Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar, a West Palm Beach chain, will open its first restaurant outside of South Florida in the former Samba Room on Sand Lake Road. This will be the company’s fifth restaurant and its largest, with 8200 square feet inside and a 2000 square foot patio and bar overlooking the lake.

The Orlando Samba Room and neighboring Timpano restaurant were sold to Tavistock’s restaurant group when Orlando-based E-Brands faced financial troubles. Tavistock retained Timpano but did not wish to keep the Samba Room concept.

Rocco’s, owned by Rocco Mangel, will feature Mexican fare and 225 varieties of tequila. According to a press release, Mangel enjoys offering free shots of tequila: “When regulars hear the buzzword “Tequila!” echo through the restaurant, everyone prepares for Rocco to take his spot on the bar top, dancing feverishly in his legendary shiny-white shoes. The scene reads like one out of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, sans the angry bikers, Rocco steps on ‘stage’ with a bottle of Patron in hand, ready to pour into eager patron’s mouths.”

Hmmm, mustn’t judge too soon (not even on its really, really annoying website). We’ll give it a shot, so to speak, when it opens in spring 2012.

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