The Roof
“The Roof (at Whole Foods) a rooftop bar overlooking the Gowanus canal with a cool view of lower Manhattan.”
“Had a few drinks (craft beers $5-9 / happy hour $2 off) and really enjoyed the happy and relaxed atmosphere.”
“Were it not for the truffle fries, I woulda sworn I fell into some greater Memphis Honky Tonk.”
The Roof
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Happy Hour: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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we stopped by for lunch as we were in whole foods shopping and theres a parking lot so why not! the weather was nice although a bit windy so we didnt sit outside to enjoy the so called view. we spent almost $30 on the meal – had the roof burger which was actually quite decent. an order of chorizo fries – not much going on here, should have tried the truffle fries instead. and also a fish taco wrap which was underwhelming. we waited a while for the food and there weren't too many eating. i would recommend buying food from inside wholefoods and bringing it up to the roof to enjoy instead. theres plentiful of seating and an interesting little bar area.
I stopped in for something small to go, so I got a kids "meal" to go. For $5, you had the option of mini burger, hot dog, Ceasar salad, mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwich. I opted for the hot dog and when I had opened up the box at home, I found a dissapointing shriveled up piece of meat on a cold bun inside a large paper box.
What a fun way to spend an afternoon taking in the city! This is right above the Whole Foods. You can grab food from the counter downstairs and eat upstairs and grab a drink. There are large tables for meeting up with groups. They have indoor and outdoor seating.
The Roof!
The Roof!
The Roof is on…
Well, it was actually a pretty brisk fall day when I finally made it here to the Gowanus Whole Foods' second floor, so I'd give it more of a room-temp-when-my-heat-hasn't-been-turned-on-yet feel than anything else.
To say The Roof is on fire would be misleading in any sense of the word, anyway. Because in reality, it's actually a pretty chill spot.*
I expected there to be an outdoor area (duh, the name) and I envisioned some type of ordering counter, but it's way more than that. In fact, the outdoor section is just a fraction of the space (but still lovely), and the ordering counter is a full-blown craft beer bar that just happens to have a cashier on one end. Beyond that, you could call this place an upscale cafeteria-style bar and grill meets multi-purpose room, with sports on TV, a children's section a la a pediatrician's waiting area, window views to the adjacent Gotham Greens greenhouse, and enough MacBook Airs for the heavy freelancer population to mistake this place for some Park Slope coffeehouse. The Roof wears many hats, and somehow the handsome bastard looks pretty damn good in all of them.
I ordered the Maple Sriracha Wings (a dozen for $12), and while on the small side individually, were still sticky and filling overall. I've purchased these naked, un-sauced wings in the poultry section of Whole Foods downstairs, and definitely haven't come up with something this delicious (since, you know, I'm such a yardstick for creative wing sauces). I also enjoyed the well-salted and peppered House Fries (though, as a Heinz loyalist, can't say the same about the too-fancy-for-my-taste Sir Kensington's ketchup), as well as a divine forkful of my wife's Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Grilled Salmon (mixed greens, pickled shallots, spiced pepitas, dried cherry vinaigrette). She's typically a good sharer, but one bite is all she would salvage, and I can't say I blame her. In return, she got one sip of my refreshing pint of Anderson Valley Holy Gose. We're nothing if not fair in this family, if you can't tell.
Given the temperature, we ate indoors. I'm sure the outside seating is great come summer (the installed garage door dividing The Roof was kept open and I of course still did a lap to check it out), but for being rooftop dining, the view is nothing special. I mean, it's the Gowanus Canal. Hard to really sell you on cesspool scenery where someone may or may not have recently caught a mutant three-eyed fish.
Still, for such a mixed bag experiment, it's interesting to see how Whole Foods the grocery store translates as a taproom and dining space, and in that sense, The Roof is certainly on brand. But that association shouldn't vindicate the Whole Foods haters out there in deciding not to come here – I still can see those who have sworn off the market downstairs to still enjoy The Roof, as long as they can leave their prejudice behind at the door. While they still employ the same high standards for their food and booze, the prices aren't astronomical and any and all pretentiousness is damn near non-existent. I was surprised how well the space worked as a legitimate sports bar, as a respectable craft beer bar, as a viable workspace, and as a test kitchen of sorts given their dishes are exclusively (and unsurprisingly) concocted from Whole Foods products. There's enough reason to come here without needing to go to the market downstairs. Although, if you do decide to take advantage of the two-for-one stop, stop by The Roof for a bite first. Because 1) these dishes could inspire you and make you switch up your list, and 2) because friends don't let friends go food shopping when they're hungry. Seriously. It's dangerous. You're welcome.
*OK, I gotta stop using temperature descriptors here.
Embarrassed to say I've finally gone to The Roof after YEARS of its existence and I'm glad to report that it did not disappoint.
The crowd was decent! I feared the Slope yuppies and their Baby Bjorns would take all of the avalable seats, but it was surpringly chill.
We split the burger, grilled cheese with bacon, kale salad, hot dogs and onion rings. The burger was pretty decent, with caramelized onions that hit the spot, The onion rings, DIVINE. The grilled cheese was overly buttery, but I wouldn't kick it out of bed for eating crackers (aka I ain't mad at it!). Nice thick-slab bacon on it.
The kale salad was overdressed with caesar dressing (skippable) and you can skip the hot dogs. A few beers and we were on our way enjoying the sunset and nice breeze.
Overall decent spot. Seems like a lot of people are harping on the food, but you just need to know what to order and order it like a decent human being (speaking of, the medium-rare burger actually came out medium-rare and that, my friends, is tight).
I'd definitely come back, probably on a weekday.
This has become one of my go to places in Brooklyn for lunch. Being a New Yorker we treasure rooftops. The food here is good and very fresh. It is nothing like the buffet downstairs in Whole Foods (which I am not opposed to but this is better.) The menu ranges from burgers to chicken to fish etc. You can rest assure that the meat is very fresh. There is plenty of seating indoor and out. From one angle you can catch a view of the freedom tower and from the other you can check out the Gowanus Canal. They also serve beer and wine. This is definitely a spot that I like to hit on weekdays (no clue how crowded it may be on weekends). Simple, easy and relaxed. I definitely recommend!
What… you think you're better than me because I hang out at a bar on the roof of Whole Foods? You think the kale growing on the roof is to good for you?? Is that it? Take your hipster shirt across the way son. To you good sir, I say: While it may not have all your fancy artisan craft beers (in fact, they do), and they might not have the best wings or fries ever (in fact, they do), at least it's a good place to go escape all the toddler kids in the neighborhood (in fact, it isn't).
Come here on any given evening and you'll see the sadly ostracized parents of Parkwanus gathering around ye ole 52" TV having a drink. Banished from the bars they once frequented when they were without child, they used to roam the streets of Park Slope, K-Tans strapped to their chests, pushing strollers like the walking dead. No more I say, no more! The Roof has become their oasis.
Now you, YOU are the ones who will be stared at! How dare you enter here without a diaper bag?? How dare you enter here, with your 8 hrs of sleep and bagless, life filled eyes. Go back to your "other" bars hipsters. The Roof is ours.
Okay so it seems weird to go to a restaurant on top of a Whole Foods, but this is not your average restaurant or Whole Foods. Hidden at the top of uncomfortably narrow stairs is a phenomenal little roof deck with incredible views that give you a beautiful cross section of the layers that make this area….from the industrial grunge of the warehouses lining the Gowanus and BQE in the distance, to the rows of brownstones making up Carroll Gardens with all of lower Manhattan in the background. Come at happy hour and get $2 off all beers (they have a really top notch rotating selection of craft beers) and watch the sun go down with a group of friends. The big picnic benches make it perfect for groups and since it is counter service there is none of the usual headache of splitting a bill or pressure from waiters eager to move you along. It is just a great relaxing atmosphere that surprisingly doesn't get that crowded.
I have heard great things about the food but so far have only had the burger which was excellent….and huge! I have also heard great things about their monthly beer dinner which I am hoping to be able to write a review for soon. I just wish it would stay warmer longer so I could enjoy the deck year round!