Solaire Rooftop — Restaurant in Richmond

The cost of food and drinks is not worth it! If you’re expecting the same fun, vibrant vibes you had when this place used to be called ‘Kabana’, DO NOT go to Solaire! We reserved space for 20 people on the rooftop for my husband’s birthday this past Saturday and these were the things we were disappointed with:

Music: We thought the event coordinator understood the after-brunch vibe we wanted to provide for our party, and she verbally said there would be a DJ. Apparently there was never a DJ expected all day, nor lively music. The music played was more like chill hotel/elevator music that did not bring the vibe we were expecting.

Catered Food: Although the host showed us to our section when we arrived, there was no clear communication on how the pre-ordered appetizers would be served (which they required a $500 minimum on food, by the way). I had to ask multiple people from the staff how the food serving would work so I could let my guests know. When we got access to our food (buffet-style), most of the food was cold and tasteless. We ordered Tempora Shrimp, Crab Dip with Chips, Meatballs, and Loaded Potato Skins.

Service - Being that we spent extra money to have an intimate space for our guests, we were expecting SOMEONE to come check on us at some point. No one did that, and we constantly had to hunt down someone whenever we needed something. When we asked to box up the $500 worth of food, they just brought out to-go boxes and didn’t offer to help box it up for us. There didn’t seem to be any sense of urgency from anyone in the staff. The place didn’t feel welcoming or attentive at all due to the lack of service

Ordering Beverages/Additional food - we were told we had to use the QR code to order beverages, which I can understand to an extent. But even ordering something as simple as a soda required a bartender to come ask us what we wanted anyways (‘Soda’ was the only option if you wanted a Coke). Special customizations to the drinks (such as substituting a brand of liquor in a drink) required talking to someone since the app did not allow customization or free-text explanations. Because of these issues, ordering through the app was a frustrating experience

Spider Webs - Because we reserved our space weeks in advance, we expected our section to be clean. However, the corners of the couches had spider-webs that we had to ask a server to help remove

In summary, all of the people in our party were extremely unimpressed and disappointed of the atmosphere, service, and food at this establishment! We will not be returning to this place for future...

Overall Experience For $1,200, we expected a premium rooftop experience, but Solaire fell short in nearly every category. What should have been a memorable evening turned into a series of disappointments that left our group feeling like we overpaid for subpar service and atmosphere. Food & Catering The preselected menu was the biggest letdown of the evening. Food arrived barely warm and lacked any real flavor or seasoning. For a venue charging premium prices, the bland execution was unacceptable. The crab dip was particularly disappointing - clearly made with imitation crab meat that fooled no one and tasted artificial. When you’re paying top dollar for catering, you expect quality ingredients and proper preparation. Drinks While the drink selection was adequate, the pricing was steep even by rooftop standards. The cocktails were decent but nothing special, and given the premium we were already paying for the space, the drink prices felt excessive. Atmosphere & Entertainment This is where expectations really missed reality. We were promised a DJ for the evening, which was part of why we chose this venue. Instead, we got generic resort-style background music that completely killed the nighttime rooftop vibe we were going for. When we asked our server about the DJ, they seemed confused and said they don’t typically have DJs - which directly contradicted what we were told when booking. The music selection made it feel more like a hotel lobby than an exciting rooftop venue. Service The service was the final nail in the coffin. Our server seemed disinterested and unhelpful throughout the evening. The most insulting moment came when we asked to have our leftover catered food boxed up - a standard request at any restaurant. Instead of the server handling this basic service, we were told we could “box it up ourselves.” For a $1,200 private event, this level of service is completely unacceptable. Bottom Line Solaire Rooftop charges premium prices but delivers a budget experience. Between the cold, flavorless food, overpriced drinks, misleading entertainment promises, and poor service, I cannot recommend this venue for private events. There are better rooftop options in the area that actually deliver on their promises and treat guests with respect. Would I return? NoWould I recommend? NoValue...

1/5 Stars - A Birthday Letdown at Solaire Rooftop My experience at Solaire Rooftop for an after-brunch birthday celebration was profoundly disappointing, especially considering the significant cost. I had reserved a private section, expecting an amazing vibe and beautiful views, but what we received was a complete letdown on all fronts. From the moment we arrived, the service was terrible. Despite having a preselected menu, no one officially walked us to our section or explained what we had ordered. We had to repeatedly ask staff where to seat ourselves and inquire about the status of our food, which was incredibly frustrating and made us feel entirely ignored. When we finally found the food,, it was not only cold but also utterly tasteless. For the price point, this was simply unacceptable. To add to the miserable atmosphere, I had specifically inquired several times prior to booking, and was assured that a DJ would be playing that evening. However, there was no DJ present during our entire event. Instead, we were subjected to incredibly dull, hotel-lobby-style music that put my entire party to sleep. The vibrant atmosphere we expected from a rooftop venue was non-existent. What should have been a memorable birthday celebration for all the right reasons turned into one I will never forget, but solely due to the shocking lack of attention, cold and tasteless food, and a terribly boring environment. Save your money and go elsewhere if you're looking for quality, service, or actual...