1) Stood at hostess podium for 10mins no acknowledgement ( trying this patience thing) 2) Went to bar and told bartender I'm not interested in waiting another 10 mins to be seated then bartender seats us 3) Server is clueless 4) Bartender saves the day again 5) Food was tasty but not enough to come back 6) Overall management is needed, female bartender is an asset, food ok but you will not slap any relatives. Oh yeah this was for brunch, never been to the place for dinner. ..Hope I was helpful. read more

One of my faves in Adams Morgan! The rooftop bar area is great in the evenings, but I also enjoy coming inside for lunch on weekends. The regular burger, chicken thigh sandwich, and lamb burger are all amazing--if you're looking for something really unique, go with the chicken thigh sandwich! But if you're not feeling adventurous, their regular burger is one of the best in DC! If you're coming for brunch, the coffee isn't the best, and sometimes the waitstaff can be a little too standoffish. But overall, good food and a good place for drinks on the rooftop! read more

Came here for a chill Friday night with friends. We made our way to the roof and enjoyed the view, the fair priced drinks, and the atmosphere - way less bumpin' than your typical AdMo spot, which was a great change in pace. The music was a bit strange though, as it ranged from chill beats to depressing Blink 182/Matchbox to upbeat 90s throwbacks. Whacky music aside, the drinks were pretty tasty. My girlfriend and I split two of the specials that were served in carafes - one was a citrusy champagne mix, and the other was just as good (but I cannot recall what it was because it was quite potent). If you're looking to actually talk to your friends and hang out, Roofer's Union seems like a decent place to do so. The roof is covered, and has a lot of tablespace available. The crowd is young and friendly. The are definitely still working out some of the kinks (music, bartenders) but I would happily return. read more

Rooftop is spacious - but expect a line on the weekend or you can wait / drink /eat inside until they call you up. No reason to eat here - i found the food expensive for a bar and also pretty average. The service inside was very slow. Id maybe come back for happy hour if Im in the neighborhood, but i wouldnt select it as a destination. read more

We had our wedding at Roofers Union. We rented out the second floor and rooftop, and EVERYONE loved it. This was due in large part to the amazingly wonderful team (led by their events person, Julia), and the crazy delicious food. I have to admit that I was mostly wary of the food, despite having been to Roofers Union for a number of meals. I wondered whether they really could have flavorful options in massive quantities. They hugely exceeded my expectations. There's not one change I would make to the menu. People adored it. Some of the favorites: mini chicken sausages, BLTs, brussels sprouts with lemon sauce, cauliflower with mint, flatbread, sliders, sweet potato fries, ice cream sundaes. I wish we could do it all over again. I wouldn't change a thing. read more

We really enjoyed our brunch at Roofers Union. We were a large group but the service was top notch. We started with doughnuts which were wonderful the berry sauce was the favorite over the chocolate sauce (though that was good too). Everyone enjoyed their entree too. The highlight of our visit was when my three year old (after not getting something he wanted) decided to separate himself (not too far away) from our group and mope. It wasn't too long before a server sat down on the floor to commiserate with him. A moment that could have become an embarrassing meltdown became a little entertainment for everyone in line of sight. Thanks Roofers Union for giving us an enjoyable morning...great food, great service. What more could you ask for? read more

Roofers Union - The service at Roofers Union is top notch...they even help with parenting! - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Before COVID, I loved Roofers Union. It was my go to place for when friends or family came to town. The food was good, there was something for everyone, and it was fun. Admittedly, I haven't been to Roofers since probably late 2019. But wow, this place took a real nose dive. First, it took up the fad practice of substituting service with a bar code. Personally, I find this practice to be deplorable and insulting esp since they're going to be asking for a tip at the end. Not to mention the staff was just standing around talking to each other rather then provide service. Second, when we did order the food, the "starters" came out at the same time as the meals. Third, the food came out uncomfortably quick. As in this-food-was-just-sitting-around quick. Fourth, the woman who did provide some assistance was rude to us. Fifth, I had the sriracha chicken thigh sandwich. This was my go-to when I went to roofers. It was tasty, delicious, and crunchy. It was something I would crave. This time, not so much. It had no texture or flavor. In addition, it had a strange flavor like it was past it's due date. There's a reason why the place was empty at 6:30 on a Friday. I don't know what happen between 2019 to now (i.e. whether it changed owners) but it has turned out to be a failure. Whoever is managing this place should be ashamed. read more

Great time! From out of town. Enjoyed dinner and the selection of beers! Service was wonderful. The staff went above and beyond. The music was a plus! Try the wings! Chocolate pots de cream was the best!!! read more

Huge fan of D.C and huge fan of this place. A great local and fantastic outdoor seating overlooking the town. Highly recommend. read more

Roofers Union - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A few bites with a perfect punch...literally. After The Reef closed down and Roofers Union took it's place many were hyping this new addition to AdMo up. I believe that explains a lot of the harsh reviews on Yelp. That said, I was excited to try it out and was pleasantly surprised while attending Yelp's Grill and Chill event. First, I must say the staff is excellent. All the bartenders and extremely talkative, super attentive, and get around this ginormous space as if they're gliding. Second, the space is incredible. The second floor windows are HUGE (as you will see on the front of their website). The roof deck offers a great view of 18th St, especially at sunset. Drinks: BOURBON LEMONADE. A This is one of the best boozy lemonade I've had so far and perfect to kick off the summer. Bourbon and dark rum with pineapple and lemonade. Food: FRENCH ONION DIP W/ CHIP ($6): B+ I couldn't stop eating this. The chips are just potato chips, and I think it goes great with their little dense crackers even better. Definitely good with the lemonade. SPICY ITALIAN ($11): B Peppers & onions/ provolone/ pretzel roll. Delicious but definitely not $11 delicious. I recommend Ivy & Coney for cheaper and good quality dogs. Sliders (Variety). B- The fried chicken gets an A. The other 2 (which I don't even recall specifically now) were just an average C. So I'm going to split the difference at a B-. Would I return to Roofers Union? Sure. It was a perfect place on a Tuesday night. Though would I recommend it for dinner? Not yet. I hope to see them develop their menu further and have their taste match their excellent space. read more

Giant facility with a warehouse feeling. The second floor is very open with huge windows and a nice view of Adams Morgan. Further upstairs is the rooftop deck, covered by a giant tent for those slightly rainy nights complete with heaters. Decent view (DC doesn't have very many great views due to height restriction though....), good drinks and good food menu. Oddly not usually very crowded, so give it a try if you're around! read more

Came here with my girlfriend last week. Must try the sausages. They are all delicious. We started with the French onion dip, something we've never had before. It was decent, nothing spectacular. I had the wild black bass which was also decent. The restaurant wasn't very busy and there was only one waitress on staff that day. We sat down and it took the waitress about 10 minutes to take our drink order then about another 10 min to drop off the drink and take our food order. The food came out fast which was nice. Overall, pretty good dining experience. If I was in the area I would probably come back again read more

I came for brunch with a group of 7 and we were so disappointed by the service. Our waitress was no joke ignoring our table, it was unbelievable. We would try to get her attention and she would just blindly ignore us and whenever we saw her - she would just be leaning up at the bar and couldn't be bothered to assist us. We all got maybe two mimosas during our entire 2 hours. Thankfully another waiter came over and helped us get one last mimosa before our time expired. The only reason I'm giving it three stars instead of 0 is because the atmosphere was beautiful and the food was delicious. I highly recommend ordering the tofu scramble! So I guess, if you just want to go for a yummy meal, in a nice atmosphere and you don't mind if your servers ignore you then I would suggest this place. But if you want good respectful service and to actually enjoy your bottomless mimosas then avoid this place. read more

Been here a few times. The rooftop is great, and their punch bowls are surprisingly good/strong. The service is always really nice and friendly. For outside spots in Adams Morgan, it's definitely a plus. So, my rating is more geared towards this place being a bar than a restaurant. The food is hit or miss, I'd say -- more of a miss generally. E.g. the merguez is supposed to be spicy, by definition. But it was bland. The lentils it came on were also bland. However, they do have this fried chicken sandwich with sriracha honey which is really tasty. Everything else...frankly I could make better blindfolded. They really need to up their game there, especially considering a bulk of the space, the second floor, is laid out more like a restaurant than a cool bar. A tip to the owner: if you don't up your food game, you could still compete with the Tryst/Busboys crowd during the day if you got rid of the tables on the second floor and added a bunch of sofas and more casual dining. It would also make the restaurant look significantly less empty around dinner time...there are so many tables there and nobody there...kinda depressing and makes it hard for the space to fill up, because people don't want to stay in a place which feels empty. read more

Great service. Love the mandarin candidate. Also, excellent wings. Skip the Cobb salad

The Bar staff seemed to be irritated with a tipsy friend who was sobering up on the rooftop. This friend did not yell any obscenities or bother anyone at the bar but was tipsy upon entering the bar. She briefly removed her shoes but immediately put them back on when the bar staff asked her to. Our friend remained seated and did not yell or move from her seat after putting on her shoes but the bar staff asked her to leave (after we had already paid over $50). Being tipsy is not a reason to remove someone from a rooftop bar (that serves drinks) unless the individual is disturbing other parties. If, however, being tipsy was a "problem" they should not have let her enter the bar in the first place. Beware of this place especially if you are a person of color, as seemingly unfair treatment towards people of color is a clear trend among the reviews. read more

We went there last night in a party of four for a languid dinner. Because it was a weekday, it was very easy to get reservations -- they likely weren't even required. Front-of-house service was good but shaky -- as all new restaurants tend to be while they work out their kinks. The dining room is nice enough and has a good view down 18th street. We were seated next to the window, which was a little chilly. Roofers has a good wine list and we selected a bottle of the nebbiolo. We also ordered the pork pot, brussel sprouts and artichoke dip to start. The brussel sprouts were good but unexciting, while the artichoke was really good. The pork pot was not what any of us were expecting -- it was a room temperature mason jar of bacon fat that vaguely smelled like tuna salad. Really unappetizing. After the wine, I ordered another glass, while everyone else order cocktails. From my understanding, the cocktails were the best part of the meal and really really yummy. I ordered the BLT on recommendation from our waiter, while the others ordered the chicken sandwich, mussels and burger. The chicken sandwich was good, but too heavily fried. The mussels lacked that really good saucey broth at the bottom of the dish. The burger was fine. My BLT was good (the bacon is smoked in house and was really delicious). Those of us at the table who got fries were unhappy -- they were cold and soggy. Overall I don't think I would recommend Roofers for anything more than a drink. The food was just OK (as so much of it is along 18th Street) but it was fried and greasy feeling. There are very few healthy choices. Hopefully they can refine their menu and make it cohesive, as well as lighten up on the grease -- right now its a hodgepodge of random sandwiches, hot dogs and mussels. It was a solid 3 in my book. read more

DO NOT GO HERE!!! This was the worst bar I ever been to!! The bouncers treated us horribly. Pushed us around because this was the only time they have power. Even when we were on the wait list for 45 minutes, and was finally our turn they kept harassing me and pushing me. This was disgusting and they should fire the people that they have guarding the stairs. If you don't want to be harassed don't go here. read more

Slow service, slow food, and expensive. Skip this place. Brunch here was pretty underwhelming. The tofu scramble lacked scramble. It was literally just some tofu, a couple shrooms, and some home fries in a 6 inch skillet, with a half raw egg on top. It was served hot and the mushrooms were good, but thats about it. $15 for this? Nope. The service was incredibly slow. It took us a while to even get water, let alone coffee. Our scrambles took upwards of45 minutes. They came out super hot as if they had just put in the order. The wait was inexcusable given the restaurant was maybe a third full. Also there was no salt or pepper at the table. read more

I want to give this place more stars, I really do. I was so so excited to actually see a welcome updated and cool restaurant in the neighborhood. It definitely is a better option than the Reef (the nightclub that used to be in the space) I also have been to ripple and really enjoyed my meal there. I have eaten at RU twice. The things that are great about Roofer's Union: The atmosphere is really cool--they did a great job of redoing the space and it's just a fun place to get a drink or have something to eat. The brussel sprouts are incredible and the servers are personable. The beer and wine list is pretty decent and the sausages are usually a hit. Things that aren't quite there yet: Service (on all three occasions that I have visited) hasn't been too smooth--from servers who don't know the menu, to having our party forgotten by the hostess (we were told 20 minutes and then waited for an hour). I had a burger last time, and the actual burger was pretty good but the bun was definitely wonderbread-style and the fries were pretty meh. Could have done better for this type of establishment. read more

3.75 Stars Given it's pedigree, I was hoping to be a bit more impressed. Don't get me wrong, Roofer's Union is not bad, it's just not what I was expecting from the chef of Ripple. It does have a killer space in the old Reef location, with arguably the best rooftop in Adams Morgan (gone are the fish tanks, replaced by workers' coveralls hanaging on the walls). They have upped the draft beer lineup, which now has 21 taps, including New Holland cask IPA and White Birch First Sparrow from New Hampshire, a grodziskie-style smoked beer (reminded me a bit of Stillwater Artisinal's Debauched). Where I think they falter is with the food. Listed under "snacks:, the crispy pig ear salad was quite good (and probably my favorite part of the meal); similar to a frisée salad but with ear substituted for belly. Next up from the "Stuffed/Stacked/Simple" category the merguez with mint, lentils and harissa was also quite tasty, but a little bit pricey at $12. The biggest disappointment (in terms of value) were the piri-piri prawns at $14 for three. The place was hopping, even early on a Saturday night. Without reservations we were forced to sit at on of the communal tables, which didn't really bother me, but try and snag a table next to the huge picture windows to catch some of the great people watching. Bottom line: Definitely a great drinking place, but the food prices could afford to come down a little to align better with the portion sizes. read more

I've been here a few times for drinks and always enjoyed it, so the BF and I thought we'd try it out for brunch. While the menu is fairly simple (read: limited) the food we had was good. I had the fried chicken sandwich and fries and the BF had the Hot Mess. Both were delicious, both were huge, both were worth every calorie. Service was only ok though. Our server wasn't bad, but he wasn't overly attentive; we didn't see much of him during our meal. Regardless, I'll likely be back, but going forward I may just stick to drinks at the bar. read more

NIce, light and bright dining area upstairs. The drinks were good--not too weak. The food was good too--which surprised me. I remember when this place was the Reef and Roofers Union is a HUGE improvement. The staff was super friendly as well. A solid place to try for food if you're in Adams Morgan. read more

Had a reservation for 10 at 8:45 last Saturday...got there about 20 minutes earlier with just one other person and they still sat us (restaurants rarely do that and I thought it was kind of nice). Service was prompt and for the most part- pretty nice. Our server seemed kind of out of it/exhausted- but maybe she was just having a rough day. My only big complaint is that they served my boyfriend's dish to the wrong person and by the time he finally got his, most of us had already finished eating. I'd probably go back again with a smaller party because the food was really good and it was a very cool atmosphere. read more

The food here is really bad and expensive. I was really surprised by the taste of the food. The menu is descent but they put a twist on everything that makes nothing really a safe bet. The pineapple upside down cake was really good but everything else I tried was very disappointing. The service is great but who cares if the food sucks... read more

Came in for brunch and got the tofu scramble, which comes with tofu, kale, mushrooms, and a sunny side up egg. Delicious and filling! I really enjoyed it AND it's a healthy option. Also had a bloody mary which was delicious - and I'm picky about these. Sometimes they just taste like bland tomato juice, but these had just the right kick of spice and were served with olives. Multiple people at the table had the special pumpkin waffles, which they really enjoyed. read more

At first the experience was kind of annoying. The Hostess seemed very rude and then it took us about 15-20 minutes to have a waitress come to us with only 3 tables sat in the whole restaurant. The whole staff seemed to gang up around the end of the bar and just talk. However the experience was quickly changed for the better after the food came. I had the Stuffed Brat with fries and macaroni, utterly amazing. read more

Roofers Union - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I am going to give this place 4 stars, even though I should give it 5. We got seated on a Friday night within 5 minutes. I ordered a sour beer that tasted really light, so I asked my waiter and he said they must have run out, so I got a different brew that was not as great. fried pork skins were amazing and the dipping sauce had great flavor, but it desperately needed salt! The onion dip was the same, great flavor, but really REALLY needed salt. The wings were my favorite out of all three. The spicy, sweet Asian flare always get me. :) Also the band was so talented and made the night, combined with the second floor view memorable. read more

Roofers Union - assorted mix of apps - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Chose this spot with a couple of friends. Large beer selection. . They have flights available. Food selection is unique and interesting. I tried the mussels.. they were tasty and filling, came with fries. Great! Prices aren't too bad. Came on a Thursday night so it was not busy. Service was quick, wish the server was a little more personable. Overall good experience. read more

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This place is unassuming and looking at it from the outside you might not expect such a fantastic atmosphere and meal! Chicken liver mousse is perfect. Beer selection highlights the local hits. And service is welcoming, quick, and helpful. Crispy pig ear salad is light and a small portion, it hits the spot. I really loved this spot and can't wait for my next trip to DC for another great dinner. read more

For me, it was the second or third bar I've ever been in the U.S & also a good starting point for bar hopping in D.C. The most important thing I really liked about this bar was the second-floor & its ambiance; I tirelessly spent a long time, standing on my feet, enjoying the view of Adams Morgan & learning how to socialize with friends & new friends-to-be ;-) I will revisit here the next time I come to D.C. Even though I don't drink or go to bars, I will always like to spend some time here & will always associate Roofers' Union with a great memory from D.C. Enjoy your evenings, especially sunsets, here ;-) read more

Very good food, great brunch spot. Wonderful view and ambience. Very child friendly. My daughter loved the crayons and coloring and actually behaved the whole meal, and her kids meal was good. My waffle was nice and my husband liked the fried chicken. Going back soon. read more

Adams Morgan is a very different animal on Monday, and Roofers Union's Happy Hour is symbolic. Ambiance is quiet and laid back. Their second floor bar is clean and bright at sunset. Staff is friendly and helpful. My wife and I came here for happy hour round one. We left and promptly came back; no other bar locally offered the combination of environment and value. You can even find street parking! Good and drink specials are great. $3 local craft brews (I recommend the Optimal Wit and Atlas Rye), and great munchies (Siracha Honey Wings are the perfect combination of sweet and spicy; chicken sausage delicious). For those willing to go full price, their rooftop is beautiful especially as the edge of summer. Highly recommend. This will be a regular for me. read more

Roofers Union - Two Optimal Wit and an Atlas Rye... Just $3 each! - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food was good! Drinks were better. A little expensive for what you get, but I was pleased overall. The ordering process is different. I'm not a local and had no idea you had to order at the bar, so I just sat there looking dumb for a few minutes before I figured it out. It was a good experience though and I'd go again! read more

I had heard great things about Roofers Union from friends and finally came here for brunch recently. The space was lovely, with lots of natural light and cute napkins/cups. All the plates delivered to nearby tables looked amazing, and I settled on the BLT with egg, substituting breakfast potatoes as my side. It was very good, though I would've liked a touch more seasoning on the potatoes and filling for the sandwich - it didn't quite reach all the sides of the bread. My friend said her burger was good too. I was slightly disappointed that they wouldn't accommodate my request to sit by the window (at a table of the same size) when they seated us, but I'd return/recommend for the food and ambiance. read more

Roofers Union - BLT with egg. Subbed breakfast potatoes for my side (the default choice is fries or a salad). - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

5 of us went for the Bottomless Mimosa Brunch . We had an early reservation so the place was mostly empty. Our food was ok, but the service was pitiful.Food arrived lukewarm, and when we mentioned it, our server just kind of stared at us - confused. After a very awkward pause he said that he would "see what he could do" and then turned around and left. About 20 minutes later he brought the replacement which was MUCH better! The mimosas were delicious - but it was like extracting teeth to get a refill - especially once the restaurant filled up. It was a fun and lively ambience and had the service been better (and the food hot) it could earn more stars from our group. read more

As a bar, it's trying a little too hard. As an underrated Adams Morgan restaurant, I'm glad they're trying as hard as they are. The food's solid. Really enjoyed the fried chicken thigh - a little sweet, but all in all a good sandwich. Either way, it's better than the Reef. read more

Great beer list and tasty food. What a great addition to the neighborhood ! The spicy sausage, artichoke dip and chicken sausage are great options. The menu changes by season, but if you catch the brussels sprouts, those are excellent. Just note that if you order the Marquez, the lamb sausage comes out in a curl-like form over some lentils and doesn't look very appetizing. If you get over the visual, it is quite tasty. read more

Roofers Union - Marquez sausage over lentils. Tasty, but odd visual. - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was invited to brunch for my girlfriends birthday. The restaurant was nice. But the service was very slow. Our waiter didn't greet our table until 15 minutes later. I had to notify the hostess for someone to come over. It seemed to be only two servers in the entire dining room. The food was mediocre. I ordered the hot mess which the menu stated: peppers, onions, fried chicken, sausage gravy, home fries, and a sunny egg. There were barely any peppers or onions. A small piece of chicken. And the food was warm. The only good thing that came out of it were the bottomless mimosas!! lol I probably won't go back....actually I'm 99.9% sure I won't go back read more

The basics: Great burgers, nice staff, and noisy to the point of being painful, even for Adams Morgan. The good: It's known for its burgers, and ours were delicious. Cooked the way we liked them, with lots of choices and tons of fries, plus the option of gluten-free buns (well, bread). Our host and server were fast and friendly. Seating, our drinks, ordering, and our food all happened promptly. It's a big, industrial, multi-level space with a rooftop deck with a nice view, and with huge windows in the tall-ceilinged second-floor dining room. Prices are reasonable considering that it's a DC hotspot. The bad: It's ridiculously noisy, even for an Adams Morgan restaurant, probably due to the massive windows and other hard surfaces, and worsened by "background" music cranked up to be audible above the echoing din of the large drinking and dining crowd. My friend and I had to sit head-to-head and literally shout at each other. I'm a DC resident and a drummer who has played onstage with amplifiers for decades, so when I tell you that Roofers Union is crazy noisy for a joint with no band, I mean it. Manufactured noise in public spaces -- including ceaseless background music, video, and the current restaurant fashion of hard-surfaced interiors -- has gotten so bad that patrons now cite it in restaurant reviews. I'm doing that here: If you want to actually speak with your dinner companion, avoid Roofers Union on weekends. The bottom line: Enjoy the food and beware the brutal decibel level unless you're out to get senselessly drunk. read more