Rooster & Owl is a restaurant in Washington, DC offering a chef’s tasting and we were very excited to try this Michelin-starred spot! This post shares all about my experience dining here.
Rooster & Owl
Rooster for the day and owl for the night, Rooster & Owl is named in honor of the husband-and-wife owners, Yuan and Carey Tang. While the two had different working hours – Carey worked during the day in nonprofit development and Yuan worked nights in restaurants – eating together is where they connect. The restaurant, which opened in 2019, earned a Michelin star in 2021 and again in 2022.
Yuan worked in three different Michelin restaurants in New York City before opening his own restaurant. When you dine here, expect re-imagined classics with a focus on vegetables and seasonal ingredients.
Design-wise, you’ll find a casual yet comfortable set-up with a tan and black palette. It reminds me a lot of Austin’s Emmer and Rye with its color palette and shelving.
Drinks
First, let’s talk drinks. I got the Yuzu You Boo (Plymouth Gin, Genmaicha Tea, Cardamom, Honey, Yuzu) and Will got the Peat This (The San-In Blended Japanese Whiskey, Oolong Tea, Lychee, Lagvulin 16yr). The Peat This was tasty with depth in the flavors. It was sweeter than I expected. The Yuzu You Boo reminded me of a Bee’s Knees and was lacking in that expected depth for me.
Chef’s Tasting Menu
For the chef’s tasting, it is a four-course dinner where you pick your favorite option for each course. There were four options for each course and at least one is vegetarian. The restaurant encourages eating family style, and as we typically do, we made a game plan to order different dishes, allowing us to try eight of the 16 dishes.
The start of the meal was bread and butter, and this version of a dinner roll was excellent! It was a variation of a Hong Kong pineapple bun, one of my favorites.
Here’s what we had from the menu. I’ve included all of the options and we enjoyed the first two dishes in each list.
Course 1:
- Heirloom Tomatoes, avocado, salmon roe, everything bagel lavash
- Scallop Crudo, leche de tigre, citrus salad, nuoc cham
- Asparagus Dan Dan, granny smith, snow peas, chili oil
- Burrata, rainer cherries, toasted pistachio, basil
Course 2:
- Shiitake Larb, forbidden rice, compressed apple, hazelnut
- Potato Gnocchi, pickled red onion, scallion oil, lemon beurre blanc
- Squid Salad, sungold tomatoes, green papaya, peanut
- “Banh Mi”, nueske’s bacon, foie gras, carrot, coriander ($10 supplement)
And then, Course 3:
- Striped Bass, avocado cucumber vichyssoise, tomato jam, watercress
- Braised Lamb, green tabbouleh, crispy shallot, toasted almonds
- Torchio Pasta, edamame salad, pea shoot pesto, togarashi sunflower seeds
- Dry Aged Strip, tomatillo relish, piquillo, hollandaise ($10 supplement)
Course 4:
- Hummingbird Cake, chili pineapple, cream cheese, coconut sorbet
- Cheesecake, goat cheese, pecan praline, honey
- Panna Cotta, vanilla, strawberry oat cluster, lemon verbena sorbet
- Chocolate Cremeux, cardamom, praline, coffee
The team also shared a sprinkled birthday dessert, a colorful but forgettable treat.
Every dish was spectacular – perfectly put together in flavor and texture. My favorite dish was the gnocchi – one of the best I’ve ever had. Also, the striped bass was delicious. I wished the Shiitake Larb and the Hummingbird Cake had something unexpected but they were still satisfying dishes.
How Much is Rooster & Owl
The four-course dinner, the only option, is $85 per person with a few courses as a $10 add-on. You can also add a wine pairing for $75 per person.
The menu had seven cocktails (all $16 except one for $18), three beers ($11), and two mocktails ($10).
The additional caviar and champagne offering is $135.
I definitely think the four-course dinner is worth it!
How to Make a Reservation
Reservations are available on Resy. Dates and times are released on a rolling four weeks, and it is fairly easy to get last-minute reservations. You can choose a seat in the dining room, at the bar, or on the patio.
Details for Your Visit
Here’s a quick list of what to know prior to your visit.
- Cuisine: New American with an Asian flair
- Meal offered: Dinner only
- Ambiance: Casual, lively
- Attire: Business casual, no dress code
- Noise Level: Average
- Pricing: $$
- Dietary restrictions: Cannot accommodate vegan guests and allium allergies
- Reservation: Available and suggested
- Groups: Contact restaurant for groups of more than 4 people
- Seating options: Bar, dining room, patio
- Outdoor Seating: Yes, covered patio in front
- Parking: Limited street parking and nearby garages
Rooster & Owl
2436 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 915-9004
https://www.roosterowl.com/
Dining is one of my favorite experiences when I travel. Here are some other posts to read:
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