Tried again, not bad but not great It's been a while since I tried this place. Decided to come by during a random weekend lunch to give their food another try. Server was friendly and very casual. I asked for her recommendation and was told their grilled chicken sandwich was pretty good. Strange given they use to be really proud in their bbq, but trusted the server and got the west coast chicken sandwich and swapped the bun for a lettuce wrap. Also got the tumbleweeds with a side of spicy aoli to dip in. The food came out after a little bit of a wait, but not too long. Took pics and dug in. The tumbleweeds were cooked well but really lacked in any flavor beyond crispy breading. It really needed a dipping sauce to give it any real flavor. The spicy aoli had a little zip to it and helped though. The chicken was seasoned well but overcooked. The Swiss cheese didn't really add much so I scraped it off. Bacon wasn't crispy, was welded to the Swiss cheese so I just scraped it off with the cheese. The heirloom tomatoes and pickled red onions were very good. Lightly salted and sweet tomatoes and briny sweet onions really complimented the chicken and were welcome additions. Avocado was okay, fresh and presented well. The food wasn't bad, but it did have some stumbles. It's a great venue space, one of the few country bars in the state and is decked out well to be the primo spot for county. It's not a great restaurant, but it's serviceable food and a nice staff. If it can really sell the events and nail those, then the food can be simpler and still do well. For now though, it's okay. read more

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The good, great band line up. Fun outdoor games. The food is fantastic. The bad, you will wait at least an hour for your food. And you will wait even longer for mixed drinks that suck. I couldn't even drink my Long Island ice tea. The bartenders have no idea what they are doing. Long Island ice tea is SUPPOSED to have a splash of sour mix AND a splash of Coke. The drink was mostly sour mix. If I ever go back I will be sure to bring some nips. read more

It's been a couple years since I been but we were gonna check out the band playing. I was little hesitant but seeing how I give men a thousand chances, why not give a restaurant a second chance... And I must say the menu is definitely changed in the last couple years and the food was excellent. Not sure if this isn't under new ownership or management but everything has improved. I ended up ordering a salmon dish but I asked if I didn't get all the sugary glazes on it which they literally sauteed and seasoned the salmon perfectly with just vegetables I also let them know that it was gluten free due to celiac so they made sure that they limited cross-contamination. I did not try any of the drinks from the bar but the seltze water was nice and cold and sparkly. Lol. The band that they brought on was highly energetic, very entertaining and very friendly. I would definitely go back. I would love to try this place out in the summertime when everything is open and they're outdoor. Spaces are actually in use due to the fact that it was freezing out. Everybody stayed inside but overall the grounds are very beautiful. Staff was super friendly, very attentive. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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Pleasantly surprised with everything on our visit!! Don't be skeptical of this place - I thought the GPS was bringing me down an incorrect road until I saw the restaurant hidden way back from the road. We came for happy hour - a variety of $5 drinks that were pretty good! For food my mom got the spicy chicken sandwich which she really enjoyed and I got the chicken Caesar wrap which was great. We both got fries which were hand cut and perfect. Prices were reasonable for the food as well. Service could have been better, but there was only one bartender so it was understandable. Definitely would go back!!! read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - Spicy chicken sandwich - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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Awesome tenders, Awesome service. I got the honey hot tenders and my fiancé got the garlic Parmesan tenders. Our waitress was great. We love coming to Rocking Horse to partake in the Wednesday night bingo! Highly recommend the buffalo chicken dip as an appetizer as well. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - Honey Hot Tenders, Garlic Parm Tenders, Buffalo Chicken Dip, SunCruisers - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

I wouldn't recommend this place for food. The food is terrible. Pork taco belly needed crisping of the pork belly. They were cubed, slimed and chewy pieces of pork belly. Had they crisped it up it would've been edible. The fries with cheese, jalapeño and bacon was not good. Fries were soggy. The cheese was an orange SALTY sauce. Barely any jalapeños or bacon. Food was terrible. Service in dining area was not great either. Server didn't check on us or ask if we needed refills. Once the food came out she was nowhere to be found. Very disappointing. The beers and cocktails were cold. The atmosphere is very nice but not good for eating. The live band was cool and dancing area when there's line dancing is great. The place is very big but off the beaten path from where the sign says it's located that you see on the highway. I would go again to drink and listen to music but definitely not to eat. read more

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I ordered a pulled pork Mac and Cheese and they didn't put any pulled pork on it. Their remedy was to make me another one to go. That wasn't really convenient since we were passing through town. They promised it would be out in five minutes but it took another twenty five. read more

After changing from the smokehouse approach, this bar and grill is excellent. With that being said, I feel like the smokehouse delivering I had in the past (Mac and cheese and pork) were equally phenomenal. But now the menu is much more diverse and every offering I've had has been excellent. Again, excellent service, offerings, and live events. This place is fantastic. You can't beat overall food, events, etc. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - Killer Cajun dry rub - juicy, succulent. Perfect amount of heat. Can not complain in the least. - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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This place was fire!!! Great food and service. Their happy hour had excellent prices and a wide variety of items to get. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - Strawberry Margarita - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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Happened to be on a long late night drive and were were looking for a place to eat . We saw the bright neon sign from the highway and said " that place looks cool" so we got off the exit and what a surprise. The ambiance was great, there was a live band. Felt like I was in the movie roadhouse. We ordered a burger steak tips and poutine. Everything was cooked well and tasted great. Service was very good. read more

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This has become a local favor for a good meal and a great time. I had passed by on the highway several times while it was being constructed as I'm always up for a new barbecue place. Rocking Horse Smokehouse however, is in a class of its own. So grab your cowboy boots and your best western gear and head on over on bingo nights every Wednesday, line dancing on Sundays, or live music on the weekends. I've been here a few times now and tried a variety of items. The brisket and ribs earn my loyalty. The cornbread is moist and delicious . The beans are bit too sweet. The service is over the top good and the place is just plain fun. They never rush you out, preferring to let you fully experience their sincere hospitality. Do why not five stars? I am ultimately still here for barbecue. The sauce I was served was too sweet. I like a " kick" to my barbecue sauce and there was none. Perhaps they could consider some sauce varieties and earn that final star. Or perhaps when spring comes and the outside activities including cornhole are available I will just be having so much fun that I can overlook at. At any rate, I really enjoy it. Make sure to ask for the Texas chili, which is complimentary and delicious but only served if you ask. read more

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"Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers That grow so incredibly high" ( John Lennon / Paul McCartney) Whenever we're driving back from Boston and plan to have lunch on the road, Vernon is always a popular stop because there are so many options, and the remaining ride home is fairly short and easy. Yesterday's Vernon stopover was a new lunch stop for us, when we had lunch at the Rocking Horse Smokehouse. You may have seen them, clearly visible from Route 84 Eastbound. Their dining room is enormous, and we couldn't help noticing a big stage for live music, so this must be a very cool place to hear a band, drink some beer, and chow down on BBQ. As we sat down, we were greeted by a very nice surprise - a bowl of tortilla chips and dip. But instead of the obligatory salsa, the dip was 'Cowboy Caviar' -a yummy mix of corn, black beans, tomatoes, and onions. Their menu is quite broad - plenty of appetizers including candied bacon, wings, tacos, fried green tomatoes and more, plus 6 kinds of fries, 5 kinds of mac and cheese, 7 sandwiches, 4 burgers, 12 entrees (including a $100 48-ounce Tomahawk steak), desserts, 4 kiddie meals and more. SerIously awesome variety! We went with a Cesar Salad with added brisket ($18), a Brisket Mac and Cheese ($16), a Diet Coke and an unsweetened iced tea (each $3). My salad was very large, It was described on the menu as "Classic Caesar with cornbread croutons, radicchio, watermelon radish, anchovies, and parmesan cheese". I passed on salad dressing and asked for hot BBQ sauce instead, I passed on the anchovies, really loved the cornbread croutons, and was not a fan of the watermelon radish. There were too many of them, and I found them to be tasteless and unappetizing; adding nothing to the salad. In fact, I fished them all out of my bowl and banished them to an empty BBQ sauce ramekin. The side of Brisket ($6) was a big portion, tasted great, was tender with no fat or gristle, and I really enjoyed it. My wife's Brisket Mac and Cheese was also a big portion with plenty of brisket. We both took home sizeable quantities for later in the week. We both noted there were no offers to refill our $3 drinks, and thought that disappointing. Service was perfunctory with little warmth or engagement. One nice thing we took advantage of on the way out was a bowl of chocolates at the welcome station! That was a nice touch. read more

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I was unimpressed with the place the minute I walked in. It looks like the wrong kind of crowd, the huge ribs I heard about are no longer available here so I'll never get to try them, and the staff, while friendly, take too long to get to your table. Everything else on the menu is the same old run of the mill fare, and it doesn't even taste that good. And buyer beware, the "tumbleweeds" they have are just plain old onion rings. Do real tumbleweeds even taste that good? Oh yeah, one last thing, after 6pm they charge you an extra $10 just to get inside. Delivery prices without the delivery? What is this economy coming to? read more

I had heard nice things about this place, so on a rainy afternoon, we stopped in. The menu is very heavy on the animal products, I chose the meat-free nachos. While they looked appetizing, they missed the mark. When I think nachos I think ooooey, goooey gobs of melted cheese. These had a liquid, drizzled "cheese" product on them. What a waste. Aside from that disappointment, the atmosphere was great. Rustic, plenty of tables, high ceilings, it must be great to hear a band and grab a beer. read more

Rocking Horse seemed like a fun time as it is easily viewed off of I84. I gave it a few months after the grand opening to give the business a chance to iron out any wrinkles and for the hype to settle. My boyfriend and I came on a Thursday night to finally try the place and overall, we weren't too impressed. Unlike other BBQ places, this was more of a sit down restaurant where a waiter would take your order. The ambiance was nice and there was plenty of space. We ordered the brisket platter which came with coleslaw and cornbread with your choice side, and then the special sampler which had three meats (ribs, pulled pork, and sausage). The food came out fairly quick and I already felt disappointed at the sight of the brisket. This was more like boiled meat; there wasn't sign of a dry rub or the classic BBQ look... even the BBQ sauce was on the side! The only thing that was hot were the mash potatoes and those eventually gave into the cool temperature. the brisket was easy to cut with a fork but heavily lacked flavor. The ribs on the other plate had decent flavor and were tender but not necessarily fall off the bone. I also surprisingly liked the sausage as it tasted more meatier than others. There was no saving grace for the pulled pork. Overall, meh. I would probably take the extra road trip to downtown Hartford for my BBQ cravings. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - brisket platter with mash potatoes and coleslaw - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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Went to see a band play last night we paid $10 per person cover. The band that was advertised did not show. We asked for our cover back and was met with attitude from staff. After reluctantly giving us our $10 back the staff member came and found us outside to let us know that us asking for our money back was not appreciated. Very disappointing and unprofessional. read more

My best friend Alex took me out to eat for the first time at this place, and I had a blast! They host trivia and bingo nights every Wednesday, so if you're looking for a great spot to gather with your loved ones, check this place out. The food was worth every penny! read more

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Amazing food and wait staff. The blue eyed cutie that waited on us was on point. Can't wait to go back and stay for the night life.

Our family lunch landed us in a literally Texan style huge restaurant and Bar with awesome lighting and design! Pool tables to boot The sevice was excellent and on point .Thank you! Ice tea Humongous Burgers Fresh meat and home made potatoes! Horseshoes !!! BANDS !!Bring back the live music and wholesome Souther fun! Dress as you feel and listen to several games music and Im going to Band night to enlighten you! Faith read more

The service was amazing! Our server Anna was just a delightful young lady! She made sure we had everything and checked on us and kept us satisfied. I love rocking horse the atmosphere is so welcoming and the activities they have every night are so much fun! Great food too! I love it here! read more

Another visit this evening with friends and the food was delicious again. Had the burnt ends and Fresno pulled pork fries. Wow! They were so good. The fries could feed 6 people. The brisket platter was a little dry but had a lot of flavor. Definitely try the cowboy hash! You won't be disappointed. read more

We went to check out an 80s rock cover band Saturday night at 9, and decided to arrive early to grab dinner first. They were no longer taking names for tables when we arrived at 7:45. There were no bar seats available. So we stood around and struggled to order drinks at the overly busy bar. There were plenty of waitstaff and they were all friendly. But the place is so large it seems hard to keep up with orders. My hat goes out to the bartenders. They were doing there best for hours with so many orders! Kitchen closes at 10 and we were able to grab a couple of bar spots just before 9:00. The food came out in record time! Surprising as it was still busy with all tables full. The brisket, unfortunately, was dry. But the burger and fries were delicious- definitely enough fries for 2 people. And the chicken breast dinner was very good. The veggie of the day was yummy and the chicken was very moist. There was enough rice for 3 people and it was very flavorful. This is a great spot for a band. Just come at least 2 hours before the start time to attempt a spot at the bar. And if you want to only dine her to try the BBQ and smoked dishes, come when there's no entertainment scheduled. Will definitely check it out again when the patio is open. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - Burger - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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I highly highly highly suggest this place! I went for my birthday and ordered the white stout, which was brewed locally in Connecticut! I loved the Pork Belly Mac and Cheese, which was the first of its kind to me. I am on a pork belly kick and the portion size was quite generous. They have a huge bar and a great outdoor area for the spring/summer time. I'll be back here with my friends soon! Love that its a unique vibe for Vernon. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - white stout - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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Rocking Horse Smokehouse has REALLY great barbecue !!! Candy bacon and burnt ends as an appetizer with a blackberry margarita and a fried chicken sandwich with collard greens! Highly recommended!!! Julia, the server, was excellent! Very attentive, accommodating and just overall so nice! read more

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Stopped in with my family on a Saturday night. Had the Hot Fresno Chicken sandwich which was awesome. Hand breaded and a generous portion. Wife had the Steak and Cheese while our other guests had the Atlantic Salmon, and a chicken wrap. Everyone enjoyed the hand cut fries as well. The place itself is large with a Roadhouse style vibe. Would be a great place to see a band. The staff was also very attentive and prompt Will definitely be back. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

Well done. The growing pains are over and this place is delivering. Staff was friendly and attentive. Atmosphere was definitely giving off that southern charm with a modern twist. But the food... we had the Steak special - not kidding one of the best steaks I have ever had!!! Well done. We will be back. read more

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Great environment, good games outside, food was absolutely terrible. Brisket completely over done with no flavor. Half chicken over done, dried out, no flavor. We ate it though. Beans were good. Service was okay. I'll come back for a beer after eating elsewhere. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - Brisket - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

So my husband and I waited a few months to let this place get settled before coming. I think most of the negative reviews are from the first month and a half of opening. We had a great time when we went yesterday. The food was great, service was amazing, and it was a really fun environment. If you are expected genuine Southern BBQ you probably will be disappointed, but it is great pub style food. Definitely worth going to, the Mac and cheese and fries were a highlight. Also I got the blackberry margarita and it was one of the best margaritas I've had in a while! My waitress was one of the best servers we have had, so attentive, friendly with my daughter, she anticipated our every need. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - BlackBerry margarita - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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The BBQ here is flat out terrible. Our host was bitter (maybe a bad night), but our server was friendly and attentive, but clearly this place prides itself on its atmosphere and vibe. Again, do not go if you are going to expect authentic BBQ...despite the look and feel of the place. They start you off with a basket of chips and Texas caviar. Chips were not freshly made, and I'm doubtful the Texas caviar was either. It was ok, just kind of weird. I had the super sampler (ribs, pulled pork, Texas sausage). Wife had the brisket. Each meal comes with a very small portion of their cole slaw (which was tasty) and a tiny piece of corn bread. I'm doing the keto thing so I asked if I could sub the corn bread for some extra Cole slaw. The answers was a resounding 'No. No substitutions", which is just silly. My pulled pork was Luke warm and did not have much flavor and was swimming in broth. Why? My Texas sausage was also Luke warm, not fresh off the grill nor out from the smoker. It had been grilled earlier and they threw some sauce on it. It was dry and grainy. Ribs were Chili's quality. Nothing special. Gooey and sticky. Yuck. For my side it asked for a side salad (keto) and the "side" salad was in a bowl the size of a frisbee! It was enough for 2-3 people. Again, why? My wife's brisket was just awful. Luke warm, dry, stringy, and also floating in broth. No flavor. The pics speak for themselves. Missing is that glistening moist and fatty essence of a good brisket. My kids love leftovers, and even they said it was like beef jerky. I'm guessing their just food sits in warming pans for a few days, and they needed to put broth on everything to try and make it juicy. Just sad. In summary, totally not worth the price. But again, if you want a fun place to hang out, the restaurant and grounds outside are really nice. Grab a beer, and 'maybe' and app, but skip the BBQ. This place should not have Smokehouse anywhere near its name. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - Pulled pork. Also dry and chewy, swimming in a broth...likely to try and make it edible. 0.5 stars. - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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Finally remembered to try this place (it's way off the main drag behind the defunct Golfland). I wish that I had forgotten. Cavernous interior & pretty good tap list. Wife & I had drinks & split an order of their "Rockin' Nachos." Unbelievably awful: No discernable, actual cheese, just some yellow drippings & mysterious white drippings. No salsa. A pat of iron-solid sour cream. Disgustingly sweet corn. And after the top layer of these horrible ingredients, lots & lots of naked nachos (actually the plain nachos were at least edible compared to the top layer). It's hard to screw up nachos, but they found a way. It certainly didn't help that practically every patron but us was regaled in Trump attire. Maybe this was a starting place before their klan meeting? It was very uncomfortable. The place is off the beaten path--good! Out of sight, out of mind. read more

Place is brand new, outside is very nice looking. Great patio area. Food on the other hand wasn't the best. I completely understand they just opened and are probably working some kinks out but most of the food wasn't eaten. While we waited to be seated (30 minute wait. Friday around 530) People were walking out with a lot of Togo containers. We asked how the food was and multiple food said was lacking flavor. We ended up getting sat near the stage with live music. Can't beat that. Beer was cheap. Service was great. Brisket was dry. I mean DRY. Manager ended up comping the bill once he saw how much food was being returned. Overall food needs to be better. read more

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Enjoyed the space, great concept! Great looking bar and outdoor areas. We sat outside with friends. Music was load. Hard to have a conversation. I had the brisket poutine. Great presentation at the time able, tasted good but very little brisket and not enough gravy. My drink was small for $14 and came in a goblet glass. Tasted good but expected larger. The smoked meat platter look good . My friend had the chicken which she felt was dry and needed extra sauce. Cuban sandwich was good. Great burnt ends . Go for the atmosphere, not the collard greens. They needed spicing up! Great place for a drink and to hang out. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - Trying the new BBQ place!! - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

Do not start a tab with the reckless young bartenders, they can't be trusted. Two separate charges to my account equalling $290. I had approximately 8 drinks... so either horribly over priced or they pick and chose which card information to charge others unpaid tabs on. Still haven't heard back for any sort of explain on this matter from them read more

Fun atmosphere Good food. The servers and managers were hustling around. Very busy. Great place for a large group! We tried a few things and everything was good. I would have liked to see something other than cake for dessert. read more

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Saturday night band was awesome!! Such a good atmosphere and overall great vibes & great food! I love this place and definitely recommend to try this place out, you won't regret it. read more

Rocking Horse Bar & Grill - Rockin cheeseburger salad!! SOOO delicious - Burgers Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

Fourth time here and consistently greater service, excellent beer selection, well crafted cocktails and very good eats. Peggy was our server on the huge deck right next to the Hockanum River and was stellar! Also a nice experience here Definitely recommend Haven't been to the music nights but sure it is a different vibe than the chill Experience of early evening read more

This place started out so good! Used to be packed. Once they got rid of the "smokehouse" it went downhill. The best thing on the menu used to be the brisket grilled cheese. Went tonight for the marinated tenderloin tips which were flavorful but dry, was expecting some type of sauce. Mashed potatoes were ordinary and maybe they should consider a garlic mashed potato. Stafford was very friendly though. read more

Service 5 star: Jill was our server and was great, highly recommend asking for her. Mac& cheese with pork belly 4 stars (I would have preferred it without the BBQ sauce. Maple steak tips with mash and veggies: 4 stars (cleaned my plate) read more

I do not recomend eating here at Rocking Horse. For one thing it's hard to get waited on. Second, food is hit or miss. A good venue for Music though. read more

Stopped in because I was dying for their pork ribs and collard greens last night...... Only to find out both are no longer on their menu!! Correct me if I'm wrong, but why would you remove classic barbeque items from your menu???????? Can't tell you how disappointed we were. We chose to leave rather than spend a bunch of money on an alternative meal. Looks like it's back to BT's in Sturbridge until you come to your senses and return both to the menu. read more