Website – Facebook – Twitter

Rockit River-North

22 W. Hubbard • Chicago, IL 60654
312.645.6000

HOURS:
Mon-Fri, 11:30am-2am
Sat, 10am-3am
Sun, 10am-2am

PARKING:
Valet parking available during all hours of operation

Amanda Downing

Executive Chef / Operating Partner

Rockit Bar & Grill

Born and raised in Elgin, IL, a Northwest suburb of Chicago, Chef Amanda Downing developed a passion for “family style comfort food” at a young age. The oldest of six children, she spent her leisure time in the kitchen with her siblings and eventually transformed her love of cuisine – and afterschool hobby – into an exciting career.

After earning her Culinary Management degree from Elgin Community College and working her way up to executive sous chef at Michael Jordan’s acclaimed one sixtyblue restaurant, Chef Downing moved on to River North’s Rockit Bar & Grill as opening sous chef in 2004, with the restaurant earning numerous accolades – including Best Burger call outs from Good Morning America and Citysearch – with her as a mainstay in the kitchen. Her passion, creativity and leadership did not go unrecognized; when Rockit expanded in 2009 to a second location in Wrigleyville with Rockit Burger Bar, Chef Downing was named the executive chef and operating partner of both locations.

Chef Downing has also built a tremendous following on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook founded on her sharing and love for food, and she is extremely active with several charitable causes, including Bear Necessities, the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network, Common Threads, Gilda’s Club, Meals on Wheels and more.

About Rockit

Rockit Bar & Grill puts a contemporary culinary twist on the traditional bar and grill in a comfortable yet stylish setting. Executive Chef Amanda Downing menu offers outstanding contemporary-casual American cuisine with signature salads, sandwiches, burgers and entrees. Critics agree that Rockit Bar & Grill is the premier bar and grill in Chicago, with the Rockit Burger named one of the best burgers in the nation by Good Morning America and with the restaurant itself named one of the top concepts in the world by Conde Nast Traveler.

Rockit Bar & Grill is located at 22 W. Hubbard and is open Monday –Sunday and serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

Website – Twitter

Rockit Burger Bar, located steps from Wrigley Field at Waveland & Clark launched in 2012 as the result of an overwhelming response from North side patrons, social media enthusiasts and restaurant reviewers, all craving more burger selections specifically at the Wrigleyville location, wanting more of Rockit’s quality burgers at an affordable price – unique from Rockit River North, where the diverse menu is heavily requested by guests.

Rockit’s passion for burgers is a natural progression for the brand, with the Rockit Burger having received Best Burger praise from Good Morning America and Citysearch, to name a few. Rockit Burger Bar welcomes the new season and its new menu from executive chef Amanda Downing, which includes: 16 mouth-watering gourmet burgers, flatbread pizzas made in-house in an authentic Italian brick oven, signature salads and weekend brunch, in addition to a selection of specialty cocktails & beers.

Rockit Bar & Grill/Rockit Burger Bar at Baconfest Chicago:

Bacon Chili

applewood-smoked bacon No-Bean-Texas Chili with corn tortilla

Rockit Bar & Grill/Rockit Burger Bar at Baconfest Chicago 2014:

Applewood Smoked Bacon Chili