Easy Tiger brings cold drinks, warm summer vibes to Riverside Boulevard in Loves Park

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — Brent Beehler tried to stay under the radar with a soft opening of his new Polynesian fusion restaurant and bar with beach vibes.

The sign for Easy Tiger, 411 E. Riverside Blvd., had not yet been installed when Beehler held a soft opening event designed for 40 people a couple weekends ago.

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But passersby noticed activity on the outdoor patio and began coming in. Easy Tiger ended up with roughly 300 patrons that night, Beehler said.

“The staff did awesome, and we just kind of rolled with the punches and made it work,” he said. “It was really comforting knowing they could handle it. I have awesome people here.”

Easy Tiger is now open for business, but it’s not in its final iteration. Beehler, a relentless do-it-yourselfer who has handled much of the restaurant renovations himself, still has more improvements in mind. Among them is the installation of additional garage door-style openings in the back of the restaurant that will open to a future sand beach volleyball court.

The sand court, outdoor patio, tropical fruit-topped drinks and Hawaiian and Polynesian fusion recipes are all meant to deliver the feeling that you’ve stepped out of Loves Park and into a tropical setting.

“I don’t want you to feel like you’re in Loves Park or Rockford, or even Illinois or the Midwest,” Beehler said. “People come in and they’re like, I feel like I’m in Florida or California — I’m on vacation.”

Beehler and Easy Tiger’s head chef Kenny LaMendola have run a food truck with the same name since November 2021. The brick-and-mortar location is a progression of that business, with LaMendola taking concepts inspired by Beehler’s Hawaiian roots to create menu items such as the Kahlua pig sliders. LaMendola’s menu also features berry salads, chicken teriyaki, chicken coconut curry and Elote salad with Kahlua pork or other meat toppings.

You can top anything on the menu off with house-made Tiger Sauce, a sweet and spicy jalapeno-based sauce fitting for a variety of foods.

The restaurant’s signature drinks are called Hula Dancers, and they can be served with alcohol or as mocktails. The drinks are served with a lemonade base and Torani syrup, topped with fruit and garden-grown fresh mint leaves.

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A stage cut from a former shipping container will have sponsorship from Jim Beam, helping Easy Tiger bring in touring musical acts for live performances, Beehler said. The stage is at the western end of a new 2,500-square-foot cement patio with seating under umbrellas and a garage-style doors that open into the restaurant.

“It has a very free-flowing vibe,” said Matt Risley, a Rockford resident who has been a customer at both the food truck and brick-and-mortar restaurant. “Cold drinks go well with sunshine and good vibes from Brent.”

Beehler is also the owner of Brent’s Barber Shop, which just around the corner from the restaurant at 5611 N. Second St., and he owns a second Brent’s Barber Shop in Durand.

The basketball coach and father of four wants Easy Tiger to have a family-friendly atmosphere where parents can take their kids after sporting events.

The space was previously home to Jalapeno Taco Grill, Ojeda’s and before that Cafe 411 and Spring Garden.

Beehler said the new restaurant is still a work-in-progress as he completes the final renovations while welcoming his first customers. He expects additions such as the extra garage-style doors and sand volleyball court will be complete a little later this summer.

“The outdoor experience is great. It’s great to bring yourself on a sunny day and soak in the rays with a nice drink,” Risley said. “As good as it is today, we know it will be even better tomorrow and even better the day after.”

Easy Tiger | Know before you go

Where: 411 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. to midnight Sunday

Facebook: Go HERE

Instagram: @easy.tiger.815

Contact: 779-210-2426

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas