A new restaurant in Tower? Sort of. This Fresno dinner theater is doing takeout food
It’s been nearly nine months since Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater last served meals to guests while actors graced its stage.
The show can’t go on because California coronavirus restrictions say theaters must be closed for now.
So the Tower District theater is doing the next best thing – temporarily transforming itself into a restaurant selling meals via takeout and delivery.
Beginning this week, Roger Rocka’s will sell family-style dinners feeding two or four people Thursdays through Saturdays.
The menu includes beef short ribs, chicken marsala, stuffed manicotti shells, and shepherd’s pie, and can be ordered online or via phone.
Theater closed due to COVID-19
Most of the theater’s more than 40 employees haven’t worked there since March, though three are maintaining the building and the box office. They are still planning to reopen when allowed.
They considered trying outdoor dining, but found it was too costly and winter weather too big a challenge, said executive chef Eric DeGroot.
But doing takeout and delivery is an experiment they wanted to try.
“We need to tell people that we’re alive still,” he said. “We still do have a following and we thought we’d give this a shot.”
So far, only the chef and sous chef are working. The same servers who deliver meals to tables inside the theater will be delivering meals to homes while wearing masks.
The more meals ordered, the more employees they’ll bring back.
Although the situation isn’t ideal, it is helping the chef accomplish one of his goals in an unexpected way – being known for quality food that stands on its own.
“I want it to be more recognized as coming for a good dinner and also seeing a great show, instead of, ‘Oh, we’ll just go ahead and eat since we’re there,’” he said. “I wanted it to be recognized as a restaurant.”
He has one request of customers: “Be patient with us. This is brand new. We’ve never done takeout before.”
Ordering a day or more in advance would be a big help, the website says.
Prices range from $32.50 to $78, depending upon the dish and number of servings and all come with rolls. Delivery costs $10 and delivery is only available in Fresno and Clovis.
Order food and choose your pickup or delivery time online or by calling 559-266-9494.
This story was originally published December 2, 2020 at 12:50 PM.
