Came here for a late breakfast with my son. It was a gorgeous day and we asked to be seated outside. Loved the ambience with a cute garden and fresh, creative food with quite diverse selection. Service was very friendly and prompt. We have ordered avocado Benny on a cornbread and short ribs hash. Both entrees were very good. A little expensive for the breakfast but worth it. Coffee could improve.
(5)
MichaelJohn B.
The only reason I'm giving this place 4 Stars is because the menu is very limited. The drink menu is high quality as well. I had a very good experience.
(4)
Saul G.
I take Yelp reviews in small towns with a grain of salt. In this case, the kudos are well deserved. The professionalism started at the host station. We were told the wait was 15 minutes, and 14 minutes later, my cell phone rang. The host led us to a table in the lovely back garden with a view of the wildflowers. Water and good coffee came almost immediately. When I noticed a fine looking bloody mary, I lumped for one of those as well. The bloody itself was standard, but the piece of (what I think was) pepper jerky on the olive kebab was outstanding. Short rib hash was tender and tasty. I did add a second egg. I don't like this one egg thing in Williamsburg and it has no place in Pennsylvania. The pork belly benedict was even better, with an apple relish over corn bread. I added an extra side of cornbread as my hash came without. The short rib hash could have used a bit more seasoning - I needed to add some of the house hot sauce, but that is my only complaint. A really nice experience overall.
(5)
V D.
The most overrated place I've found in the area. I think many reviewers give it far too much credit for a nice atmosphere and friendly staff. But lets be real, we are here for food. And that's what comes out, bland & uninteresting food. Sure it will have fancy titles, but little thought is given to the combinations of flavors. There is little to no spice used in anything, leaving the dishes with a very bland "I just bought this at the grocer and heated it up" flavor. This place is proof that you can trick most Americans (and especially West Chester people) with a nice wait staff and atmosphere to eat a really cheap and uninteresting dish.
(2)
Rachel B.
Roots is the perfect combination of small town business and quality food. Roots is the hidden gem of West Chester. If you are in the breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner mood, Roots will not disappoint. I've been going since I've moved to west Chester nearly two years ago and it is still my favorite restaurant. If you have the opportunity to have Shannon as a server, consider yourself extremely fortunate. She is by far one of my favorite servers in town. You ask for a recommendation and she never disappoints. I would recommend the pork belly Benedict or the vegan scramble for breakfast, depending on the dinner menu I would recommend specials, they are limited so order up. Overall I have never had a bad meal or bad service here and I've been going consistently for about two years. It comes highly recommended.
(5)
Yemisi E.
Oh be still my southern living heart! This place is just charming. I mean there really is nothing else like it. My boyfriend and I ventured in on a Sunday in the early afternoon. That was our first mistake. This place gets packed and stays packed all day long. If you want less of a wait definitely try to come earlier in the day. They close at 3 so you'll feel less pressure to get in before the cut off. I ordered the A.L.T. which has avocado, lettuce, and tomatoes with some pesto mayo thrown on for good measure. It was a damn good sandwich and I wish I was eating it right now. I had mixed greens as my side. They definitely made the dressing in house and it was an amazing vinaigrette. I had a side of their cornbread and as a southern gal I must to say it was excellence in each bite. It is very small so you might feel a bit cramped. Try to get a window seat if you are prone to claustrophobia. In my opinion though, the hustle and bustle of the waiters and waitresses mixed with the food coming in and out gave it a lively presence in such a demure atmosphere. I highly recommend this place. It is simply brunch heaven.
(5)
Sara L.
We went to the Roots Cafe because of the rave Yelp reviews. They have a nice menu and offer multiple gluten free options! The atmosphere was also nice. However, there was a wait when we arrived. Once seated, our food took an extraordinary amount of time to be served to us and general service was not great. We waited for about an hour to get two (uncooked) sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, and a side of potatoes. The sandwiches and Mac & cheese were good. The potatoes were almost inedible because they were vastly undercooked. I wasn't impressed with this place and would take the rave reviews with a grain of salt.
(2)
Shannon M.
I can't believe I've been taking graduate courses nearby for four semesters and I just discovered this place. I wanted something simple -- so I ordered scrambled eggs with taters and sourdough toast. OH MAN. The eggs were really the best I've ever had -- and I never thought I would say that. The taters were awesome, too., and cooked in a way that was just ... something I'll never have again unless I go back there. Such an amazing little spot in the heart of WC. Friendly staff and a lot of people waiting -- ALWAYS a good sign when people wait for breakfast, a meal that so many places in the area serve.
(5)
Rula R.
This is my perfect kinda place for Sunday brunch! Very simple and warm atmosphere with friendly staff. Our server was very knowledgable and she was very clear with describing the specials which is something a lot of servers lack. The food is absolutely delicious I could tell that everything is made fresh.
(5)
James I.
Pork belly eggs benedict on corn bread is fantastic. They give you a good amount of pork belly and the corn bread is amazing compared to the traditional English muffin. I had it with potatoes that were just okay, could have used more seasoning. The coffee was not very good but the eggs bene was so good that it trumps everything. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Ade M.
Delicious food - we went for brunch. I had Braised Short Rib Hash, my husband had Pork Belly Eggs Benedict, and we got our toddler bacon and a croissant. Everything was delicious. The homemade hot sauce on the tables was tangy and spicy and excellent. The service was great. We were fortunate to sit outside on a gorgeous day. They were more than prepared to accommodate our toddler. No kids' menus, but they were still friend and speedy-quick, which is great. We'd take her there again for breakfast.
(5)
Ernie L.
Will give a review when there is a hostess that knows what she's talking about! I am sure this place is nice. Got a message from a newsletter I signed up for about West Chester restaurants. Got a text about Roots. I wanted to take my girl out and neither of us care about expensive food. We just like vegetarian options and especially cheese / wine, and it'd been awhile since we had seen each other. Seemed like the kinda place we'd like. We had to leave when the hostess couldn't tell us about the menu. Cute girl, bad hostess. Only leave snobby reviews when the places act snobby. Give and take dawg. We both have worked food service and have had to memorize menus and suggestions. Not that hard.
This is a great spot. My eyes did tear up a little when they did away with their BYOB but that was a long time ago and now I'm over it. I took my husband here for brunch on his birthday. It was the best brunch I have been to in a while! We started off with Bloody Mary's which came in cute little mason jars. I ordered the Pork Shoulder and Prosciutto Cuban since I love cuban sandwiches, pork shoulder and prosciutto! I didn't know how this pairing was going to turn out especially since I was totally skipping breakfast and going right for a lunch option. It was the best decision I made that day! The sandwich came out on a cute little cutting board with my side salad in a little dish next to my sandwich. The sandwich was perfectly toasted on the outside and melted on the inside. I am drooling just thinking about it! My husband ordered the Braised Short Rib Hash. While his was very good and we were supposed to share, I just couldn't give up my sandwich to the hash. I will be back and can't wait to find my next favorite thing.
(5)
Cao T.
Very nice place for weekend brunch. I had the Braised Short Rib Harsh and it was delicious! The service was great and I did not have to wait for long (or maybe I was just lucky)
(5)
Carolyn H.
Tried Roots for breakfast and all the food was delicious. We got the breakfast pork belly burrito and the quiche of the day (carrots, onion, roasted red peppers). Both were well cooked, not greasy. Server was friendly and accommodating. I asked for added granola and fruit with my yogurt and he gladly added it with no extra charge. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Mike T.
Good for breakfast and lunch... removed the BYOB option and added a liquor license so now you have to drink what they serve which doesn't meet my wine standards. Also, the dinner menu always seems a little too sweet, I enjoy a savory meal.
(3)
Kanjana R.
After not being able to eat here the first 4 times because they were closed during business hours they state online, I finally got to have breakfast there! I had the avocado Bennie which was delicious. But I am keeping it at 3 stars since I had to try so many times and I don't live in town so it's frustrating to drive in just to go there and have it be closed. If they could just update their hours on their website and yelp that would be great!
(3)
Robert P.
Great for breakfast and lunch very disappointing for dinner. How can that be? Lunch and brunch were very solid efforts with interesting choices. I didn't feel that way about dinner. So I settled on three stars . 2 for dinner and 4 for lunch/brunch
(3)
Stephen B.
The ambiance is great with a nice outdoor seating area, but the food isn't worth the costs; I'm all about farm to table, but the prices are extraordinary for what you get.
(3)
Brandy W.
Totes amazing! I had brunch at this restaurant for the first time today, and the food was so delicious. The staff was very friendly and the service was prompt. The outdoor patio seating area is like a little garden and feels very quaint and organic. There was actually gluten free French toast!!!!!! Hands down, best brunch in town.
(5)
Amy H.
We were in town from FL for a wedding. The place is small and was crowded but we were seated quickly. Coffee was nice and hot, Bloody Mary was delicious and served with beef jerky in it (file under YUM). Hubby had a beautiful French toast platter and I had the pork belly eggs Benedict. Hands down the most delicious brunch I've ever had. My only complaint is that I doubt I'll have a reason to be in West Chester again. We need a Roots Cafe in Florida.
(5)
Taylor J.
I can't say anything that hasn't been said already. We go to this restaurant several times a week. They are consistent, and we know we're getting fresh food. The seating is pretty close inside, but the restaurant doesn't pretend to be upper scale. The atmosphere makes you want to enjoy yourself, which we always do.
(5)
Sean M.
I'd give this place more stars if I could. From the service to the food it was phenomenal. Friendly and capable staff, fantastic food with various vegan options, creative menu and great atmosphere. I went here with my family for my mom's birthday on Sunday and she was over joyed, as we all were. I ordered hummus for the table, arugula salad and a veggie burger. Each item I typically order regularly at different restaurants. However, this is the best I've had of each meal, ever. I strongly recommend trying this place and I promise it will not disappoint. BTW Sean was our server and he did a tremendous job.
(5)
Jack M.
My grandma's French Toast was awesome. However, my Mushroom Omelette was just OK. Kinda dry and not the best. I'd get the French Toast with honey syrup if I went again. So good. Because our server was excellent and the vibe is cool, I'll give 4 stars.
(4)
Biff P.
I can never go wrong here. The food is always fresh and flavorful. We also love the seasonal cocktails they feature.
(5)
Kim E.
We were pleasantly surprised our first time coming here. Farm to table freshness is apparent here. We had a mixed group from vegan, vegetarian & carnivores. Everyone was very happy with their meals. Place is very tastefully decorated & staff super friendly. The only downside is that it is small, so plan on a wait. Hope to get back when it's warmer to dine in their outdoor garden/patio area.
(5)
Annie P.
Just stopped in this morning with my Mom (her first time) for breakfast. Food was OBVIOUSLY AMAZING ..she was so delighted to find their vegetarian menu items! I had the farmers omelette with the fresh veggies of the day, and my mom has the tofu & veg sautee. Service was great as ever, and I will never let months go by ever again without stopping by. Looking forward to my next visit! Maybe tomorrow.... :)
(5)
Angelica S.
I go to this place everytime I'm in PA. The food is amazing and the staff is attentive and friendly. The pork belly bennie is to die for!
(5)
Anna Y.
I was in the area for a dental checkup and found this gem through yelp afterwards . I love it ! Since today is a tuesday there was no wait at all , we were seated outside which is a little nice garden theme in the back. It felt like I was dining in my backyard. We ordered a smoked salmon Benedict, I think it was one of the best I ever had comparing to all the brunch place in Philly. It really had a great combination of flavors, love the smoked salmon! The second dish was the breakfast burrito , this dish was mediocre. It was dry and flavorless , I hope they can improve it in the future. Roots is far from Philly but I would still like to come back just for the Benedict.
(4)
John A.
Came here for lunch and found a neat little place with great food and excellent service. The fish tacos rocked! The honey roasted turkey sandwich was perfect as was the cheddar quiche. There is also a bottle of really yummy hot sauce on the tables that is not overwhelming in terms of heat or flavor. Finally we had a chocolate crepe that was tasty! Wish I lived closer...
(5)
Kelly A.
I have only been their for breakfast, but their breakfast is amazing. Great food, great atmosphere, & great service. It can get a bit costly, but the cost is on target for the quality & quantity.
(5)
Elliott H.
Amazingly fresh food, great service and awesome atmosphere. Favorite thing about West Chester.
(5)
Bill W.
WOW very eclectic cool vibe natural feel great different flavor healthy option. Long wait over heard peeps sY they waited over an hour. I waited 25 min not to bad took a walk it is West Chester so it was a worth the walk I deffently will go back again & bring my foodies with me.
(4)
P E.
Came back for another breakfast. Again we ordered the eggs"Benny" with pork belly, Apple chutney, and corn bread. Still a winner..... Instead of French toast, this time we ordered the wild sausage gravy over corn bread with two eggs. This was quite yummy as the corn bread was ever so slightly sweet. Both were served with some home fries, which were ok but not particularly noteworthy. Coffee was fresh and service pleasant. Parking is on the street and free on Sundays, easy if you come early.
(5)
Ronald K.
Our first visit but certainly not our last. Unique and varied selection of breakfast items including standards- omelettes, Eggs Benedict (Bennies) and non-standard-Short Ribs Hash. Vegetable Quiche, and a Grits dish. I tried the Short Ribs Hash which was delicious and my wife enjoyed her Vegetable Quiche. Service was warm and friendly with the Garden seating making our dining experience even more enjoyable. Slightly pricier than standard diner fare but it was unique and delicious. Try it for yourself.
(5)
Nic D.
My favorite spot for brunch any day of the week!!! Food is awesome and consistent. They have mimosas which is always a plus and the venue is just refreshing. I go as often as I can !!!
(5)
Jenn H.
We got an avocado benny and the omelette with chorizo in it... Absolutely delicious! Very fresh tasting. Our server was so cool too. Tall, blonde kid that sounded like he travels a lot. The experience I'm talking about was from my third time at Roots. I swear it gets better and better each time!
(5)
Mike C.
Roots is always changing their menu and keeping it fresh. A few good Vegan options and one AMAZING vegan scrapple burrito keeps me coming back. Their coffee is delicious and they use a cold brew for the iced coffee. Outdoor seating in the back surrounded by their garden and local art takes you out of WC when you aren't feeling it. The staff at sweethearts all around. Can't wait for Sprout (their live music club!) to open
(5)
Allison B.
When I saw the word "cafe" in the title I was expecting something a little less formal, so I only got a half-hour parking spot. While it's not a fancy place per se, it's definitely a sit-down establishment, which is why I got my first West Chester parking ticket the same day I had a delicious lunch at Roots. When I stepped in for lunch the place was packed. In fact, the wait was about 30 minutes around noon, so I left, but as I was a few steps down the sidewalk the hostess popped her head out and said a table was just freeing up. I was delighted! My waiter was very friendly and attentive. I ordered the ALT after much debate (BBQ duck quesadilla sounded so intriguing!). The ALT has fried tomato, greens, pesto mayo, and avocado on multigrain bread. It came with a simple side salad. It was more than enough to fill me up for lunch and everything tasted fresh. I didn't stick around too long to savor the experience after I devoured my sandwich (remember, I was trying to get back to my car inside of a half hour), but Roots Cafe is a cozy and inviting casual place to have a wonderful, local, seasonal meal. I can't wait to stop back in, perhaps for dinner!
(4)
Sue P.
Wait staff absolutely marvelous attentive but not suffocating. Had lunch special beet salad and vege taco yum now a favorite
Food was very good. Service was excellent! Would recommend this place to all. My husband had the Club and I had the Chicken Sandwich. We parked across the street and walked around the area after lunch.
(5)
Danielle F.
My new favorite breakfast spot in the borough! I usually go as a getaway w/a friend, but the last time I went we took my 1 year old. I was a little nervous about the tight space and if it would be an appropriate place for a child. And they were awesome. They put us in a perfect spot where the high hair was not in the way. My son enjoyed our server and was flirting w/the table next to us. The food is just outstanding, classic w/a twist of something unique. You can get a mimosa w/breakfast which is hard to find in the borough. Their house made sauces are to. die. for. Love this place!
(5)
Genessa L.
One of my favorite places to eat in the borough of West Chester! The homage preserves and croissant is to die for. Also, the eggs Benedict is always on point. The wait can be a little long on the weekends as they don't take reservations which is a bit frustrating at times. As soon as you eat the delicious food the log wait doesn't seem to matter anymore!
(5)
Nikki K.
Great local food. Friendly staff and comfortable atmosphere. Be sure to eat outside during nice weather and you can check out their garden!
(5)
Lauren O.
The food here is homemade, fresh, and delicious. I love that Roots uses local produce in most of its dishes. Just be prepared to wait a LONG time for a table. Sometimes the wait time is much longer than what the hostess will tell you which can be frustrating. But the place is small so it is hard to predict when people will leave. Howver, the service and food make up for the long wait once you are seated. I've learned to call far in advance and try to go at off peak times. And I keep kind bars in my purse so I'm not starving while waiting.
(5)
Jennifer Y.
We ate a lot of food and had a lot to bring home! I was excited to visit since the reviews are great. The hummus with veggies was soooo good, and so was everything we had. Happy they served alcohol and support local farms, bakeries, etc. It felt as though we were in Vermont. The people were cheerful, and you could really tell they cared for their customers' experiences. You could taste the love in the food! Can't wait to go back, keep up the good work!
(5)
John S.
Dined it up at this joint on my last day of a philly trip, and I came away fairly impressed. This place is my kinda joint, converted house style diner with a large and diverse menu. I ordered a ginger ice tea and it was delicious, even for an unsweetened tea, I didn't even throw any sugar in it! For dinner I had the Vegan Scrapple sandwich with a side of sweet potatoes. It was all really good, maybe just needed a good sauce on the sandwich (maybe a vegan gravy styled sauce). I ended up putting some cholula on it, was pretty solid but just a tad dry. The Sweets on the side were good, but maybe could have used more seasoning, rosemary would be nice. Overall service was good, and it was a nice day to eat outside in their living space. I would definitely eat here again. I believe everyone else in my party including the two locals eating here for the first time all enjoyed their food as well.
(4)
Ashley D.
From breakfast and lunch to their four course pre fix dinner everything is outstanding. Their food is farm to table. All the waitresses are locals. I feel like I'm at home when I am there. Customer service is amazing, they know who we are when we come in. Support locals and their farms.
(5)
Michael B.
Absolutely fantastic. Great food and great drinks. The gm Jeremy is awesome and great service all around. I would come back a million times.
(5)
Cora B.
I was really excited to try this spot because it was so cute. I ordered the pork belly eggs benedict - it was good. My husband got the breakfast burrito - just whatever. I don't think we'll be back but it is a cute spot to go if you need somewhere cute to grab breakfast with friends! Food is just OK.
(3)
Amy T.
There's no other way to put it: I love Roots Cafe. Breakfast is amazing, very fresh ingredients because everything is seasonal. I usually end up going with the farmers omelette. Lunch has seriously expanded from when they first started out, and it's only gotten better and better. Dinner, although I will say a bit pricey for my college-status budget, is delicious and very unique. With the food, it is hard to pick a stand-out menu item not only because pretty much everything is delicious, but also the menu changes seasonally to keep up with fresh produce. I personally love the club, the secret garden sandwich, their cheese plate, the mac and cheese, the prosciutto crostini, and the arugula lunch salad. The food is spot on, but so is the atmosphere. The place is filled with paintings by a local artist, and the entire place has his rustic vibe. Their outdoor section is also a garden that holds fresh herbs, and the chefs come out frequently to grab them. And considering their outdoor area is in the back of the restaurant, you don't have to worry about the town foot traffic or street noise, which is a definite plus. To top everything off, the staff is filled with genuinely nice people who want to ensue you have an amazing experience at the restaurant.
(5)
Doug I.
A little disappointing. In general good but didn't live up to my expectations. The outside need cleaning up and organizing. Need it to look more presentable.
(3)
Cari B.
Simply amazing. My husband and I decided to give this place a try one "kid free" Sunday. It is a tiny place within walking distance to public parking in downtown West Chester. We were greeted by Kerry who told us it would be about 20 minutes for our table. She brought us a fresh cup of coffee to drink while we waited. Front waiting area quickly became crowded as we arrived around 12:00 pm. Overall wait was about 20 minutes but turned out to be worth it. We were seated in the "bar" area at a high top table and immediately noticed the Bloody Mary's so we had to have one. Not bad but not the best...it was served with a small piece of house made beef Jerky which I thought was pretty unique. I ordered the pork belly Benny which was eggs Benedict served on a piece of cornbread with apple chutney and smoked pork belly. It was heavenly!!! The apple chutney made the dish and the pork belly was extremely tender. The poached eggs were cooked to perfection!! My husband ordered the smoked pork belly burrito. He was a tad disappointed as it turned out to be more of a wrap than a breakfast burrito slathered in cheese and sauce. The flavors were good but next time he is ordering a Benny!!! Highly recommend this place as the chef is using locally grown ingredients and everything is made from scratch!!!
(5)
Mark F.
Roots is everything that I could ever ask for in a restaurant! I admit that I have never been here for dinner, but every time I go for breakfast or lunch I am always pleased with my experience. You can feel the good vibes once you walk in the door as you are greeted by employees who seem to generally enjoy working there (how could you not!). The atmosphere is fantastic and the food is even better. The icing on the cake would definitely have to be how they are committed to using fresh and local ingredients in every dish that they serve. This leads to deliciously unique meals that make you feel good about eating! My favorite breakfast item? The arugula and prosciutto benny, it is heaven served on a croissant.
I really wanted to like roots, but I was disappointed. The dinner menu is quite limited. There are no vegetarian entrees on the menu. The chef did create a vegetarian meal for me, but it lacked flavor and certainly was not worth the $23 we paid for it. I appreciate their efforts to use local ingredients, but in the end I felt this restaurant was overpriced and overreaching. We will certainly not be returning.
(2)
Brigit B.
Love the new location...beautiful for small groups. I went with three friends. We ordered the cheese plate, mussels, salad, meatballs, crab cakes and meatball soup. All were enjoyed. The ambiance of Roots alone will have me returning for more. Reminds me of a few places in Philly so stick with the burbs and support local businesses! The server, Steve was friendly and helpful when deciding on what to order.
(3)
Madelyn C.
For the quality of food you get, the price is very reasonable. I ordered the Farmers Omelet with sweet potatoes and toast. It had a wide assortment of veggies inside, and the flavors were nice. I loved the cozy environment in there, and also the farm-to-table style of food. They change the menu every two seasons, so it would be good to go several times to see what they have to offer. I highly recommend!
(5)
skylar m.
Great food but EXTREMELY slow service. Brunch for 2 took almost two hours because it took an hour and a half just to get our entrees....ridiculous
The food is phenomenal: fresh, local, delicious. The staff are friendly. The menu changes and highlights what's in season. I've eaten breakfast, brunch and dinner here multiple times and am always 100% happy. I'm a food snob, so that's saying a lot:-)
(5)
Joe B.
A good informal place for breakfast that caters to everyone. The French toast was excellent and so was the wait staff. Rustic setting both inside and outside with plenty of healthy choices. I'm definitely going to come back.
(5)
Anna A.
So glad I finally tried this place! Been meaning to for a while. I work in the area and stopped in for a late lunch with a colleague. Was still pretty crowded but we were seated right away. Service and food were great! We had the grill cheese and pork and prosciutto sandwich with couscous. Everything was delicious, even the coffee :)
(5)
Raven P.
Amazing. I loved Roots at their first location when they had four whole tables, and I love it even more now. They have beer! And cocktails! And more space especially. Never ever had a bad meal, they're spectacular at making vegetarian and vegan meals extraordinarily delicious. I wish I lived a little closer, but then again I would never go anywhere else.
(5)
Lisa L.
The food here is amazing. I love how all of the ingredients are fresh and it's healthier than most places you'll go. However, I do have to say that the service put a bad taste in my mouth. I ordered takeout one day and got smoked salmon Benedict.. I arrived home and no salmon. As you can imagine I wasn't happy because I paid $16 for it. Called and asked if I could get something comped on my next visit, the manager told me my next meal there would be comped. I arrived there, let them know the situation and they surprisingly remembered. I was told by the hostess "the managers have you covered, enjoy your meal". We get the bill and they gave us an employee discount...really dude?! I was so taken back by that, because I've worked in the food industry and anytime that my customers had something like that happen to them we made sure they we're taken care of. Lucky enough the food here is so good that I'll keep coming back. But a word of advice to management... I would handle situations like this better moving forward, because that's a fast way to lose customers.
(4)
C W.
Visited 1/10/15 Atmosphere: I could be completely wrong about this, but it seemed that this very clearly was a home before and they did little to change that. (Still separate rooms, you enter through a small door to the hostess stand and staircase). Seems as if they spruced up the floors, gave some fresh paint and lighting, and added various paintings of local scenes. And it works PERFECTLY. Even the bathroom was a single one that looked decorated as if visiting a person's home, lit candle and all! Service: I would have to say, as far as service goes they are the moat genuine of any i have ever received. Very real and friendly. I even saw a couple waitresses stop to chat with people after their meal. Food: Small menu. I ordered Seasonal wild game sausage gravy over cornbread, with a coffee. The "wild game" just so happened to be elk. The coffee came in a hefty couple and was good. The gravy was delicious and a little spicy, while the cornbread was freah and yummy. Though i have no idea what would taste like... there didn't seem to be too many pieces of it... but thats okay. Price: $31.00 for two people is a bit much for breakfast, but would pay it again. Everything seems to come from within a 30 mile radius and that adds to the experience. . Cant wait to go back
(5)
L N.
Adorable little cafe in downtown West Chester! We sat outside for lunch and you can still order breakfast then too! Food came out a bit slow but worth the wait. Lots of vegetarian items! Going back for sure :)
(5)
Ananya S.
We love this place! Friendly staff, amazing food and great ambiance. We've been there several times for brunch but the dinner menu looks fantastic. We've had the pork belly benedict, the duck hash, the bison chili and the ham benedict - each one has been fantastic. The only nitpick I have with this place is the wait time to be seated. We've only visited over the weekend and have waited at least thirty minutes on average. I really wish they could expand.
(5)
Maya W.
Roots is the best! Delicious fresh food, lots of options to satisfy any eater, and an awesome environment and wait staff. Plus they support local farmers and suppliers and work to lessen their environmental impact across the business. Thank you Roots!!
(5)
Charles R.
After several very good meals for both lunch and dinner I will never walk back in to this restaurant again, and here's why. Had lunch there a couple months ago and noticed they were serving beer. I asked the hostess if they had gone away from BYO and she said...sort of. I was told that the restaurant was still allowing BYO, but they were charging for corkage and it was $10 bottle. Nothing was mentioned about weekends. When I made the reservation for dinner on Saturday nite nothing was said they no longer let people bring wine on weekends. Drove 45 minutes on a really bad night and when I walked in with 2 bottles of wine I was told, sorry but can't use personal wine. There were 6 total people in the restaurant. I explained to the man that was seating people that I was never told anything when I made the reservation and would they please make an exception for 1 night. He went back and checked with the chef and I was told, NOPE. Our "new policy" was no more BYO. He also said they were updating their website to let people know. SO, the websirte doesn't say no personal wines, the hostess at lunch in December said it was still ok, yet we were told to take it or leave it. I understand that chef's are not the best people persons in the world, but I can't believe there was no give and take on a night when the place was deserted because of the weather. Must be nice to tell people to walk rather than try to work something out. Went ot Spence and had a good meal. Never go back to Roots.
(1)
John Y.
This is the very same Roots from just a few blocks away, and they've grown into the space that used to be Gilmore's. The space is a labor of love: personally restored by the owners with (as of this writing) lots of John Hannafin paintings on display, and an expanded back garden. Lots of friendly new servers, the same relaxed Roots vibe, and yummy local food. If you liked roots in their tiny location, you'll love them in their bigger one!
(5)
Olivia C.
I was visiting from out of town and I love this little place. I had just a croissant and the parfait and it was the most amazing parfait I've ever eaten. Really good homemade granola with honey in the bottom and fresh fruit on top. Our waiter was happy, helpful, and attentive. Not to mention the decor in the place is super homey. You definitely need to check this place out.
(5)
Jan F.
I want to go back to Roots. It has this cute little outside seating area in the back of the restaurant that is very private and nice. The food was delicious. I had a veggie sandwich. It was delicious and fresh. My mom had a wonderful turkey club on fresh multigrain bread. My daughter had fish tacos which she enjoyed. Service was attentive and friendly. They use local veggies! Yum!
(5)
Arti S.
Amazing food- each one of us ordered different things and each one of us thought that their meal was the best! Joe's fantastic service and our 12 people group was comfortably accommodated us with calling couple days ahead of time. Thank you Drew and Shannon for making our brunch, and my little boys 8th birthday brunch a load of fun and special!
(5)
Robin Y.
I was so excited to find this place while in West Chester for the day. It's in a rustic farmhouse right on West Chester's most adorable street, which immediately sets the tone for the meal. It only has about six tables, so you might have to wait for one to open up, but it's really worth it. For lunch, we tried the bison chili, wild boar soup, Secret Garden sandwich, and Cuban sandwich. Everything was absolutely delicious, but especially the Secret Garden sandwich- my sister and I ordered one each and ate every morsel on our plates. They have a cozy, rustic atmosphere, from the farmhouse tables and drinks served in mason jars, to the pleasant, familiar service and interesting menu that you can feel good about eating. In addition, the sandwiches are nearly all under $10. I really loved this place and can't wait to go back next time I'm in town.
(5)
Rosemary B.
We've been looking forward to going here for quite a while and finally made it Thursday evening for dinner (and back for brunch yesterday!). The atmosphere is very cozy and the decor is eclectic and charming. Dinner Thursday night was delicious. We tried 3 small plates, the salmon wrapped around crisp apples and filled with cream cheese, the cheese platter (amazing) and for some reason I can't remember the 3rd one! The entrees were a special filet (very large portion) with roasted shaved brussel sprouts and horseradish mashed potatoes. Steak was cooked perfectly and sides were very good. I had the duck with apple and risotto, it was also delicious. We skipped dessert. Back for brunch on Sunday! Since it's a BYO we brought some vodka for a bloody mary and/or screwdriver. I was surprised that they don't offer bloody mary mix. They do charge a corkage fee which is fine, but I think they definitely need to add a bloody mix to their offerings. However, the food was again very good. My husband had the bison burger topped with a fried egg and I had the vegetarian burrito along with a side of potatoes we shared. The burrito was amazing, it was fresh and tasty. Service has been very good, our server had quite a personality which we enjoyed. Looking forward to going back....Fresh and healthy meals!
(4)
Katie W.
This place is great! Especially is you're vegetarian! They have so many great options, and it's all local ingredients!
(5)
Samantha R.
Best Breakfast and lunch spot in town! I have gone to roots since they were in the spot Baco Taco is now in. The new location has a rustic feel with wood tables and chairs and a "farm door" like window opening from the main area to the foyer. The food is absolutely amazing, locally sourced and mostly organic. They have a ton of vegetarian options as well as cool meat dishes. Joel is the best waiter and quite an entertainer for his patrons. They now offer a dinner menu with a BYOB option. I have personally never tried it, but am looking forward to going in the near future!
(5)
Jonathan G.
This is THE favorite spot of our family. Best breakfast & brunch in DubC. Whether we're here with the whole fam or just us grown ups for a date night, the service and food is outstanding at Roots and never disappoints!
(5)
Dave M.
No stars. Wife and daughter went here for breakfast on 12/16/14. Later that morning- afternoon, my wife got sick.....violently. I called to inquire if anyone else called to complain about getting sick and I was told " no other complaints but I'll talk to the executive chef and call you back". Still waiting for a response. We will not be back.
(1)
Carolyn M.
Sooooo good! I ordered soup and 1/2 sandwich for nine dollars. Worth every penny! The soup was curry carrot. Nicely seasoned, not too rich, the carrot was tiny diced, for a nice, teeny-tiny "mouth feel" texture. Perfecto. You can order off the menu for the 1/2 sandwich and I chose Secret Garden...omg! I'm not one who jumps to the veggie offerings on a menu, but I figured since they're a farm-to-table type place, I'd see what they have to offer. Out-of-this-world taste is what they offered! The sandwich is made of avocado, cucumber, sprouts, onion, greens, cream cheese, pesto aioli on a substantial multi-grain. I want the other half, please! Our waiter was cute, very funny and had a low-key style that suited us. Although an offer to refill my iced tea would have been appreciated, the place was rocking and I never bothered flagging him. My dining mates had challah bread french toast w/ berry compote and pure maple syrup, and eggs benedict with avocado, tomato, spinach, croissant. We all ate every morsel. Yay, Roots! We'll be back, fo' sure.
(5)
Craig D.
(4) ~ very good food & service...Really like how they try to incorporate Local & Organic Ingredients!;-) OUR LUNCH / BREAKFAST MENU: * Cucumber & Yogurt Soup = (4) very good * BBQ Pork Stew = (4) very good * Water(tap) = (3.5) good * Broccoli & Tomato Quiche = (3.5) good * Huevos Rancheros = (3.5) good...very spicy! * Duck Leg Hash = (4.5) Very Good...Highly recommend it;-) * Coffee = (3) ok Notes: They allow you to order from the Breakfast Menu for Lunch and they serve Dinner too;-) There's also more tables out back in their outdoor garden area.
(4)
Olivia D.
First time and I'll be sure to go back. Service was excellent, Sam our server was awesome! Super personable and attentive. The food was incredibly fresh and delicious. A very warm and cozy setting, it was an awesome first experience.
(5)
Carolyn T.
Delicious fresh food! I had sweet potato hash. Everything is locally farmed. And its Byob so its perfect for any day of the week brunch. My new fave breakfast place! Nice outside area as well. Hope to go back again soon.
(5)
Tre F.
I actually love this place. We got turned around (lost) and stumbled on this place on a Friday night. It's rather small, but it's nice. The wait staff is great. Not a large menu, but the few things they do, they really well. They have staples on the menu like chicken, but I could do that at home. We had DUCK. Yeah, good duck. A lot of times duck can be really greasy or oily, but theirs was cooked to perfection. I've only ventured into duck maybe 3 or 4 times, so I may not be the expert. BUT, I know good and that duck was good. The scallops are also pretty good. I'm underselling them, they're great.
(4)
Ashley S.
One of the best little places in WC! The owner and staff are genuinely good people. The place has that farm to table atmosphere and the food is creative and delicious. Be prepared to have a relaxed meal because it does take some time to dine here but it's worth it!
(5)
Sara B.
The food here is excellent, HOWEVER, be sure you have plenty of time because the service is extremely slow. I've eaten in and ordered take-out. Twice I've ordered take-out (3 bacon/egg/cheese sandwiches) and it has taken well over 1 hour.
(2)
Dave H.
A nice restaurant in the West Chester area. I had lunch there with my wife, and the food was fantastic. We had the quiche, half sandwich with slow cooked pork shoulder, and smoke salmon Benedict. (Too bad they ran out of pork belly) The only small thing I would like for improvement is the dishes' wait time and the temperature of the coffee.
(4)
Janet M.
If you can find a parking space, go! Busy place and most of the selections are delicious. Duck Quesadilla, Grilled Cheese, Salads, Duck Breakfast Skillet - Great. Breakfast burrito a little dry. It can get busy but the staff tries hard to keep up.
(4)
Leila A.
First chance I've had to eat at Roots since they moved to their new space. First off - the feeling when you walk in is fresh and charming. They've done a beautiful job with decorating and the space is very inviting. Ordered the ATL - a new fav of mine.... fried tomato, avacado and lettuce sandwich on multigrain bread. I literally could eat that EVERY day it was so amazing, fresh and full of flavor. I love the way this restaurant views food and cooks and definitely recommend them.
(5)
Jade M.
This place is awesome! The food is really fresh and plain delicious! I wish I lived closer so I could go more often. We had the bison chili and breakfast burrito but I want to go back so I can try more!
(5)
JQ C.
An absolute West Chester treasure! Love going there for lunch during work. I will let others expand on the truth: great food, great ambiance, great people. Hooray!
(5)
Jenna P.
I was recommended this place by a work buddy and was very pleased! I took my best friend here for her birthday and it's small but has a good atmosphere. Our waitress was nice . She recommended the pork Benedict and it was a great recommendation. I loved it and my friend and boyfriend seemed to like their breakfast burritos although they looked more like wraps to me. Will be going again
(4)
Miriam W.
Never been here for dinner, but went for brunch this morning with a group. Had breakfast here 4 or 5 times and it's always been phenomenal. You can really tell they use quality, natural ingredients. Service has always been top-notch when I've gone. Our only complaint was that the wait was much, much longer than they had originally told us, like an hour and a half total- apparently the table where we were to be seated was occupied longer than expected since the patrons were "hanging out" (I get it, that's how you brunch, but the establishment is so small!) I also was confused that they used to be BYOB and haven't been for a while apparently but there's nothing I saw on the website to announce that. Most disappointing for me was that mimosas were $7, mostly because I can drink a lot of those and just thought $7 a flute is a bit steep. Bloody Mary's were $8 and served in small mason jars, my friend ordered one and the mix wasn't quite seasoned enough. Overall food and service 5 stars!! Overall experience and crowded ambiance 3.5 stars, booze 3 stars.
(4)
Genevieve B.
As if Roots couldn't get any better... they just did. If you haven't been to Roots' new location on Gay street, then run, dont walk, and sit back to enjoy an iced tea and whatever the heck you feel like eating--I guarantee it will all be delicious. Since they've grown to fill the void where Gilmore's used to be, Roots has taken on some extra menu items, a dinner service, and a serious boost in quality. Perhaps it's the fact that their chef no longer has to cook in a closet, but absolutely everything is delicious and perfectly prepared every single time I've gone--which has been a lot recently! Roots specializes in locally-produced cuisine. You'll notice that the menu is a little pricer than your average cozy cafe, but it will be worth it to know that you will only get on your plate what you might also get while shaking hands with a neighbor at the farmer's market. The food is incredibly fresh, almost as fresh as the flair with which it was created! Did I mention the iced tea? Get one when you go in the summer, they have a cycling selection that changes almost every day. Free refills! Go tomorrow, and thank me immediately. I accept flowers and gift cards ;)
(5)
Sean T.
Tasty omelet with fresh ingredients. Great vibe and enthusiastic service, though it did slow down at the end (granted, it was our server's first day).
(4)
Dina K.
Organic, vegetarian/vegan options, fast service, enthusiastic server, amazing prices. Delicious. Will definitely go back
(5)
Judy T.
We selected this restaurant for brunch based on the feedbacks we read. And we were very happy with our selection. Since they do not take reservations the two of us waited approx 20 minutes to be seated. The place is not very big, it is in an old row home on the main street in W.Chester. The breakfast menu wonderfully combined traditional breakfast items with a unique flair/addition. We selected the duck/ sweet potato and fried egg dish and the salmon eggs Benedict on a croissant. Both were exceptional , even the fried potatoes were good. Not greasy, flavorful and the quality of the ingredients could be tasted throughout the meal. Seemingly the breakfast an lunch menus are more extensive than the dinner menu. We will return for breakfast or lunch in the future.
Eh..ok! Kinda busy whenever you go so there is hardly any room to sit. And the quality of food, albeit fresh, is borderline bland.
(3)
Stephan A.
omg!!! off the hook delicious fresh food!!! fantastic service!!! And great atmosphere !!!!
(5)
Diana N.
Creative, fresh, flavorful and sustainable choices. We've relocated to WC from San Diego -- the land of fresh produce. This is a taste of home with seasonal offerings straight from local farms. Great breakfast, fabulous service. Nice options for vegetarians. Unique offerings for carnivores. Expect a wait. If you want to walk around charming Gay Street they'll give you call when your table is ready.
(5)
Janet Y.
4 of us went for lunch today. The wait was about 40 minutes, but the hostess told us that up front and she was very pleasant. We all had lunch items, A Cuban sandwich, chicken sandwich, roast beef sandwich and duck quesadillas. The side was a pasta salad made with mini ravioli. Everything was fresh and delicious. We will be going back. Also went we left the hostess said goodbye and thanked us for waiting.
(5)
J B.
Just tried Roots for the first time today. They cook the way I eat, so it was a match made in heaven. Very hard to find restaurants with a conscience, this side of the Mississippi. We both had the huevos racheros, which had a couple of issues. One, the eggs were under-cooked. We expected soft yolks, but the whites of mine were clear and runny. I didn't want to make my friend wait while mine was sent back, so I just ate around them. Also, this dish should be served with tortillas. I'm a native of the southwest, and I've never seen them served without. We asked if they had been forgotten, but the waiter just said, "no, they don't come with that". We also had to flag down the waiter for more coffee. He brought more for my friend, but never asked if I also wanted more. Actually, he hadn't come back during the meal at all, only when we called him over, and that was when we were 1/2 way through. So, I can only give 3 stars today. I'll be back, and hopefully with a better experience. I really did want to love this place. It's beautiful inside, and out, but what I really wanted was a great meal and good service.
(3)
EatdrinkOm S.
Another dinner at my neighbors Roots! This is the first time I was not teaching and able to pick up my hubby from the firehouse and have a great meal. I love the blackboard listing of the source if your meal ingredients. Local! Chris was our waiter. Awesome as ever. Great personality and makes you feel at home. The sweet tea is so refreshing. Not overly sweet, just enough. We shared the house salad and bruschetta appetizers. Fresh fresh veggies! The kitchen accommodated our request to take the scallop app and make it out meal. They were perfectly cooked. They came on a bed of polenta with a hint of jalapeño, carmalized carrots and another side that had a sweetness of cheese, apricots -very creamy. The food came quickly. We hadn't even finished the salad! Awesome! We shared a fantastic chocolate cake baked by Yori's . There is nothing better than a homemade cake. Rich chocolate and super moist. So happy they are across from the studio! I really enjoyed the fresh, local fare from my neighbors!
(5)
Mike K.
Amazing place! The ambiance is perfect and the way the restaurant is laid out make it feel so welcoming. Then of course there is the great food. We went for dinner. I love that they source many ingredients locally and serve seasonal dishes. Apparently they're known more for their breakfast/brunch so I will definitely be making a return trip to check that out. If you're looking for superb quality food and a generally enjoyable dining experience, I would highly recommend Roots Cafe.
(5)
G M.
Love this "sustainable food project" and its new location. The soups are always delicious and the menu consistently offers something tasty for either vegetarians or meat-eaters. The decor is pretty while reflecting the feel of fresh and local offerings. The only place to eat in West Chester, appreciate the chalkboard showing local sources of ingredients.
(5)
Alison C.
Roots has great food, great service, the new space is so nice. I think it's the best breakfast in West Chester for sure. They have creative combinations and you know exactly where your food is from, which farm, etc. We want to try lunch and dinner there, but we always end up going for breakfast. But one recommendation we have is for them to make stronger coffee. That's the only reason for the 4 stars. And for me, 4 stars is great anyways
(4)
Jeremy C.
have been a fan since the old location , the food is really tasty , the menu is really creative ....they need a lot of help with wait staff and flow management ........we will be back to new location but likely give them some time to get it together
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Victoriya H.
Came here for a late breakfast with my son. It was a gorgeous day and we asked to be seated outside. Loved the ambience with a cute garden and fresh, creative food with quite diverse selection. Service was very friendly and prompt. We have ordered avocado Benny on a cornbread and short ribs hash. Both entrees were very good. A little expensive for the breakfast but worth it. Coffee could improve.
(5)MichaelJohn B.
The only reason I'm giving this place 4 Stars is because the menu is very limited. The drink menu is high quality as well. I had a very good experience.
(4)Saul G.
I take Yelp reviews in small towns with a grain of salt. In this case, the kudos are well deserved. The professionalism started at the host station. We were told the wait was 15 minutes, and 14 minutes later, my cell phone rang. The host led us to a table in the lovely back garden with a view of the wildflowers. Water and good coffee came almost immediately. When I noticed a fine looking bloody mary, I lumped for one of those as well. The bloody itself was standard, but the piece of (what I think was) pepper jerky on the olive kebab was outstanding. Short rib hash was tender and tasty. I did add a second egg. I don't like this one egg thing in Williamsburg and it has no place in Pennsylvania. The pork belly benedict was even better, with an apple relish over corn bread. I added an extra side of cornbread as my hash came without. The short rib hash could have used a bit more seasoning - I needed to add some of the house hot sauce, but that is my only complaint. A really nice experience overall.
(5)V D.
The most overrated place I've found in the area. I think many reviewers give it far too much credit for a nice atmosphere and friendly staff. But lets be real, we are here for food. And that's what comes out, bland & uninteresting food. Sure it will have fancy titles, but little thought is given to the combinations of flavors. There is little to no spice used in anything, leaving the dishes with a very bland "I just bought this at the grocer and heated it up" flavor. This place is proof that you can trick most Americans (and especially West Chester people) with a nice wait staff and atmosphere to eat a really cheap and uninteresting dish.
(2)Rachel B.
Roots is the perfect combination of small town business and quality food. Roots is the hidden gem of West Chester. If you are in the breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner mood, Roots will not disappoint. I've been going since I've moved to west Chester nearly two years ago and it is still my favorite restaurant. If you have the opportunity to have Shannon as a server, consider yourself extremely fortunate. She is by far one of my favorite servers in town. You ask for a recommendation and she never disappoints. I would recommend the pork belly Benedict or the vegan scramble for breakfast, depending on the dinner menu I would recommend specials, they are limited so order up. Overall I have never had a bad meal or bad service here and I've been going consistently for about two years. It comes highly recommended.
(5)Yemisi E.
Oh be still my southern living heart! This place is just charming. I mean there really is nothing else like it. My boyfriend and I ventured in on a Sunday in the early afternoon. That was our first mistake. This place gets packed and stays packed all day long. If you want less of a wait definitely try to come earlier in the day. They close at 3 so you'll feel less pressure to get in before the cut off. I ordered the A.L.T. which has avocado, lettuce, and tomatoes with some pesto mayo thrown on for good measure. It was a damn good sandwich and I wish I was eating it right now. I had mixed greens as my side. They definitely made the dressing in house and it was an amazing vinaigrette. I had a side of their cornbread and as a southern gal I must to say it was excellence in each bite. It is very small so you might feel a bit cramped. Try to get a window seat if you are prone to claustrophobia. In my opinion though, the hustle and bustle of the waiters and waitresses mixed with the food coming in and out gave it a lively presence in such a demure atmosphere. I highly recommend this place. It is simply brunch heaven.
(5)Sara L.
We went to the Roots Cafe because of the rave Yelp reviews. They have a nice menu and offer multiple gluten free options! The atmosphere was also nice. However, there was a wait when we arrived. Once seated, our food took an extraordinary amount of time to be served to us and general service was not great. We waited for about an hour to get two (uncooked) sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, and a side of potatoes. The sandwiches and Mac & cheese were good. The potatoes were almost inedible because they were vastly undercooked. I wasn't impressed with this place and would take the rave reviews with a grain of salt.
(2)Shannon M.
I can't believe I've been taking graduate courses nearby for four semesters and I just discovered this place. I wanted something simple -- so I ordered scrambled eggs with taters and sourdough toast. OH MAN. The eggs were really the best I've ever had -- and I never thought I would say that. The taters were awesome, too., and cooked in a way that was just ... something I'll never have again unless I go back there. Such an amazing little spot in the heart of WC. Friendly staff and a lot of people waiting -- ALWAYS a good sign when people wait for breakfast, a meal that so many places in the area serve.
(5)Rula R.
This is my perfect kinda place for Sunday brunch! Very simple and warm atmosphere with friendly staff. Our server was very knowledgable and she was very clear with describing the specials which is something a lot of servers lack. The food is absolutely delicious I could tell that everything is made fresh.
(5)James I.
Pork belly eggs benedict on corn bread is fantastic. They give you a good amount of pork belly and the corn bread is amazing compared to the traditional English muffin. I had it with potatoes that were just okay, could have used more seasoning. The coffee was not very good but the eggs bene was so good that it trumps everything. I would definitely go back.
(4)Ade M.
Delicious food - we went for brunch. I had Braised Short Rib Hash, my husband had Pork Belly Eggs Benedict, and we got our toddler bacon and a croissant. Everything was delicious. The homemade hot sauce on the tables was tangy and spicy and excellent. The service was great. We were fortunate to sit outside on a gorgeous day. They were more than prepared to accommodate our toddler. No kids' menus, but they were still friend and speedy-quick, which is great. We'd take her there again for breakfast.
(5)Ernie L.
Will give a review when there is a hostess that knows what she's talking about! I am sure this place is nice. Got a message from a newsletter I signed up for about West Chester restaurants. Got a text about Roots. I wanted to take my girl out and neither of us care about expensive food. We just like vegetarian options and especially cheese / wine, and it'd been awhile since we had seen each other. Seemed like the kinda place we'd like. We had to leave when the hostess couldn't tell us about the menu. Cute girl, bad hostess. Only leave snobby reviews when the places act snobby. Give and take dawg. We both have worked food service and have had to memorize menus and suggestions. Not that hard.
(1)Doris T.
I decided to give this place another try and this time for dinner. If you are looking for a place to down a bottle or two of wine in between your appetizer and main meal then this is the spot. The baked garlic and herb chèvre cheese with the gluten free flatbread was delicious and the only reason I gave this place two stars. I ordered the "creamy" spring veggie pot pie which lacked flavor and more like a soup. I think the definition of creamy should have been reviewed. My fiancé ordered the roasted organic chicken. It was very dry and unfortunately such a waste of a organic chicken. It took a good 40 minutes for dinner to be served so I was surprised how the dishes turned out. Service was slow... Usually I'm understanding but there were only two tables in the main room.... On top of this they asked if I wanted more wine and than decided to leave my empty wine glass on the table even though I told them I was done...
(2)Nicole M.
This is a great spot. My eyes did tear up a little when they did away with their BYOB but that was a long time ago and now I'm over it. I took my husband here for brunch on his birthday. It was the best brunch I have been to in a while! We started off with Bloody Mary's which came in cute little mason jars. I ordered the Pork Shoulder and Prosciutto Cuban since I love cuban sandwiches, pork shoulder and prosciutto! I didn't know how this pairing was going to turn out especially since I was totally skipping breakfast and going right for a lunch option. It was the best decision I made that day! The sandwich came out on a cute little cutting board with my side salad in a little dish next to my sandwich. The sandwich was perfectly toasted on the outside and melted on the inside. I am drooling just thinking about it! My husband ordered the Braised Short Rib Hash. While his was very good and we were supposed to share, I just couldn't give up my sandwich to the hash. I will be back and can't wait to find my next favorite thing.
(5)Cao T.
Very nice place for weekend brunch. I had the Braised Short Rib Harsh and it was delicious! The service was great and I did not have to wait for long (or maybe I was just lucky)
(5)Carolyn H.
Tried Roots for breakfast and all the food was delicious. We got the breakfast pork belly burrito and the quiche of the day (carrots, onion, roasted red peppers). Both were well cooked, not greasy. Server was friendly and accommodating. I asked for added granola and fruit with my yogurt and he gladly added it with no extra charge. Will definitely be back!
(4)Mike T.
Good for breakfast and lunch... removed the BYOB option and added a liquor license so now you have to drink what they serve which doesn't meet my wine standards. Also, the dinner menu always seems a little too sweet, I enjoy a savory meal.
(3)Kanjana R.
After not being able to eat here the first 4 times because they were closed during business hours they state online, I finally got to have breakfast there! I had the avocado Bennie which was delicious. But I am keeping it at 3 stars since I had to try so many times and I don't live in town so it's frustrating to drive in just to go there and have it be closed. If they could just update their hours on their website and yelp that would be great!
(3)Robert P.
Great for breakfast and lunch very disappointing for dinner. How can that be? Lunch and brunch were very solid efforts with interesting choices. I didn't feel that way about dinner. So I settled on three stars . 2 for dinner and 4 for lunch/brunch
(3)Stephen B.
The ambiance is great with a nice outdoor seating area, but the food isn't worth the costs; I'm all about farm to table, but the prices are extraordinary for what you get.
(3)Brandy W.
Totes amazing! I had brunch at this restaurant for the first time today, and the food was so delicious. The staff was very friendly and the service was prompt. The outdoor patio seating area is like a little garden and feels very quaint and organic. There was actually gluten free French toast!!!!!! Hands down, best brunch in town.
(5)Amy H.
We were in town from FL for a wedding. The place is small and was crowded but we were seated quickly. Coffee was nice and hot, Bloody Mary was delicious and served with beef jerky in it (file under YUM). Hubby had a beautiful French toast platter and I had the pork belly eggs Benedict. Hands down the most delicious brunch I've ever had. My only complaint is that I doubt I'll have a reason to be in West Chester again. We need a Roots Cafe in Florida.
(5)Taylor J.
I can't say anything that hasn't been said already. We go to this restaurant several times a week. They are consistent, and we know we're getting fresh food. The seating is pretty close inside, but the restaurant doesn't pretend to be upper scale. The atmosphere makes you want to enjoy yourself, which we always do.
(5)Sean M.
I'd give this place more stars if I could. From the service to the food it was phenomenal. Friendly and capable staff, fantastic food with various vegan options, creative menu and great atmosphere. I went here with my family for my mom's birthday on Sunday and she was over joyed, as we all were. I ordered hummus for the table, arugula salad and a veggie burger. Each item I typically order regularly at different restaurants. However, this is the best I've had of each meal, ever. I strongly recommend trying this place and I promise it will not disappoint. BTW Sean was our server and he did a tremendous job.
(5)Jack M.
My grandma's French Toast was awesome. However, my Mushroom Omelette was just OK. Kinda dry and not the best. I'd get the French Toast with honey syrup if I went again. So good. Because our server was excellent and the vibe is cool, I'll give 4 stars.
(4)Biff P.
I can never go wrong here. The food is always fresh and flavorful. We also love the seasonal cocktails they feature.
(5)Kim E.
We were pleasantly surprised our first time coming here. Farm to table freshness is apparent here. We had a mixed group from vegan, vegetarian & carnivores. Everyone was very happy with their meals. Place is very tastefully decorated & staff super friendly. The only downside is that it is small, so plan on a wait. Hope to get back when it's warmer to dine in their outdoor garden/patio area.
(5)Annie P.
Just stopped in this morning with my Mom (her first time) for breakfast. Food was OBVIOUSLY AMAZING ..she was so delighted to find their vegetarian menu items! I had the farmers omelette with the fresh veggies of the day, and my mom has the tofu & veg sautee. Service was great as ever, and I will never let months go by ever again without stopping by. Looking forward to my next visit! Maybe tomorrow.... :)
(5)Angelica S.
I go to this place everytime I'm in PA. The food is amazing and the staff is attentive and friendly. The pork belly bennie is to die for!
(5)Anna Y.
I was in the area for a dental checkup and found this gem through yelp afterwards . I love it ! Since today is a tuesday there was no wait at all , we were seated outside which is a little nice garden theme in the back. It felt like I was dining in my backyard. We ordered a smoked salmon Benedict, I think it was one of the best I ever had comparing to all the brunch place in Philly. It really had a great combination of flavors, love the smoked salmon! The second dish was the breakfast burrito , this dish was mediocre. It was dry and flavorless , I hope they can improve it in the future. Roots is far from Philly but I would still like to come back just for the Benedict.
(4)John A.
Came here for lunch and found a neat little place with great food and excellent service. The fish tacos rocked! The honey roasted turkey sandwich was perfect as was the cheddar quiche. There is also a bottle of really yummy hot sauce on the tables that is not overwhelming in terms of heat or flavor. Finally we had a chocolate crepe that was tasty! Wish I lived closer...
(5)Kelly A.
I have only been their for breakfast, but their breakfast is amazing. Great food, great atmosphere, & great service. It can get a bit costly, but the cost is on target for the quality & quantity.
(5)Elliott H.
Amazingly fresh food, great service and awesome atmosphere. Favorite thing about West Chester.
(5)Bill W.
WOW very eclectic cool vibe natural feel great different flavor healthy option. Long wait over heard peeps sY they waited over an hour. I waited 25 min not to bad took a walk it is West Chester so it was a worth the walk I deffently will go back again & bring my foodies with me.
(4)P E.
Came back for another breakfast. Again we ordered the eggs"Benny" with pork belly, Apple chutney, and corn bread. Still a winner..... Instead of French toast, this time we ordered the wild sausage gravy over corn bread with two eggs. This was quite yummy as the corn bread was ever so slightly sweet. Both were served with some home fries, which were ok but not particularly noteworthy. Coffee was fresh and service pleasant. Parking is on the street and free on Sundays, easy if you come early.
(5)Ronald K.
Our first visit but certainly not our last. Unique and varied selection of breakfast items including standards- omelettes, Eggs Benedict (Bennies) and non-standard-Short Ribs Hash. Vegetable Quiche, and a Grits dish. I tried the Short Ribs Hash which was delicious and my wife enjoyed her Vegetable Quiche. Service was warm and friendly with the Garden seating making our dining experience even more enjoyable. Slightly pricier than standard diner fare but it was unique and delicious. Try it for yourself.
(5)Nic D.
My favorite spot for brunch any day of the week!!! Food is awesome and consistent. They have mimosas which is always a plus and the venue is just refreshing. I go as often as I can !!!
(5)Jenn H.
We got an avocado benny and the omelette with chorizo in it... Absolutely delicious! Very fresh tasting. Our server was so cool too. Tall, blonde kid that sounded like he travels a lot. The experience I'm talking about was from my third time at Roots. I swear it gets better and better each time!
(5)Mike C.
Roots is always changing their menu and keeping it fresh. A few good Vegan options and one AMAZING vegan scrapple burrito keeps me coming back. Their coffee is delicious and they use a cold brew for the iced coffee. Outdoor seating in the back surrounded by their garden and local art takes you out of WC when you aren't feeling it. The staff at sweethearts all around. Can't wait for Sprout (their live music club!) to open
(5)Allison B.
When I saw the word "cafe" in the title I was expecting something a little less formal, so I only got a half-hour parking spot. While it's not a fancy place per se, it's definitely a sit-down establishment, which is why I got my first West Chester parking ticket the same day I had a delicious lunch at Roots. When I stepped in for lunch the place was packed. In fact, the wait was about 30 minutes around noon, so I left, but as I was a few steps down the sidewalk the hostess popped her head out and said a table was just freeing up. I was delighted! My waiter was very friendly and attentive. I ordered the ALT after much debate (BBQ duck quesadilla sounded so intriguing!). The ALT has fried tomato, greens, pesto mayo, and avocado on multigrain bread. It came with a simple side salad. It was more than enough to fill me up for lunch and everything tasted fresh. I didn't stick around too long to savor the experience after I devoured my sandwich (remember, I was trying to get back to my car inside of a half hour), but Roots Cafe is a cozy and inviting casual place to have a wonderful, local, seasonal meal. I can't wait to stop back in, perhaps for dinner!
(4)Sue P.
Wait staff absolutely marvelous attentive but not suffocating. Had lunch special beet salad and vege taco yum now a favorite
(5)Jillian S.
Just finished eating there with my fiancé, two friends & their 2 year old son. I really enjoyed the style of the restaurant it was cute. Although, the table had a bit of an odd shape (even though it was a beautiful wood table). There was a huge dip in the wood so I had to lean forward quite a bit to eat my food which was slightly annoying. The service was a little slow, they seemed busy though and I assume the kitchen was small. Our waitress was very pleasant and everything seemed to be made to order which is why I didn't care that the food took a bit longer than I expected. Portions were small for the price. Coffee was $3!! Which I thought was outrageous. I will probably go back to try their dinner since I didn't care too much for the lunch menu.
(4)Donna D.
Food was very good. Service was excellent! Would recommend this place to all. My husband had the Club and I had the Chicken Sandwich. We parked across the street and walked around the area after lunch.
(5)Danielle F.
My new favorite breakfast spot in the borough! I usually go as a getaway w/a friend, but the last time I went we took my 1 year old. I was a little nervous about the tight space and if it would be an appropriate place for a child. And they were awesome. They put us in a perfect spot where the high hair was not in the way. My son enjoyed our server and was flirting w/the table next to us. The food is just outstanding, classic w/a twist of something unique. You can get a mimosa w/breakfast which is hard to find in the borough. Their house made sauces are to. die. for. Love this place!
(5)Genessa L.
One of my favorite places to eat in the borough of West Chester! The homage preserves and croissant is to die for. Also, the eggs Benedict is always on point. The wait can be a little long on the weekends as they don't take reservations which is a bit frustrating at times. As soon as you eat the delicious food the log wait doesn't seem to matter anymore!
(5)Nikki K.
Great local food. Friendly staff and comfortable atmosphere. Be sure to eat outside during nice weather and you can check out their garden!
(5)Lauren O.
The food here is homemade, fresh, and delicious. I love that Roots uses local produce in most of its dishes. Just be prepared to wait a LONG time for a table. Sometimes the wait time is much longer than what the hostess will tell you which can be frustrating. But the place is small so it is hard to predict when people will leave. Howver, the service and food make up for the long wait once you are seated. I've learned to call far in advance and try to go at off peak times. And I keep kind bars in my purse so I'm not starving while waiting.
(5)Jennifer Y.
We ate a lot of food and had a lot to bring home! I was excited to visit since the reviews are great. The hummus with veggies was soooo good, and so was everything we had. Happy they served alcohol and support local farms, bakeries, etc. It felt as though we were in Vermont. The people were cheerful, and you could really tell they cared for their customers' experiences. You could taste the love in the food! Can't wait to go back, keep up the good work!
(5)John S.
Dined it up at this joint on my last day of a philly trip, and I came away fairly impressed. This place is my kinda joint, converted house style diner with a large and diverse menu. I ordered a ginger ice tea and it was delicious, even for an unsweetened tea, I didn't even throw any sugar in it! For dinner I had the Vegan Scrapple sandwich with a side of sweet potatoes. It was all really good, maybe just needed a good sauce on the sandwich (maybe a vegan gravy styled sauce). I ended up putting some cholula on it, was pretty solid but just a tad dry. The Sweets on the side were good, but maybe could have used more seasoning, rosemary would be nice. Overall service was good, and it was a nice day to eat outside in their living space. I would definitely eat here again. I believe everyone else in my party including the two locals eating here for the first time all enjoyed their food as well.
(4)Ashley D.
From breakfast and lunch to their four course pre fix dinner everything is outstanding. Their food is farm to table. All the waitresses are locals. I feel like I'm at home when I am there. Customer service is amazing, they know who we are when we come in. Support locals and their farms.
(5)Michael B.
Absolutely fantastic. Great food and great drinks. The gm Jeremy is awesome and great service all around. I would come back a million times.
(5)Cora B.
I was really excited to try this spot because it was so cute. I ordered the pork belly eggs benedict - it was good. My husband got the breakfast burrito - just whatever. I don't think we'll be back but it is a cute spot to go if you need somewhere cute to grab breakfast with friends! Food is just OK.
(3)Amy T.
There's no other way to put it: I love Roots Cafe. Breakfast is amazing, very fresh ingredients because everything is seasonal. I usually end up going with the farmers omelette. Lunch has seriously expanded from when they first started out, and it's only gotten better and better. Dinner, although I will say a bit pricey for my college-status budget, is delicious and very unique. With the food, it is hard to pick a stand-out menu item not only because pretty much everything is delicious, but also the menu changes seasonally to keep up with fresh produce. I personally love the club, the secret garden sandwich, their cheese plate, the mac and cheese, the prosciutto crostini, and the arugula lunch salad. The food is spot on, but so is the atmosphere. The place is filled with paintings by a local artist, and the entire place has his rustic vibe. Their outdoor section is also a garden that holds fresh herbs, and the chefs come out frequently to grab them. And considering their outdoor area is in the back of the restaurant, you don't have to worry about the town foot traffic or street noise, which is a definite plus. To top everything off, the staff is filled with genuinely nice people who want to ensue you have an amazing experience at the restaurant.
(5)Doug I.
A little disappointing. In general good but didn't live up to my expectations. The outside need cleaning up and organizing. Need it to look more presentable.
(3)Cari B.
Simply amazing. My husband and I decided to give this place a try one "kid free" Sunday. It is a tiny place within walking distance to public parking in downtown West Chester. We were greeted by Kerry who told us it would be about 20 minutes for our table. She brought us a fresh cup of coffee to drink while we waited. Front waiting area quickly became crowded as we arrived around 12:00 pm. Overall wait was about 20 minutes but turned out to be worth it. We were seated in the "bar" area at a high top table and immediately noticed the Bloody Mary's so we had to have one. Not bad but not the best...it was served with a small piece of house made beef Jerky which I thought was pretty unique. I ordered the pork belly Benny which was eggs Benedict served on a piece of cornbread with apple chutney and smoked pork belly. It was heavenly!!! The apple chutney made the dish and the pork belly was extremely tender. The poached eggs were cooked to perfection!! My husband ordered the smoked pork belly burrito. He was a tad disappointed as it turned out to be more of a wrap than a breakfast burrito slathered in cheese and sauce. The flavors were good but next time he is ordering a Benny!!! Highly recommend this place as the chef is using locally grown ingredients and everything is made from scratch!!!
(5)Mark F.
Roots is everything that I could ever ask for in a restaurant! I admit that I have never been here for dinner, but every time I go for breakfast or lunch I am always pleased with my experience. You can feel the good vibes once you walk in the door as you are greeted by employees who seem to generally enjoy working there (how could you not!). The atmosphere is fantastic and the food is even better. The icing on the cake would definitely have to be how they are committed to using fresh and local ingredients in every dish that they serve. This leads to deliciously unique meals that make you feel good about eating! My favorite breakfast item? The arugula and prosciutto benny, it is heaven served on a croissant.
(5)Stina C.
Just went this past Sunday (Father's Day) for brunch with my fiancé. We got there at around 11:30 am, so it was more like lunch but I was having breakfast. :) Anywho, our wait for two people was about 30 minutes. The hostess appeared flustered from the get-go. She was in the middle of taking another party out back, and said she'd take my name down when she got back. She didn't come back for about a good 10 minutes. Meanwhile, there is a line forming behind me. She finally comes back, but each time she leaves I swear it's at least for 10 minutes a time. Yes, it was Father's Day, but it didn't seem THAT busy and what else could she be doing if she's just taking a party to their table. I actually expected it to be a lot worse, and it was, for not being super busy to begin with. We finally got our table (because I didn't care if we sat inside or outside...we were hangry!) The waiter was friendly, but weird. It's ok though, made for a bit of entertainment. It took him a while to get our order as we were sitting there for a good 5 minutes waiting to order. My fiancé ordered the smoke salmon bennie and I got the short rib hash. Both dishes were amazing!! We cleaned our plates up quick. I did ask for extra napkins, but the waiter must have forgotten because we never did receive more. We also waited about 10 minutes to get our check afterwards from another waitress, but it was ok because we were enjoying our coffee, which could be better IMO. The coffee was ok, and I was expecting better for a place called Roots Cafe. So 4 stars because service sucked. They were all running all over the place..cleaning up, taking orders, delivering food, etc. They could use some organizational help and more staff. I probably noticed only about 3 people working there, including the hostess! The food was awesome. We would definitely go back for the food, but not for the service.
(4)Maggie R.
I really wanted to like roots, but I was disappointed. The dinner menu is quite limited. There are no vegetarian entrees on the menu. The chef did create a vegetarian meal for me, but it lacked flavor and certainly was not worth the $23 we paid for it. I appreciate their efforts to use local ingredients, but in the end I felt this restaurant was overpriced and overreaching. We will certainly not be returning.
(2)Brigit B.
Love the new location...beautiful for small groups. I went with three friends. We ordered the cheese plate, mussels, salad, meatballs, crab cakes and meatball soup. All were enjoyed. The ambiance of Roots alone will have me returning for more. Reminds me of a few places in Philly so stick with the burbs and support local businesses! The server, Steve was friendly and helpful when deciding on what to order.
(3)Madelyn C.
For the quality of food you get, the price is very reasonable. I ordered the Farmers Omelet with sweet potatoes and toast. It had a wide assortment of veggies inside, and the flavors were nice. I loved the cozy environment in there, and also the farm-to-table style of food. They change the menu every two seasons, so it would be good to go several times to see what they have to offer. I highly recommend!
(5)skylar m.
Great food but EXTREMELY slow service. Brunch for 2 took almost two hours because it took an hour and a half just to get our entrees....ridiculous
(2)K V.
My fiancé and I have been here before for brunch/lunch and really enjoyed the food and service - local food made with fresh ingredients paired in a creative way and served by a friendly and attentive staff. Dinner, on the other hand was very disappointing. Even though the menu was understandably limited, the options did sound enticing. My only complaint there is a lack of vegetarian offerings (not one for the second or main course). However the actual meal fell far short of my expectations. Even though we were dining on what appeared to be a relatively calm Saturday night, they were out of the usual pre-meal accompaniments and we were told bread would take longer than our meal to arrive because it is frozen. The portions on our twelve dollar starters were surprisingly small and a bit of a letdown. My fiancé's twenty-nine dollar quail entree was the portion I serve at my restaurant as a starter for half the price. While the bird was flavorful and cooked well, the sides were confusing -mashed potato, sweet potato, stuffing (all starches and no greens). Finally, service was inattentive - we were one of maybe four or five tables, but our server was unable to check on us during either part of or meal. He was friendly but scarce. Since my fiancé and I both work in the business, we rarely get to enjoy a Saturday night out to eat and I'm sorry we spent one on dinner at Roots. We will definitely return during the day, but most likely will eat our dinners out elsewhere. It's a shame, because West Chester could really use a locally-sourced and organic-minded dinner spot - this just isn't cutting it yet.
(2)Julia B.
The food is phenomenal: fresh, local, delicious. The staff are friendly. The menu changes and highlights what's in season. I've eaten breakfast, brunch and dinner here multiple times and am always 100% happy. I'm a food snob, so that's saying a lot:-)
(5)Joe B.
A good informal place for breakfast that caters to everyone. The French toast was excellent and so was the wait staff. Rustic setting both inside and outside with plenty of healthy choices. I'm definitely going to come back.
(5)Anna A.
So glad I finally tried this place! Been meaning to for a while. I work in the area and stopped in for a late lunch with a colleague. Was still pretty crowded but we were seated right away. Service and food were great! We had the grill cheese and pork and prosciutto sandwich with couscous. Everything was delicious, even the coffee :)
(5)Raven P.
Amazing. I loved Roots at their first location when they had four whole tables, and I love it even more now. They have beer! And cocktails! And more space especially. Never ever had a bad meal, they're spectacular at making vegetarian and vegan meals extraordinarily delicious. I wish I lived a little closer, but then again I would never go anywhere else.
(5)Lisa L.
The food here is amazing. I love how all of the ingredients are fresh and it's healthier than most places you'll go. However, I do have to say that the service put a bad taste in my mouth. I ordered takeout one day and got smoked salmon Benedict.. I arrived home and no salmon. As you can imagine I wasn't happy because I paid $16 for it. Called and asked if I could get something comped on my next visit, the manager told me my next meal there would be comped. I arrived there, let them know the situation and they surprisingly remembered. I was told by the hostess "the managers have you covered, enjoy your meal". We get the bill and they gave us an employee discount...really dude?! I was so taken back by that, because I've worked in the food industry and anytime that my customers had something like that happen to them we made sure they we're taken care of. Lucky enough the food here is so good that I'll keep coming back. But a word of advice to management... I would handle situations like this better moving forward, because that's a fast way to lose customers.
(4)C W.
Visited 1/10/15 Atmosphere: I could be completely wrong about this, but it seemed that this very clearly was a home before and they did little to change that. (Still separate rooms, you enter through a small door to the hostess stand and staircase). Seems as if they spruced up the floors, gave some fresh paint and lighting, and added various paintings of local scenes. And it works PERFECTLY. Even the bathroom was a single one that looked decorated as if visiting a person's home, lit candle and all! Service: I would have to say, as far as service goes they are the moat genuine of any i have ever received. Very real and friendly. I even saw a couple waitresses stop to chat with people after their meal. Food: Small menu. I ordered Seasonal wild game sausage gravy over cornbread, with a coffee. The "wild game" just so happened to be elk. The coffee came in a hefty couple and was good. The gravy was delicious and a little spicy, while the cornbread was freah and yummy. Though i have no idea what would taste like... there didn't seem to be too many pieces of it... but thats okay. Price: $31.00 for two people is a bit much for breakfast, but would pay it again. Everything seems to come from within a 30 mile radius and that adds to the experience. . Cant wait to go back
(5)L N.
Adorable little cafe in downtown West Chester! We sat outside for lunch and you can still order breakfast then too! Food came out a bit slow but worth the wait. Lots of vegetarian items! Going back for sure :)
(5)Ananya S.
We love this place! Friendly staff, amazing food and great ambiance. We've been there several times for brunch but the dinner menu looks fantastic. We've had the pork belly benedict, the duck hash, the bison chili and the ham benedict - each one has been fantastic. The only nitpick I have with this place is the wait time to be seated. We've only visited over the weekend and have waited at least thirty minutes on average. I really wish they could expand.
(5)Maya W.
Roots is the best! Delicious fresh food, lots of options to satisfy any eater, and an awesome environment and wait staff. Plus they support local farmers and suppliers and work to lessen their environmental impact across the business. Thank you Roots!!
(5)Charles R.
After several very good meals for both lunch and dinner I will never walk back in to this restaurant again, and here's why. Had lunch there a couple months ago and noticed they were serving beer. I asked the hostess if they had gone away from BYO and she said...sort of. I was told that the restaurant was still allowing BYO, but they were charging for corkage and it was $10 bottle. Nothing was mentioned about weekends. When I made the reservation for dinner on Saturday nite nothing was said they no longer let people bring wine on weekends. Drove 45 minutes on a really bad night and when I walked in with 2 bottles of wine I was told, sorry but can't use personal wine. There were 6 total people in the restaurant. I explained to the man that was seating people that I was never told anything when I made the reservation and would they please make an exception for 1 night. He went back and checked with the chef and I was told, NOPE. Our "new policy" was no more BYO. He also said they were updating their website to let people know. SO, the websirte doesn't say no personal wines, the hostess at lunch in December said it was still ok, yet we were told to take it or leave it. I understand that chef's are not the best people persons in the world, but I can't believe there was no give and take on a night when the place was deserted because of the weather. Must be nice to tell people to walk rather than try to work something out. Went ot Spence and had a good meal. Never go back to Roots.
(1)John Y.
This is the very same Roots from just a few blocks away, and they've grown into the space that used to be Gilmore's. The space is a labor of love: personally restored by the owners with (as of this writing) lots of John Hannafin paintings on display, and an expanded back garden. Lots of friendly new servers, the same relaxed Roots vibe, and yummy local food. If you liked roots in their tiny location, you'll love them in their bigger one!
(5)Olivia C.
I was visiting from out of town and I love this little place. I had just a croissant and the parfait and it was the most amazing parfait I've ever eaten. Really good homemade granola with honey in the bottom and fresh fruit on top. Our waiter was happy, helpful, and attentive. Not to mention the decor in the place is super homey. You definitely need to check this place out.
(5)Jan F.
I want to go back to Roots. It has this cute little outside seating area in the back of the restaurant that is very private and nice. The food was delicious. I had a veggie sandwich. It was delicious and fresh. My mom had a wonderful turkey club on fresh multigrain bread. My daughter had fish tacos which she enjoyed. Service was attentive and friendly. They use local veggies! Yum!
(5)Arti S.
Amazing food- each one of us ordered different things and each one of us thought that their meal was the best! Joe's fantastic service and our 12 people group was comfortably accommodated us with calling couple days ahead of time. Thank you Drew and Shannon for making our brunch, and my little boys 8th birthday brunch a load of fun and special!
(5)Robin Y.
I was so excited to find this place while in West Chester for the day. It's in a rustic farmhouse right on West Chester's most adorable street, which immediately sets the tone for the meal. It only has about six tables, so you might have to wait for one to open up, but it's really worth it. For lunch, we tried the bison chili, wild boar soup, Secret Garden sandwich, and Cuban sandwich. Everything was absolutely delicious, but especially the Secret Garden sandwich- my sister and I ordered one each and ate every morsel on our plates. They have a cozy, rustic atmosphere, from the farmhouse tables and drinks served in mason jars, to the pleasant, familiar service and interesting menu that you can feel good about eating. In addition, the sandwiches are nearly all under $10. I really loved this place and can't wait to go back next time I'm in town.
(5)Rosemary B.
We've been looking forward to going here for quite a while and finally made it Thursday evening for dinner (and back for brunch yesterday!). The atmosphere is very cozy and the decor is eclectic and charming. Dinner Thursday night was delicious. We tried 3 small plates, the salmon wrapped around crisp apples and filled with cream cheese, the cheese platter (amazing) and for some reason I can't remember the 3rd one! The entrees were a special filet (very large portion) with roasted shaved brussel sprouts and horseradish mashed potatoes. Steak was cooked perfectly and sides were very good. I had the duck with apple and risotto, it was also delicious. We skipped dessert. Back for brunch on Sunday! Since it's a BYO we brought some vodka for a bloody mary and/or screwdriver. I was surprised that they don't offer bloody mary mix. They do charge a corkage fee which is fine, but I think they definitely need to add a bloody mix to their offerings. However, the food was again very good. My husband had the bison burger topped with a fried egg and I had the vegetarian burrito along with a side of potatoes we shared. The burrito was amazing, it was fresh and tasty. Service has been very good, our server had quite a personality which we enjoyed. Looking forward to going back....Fresh and healthy meals!
(4)Katie W.
This place is great! Especially is you're vegetarian! They have so many great options, and it's all local ingredients!
(5)Samantha R.
Best Breakfast and lunch spot in town! I have gone to roots since they were in the spot Baco Taco is now in. The new location has a rustic feel with wood tables and chairs and a "farm door" like window opening from the main area to the foyer. The food is absolutely amazing, locally sourced and mostly organic. They have a ton of vegetarian options as well as cool meat dishes. Joel is the best waiter and quite an entertainer for his patrons. They now offer a dinner menu with a BYOB option. I have personally never tried it, but am looking forward to going in the near future!
(5)Jonathan G.
This is THE favorite spot of our family. Best breakfast & brunch in DubC. Whether we're here with the whole fam or just us grown ups for a date night, the service and food is outstanding at Roots and never disappoints!
(5)Dave M.
No stars. Wife and daughter went here for breakfast on 12/16/14. Later that morning- afternoon, my wife got sick.....violently. I called to inquire if anyone else called to complain about getting sick and I was told " no other complaints but I'll talk to the executive chef and call you back". Still waiting for a response. We will not be back.
(1)Carolyn M.
Sooooo good! I ordered soup and 1/2 sandwich for nine dollars. Worth every penny! The soup was curry carrot. Nicely seasoned, not too rich, the carrot was tiny diced, for a nice, teeny-tiny "mouth feel" texture. Perfecto. You can order off the menu for the 1/2 sandwich and I chose Secret Garden...omg! I'm not one who jumps to the veggie offerings on a menu, but I figured since they're a farm-to-table type place, I'd see what they have to offer. Out-of-this-world taste is what they offered! The sandwich is made of avocado, cucumber, sprouts, onion, greens, cream cheese, pesto aioli on a substantial multi-grain. I want the other half, please! Our waiter was cute, very funny and had a low-key style that suited us. Although an offer to refill my iced tea would have been appreciated, the place was rocking and I never bothered flagging him. My dining mates had challah bread french toast w/ berry compote and pure maple syrup, and eggs benedict with avocado, tomato, spinach, croissant. We all ate every morsel. Yay, Roots! We'll be back, fo' sure.
(5)Craig D.
(4) ~ very good food & service...Really like how they try to incorporate Local & Organic Ingredients!;-) OUR LUNCH / BREAKFAST MENU: * Cucumber & Yogurt Soup = (4) very good * BBQ Pork Stew = (4) very good * Water(tap) = (3.5) good * Broccoli & Tomato Quiche = (3.5) good * Huevos Rancheros = (3.5) good...very spicy! * Duck Leg Hash = (4.5) Very Good...Highly recommend it;-) * Coffee = (3) ok Notes: They allow you to order from the Breakfast Menu for Lunch and they serve Dinner too;-) There's also more tables out back in their outdoor garden area.
(4)Olivia D.
First time and I'll be sure to go back. Service was excellent, Sam our server was awesome! Super personable and attentive. The food was incredibly fresh and delicious. A very warm and cozy setting, it was an awesome first experience.
(5)Carolyn T.
Delicious fresh food! I had sweet potato hash. Everything is locally farmed. And its Byob so its perfect for any day of the week brunch. My new fave breakfast place! Nice outside area as well. Hope to go back again soon.
(5)Tre F.
I actually love this place. We got turned around (lost) and stumbled on this place on a Friday night. It's rather small, but it's nice. The wait staff is great. Not a large menu, but the few things they do, they really well. They have staples on the menu like chicken, but I could do that at home. We had DUCK. Yeah, good duck. A lot of times duck can be really greasy or oily, but theirs was cooked to perfection. I've only ventured into duck maybe 3 or 4 times, so I may not be the expert. BUT, I know good and that duck was good. The scallops are also pretty good. I'm underselling them, they're great.
(4)Ashley S.
One of the best little places in WC! The owner and staff are genuinely good people. The place has that farm to table atmosphere and the food is creative and delicious. Be prepared to have a relaxed meal because it does take some time to dine here but it's worth it!
(5)Sara B.
The food here is excellent, HOWEVER, be sure you have plenty of time because the service is extremely slow. I've eaten in and ordered take-out. Twice I've ordered take-out (3 bacon/egg/cheese sandwiches) and it has taken well over 1 hour.
(2)Dave H.
A nice restaurant in the West Chester area. I had lunch there with my wife, and the food was fantastic. We had the quiche, half sandwich with slow cooked pork shoulder, and smoke salmon Benedict. (Too bad they ran out of pork belly) The only small thing I would like for improvement is the dishes' wait time and the temperature of the coffee.
(4)Janet M.
If you can find a parking space, go! Busy place and most of the selections are delicious. Duck Quesadilla, Grilled Cheese, Salads, Duck Breakfast Skillet - Great. Breakfast burrito a little dry. It can get busy but the staff tries hard to keep up.
(4)Leila A.
First chance I've had to eat at Roots since they moved to their new space. First off - the feeling when you walk in is fresh and charming. They've done a beautiful job with decorating and the space is very inviting. Ordered the ATL - a new fav of mine.... fried tomato, avacado and lettuce sandwich on multigrain bread. I literally could eat that EVERY day it was so amazing, fresh and full of flavor. I love the way this restaurant views food and cooks and definitely recommend them.
(5)Jade M.
This place is awesome! The food is really fresh and plain delicious! I wish I lived closer so I could go more often. We had the bison chili and breakfast burrito but I want to go back so I can try more!
(5)JQ C.
An absolute West Chester treasure! Love going there for lunch during work. I will let others expand on the truth: great food, great ambiance, great people. Hooray!
(5)Jenna P.
I was recommended this place by a work buddy and was very pleased! I took my best friend here for her birthday and it's small but has a good atmosphere. Our waitress was nice . She recommended the pork Benedict and it was a great recommendation. I loved it and my friend and boyfriend seemed to like their breakfast burritos although they looked more like wraps to me. Will be going again
(4)Miriam W.
Never been here for dinner, but went for brunch this morning with a group. Had breakfast here 4 or 5 times and it's always been phenomenal. You can really tell they use quality, natural ingredients. Service has always been top-notch when I've gone. Our only complaint was that the wait was much, much longer than they had originally told us, like an hour and a half total- apparently the table where we were to be seated was occupied longer than expected since the patrons were "hanging out" (I get it, that's how you brunch, but the establishment is so small!) I also was confused that they used to be BYOB and haven't been for a while apparently but there's nothing I saw on the website to announce that. Most disappointing for me was that mimosas were $7, mostly because I can drink a lot of those and just thought $7 a flute is a bit steep. Bloody Mary's were $8 and served in small mason jars, my friend ordered one and the mix wasn't quite seasoned enough. Overall food and service 5 stars!! Overall experience and crowded ambiance 3.5 stars, booze 3 stars.
(4)Genevieve B.
As if Roots couldn't get any better... they just did. If you haven't been to Roots' new location on Gay street, then run, dont walk, and sit back to enjoy an iced tea and whatever the heck you feel like eating--I guarantee it will all be delicious. Since they've grown to fill the void where Gilmore's used to be, Roots has taken on some extra menu items, a dinner service, and a serious boost in quality. Perhaps it's the fact that their chef no longer has to cook in a closet, but absolutely everything is delicious and perfectly prepared every single time I've gone--which has been a lot recently! Roots specializes in locally-produced cuisine. You'll notice that the menu is a little pricer than your average cozy cafe, but it will be worth it to know that you will only get on your plate what you might also get while shaking hands with a neighbor at the farmer's market. The food is incredibly fresh, almost as fresh as the flair with which it was created! Did I mention the iced tea? Get one when you go in the summer, they have a cycling selection that changes almost every day. Free refills! Go tomorrow, and thank me immediately. I accept flowers and gift cards ;)
(5)Sean T.
Tasty omelet with fresh ingredients. Great vibe and enthusiastic service, though it did slow down at the end (granted, it was our server's first day).
(4)Dina K.
Organic, vegetarian/vegan options, fast service, enthusiastic server, amazing prices. Delicious. Will definitely go back
(5)Judy T.
We selected this restaurant for brunch based on the feedbacks we read. And we were very happy with our selection. Since they do not take reservations the two of us waited approx 20 minutes to be seated. The place is not very big, it is in an old row home on the main street in W.Chester. The breakfast menu wonderfully combined traditional breakfast items with a unique flair/addition. We selected the duck/ sweet potato and fried egg dish and the salmon eggs Benedict on a croissant. Both were exceptional , even the fried potatoes were good. Not greasy, flavorful and the quality of the ingredients could be tasted throughout the meal. Seemingly the breakfast an lunch menus are more extensive than the dinner menu. We will return for breakfast or lunch in the future.
(5)Lazlo K.
Roots Café is one of the best restaurants in West Chester. I find myself craving their Pork Belly Eggs Benny. Truly amazing. The décor is very eclectic and the service is extremely attentive. Will go back again and again. Would suggest this place to anyone. GOOD WORK Roots!
(5)Mark M.
Eh..ok! Kinda busy whenever you go so there is hardly any room to sit. And the quality of food, albeit fresh, is borderline bland.
(3)Stephan A.
omg!!! off the hook delicious fresh food!!! fantastic service!!! And great atmosphere !!!!
(5)Diana N.
Creative, fresh, flavorful and sustainable choices. We've relocated to WC from San Diego -- the land of fresh produce. This is a taste of home with seasonal offerings straight from local farms. Great breakfast, fabulous service. Nice options for vegetarians. Unique offerings for carnivores. Expect a wait. If you want to walk around charming Gay Street they'll give you call when your table is ready.
(5)Janet Y.
4 of us went for lunch today. The wait was about 40 minutes, but the hostess told us that up front and she was very pleasant. We all had lunch items, A Cuban sandwich, chicken sandwich, roast beef sandwich and duck quesadillas. The side was a pasta salad made with mini ravioli. Everything was fresh and delicious. We will be going back. Also went we left the hostess said goodbye and thanked us for waiting.
(5)J B.
Just tried Roots for the first time today. They cook the way I eat, so it was a match made in heaven. Very hard to find restaurants with a conscience, this side of the Mississippi. We both had the huevos racheros, which had a couple of issues. One, the eggs were under-cooked. We expected soft yolks, but the whites of mine were clear and runny. I didn't want to make my friend wait while mine was sent back, so I just ate around them. Also, this dish should be served with tortillas. I'm a native of the southwest, and I've never seen them served without. We asked if they had been forgotten, but the waiter just said, "no, they don't come with that". We also had to flag down the waiter for more coffee. He brought more for my friend, but never asked if I also wanted more. Actually, he hadn't come back during the meal at all, only when we called him over, and that was when we were 1/2 way through. So, I can only give 3 stars today. I'll be back, and hopefully with a better experience. I really did want to love this place. It's beautiful inside, and out, but what I really wanted was a great meal and good service.
(3)EatdrinkOm S.
Another dinner at my neighbors Roots! This is the first time I was not teaching and able to pick up my hubby from the firehouse and have a great meal. I love the blackboard listing of the source if your meal ingredients. Local! Chris was our waiter. Awesome as ever. Great personality and makes you feel at home. The sweet tea is so refreshing. Not overly sweet, just enough. We shared the house salad and bruschetta appetizers. Fresh fresh veggies! The kitchen accommodated our request to take the scallop app and make it out meal. They were perfectly cooked. They came on a bed of polenta with a hint of jalapeño, carmalized carrots and another side that had a sweetness of cheese, apricots -very creamy. The food came quickly. We hadn't even finished the salad! Awesome! We shared a fantastic chocolate cake baked by Yori's . There is nothing better than a homemade cake. Rich chocolate and super moist. So happy they are across from the studio! I really enjoyed the fresh, local fare from my neighbors!
(5)Mike K.
Amazing place! The ambiance is perfect and the way the restaurant is laid out make it feel so welcoming. Then of course there is the great food. We went for dinner. I love that they source many ingredients locally and serve seasonal dishes. Apparently they're known more for their breakfast/brunch so I will definitely be making a return trip to check that out. If you're looking for superb quality food and a generally enjoyable dining experience, I would highly recommend Roots Cafe.
(5)G M.
Love this "sustainable food project" and its new location. The soups are always delicious and the menu consistently offers something tasty for either vegetarians or meat-eaters. The decor is pretty while reflecting the feel of fresh and local offerings. The only place to eat in West Chester, appreciate the chalkboard showing local sources of ingredients.
(5)Alison C.
Roots has great food, great service, the new space is so nice. I think it's the best breakfast in West Chester for sure. They have creative combinations and you know exactly where your food is from, which farm, etc. We want to try lunch and dinner there, but we always end up going for breakfast. But one recommendation we have is for them to make stronger coffee. That's the only reason for the 4 stars. And for me, 4 stars is great anyways
(4)Jeremy C.
have been a fan since the old location , the food is really tasty , the menu is really creative ....they need a lot of help with wait staff and flow management ........we will be back to new location but likely give them some time to get it together
(4)