The Root Cafe

I have mixed feelings. I love the food and like the drinks. But the atmosphere? Well, it is less than to be desired. No where comfortable to sit, tables are hap-​hazard, service is kinda spotty. Food is also really priced on the high end… would I come back? I do every now and then… but not a regular spot for me.

Food was quite good. Had a savory stew/​soup that had deep flavor and was very thick. Would definitely eat that again. Their toasted cheese sandwich is another winner which I would have again. All in all, the food was quite good. My friend had the same soup, but opted for the wrap instead of a sandwich. She was very pleased. The place is very informal and pretty much Lakewood chill. The only thing that stops me from rating it higher is that the person we ordered from was not very knowledgeable. Very polite, but a bit lost. If you are gonna work in a place like Root you need to know things like whether the flour used in the breads is ‘stripped’ (bleached/​enriched/​bromated) or real.

For those looking for a place to sit and work while eating some great food, Root Café is a great option. Plenty of seating, classic coffee shop vibe, and a menu that will work for any part of the day. All organic, and a lot of healthy options.
My wife and I came to Root on a Saturday for lunch. Busy, but I thought that was part of the charm. Lots of people meeting and playing games. Maybe not great for someone trying to get work done, but for us — it was perfect.
I’m a sucker for a good grilled cheese, and their local cheddar bake is delicious. Perfect amount of pesto and slices of tomatoes. Pair this with one of their incredible soups which change daily (and made from scratch). SO good!
My wife had their Sunburst Salad. Incredibly refreshing with so many fruits and veggies. Topped with this tangy house dressing. She said it would have been even better with some grilled chicken.
I have never been one for fancy or sweet drinks. Black coffee/americano’s brewed well are my jam. Root didn’t impress me with my coffee. It was bitter and I didn’t want to drink the whole thing. They use my favorite brand of beans (Rising Star) so it should have been smooth.
However — my wife had the Mexican Cocoa and gave it a ⁴⁄₅. Hot chocolate with cinnamon, cayenne and vanilla. Again, I’m not a huge fan of sweet drinks, but if I was, I’m sure this would be a great option.
Overall — I know I know… I’m a coffee snob. But It’s the main reason I came to Root and it didn’t meet my expectation. I will definitely be back to try more of their organic, health-​focused menu and to play board games with friends.

The Root Café is a gem for veggies in the Cleveland area! The food is amazing, with equally awesome people and atmosphere.
The menu is pretty extensive, with salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, burritos, breakfast/​brunch items, stone oven pizza, calzones, and numerous side dishes. I tried the Root Wrap (I’m a sucker for anything with avocado) and it was delicious! The combination of veggies was very tasty, with everything tasting so fresh. My friend was a fan of the Hummus Wrap. Most of what they prepare is house-​made, from scratch, and locally provided. This is a great spot to grab a good cup of coffee and delicious bakery as well!
There is a decent amount of tables and seating but it can get crowded, so I wouldn’t suggest Root for large groups but it is perfect to meet a friend or catch up with a smaller group.

These guys are amazing. Twice I got service which I consider way above expected. They had no decaf coffee, made me an Americano to go with my sandwich, had already presented me with a bill, and refused to charge for the coffee.
Then, I went and ordered a decaf, which they subsequently had brewed. They ran out, so I didn’t quite get a full cup. Then, like magic, a small Americano showed up at my table. Whaa?
They had a live jazz duo, and I’m pretty picky about live music, but these guys are quite good. One of them does a good Nat Cole jazz vocal style.
Plus, the food was really great. I am starting to come out of the holiday food coma thanks to The Root Café! Glad I came back, even better than last time.

I had one of their antioxidant smoothies no. 4 {whole ginger, pineapple apple, strawberry + detox 1 & hubs had one of their Plant Fix juices no. 8 {spinach, kale, pear, lemon + ginger. Juice was good, mild in flavor. Smoothie was excellent but wished mine was served in a glass bottle as I am not a fan of the plastic cup/​straw mine was served in.

Always a great place to meet a friend, or get some work done, or just hang out. Coffee is good, food is all vegan. The surroundings are very comfortable.
Pro Tip: They rotate syrup flavors (sourced from another business in town) — be sure to check the sign to see if anything catches your eye! I love adding peppermint and other flavors to my drip coffee.

Good food in a relaxed environment. Their black beans and rice are fantastic. Burritos are sublime. The kombucha is keen. I do get a little of the snobby «we’re regulars and you’re not» vibe from some customers, but not the staff, who all seemed really friendly.

Being a vegetarian, it’s always a challenge discovering new places to eat. And The Root Café nailed it!
We ordered the Mexicali pizza, couple of different teas and their soup of the day and everything was just fantastic! Definitely a place we’ll regularly visit.

Ambiance is welcoming, coffee is fair trade, food is FANTASTIC, and desserts are balanced and so very delicious. Vegetables are locally farmed, ingredients are FRESH, and the staff is friendly. This place is a must try.

I love this little café in Lakewood. Tons of healthy options and very laid back atmosphere. I enjoy their salads and sandwiches. They are made fresh when you order and include a good mix of fresh veggies with tastier ingredients like cheese and yummy dressings. Their desserts look good too, but I have yet to try them. It’s a fun people watching place too. My main complaint is that there are often smokers right outside. For a place that has a focus on a vegan lifestyle, it’s just surprising. It won’t keep me from going back. It’s a great place for a healthy affordable meal where you can catch up with friends or go on your own to get some work done.

Pretty crowded on weekends… I guess the word has gotten out that this place is pretty darn awesome. They feature an all vegetarian menu, house-​made flavored syrups, local coffee and a ton of great bakery options.
I tried a latte with brown sugar cardamom syrup– great balance of sweet and spicy. I also got two of the grandma’s wedding cookies which were SO good!
I figure most people would come in here and get a salad, so naturally I deviated and got a pizza… no regrets. This may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of pizza, but maybe it should be. The pizza was delightfully cheesy atop a whole grain crust that was surprisingly chewy and delicious.
This place has lots of seating and although it was quite crowded on the weekend, there seemed to always be tables/​seating available. This place has an order at the counter kind of service, but they will bring your food out to you if you end up ordering a meal.
All in all, I can’t think of anything to fault this place… I guess my only complaint might be the noise level if you were coming here to work or study, but I get the feeling that this is more of a ‘meet a friend for lunch’ kind of place rather than a study spot. Overall, it’s a fantastic café that can boast way more than just good coffee!

Stopped in for breakfast. Staff was not welcoming and seemed annoyed when I asked questions about the menu. Ordered a pastry and a latte and waited about 10 minutes to have it made. Seems like a decent place, but probably won’t return due to staff and service.

I stumbled across this place right after flying in from Jersey and boy was I Happy!!!
I had the Vegan Power Bowl and it was absolutely DELICIOUS. The blend of the vegetables and the sauce was nothing short of miraculous.
The team there was friendly and efficient & the atmosphere was artsy and relaxing. I may be back to tonight, good Vegan food is hard to find!

I came into the café on a late Saturday afternoon. The place was pretty packed for the time of day, but feel like that’s the case most of the time and I can see why. Very attentive staff and wonderful chill atmosphere. I only ordered the Root Wrap to go because I needed something quick, but it was SO GOOD! I need to get back there more often for the vibe and to try other things. I’m not even vegetarian/​vegan but eat healthy most of the time so this place is definitely a spot to go to if you’re into a healthy lifestyle.

This place rocks! I was visiting from Chicago and I love little coffee places with great coffee and amazing service! I was blown away! I had a mocha with brown sugar and a brownie. 4 shots of espresso kept me going for the 6 hour ride home. I’ll be stopping here again on my next trip thru Clevland

The Root Café is an interesting place. My Fiancé recently started working here as a Barista — hopefully this does not skew my review. Root is a Café — but its nothing like you’re used to.
Food:
I hope you’re not a carnivore… else you’ll be wondering: «Where’s the beef!?» Root only serves Vegetarian options. Don’t worry, though! I am not a Vegetarian and I LOVE Root’s food. These are not your bland ‘tastes like grass’ type Vegetarian options. Each and every entrée that I have thoroughly enjoyed at Root is both delicious and nutritious. They have Gluten Free options that are available in most cases for no additional up-​charge (i think they’re all free, just not 100% on that). They also have specials almost every day! I really enjoyed the Reuben that used mushrooms instead of Tempeh. That was fantastic.
–Tempeh Reuben: My (current) favorite sandwiches. On rye, this sandwich is better than any other reuben I have had. If you’re a reuben fan — just try it!
–Culture: My fiances favorite sandwich. I am not really a fan of Pesto but this unique sandwich is quite delicious.
–Hoffman Bicycle Pizza: Kind of like a culture pizza. Delicious, unique, filling.
–String Theory (calzone): SO. Much. CHEESE.
–Sweet potatoe fries w/​aoili: These are fantastic. The sauce really makes them!
–Burruto: Fantastic! Very filling…
Drinks:
Fantastic coffee choices. I believe all are fair-​trade and local. They do carry Rising Star — Cleveland’s premier roaster. Right now I am enjoying some of the Costa Rica coffee. Their Barista’s know how to properly pull espresso. Don’t try to compare Root to *Bux and their burnt beans.
Atmosphere:
There are so many regular customers that if you, too, are a regular you can really feel like you are family. At times it can be difficult to find a seat. Most customers are kind and will share their table with you. They have paper signs by the espresso machine that you can put out to signify to other customers that they don’t mind if you share the table. There are multiple power outlets for laptops and they provide free wifi. They play music loud enough that it doesnt feel creepy but soft enough that you can still have a conversation with your friends.
Tuesday: Open Mic Night
Thursday: Raw Food Night (5−9pm)
Cons:
–Sometimes it is hard to find a seat. Ask the employee’s for help, though. They can usually get you a seat.
–Food can take a while to make — but its fresh and made to order so… this really isnt a con? Just relax and wait for your food!
–They run out of Kombucha quite regularly. You’re probably not going to Root just for a Kombucha, though.
–Drinking their coffee will make it difficult to go to the big name coffee places that just dont have comparable quality.

I begin this review with a confession: I AM THE WORST! Going out to eat with me is like being in a Portlandia sketch: «I’m not doing dairy, soy, or wheat these days. And I’m really trying to stay away from nuts.» «Is that organic? Is it local?» «Do you have a vegan option?»
Needless to say, quick-​service, grab-​and-​go dining is a minefield for me.
So, I’m giving Root Café 5 stars right off the bat for being a place that I can come for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and make absolutely ZERO dietary compromises!
On a recent trip I sampled a Fig/​Orange muffin that, in addition to being DELICIOUS and house-​made, was also gluten-​free, soy-​free, and vegan. The espresso roast I was served from Rising Star (love) was brewed to perfection. It was a perfect breakfast.
I have also partaken in their house-​made burritos, soup, and hot breakfast options, all of which have been prepared and presented beautifully. Were they the best thing I have ever tasted? Maybe not. But everything was fast, tasty, well-​priced, and as healthful/​well-​sourced as one can dream of in a café service setting.
Come here to have a quick snack that you can feel good about. Stay for the bustling energy and distinctive flavor of Lakewood.
Thank you, Root Café, for being a haven for the demanding eater! Keep it up!

I only came here from for a hot chocolate. It was very good, but you get the pretentious vibe from this place. It feels like everyone there is looking down at you. I’ve heard good things about their food and I would definitely give it a try but I would probably
get it to go so I don’t have to linger around judgmental eyes.

Just had our brunch here. Firstly, it was crowded (may be its because — Sunday). After we ordered our food, we had to wait for at least 15 mins to find a place to eat, and then 15 mins more to get the food on our table. It took at least 30 mins in total…
What we ordered?
a) Stir vegetable ($ 10)
b) Scrambled egg ($ 12)
a) Stirred vegetables — It is written on the menu as Broccoli, Kale, Zucchini, Potatoes, Peppers and others — but, all I got is Potatoes (90%)… I don’t think it matters if the food is organic or non-​organic, if the food has 90% of potatoes?
b) Scrambled egg — It also has potatoes, and ONE sliced bread.
I have not tried their coffee, so I can’t comment on that. I felt that it was way over priced. I am afraid that I may not recommend it.
Thanks,