Rolo's

The story

Rolo's in Ridgewood, NYC: Wood-Fired American Cooking with a Michelin Bib Gourmand

The Neighborhood Wood-Fired Bar & Grill

Rolo’s describes itself as a neighborhood wood-fired bar and grill, and it lives up to that label at 853 Onderdonk Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens. The restaurant earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its good quality, good value cooking. The menu is rooted in American cuisine, with an emphasis on wood-fired techniques and seasonal ingredients.

Dinner, Brunch, and Sweets

Dinner begins with wood-fired polenta bread—choose it with olive oil and flaky salt, sesame and wild oregano, or calabrian chili butter. Small plates include stracciatella with chili and sumac, wood-fired leeks with romesco, and scallop carpaccio with strawberry and Thai basil. Pastas range from rigatoni with sweet pea pesto to a two-sheet lasagna verde bolognese. Large plates feature grilled arctic char with honey glaze, pork t-bone with charred spring onions, wagyu beef skirt steak, and wood-fired whole branzino.

Weekend brunch brings crispy French toast with raspberry, scrambled eggs with olive oil, a Jonah crab plate, and a “Mrs. Crispy” – poached eggs, ham, and cheddar on polenta bread. Desserts include brown butter blackberry tart, salted caramel chocolate mousse, passion fruit crème caramel, and housemade ice creams like sweet cream and honey pistachio.

A Serious Beef Program

Rolo’s receives a side of New York State grass-fed beef weekly. The whole side is butchered into dry-aged steaks and ground in-house for the double cheeseburger, which comes with grilled onions, dijonnaise, and pickled long hot peppers. It is limited in quantity—arriving before 6pm gives the best chance. House dry-aged prime cuts and butcher steaks are also available at 4.25/oz.

Drinks and Atmosphere

The cocktail list is thoughtful: the Loveless combines hibiscus tequila with calamansi and grapefruit, while the Carrot Drink uses chili-infused mezcal and carrot. A selection of local beers and non-alcoholic options round out the bar. The atmosphere is warm and unpretentious, with tables reserved for walk-ins alongside reservations. Rolo’s embodies a direct, fire-driven approach to American cooking that keeps locals and Michelin inspectors coming back.