Roof Terrace Restaurant, Washington DC

We had dinner here tonight before our show and it was great! Super friendly staff and really good food. Would highly recommend!

Loved the atmosphere and ambiance of the Roof Terrace. Loved the general feel of the place. It was comfortable and service was impeccable. Recommend the salmon and crab cakes. The Tempranillo was delicious! And of course, if you can, get a table with a view.very nice!

Any 5 stars for this restaurant is a damn lie…lol. Went on a Saturday night and the food was not worth the price! Food was so bland I was surprised at the prices. I don’t mind spending money for a great meal but $15 for THREE shrimp is insanity. Lobster Mac and cheese literally had 2 tiny pieces of lobster and the rest just looked like lobster sprinkles, and also bland. The service was friendly and the view is awesome but that’s it, don’t waste your money on the food.

Unexpectedly excellent food for a venue that exists only for Kennedy center patrons pre-performance. Excellent wait staff, very good food (if expensive and limited).

Starting with the positive comments:
The food was excellent and the service was great from all tiers.
The negative issues concern the noise at the point where one could not hear what was being said by the person next to you.
And it was not that the place was jam packed. It was because all attempts to buffer the noise were completely inadequate.
An other negative issue involved the lack of adequate identification of the restaurant at the street level.
Much as we all at the table liked the food, I would hesitate returning mainly because of the noise issue.

Pricy for what you get. Fish & chips really below expectations for the price-McD's filet would have been a step up.

We went for our 13th wedding anniversary and were very disappointed. We ordered the pork shoulder flat bread and it is basically store bought (the flavor and consistency screamed prepackaged meat) on a cracker. The worst part of the experience though was the service. We had at show at 7: 30pm and did not get our steak until 7: 20pm. Even the ladies next to us made a comment as they were sat after us. We hardly saw the waiter and when I remarked how disappointed we were on how long everything took (we sat down at 6pm) he was very unapologetic and said that we had plenty of time to make our show and that they have a computer in the back that tells them when they start. No time to order dessert (our Anniversary tradition) and we had to rush to eat our $68 steak just to make the show. Just to add insult to injury, the waiter charged an undisclosed $5 additional to my $17 dirty martini. When challenged he said its because I ordered it straight up and he claimed (with a snarky additude) that he did ask me if I wanted it up or on the rocks. He didn't, my husband agreed he didn't, and there was no discussion about an additional fee either. Completely dishonest practice. We did speak to the manager, Chris, who said he would give us a call but that never happened. Guessing this is business as usual for them.

Going to give an honest review.

The Good: The atmosphere and the service at this place are fantastic. They have a great drink and dessert selection as well! And it’s super convenient to eat here before a show. The place is nicely renovated and has great views. The staff is beyond amazing. Super friendly and professional.

Now to the disappointing part: For the prices, ambiance, service, and setting, you’d anticipate a great meal. All the options sounded delicious too. However, this may have been some of the most disappointing food I’ve ever had.

While I may have some higher standards for food, I can eat mostly anything. I couldn’t even finish the crab cakes there. The crab was terrible quality and had lots of shells in it. The flavor was disgusting. The potatoes were dripping in oil too. The salads, while a decent size, were very basic. But if it wasn’t for the salad and the free bread, I probably would have gone hungry that night. Should have tried a steak but we saw someone order it and it was tiny and bland and came with nothing. Very disappointing.

I went in expecting 3-4 star food for 5 star prices for the convenience, location, and ambiance. I would have been happy with that. But it did not deliver. Next time I’ll just order pasta there and give that a try. Or eat in nearby Georgetown beforehand

Full order came in spurts. Prices not worth what was received. Communication with attendants lacked accuracy. Do not plan to return.

Simply wonderful. Couldn't have picked a better place to spend me and my wife's one year anniversary. Great atmosphere, beautiful views, and amazing food. Super convenient for nights when you are seeing a play or musical. The chilled lobster and lobster mac and cheese were wonderful. Also, the combo of the chocolate mousse dessert with a cappuccino was delicious.

As other reviewers pointed out the food is lackluster, overcooked, bland, and overpriced. Menu options are very limited and it gave me the impression that dishes are pre-prepared and reheated. I ordered a glass of cava and the waiter came with a small carafe and poured it into a huge red wine glass. The person offering bread offered it to us at least six times including while we had dessert at the table. The bread we did have was stale. The kennebec frites were less than warm. Felt very much like a fancy cafeteria. It is convenient if attending an event at the Kennedy Center. If it is your best choice, stick to appetizers. Not impressed by the atmosphere. While the views are lovely if you are near a window, the atmosphere within the restaurant is rushed, cramped and noisy from the kitchen.

Convenient for dinner before a show. Lovely atmosphere. Dinner is adequate, although pricey. You're paying for the location. Service is friendly and efficient. Quite enjoyable.

Although the food and table service were great, we left disappointed by our overall experience. I picked the restaurant for an anniversary and shared that in the reservation notes, requesting a romantic table with a view. Not only were we assigned a small table in the middle of a noisy dining room, but also our occasion was not acknowledged in any way. We managed to get ar least a more private table. However, when I shared our negative experience with the hostess in the end, she said "they weren't doing it anymore" (restaurant complements or celebrations) when I saw someone getting a dessert with a candle nearby! She also told me I should have told my server - I put it in the notes for a reason, and I even mentioned it to the other host who seated us! I should not be the one organizing my own dining highlight. Her attitude was dismissive and a restaurant of this price range and stature should be ashamed. We are frequent Kennedy Center visitors, but will certainly not be this restaurant's future guests.

The food is lackluster and unfortunately more on par with a school cafeteria. Certainly not worth the price point. Highly recommend eating prior to coming to the venue.

On its site this restaurant’s brunch offering presents as an a la carte menu. No! It is a fixed price meal — at $75 per person ($60 if you skip the bottomless mimosa option — but that’s a secret too). There is NO indication of any of this!

We felt so bad for the family of five next to us who clearly didn’t know they had signed on for a Sunday brunch pushing nearly $500 (with taxes and tip).

At 11a on Sunday all my wife and I wanted was maybe an omelette and some fruit. Instead we faced an appetizer onslaught of a charcuterie & cheese board, plus a shrimp cocktail, plus a fruit plate. Then entrees. Then desserts.

Love the KC. But this dining experience was too much food and too much money.

Recommend you dine pre-show at the adjacent Kingbird in the Watergate Hotel, where the food is great — and the menu is a la carte.

Over priced. Poor quality food. The Caesar salad was soggy with too much anchovy. The NY steak was tough. It was hard to cut even with the steak knife. Service was good as were the drinks.