Located above Gravitas in Ivy City, The Conservatory is a rooftop bar and lounge, surrounded by an urban culinary garden. The Conservatory is open for evening service for wine, cocktails, and a seasonal menu. Closest Metro is NoMa-Gallaudet.
We went to this roof top restaurant to celebrate my second #quarantine birthday. It was the first day of Spring, and while still chilly, the sky was clear and we thought the outdoor ambience would be safe for a night out.
I started with a glass of Cava while Keith had a glass of rosé. My bubbles were missing, as it was the last pour from the bottle but the flavor was still good that I did not bother to complain. After looking over the menu, we decided on a few starters to share.
The Chesapeake Oysters on the Half Shell were White Stones and served with mignonette and cocktail sauce. The oysters were plump and a nice blend of creamy and briny, but could have been served a bit colder.
The Grilled Octopus was actually sous vide for several hours and served with Romesco Sauce, grilled ramps, marinated chickpeas, and Marcona almonds. There was an interesting Mediterranean vibe to this dish and it was packed with flavor.
Sticking with seafood, I ordered the Seared Scallops for my main dish. Because I do not eat red meat, they were extra cautious and removed the bacon and veal glace from my version. The scallops were cooked perfectly and served with onion soubise and roasted cipollini onions. I enjoyed it with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc from Loire Valley.
Keith ordered another Spring dish - Grilled Lamb Porterhouse served with whipped polenta, ramp salsa verde, grilled scallions, and balsamic baby onions. It gave him all the Easter vibes, and he paired it with a nice glass of Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley.
All in all we had a nice meal out. Service was a bit slow in terms of providing us drinks, and there was a mix-up with one of our dishes, but we still had a nice evening out. The fire pits were cozy and they were able to fit quite a few tables out on this roof top.
