The ROI Food & Music

To know ROI is to love ROI!
I came here with my husband and friends for the first time about 6 weeks ago and we can’t get enough!
You walk downstairs to a beautiful room with Jazz music (not too loud to have a conversation). The waiter we had and usually have (Gabriel?) Is fantastic. He’s very knowledgeable and I have never not ordered the special once he describes it.
The food takes a while to come out, and the drinks are pricey (but high quality) so we usually order a drink and sip while we wait for dinner. I have had the espresso martini, the mango sangria and they are favorites.
Their meatloaf and mac and cheese is perfect gourmet comfort food. The meatloaf is chewy but kind if seared on the outside and the mac and cheese is heaven. It’s cheese, but you can still taste the pasta which is nice. Ny husband gets this nearly every time.
I have had the ribs (on special), the Cajun chicken pasta (special), Rib Eye, and the chicken with cremini mushrooms. I prefer steak medium well, and too most folks that means burnt, but here it was nice and juicy still. All were seasoned perfectly. The jalapeño creamed corn that came with the ribs was amazing. The perfect combo between sweet and heat.
The prices are reasonable (15 – 20 per entrée) for the portions and quality.
My only «complaint» is that we have had issues with splitting bills here, even when we’ve said it in advanced.

It’s great going to a restaurant for the first time and enjoying everything about it. Amazing interiors– five stars to whoever designed it.
The service was top notch. The drinks were large and potent! And last but not least, I had trouble choosing on the menu as there were several interesting options. I went with the open faced meatloaf sandwich and was happy I did.
I look forward to coming back again

I’ve been to the ROI twice now. Once for dinner with some girlfriends;the second time for a business lunch. On both occasions, I was impressed by the quality of food and service.
The polenta fries are delcious. The portion is perfect for 3 – 4 people, depending on how hungry you are.
The portabella sandwich was delicious. Tons of flavor and big on portion. I tried the sweet potato fries. These are hand cut and absolutely delicious. It’s the one thing I missed about Ardeo closing.
My friend enjoyed the Maryland crabcake sandwich and said it was amazing.
This place has an interesting atmosphere. It’s not the easiest to find and parking can be a challenge, but it’s worth the effort. The lunch crowd seems to pack the place but we were the only ones in the restaurant for dinner on a Wednesday night.

Great soup & Mediterranean plate app, entrée was initially luke warm, however we brought it to the server’s attention and he had them heat it. Once it arrived back, it was a very rich ravioli dish in a cream sauce… The server was attentive, the environment is conducive to live music, however we did not stay to listen to the band that was due to begin after dinner…

Refined and comfortable
Above average sound quality
Fulfills a niche need
My wife and I gave The ROI a shot this past Saturday evening for after-​dinner drinks and live music, and we were pleased with the results. (We didn’t sample any food on this go-​round.) I liked the effect of descending into the space, mildly obscured from view as you first enter, greeting the entrant gradually with an expanding view of the bar and dining area, the music’s vibrancy rising as you make your way lower, and the atmosphere fully on display once you reach the dining floor. Everyone knows the best jazz joints are nearly never above or at street level, after all.
The space is used well — there is a welcoming, casual/​sleek bar with ample seating as you first make your way in, some room beside it to stand and mingle, and dining is primarily to your right, as is the stage. It’s bigger than you might first imagine from the street, but not cavernous. The pattern of tables and booths seems well-​suited for people who would like to take in the music show aspect, as well as those more there for a dinner with acquaintances who are satisfied to simply overhear the show as background.
As a performance venue, the stage is commodious without a trade-​off in intimacy, the sound system was right on par, and the performers themselves were very capable. There was a range in the set from an instrumental, percussion-​heavy version of Stevie Wonder’s «Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing,» (a favorite of mine), some golden age crooning style tunes, and even a little Al Green «Let’s Stay Together» riff that omitted select Motown-​ness but kept the spirit and added a little pep. So, not a pure jazz joint, per se, but in keeping with the type of venue we could use around here.
The cocktails we got were tasty and well-​executed, but not specifically special or original; my Post-​Op Buzz, for example, was essentially a martini-​glass take on a blended Black Russian. And I liked it — but I likely would have gotten it for a good deal less than $ 12.95 had I asked for a Black Russian. Part of that is cocktail economics, but part of that is just plain high prices for the area. On the flip side of that — there was no cover for what is a bar/​restaurant AND a competent music venue, so that’s a trade-​off worth noting.
The bartender was a man who was built like a bull and spoke like a professor — a very likable guy named Joe, I believe. He was friendly and a credit to the establishment. We talked vodka styles, and sampled one called Zubrówka Bison Grass — because after all, when one has a chance to sample a Polish bison grass product, you pretty much take that opening every time, do you not? (It’s just occurring to me that I don’t believe that particular sample made it onto our tab, so many thanks to Joe for that one, and we’ll get you back next time.)
We’ll be back for more here, likely trying dinner next, but I’m pretty sure we’ll hew to the Saturday night slot, because the music (judging by reviews of sans-​music nights or lunches) sounds like the real raison d’etre here.
Recommended for a try.