The Rock Woodfired Pizza
Location: 34817 Enchanted Parkway S., Federal Way
Information: (253) 835-ROCK or e-mail manager Barry McCalister at
federalway@therockwfp.com
Prices: About $7 for a burger up to $20 for a 15-inch pizza with the works.
Atmosphere
I arrived with my dad at The Rock around 2 p.m. Sunday for lunch. We were greeted immediately and shown to the back of the restaurant. We arrived in time to catch part of the Seahawks vs. Rams game. Our server was kind enough to ask us which booth we would prefer and gave recommendations as to which one provided the best view of the game.
A versatile patronage was gathered at the restaurant. A few large tables were crowded with what appeared to be attendees of a child’s birthday party. A group of teenagers were seated a few tables away and a table of four sat near the door — intensely focused on the small television set in the wall at their booth.
I enjoyed the classic rock decor, which depicted The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Steve Miller Band and Crosby, Stills and Nash, among others. The brick walls and foot-tapping music were a nice addition. Plus, I was happily surprised to find the women’s restroom clean, polished and void of a single piece of litter.
Food
I am used to visiting The Rock in Tacoma, but this was the first time I had visited the Federal Way location. I didn’t remember the establishment offering such a variety of foods. Burgers, salads, sandwiches, wraps, pasta and pizza were all on the menu. The prices were decent as well. The least expensive meal appeared to be the Rock Burger at about $7, and the 15-inch Crazy Train pizza, at a cost of about $20, was the single most expensive item.
We chose the Can’t Stop Rockin’ 13-inch pizza. It came with pepperoni, pineapples and mozzarella cheese. We added olives and onions, but kept the drinks minimal with a soda and a water. The promise of loads of cheese on the pizza was met. The meal tasted pleasant. The pizza was not the best I have ever tasted, but it was certainly tasty and extremely filling. The restaurant offers a variety of beers and mixed drinks too. It would be a great place to grab a beer after work or meet up with friends.
Service
I had heard rumors that service at this restaurant left something to be desired, but my experience was quite the opposite. After a bit of indecision on my part, we placed our order at 2:10 p.m. and received it 10 minutes later.
Our waitress visited the table several times to ask us how we were doing and if we needed anything. Though she made no attempt to connect on a personal level or ask us how our day was going, she was prompt, responsive, polite and patient. The whole dining experience lasted about 40 minutes.
If work were not paying, would I return?
I will visit The Rock in Federal Way again. The Federal Way location opened about six months ago and is a bit larger than the first and well-known establishment I’ve become accustomed to in Tacoma. It does not feel quite as intimate as that location, but I can see The Rock becoming a gathering place for Federal Way residents who wish to kick back for a while. The Rock is a good place to eat while conversing, watching a sports game or listening to some Neil Young, Aerosmith, AC/DC or Jimi Hendrix. — Jacinda Howard, Mirror staff
