USA. Global restaurateur HMSHost and its partner MasterConcessionAir have opened two restaurants at Broward County’s Fort Lauderdale International Airport.
Dale Jr’s Whisky River and Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar are located in Terminal 1 [see below for a set of spectacular images].
Owned by NASCAR [National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing] star Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Whisky River first opened in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina. The Fort Lauderdale International restaurant, in B Concourse, offers the “signature honky-tonk hangout vibe and a high-quality but casual menu”, according to HMSHost. The restaurant will also feature a programme of music.
Earnhardt Jr. said he was “thrilled to join the great hospitality scene in [the airport], planting a Whisky River flag in Florida with our great partners at HMSHost”.
Rocco’s Taco’s and Tequila Bar was founded by restaurateur Rocco Mangel and offers a taste of Mexico. The Fort Lauderdale International location, in C Concourse, is the brand’s first in an airport.
The Rocco’s menu features authentic street style tacos and signature dishes such as Molcajetes that are served sizzling in a traditional lava rock. Rocco’s also serves more than 70 tequilas from Mexico.
Mangel said the partnership with HMSHost at the airport represented “a milestone in our brand’s growth. This venture is and will continue to be a thrilling chapter in our story.”
HMSHost President and CEO Steve Johnson commented: “Whisky River and Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar embody the highest of [restaurant] standards, from the food to the overall experience.
“We are proud to celebrate these openings with our partners and thank the Broward County Aviation Department for the opportunity to bring these unique offerings to South Florida.”
Fort Lauderdale International Airport CEO/Director of Aviation Mark Gale added: “These latest offerings demonstrate the commitment by HMSHost to bring first-class offerings to [the airport]. These restaurants are the continuation of many more offerings yet to come from our concession partners to enhance the guest experience.”
Dale Jr’s Whisky River in pictures
Rocco’s Taco’s and Tequila Bar in pictures
NOTE: The Moodie Davitt Report also publishes FAB, the world’s only media focused on airport (and other travel-related) food & beverage. The FAB Newsletter is published every two weeks and The FAB eZine every month.
Please send all news of food & beverage outlet openings, together with images, menus, video etc to Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com to ensure unrivalled global exposure.
The company also organises the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards. FAB 2020 will be held in Istanbul on 23 and 24 June. Istanbul Airport will host the event, which will be a celebration not only of the best in international airport dining but also of Turkish cuisine and culture. FAB 2020 will be supported strongly by Tum & Ictur, the concessionaire managing 34,000sq m of food & beverage space at Istanbul Airport.
