FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 45
Rolo’s in Ridgewood opens 12-seat bar for the fi rst time
BY JULIA MORO
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Rolo’s in Ridgewood has opened its
12-seat bar for the fi rst time aft er pivoting
during the pandemic and using that space
as a market.
Rolo’s, located at 853 Onderdonk Ave.,
opened in January of this year. Th e partner
and beverage director at Rolo’s, Ben
Howell, said like many other businesses
during the pandemic, they had to reimagine
how they could use their space to
make a profi t.
“Like so many other restaurants, we pivoted
to survive, and, in the process, temporarily
turned the bar into a market
where we could sell prepared foods, provisions
and drinks,” Howell said.
Howell said the pandemic hit the Rolo’s
team hard as it did with every business
in the hospitality industry, but they feel
lucky to have made it through.
“We have suff ered through the same
struggles — a very small labor pool, seating
limitations, ever-changing regulations
and a very rainy summer,” Howell said.
“Overall, we have been extremely lucky.
Our staff is excellent, our customers are
amazing, and our community has generally
been hugely accepting. We’re fi nally
starting to feel like the neighborhood bar
and grill that we set out to be!”
As COVID-19 restrictions in the city
relaxed, Rolo’s returned to indoor dining
and is now making use of the bar as originally
planned. Th e bar area features
high-top tables and red leather banquette
seating.
Howell and the head bartender,
Tony Milici, craft ed their own
versions of classic cocktails with
a focus on martinis and tiki
drinks.
Th e cocktail menu includes
the following:
• Th e Martini Italian: Made
with Amalfi lemon gin, bordiga
extra dry and blanc vermouths,
and Aperol
• Th e Zombie: Made with
house-made rum blend, cinnamon,
grapefruit and lime juice,
grenadine and absinthe
• The Spicy Pineapple
Margarita: Made with chiliinfused
Blanco tequila, pineapple,
lime juice, agave and salt rim
• Th e Blood Orange Cobbler:
Made with amontillado and manzanilla
sherry, Amara Rossa di Sicilia, blood
orange and lemon juice
• Th e Rum Punch: Changes every week,
featuring a house rum blend with rotating
juices and fl avor (off -menu)
Rolo’s bar is open Wednesday through
Sunday, from 5 p.m. to midnight, with a
happy hour off ered until 7 p.m. Happy
hour includes house white and red wine
for $7, mini martini and rum punch for
$7 and a shot and beer for $8.
Dinner is off ered both outdoors and
indoors on Wednesday through Sunday,
from 5 to 10 p.m., and brunch from 11
a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.
The Zombie with
house-made rum
blend, cinnamon,
grapefruit
juice, lime juice,
grenadine and
absinthe.
buzz
Photos courtesy of Rolo’s
Rolo’s, located at 853 Onderdonk Ave. in Ridgewood, opens their bar for the fi rst time.
The Peanut Butter Bourbon Mai Tai cocktail at Rolo’s.