AROMA
AROMA
“Aroma was a shotgun shack filled with laughter, cocktails and smoke.”
Located at the site of the long-lived Roma Restaurant on Connecticut Ave, in DC, Aroma was a bar through and through. Our customers brought in their food from the many neighborhood restaurants along our strip. We sold cigars, cocktails and premium drafts. In the back was a door under the tempting sign “MORE BAR.” Beyond was a cozy longe where countless parties and late night chin wags were held.
In 2010, with the smoking ban now in effect across DC restaurants, but Aroma holding an exemption because it was a cigar bar, we decided it was time to call it quits. DCIST reported on May 13, 2010:
Cleveland Park residents and smokers from across the city were saddened to see Bedrock Management’s Aroma close its doors a few weeks ago. Word around town is that the space will reopen after renovations as some kind of wine & tapas spot, with the crucial difference being that it will no longer sell cigars. Whatever ends up replacing it, one of the few bars inside the District that legally allowed smoking is gone for good.
Our friend Roger Marmet suggested converting Aroma to a restaurant, so we started down the path to add a kitchen. Nothing about the space worked for a cooking and serving food, yet a year later we opened Ripple, which became one of the best restaurants in DC.