Roofers Union’s arrival raises the bar for drinking and dining options in and around the Adams Morgan neighborhood. The just-opened tavern, which replaces shuttered Reef, offers a loft-like vibe spread out on three floors with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking 18th Street, a menu of elevated and decidedly American small and large plates, plus clever cocktails and impressive beer and wine lists.

Celebrated Ripple chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley and her kitchen crew turn out a seasonally inspired selection of sustainable and scratch-cooked dishes that include such drink-friendly items as hand-stuffed sausages served on house-baked pretzel rolls, and a fried chicken thigh sandwich with sriracha honey. For more sophisticated fare, Meek-Bradley’s menu offers everything from crispy pig ears served with frisee and a soft egg to steak frites accompanied by maitre d'hotel butter.

For drinks, Roofers Union enlisted cocktail guru Josh Fatemi who came up with an imaginative collection of drinks that draw inspiration from some of his favorite musicians. David Bowie is represented with China Girl, mandarin shrub along with St. George Terroir gin, Zirbenz pine liqueur, lemon juice, Champagne and rosemary garnish; Radiohead with Punch Up at a Wedding, a spin on classic picon punch; and John Coltrane with I’m Old Fashioned, which combines two ageless cocktails, the old fashioned and sazerac using Rittenhouse Rye, spiced gomme syrup and orange oil poured over a perfectly clear, large chunk of ice.

Beer Monger Dave Delaplaine oversees Roofers Union’s 22 taps, 10 of which are dedicated to the latest offerings from local breweries like 3 Stars, DC Brau, Atlas, Port City, and Lost Rhino. The remain draft lines have a constantly rotating selection of American craft beers and imports, including seasonals and rare one-offs, as wells as sours, cask conditioned ales and gluten free options.

A smart wine list features 12 - 16 vintages that are available by the glass or bottle.

In the weeks ahead, Roofers Union will roll out weekend brunch, and debut its sprawling rooftop deck.  

Roofers Union, 2446 18th St. NW, 202-232-7663, www.roofersuniondc.com