ROOF CLOSES IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

In an odd sequence of events, just after posting new signage, rooftop restaurant and bar Roof has closed in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle. Hopefully someone can turn this promising space into the place to see and be seen in downtown Bethesda.

Roof has gone dark

NEW SIGNAGE AT ROOF BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Roof, the rooftop restaurant and bar at the corner of Cordell and Norfolk Avenues in downtown Bethesdsa, has added new signage in its second floor windows. It may help to compensate for the nondescript Roof logo signs that have previously been the only signage, and may not have been enough to make clear to passersby just what exactly was up there. The new signage refers to "Roof Kitchen + Bar." Roof has a late night happy hour on Fridays and Saturdays, from 9:00 PM to midnight.

A VIP PRIVATE LOUNGE AREA YOU CAN RESERVE ON A BETHESDA ROOFTOP? HERE'S HOW:

While downtown Bethesda has a long way to go to match the nightlife in Las Vegas or South Beach, it has been making gradual progress in recent years. A few clubs introduced VIP bottle service (although one had its liquor license yanked by Montgomery County [Relic], and another recently lost its lease, reportedly for not paying rent [BlackFinn]).

Roof Bethesda then opened the first full-service rooftop bar and restaurant in downtown Bethesda. Now Roof has stepped up again with a VIP lounge area you and your friends can reserve for yourselves. Comfortable furniture - and a view over Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle - are the main selling points of the Roof Retreat, which you can reserve now using their online reservation system. 

As of this writing, 8:00 PM tonight is already booked, but 6:00 and 10:00 PM are still available.

Photos: Roof Bethesda (top)

Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row (bottom)

ROOFTOP RESTAURANT OPENS AT ROOF BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Last evening was the first official night of Alan Pohoryles' long-awaited rooftop, the architectural centerpiece that gives new Bethesda restaurant Roof its name. The weather isn't as pleasant as it will be, but last night's temperatures felt downright warm compared to a few days ago.

Diners didn't have to miss the NCAA tournament. March Madness continued as scheduled on large flatscreens outside on the roof.

Roof is the only full-scale rooftop restaurant and bar in Bethesda. The Doubletree Bethesda hotel has food, cigar and adult beverage events on its rooftop, and Mexican restaurant Tía Queta has a rooftop patio on Del Ray Avenue. So this will be quite the novelty this spring, summer and fall. One other interesting issue will be neighbors' response to the noise. I reported yesterday that some residents of Triangle Towers have already complained, before the rooftop had even opened to the general public. This type of complaint is not unique to Roof; balancing nightlife with residential neighbors is one of the big challenges ahead, as the county considers expanding bar hours, and exempting venues from some current noise restrictions.

Rooftops like this are needed, to move ahead in one category of dining and nightlife where Bethesda has previously trailed Clarendon and the District.

The first official rooftop
diners enjoy the view
of the
Woodmont Triangle
district from Roof

ROOF BETHESDA BRUNCH MENU (PHOTOS)

Here is the brand-new brunch menu at Roof, Bethesda's new rooftop bar and restaurant (click photos to enlarge):

Main courses

Huevos Rancheros

4-egg omelettes

Sides

Bakery/desserts

ROOF BETHESDA TO ADD BRUNCH AND LUNCH HOURS THIS MONTH (PHOTOS)

 

Bethesda's much-talked-about rooftop restaurant, Roof, is about to launch the most scenic brunch and lunch in town. Brunch with Woodmont Triangle views will launch this Saturday, January 25, at 10:00 AM.

Next, the restaurant will add lunch hours, starting at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 30. Previously, Roof has been opening at 4:30 PM.

By the way, the Washington Post's guide to best brunches last Friday was another example of either their usual anti-Bethesda bias, or ignorance. They listed not one brunch spot in Bethesda! Have they been to Bethesda recently? Maybe they should book a table for Day One of brunch at Roof.

ROOF BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT NOW TAKING OPENTABLE RESERVATIONS

The much-awaited Roof Bethesda, opening tomorrow evening at 5:00 PM (Saturday, December 28), is now taking reservations via OpenTable. I checked this morning, and seats were available around the prime time of 6:00 PM. But probably not for long, as word gets out. Of course, you can also make reservations for any day and time using the OpenTable website. You can check out the menu here.

SMASHBURGER AND CAL TORT SQUARE OFF IN ENERGIZED WOODMONT TRIANGLE (PHOTOS)

The Woodmont Triangle area of downtown Bethesda has more energy since the opening of Smashburger this week. There seems to be a slight increase in activity, and possibly in the number of people, for some distance around that intersection of Cordell and Norfolk Avenues.

Some people are just looking in the windows to see what the new place is about. Others notice the employees of the soon-to-open Roof Bethesda scurrying to and fro, through the massive second floor windows of the Norfolk-Cordell II building. Last evening, Christmas music wafted down to the streets below as Roof hosted a corporate holiday party ahead of its December 20 opening.

That Steven Karr-designed building is lighting up what used to be a dark and dreary corner. Which is what I had expected. Just the night before, there was a test of the new LED light sculptures on the future plaza outside the Gallery Bethesda apartments. We're starting to get a very small sense of what's to come over the next 5 years in the transformation of the Woodmont Triangle.

One business noticing the new energy is California Tortilla. Smashburger has a sidewalk sign announcing, "NOW OPEN."

Cal Tort quickly responded with a humorous re-Tort: their own sign facing Smashburger's across Norfolk: "NOW OPEN ALSO."

ROOF BETHESDA HOPING TO OPEN FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER (PHOTO)

Roof Bethesda, the first rooftop bar/restaurant of its kind in Bethesda, is targeting the first week in December for its grand opening, according to owner Alan Pohoryles. That is if everything goes according to plan, so the date is not set in stone yet. But it certainly is a positive indication for those who have been eagerly awaiting this opening.

The only other rooftop venues in town are the rooftop pool lounge at the Doubletree Bethesda hotel, and the rooftop patio at Tia Queta on Del Ray Avenue.

Roof Bethesda, at 7940 Norfolk Avenue, is also currently hiring servers.

BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Here's the latest progress on the Steven Karr-designed Norfolk-Cordell II building, at the corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues in downtown Bethesda.

The building will house Roof, a rooftop restaurant; Dunkin' Donuts and Smashburger.

BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Another update already? Yes, that's how rapid the progress has been recently at Roof in Bethesda.

New doors and windows, as well as additional facade work, have been installed since my Thursday update.

The rooftop bar and restaurant at Cordell and Norfolk Avenues is scheduled to open this fall.

BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT OPENING/CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

A banner has been posted at the construction site of Roof Bethesda by Poho - Roof, for short - at the corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues. It announces that the rooftop restaurant will open in the fall, rather than late summer. The full rooftop bar that will be part of the completed project is mentioned, as well. Also, this is the first time a logo for the restaurant has been shown.

I've also included a street view from yesterday, so you can see the latest progress on the construction. The building was designed by renowned local architect Steven J. Karr.

FUTURE BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT FRONT DOOR INSTALLED (PHOTOS) - CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Lots more progress to report from the site of the Bethesda rooftop restaurant, Roof, which is scheduled to open in late summer (but don't bet your life on that).
The building itself, Norfolk Cordell II, now has a main, street level entrance with glass doorway.
In the photos below, you'll see the door, as well as additional wood and tile facade and additional window installations.
The large interior space you see is on the street level, and will house future tenants Smashburger, Baskin Robbins and Dunkin' Donuts.

Rendering [top] Courtesy Steven J. Karr, AIA Inc.