A husband-and-wife duo behind a fine-dining restaurant in Evergreen has opened an Italian steakhouse on Morrison’s main drag, the duo announced this week.
At La Rocca Rossa, 209 Bear Creek Ave., Rand G. Packer and his kitchen staff are grilling octopus, Colorado bison short ribs and other dishes over open fire. The rustic cooking will match the property’s own artisan flair; the stone building was originally built as a hardware store about 149 years ago, according to the Morrison Historical Society.
Packer’s wife, co-owner Tiffani Packer, said in a statement that Morrison was one of their “family’s favorite places in Colorado.” About 20 minutes away is Evergreen, where their restaurant, Evoke 1923, resides.
The menu at La Rocca Rossa — Italian for “The Red Rock” — includes fennel-dusted Hokkaido sea scallops, roasted rabbit pappardelle and a house-made sausage lasagna. A 32-ounce porterhouse steak is served with fingerling potatoes, buttered king mushroom, truffled citron aioli and grilled broccolini.
“Wood-fire cooking has long been a personal passion of mine,” Rand Packer said in the statement. “We’re … using live fire, smoke, and char to deepen flavors and add new dimension to beloved dishes.”
Before La Rocca Rossa, Cafe Prague utilized the building, part of the Morrison Historical District, since 2004. Media outlets report the restaurant closing in 2024.
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