My score for Rocks Anchor Grill is 6.2

Of course this is a lower than average score, and some of you may be upset with my opinion but let me explain before you come with the pitchforks. Let me preface this by saying I am not a professional food critic. I am just a chubby guy who likes to write, and eat. Rocks is one of those stops on my way that is both a mystery, tragedy, love story, and hopefully one day a happy ending.

Nestled into the Hilltop Campus Area in Davenport is a stop so small if you blink or look the opposite direction for ½ a second you’ll miss it. For years going back I can find love stories and beaming reviews of Rocks from devoted customers who fill this little Diner on a daily basis. Walking in you wouldn’t expect it. The décor is a mix of ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and maybe ’90s? A hodge-podge mix of tables you’d likely find set up in a consignment shop for sale fill the dining room, and out dated posters and advertisements line the walls in a nostalgic wall paper like art show. They aren’t looking to impress high end clientele, and that’s okay with me.

The environment, while different, also offers a warmth and love that only small town diners extend to their regulars walking in the doors. A hearty hello, a bright smile and hurried escort to the table of your choosing is your welcome. Today I am joined by Molly Carlson of the Hilltop Campus Village, a non-profit that is working to revitalize restaurants and businesses in the area. Our conversation is a mix with funny stories, life experience and what she and her teams are trying to do bring back places like Rocks Anchor Grill to a former or new glory.

Now, on to the food.

Blueberry pancake. While most will go for a stack of pancakes, why not just one and done? This massive fluffy monstrosity, crowned with a dollop of butter seems like someone just shook a blueberry bush above it and laughed manically until someone grabbed them by the arm and said “Enough, think of the children.” Each bite is a burst of blueberry in your mouth with the perfect amount of pancake.

Biscuits and Gravy Half Order. Breaching my top 10 of all time, this offering of biscuits and gravy offer a creamier texture and what tasted like a fried sausage mixture. Definitely different, definitely worth a go.

The coffee. Black, strong, hot, perfect.

The mystery. I need to know more, something is missing here from my review. There is a story to be told and maybe something behind the scenes.

The Tragedy. Why aren’t you there? Why aren’t more people there? The food these folks are making, is what you should be dreaming of, simple but perfect in a greasy spoon diner elegance. This isn’t fancy, it’s just amazing.

The Love story. A staff that loves what they do, loves what they serve, and loves you enough to remember what you ordered to-go 2 years ago for a review on another site.

The happy ending? I don’t know. Remember this is part mystery, part tragedy, part love story. However it’s real life.

I think there is more of a story here, and honestly I am doing you all a disservice, by offering up this review without it. So let’s put a book mark in this and come back to it. 6.2 is too low of a score. But I think with your help, my help, the Hilltop Campus Village’s help and folks like Molly we can get that 10/10.

Your friend in food,

Doc