First Look at Thai Rock, Rockaway’s Latest Waterfront Dining Destination

The Rockaways might the “butt of a cheap joke”as far as McDonald’s is concerned, but the food scene keeps getting better. Case in point: The spicy lemonade and “Hardbody” burger we enjoyed atRipperson the boardwalk today — two Meat Hook patties, two slices of cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, pickles, and a whole lotta special sauce. Meanwhile, over on the Jamaica Bay side of the peninsula, Robert Kaskel and his wife Metta just opened Thai Rock, the waterfront Thai spot wetold you aboutback in February.

Service is still getting up to steam (you can currently order about 70 percent of the menu during dinner hours only), but by next week, it should be open from 11:30 a.m. till as late as 4 a.m. The music is already in full effect: Karaoke (with live band) on Mondays, a variety night on Tuesday, crooning on Wednesdays (eventually there’ll be a horn section), rock cover bands later in the week, and jazz on Sunday. The real perk for Rockaway residents: There’ll be shuttle service and valet parking — initially on weekends only and perhaps eventually on weekdays as well. A fifteen-seat van will make runs anywhere from the Beach 73rd Street area to Breezy Point. Of course, there’s also the option of docking your boat and walking onto the back deck, which you can see in our slideshow.

Thai Rock menu[Official Site]

Thai Rock, 375 Beach 92nd St., nr. Beach Channel Dr., Rockaway Beach, Queens; 646-455-3991