Rooftop Recess

It's not a great brunch spot. Maybe it would be better for happy hour. I had an unfortunately average brunch with really poor service. It's not the fault of the servers who were clearly understaffed. Our one waitress was handling about 18 tables, and that was just inside. I felt very bad for her, but she never mentioned that she was overwhelmed or things were backed up until they were, well, way past backed up. That's poor management...if the restaurant didn't have enough staff, they should have turned customers away. Everyone waited a very long time for everything. Tables on either side of us were complaining and repeating their orders. And maybe if the food had been spectacular, I would still give this a higher rating, but the food was OK. Good, but nothing interesting or particularly complex (the challah toast and bacon were the winners)--but, we waited 50 minutes for good eggs and toast. The restaurant manager did comp our meals, which was nice, but by that point, we were still frustrated, late, and unhappy about the whole experience. Here are the positives -$2 mimosas, what looks like good happy hour deals, and a rooftop option, although I never went. Skip this place for brunch, but maybe a nice rooftop happy hour spot.

Exciting Grand Opening at Rooftop Recess! 🌟 I had the pleasure of visiting Rooftop Recess for their grand opening, and it was an amazing experience! The food was truly fantastic. I started with the Parmesan Truffle Fries as my appetizer—crispy, flavorful, and the perfect way to kick off the meal. For my main dish, I chose the Beet & Peach Salad with blue cheese crumble. They kindly substituted the goat cheese for me, which I really appreciated. I opted for the salad without any protein, but I love that you can add chicken, shrimp, salmon, or steak to the salad. I also got some short ribs to go for my best friend, and I can’t wait to share those! The atmosphere was vibrant, and Ben and staff were welcoming. I’m excited to see this place thrive and can’t wait to return! Highly recommend checking it out!

I would never eat lukewarm, smelly, dry pasta. Will never come back unless it’s for drinks. The service stopped once three people in our party returned their plates. Some things just aren’t edible.

Hosted a milestone birthday here this past weekend in the Mezzanine second floor part of the bar inside. Awesome space. Had about 30 people and it fit everyone comfortably. Great catering menu offerings. Had a private bartender for the event. Sean crushed it. Cynthia is the event planner that is very patient and works with you to set up all details to the event prior to the day. Ed and Brian who run the place checked in frequently to see if you needed anything throughout the night. Easy set up. Will definitely host future events.

Great Vibes, Tasty Brunch & $2 Mimosas! I went to Rooftop Recess for brunch yesterday and had a wonderful time! The atmosphere was fun and relaxed — perfect for a weekend vibe. I ordered the Crab benedict, and it was absolutely delicious — fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. And who can beat $2 mimosas? The service was friendly and attentive. Definitely recommend for brunch with friends! I will be BACK :)

Great atmosphere, great vibes, gorgeous sunset on the roof, and delicious food with lots of Gluten Free options.

So excited for this newly opened spot in Arlington. Food was delicious, I had the vegan option on the menu. Aperol spritz was perfection. Our server Sam was really polite and friendly.

Newly renovated location. The food is very good and is always cooked well. The drink options are good with a good amount to choose from. Everything tasted very good and I haven't had a bad experience yet. The rooftop does get quite crowded very quickly on a weekend which is to be expected but just be aware. There is also a very nice indoor section that usually has plenty of room. Definitely recommend!

Strictly rooftop review on a Saturday night... Walked right through up to the rooftop. The second floor has cute decor, lots of space and seating for groups and either stairs or elevator option to get up to the roof. The bar is quite small on the roof but they get the job done. Drinks are well priced and service was fast! There was a DJ with great music and vibes and lots of seating so almost everyone had a table! I think it's a cool pre-game and chill spot! Not too loud so you can still converse. Def need to try some food next time ! The flatbread looked yummy!

I would probably give this a 3.5. We can for the $2 mimosas but if you're on the rooftop you will not be served in a mimosa type glass but a little plastic cup. I only ended up having one since they didn't get great to me and then I ordered a Moscow mule and that wasn't made well either. The elevator that you can take to get to the rooftop smelled horrible- take the stairs. The reviews mentioning slow service did not lie. I had the steak and eggs and that was the redeeming grace- that was actually good. However they had no desserts outside of the churros.

I was really looking forward to enjoying this spot, but unfortunately the service on the rooftop was extremely disappointing. We waited over 20 minutes just to get water, and my friend actually had to walk to the bar to request it, which is completely unacceptable. Our waiter was unprofessional and noticeably impolite, which made the experience even worse. We didn't even end up eating--just had one drink before deciding to leave. I brought this to the hostess's attention inside, and after pointing out the waiter, she mentioned that there had already been a few complaints about him and his attitude. She seemed very understanding about the situation and apologized. Not sure if I'll return, but if I do, I'll definitely avoid the rooftop. If you decide to visit, just be aware that service on the rooftop might not match the rest of the establishment.

Stopped by for brunch with a group of bookclub friends and had a really solid experience overall! Ambience: The space is bright, welcoming, and has a nice vibe perfect for catching up with friends or a low-key weekend outing. There's a mix of indoor and outdoor seating, and everything felt clean and relaxed. Food: The star of the show for me was the Parmesan truffle fries. They were SO GOOD, crispy and flavorful without being greasy. I could've eaten a whole bowl of just those. My main dish was tasty and portioned well. Drinks: The mimosas were fresh and hit the spot! Not watered down like some places definitely worth ordering. ‍ Service: This is where I docked a star. The staff was friendly, but the service was a little slow, especially considering it wasn't super packed when we arrived. It didn't ruin the experience, but it's worth noting if you're on a time crunch. Would I come back? Yes especially for the fries and chill atmosphere. Definitely recommend giving it a try if you're in the area!

This place just opened, so naturally it has a few kinks to work out. However, I enjoyed my experience compared to other Yelpers so far. The space is bright and extremely cute for dinner or happy hour. The waiters and waitresses are extremely nice, albeit a bit stressed. Everything we had was warm and yummy. I enjoyed the Basil Lemonade mocktail as well. I think the music gets a bit too loud with a love dj as people are still trying to eat so that could be fixed. I also noticed a lot of lost waiters bringing food to the wrong tables--hopefully they can fix this soon. Other than this I'd come back especially when it isn't raining to try the rooftop.!

Given this place is newly opened, it's evident they are still working out the kinks. We came by on a Monday for drinks & a quick bite. You have to go up a few flights of stairs to get to the rooftop. There is a floor below the rooftop that has a nice size bar & cute seating. At the time, this floor was not in service though. Immediately when we got there, we noticed the service was very slow. We were seated right away, but it took a while for them to take our orders and serve us drinks. I think this was because there was only one bartender & seemed to only be one server working the whole rooftop floor. Our first round of drinks we ordered signature beverages on the menu. They weren't strong & they were not tasty. Though their prices are better than most places for the drinks, the drinks are really small. For my second round of drinks I ordered a long island & it was the worst long island I've ever had. This was a regular sized drink, though. For food, we ordered the shrimp tacos (2/10), chicken tenders (7/10) and brussel sprouts (3/10). The shrimp tacos were cold and subpar for even bar food. The chicken tenders were beer battered & actually decent. The brussel sprouts weren't cooked long enough. They were hard and cold and lazily prepared. They do have decent restrooms, but you have to go down the stairs to access them from the rooftop. Overall, I would not come back to this place unless they get a serious revamp to their menu.

3.5 stars. The fish and chips were okay. Decent favors while the Cole slaw was a little too moist and not that fresh. Service was kind of slow even after the restaurant crowded died down. Place was lively though early on. Would probably come back just for drinks.

Went for the rooftop vibes, it was okay, not a great view and half the roof top was an hvac system. when we got our mimosas they were disgusting like they have been sitting out for hours. Someone in my party got the chicken and waffles and his chicken was slimy. I got the steak and caesar salad and now I have food poisoning.

Excited for a new rooftop bar in the Arlington area since there's not many. It's a smaller spot but the place had cute decor inside and the rooftop was a nice vibe. The bartenders were very nice and made good drinks. We enjoyed some cocktails and an appetizer on the rooftop then moved inside for dinner. The food was good and we got good service. I liked my experience here and I'll definitely be back when the weather is nice.

First time at Rooftop Recess after seeing it on TikTok! I came for happy hour with my boyfriend, he got the burger and fries, I had the steak frites and Caesar salad. Food was solid (8/10), but my steak was a bit dry and needed more chimichurri. Tried a beer + liquor drink (bad call on my part, I don't like beer ), but our server was super nice and took it off the bill, which I appreciated! The rooftop is cute but small and has barely any shade. Definitely recommend going when it's cooler out. Honestly, the indoor vibe was even better, next time I'll probably sit inside!

I would never eat lukewarm, smelly, dry pasta. Will never come back unless it's for drinks. The service stopped once three people in our party returned their plates. Some things just aren't edible. I would never eat lukewarm, smelly, dry pasta. Will never come back unless it's for drinks. The service stopped once three people in our party returned their plates. Some things just aren't edible.

We were so excited to have a rooftop bar open in Arlington, but were really disappointed by our experience here. I feel like it's called Rooftop Recess because all the staff are on recess... When we arrived, the hostess told us it would probably be a 40 minute wait then walked away and didn't take our names. When she came back she said it was her first day and she was replaced by another hostess who also walked off for five minutes without asking for our name. Every staff member blamed another person for the wait or mistakes. The poor food runners had no idea where they were bringing the food and would stand by the tables looking around until someone claimed their food or the servers came back and directed them. We ordered drinks with our appetizers and we got one after we finished our app and the other after we finished our meals, and they were not the same drink. The fries were the highlight of the meal and the Halloumi sandwich was okay, though it wasn't what I expected based on the description and the added chicken was minuscule. The burrata was decent. The roof itself is very small and feels like it shouldn't be an operable rooftop for a business, half of it is obstructed by HVAC. The building also isn't tall enough to offer much of a view. I do hope the staff are able to work out the kinks in their service, because the entire time we were there it felt very chaotic like no one had been properly trained or it was their first Saturday working. Overall, there aren't many rooftop bars in the area, so if it's a nice day and you don't care much about the quality of service, it's still an okay option to get a drink and stand by the bar.

Lots of great food options. The fried chicken sandwich was great! Also lots of great drink options including mocktails. Service was fast and the rooftop was so cute.

We are Courthouse locals and saw Recess on Instagram and thought the food looked awful. To our surprise, it was actually great--especially for the value! Shoutout to our bartender Chad for the two dollar mimosas and a recommending a great breakfast burrito. We had such a good time, we came back after dinner for a late night bite. The prosciutto flatbread exceed expectations. We thought it was better than a nearby wine bar we regularly go to. We hope this place stays open because it's a phenomenal value and could be a new regular spot. Ambiance was mid. They were trying a little too hard. But the rooftop is great. It better not raise prices or get worse like everything else in Courthouse. - Will

The aux is incredible - no misses playing on the rooftop every time I've gone. Great spot.

Rooftop recess is a perfect place for getting together for a girls night/date night, appetizers, happy hour, music, ambience. Ed, the manager, treated us so well. He checked in on us frequently and made us feel so welcome! Drinks made by Alex are fire. Shoutout to Brian #loveandhonor. We love it here!

Food and staff were great! Did a great job with the restaurant and rooftop the area needed.

Decent food. Service is really bad. Seen my server 3 times and had to go to the bar to ask for another drink. The bar said they'd put my order in but give it to my server and never saw the server until we were done with our food; which was frustrating because we were drinking our drinks after we got the check.

First time at the new restaurant since it used to be Clarendon rooftop. Loved the vibe! Appetizers were pretty good. Many of us got the pizzas and we wished those were cooked a little more. Drinks were great and they have a good happy hour deal. Will definitely be back

Stopped here this weekend for a few drinks and a bite to eat. Food was decent. Drinks were decent. The best part was the vibe. Very young crowd. Cute ambiance. Would come back just to hangout and drink.

The staff had no idea what they were doing and the drink and food quality did not make up for it. I had to send back a drink, which I never do, because it was actually disgusting and not drinkable. It also took over 30 minutes to get!! The Halloumi sandwich was 2/10. Also, majority of the rooftop was an HVAC. Will not be returning

Atmosphere, especially the rooftop, was incredible. Happy hour deals are great and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Will definitely be going back soon!