An Afternoon Out: Downtown Raleigh Rooftop Lounge

A Day Out at The Willard Rooftop Lounge

I recently celebrated my anniversary and wanted to find a place to have some drinks, eats, and views. Here's a look at our full experience!

The Vibe:

Located in downtown Raleigh the location was easy to find and short drive from my hometown. We were all dressed (casual) to impress and definitely ready to eat. The lobby entrance was inviting and modern in design. After a short elevator ride we arrived at the lounge. We were greeted promptly and seated. There is indoor seating at the bar, outdoor patio, and balcony seating. The atmosphere was vibrant and lively with an eclectic mix of patrons. The views were amazing, and the slight breeze was a chef's kiss!

The Food:

We skipped the appetizer and moved straight to our main course.

We wanted to try the flatbread.

I ordered the Short Rib Melt with a port wine demi-glace, gruyere, caramelized onion, finished with arugula and balsamic glaze.

The balsamic was a pleasant surprise, all the flavors complimented each other, and the bread was perfect!

I'm a fan of balsamic!

My Frau ordered the Southern Heat pimento cheese, chicken, purple cabbage slaw, pickled jalapeno, and bravas aioli.

Once again, a different mix of flavors that complimented each other perfectly.

Along with the perfectly cooked flatbread!

Dessert:

We decided to try the balsamic macerated strawberries and whipped cream on house-made short cake.

My fav balsamic!

The sweet and slightly tangy taste blended well with the strawberries and short cake to make an enjoyable dessert to share.

Drinks:

My Frau had the Moscato D'Asti, Gianni, Italy, it was sweet with a little fizz!

I had a virgin Blue Berry Smash, a delicious drink with a hint of mint!

Overall:

We enjoyed the atmosphere and the views. The service was quick and attentive. The food was delicious and satisfying. The dessert menu is a little limited, although it has a rotating dessert option. But it definitely made up for that with excellent taste!