Sky's the limit at new Kennedy Ctr. Restaurant

When your facilities are designed by one of the country's most famous architects, it of course looks great. But it's not just the look provided by world-renowned designer Thierry Despont (Getty Center, Statue of Liberty restoration, etc.) that marks the new Roof Terrace Restaurant at Washington, DC's Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

It's also the menu provided by longtime caterer Restaurant Associates, a division of Compass Group North America.

RA was at the center of the entire revamping of the Kennedy Centers dining operations, which began a couple years ago with an updated cafeteria, now called the KC Cafe, and refreshed, expanded intermission bars.

But the Terrace is the centerpiece, an elegant destination dining location with a magnificent view of the Potomac River. Despont's design incorporates an art deco look reminiscent of a classic ocean liner while RA's new menu under the direction of Chef Frederic Przyborowski complements the space with an array of Modern American dishes overlaid with Asian influences.

The new design consolidates the main dining room and a former more casual lounge area called the Hors D'Oeuvrerie where patrons could order small plates of food and single wines by the glass.

To give customers more flexibility, those options have now been added to the Roof Terrace menu and the space now incorporates a more casual 20-seat bar area as well as a 30-seat private dining room.