Rockwall, TX (June 23, 2023) – Extra! Extra! Read all about it! There’s a new restaurant in the heart of downtown Rockwall, but no one’s allowed to say where it is. The only way to know is to book a reservation.
From the creators of Ramen Head on San Jacinto, restaurateurs Tommy and Tamara Kolleck recently opened Speak – a modern rendition of a prohibition-era speakeasy, complete with hidden doors and secret passcodes. The couple has done an amazing job keeping the location a secret. The good news is that Blue Ribbon News was there for the soft launch before the official opening on June 3rd.
When we made our reservation at Speak, we did so without knowing where to go. When the day came, we received an email with everything we needed to know – the specific location, dress code, and password required to get in.
The restaurant is strictly 21+. When you walk in, it really does feel like you’ve stepped back in time. As most speakeasys were in the 20’s, the place is small and cozy with dim lighting. The walls are original and the building itself has some amazing, exposed brick. There is 1920’s themed lighting, a stage for entertainment, and servers and bartenders wearing traditional 20’s outfits!
I was able to talk to Tamara throughout the night as we ended up sitting at the manager’s table. We asked her why they wanted to open a speakeasy in Rockwall and her response was great.
“Tommy and I are big foodies,” she said. “We were tired of driving across the lake to go somewhere else for food that was a little different than the norm. I saw this location many years ago; the place was beautiful, but it wasn’t available. The day it became available we immediately called and leased it. It was our dream concept and design.”
The only issue, she added, was getting the place finished out.
Speak was originally slated to open in late 2022, but the date was pushed back due to the volume of work needed for the inside. At the time of our visit, Tamara said they are waiting on licensing to be able to stay open later (maybe 2 a.m. on the weekends) so they can run a cocktail hour where they will serve appetizers and desserts.
If you’re looking for an out of the ordinary, total sensory experience, Speak is the talk of the town!
By JR Joe, Blue Ribbon News. Photos by BRN Media.
Adventures with BRN: SPEAKing of new restaurants… added by Melanie M on
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