rooftop at Dave’s is open
Brent Finnegan -- August 18th, 2006
Calhoun’s isn’t the only restaurant in Hburg with a rooftop dining area anymore. Dave’s Taverna opened their rooftop to customers Thursday night. Compared to Calhoun’s, the dining area is bigger. But it’s not exactly on top of Dave’s. It’s on top of the Harrisonburg & Rockingham Free Clinic, which starts on Water Street and ends at the taverna parking lot.
The rooftop can seat approximately 145 people, with plenty of room to mill around. There’s a canopy of mood lights and a bar with a clear view of the courthouse tower. A few things still need finishing touches, (the stairs, outdoor speakers, etc) but the work crew is trying to get ready for the return of JMU. For now the roof bar doesn’t serve draft beer — only bottles and cans.
There may soon be a third rooftop restaurant/bar downtown, if folks at The Artful Dodger move forward with plans to add a second story and upper outdoor bar area in 2007.
-finnegan
You know… maybe in the not so distant future… Harrisonburg might actually have a night life.
All of the roof top bars are starting to remind me of Bent Willies and stuff back at Morgan Town.
Go Dave’s Taverna… two thumbs up for promoting fun! By the way Dave’s Taverna makes a really mean Lamb Peita.
Blackvenom-2001
This place was packed Friday night. Allegedly, they started turning people away and/or seating them downstairs because the roof was over capacity.
Right now there seating capacity leaves them some room to add tables or chairs or something. There is plenty of room but I don’t think they would want to make any changes until everything is finished.
It’s a nice open space but having bands play up there could be a problem since if it came to a standing room thing, that area could handle way more then it’s fire capacity and still not look full.
My only real problem is that electrical pole blocking the view.
Yeah, the power lines on Water Street are ugly, but that’s not Dave’s fault.
Compared to Calhoun’s, the you have a better view over the edge–Calhoun’s has a solid wall that’s 5 or 6 feet high, Dave’s has cable rails.
But I think the service is still better at Calhoun’s: generally less attitude from your waiter there.
But when will Jess’ get rooftop seating? That’s when things get out of hand.