“The Imperial Opens its Two-Tier Open-Air Rooftop on July 3”

2001 18th Street, NW courtesy The Imperial

From a press release:

“Just in time for the 4th of July weekend, The Imperial will open its stunning two-tier rooftop for safe dining, on Friday, July 3. Debuting for the first time since the restaurant’s grand opening in November 2019, The Imperial will also unveil a brand new summer food and cocktail menu, and rooftop “Tower Hour” happy hour. The Adams Morgan dining destination will then open its indoor dining room and raw bar with a newly-arranged safely-distanced floorplan on Wednesday, July 8.

The Imperial has taken extensive precautions in line with DC health and safety guidelines, including safely-distanced tables, mask policies and stringent cleaning procedures, plus complimentary sanitizer stations throughout, to ensure the safest enjoyable dining experience for all:

Safe Distancing: at least 6 feet between tables, and a maximum of 6 guests per party
PPE: all staff members will wear masks and gloves during service, and guests are required to wear masks while not eating or drinking
Enhanced Cleaning Procedures: in addition to continuous cleaning of surfaces with disinfectants, all team members will adhere to strict, frequent handwashing and hygiene standards
Sanitizer Stations: hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout the terrace
Digital Menus: links to online menus will be provided to guests in addition to sanitized, laminated menus
Contact Tracing: guests will be required to give their names and contact information
Limited Capacity: The Imperial will decrease its capacity to 26 guests indoors and 26 guests on the rooftop, to accommodate for increased safe dining distances and removal of bar seating
Smoke-Free: all smoking (cigarettes, cigars, vaping) will be prohibited on the terrace

The Imperial’s unique two-tier rooftop features two distinct spaces for dining, and the smoke-free hangout is outfitted with a daytime sun shade, 2 flat screen TVs, live greenery and features incredible 180-degree city views.

courtesy The Imperial

New is the launch of a new weekday rooftop happy hour – “Tower Hour” – featuring discounted seafood towers and raw bar items, snack boards, wine and beer specials, and $12 cocktails. The Imperial’s Tower Hour will be hosted from 4-6:30pm Wednesday through Friday on the rooftop terrace.

Chef Russell Jones has created an entirely new menu for the summer season, featuring peak-season produce in dishes such as Raw Summer Vegetables showcasing Path Valley Squash, snap peas, shoyu vinaigrette and sunflower seeds ($11); Artichoke Barigoule with baby carrots, baby fennel, white wine, lemon juice and fresh herbs ($14); and Summer Vegetable Carbonara with smoked corn, zucchini, garlic chips and pecorino on housemade linguine ($16).

Fresh seafood stars in the Amberjack Ceviche with cucumber, shallot, puffed sorghum, serrano, cilantro and lime ($14), Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with sun gold cherry tomatoes, roasted corn and red pepper veloute ($27), and Calamari Puttanesca, with housemade tagliatelle, smoked tomato, olives, anchovy, capers and chili flakes ($17). The menu also boasts a new section of Mussels, ranging from Meuniere, au Biere and Diablo ($17-$18).

Other new additions include a mix-it-up “BBQ” Porcelet Rice Bowl featuring roasted belly and shoulder atop Carolina Gold rice, with spicy mustard, house sweet pickles, fermented carrot tops and cracklings ($17); and Rohan Duck Breast alongside Path Valley kohlrabi & zucchini, spaetzle, arugula pistou and pickled ramp bulbs ($19).

Once the dining room and raw bar open on July 8, guests will also find crowd favorites from before the restaurant shut down in March, including the Beef Wellington for-one, family-style whole fish, shareable bone-in ribeye, and raw bar items and seafood towers. Certain dishes and drinks will only be available in the dining room, or on the rooftop.

Cocktail director Andy Bixby and the award-winning bar team have created several new warm-weather cocktails, including the Melondrama (Longbranch Bourbon, Rainwater Madeira, Berto Vermouth Bianco, clarified watermelon, mint, Imperial orange bitters, olive oil, acid); Pink Panther (Boyd & Blair Vodka, Cocchi Americano Rosa, Yellow Chartreuse, rhubarb, meyer lemon, whey, bubble joy); and the Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble (white port, Imperial Sherry Blend, Kina L’Aero D’or, clarified rhubarb, strawberry, toasted oat butter, lemon). Former guests will recognize the low-abv Sher-groni, the bubbly aperitif Cham-boo!, and on-draft Imperial Gin & Tonic, plus an appearance from downstairs cocktail den Dram & Grain, the refreshing, vegetal Stealing Tomatoes From the Garden of Eden.

Guests can also enjoy interesting wines by the glass, bottle and can curated by wine director Morgan Kirchner, canned beer and spritzes, and one of the finest vintage spirits collections in the country.

The Imperial offers reservations via Resy, but will also take walk-ins if space is available. Tables are available for 2-6 guests, with time limits of 1.25-2.5 hours per reservation, depending on party size.

The Imperial will also continue offering take-out food, cocktails, wine and at-home cocktail kits to-go, via Tock or safe in-person ordering, from 4-8pm every Wednesday through Sunday.

The Imperial’s rooftop will be open for safe outdoor dine-in service starting Friday, July 3, and thereafter every Wednesday-Friday from 4pm-midnight, and Saturday-Sunday from 1pm-midnight. The Imperial’s indoor dining room and raw bar will be open starting Wednesday, July 8 and thereafter every Wednesday-Sunday from 4pm-midnight.“