food menu from chef Scott Youkilis (Maverick). He writes that “while the emphasis is on bar food… there’s also a nod to California lightness,” and compliments the cocktails, the fish and chips, the beef tongue salad, the cast-iron octopus dish with pickled jalapenos, and the patty melt. He’s not such a fan of the lamb belly, saying “the fatty meat is arranged over roasted tomatoes, undercooked chickpeas and unnecessary dollops of fromage blanc.” And though he gives it a ‘Bomb’ rating for noisiness, he doesn’t actually call out the noise factor in the text the way Kauffman did. All told: two stars. [Chron, Earlier slideshow]

Bauer Respects Hog & Rocks, Predictably Gives It a ‘Bomb’ Sound