Rooster & Owl

seasonal affordable menu 105straight forward menu with 1 michelin star, got to try everythingstarts with pineapple top dinner rolls EVERYTHING BAGEL BEETS walnut raisin chutney | cream cheese -- ok"CACIO E PEPE" Bartlett pear | Tête De Moine | black peppercorn -- a bit harsh contrasting flavorTUNA CRUDO Blood orange ponzu | wasabi avocado | serrano -- spicy notesSTEAK TARTARE Thai green papaya | mango | potato chips -- ROASTED MUSHROOMS Honeynut squash | harissa | Shaoxing butter -- good variety of mushrooms FRIED JAPANESE YAM nam prik pao | lime yogurt | persimmon -- nice crisp coating and flavorBANG ISLAND MUSSEL TOAST XO beurre blanc | fennel jam -- very tasty CHARRED CABBAGE bone marrow | port compound butter | parmesan | au poivre -- decentSQUASH CARBONARA Koginut squash | guanciale | pumpkin seed gremolata -- niceSTRIPED BASS salsify | salmon roe | coconut--oyster espuma -- goodROASTED QUAIL dirty farro | kale sprout | mole rojo -- okBRAISED SHORT RIB congee | broccoli | peanut | fish sauce gastrique -- solid MAPLE CAKE poached quince | buttermilk sherbet | spiced streuselPAVLOVA burnt orange | yuzu curd | limeOLIVE OIL CAKE semolina | fig preserves | Madeira diplomat cream "BLACK FOREST" GATEAUX white chocolate | thyme | cherry great desserts and enjoyed the last one

After some extensive research, I decided to celebrate my birthday at Rooster & Owl this year. This was a first time Michelin restaurant for three of the four in my dinner party. We were all impressed and enjoyed the entire dining experience! We tried things we had never had before and the service was very good! My table was sort of in the middle of the restaurant but the space is small and there is outdoor seating, when weather permits. So, that's no biggie. For the price, I feel that we all got our money's worth. The menu has four courses with four items to pick from. Since there was four of us, we chose every single item on the menu within the pre-fixe list. There was a lot of food and we were full by the end of the night. I was ready to tap out by dessert but I couldn't pass up trying everything! The atmosphere is a very relaxed vibe. The drinks were good and we even received a complimentary glass of sparkling at the end of dinner. I was also gifted a birthday card signed by the staff and a fancy ice cream sandwich! This Michelin experience will never be forgotten for me. I stepped out of my comfort zone and I'm so glad that I did! I even tried tartar for the first time (it was amazing btw), even though I love carpaccio and eat my steaks medium rare. So, I'm happy to have this night as a core birthday memory forever! I was originally worried about parking but it's a distance away from U street. So, my party was able to find street parking easily. Pricewise, I think everything is on par and I would definitely come back again to try new dishes by the chef! Thanks for making my birthday a great one!!!

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.

My partner and I came for our anniversary and it was a great experience. Rooster & Owl is a four course menu, with an option to add any other dish for an additional $15 each. Each course has four choices to pick from. We also opted for the wine pairing.We were started with their chive oil butter and bread. I enjoy chives so I was a fan of the butter. I would say most dishes were executed well, some that had minor hiccups, and a few that were ok. Our favorites were the cacio e pepe, parisian gnocchi, and maple cake. I enjoyed the "pot roast" however it was a little overly salty. The shrimp toast was our least favorite, quite oily and not a fan in general.The staff surprised us with a card for our anniversary and it was signed by the staff. Our server was wonderful and knowledgable. The wines from the wine pairing were great, however at least one course we felt like the pairing could have been better. There was a mix up on one course, so they just gifted us with the dish, and then gifted us another course dish. Overall, very good and I would definitely come back again.

I came in with pretty high expectations because it was Michelin rated and because so many people rated this place so highly. I know my review is a bit harsh, but if you're spending over $100+ per person (before tax, tip, etc) it should've be more worth it to me. I've been to a few Michelin restaurants and this didn't really feel on par to the ones at similar price point. I really enjoyed my experience but I think this menu was a bit of a let down. I also didn't have an issue with parking but two other women were seated way before their partner arrived after parking. I appreciated how casual the restaurant was and how they encourage sharing dishes instead of getting the same experience as everyone else like other Michelin restaurants. The service was good and I didn't have any issues with that. The size of the table was a really consistent thing for me that made me conscious. I felt like the utensils, glasses and serving plates were all too big/too much for the size of the table and every time they brought out food I had to move stuff around or accidentally bumped something when eating. I really enjoyed the pineapple bread starter because I personally love pineapple bread but to be honest, it was like a Kings Hawaiian roll with the pineapple crust on top. Although I loved the shrimp toast and "pot roast". I think those two dishes were the best course of our meal together. Unfortunately for me, the main courses is what threw me off from this experience. We ordered an extra entree because we wanted to try three dishes. The bass was too much of a fishy flavor for me (my bf liked it more than me). The braised short rib was not balanced enough. I hoped to have more of the congee underneath and the broccolini was wayyy too salty. I really enjoyed the pavlova dessert because the sweet meringue contrasted with the tartness of the yuzu really well. There were a few other dishes that were alright but didn't stand out to me. Maybe this menu just didn't match my tastebuds but there weren't many things that made me experience something I never have before.

Came here with two other friends. We ordered basically everything. 4 course meal. Restaurant is decently sized for the area. The bathroom music was too loud and was on the darker side which was fine. Servers were on it with picking up dishes, replacing silverware, and cleaning table once done with each course. Constant drink refill. My friend's only comment: I wish the big dumbass white puff thing was better but the yuzu was good. Gnocchi pear dish was delicious. I think great food quality for your money. Overall I would eat here again - great dining experience with a group.

Being big fans of Ellie Bird, my wife and I decided to try Rooster & Owl for our anniversary, and it was the perfect choice. The staff went above and beyond, signing a card for us and making sure it was a truly special evening.The food and service was incredible. Honestly this place in my opinion is even better than the The Inn at Little Washington, which is saying a lot!Rooster & Owl made our anniversary memorable, and we're already looking forward to celebrating many more special occasions here. Highly recommend!

Excellent food choices on a tasting menu . We enjoyed everything about our dining experience. One of the more expensive meals you will enjoy in DC . Honestly it was worth the price. Service was excellent the servers were well trained on the menu and were on top of everything. Switching out plates and silverware after every course. The dining room was small and the tables were very close. We enjoyed our evening and recommend you try them too.

This is my second time at rooster and owl, and this time we came for our first wedding anniversary. I was really excited by their summer menu and I wanted to try it. They start you off with a pineapple bun, which is so delicious. We got so many different courses between the two of us and shared them. I really like how you can add any course for $15 if you're still hungry at the end. The highlight of this visit in terms of the food was the fish course with the congee and the crispies. We also really loved the seasonal tomato salad-ish thing whose name I can't remember. One thing I love about rooster and owl is their service. We got a nice little card signed by all the staff for our anniversary and a complementary glass of champagne. They're also very thoughtful and gave me a purse hook for my bag.I can't wait to see what they cook up for this next year and I look forward to trying it.

My boyfriend and I came here for their New Year's Eve tapas experience and enjoyed every dish and cocktail! We sat in the heated patio which took $50 off of the total price and stayed warm and toasty. For food they had a two menus, the second being a vegetarian option. We elected to do both menus to try out more of their dishes. I don't believe this is listed on the menu, but they started us off with a spoonful of caviar, which is a first for me and it was surprisingly tasty. As for main dishes, my favorite was the Shima Aji tartar and my boyfriend's was the Angolloti butternut stuffed squash. This restaurant has one Michelin star and we both agree it deserves it. The waitress and waitresses all work together well to deliver an exceptional experience for guests.