Courthouse’s newest rooftop restaurant and bar is opening today (Thursday).
Rooftop Recess is soft opening at 4 p.m. at 2424 Wilson Blvd, where Arlington Rooftop Bar & Grill closed in 2023. The three-level restaurant offers contemporary American food, brunch and cocktails, with a relaxed atmosphere and garden-inspired interior.
“It’s inspired by memories hanging outside with our friends, having a good time and making some memories,” general manager Brian Ouellette told ARLnow. “That’s what we’re hoping a lot of our guests are able to experience.”
It seats about 300 people
- The restaurant has a main dining room and bar, a small mezzanine for private events and a rooftop bar that seats 100 guests.
- The restaurant comes from Brian and Gary Ouellette, who owned Ballston’s former Union Jack’s British Pub.
- “We are going to be doing some more of the late night stuff Friday and Saturday nights, bringing in DJs,” Brian Ouellette said. He added, “It should be a very fun brunch spot.”
The menu offers 17 ‘signature drinks’
- These include classics like Aperol spritz and old fashioned, in addition to cold brew martinis and a “Potomac tea” with rum, peach brandy, iced tea and lemonade.
- Some menu highlights include a blackened shrimp and chicken pasta, brown butter gnocchi, grilled halloumi sandwich and blueberry bread pudding.
- For an appetizer, customers can try offerings like bang bang shrimp, burrata bruschetta or a pecan praline baked brie platter.
Happy hour is from 2-6 p.m.
- Deals include $3 off draft beers, specialty cocktails and appetizers, with $7 glasses of house wine, Monday through Friday.
- A special weekend brunch menu will be available from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Restaurant hours are 11:30 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. on Friday, 10:30 a.m.-2 a.m. on Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.
Photos 19-22 via Rooftop Recess/X.
