Arrived in Bloomington incredibly hungry, and this place did not disappoint! The Rock Salad was amazing!

And the Rock is back! Extremely glad that I put my name on the contact list, I found a recent email letting me know one of my favorite restaurants has reopened and is ready for my business. After driving around for 15 minutes to find parking (at 4 on a Thursday), we finally sauntered in the restaurant to find a beautiful (and HUGE, compared to the last place) seating area, people enjoying their meals and a short line to order our food. The menu is above the ordering counter, but I didn't need to look, I already knew I was getting a hot dog meal. Though it was busy, we didn't have trouble finding a table for 4 to sit at. They brought our food out to us and I was ecstatic. Not only did they deliver, they brought a perfect hot dog and the best fries I've had in a long time. My meal was $4.50 (2 for the dog and 2.50 for the combo), an excellent price for amazing meal. One highlight: the soda fountain machine is self-serve (no more change for refills). I believe they've added a lot to the menu, and now have a small case with baked goods. A great meal and good atmosphere; a place I would recommend to anyone looking for a decent priced, delicious meal. read more

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This is my go-to lunch! I love love love this place. The staff are always friendly and I love to see the owners actually working the line instead of just locking themselves in an office. I love their pita bread, it's simply wonderful! Light and fluffy and so good with chicken. I generally get the Chicken Pita special. Their fries are yummy as well. All around a great little gem close to the ISU campus. read more

The Rock was one of the original businesses to invest in and seek to redevelop Uptown Normal. It continues to be a staple of Uptown and recently started an expansion project to offer additional seating, which is great because it can get crowded around the lunch and dinner rush. The food is consistent and good, offering fare beyond the typical Midwestern palate that's such a hallmark of Normal. The gyros are great, and their tabouli is excellent. The owners are always warm and welcome, and seem to really love bringing their raft to Uptown. Daily lunch specials are available, and though it's not the cheapest lunch in town (certainly on-par with most offerings), it is a real value for high quality and freshly prepared food. Good hours, great food, and a very good staff make this a welcome staple of Uptown. read more

Another great place about Bloomington-Normal that makes me wish I still was attending ISU, and not taking a break from going here, for now. This place, without question, had the best gyros in the Bloomington-Normal area, even if it does set you back a good bit of change each time you get them. :) And of course, going here was a nice occasional variation from always getting food at Southside(Dining Center), or the now-former Chatters(Dining Center). It has other decent things on their menu, such as their burgers. And yet again, as I did in my U-Liq review on mentioning Z's, I enjoy that this place doesn't get as crowded as Z's, most of the time, except for their lunchtime rush. I don't hate Z's(enjoy also going there from time to time, if anything), and am only saying this to compare them to Z's. I'm hopeful that I'll finally get to try the Texas Toothpicks(a jalapeno fried snack) on their menu, the next time I go here, and also have something ready to wash it down with, in case I find them too spicy, lol. EDIT: Forgot to say too that the owner is really nice as hell, I've had tons of nice chats with the guy from time to time. He's usually working, or at least stopping by several times a week(or his brother is working here). read more

I came here with no idea what the place was like or served. We are visiting ISU and wandered in. Food was delicious. I had an Italian beef and it was just as good if not better than Portillo's back home. I hope to come back on my next visit. Update: here on another visit and came back. Love this place! read more

It's fine. The falafel is dry. Tiramisu and grape leaves are good. Falafel is really dry. I got lunch here everyday for a while and I guess I got used to how bad the falafel is. I finally went to a different restaurant and got falafel and it was so significantly better I haven't been able to go back the Rock. read more

Yelp can't be wrong. Needed a meal and didn't want the typical fast food. This place had a great rating, so..... Spot on!! read more

For a quick meal in uptown Normal, The Rock is my go-to spot. Fantastic gyros and chicken wraps, at a good price, with friendly counter service make me come back at least once every two weeks. Being right around the corner from the Marriott is a big plus too. The fries are really on point too. Some of the best in BloNo. I've heard good things about other items on the menu, especially the burgers and the Challenger, so be sure to check those out too. read more

My husband is one of the original regulars here from the first location off of Main St. I'd never enjoyed a gyro until I ate here! The super gyros (has feta, olives and extra meat) are amazing. The garlic chicken and chicken gyros are also fabulous. You have to try their hummus and pita - SO FRESH! And I don't know what they do to their fries but they are second to none. Best part? The owner always greets us and makes us feel special. read more

The Rock Restaurant - Greek Near Me - Normal, Illinois

The food is always good at The Rock--no better gyros around! However, there is some odd smell (always) in this place. I don't know what it is and you do get used to it, but phew! If it didn't have the smell I would give this place 5 stars! read more

Best gyros in the area. Their falafel is the best I've had...of course, it's the only falafel I've ever had. HOWEVER, the hummus is reDONKulously delicious. Seriously, the best. Freshly made with ingredients from Lebanon! Service has always been good and it is always clean. I would love to see some variety and maybe a locally sourced option on the menu! Otherwise, this place is prime! read more

I really like The Rock! Their new location is awesome, and they feature a lot of great specials for every day of the week. I love burgers and gryos as much as the next, but what really sets The Rock aside from the other places is their selection of Mediterranean fare as well. I love being able to get grape leaves, feta cheese, baklava or spinach pies with my meal. I really love the fries here, as well as the hamburger buns because they have sesame seeds! read more

I love the re-modeling that they have done! It makes for a nicer, more spacious atmosphere. Cool soda machine too! As far as the food goes, the gyro and fries are delicious and I often crave them if I walk by the restaurant. My boyfriend and I went here the other day because he wanted a falafel. He and I agreed that the falafel was just okay. read more

Decent burger joint on the uptown strip near ISU. We each had burgers which were the preformed kind. Was kinda hoping for the just ground patty, but it was good. Fries were seasoned, decent enough. Pretty fast service, clean place. 3 burgers fries drinks just over $20. I wish I had tried the gyro! Smelled great! read more

The Gyros, the Cheesesteak, all great. Love this place, great workers clean environment and an overall good ambiance. This is the best Philly cheesesteak around and the gyros are always so fresh. I'll have to try some other things in the menu besides the two I mentioned because I hear great things about them but I can't stay away from that incredible gyro. read more

Was really surprised when we came here based on reviews. Essentially every item on the menu seems to be frozen Sysco foods. Fries, falafel, grilled chicken, chicken nuggets, etc. Nice enough atmosphere and people, hence 2 stars instead of one. read more

The best gyros ever! They also have amazing French fries! This place is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Normal. The owner is also so nice and always remembers us. It's also a great place if I'm craving an Italian beef and can't get portillos! read more

I was so excited to try a Mediterranean place in BloNo but the food was pretty awful. The folks working here are nice enough, but their vegetarian options were so incredibly bad. They weren't just not good - they were actively unsavory. I tried the hummus, babaganoush, and dolmades. The hummus was the least offensive of the trio but had a very unpleasant consistency and a bit of a sour taste. Perhaps their meat options are better quality. read more

Because I needed to charge my car in the nearby parking garage I searched for tasty lunch spots and stumblers across the rock . Glad I did it said Greek and burgers, not the biggest fan of Greek but huge burger guy so I went to check it out with a backup place in mind. I walked in and they are definitely short staffed and the lady said things are moving slow which I understand but I left and was walking to the backup place after hearing that. After about twenty paces I felt bad for leaving and thought i am doing no favors to an understaffed business that is historically good walking out in them because I'm impatient. I returned and in an unlikely game time decision I decided to order the garlic chicken gyro - quite amazing I just wish it had been a little bit larger portion as I was still hungry after. I can't see myself in Bloomington again but if I am ever passing through for a charge I will for sure stop in at Rocks, also just talked to a ISU guy who loves that I knew about and stoped at the rock so I guess it's also a isu alumni conversation starter! read more

I just don't get it. We ate here again and it was just okay, again. My husband loved the beef dipped...but I just...I don't get it. It was just okay. Everything seemed over fried. The cheese balls, the fries, the kids' burgers...meh. It seemed clean inside. The high chairs looked like they have not been cleaned in quite some time. The place is small and a little cramped for my liking. I had the gyro and it was like every other gyro in town. Nothing to write home about. read more

"Caaan yooou smeeeeeeeeell what THE ROCK is cookin'!?" Oh yes. You most definitely can. "The Rock" easily lives up to its name as one of the go-to food cornerstones of Uptown Normal. For the 4 years that I frequented The Rock, it was unwavering in its top-level quality and always delivered on what you were expecting. Much like an actual rock! Beautiful building; convenient and inviting location; comfortable atmosphere; and most important of all, DELICIOUS FOOD. It's the perfect spot for a lunch break or to grab a quick bite in-between classes. They have a wide variety of both Mediterranean and American dishes, so everyone is able to find something they will enjoy. I am specifically particular to their gyros (especially their gyro burgers!) and their fries. Trust me, they have these bad-boys on lockdown. Plenty of seating, fair pricing, pleasant employees, and great cooks. Great place for groups, visitors, or just a local meet-up. read more

The Rock is good - but alas... it could be better. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I'm a huge fan of Mediterranean / Lebanese food. I love the food I find in New York, or around my Detroit metro area- both have great middle eastern cuisine. While the gyros are nice here - that is almost the extend of their Mediterranean fare. I wish they had more to offer - but of course they have to cater to their market (which probably isn't that adventurous when it comes to food). Also their Falafel is cooked in a way that makes them taste burned. :( Try Falafel in a very authentic place - it bursts with flavor and doesn't have any fried/burned taste. read more

My first visit and it was great good. We had the super gyro and the falafel sandwich with fries at the last minute I added chocolate chip cookies. My husband loved his gyro or it was the Super Gyro. I really liked the falafel sandwich. It was missing something though as it was somewhat bland. I think adding feta would have helped. The cookie was okay. The service was great. I called in my order and it was hot and ready when I came to pick it up. Staff was friendly as well. I will be back for sure. read more

My husband and I had to drive from Peoria to South Bend (flight re-route). We looked on YELP for a place to eat, and although it was a bit further thsn the GPS said it was, we really enjoyed it. He had a delicious burger ( I had to have a bite). Really good. I opted for the Rock Island salad, with gyros, and chicken meats on a bed of lettuce. Excellent. The only complaint was that it was freezing in the dining room on the other side... read more

The Rock Restaurant - Greek Near Me - Normal, Illinois

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This was a great spot for lunch. We walked here from the University campus and enjoyed Greek Salads. The salads were well portioned and filled us right up. I ordered toasted pita and enjoyed that as well. The service was good too. read more

Tried a few time since last review and stand by it I'm afraid. Today's gripe: my salt with mooshed chickpeas, olive oil and Gyro-like meat. To their credit they are sort of trying despite being situated in the Great Corn Desert... Stil, soak the damn chickpeas add the other stuff and hit blend and you are basically done. If the salt box falls in throw that batch out. Or if you are a chain smoker let someone else flavour to taste. 3 stars as a courtesy. I would probably say border 2.5. read more

Excellent food and great prices! Tasty hummus and is on point! Gyro was magical and the tzatziki sauce was given in generous portion and was on point! read more

Rarely would I make a review based on one food item yet here I am doing it. Last year, I stopped into the now defunct Two K's Diner on Hershey Road. I ordered their tenderloin sandwich. It was horrendous. Too thick, the breading came off easily, and a little soggy on the inside. This put me off to the idea of tenderloins for a while. Then I went to The Rock and decided to have their tenderloin. It was awesome. Nice and crispy. It wasn't too thick so the inside was cooked properly. It's the kind I remember from a kid where the tenderloin is a little too big for the bun. I always eat all the tenderloin outside the bun first. Next time I eat here, I am going to make myself try something else. But I find it's hard to find a decent tenderloin so it's hard not to order that. read more

I found The Rock while attending Illinois State University and still head back there quite often. It is a simple hotdog/burger/gyro place but the food is outstanding! The best Gyros in town - the meat is perfectly seasoned and the pita is perfectly toasted. The pita never falls apart as you eat. The Challenger is also a great choice! Don't let the name fool you - its worth it! Prices are a little more ($1-2) than some other places but the extra buck is well worth the quality of the food. The owners are great - always remember you if you come back. Plus homemade baklava! read more

The food is reasonably priced it's clean. If your hungry or just want to grab something quick to eat this is the place to eat it's just a restaurant near campus which is convenient if you want to grab something. The super size sandwiches which I love like the gyro and philly cheese steak. The burgers are fairly priced and taste pretty good. The space it's located at a good place in general. read more

This is the best restaurant in Bloomington/Normal. It's affordable. It has a convenient location right off the ISU campus. The selection is decent. The food is delicious. The owners are nice and friendly. The service is quick. And there are options for both vegetarians and meat lovers. I get the falafel which is vegetarian. I would recommend it to anyone. I add onions, and you can get fries put inside your falafel. The tahini sauce is great. For around $6 it's an awesome deal. Speaking of the fries, they are out of this world. They might be the best fries I have ever had. You must try them at least once. I would recommend The Rock to anyone. If you're in uptown Normal looking for a quick meal, The Rock is your best option. read more

Not what I was expecting at all. i thought this would be like a hip bar and grill type place. Walk in and order at the counter. The food was greasy and tasteless. not sure what the fuss is about. The falafel was pretty boring and we didn't even finish it. read more

The owner of this place and his family are really hospitable. You can tell they have a passion for what they're doing, or at least genuinely appreciate your business. I typically order falafel bites with tahini sauce, stuffed grape leaves, hummus, or one of their salads. I'm always pleased & the ingredients always taste fresh. My partner goes there a bit more than I do. He loves the gyros and falafel as well. I wish they had tabouleh. read more

The Rock is worth every penny paid and effort made to eat at this place. Said and his brother are masters! This place beats just about any other restaurant in Bloomington/Normal. read more

The Rock Restaurant - Greek Near Me - Normal, Illinois

Very good food and good prices, as well as good portions. The service on the other hand is a little bit slow but also worth it. People taking your order are nice but not super greeting and do not seem to be in such a happy of a mood. I highly recommend this place as it is a family favorite down at ISU. read more

Ok so a quick disclaimer: The Rock caters to a certain audience, ie. The University crowd, who, at the risk of offending, are probably not foodies, are probably coming here for copious, value conscious Greek food, and on weekends, are probably craving drunken munchies. I am not of that audience. That said, The Rock may not attract the "douchiness" of Guy Fieri any time soon, but for what it is, they do it very well. As is my usual travel speed I am always searching for good clean Mediterranean in the form of protein and greens, thus, the benchmarks of Greek salad with chicken and or lamb shawarma with hummus is usually in order. After three visits here I quickly became oriented on how to "create" such a salad: you gotta piece meal in the choices when ordering if you want your final salad to be decent. So I started with "The Rock" salad which comes with both chicken and lamb, and a few veggies atop (sadly) iceberg lettuce. Once I added the spicy relish, onions, jalapeños etc etc as add ons, I was satisfied. The hummus is decent here as well when topped with olive oil with the whole meal coming in at about 21 bucks, which is average to slightly high based on comparisons. I also sampled the falafel which was puzzling to me: it is obviously cut from a pan into pieces which makes me think it's baked rather than fried. So the verdict here is: if it's baked then it's great-- good flavor with the expected dry and gritty texture that is easily neutralized with a dip in their tahini. If it's fried then I don't know what to say....... hoping they School me on that one if they read this. My only suggestion, if they feel like stepping up their game, is that they should ditch to iceberg for romaine or mixed greens for salads. Iceberg is a hamburger topping..... and that's it. This will be my mainstay in Bloomington as it's right next to my hotel, and the chicken and lamb is wonderfully marinated. Also appreciative of the young attentive staff, seemingly from the student body who are not short on smiles and attention. I'll be back, Rock!! Robbo, Parker, CO read more

After reading the reviews we had to try this place. We went there Monday night. Since it was a new place I wasn't sure if I wanted to try something new so I ordered baba ganoush( you can never go wrong with this) while my husband ordered the challenger. Baba ganoush came with pita which was nice , then I tried the challenger which was perfect the sauce , cheese , meat it was yummy. The baklava & lady finger were yummy too. We then ordered the gyro and to our surprise it was amazing . We were so happy with how the food tasted that we had another round of baklava & lady finger. Though lady finger lacked a bit of sweetness as compared to baklava . It was still good definitely a must try. Overall a great place. Perfect portions, taste & freshness. I hope to have a similar experience when I visit again. A must go place ! read more

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The burgers and fries are excellent- Very friendly and attentive staff, very helpful and they know the menu well- give great suggestions.

I stopped in between classes today because I was hungry and it smelled pretty good from the street. After ordering a cheeseburger and fries, I had expected to wait maybe five or ten minutes before taking my order to-go and being on my way. Instead, I had to wait 30 minutes. 30 minutes for a burger and fries. The fries were good, the burger was alright, but neither were worth the wait. Update as of 4/14/16: Today, I decided to give The Rock another shot. Perhaps the last time I visited was a fluke, as today my order only took about nine minutes to prepare and the Manager himself approached me to personally apologize about my previous experience. Coolness factor +1. For that, I am updating my review from two stars to three. I am willing to give the rock another shot and will update as necessary. read more