[1].jpg)
A small 50’s-style American diner, Rocotillos offers customers a taste of the 1950’s with its décor, and a true taste of America with its menu including burgers and their famed breakfasts to huge American style milkshakes.
Craig Collins, owner of the small independent eatery has been involved in the restaurant business all his life and when the opportunity came along 16 years ago to set up his own business he jumped at the chance. Craig comments, “back when we purchased the site for Rocotillos the concept of an American style diner wasn’t unheard of, but it wasn’t commonplace either. Based in Clifton we have a good trade with University students, office workers and families coming in
over the weekend. Our trade has remained pretty constant as we offer something different to the usual high street chains.”
With capacity for 40 diners, Rocotillos regularly serves over 1700 covers a week. Craig continues, “all our dishes are homemade and created on site. We pride ourselves in using locally sourced produce including fresh free range eggs from a local supplier, sausages from our local butcher and bread and baps for our burgers from a local bakery. We’re not a huge place and therefore we have everything delivered on a daily basis to ensure it’s all fresh for that day.
“We have a varied menu offering all the comfort foods that you could ask for. We don’t really change our menu on a regular basis, but constantly look at how we’re creating each dish and look for ways it can be improved. We’ll make small changes to ensure our customers are getting the level of service and quality they deserve and demand.”
Breakfast is a favourite with customers, whether as a hangover cure for the multitude of students that frequent the diner, or something to keep tourists and workers going for the rest of the day. The breakfast menu includes: an all day breakfast with free range eggs, bacon, sausages, grilled tomatoes and toast; the ‘Ten Gallon Tex’s Serious’ breakfast which includes all the above together with a 4oz steak, mushrooms and hash brown. The menu also includes a vegetarian option, a variety of baps and sandwiches, and a host of ‘additions’ you can add to create your own bespoke breakfast. There really is something for everyone!
“Our breakfasts are packed full of everything you could want, including Heinz Beanz, but also those things you maybe didn’t know you wanted such as smoked salmon. But one thing is clear; none of our breakfasts would be complete without the addition of Heinz Tomato Ketchup or HP Brown Sauce”.
“I think that it’s easy to become complacent when you see that trade is steady and it’s easy to begin to think of ways to keep costs down and prices at a constant level. We believe that a successful business stems from giving customers what they want and what they demand when eating out of home. We believe that using trusted brands such as Heinz sauces back of house and having branded condiments front of house is essential. The first impression a customer has of your outlet is created in those first few seconds when they walk through the door. We want to ensure that we capture that first impression and ensure it’s a good one!
If a customer walks into Rocotillos and sees Heinz Tomato Ketchup and HP Brown Sauce on our tables, they expect that they’ll be receiving the same quality ingredients in the dishes prepared in the kitchen.”
Other popular dishes on the menu at Rocotillos include their hamburgers and toasted sandwiches. Made fresh every day the Rocotillos hamburger is served with Heinz Mayonnaise, onion, pickle, lettuce and fries on the side.
In addition to dining in, Rocotillos also offer a take away service for those on the run. Heinz continues to play a big part in this offering and no take-away breakfast leaves the diner without it’s sachet of
Heinz Tomato Ketchup.