Back To The Roots

The menu is quite eclectic with lots of tasty sounding choices. They have an extensive sushi menu too — which I haven’t tried yet.
The coffee was exceptional: a medium roast Guatemalan brewed just right, and it comes in a carafe which can be set in the warmer tray on your table! Isn’t that a great idea – no more waiting fit your server to come by with a warm-​up. Not that that would likely be an issue here since the service was prompt, polite, and pleasing all around.
The Michigan Salad was surprisingly huge; I added chicken The greens were really really fresh and the apple cider vinaigrette was so good I got extra. I was unable to finish it! Got some biscuits to go with; they were good but not great.
My companion had a hummus wrap which was very tasty – and also quite large. It came with freshly fried potato crisps that earned an OMG from both of us.
We indulged in a slice of caramel cheesecake that there was a lot to like about: for one thing it was not to large and just rich enough.
If you’re traveling along towards Detroit you don’t have to wait until you get to Ann Arbor for an excellent, moderately priced meal. And they serve breakfast until 2.

Just enjoyed our first dinner here and it was good but I hear from the server they’re closing permanently on Sunday 10−27−13.

I made lunch plans with my dad today who suggested I try this place he had found in downtown Chelsea. He said he knew I’d like it because it’s «a cute little tree hugger joint». Best dad ever!
My dad was right, I absolutely loved this place. They’re all about sustainable farming and fair trade, and even donate part of their profits to charity. They really put some thought into creating this place that you walk into and feel relaxed and like you’re at a friend’s house. There are several chairs and couches toward the front that you relax in with your drink, or you can head to the back and get a table in their dining room. We were greeted by the barista and the waitress when we first walked in and were taken right to a nice table (that was spotlessly clean which I also loved). They had a mug warmer, which confused my dad but made me swoon.
We both started with a side salad, which was a mix of fresh greens (no iceberg!) and a delicious dressing that I’ll now be craving all the time. They also have 2 for $ 11 house sushi rolls, so we opted for those. Dad got spicy tuna and shrimp tempura, and I got AAC and spicy California. SO good. Really fresh ingredients, really great tasting.
This place is a must, okay? If you’re in Chelsea and you go anywhere else then you’re truly missing out. I practically have tears in my eyes just talking about it. :’)

Avocado roll is the bomb. Absolutely, utterly fantastic. I also had the AAC (avocado, asparagus and cucumber) roll. Also very good, and much more filling than the avocado alone. But the avocado roll is where it’s at.

It’s ok, nothing special. It’s going for that Ann Arbor feel which caters to the pompous foodie commuter crowd that makes up part of the Chelsea and Dexter areas now. Sushi is average but not stellar. Not my style but for those who like little restaurants in A2 you’d probably like this place.

Delicious breakfast served every day of the week until 2pm? YESSS. I am all over this place. I’m a total sucker for biscuits and gravy and this one did not disappoint. Moist biscuits, a rich gravy, topped with over medium eggs and cheddar cheese. My stomach literally just growled thinking about it. In addition to that the menu is also stocked with other egg based favorites (burritos, omelets, etc) plus sweets like french toast, pancakes, and more all made with locally sourced ingredients. Also a tofu scramble for the vegans in the house.
In addition to this they have a menu of sandwiches, soups, salads and, oddly enough, sushi. I haven’t had tried any of the previous items but my friend who introduced me to this place (a native of Chelsea) can’t say enough good things about the sushi. Looking forward to trying that next although it is a bit on the pricey side compared to the rest of the menu.
The space is cozy and clean. A little rustic with a very wood heavy interior. The front of the place is a shop/​coffee shop and they pride themselves on selling fair trade roasts along with clothing, jewelry and more. The restaurant seating is more towards the back which makes it a bit quieter since it’s not in the middle of in the coffee shop sounds. The only negative was that the service was VERY slow that afternoon, although our waiter could not have been nicer. Between that and the fact that I was catching up with friends I wasn’t bothered by the leisurely meal but if you’re in a hurry it may be something worth considering.
FYI – they have a fab Unilocal check in offer! A free dessert! So my friends and I opted for the chocolate and cream cheese wontons. It’s like all my favorite things rolled into one (fried foods, chocolate, and cream cheese) and it was fantastic.

I wanted a cup of coffee to go and Roots has a good reputation for for local farmer support and fair-​trade concerns.
I love a good hand-​brewed coffee, but was a bit disappointed in the taste. I’m not sure if they had multiple selections; if so, I was not told about them. I really like bold, deep and dark coffee. This was medium strength at best and the flavor was unimpressive. I guess I had different expectations, figuring a «crunchy» shop would at least offer tasty, aromatic blends with hints of… well, something.
On the positive side, Dave, the guy taking our order, was very friendly and pleasant. Fortunately we chatted for a minute, otherwise I never would have noticed the excellent pumpkin bread for sale — giant, tasty slices for a good price!
Next time I’m in town, I’ll stop back and will be sure to ask about the coffee first. Could be that they deserve a 4 or 5, but I didn’t ask for and they didn’t offer info on their selection.

This place has defined (and set the bar) for a restaurant that does fair-​trade and uses as many locally-​grown ingredients as possible. Let me explain…
When I first hear «fair trade» I think of only one thing: coffee. I think of a rustic locally-​owned café where people maybe roast/​grind their beans in-​house and drink it black. I didn’t think those words could describe a restaurant that serves great food so when my friend brought me here I was curious to see how it all worked. It boggled my mind that a sushi-​serving fair trade restau-​café in Chelsea could exist and be so posh/​hip/​eccentric/​cool. Back To The Roots has expanded my view of how an establishment can be so… comprehensive.
There is no single word to describe how all of these things go together so perfectly. Every aspect of their restaurant is incorporated very well (café, restaurant, store, the fact that they host local musicians and support sustainable farming etc).
I did not see a single Japanese chef behind the sushi counter, but where were they hiding him/​her… in the kitchen? I say this because their sushi was spot on. Sushi in such an ambiance makes me chuckle because while done very well (I shared a baked California Roll topped with scallops and teriyaki sauce called the «Chelsea») it is eaten in a backdrop akin to the Rainforest Café. I also had a nice 3 Cheese Grilled Cheese ($ 8) and after eating here, I think that every patron can say that they feel a sense of community and how central that is to the restaurant.
ALSO… all the music they played was basically on my ipod playlist (um, WHOA). Great food, great staff/​service, great feelings all around and I want to swim in their goodness. I will venture to say, this place has increased my faith in humanity.

I applaud the crew here for taking a stand for social justice. It’s definitely one of the reasons we popped in to check it out on our way to Kalamazoo. It’s a very inviting space nestled in the merchant district in picturesque downtown Chelsea.
We ordered a couple sushi rolls for appetizers with the intention of ordering entrees as well for dinner. However, our sushi was good, not great, and we thought the dinner menu wasn’t so exciting. So we moved on after appetizers.
Maybe we’ll stop in again sometime and try breakfast.

Back to the roots is such a fantastic place, I can see why almost none of the reviews have been short of stellar.
I’ve been here for breakfast items both times and have sampled both the corned beef scramble and the omelet, both of which were delicious! The corn beef scramble was especially good, the meat is super tender. The breakfast potatoes are wonderful as well. Every table has a cup/​mug warmer, which was very amusing to me because I haven’t seen those anywhere else and it’s so ingenious! I am also very fond of the Himalayan rock salt lamps that don every table – very exotic.
I remember the Chai latte here being very good. I also love the cute tiramisu in a cup! I can’t wait to come back and try the other dessert offerings, which look equally wonderful. Speaking of which, I believe a Unilocal check-​in gets you a free dessert here, so don’t pass it up!
Plus, how can you not love a place whose proceeds go to support impoverished children, sex trafficking victims, and vulnerable individuals at risk of slavery. C’mon! Great food for a great cause.
Our server, Anthony, was super helpful and good about giving recommendations. The staff here is very nice and enthusiastic in general, which definitely sets up a good vibe for the whole place.
SPOT-​ON. EVERYTHING. Woot!

Food and service were so good for breakfast that we came back with friends for lunch! I love all the local and sustainable sourced ingredients. The prices and portion sizes were reasonable.
Relaxed and cozy lounge/​performance area out front with local and handmade gift shop. I got a really nice t-​shirt.
I’ll definitely be going back soon!

Fantastic place! Wonderful corned beef (Reuben sandwich,) very friendly and accommodating waitstaff. I can’t wait to come back.
They are known for their breakfast potatoes. Our server gladly provided us with a generous sample of these for our tasting.
We will definitely be back for breakfast.

I was working in Chelsea this last month and finally made my way down to Main street to check out some restaurants.
Stopped in for lunch with a co-​worker. The place is really homey. Everything is wooden. There’s a store and coffee bar in front, and the restaurant is in the back. The place is decorated with canvas art. Each table has a salt rock lamp, which is nice lighting. There’s also a mug warmer on each table as well.
They’re sort of like a breakfast café plus a sushi bar. My friend ordered an omelette, which comes with potatoes and toast. The potatoes can be prepared herbed, buttered, or spicy. Our waitress recommended the spicy version, and we were not disappointed. Probably some of the best breakfast potatoes I’ve had ever. The toast comes with butter and home made jam which is made with raspberry or something — delicious.
As for myself, I was interested in trying the Japanese aspect. I ordered the Chirashi bowl, which was pretty good. High quality fish, high quality presentation. It is 3 small-​ish slices each of tuna, hamachi, and salmon. Also two shrimp with a small slices of lemon wedges. Two sticks of imitation crab. Served with seaweed salad, ginger, and wasabi over a bed of sushi rice. It runs $ 19 which is a little expensive for my taste — at first, I was like «What is this? A bowl for ants?! It needs to be at least 3 times bigger!» But then I finished eating and was full.
Their Japanese menu is in general quite expensive. The signature rolls run $ 15 each, and a dollar less for the «house» rolls.
While eating lunch, our waitress also brought over a couple of samples of their organic soda — rhubarb and vanilla. I thought the vanilla was very nice; can’t speak much toward the rhubarb as it just tasted sweet and I don’t have a clue how rhubarb soda should taste.
The Unilocal check-​in deal is a free dessert of your choosing with purchase of an entrée or house sushi roll. Pretty awesome. I had the pumpkin crème brûlée which was very good. Fairly large portion, perfect caramelized sugar on top that was not too burnt. The pumkin custard underneath was not my favorite; but it was legit pumpkin with cloves.
Our waitress was present enough to take care of our needs, but not overbearing. I saw her go into the back clothing section and sell like 3 articles of clothing while she was waitressing (or that’s what I assume she was doing anyway). Master of multi-​tasking. She also sang along to the beatles songs and had a nice voice. Very friendly woman; talked to us about how she and her husband live in Ann Arbor. Tipped her like 8 bucks for a $ 31 meal (would’ve been a $ 37 meal with the comped crème brûlée).
Probably the best part of this meal is that a part of the proceeds go toward their non-​profit, and helped orphans in India. So with that in mind, I won’t complain about the pricey sushi.
I came back another day to stop in for coffee. Had the dirty chai, which was again a little pricey ($ 4.50), but the barista took her time in preparing the drink, and it was nice.
Came back yet ANOTHER day for lunch, this time with the caveat of a crazy time crunch. I had planned to go with a friend, but got out of clinic late, at around 12:20pm. I had to be back at 1pm, yikes! I called my friend at 12:20 to order me any sandwich. I arrived at BTTR at maybe 12:25 — 12:30, and my food came shortly after. It was a Reuben with tender, juicy corned beef. Came with the soup of the day which was chicken something — warm and calming after a stressful morning. Finished my food with time to spare and ordered dessert at like 12:40 — the fried wontons, half and half (half banana, half cream cheese). Comes as 4 baby egg roll looking things on top of chocolate sauce with whipped cream on the side. Delicious. I didn’t let the waiter know that I was in a rush (though from my friend, he might have gleaned this earlier), but I made it back just in time at 1pm to clinic. A+.
All in all, this is a fantastic little fair trade café. Great food, great service, great cause. Five stars, easily.

Amazing restaurant in downtown Chelsea!
I had a coupon for a free coffee and decided to go for breakfast. While Chelsea has always been a great city, I feel it has recently evolved and become a fantastic place to get a great bite to eat, a sip to drink, or to have a wonderful night out on the town!
Back to breakfast… I walked into the café/​store and was greated quickly. Even though it was just me, I was seated quickly to a comfy little table. The waitress came and I gave her my «free coffee» coupon thinking it was just going to be a cup of regular joe, but I was wrong! There are a variety of different brews and types of coffee that the waitress was so kind it explaining to me. She was quick to the point, but thorough and very nice! I ordered a french press coffee, which she explained to me was low in acid (giving I think I am growing an ulcer, that was appreciated).
There are a plethora of options for breakfast (and for other meals). If you want eggs, biscuits and gravy, french toast, pancakes, tofu scramble, this is your place! I ended up ordering two eggs (over medium), spicy potatoes (which were the best potatoes I’ve ever had, spicy, but not too hot), homemade sausage patties, and sourdough toast. All for $ 6!
I love to eat, but couldn’t finish it all! It was fantastic, and plentiful!!!
The service was great, they explained the coffee mug warmer, so I could keep my coffee warm, checked on me a few times without be obtrusive and were very friendly!!!
I can’t wait to come back for dinner! And better yet, dessert!

Better than you think, friendly and helpful.
We came out to Chelsea to see a play at the purple rose (Superior Donuts — worth seeing), and we were looking for a place to eat. The first two options had 10 – 15 minutes wait time, so when went to Back to the Root. It’s a coffee, sushi and sandwich place. They had a live local grunge band up front, and a restaurant in the back.
It is an organic place, and they do make many of their own items. The sushi was ok, but nothing to write about. The sandwiches and homemade chips were good, but the pumpkin crime brûlée was great.
We went for dinner, but it felt breakfast was something they do really well, we must try it.

Very disappointed, especially because I had heard so much good about this place and in the end I never even got to taste their food.
My son and I were seated by a nice woman who told me that they rarely served kids, but she came out quickly with a glass of water with all the child-​proof stuff on it, which is a good sign. Then… nothing. I literally watched three more tables get seated around me, get service, have their orders taken, etc. etc.
I had servers look at me as they walked by, I had kitchen staff walk by me, but my son and I sat their for over ten minutes and no one said as much as boo to me. I was in plain view of the server station and I even thought I caught the eye of the hostess a time or two, but I guess not. At the ten minute mark (and I knew that because of the timing of some texts) I told myself that I would ask the next server who came by why it was taking so long, but the next server that came by bypassed us and went to the table next to ours — which had just been sat — and decided to take their order instead. That’s when we left.
On the way out I told the hostess that no one had come to our table since she sat us and she made a frowny face and then froze… after a few awkward seconds I realized there was no apology coming and I just left.
If having my child there was a problem, just tell me you don’t serve children and I’ll leave. If you forgot about me, just apologize and I’ll understand. Letting me sit there with my son and two emptying glasses of water was frustrating. Anyone who knows me knows that I’d support a local business in a heart beat, but the next time I’m in Chelsea, Back To The Roots will not be one of those businesses.

Amazing sushi! Can’t wait to go get more.
Can’t believe there is a place this good in Chelsea.

Hallelujah Mystery SOLVED!
Now I know why this place is so popular! A socially concious small business, with a commitment to high quality and service.
Sounds like a good company tag line but it so aptly describes BTTR.
This was our first sit down visit —
My husband and I visited on a Monday evening for dinner. I started out there ahead of him with a pot of mint tea, Ahi Napleon appetizer and my book. The atmosphere was light and still quiet enough to fall into my novel. The single pot-​tea was plenty for one and the ahi appetizer was fabulous! Presentation was more than expected and oh so tasty. Waitress was cheery and attentive but left me alone when my book was open.
My husband was happy to find a selection of sandwiches that didn’t involve raw fish and ordered the Triple grilled cheese that came with a cup of chicken tortilla soup. Great sandwich and really good soup at a great price of $ 8.
I ordered the Chirachi bowl — which is an assortment of fresh slices of fish and veggies, on a bed of rice. This is a the perfect dish if you try not to eat rice or gluten. I uploaded a pic of it. It was perfect. High quality fish, and excellent presentation.
My husband loved his Wild berry smoothie, and meal, but we didn’t stop there. Had to try the desserts: banana and brown sugar wontons and crème brûlée. Wow. The wontons were more like mini eggrolls but it just speaks to their shape. Again a great presentation with equally great groans of yumm with every bite. I didn’t get to taste his crème brûlée as he down it before realizing. He said it was good.
We had a nice chat with Jason, the owner, and learned a lot about Back to the Roots origin of quality, presentation and mission. I do hope Jason turns BTTR into a saleable business model; so other restaurants like BTTR can become little gems of their communities and champion charitible children’s causes.
Tips: Tuesdays is 2 for 1 rolls!

We live nearby and come here all the time for breakfast (especially last month when they had a 2-​for-​1 coupon in the paper every week. Ahem.) It’s tasty and you get quite a bit for the money. Service is always friendly and reasonably quick, even when they’re crowded (weekend breakfasts tend to get kind of crazy.) My incorrigible coffee-​snob husbands actually likes the coffee, so that’s saying something. Huge selection of good teas, too.
I don’t eat sushi, which is unfortunate because I’m told that it’s good and there’s not a *huge* amount of other stuff on the menu for later in the day, but I suspect there might be at some point :-) I’ve had some great soups and I keep catching wind of some pulled pork, though I haven’t had it yet. The heavenly wontons are amazing (which makes me sad, because anything deep fried gives me heartburn, but they’re almost kinda worth it.)
As for the retail component– it’s your pretty standard fair-​trade hippie gear, slightly on the pricey side. Not really my style, personally, but there’s some cute stuff, especially if you’re the type of person who can pull off culottes. I think they’re downsizing the retail to make more room for the café, though (there was a big sale last weekend.)

There’s something promising starting in the sleepy town of Chelsea. A new retail boutique has opened that defies conventions.
Back To The Roots is part fair trade retail boutique and part sushi café.
You can buy a cashmere scarf or spices before sitting down for a fresh sushi roll or a cup of tea.
What’s good?
— Atmosphere certainly make this a comfortable place to work.
— Music includes indies like Sufjan Stevens, Iron & Wine, and Death Cab for Cutie.
— Sushi rolls are good. The Spicy Tuna roll isn’t slathered in mayo like so many other places.
— Seaweed salad is excellent.
— Tea and spice selections are admirable.
— Very welcoming staff
What could be changed?
— Rolls include a lot of tempura options which might appeal to a wider audience, but I suspect the barefoot and Whole Foods crowd might seek out some healthier options.
— Prices are a bit high for a sushi roll, but if you factored in the gas to Ann Arbor to satisfy your sushi craving, you’d probably break even.
Here’s a promising new venture.