Donovan House Rooftop Brunch - Washington, DC

On a hot DC day, I suggest snagging a table or spot at the bar on the Donovan House rooftop for brunch.  The view of Thomas Circle is lovely and the restaurant area is next to the hotel's pool which appears to be fabulous.  My husband and I unfortunately could not stay long enough to enjoy the pool, but we did have a chance to try a couple of dishes.  

I had sour cream pancakes with a vanilla maple yogurt sauce, orange ginger butter and berries.  The pancakes were light and tasty.  The yogurt sauce and butter were a delicious and unexpected accompaniment, although I couldn't taste the ginger in the butter.  The dish also came with maple syrup, but the dish was sweet enough as is.  

My husband tried the Donovan House's version of chicken and waffles which included waffle cone rather than standard belgian waffles, and chicken tenders rather than bone-in pieces.  The cashew honey butter was a decadent addition.  The chicken was juicy, crunchy and flavorful and was fine with the waffle cone.

In between bites, we took in the view.

The entrees did not break the bank, but the portions were a bit on the small side.  Next time I will order the pork and shrimp shumai I saw fellow diners get as a  starter.  Dumplings don't necessarily go with pancakes, but the rooftop menu is limited and eclectic with Asian influence from Zentan, the Japanese restaurant on the first floor, so there aren't many items that do go together in the traditional sense.  But the point is that the pancakes, while good, were not enough.  I asked for a side of bacon or sausage and was told there were no side offerings on the roof.  Apparently, most of the food is prepared on a grill on the rooftop, not in the kitchen of Zentan.  A little protein would have been a welcome addition to my meal.  All in all, I enjoyed my time on the roof and I will be back before summer's over.