They serve generous portions of deliciousness. I ordered the Ancestors Pot with catfish, oh and corn bread. Please try it! You will love it. Our service was fantastic. Thank you Sam! And finally, as for the ambiance, 90s R&B playing in the background was the perfect companion to our yummy meal! read more

I believe that SERVICE) is just as important as the food and the ambience. SERVICE) sets the tone for your experience. My visit to Roots this past Sunday was the perfect example of excellent service, superb food, and a beautiful ambience. Well Done !!!! read more

Will be back. Like the fact it's BYOB catfish and grits is the perfect sauce too. Ambience was nice and the service was good.

I recently visited Roots "The Brunch Experience" in the Park Manor neighborhood with my friend and her children, and it was incredible. All the reservations were booked up, so we arrived a bit early knowing there would be a wait. We waited comfortably in the car for about 30-40 minutes, which was exactly what we expected and completely worth it! The food was phenomenal. We ordered the catfish and grits, salmon croquettes, French toast, and Guatemalan coffee--everything was seasoned perfectly and delicious.Beyond the food, the hospitality stands out. The hostess was the absolute best, and the owner even introduced herself and was incredibly welcoming. I also loved the interior, which beautifully pays homage to Black trailblazers like Harriet Tubman and Booker T. Washington. It's a wonderful, family-friendly atmosphere, and I can't wait to bring the rest of my family back! read more

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Went to Roots on a random Thursday. The establishment was beautiful. Love the photos of the black activists the decor is beautiful. We were able to be seated right away. We ordered the build your own omlette and the peach stack with French toast. That fish was fried to perfection. The flavor of the french toast compliments the fish. My husband liked the flavor of the omelette but felt like the texture mimicked a scramble. Also felt like it was over priced for what you got. Overall, I would come back. I want them to lower the music during the day it was just too loud. Would love to try the wings. read more

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Roots: The Brunch Experience is a must visit on Chicago's South Side! The atmosphere celebrates Black culture with a beautiful aesthetic, and the music made the entire experience even better. The staff was professional and welcoming from start to finish. One thing to know: reservations are required for dining (except for the bar), so be sure to plan ahead. The menu has plenty of options for everyone, but the lobster mac was the absolute star of the show. It was rich, flavorful, and hands down one of the best dishes I've had. If you're looking for great food, amazing vibes, and a restaurant worth coming back to, Roots should definitely be on your list. I'll absolutely be back! read more

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I was visiting for the weekend & looked up brunch spots the morning of. So happy we chose this spot. We were walk ins so we sat at the bar. It opens at 8am and by 9:15 when we arrived it was already packed. The waitress was so sweet & kept checking on us. I had the catfish & grits and my friend had the waffles & everything was amazing! The catfish was so crispy & flavorful! read more

Roots - Catfish & grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loved the vibe once seated we spoke with a variety of the staff from the owner to the supervisor. All were professional, welcoming, and attentive. I wanted something light and chose the ancestor pot (gumbo): amazing, flavorful, and just right. I also tasted the salmon croquettes (fye), the grits (fye-ire), and fried catfish (could've been better). The place was very busy so something's took longer. Overall tasteful aesthetically pleasing because I love black (the people and the color lol). Great music selection as well. I have to end with being thankful that this space is in the neighborhood. My family enjoyed visiting as well. read more

What I ordered vs what I received. I ordered Blueberry Lemon French Toast and "Thick Applewood Bacon " crispy. What I received was thin cut bacon cooked on one side and almost raw on the other. The french toast was delicious until I found a piece of plastic on my plate that ended up in the mouth due to it blended in with the fruit compote and icing. I didn't write this review to hurt the business. I wrote it so that the powers that be that run or own this place will get back to basics and either re-train their staff or remind them that haste makes waste. The outcome of this story is the management didn't apologize. However she was accommodating. The restaurant is beautiful and the food (except for the bacon) was delicious. ( pray over your food always) read more

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I am so glad that we have a new restaurant in the area because it is much needed. Overall, the food was pretty good. The service was really good and I love that the owner walked around and greeted all of the guests and asked how everything was. I love the decor in the restaurant Especially the large photographs. The restaurant is BYOB. They do charge a $15 cork fee so keep that in mind.I loved the sauce on the shrimp and grits, but the grits were a little cold and stiff. The French toast was really good. The catfish was OK. It could've used a little bit more seasoning. The whipped cream that came with the French toast was delicious. It seem to be home made. Overall, I will definitely come back. I will say the only critiques I had would be that the service was a bit slow and the food wasn't really hot especially for the time that we waited. It did seem a little bit expensive for two entrées with the cork fee. it came out to $85 which seems a bit steep. read more

This resturant was beautifully decorated which created a vibe of relaxation and summer time chicago. They let up the windows and it was still a comfortable temperature. The food was good. The shrimp and grits were worth a taste, but the peach French toast was delicious. It came with a catfish filet that needed just a splash of hot sauce, which they dont have so byob! Speaking of byob, they do have a byob ($15 corkage fee) and offer a liter of juice for 12. They offer other mocktail options to accommodate the byob. Our server was polite, but be patient when you go. It is worth it. read more

Roots - Caramelized peach French toast with a catfish filet. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Gratuity is added to all checks. BYOB. I would recommend reservations if you have a large group or don't come early because there doesn't seem to be a waiting area. The ambiance is cute when you walk in the colors are black and gold. My waitress was Lexi she was very nice and efficient She let me know ahead of time if there wasn't something available. I appreciate the chairs at the bar are wide enough for wider hip people and comfortable. This place is BYOB they serve mocktails. I had the front porch punch which add a pineapple base. I personally wasn't a fan of it. I ordered the ancestor pot (smaller version). They do offer a larger portion. I also had the flight of wings and the flight of French toast. The French toast flight came with a peach flavor, brown foster, and red velvet. The French toast had great flavor not overwhelming, very moist. The only flavor that needed syrup was the red velvet. The ancestor pot (gumbo) had good flavor. It definitely has a savory feel to it. The chicken andouille sausage gave it a good spice. Now the chicken flight came with 3 wings of each flavor. There was a garlic parmesan flavor, Thai chili flavor, and I want to say buffalo. All the flavors were good on the wings my only complaint is the garlic parmesan wasn't garlicky enough for me and I felt like the "dressing" on the outside was just that It taste like a store-bought product. Also I'm unsure if they just cook the wings too long or they were old because they were a bit tough to bite into. read more

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Between the disappointing gumbo and the shocking lack of professionalism from the owner, Tarsha Jackson (TJ), I strongly caution anyone against dining here. Despite the restaurant's website actively encouraging BYOB, diners are hit with a steep $15 corkage fee *per bottle*--which is then subjected to an additional 15% service charge plus tax. With policies like these, you're honestly better off bringing a single handle of liquor just to combat the ridiculous nickel-and-diming. The ambiance was inviting, and the oversized pictures were a nice touch. The food didn't fare much better than the management. The gumbo fell completely flat, and the salmon croquettes were undersized and lacked any real flavor. The absolute only redeeming quality of this establishment was our server, Lexi, who was fantastic. It's genuinely unfortunate that she has to work under such poor leadership. I won't be returning and would dissuade anyone from patronizing this business. read more

Food delicious and the ambiance top tier. The waitress was so friendly , told us where we could purchase a bottle ( BYOB). Will be back very soon. read more

Everything needs improvement. We should have known when we walked in the door to turnaround as the hostess was so engulfed in her phone, she didn't notice we walked in the door and didn't look up. When she did finally see us, she laughed and didn't apologize. The place was not packed and after we ordered our food, we literally got no service. Our waitress never checked on us and I asked for my coffee to be warmed up by 2 people and I never got any coffee. The food was awful. The bread for our toast was old and I ordered an omelette that was brown. I've never seen a brown omelette and it wasn't because it was burned a bit. It was disgusting that I couldn't eat it and never got service to share that my husband didn't get the right food ordered. We were visiting and desired to support this black owned business, but if you are visiting like us, please don't go here. Of course they include gratuity so you can't control that. We just paid and desired to share our experience with others. And the food is not as good as it looks. If you desire good food, go someplace else. read more

I hate to even write a review..... This was a terrible experience. It started off with the seating at the bar, which the seats were very uncomfortable. Service: The bartender/server took a while to greet us. She also took the customer sitting next to me order before mine which we came in before them. It took a while for the server to get our drink order and food order. She served the customer sitting next to me their drinks and then asked me "you all order drinks right, what were your drinks?" We ordered the front porch and a spritzer (which they did not have all the ingredients for). The drinks were lackluster. The server/bartender was very unprofessional when interacting with her colleagues. The server took a while to bring us our check after we asked for it and she had a terrible attitude by the end of our meal. She also did not check in with us at all or ask if we received all of our food. Food: We order the French toast flight, a catfish filet, cornbread, the small portion of the ancestry pot and the lobster Mac n cheese skillet. The food runners brought out our food one by one with 10 minute intervals between each part of the dish. The peach cobbler French toast was good and the ancestry pot was good. However, the lobster Mac n cheese took 30-45 minutes to get and by then we were already done eating. I tried asking the server when the food was coming and her only response is it was coming out. Then after another 20 minutes of waiting I asked another server for the manager and instead of getting the manager she said she would check on it. The skillet was very underwhelming. I am honestly very disappointed in this restaurant and WILL NOT be returning. read more

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My experience earlier this week was unfortunately disappointing overall. While the restaurant had an inviting atmosphere and the oversized artwork added to the ambiance, the positives largely ended there. The bartender LaLa was extra rude and had neither an approachable nor a friendly demeanor. Her verbiage was all of unprofessional when conversing and interacting with customers. She did not smile or give eye contact the entire time I was there. Her disposition posed as if she did not want to be present at work. The owner, Tarsha Jackson, was also unprofessional and unpleasant. One issue that caught us by surprise was the BYOB policy. Although the restaurant's website encourages guests to bring their own beverages, you will be charged a $15 corkage fee per bottle, followed by a 15% service charge and applicable taxes. This was not what we expected and significantly increased the overall cost of a visit. Greater transparency about these fees would help customers make informed decisions before dining. As for the food, the gumbo lacked seasoning and depth; there was more rice than gumbo, and no chicken sausage in my dish. The breakfast dish was not hot, merely nuked-warm to the touch, eggs slightly runny, with fish not easily broken with a fork, which means overcooked. Neither dish met my expectations. The one highlight of the evening was the general manager, Dee, who was very pleasant and all of amazing. She was attentive, friendly, and overall professional in all aspects. Her professionalism made the experience more enjoyable despite the disappointments of the food. Unfortunately, my interactions regarding restaurant policies and management did not leave a positive impression. Combined with the food and unexpected charges, the overall experience did not justify a return visit. Based on my experience, I would not choose to dine here again. read more

The food for the most part was on point, especially the avocado toast.The hashbrowns came out cold. I would recommend however beware, the tip is already added to your check but when the waitress comes back with the credit card machine the screen goes straight to tip. I have rarely if ever received such wonderful service that I'd be willing to leave a 35+ percent tip. Also be aware they do take reservations, otherwise you'll be standing in the foyer or outside waiting for a table. read more

HORRIBLE SERVICE ! Beautiful Restaurant, Disappointing Experience I was incredibly disappointed by my experience at this beautiful Black-owned establishment. My friends and I were genuinely excited to support this new restaurant after seeing photos and positive reviews on social media. We made reservations for 12:00 PM on 7/21/26, looking forward to the "Roots Brunch Experience." Unfortunately, the only experience we had was poor customer service, poor communication, and mediocre food that took nearly two hours to reach our table. Our server was kind and soft-spoken, but he appeared overwhelmed and uninformed about what was actually available. We originally wanted the catfish, only to be told they were already out even though the restaurant had only been open for about an hour. We then ordered the Roots Signature Stack (fried chicken thigh with cornbread French toast) along with cranberry and pineapple juice. A few minutes later, our server returned to let us know they were also out of pineapple juice. We placed our food order at 12:21 PM. As we waited, multiple tables that were seated well after us received their meals before we did. After about 45 minutes, our server told us the French toast was taking longer than expected and said we would receive a discount for the inconvenience. Thirty minutes later, he assured us our food was being plated. Fifteen minutes after that...still nothing. While we were waiting, owner Tarsha Jackson came into the dining room to greet another customer. My friend and several other guests got her attention to express concerns about the excessive wait times. A couple seated behind us shared that after waiting 30 minutes, they still hadn't even received water or menus while watching other tables seated after them get served. The owner's response was disappointing. She appeared annoyed rather than concerned. There was no apology just, "What did y'all have?" She returned a few minutes later and casually said, "Your Signature Stack is coming out now," before walking away. Again, no acknowledgment of the inconvenience or apology. When our food finally arrived, the presentation was nice, but the quality didn't match the wait. The fried chicken thigh was clearly not freshly cooked, it tasted refried, dry, and stringy. The cornbread French toast was simply sweet cornbread and wasn't anything memorable. The bill reflected a 20% discount, and my friend's $5 Sprite was comped, bringing our total to $66.13. We decided to pay cash to avoid the restaurant's 3% credit card fee. When we handed our server a $100 bill, he told us they didn't have enough cash to make change and needed exact payment. At that point, I was beyond frustrated. After seeing my reaction, he said he'd check again. He came back with the card reader, and I made it clear I wasn't paying the 3% card fee if I was being forced to use my card because they couldn't make change. He then claimed he did have change, checked his apron, realized he didn't have enough, and actually pulled out his personal wallet to make change with his own money. I've honestly never experienced anything like that in a restaurant. What stood out most throughout the entire experience wasn't just the wait, it was the complete lack of accountability. Not once during our nearly two-hour visit did anyone sincerely apologize for the delays or acknowledge how poorly the situation had been handled. To top it off, after we left, I went next door to Ricketts to order wings. While there, we ran into the woman who had been seated behind us at Roots. She said her mother eventually got tired of waiting and left. She and her friend stayed, but after receiving their chicken, they had to wait another 15 minutes before their potatoes were brought out. She also described the owner's attitude as dismissive and unconcerned. The atmosphere and décor at Roots are absolutely beautiful, and I truly wanted this restaurant to succeed. However, beautiful aesthetics can't make up for poor service, disorganization, and a lack of customer care. I hope they address these issues because they have potential, but based on my experience, I won't be returning. read more

Outstanding vibe, food and service. My choice was the Strawberry French toast. My wife had their Signature Stack. We will return.

1000/10! Congratulations! Black owned! Black operated! Black neighborhood! Black excellence! Food is AMAZING! Service is OUTSTANDING. Ambiance is spectacular! Playlist is juking! Vibes are here! They are BYOB (06/19) for now!!!! Praying they get their liquor license after the 30 days of opening! They opened 06/12. Thanks for all who will and who have patronize this business because this is the one to! Will be back! S/o to Kiara (Kay), our waitress, for her hospitality! She was informative and excited to tell us all about Roots. Don't hesitate to come at all!! Owner super dope and nice! Please come out! You might need a reservation because it's a INSTANT success! read more

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good customer service. food was good. going back again. decor was amazing. The front door opens to allow a different dining experience. Reservations are highly recommended. The hours open until 4pm. read more

The food is really good. We had the avocado toast w/smoked salmon, exceptional; the pancakes are like no other I've ever tasted & very good; & the tower is sooo good, chicken thighs crispy but juicy, cornbread is nicely sweet but not overdone, again, like nothing I'd ever had & really good, catfish & grits, again really good, catfish cooked perfectly. I believe the prices are within reason but the only issue we had was the $15 per bottle they charge when it's BYOB, not our fault you can't get your license yet as that's a little pricey & we still have to buy the juice for the mimosa--wish they would reconsider that pricing as its a lil bit of a turnoff! read more

My husband and I walked in. Excited to support, but was disappointed. The food was okay, the portions were okay. My Salmon Croquettes was too small, three small bite size pieces. The service was okay. read more