New Englewood Bistro Born from Former Fast Food Eatery

Foodies and local residents searching for New American-style eateries are just learning about the Red Parrot Bistro on East Palisade Ave in Englewood, which opened in June.

According to owner Gary Rockman, the bistro is the only Englewood restaurant with an open kitchen allowing every dish prepared to be in full view to patrons. It also features a warm ambiance with hanging white sheets, exposed brick, and classic wall paper with images of a French countryside.

Rockman is not new to the area or the food industry. He was a co-owner of a Muscle Maker Grill franchise eatery, which was previously at the same location, but when he and his partner realized they had differing visions for the future, they parted ways.

“I didn’t want to give up on Englewood. I like the location,” said Rockman. “It’s a big mixture of ethnicities, culture, and it’s close to New York. And I didn’t want to lose the investment.”

Thousands were invested converting the former clothing story into the fast, healthy food eatery, but when Rockman changed Muscle Maker Grill into the Red Parrot Bistro, he only had to make minor cosmetic changes to the décor.

With help from his girlfriend, Inna Zambari, Rockman redesigned the interior and changed most of the fixtures adding classic lamps and a chandelier to create a time period atmosphere.

Some of the walls remained red, and the original chairs and tables were kept. The couple purchased custom made slip covers and draped them over the chairs to cover the Muscle Grill logo and to add a more elegant feel.

The biggest changes are in the menu. With help from his new chef James Corona, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, the menu changes three or four times a year to mirror the changing seasons.

“The harvest is different in the fall, winter, spring and summer, so the vegetables are different,” Rockman said. “So we’re going to try to move with the seasons.”  

Although the menu is classified as “New American”, Corona and Rockman have incorporated French, Italian, and standard American dishes to bring together flavors from around the globe.

Rockman prides himself on using organic chicken and turkey, as well as grass fed meats. According to Rockman, his hamburgers are made from the finest cut of beef - brisket short rib, and the produce is purchased weekly at the Englewood Farmers Market.

Signature Red Parrot Bistro dishes include the “RPG Burger”, which will be renamed the “Foie Gras Burger”. It is prepared with truffles and foie gras, which incorporates duck and geese liver.

“It’s very rich in flavor and high-end delicacy,” Rockman said. “That’s why we get $23 bucks for the burger. And then we have our traditional $10 burgers.”

Lunch specials include cilantro shrimp salad, blue cheese and pear salad, and oriental chicken salad. There is also seared tuna lavish wrap, and hot pastrami reuben sandwich.  

Dinner specials feature bouillabaisse with mussels, manila clams, shrimp, sea scallops, and sea bass filet with haricot vert, potatoes, and leeks in a lobster saffron broth.  

According to Rockman, the most popular side dish is the “Pommes Frites” or French fries prepared with truffles and topped with parmesan cheese and salt. Rockman also plans on adding lamb burgers and hotdogs made from Kobe beef. 

The name Red Parrot Bistro was partially inspired by a 1980’s night club named Red Parrot that Rockman frequented in addition to Studio 54, and the couple’s pet African Grey Parrot named Rocky, who “has a mouth like a sewer” Rockman said jokingly.

The Red Parrot Bistro, at 51 E. Palisade Avenue, is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. -10 p.m. and Sundays from 5 to 10 p.m. For more information, call (201) 568-2110 or visit them on Facebook. 

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