The Roof pairs American dining with Temple Square views

The draw

With a 4.4-star Google rating from 881 reviews, The Roof draws attention for more than its food. The restaurant sits atop the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and diners regularly treat it as an occasion spot, largely because of the broad views across the Salt Lake Temple, Temple Square and downtown Salt Lake City.

Anniversaries and honeymoons come up in the sample feedback. So do quieter daytime visits. One reviewer described a Saturday lunch as relaxed, with plenty of seating available. Still, the view is what people return to most often, particularly now that seismic renovation work and the removal of scaffolding have made the temple more clearly visible.

Food and drinks

The menu is described as American, although the dishes cited in public reviews range widely. Diners praised the Beehive chicken with raspberry chipotle and apple slaw, bruschetta, shrimp scampi, funeral potato bites and filet mignon. At lunch, complimentary rolls served with butter and jelly received their own mention for starting the meal on a welcoming note.

There appears to be room here for a casual lunch order or a celebratory dinner. Reviewers paid particular attention to playful combinations and contrasting flavors. One diner singled out the raspberry chipotle served with the chicken. Raspberry lemonade and the Citrus Twist lemonade were noted as bright, approachable drinks alongside the food. Chocolate cake appeared in a honeymoon account, though the available feedback does not show which dishes are permanent fixtures.

Service and atmosphere

Service comes through as one of the restaurant’s clearest strengths. Across the supplied reviews, staff are described as attentive, relatable and helpful when making recommendations. Meals were reported to arrive promptly, too. Several diners praised individual servers by name, a sign that the hospitality stuck with them instead of simply meeting expectations.

The room matters just as much. Public feedback mentions music, a peaceful lunch setting and an atmosphere suited to meaningful celebrations. The elevated location and direct sightlines provide much of the appeal. Guests also give credit to the staff and the pacing, which helped visits feel polished but not stiff.

Editorial take

Taken together, the rating volume and recurring comments position The Roof as a view-led American restaurant with dependable special-occasion credentials. Its best argument is straightforward: Temple Square scenery, warm service and a menu broad enough for different appetites.

The sampled reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with no consistent drawback identified. As a result, they offer little basis for judging possible issues such as noise, waits or uneven dishes. Even so, a 4.4 rating across hundreds of reviews supports a confident recommendation, especially for visitors who care as much about setting and service as they do about the meal.