Las Vegas, NM –The Rock Tap Room and Grill opened June 19 at the Highlands University Gene Torres Golf Course on Country Club Drive off of Mills Avenue.
The new restaurant operates 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.
Las Vegas native Juan Ortiz, owner and chef of El Fidel Restaurant, operates the restaurant. He trained and worked as a chef in Colorado before opening El Fidel in 2009.
Jessica Grassie, another Las Vegas native and a Highlands University alumna, is a business partner in the restaurant. She is a manager at El Fidel Restaurant.
“We offer a pub and bar-style menu with an innovative twist on food like hand-crafted burgers, sandwiches, soups and fresh salads featuring local produce whenever possible,” Ortiz said. “We bake our own buns, grind our own meat from local beef, and use no preservatives. All the food is made to order.”
Ortiz added that the new restaurant is here to serve golfers and the community.
A new eight-tap bar features craft beer from Fat Tire to Murphy’s Stout, while Bud Light to Michelob are available in bottles. Root beer is also served on tap and wine is on the menu.
The menu also features appetizers like carne asada tacos, fish tacos, and wings. For the vegetarian, there are offerings like black bean burgers. On the sweet side, desserts like the brownie bomb and monster cookie are topped with ice cream.
For now, breakfast is continental style.
“This is a family-friendly restaurant and we offer a children’s menu,” Grassie said. “The goal is to appeal to all people in the community.”
Sandra Madrid, retired Memorial Middle School principal and lifelong Las Vegas resident, ate lunch on opening day.
“I know the food and service are wonderful at El Fidel, and I’m so excited that the owner took over this golf course restaurant,” Madrid said. “The presentation today is beautiful and the food is delicious.”
Indoors, the restaurant seats 53 while the outdoor deck overlooking the golf course seats another 50.
The Rock Tap Room and Grill offers in-house catering for special events like weddings, reunions, and graduations. The phone number is 505-454-5557.
Photo: Margaret McKinney/Highlands University
Cutline: Jessica Grassie delivers lunch plates on opening day June 19 for The Rock Tap Room and Grill, the new restaurant at the Highlands University Gene Torres Golf Course.