Wednesday 17 / April / 2024
I’ve been a regular diner at RocoMamas ever since they opened late last year, and I enjoy every bit of my messy-but-worth-it burger experience whenever I step a foot into the restaurant. Why? Simply because this South African franchise is the business; serving gourmet burgers and barbecued ribs that give us an all-American classic with flavours to remember. Dining here is always a good time, from the jolly waiters who wait by the door to greet you with big smiles, to the energy that the place offers to its diners. This weekend I decided to give the readers a peek into my absolute favourite burger joint in town, and dive deep into their menu and their juicy offerings. As you reach the place, you can decide to either sit outdoors by the shady trees or inside. Given this lovely Parisian weather in Muscat, taking a seat indoors seems like a no-brainer. When entering the place, you’d quickly realise how vibrant the place is, even if it has a few people it still gives that vibe that makes you want to just hang out and chill. The interior at RocoMamas is one of the reasons that keep me coming back here week after week. It’s uber cool and it has a mix of flashy orange and jet black colours. It occupies a space that appears to be a marriage of an industrial warehouse and an art studio, hence the contemporary minimalistic lights. To top it all off, the walls are decorated with bricked walls and mosaic carpets with mirror accents that read ‘smash’ in the restaurant’s colour code. And, the place has an open live kitchen where you could see the chefs working their magic on the meat as you wait for it. The interior can be summed up in one word: Stunning.
Once you have a sit, the waiters will hand you the menu in the form of a paper and a pen, and ask you to fill in your order. You can either select burgers or ribs. Now, the choices are endless, you can select a burger from the menu or you can customise your very own burger from top to bottom with a variety of interesting toppings such as pineapple salsa, blue cheese dressing, caramelised onions, sweet pickles, and fried eggs. Or, you can go simple and order yourself a rack of ribs. Being a regular customer here, I almost tried everything from their menu, and without being biased the stuff taste great. I’ll dive into some of the dishes that I truly loved off their menu. Let’s kick it off with the starter of all starters: The chilli con carne fries, a massive basket of French fries topped with piquant ground beef and a bunch of cheese. This is the pinnacle of all fries; the fries serve a soft-but-crunchy taste, and the dripping sauces mingle their way to the bottom of the basket, giving you the French-inspired poutine dish of a lifetime. Note that the portion is humongous, so sharing is caring.
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For the mains I usually come here starving, so I tend to order straight from the menu. You can select your protein (chicken or beef) or go vegetarian and take a vegetable burger. My go-to order is beef bacon cheese guac, a thick, juicy patty (called smash here) topped with smoky, crispy beef bacon, molten aged cheddar, tomato, and a couple of red onion rings, with chilli mayonnaise and a spread of fresh in-house guacamole. The crispiness of bacon and the creaminess of avocado, mixed with the juices of the beef makes this a number one option for me. Another burger that’s super is the chilli cheez bomb, beef patty topped with crispy beef bacon, a bunch of cheeses including aged cheddar and mozzarella, with fresh chillis and a spread of chilli mayonnaise. This is for those who enjoy a mildly spiced up cheesy burger. The taste is fantastic. The smoky taste is to die for. The dish is so tasty that taking half a portion will only lead to regret. My third option is wild bill, a burger made for those who love a burst of flavours. It’s made of a juicy patty topped with chilli con carne, cheddar, jalapeños, and nachos. Savouring this Spanish-inspired burger is a joy; full of crisps and juices. Not a fan of sandwiched patties? How about smoky ribs. When it comes to taste, the ribs at RocoMamas are the real deal, just delicious. You can choose either beef or lamb. I usually take beef ribs as they taste extra delicious. The ribs are melt-in-your-mouth tender, with classic barbecue sauce. The smoky taste is to die for. The dish is so tasty that taking half a portion will only lead to regret. Go big or go home on this one. For desserts, I love their upside down cheesecake, served in a glass, as well as their dense chocolate mousse. Both taste great and worth trying. RocoMamas is one of those places that will be a favourite once you try, and believe me, you will be coming back here on ritual basis. Getting down and dirty with the patties in a good-vibes-only atmosphere? sign me up. —[email protected]
Roco Mamas Shatti Al Qurum, Qurum | +968 2464 1066 | rocomamasoman.com
What to Order Bacon Cheese Guac OMR3.8 Chilli Con Carne Fries OMR2.8 Beef Ribs with BBQ sauce OMR8.5 (half) Chilli Cheez Bomb OMR3.8 Wild Bill OMR3.8 Lemon Mint OMR2
