A popular, local restaurant is getting a national spotlight. The Roof in downtown Ellijay was chosen to be featured on “America’s Best Restaurants” (ABR).
ABR is an online show that airs episodes every weekday on Youtube, to an audience of more than 10,000 subscribers. Its goal is to “help independent restaurants thrive,” according to ABR’s website.
To be on the show, a restaurant must be nominated. Co-owner Matt Bond shared that when ABR reached out, it was a total surprise, and they were honored a community member thought to nominate them.
“I’m really excited about it because I think it does highlight the fact we are well known … The Roof really has been making a name for itself over the last almost five years,” Bond said.
With tourists visiting the restaurant multiple times in one weekend, and a chance encounter with a traveler in Paris sharing their love for it after noticing the restaurant’s merch, Bond said loyal support for the Roof goes far beyond the food and drinks they serve.
“We love our employees, they’re who make the Roof what it is,” Bond expressed. “We’re only so much of a face. They’re the face of every day, and it’s what they bring to the table that keeps people coming back.”
Bond and his husband, Jason Boutwell, knew they wanted to invest in Ellijay and bought the building that was previously Andy’s Jewelry along River Street in 2018. Originally, they planned to just refurbish the apartments and retail space.
Once they saw the mountain views from the top floor, and realized during demolition that there were steel beams already in place, they knew they could make building the Roof happen.
“We opened this because when I [saw the mountains] up top and that’s why we did all the glass walls, the idea is that people really do want a fun, generally lively environment to relax and enjoy the views,” Bond added.
The Roof officially opened summer of 2020, featuring an elevated, southern Appalachian inspired menu. With a secret code needed to enter, chandeliers and atmospheric lighting, the Door opened in Oct. 2024 as Ellijay’s first speakeasy, and an extension of the Roof.
Bond agreed to the ABR episode about a year and a half ago, and their host and camera crew came to film for about five hours on Nov. 19, 2024.
“It took us about that long [to coordinate filming day], believe it or not, because they film all over the nation and kind of do regions at a time, so it had to align,” Bond explained.
The restaurant invited more than 40 of their regular customers to dine on a fixed meal they prepared. The episode highlights the cooking process of some of their top dishes including shrimp and grits, pecan crusted, fresh Appalachian trout and not yo’ mama’s meatloaf that features locally grown mushrooms.
The episode also touches on the restaurant and speakeasy’s atmosphere, extensive community presence and what brings people into its doors, where Bond further reflected on how the “Roof family” and devoted staff members play a huge role in their success.
“[Being featured on ABR] has the opportunity to improve business, but I think it’s also reaffirming the idea of what the Roof really is,” Bond noted. “I had a lady tell me that her dental hygienist in Atlanta told her they had to go to the Roof. Word of mouth is great, but when people see that reaffirmed by additional spotlights and highlights, I don’t think it’ll hurt.”
The Shack of Ellijay was also featured on the online show. Nearly 30 restaurants across Georgia have been highlighted within the more than 840 episodes of ABR.
The 14-minute episode will premiere on the ABR Youtube page Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m., and can be watched on the Roof’s Facebook page. To find more information about the show, head to americasbestrestaurants.com.