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.

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.

FIRST WINDOWS INSTALLED AT FUTURE BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT (PHOTOS)

The first windows, and tiled facade, are in place at Roof, the future Bethesda rooftop restaurant at the corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues.

Will you be drinking a craft beer or a glass of Pinot Grigio, and enjoying the early evening breeze above Old Town Bethesda this August?

It's certainly possible, but I wouldn't bet your life on it. Given all the regulatory hurdles restauranteurs face in Montgomery County, my money would be on the second half of September. But stranger things have happened, so we can hope for the best.

Roof is a concept by the owner of Tommy Joe's on Montgomery Lane, and the building it will sit atop is formally called Norfolk-Cordell II. It was designed by architect Steven Karr, and, as I've said before, one of the fresher designs among buildings currently rising or planned in downtown Bethesda.

AERIAL SHOT OF BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT UNDER CONSTRUCTION (PHOTO)

Here's the aerial view of the future Bethesda rooftop restaurant, Roof, the computer did not want to show you in my previous post, for whatever reason.

Roof is under construction at the corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues.

BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Progress continues at the future site of the rooftop restaurant and bar to be known as Roof.

Bethesda's third rooftop dining space (the Doubletree hotel and Tia Queta are the others), Roof is expected to open in late summer.

The building itself, Norfolk-Cordell II, will also house a Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins (a long-overdue return of the 31 Flavors to downtown Bethesda!) and Smashburger, among other potential retail tenants. It is designed by renowned architect Steven Karr.

BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Roof, the rooftop restaurant and bar opening late summer in Bethesda, is all lit up.

As the structure starts to resemble the renderings prepared by renowned architect Steven Karr, night lighting has been installed on the exterior and the interior.

While there's still a long way to go before you're drinking a cocktail in the breeze above Bethesda, this temporary lighting gives a sense of what it will be like when this corner lights up for real this summer.

PROGRESS AT SITE OF FUTURE BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT, ROOF (PHOTOS)

You can finally see a structural resemblance to the artistic renderings at the future site of Roof, a rooftop bar and restaurant opening this summer in Bethesda.

The building housing Roof, Norfolk-Cordell II, is being constructed at the corner of its namesake avenues.

BRADLEY SHOPPING CENTER ROOF MAINTENANCE UNDERWAY (PHOTOS)

In case you've been worried about all of the scaffolding and pedestrian shielding all across the front of the Bradley Shopping Center recently - don't be.

All shops are open during the roof work, including the Barber Shop, so you can still get that haircut.