I could not recommend this place enough. We went for my wife's birthday in which they customized the menu wishing her a Happy Birthday at the top. The bread and butter alone is worth coming back for. Overall, each dish was easily a 10/10 and just an incredible dining experience. The staff were generous, patient and thoughtful. Looking forward to coming back. read more

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Phenomenal meal at Rooster & Owl tonight. Super laid back, homey, and welcoming environment for for a date night or an evening out with a friend who loves food. Service was spotless - attentive, knowledgeable, friendly, unobtrusive. Food was fantastic - creative use of ingredients and playing with elements from different cuisines. Make sure you build in extra time to find parking though because it's brutal. We started with the caviar service - probably the best I've ever had. Of course the star - the caviar were nutty, not overly briney, and crisp. The accoutrements were such a highlight though - traditional crème fraiche, scallions, and shallot - but also pickled daikon and some sherry vinegar... really elevated the experience and made the caviar pop. For the pre fixe each person orders 1 dish from each of 4 sections for $95 per person. We were also able to add dishes a la carte for $15 each. We started with heirloom tomatoes, tuna tartare, and scallop crudo. The tomatoes were so fresh with a punch of citrus and acid from the gazpacho cream and a nice earthiness and crispness from the everything bagel lavash. The tuna tartare was a bit of a letdown if I'm honest. It was kind of bland, and the fish didn't taste as fresh as I'm used to. The scallop crudo however was a revelation - the sweet and spicy mix of coconut milk and chili paste with the bold citrus all worked in harmony with the fresh scallops. It was as if I was having sushi, Tom Kai gai soup, and orange slices all at the same time. Second we ordered the squid salad and banh mi. Squid was great - nice texture, not too chewy, excellent umami from the slightly roasted golden tomatoes, crunch from the peanuts, and brightness from papaya. The highlight of the night for me was the banh mi. Not your typical foie gras on brioche - the carrot and coriander sauce brought balance and the chili brought some heat to even out the richness of the foie. I would have this every day if I could. Third we ordered the quail and the cacio e-lote. The quail was perfectly cooked, delicate and savory. The ratatouille it came with though was one of the most delicious components to a dish I've had in recent memory. Just really loved this dish. We ordered the cacio e-lote because it sounded interesting, mixing a Roman staple with a Mexican one. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the fresh corn was so sweet and added a great crunch as a contrast to the pasta. For me though, the mixture of the pecorino with cotija cheeses were just too overpowering. Even with the sweetness of the corn, I found the cheese to be too much. Still - give them points for inventiveness. For dessert we ordered the cheesecake, the hummingbird cake, and the pan a cotta (I know it sounds excessive that we had caviar and 2 extra dishes - but it wasn't gluttonous). The cheesecake starts out great with the sweetness from the praline, but then the goat cheese takes over and dominates all the other flavors. If you love goat cheese, this is a dessert for you. I just like goat cheese, so it was a bit much for my taste. I really liked the hummingbird cake - interesting burned brown sugar notes from basically a carrot cake with spicy pineapple and Carmel - a really layered and flavorful dessert. The best one though was the pana cotta - it almost ate like a creamy strawberry lemonade. Just try it, trust me. In the end we were very full - had we still gotten caviar but not done the two supplemental dishes we probably would've walked out perfectly fine - but I probably wouldn't recommend just the 4 courses per person because the servings are small. After tip the bill was $490, which I thought was reasonable given the supplements and caviar service. I highly recommend this place and we will definitely be back! read more

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Overall the experience at Rooster and Owl was a pleasant one. We went on a Tuesday night and every table was full. The decor is relaxed, more coffee house than fancy shmancy... with shelves stacked with cook books and wood tables and comfy leather chairs. The service was prompt and servers were polite and always kept my utensils clean and water filled. The food was excellent, despite not being enough. However, my mocktail (lychee vanilla) tasted slightly of vanilla but lacked any other flavor. Basically I paid $10 for some vanilla iced water. I dropped a star here related to the logistics of this type of service with a group. We came with a large group and were required to sign a contract and reserve an early or late mealtime. We got the tasting menu and I enjoy the adventure that tasting menus take me on. However, I hadn't expected to be sharing dishes with folks at my table (total of 6). I also ended up requesting serving utensils as it's not sanitary to have everyone digging into the dishes with a dirty utensil. The portions were small and sometimes we would get one serving of a dish, sometimes two. It was hard to discern if there was a pattern as the quantity of food varied. For instance, for our table of six and the dry aged strip only came with 5 pieces. Usually I got only one or two bites of each dish, really not enough to savor. I would recommend for a date or maybe for up to four people who are comfortable sharing dishes. I would not recommend for a larger party. read more

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Second time coming here and both times were absolutely delicious! The waiters are so friendly and attentive to every little detail. They explained the foods wonderfully and the dishes all tasted as good or even better than they looked. I came with 4 people including me so we got the pleasure of being able to taste every single thing on the menu. Some of the highlights were for sure the striped bass which was all of our favorites. The starter pineapple buns were so good, scallop crudo, tuna tartare, scallion naan, banh mi, quail, calcio elote, dry age strip, humming bird cake, and pecan pie. It's a big list but that's how good everything was! Only dishes I'd pass on would be the shishito peppers and tzatziki salad as they were pretty simple. The restaurant is not big and pretty casual inside with some outdoor seatings as well. read more

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We arrived in DC and headed to our hotel in Scott Circle to relax a bit before the kids called us up and wanted us to go to dinner. Walked around a bit and admired the changes in the neighborhood as we were walking up 14th Street. My old condo was on 15th and Belmont, on the other side of the block where the Roosters & Owl is located, so it was a wonderful memory lane. I remember that block as an unsafe strip mall and it is so welcome to see the entire block shrine. We got to the restaurant and admired the up-to-date, beautiful decor and furnishings. Our reservations were honored on the spot and we sat close to the bar and kitchen prep area, so we got an amazing view of the beehive of activity that is Rooster & Owl. There was a small army of restaurant staff whio made us feel at home. Ginger was awesome as a server. And so were the assistants. Our water glasses were always full. The courtesy, efficiency and competence of the entire staff is a testimony to good hiring practices and good training and team spirit. The inspiring menu is a prix fixe setup with four sets of four dishes each, the guest can choose one of each for $95. There is another addition available of wine pairings for $85 per person. However, as we all wanted different things, we opted to sit this one out. We started the evening with some absolutely amazing cocktails designed by the Beverage Director Chris Sang. Each was better than the previous one. As we were four, we got one each of every item in the menu. Appetizers featured the Cucumber spirals with pickled fresno, garlic crunch, on a bed of tahini, a distinct dish. Then the Baby Red beets with lemon and hazelnut, added to the faire. Next were the ocean trout Carpaccio, followed by the Steak Tartare, this last one with Thai green papaya, mango and potato chips. The next wave of courses included Scallion Nann, with sesame hummus; the English Pea Rangoon; the White Asparagus with trout roe and smoked tomato; and the pork belly with braised eel and succotash relish. The third batch contained the Spinach Cavatelli with mushrooms and Brie; the Kampachi Congee with Tempura Crunch; a delightful Chicken Presse with roasted subchokes and ramps; a Spring Lamb with green harissa and asparagus. As if that wasn't enough, we were treated to four desserts that included a Hummingbird Cake with chili pineapple, cream cheese and coconut sorbet; a burnt orange pavlova with Yuzu curd; an Olive Oil Cake with mascarpone; and a Chocolate Cremeux We had a fantastic evening with family and enjoying the meaning of Father's Day in the midst of some of the best food and service in the business. This is a gem of a place, well worth the Michelin star unique to very few restaurants in the country. read more

Michelin star worthy without all the fuss and circumstance. What stood out most to me was the quality of service, as the servers were attentive, friendly and not overly pretentious. We had a reservation and were seated promptly. We sat in the main dining area, although you could make a reservation at the bar. There was also a patio option, but it was raining. We were provided detailed explanations about the meal, and we both felt the amount of food was sufficient after dining. While some people claimed they remained hungry, that was not our experience. There is an optional wine pairing and the wines were perfectly selected. We truely had an amazing experience here and I continue to recommend the restaurant to others who want a quality meal, relaxed atmosphere, and creative bites. read more

All I can say is that the Michelin star is truly well deserved. Service: 20/10 Came by for a birthday dinner and ALL of the staff were saying it! They were extremely attentive and everyone worked together so well. Food came out relatively quickly, detailed explanations of each dish. Busboys came out to clear plates after each course, wiping down the table each time. Our server was so helpful and quick even on a busy evening. Food: 10/10 LOVE that the tasting menu has options to choose from, had basically a taste of 2 tasting menus! My favorites were the bbq carrots, bahn mi, honey glazed duck, and the cheesecake! The chocolate cremeux was good but not great, wish I went for the early grey panna cotta instead. Ambiance: 8/10 Not a lot of space from where I sat, could definitely overhear the conversations of tables to either side of us. They dimmed the lighting around 9pm which I thought was a bit late, wouldve expected closer to 7-8pm. 2 gender neutral restrooms, both very clean and spacious. Overall, would love to come back since I know they have seasonal menus. Innovative dishes with interesting textures and flavors. S read more

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4.5 stars. I loved starting out the pineapple bun as an app (they just give this to you). I wish I could get MORE - I actually don't know if you can order more. Then my friend and I picked out what we wanted to try and shared. The portions are small, but we don't eat too much so it was really PERFECT portions for us. I think in terms of the food, there is a lot of thought and care put into creating the dishes, plating, presentation, and bringing it out to you. The servers were so nice and my water was always filled. They also were happy to stop over to explain the dish again bc I forgot what I was eating or found some really cool flavors popping out in my mouth! Just pick the dishes based on what you want to try/your preference and you'll probably really enjoy it! I did find the bouillabaisse to be a little weird, can't really put my finger on it, but maybe it's the fusion of kimchi with French seafood stew. Normally I love both, but separately. Other than that, I think I really enjoyed everything. I really liked the cornbread ice cream, which I thought was very unique! Restrooms - they have 2 single-person use restrooms, both very clean. One was decorated with rooster theme and the other - you guessed it! - owl. I thought that was also really thoughtful and charming. It was easy to get to with public transit in DC (parking is hard in DC!) and we really had a nice experience with the chef's tasting menu. Make sure you do reservations! read more

Came here with my fiancee for her birthday dinner and it was a fantastic experience. Despite the Michelin star the vibe was not pretentious but with the same quality and excellence one would come to expect. We started with the steak tartare which was absolutely fantastic. The highlight of the night for me was the shrimp toast for the second course. As someone who is half chinese the shrimp toast felt like a bite of home. I finally understand how Ego felt when he drops his pen in Ratatouille. The steak and salmon were delicious but did not blow me away like the previous two courses. The basil/pomegranate dessert was my favorite and a delight to eat. Lots of complimentary surprises and excellent service leads to 5* from me! read more

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I've been to other highly rated restaurants this just didn't meet the standard. Service was great but for the price extremely underwhelming unfortunately. read more

TLDR: Book your reservation and eat all of their food! You won't regret it! Everything was delicious! Michelin star restaurant that exceeded my expectations. This was our first dinner reservation when we visited DC on vacation and boy did we start off on a high note! Made a reservation 2 weeks in advance for a Friday evening. If you're looking to visit on a weekend, make those reservations early! Service: Everyone from the host to the servers were so friendly. Attentive to our drinks and checked in periodically. They also explained the menu well and the food came out at a good pace. Came in with a group of 4 and did the tasting menu. We were open to eating everything on the menu. Our server suggested for us to get one of each dish since there were 4 options for each part of the dinner and shared it family style. Anything that we enjoyed we ordered additional plates a La carte, we ordered extra Fancy Tots and "Banh Mi". We enjoyed the whole tasting menu. Favorites: Carolina BBQ Carrots, Fancy Tots, "Banh Mi", Cacio E Pepe, Earl Grey Panna Cotta The dining experience here was superb. Props to the chef and rest of the team at Rooster & Owl. I look forward to my next reservation here when I come back to DC. read more

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Okay this place is super expensive but wow I was blown away! It's a tasting menu and we loved everything we tried! Pictures below I will say the one thing I'm knocking a star off for is the lamb. You get three tiny pieces and the price was extra in addition to the $100 you already have to spend. Perfect for a special occasion. read more

Rooster & Owl - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We came here for a third time but decided to bring family to celebrate a huge milestone birthday. Big shout out to Carey Tang for helping me secure the reservation months in advance too, very much appreciated. We already thought this was our favorite restaurant but the meal we had really just solidified it. Every drink and dish was spot on. Since there was four of us we ordered every dish and shared it. We also ordered a few extras and they gave us a few on the house which was amazing of them. Our server was so attentive and engaging. The whole staff was perfect top to bottom. Highlights off the top of my head were the Asparagus Dan Dan, Scallop Crudo, Fancy Tots (ordered 2), Bahn Mi (had 2), Braised Lamb, and the Chocolate Cremeux. Our favorites really were the the Bahn Mi and the Braised Lamb which we talked about so much after we left they were so good. We all also got different cocktails that I don't exactly remember but they were so amazing that we got 2 rounds. Really just amazing experience. There is still a great casual feel with such a high quality of food and plating. There is no doubt that we will all be back! read more

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We went here for Valentine's Day 2023. The set menu price was $40 more per person then on a regular day so we were expecting a couple extra things. What we got extra was four lychee gummy's at the end of our meal and a shortbread cookie dessert to take home. I would recommend coming here when the price is set to the regular $85 not sure that it was worth $125 a person. The food was seriously amazing though. My favorite was the Caccio a Pepe pasta. And my boyfriends favorite was the Bahn mi, which was an explosion of flavor in your mouth. It's four courses and because we're two people who share all our food we got to try to multiple things for each course, you could also add on something from any course for just $10. So we got two extra plates. The drinks are all really good I really like the are you ready for this jelly and ricotta-ta-ta. read more

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Their menu is great and not a bad price for the quality and amount of food you get. You definitely won't leave hungry. Each course comes with a few selections so you can pick and choose different ones if you go with a group and try different dishes. Their sister restaurant Ellie Bird is also really good and worth trying out! read more

We celebrated our anniversary here, and received a handwritten card from rooster and owl, which was very thoughtful of them. We were seated on the patio, although the weather was nice, the ambiance indoor was much nicer. I would request to sit inside next time. I liked the food and drinks, but the food portions are definitely on the smaller side. Glad that we ordered an extra course of entree. Burrata and shiitake larb were my favorites, not a fan of the potato gnocchi, it's tasted fishy with the fish roe. the entrees were good but not too impressive. On last note, our server was nice throughout the night, but he took the bill before we left. It was a little rude in my opinion. Overall good experience, might come back to try different food because they update menus every 6 weeks. read more

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Must try. This was my husband and I's second One Star experience but first in DC. We were impressed every step of the way throughout our dinner. The explanation of menu items, progression/timing of courses, friendliness of staff, overall ambiance of the restaurant/kitchen. We felt how proud the restaurant was of their recognitions in the most humble way. Would recommend to anyone local or traveling from out if town like we were. read more

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We went for a birthday dinner and this might have been the best meal I've had thus far in DC! They offer a prix fixe menu for $95 per person (4 courses) and menu seems to change every so often. Before the meal begins, they give you a pineapple bun -- to die for! So soft and chewy with a pint of pineapple flavor. Reminds me of a great brioche bun. We ordered a variety of dishes but our favorite was the sea bass (Norwegian) that basically melted in our mouth and scallion naan. Scallop was well cooked too - buttery, soft, and not rubbery at all. Overall loved their asian fusion twist to every single dish; executed very well. Flavors balance was on spot! Ambiance is nice - slightly loud given it's a small space, but it's fun, cozy, and pretty modern. Service was good, very attentive and not overbearing. Our waitress seemed to in training or newer (she was nice, but a little awkward), but still nice. Oh I got a cute little birthday card signed from staff and a complementary ice cream cake (black sesame flavor). A nice touch to our evening. Had an amazing experience at Rooster & Owl and we'll definitely be back again! read more

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Phenomenal food. Great service. Seasonal and delicious menu. One of my favorite places to stop in and have a meal when in DC. Highly recommend. read more

Wonderful dinner experience at Rooster and Owl. My partner and I visited on a weeknight and tried the tasting menu. Everything was delicious and we especially loved the short rib tortellini. R&O was sensitive to my partner's shellfish allergy, clearly noting the dishes with shellfish and confirming what was shellfish free as it was presented to our table. The cocktails were delicious and service was 10/10. read more

I enjoyed an excellent meal here with my boyfriend and his family! I highly recommend going as a party of 4, as there are 4 dishes per course - so with four people you can try everything on the menu! Two in our party got a mocktail which had lychee flavor, it was pretty good! The Pineapple buns to start were really good - we ended up ordering a second helping of them later (extra $). The first course was pretty good overall. The kampachi was good, the raw yellowtail. The Galette and Foie Gras was overall okay but nothing amazing. Plating was very cute overall. The brussel sprouts tasted pretty good but the plating for that one was slightly messy and the cheddar cheese didn't make it look any better or elevate the dish, but that's just my thought. The second course was better! The autumn mushrooms was a party favorite. The harissa sauce is sooo good and the texture of the mushrooms were delish. The mussels were alright (the dish with the green escabeche/sauce). Felt like there were a lot of ingredients. For a dish like this, each of us 4 were able to have at least 1 mussel, lucky if we got two. The gnocchi was good, but nothing too crazy. The uni butter sauce was what made it unique (unfortunately I don't like uni). The meatballs were alright too. It was pretty but the meatballs didn't blow me away. We had a long wait between the second and third course. A good time to make conversation but almost too long.. which is why we ordered another dish of the pineapple buns. The third course was worth the wait! My favorite was the black bass with pumpkin mole. The fish was cooked excellently!! however I didn't think the pumpkin mole added much. We ended up eating the fish and the mole in separate bites. The pappardelle was nice and reminded me a lot of bolognese to be honest, I didn't taste a distinct flavor of duck in the sausage. We all loved the hanger steak. The sauce was amazing, and we licked that plate clean. The potato pave was one of the prettiest looking dishes. I loved the cut of the potato! The dessert was the last and fourth course. Everything was refreshing and delish. My favorite was the fig cheesecake! The chocolate cremeux was a crowd favorite as the different praline for texture and coffee flavor made for a tasty blended bite! The apple financier was very yum. It's served in a deep bowl which hides some of the dish, so only when you dig your spoon in do you get the previously hidden flavors. One of my favorite things about the dinner were all the fun and interesting designs of the plates and bowls in which the food was served. When asking the server where they get them, the server replied, "I don't know about that stuff, not my circus not my monkeys. I just do my job and get paid". More a rhetorical question as I don't expect the staff to tell me where they source their tableware. A bit amusing at most but also an interesting comment I wouldn't quite expect at a Michelin starred restaurant ? One small disappointment - it was my boyfriend's birthday, and we indicated it on the reservation. The hostess wished him a "happy birthday" when we were being seated, but some reviews have said you get a card, some get a small dessert etc. so knowing that and expecting something beforehand was a little sad :/ The food was great and we enjoyed our dinner. I think the pineapple buns were the dish to make us full. I do appreciate that any dish could be added on for an add'l $10! I do recommend Rooster and Owl overall. read more

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Came here on my birthday with my parents and girlfriend. It's $85 per person for the four-course meal, with four options to choose from in each course. Since there were four of us, we were able to try every item on the menu, which was really fun, so I definitely recommend coming in a party of four if you can. And it's $10 to add any additional dish to your meal, which I think is a pretty fair price. The menu is diverse and creative- many dishes had very interesting combinations of flavors and textures. The menu does change throughout the year, but some standout dishes we had were dishes like the Kampachi, Autumn Mushrooms with harissa and honeynut squash, the Potato Pave, and the Black Bass pumpkin mole, farro, and pearl onions. If those dishes are on the menu, I definitely recommend going for those. The atmosphere was trendy and lively but also cozy. The service was good, although we did have to wait a fairly long time in between the second and third course. Also, I had indicated my birthday on the reservation and was greeted with a "happy birthday" which was nice, but after reading reviews about people receiving cards, small desserts, etc. when coming on their birthdays, I was a bit disappointed that I didn't receive something similar. But I understand if that's the protocol they have with birthdays nowadays! I'd say overall, the experience was nice and the food was deserving of a Michelin star. I need to come back to try new dishes when the menu changes. read more

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Rooster and Owl is a smaller but fun and lively restaurant. Dinner is $85/person and you choose 4 courses and each course has 4 options. I got the galette (Brie on a tart), potato gnocchi, pappardelle with duck sausage and cheesecake. My husband and I ordered a few extra courses ($10 each) so I also tried the black bass and maple sponge. Overall the food was good but inconsistent and compared to several other Michelin star restaurants we've been to, I'm actually surprised they have a star. It was a good meal but nothing wowed me and made me want to come back. The potato gnocchi was the best tasting course I had - they were pillowy soft and the uni sauce was really different. I also really liked the cheesecake - it was super soft and creamy. But I wasn't a big fan of the duck sausage in the pappardelle course (would've been so much better with a beef bolognese type sauce) and the others were just okay. The service was good and they gave my husband a congratulations card and gave us both champagne since we were celebrating a special occasion which was a really nice touch! That said, as a Michelin starred restaurant I had higher expectations. read more

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Do not sleep on Rooster & Owl! I was able to make reservations for Friday night the week of thanks to Resy alerts and had the best night. I had only ever had their takeout during Covid and definitely underestimated the in house experience. It is a fairly small place with a single bathroom but surprisingly, there was never a line each time I went. I would also say that Rooster & Owl is a more lively dinner spot than a traditional fancy Michelin restaurant, which I prefer. Our server, Kennedy, added so much to the entire experience! She helped with the ordering process by validating our choices/making recommendations and selected my wines based on my typical preference (I loved all of them). The way she described the wines she selected for me was so animated and descriptive too. Truly the best service! We were feeling fancy and started with the champagne and caviar which included the caviar plate and two glass of champagne and while delicious, I wouldn't get it again. My friend and I ordered different options for each course to share except for the Short Rib tortellini which we both wanted as our entrees. For the amazing deal of $15 to add any course, we added the Chicken Presse entree to also try. Definitely take advantage of this to taste and add more options! My favorites for each course were the BBQ Carrots, Seared Scallops, Short Rib Tortellini, and Hummingbird Cake. I also don't normally order chicken but this was a standout! The chocolate cremeux was good but I wouldn't order it again and it didn't even come close in a competition with the hummingbird cake! Next time, I would like to also try the Hasselback Potato which Kennedy had recommended. I will be returning for sure! read more

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I celebrated my 6th wedding anniversary, and it was such a wonderful time at Rooster & Owl. The chef and I attended the same high school, and he was nice enough to step away from the kitchen to say hello. From start to finish, the dining experience was great! Most noteworthy were the caviar and champagne service, and the country fried steak. Everything was nicely presented and very flavorful. I will note that parking can be a challenge, but I called the restaurant and was informed that there are limited spaces in the back, which is where I parked. This was after circling around many blocks for 10 mins. I can't wait until their sister restaurant opens up! read more

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Whew. Where do I start. The chef tasting menu had some great options to choose from. I originally ordered the beets but I'm not a fan of beets and I tried really hard to like it but I gave it to my date and opted for the Asian pear appetizer. Absolutely delicious. It was light and mild. A great way to start the course. They do serve you two pineapple crusted buns. They didn't taste like pineapple but were sweet and the butter added a nice contrast of flavors. My next course consisted of the scallion naan with a hummus base. 10/10. The naan could have been crispier but nonetheless, all the flavors in the bowl went great as a dip for the naan. The 3rd course consisted of a perfectly cooked cod fish. It was flaky and cooked to perfection. Seasoned lightly. And for my dessert course, I ordered the Hummingbird Cake. YUM-MY! It came with a coconut crisp on top of a scoop of coconut sorbet. The cake itself was fluffy and left me so satisfied with how tasty everything was. The only thing i'd suggest for next time is that we order another dish so I can be full (an extra charge but worth it). read more

Rooster & Owl - Beets - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We dined here with a party of 3 in September of this year. I think 3 is a perfect number of people to try the tasting menu, because you can each order the full menu ($85/pp), then add an extra dish to each course for $10 each. So you can try the full 16 course menu for $295 (before tip and tax). We sat on the patio on an early September day. The weather was a little warm, so it was nice to sit outside except for the DC mosquitos that attacked us here and there. Our server was excellent and came around to explain the menu and his favorites. First Course: Highlights were the watermelon bites and peach salad. Very fresh with in-season produce and a combination of sweet and savory. The cucumber spirals were also good with the garlic and peanut-buttery flavor. Ahi tuna was just okay, I didn't think it was that special. Second Course: Shrimp tartine and king trumpet noodles were the highlights of the second course. Yuca tots were interesting, but just okay. Not a big fan of the chirashi hand roll. I feel like the fish was just okay and making hand rolls was weird. Third Course: The scallops were the star of the third course. The lamb "gyro" was very interesting in its presentation and the flavors were good. The fried chicken sauce really threw us off and the cacio e pepe was not too exciting. Desserts: Presentation of the desserts was amazing, but not sure if we had one that really stuck out to us. The tropical tres leches and corn panna cotta were interesting and unique. The mint chocolate just tasted like a chocolate bar. Presentation of the food was 5/5 and most of the dishes were pretty high up there either a 4/5 or 5/5. I think the Japanese ones were pretty mid, not a great implementation of those. Overall, I thought the experience was enjoyable to try - so many small dishes to share. Not our favorite one Michelin star in DC, but glad we got to try it! Would recommend trying it out with a group and sharing almost everything. read more

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Finally got to try the super popular 1 Michelin restaurant. For as much as I heard about the place, I'm not sure it lived up to the hype. There were lots of good dishes, some amazing, and some that were maybe not for my palette. While I was not blown away, I think it was still a nice place to try. My favorites were the Hasselback Potato, Seared Scallop, and the Hummingbird Cake. Service was absolutely amazing and attentive. read more

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Came for a birthday tradition of trying a new restaurant with a Michelin star - had this one on my list, and when a friend said 'best meal of my life' - I was sold and booked the reservation. Very quaint and comfortable environment, didn't feel stuffy or like it was too much of a 'production'. I also liked that they provided a purse hook for me at the table! Had great service from start to finish - host, servers, runners all were lovely. The host even remembered it was my birthday on the way out! Very professional servers/runners, explaining each dish as it came out. The server noted which dishes had my allergens (based on my reservation notes). There appeared to be one server in training who came to our table a few times, but she did a great job as well too. For drink, we got the "what she's having" and the "almost naked and barely famous" cocktails, and we both enjoyed them. Now the food - everything was so delicious! It was four courses, plus a starter and little palate cleanser that came wit the check, so it felt like a bonus two courses to me! The bread starter was delicious, kind of like hawaiian rolls and the butter was yummy. For first course we got the cacio e pepe pears, which were so unique and had great textures - might have been my favorite of the night. The everything bagel beet salad was fresh and seasoned well. For the second course, we got the shrimp toast - wow, this had great texture, flavor, and nice sauce pairings. We also got the oxtail 'pot roast' that was braised in pho with a puree - so delicious and the pho braised added a wonderful depth of flavor. Third course we got the chicken presse - it was cooked to be so tender and juicy, with lots of flavor. We also got the squash carbonara - another standout of the night, all the flavor of a carbonara with a nice depth with the squash addition, tasted like fall. Then they brought me a little birthday ice cream sandwich and it also came with a card that was/appeared to be 'signed' by all of the staff which was a nice touch. For dessert we got the maple cake, this was good spiced cake and had autumnal flavors as well. The chocolate mousse was light and the sesame was a unique spin, however the nori was not our favorite - we are not huge seaweed fans, but I also thought it was too savory paired with this dessert. Desserts for me were not the best I've ever had, but I still enjoyed both very much. Last, with the bill, came pumpkin marshmallows and apple cider gummies, both which were pleasant. Overall, the portions were perfect and we left feeling full, but not stuffed -- and didn't feel like we left much left on any of our plates. I would definitely recommend this place - at the $105 flat rate per person, this is a GREAT deal for the food quality, courses, spectacular service, and cosy environment. read more

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6.8/10 Dined on 7/27/24 Rooster and Owl's menu is seasonally driven with flavors that lean Asian but also incorporate other regional influences and cooking techniques. Carrying a Michelin star since 2021, we were anticipating a knockout meal. While we appreciated the diversity of the prix fixe menu, the starters and desserts were ultimately the strongest offerings. The rest ranged from fine to completely missing the mark. The plating and styling of the food, however, were consistently well done. The cocktail list was well conceptualized but promised more than what was delivered. The quality and quantity of the food for $95 per person felt like good value, but the meal was not impressive enough to warrant another trip over similarly priced options in the city. Follow us on Instagram for our full review @twogaysthreetakes ________________________________ scallop crudo strawberry, nuoc cham, katsuobushi steak tartare thai green papaya, mango, potato chips english pea rangoon green aioli, sweet pepper relish, calabrian honey pork belly corn pudding, braisel eel, succotash relish spinach cavatelli mushroom duxelles hon-shimeji, petit basque kampachi congee, ginger scallion, tempura crunch chicken presse roasted sunchokes, swiss chard, chicken jus olive oil cake semolina, cherry, mascarpone chocolate ganache devil's food cake, caramel, espresso foam ________________________________ On paper, Rooster and Owl had a lot of interesting dishes, but when actualized, most of them fell flat. This isn't to say we had a bad meal, but my overall impression was mid. We started strong with the steak tartare -- it was aggressively seasoned with a level of heat that actually packed a punch. The mango added some fruitiness and textural variation to round things out. The scallop crudo had potential, but the strawberry sorbet belonged on a dessert plate - it was cloyingly sweet and honestly spoiled what could have been a stand out dish. The rangoon was a fun concept, but the wonton shell was greasy. Between the honey and the sweet pepper relish there was a need for some acid to lighten things up. The spinach cavatelli were perfectly cooked, although the 'everything but the bagel seasoning' garnish felt gimmicky and didn't complement the rest of the dish. The kanpachi was bland and frankly looked horrid on the plate - the ginger scallion condiment was absolutely delicious, but only a quarter sized serving made its way onto the fish. The other offerings were good, but ultimately forgettable. The desserts, however, were both strong and ended the evening on a good note. -TWP ________________________________ Rooster and Owl had components of a Michelin star-worthy meal, but everything just seemed a bit off. The service was attentive to the point of being hovering. The food attempted innovation, but the creativity was ill-conceptualized or was drowned out by other flaws. The sorbet on the scallop crudo was a miss--it was too sweet and overpowered a delicate ingredient. The aioli, relish, and honey on the rangoon were delicious, but were barely noticeable paired with steaming cream cheese in a not-crisp-enough wonton. The eel and pork belly terrine was a no--just too weird of a flavor combination. I could go on. Some stuff, especially the tartare, was quite good and I appreciate thinking outside the box, but ultimately there was just a lot that missed the mark. -JB read more

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The best meal I've had in DC so far! Rooster and Owl is a snug little spot that offers a course menu for a decent price. All of the dishes have an Asian twist to it and the chefs here do an amazing job balancing the flavors very well. We came to celebrate a birthday and it was a total success. Every dish was cooked to perfection -- from their starter brioche pineapple bread all the way to dessert. They even offered us a complementary birthday cake off the menu. Last but not least, they have their own / specialty whiskey made specifically for them from a local distillery. Loved it so much that I ended up getting a bottle from them. Service is great, our night was perfect. We will definitely be back again to try their rotating menu! read more

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This might be an unpopular opinion but I think the experience at Rooster & Owl is overpriced. I visited her with a girlfriend on Friday night and made reservations in advance. The dining experience is set for 2 hours, my friend thought she'd me late so I asked if we could shift our reservation by 30 mins to allow for flexibility. I was told that we'd still need to fit out experience within the 2 hour window, which was fine. When we arrived they told me they couldn't accommodate our request, unless we wanted to dine on the patio. Also not a problem but the conversion I had with on hostess versus another hostess didn't align. Note: The patio is covered but not enclosed, so if it's cool outside you're going to feel the air! After speaking with the hostess when I arrived I asked to keep the original reservation so we could be seated inside and we were accommodated. Our waiter arrived at the table but he seemed generally annoyed when we asked about recommendations and the best plates to share since this was our first dining experience. His general annoyance continued throughout our dinner which made the experience even more underwhelming. The other staff that help transition tables between courses was amazing though! It was nice to interact with them and hear their favorite things about the dishes we selected. The food was good overall but the portions were very small. My friend and I joked about going to Five Guys afterward because we were still hungry. Great food overall but small plates and service wouldn't encourage me to tell friends to go or even return for another occasion. read more

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I hate to be the outlier, but I give this place a solid Meh! One common theme throughout each course is a lack of salt. Just a sprinkle, just a grain goes a long way. Service was very good, but that's to be expected. I love the format where it's shareable plates and you can add anything at any time for $10. Other restaurants should follow suit. Highlights: peach salad was the star of the night Lowlights: shrimp tartine was a soggy mess, and the Kingston Swingers (drink) literally tasted like dirty dishwater. Everything else was forgettable. I wouldn't come back (at least not with their current menu), but again, I'm clearly the outlier here. read more

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Absolutely amazing meal. Chef's tasting menu and wines were superb. Incredible pairings, attention to detail and service was excellent. Highly recommend!!! read more

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Perfect for a special date night. Rooster & Owl delivers a refined dining experience with excellent service and beautifully crafted dishes. The flavors were spot on, and the ambiance is warm and intimate. It is on the pricier side, and the portions are modest--left wishing there was just a bit more. Still, a lovely night out overall. read more

Went to Rooster and Owl during a Resy event week so we got some "extras" as part of our meal. We were greeted with a glass of champagne and a caviar bump- what a treat! Everything we tried was tasty and felt well thought out. Another perk of the event was that we got an extra first course which was great as the option we didn't choose, the steak tartare, ended up being one of my favorite bites with the compressed watermelon being a close second. The desserts were also very well done- still thinking of that olive oil cake! I will say the meal started off strong and while the food quality stayed strong, drink service and food pacing was slow after the first courses. We did a "no electronics" dinner so no pictures but this is one of those places that whatever you order will probably be delicious. read more

I'm really confused about the spate of negative reviews because our experience was wonderful. We opted for outdoor patio dining and they had powerful heat lamps overhead which kept us nice and warm. The deal is $85 per person for 4 courses. Which you can share with each other or not. My bf and I did not share and tucked into our own selections. I got the foie gras, the autumn mushrooms, the duck sausage pappardelle and the chocolate cremeux and my bf got the brussel sprouts caesar salad, the mushrooms as well, the sweet potato falafel and the apple financier. Everything tasted amazing. Probably the best foie gras I've had. The hazelnut butter with the concord jelly really did make it taste like a peanut butter sandwich. My bfs sweet potato falafels were so good, I actually liked his entree more than mine and I loved my pasta dish. Service was top notch. Special shout out to Johnny for being funny, informative and taking great care of us. And also thanks for the signed card and complementary bubbles at the end of the meal to help us celebrate our anniversary. I'd highly recommend this restaurant to anyone and definitely see why they have a Michelin star. read more

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My boyfriend took me here for my birthday, and it was our second Michelin star restaurant. This was my first fine-dining experience in DC, and I was not disappointed! To keep it simple, everything was amazing!! It was executed greatly, and they treated us really well at a more private table, with ample space for the two of us to enjoy our all the creative, delicious dishes and drinks. I believe its about $80-85 per person, for a 4 course menu in which you choose a starter, another dish, an entree, and a dessert. This is honestly a great value if you take in consideration the creativity, time, effort and beautiful plating not to mention delicious dishes on the menu. On to the food: Starters: Octopus Ceviche, and Salmon Crudo. Octopus was tender and not overly chewy at all. Salmon crudo was plated beautifull, and both seafood starters were fresh and a great start to the meal. We then chose King Trumpet Noodles and Chawanmushi. I really enjoyed the play of textures and sauces for the noodles; it was crunchy but also delicate and I couldn't believe the noodles were vegetables. The Chawanmushi was something new to us. The salmon roe really made the dish pop with a salty, umami finish. For entrees we had Carrot Cavatelli and the Branzino. These were all dishes that piqued our interest and coincidentally also suggested by our server, who was on point with the recommendations! The Carrot Cavatelli OMG! What a beautiful dish; she explained to us how they fold in fresh carrot juice into the dough to make the pasta. The result? Amazing. Delicious. Flavorful! You don't even miss the meat in these dishes. They were THAT good. Branzino was a surprisingly good size portion, perfectly cooked with a crispy exterior and tender interior. We enjoyed the fish. Dessert was a whole next level experience! WOW! The PISTACHIO DACQUOISE and TROPICAL TRES LECHES. Both so beautiful that we had a hard time choosing which one we wanted to try first. We really loved both dishes, but the tropical tres leches shined with the passionfruit pairing perfectly with the banana sponge cake. Overall, don't hesitate to dine at Rooster & Owl! It was amazing. read more

About a 2-2.5: I've been curious about Rooster & Owl, and I was excited to try them out for dinner with a couple of friends who were visiting. We started off with Caviar & Champagne, which swas served with royal imperial ossetra, brown butter steamed buns, all the caviar fixings, and glass of champagne. To start off, we pretty much tried to order 'one of each' to taste the variety: +Spanakopita - with swiss chard and miso pear in a duck fat crust; not sure if the combination of the swiss chard and the miso pear was edible; the swiss chard was also very bitter +Spicy Tuna Tartare - with lychee, shiso, daikon, and nori; this had an off texture to it +Beets Muhammara - with honeyed yogurt, pomegranate, and candied hazelnuts; I did enjoy the candied hazelnuts We then transitioned into: +Cacio E-Lote - with spaghetti alla chitarra, charred corn, and queso fresco +Striped Bass - cucumber vichyssoise, tomato jam, and watercress salad; we weren't fans of the tomato jam +Dry-Aged Strip - with tomatillo relish, miso piquillo puree, and hollandaise; hte hollandaise was okay, but the other servings of the puree and the relish was unnecessary And, finished with the following desserts: +Hummingbird Cake - with caramel chili pineapple, cream cheese, and coconut sorbet; I do enjoy a great homemade hummingbird cake, but I think the chili was a miss to include this +Fig Frangipane - with candied ginger, coriander ice cream, and meringue; the candied ginger was a bit too overpowering in this dessert +Chocolate Cremeux - prepared with devil's food cake and porcini caramel ice cream Service was friendly, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was relaxing and inviting. I'm glad I was able to finally try Rooster & Owl, but not sure if I'd go out of my way to return. +friendly service read more

Everything about this restaurant deserved a Michelin star. First, the service was incredible. The host, the waiter, the food runners, everyone was incredibly kind and helpful. For your birthday or other special occasion they give you a card signed by everyone in the restaurant which is a very cool touch! We started with the purple people eater cocktail (amazing) and the kids choice award cocktail (pretty good, a little sweet), and the complimentary pineapple rolls which were so so good. For the menu everyone at the table gets to choose a dish for their 4 courses and they're meant to be shared family style, although you definitely don't have to. My favorite dishes of the night were the brussel sprouts. mushrooms, and scallops. The apples, gnocchi, and sweet potato falafel were also very good though. Everything tasted very fresh and in season which is always a plus! I think we'll definitely be back especially since the menu changes so often. read more

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