We stayed at the H.S. Clay house B&B for part of our 25th anniversary road trip. The way the proprietor, Kelly, spoke so glowingly about Root Rood + Wine, we knew we couldn't pass up the opportunity to eat there. It was like being invited to your cool foodie friend-of-a-friend's house. It's an intimate experience, going into a converted house and having a seat at one of the few tables in the front room. We were made to feel like treasured guests the moment we set foot onto the property. The mixologist, Dylan, who was super friendly, came and told us all about his carefully crafted cocktails. I highly recommend the old fashioned, a complex and lovely cocktail. I can believe it was 23 ingredients--there was a depth of flavor, all well balanced and nuanced, that I've never encountered before. Our second drink, we challenged him to make us his interpretation of a negroni and a martini, and he brought us absolutely delightful luxury versions. Between the husband and me, we've been all over the world, had all sorts of gustatory experiences, and it's hard to surprise and delight old campaigners like ourselves, yet every new dish that came out did just that. They introduced us to several new flavors we'd never encountered before over the course of the evening. We went with the 3 plate option, hubs got one series of the dinner menu, and I got the other so we could get the whole picture. I went with the mushroom barley soup and literally said, "this would totally be what they'd bring you when you were sick if you lived in The Shire." It was magical, dry ingredients served in the bowl and the most fragrant broth poured over at the table, fragrant and surprisingly rich for being a clear broth. My second course, the salt roasted beef and fingerling potato was lovely, tender and nicely seasoned. The husband got the smoked duck breast and it was so perfect--the center was a glorious deep purple-red, and there was a curl of crispy skin--it made him really miss his grandma, whose duck was so good that all duck he's ordered after her passing has been a disappointment until that evening. The last plate was a gorgeous little rich desert, I got the chocolate caramel mousse and hubs got the pecan and maple semifreddo and we traded halfway through. Both were rich and sweet, nice balance of crunch and creamy without once being cloying. We finished the evening with Irish coffees that came with a fun little side cup of whipped minty boozy cream because it was St. Patrick's Day. Over the course of the meal, we got to meet most of the folks working there that evening, they all seemed so very cool, those rockstar kids out doing what they love. It was a fantastic energy. They treated us like favorite auntie and uncle. Dylan even brought the husband a new cocktail recipe book he was getting a big kick out of, like your favorite nephew would bring you a new toy to show you when you came to visit! We are so over the moon, we're already planning our next trip there! Sounds like they get busy as the wine tour season really gets under way, definitely make reservations as early as possible. Looks like they have a fun patio when the weather's fit. We will make it a point to stop there as often as possible! Go give it a try and help these lovely folks keep their dream alive! read more

Great new place to experience. Staff is very friendly and helpful with wine choice. Place is charming and fun. Good outdoor dinning and darling inside. Food is creative and different but works. I agree with another reviewer that it is "Niche"-like. We enjoyed everything from appetizers to dessert. Will absolutely return. Marie read more

Not exactly a fan. They're kind of pretentious. The fish was cooked well, but a very small portion. The idea that they want to tell you what to do is off putting. The waiter was, um, snooty. I'm kind, I work in customer service, but this waiter was perhaps having a bad day. The chicken was dry. Not quite what I expected. Drinks were refilled by an exasperated waiter. As though we were a burden. I cannot recommend. read more

Worth the trip to Augusta. Really enjoyed the chef choice 7 course meal with 2 desserts. The meal was a wonderful taste of the entire menu. Yummy chef creations included trout, quail, and beef. Soup, salad and dessert. Fun cocktails with Christmas theme. I wished they had more non alcoholic mocktail choices and non alcoholic beer and wine. Overall a great experience. read more

Root Food + Wine - Christmas mocktail. - New American Near Me - Augusta, Missouri

My daughter and I had a very nice meal at Root. The menu is very well put together and creative. Also, the service was great and atmosphere was very interesting. I love that we were able to walk there from our VRBO. read more

I had chef's tasting menu, 7 courses. Each portion was just right. Each meal was delicious and fresh. They have a herb garden. It's romantic outside with the lighting, the cats come out hang out with you, but don't really bother. It's a cute place. I'll be back. read more

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This was my first time to ROOT, and it exceeded every expectation of flavor, food, and service! The ambiance is perfection and once you are seated you don't want to leave. This charming "Augusta gem" will be my first stop every time I pull into town. Rachel, Dylan and Zach went above and beyond in their service and description of detail to the menu. I cannot wait to return to ROOT and experience the fabulous flavors and creativity! See you soon!! "The Michael Jordan or Missouri!" Mandi O. And Heather N. (Dallas, TX) read more

Our dining experience at Root was disappointing. There were issues with service, inconsiderate seating and the food. It is a newer restaurant and there are things that could improve and a few things that will probably stay the same. Things that could improve: 1. Service - our server was distracted, informal and not really up to the level of dining experience that Root aspires to provide. Everything from the table setting being incorrect (is that my glass or yours?) , forgetting our order and having us sit for 45 minutes between courses... 2. Seating - we sat in a doorway / walkway that servers, patrons, etc., passed through frequently. They literally had to pass within a few inches of us. The first few times were ok, but it impacted our ability to have a private conversation. This table should be removed at a high-end restaurant. Things that probably will not change 1. Pretentious Concept - they have 2 ideas that many people won't enjoy. The first is that they know what you should eat or drink. Any changes are not welcome and feel like a wrestling match. For example, drinks have 4 -5 ingredients and changing one requires permission from the bartender. Steaks are boiled in water (not grilled) and can only be cooked to medium rare. The problematic second concept is different is better. The steak is a good example. For some reason we are supposed to be excited that it is boiled. Somewhere Alton Brown weeps, as there is a science to searing steak (and cooking in general) and they don't seem to embrace that. 2. Value for money - somewhere down the line they forgot people want enough food to leave without being hungry. After dinner We actually ate all of the snacks at the B&B we stayed at as we were all starving. Tiny portions and a $100+ bill per couple is not a sustainable value proposition Obviously, we are not planning to go back. The vision and the execution are too far apart. If you do want to try it, I suggest you bring a snack.... read more

We had dinner here for the first time last night. I had the quail and my girlfriend enjoyed the trout. Staff was knowledgeable and attentive. Chef Philip does an excellent job of pairing a coursed, locally sourced meal with wine. read more

We've been wanting to try Chef Day's food again after first having it at the restaurant he was at in St. Charles. It was as good, if not better, than our previous experiences. The food was amazing and the atmosphere very comfortable. We loved everything we had and blame Chef Day for making us a bit of a food snob now! Once you have had Farm-to-Table done right, there is no going back! read more

We dined at Root last night. The food was exceptionally delicious, but not just in the normal sense. Each plate combined textures and elements of taste in surprising and interesting ways. I've dined at a Michelin restaurant and would have to say dinner at Root was just as good, if not better, than the experience at that restaurant. We loved hearing about each course and the entire experience was more like dining in Europe. Dinner was an enjoyable experience that was embraced rather than rushed and left us satisfied and excited to try another meal at Root soon. read more

Fabulous food! Started with the watermelon gazpacho which had just a little heat from a jalapeño to offset the cool. Sublime. Best BLT I have ever had incorporating green tomato aioli and delicious side of summer squash. Farm to Table so menu changes frequently. read more

We've been fans of Chef Phillip since he was at the Rack House. It's a drive unless you're staying in the area but well worth it. I honestly trust the menu enough to say "surprise me". He's a special talent and we're lucky to have him in an affordable and convenient place. read more

Disappointed and regretful foodies. We invited close friends to a special evening at Root this past weekend after having previously enjoyed the atmosphere, food, and staff during its first year (several times). We hired a driver so we could enjoy good wine and be responsible. Regret and disappointment after having spent well over $500 (4 people) for small portions of what was broth, sourdough, and a trout roll that was inedible, and a silver dollar sized inedible burnt marshmallow baked alaska. To further disappoint, the staff was aloof at best. There is no resemblance to the warmth and friendliness we previously experienced in their early days. I am struggling for words to describe how grossly inflated the pricing is for ultimately what equates to insulting portion sizes, quality, taste, and appearance of the majority of what we were served. There are many delicious options for dining, and I would not bother putting this on your list unless you want to know what disappointment tastes like. read more

I have never felt the need to create a Yelp account until visiting Root. From the atmosphere to the service and food, everything surpassed expectations. We heard about this place from a friend and we are so glad to have come here. The food was phenomenal, especially the trout, as it had a beautiful presentation and was genuinely delicious. The carrot cake was a unique take on a classic dish, deconstructed and sweet as can be, the sweetened cream was my favorite thing, and the pecan cracker was AMAZING. Rachel, the colorful hair girl, was a sweetheart and extremely helpful when helping us decide from so many great choices that the owner/chef Phillip Day has to offer. The entire experience was elevated to a whole other level with our wine pairing, especially the desert pairings, just WOW! To conclude everything, chef Philip made some peanut butter and miso cookies for tables to try, and it came to a pleasant surprise that they were dairy free (my son loves cookies and was extremely happy about all of the accommodations that were made). We will be back soon! You should come and show your support for this beautiful independently owned restaurant read more

Root Food + Wine - Root Food + Wine. - New American Near Me - Augusta, Missouri

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The food was fantastic, the presentation beautiful, and the ambience wonderful. My only complaint was the portions were too small. The butternut squash was about a tablespoon. I recommend ordering the five course menu instead of the three course menu if you're hungry. read more

Treat yourself to an incredible and intimate dining experience at Root. Their dishes are imaginative and tasty. Their cocktails along with everything else there are made with local ingredients as much as possible and are fantastic. The staff is friendly fun and attentive. We had the local shrimp appetizer which was fresh and interesting. I had the duck which was flavorful and cooked to perfection. The wine pairings were well thought out and excellent- in my case included a few Spanish reds. My wife had the brisket. It was melt in your mouth good. We capped it off with port paired with blackberry cobbler which was one of the best deserts I have ever had. Go to Root, relax, and enjoy! read more

A gem in small town Missouri. Farm to table gourmet. Excellent food and service! Indoor and outdoor seating.

What a great new spot in Augusta! We really enjoyed Root, everything from the food to the service was spot on. It was nice to go somewhere new and different after sticking to our usual few go-to restaurants during COVID. The meal was somewhat reminiscent of what you would expect at Niche, but with a laid back wine country atmosphere. My wife and I were glad we could come out to Augusta before all of the upcoming changes with the Hoffman family essentially acquiring the town (for better or for worse) and will definitely be back more this summer! read more

The food was amazing and Heather and Dylan were delightful! We will definitely be back!

This restaurant has it ALL! The food is fabulous, creative and inventive. The service is impeccable. This gem is in small town Augusta snd should be sought out. You won't be disappointed!! read more

I've come here twice and this has become one of my favorite places! I've tried both lunch and dinner dishes. Everything I've tried was so good! Even bread with miso-butter was amazing (No worries! miso flavor is so subtle and you wouldn't recognize it unless told. It was literally a little umph to butter). Their panna cotta-ish dessert with honeycomb candy is amazing too! Anyways, they are paying all the attention to every detail and I highly recommend them! read more

It's amazing to see local businesses (that support other local businesses) coming into Augusta! Love to spend money that supports our neighbors. Not to mention - great service and incredible food. Very cozy and natural, yet mannered, atmosphere. I recommend sitting in the outside patio for the best ambiance. read more