Now Open: Roofers Union in AdMo

Roofers Union, a new project from Marjorie Meek-Bradley, the rising-star chef at Ripple, opened last week in Adams Morgan. It puts a gourmet twist on the beer and bar food you'd expect to find in this hood.

Marjorie tells us that the space itself--which formerly housed The Reef--is what inspired the concept. The rooftop deck already had 16 tap lines installed, so doing a beer-focused concept was a no-brainer. The outdoor space is perfect for a beer garden, but Marjorie was thinking American-style, not German. For the decor, she harkened back to her culinary school days in Philly and the rich character of her favorite South Philly haunts. The result is a cozy, exposed-brick space with a "fun, hangout vibe." (Those might not be the two words we use to describe Eagles fans.)

Front and center is a large, high-top communal table. One wall features a large mural that was painted by local artists. Against another wall is a large mirror with a beautiful wooden frame that looks so much like a doorway that two people have run into it. (So, um, watch out for that.) And up top is a roofdeck that she and her team can't wait to open. The menu starts out with "snacks" for sharing, then expands into hearty sandwiches, house-made sausages, and full-blown entrees. "I like to start out with small plates because it's so fun to share, but then I still need an actual entree to feel satisfied. I wanted to give my diners both options."