Had the ROOT pizza...omg, so delicious! The place has such a great vibe and there are all kinds of people who go there! I can't wait to go back, there are soo many choices and all are healthy! Yummm!! read more

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I loved visiting Cleveland a few weeks ago and we used Yelp to find all of the restaurants we ate at. Not only did The Root Cafe have great reviews...but we also were told by friends from Cleveland to visit. Pros: - Large, lots of variety of seating - Lots of natural light - Great menu - Many gluten free items (yay!) - Friendly staff I just want to go back and eat another gluten free chocolate fudge scone! My husband got the grilled cheese and STILL talks about it. read more

I'm hesitant to write a review of this place because I want to continue to be able to get a table here. However, I love this place so much, and would love if it ran the chain store across the street out of business and then somehow annexed that space, added a pedestrian skywalk made of locally sourced lumber and steel. No, I'm not currently being prescribed any medication. Thanks for asking. Anyway, the coffee is great. On cold days, I go for a Mexican Black and Tan, which is hot cocoa with espresso and a little cayenne. On warm days, I get an iced Cafe Phoenix. The staff is friendly, not pushy, and just generally the kind of people I'm glad to have handle my food and drink. As for the food; wow. I regularly go here with a hard-core carnivore, and she adores the place. The pizza/calzone dough is just fantastic, and the veggies all have vibrant flavors. Honestly, it's a pretty good place to do homework or read, too. No one really seems to bother anyone else, it's all reasonable, the wireless is reliable, and there's enough power outlets. read more

This place is delicious and super vegan friendly. Everything from their menu - food, salads, desserts, smoothies, juices, etc. - is healthy and great. They take great care in the preparation of their food. Their raw night on Thursdays is fantastic. I would definitely recommend this place to a friend :) read more

A cozy shop with a great selection of baked goods and coffee. I got the vegan banana walnut muffin and it was DELICIOUS. I also tried their house-made almond mylk in my latte and it was exceptionally tasty--a must-try when you visit this place. Definitely would recommend this shop if you're in the area. I'll be back for more lattes and to check out their Sunday brunch! read more

Not gonna lie to you, I basically live here. If my friends and I are bored, we usually end up at the Root. The ambiance is ideal and we fit in very well. I frequently run into more friends there because it is such an ideal hangout spot. Some other friends even work here. The atmosphere is so great. There's usually music droning above you at a comfortable volume high above you. The place is decorated to be a shabby chic. The tables look like they came straight out of a forest. The biggest wall is decorated with local artists' works that you can purchase. There's usually plenty of table space, but sometimes so many people are here (it's gaining popularity with a variety of crowds) that table space is hard to come by. However, if worse comes to worst, look for people who are willing to share their table with you. Maybe you can score the awkward table by the bathrooms. The coffee is fantastic. The coffee is very well liked in the area. I frequently get a black and tan and it's very easy to drink. Their black coffee is fantastic, too. The Root has a lot of presence in the community and frequently donates coffee to local events. It's plenty strong and best of all, organic. There's plenty of vegetarian or vegan dishes available to complement your hot beverage. The pastries are so good, I nearly married them. If I ever get a meal at the Root, I like to split one of their pizzas with someone. It's amazing what comes out of that kitchen. The staff is very friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu and the providers of the food. The owner of the cafe is characteristic of Lakewood and the cafe as heavily ingrained itself into the community. I love it here, and I can't complain about anything. It's exactly the kind of place I like to spend a lot of time at. Do go during their events such as Open Mic Night, and do go during the lunch rush to see the Root in full swing, but it's really great to go during their off hours. You can get yourself the table of your choice and the atmosphere is at its calmest. Always a great time! read more

Dig the vibe. Great food coffee and tea selection. Cool spot in the west side to work or just go hang. I would like to see some healthier bakery options tho. Would be nice to have some sugar free or similar options with stevia etc. read more

Root Cafe rocks. Oh, Root, I've been looking for you. Wide strong wood tables, lots of seating, and good coffee with food options? And adequate outlets? And wifi? Oh how I'm glad I found you. Per suggestion, we drove to Root Cafe so we could get some work done on a Sunday afternoon. They have a wide selection of teas and coffees- I got this espresso latte mixed with toddy- and it was strong, but oh so tasty. He got the Mexican hot cocoa- and man, it had a bite to it, but it was good. It's definitely a hipster/young professional feel to it..but I really like that. If they had live music, that would top it off. Nonetheless, I loved Root Cafe. Finally, a cool original coffee shop to frequent! read more

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 read more

The Root Cafe - What a great staff and amazing coffee. Thank You - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

The egg salad sandwich special was AWE. SOME. I almost always get the iced toddy b/c I can't get away from it. So good and doesn't require that I add ANYTHING to it. Anyone will tell you that the atmosphere is laid back and great for getting work done, reading, or having a little chat. Obviously the fact that they make their food from locally grown, organic ingredients as much as possible makes the place what it is. The only negative I could ever say about it is that the price of most of their dishes is a little high (My egg salad sandwich, no sides, just two pieces of bread, salad and romaine was $7... their side salads are $7...) BUT you get what you pay for. I'll pay $7 any day for a salad that I can trust to be fresh, local, and healthy. No b/s, no additives, preservatives, etc. I've never been here on a weekday until today... an added bonus was that I had absolutely NO TROUBLE parking on a Thursday at lunchtime. read more

Loved the food. I got the vegan Calzone and vegan Burrito and both were so amazing. I was tired of eating greasy vegan food and this was the perfect option. It was healthy and hearty. I also got a vegan pecan cookie also very good. read more

The Root Cafe 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. read more

A nice hole-in-the - wall cafe. Fresh vegan local sourced food. (some weird artwork on the walls!) Great coffees and prompt service. Not too busy for weekend brunch. read more

The Root Cafe - Sunday brunch: huevos Ranchos (top) ; super secret scrambler (bottom) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

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Worth the trip to Lakewood. Great food, great variety for vegan, vegetarians and all other eaters. Super local feel. I grew up in Lakewood and now live in Chicago - I have yet to miss a chance to visit whenever I am in town. It's more than a coffee shop. My only gripe is that the seating is often monopolized by a very intense, devoted group of domino players. I love that Root embraces the culture, but there is a fine line between being accommodating and letting guests take over. read more

I have been plant based for 8 months now. I consider "cheating" to be the occasional vegetarian meal. Today was the day to mix it up with vegetarian fare .The tempeh Reuben was literally one of the best things I have eaten. From the crafted rye bread to the perfectly tender and seasoned tempeh, you can tell everything is made with quality ingredients and love. The cabbage side salad was simply constructed with complex flavors. The vibe is funky, eclectic and very welcoming. In my time eating only plants, I have had some average meals and some great food with the occasional chain restaurant "shove it down your gullet fast food" meals based simply on convenience. This is the first time I have ever had truly exceptional vegan/vegetarian food. I would put this meal in one of my top ten list of the greatest food I have ever had - both with meat and without. read more

The Root Cafe - Order counter and coffee bar. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

I'm a fan of root vegetables. This place uses plenty of them in their food. When I eat here, I don't feel guilty. Super healthy and tastes oh so good! They have plenty of gluten free and vegan options which is challenging to make tasty but they do an awesome job. This is a really cute place to hang out, journal or read too, has interesting decor. I came for lunch and ordered the root pizza, the coconut carrot lentil soup and the salad special, all which I would recommend and order again. I was sad that I didn't get to try the brunch options as those looked really tasty as well. read more

The Root Cafe - A cup of coconut, carrot, lentil soup and A half size of their beet, blue cheese, walnut salad. Delicious! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

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This place was busy! Root Cafe is getting more and more popular. I had several meetings on the west side, so I popped into Root Cafe to do some work before heading over to the Cleveland Public Theatre for a show. The inside is very open with modern, rustic urban decor. There is free wifi as well as lots of seating and outlets. They also serve great vegetarian and vegan food. I had a coffee and pastry, which were pretty good. Later, I ordered one of the rice bowls (rice, beans, avocado, yum!) While I was waiting and working, more and more people piled into Root! Eventually, I went to go ask about my bowl since it had been about 30 minutes. They checked and apologetically let me know that they were using a new computer system and that the order never went back. They came over to where I was seated and asked me if I wanted to expedite the order... I was in somewhat of a rush to leave, but I decided to expedite it anyway. They brought it over in the next 10 minutes. One of the girls sitting next to me said that it was the first time she had ever seen an order get messed up, and she seemed very loyal to Root! That helped my perspective a lot. Also, the girl at the registrar later came over and actually gave me my money back. I thought that wasn't necessary since I had already eaten / gotten my bowl, but she told me to just keep it. I thought this was really great - it showed me that Root keeps their customer at the center of their business. I am a fan! read more

I love to love places like these. Organic, local, vegan. I was super excited to try it, but had problems finding it. When i finally gave up looking, i found it--right across from Peets coffee. I really wanted a sandwich / soup combo for lunch, and was surprised that is not an option here. I cannot recall any restaurant that offers soup, salad, sandwich, that does not offer such a combo. . . until now. So, this means I ended up spending a great deal on soup and sandwich. OK. Service was sweet, and the food was tasty. I like the idea of placing the markers to share a table. I think America needs more of this. I realize Americans need their personal space and ownership (trust me, I am American, and I will back up and possibly wave my pepper spray if you get too close), however, it just makes practical sense. Why leave unused space when someone else can use it? Let's just be a little bit more friendly and resourceful at the same time. While I was not blown away by my experience here, I would definitely return to try other items. read more

OK, I am not a Vegan or Vegetarian. However, this place has the best coffee and breakfast menu in OHIO. When you taste the food, you would never know its vegan. They have all sorts of great desserts and assortment of sandwiches. When I am nearby, always pop in to Root. Last thing I forgot....they server BEER! WIN! read more

I just recently discovered Root Cafe. I'm obsessed with their breakfast sandwiches. I've tried an almond latte and a cappuccino. Both really well crafted. I love the feel/vibe in the cafe too! read more

I live in Lakewood part of the time and used to patronize the Phoenix. The Phoenix has now morphed into the Root Cafe, located two doors from the old Phoenix location and in a bigger space. Even though I liked the Phoenix, the Root is a significant improvement because: 1) The larger space is much more comfortable than the old Phoenix, which had almost no room for live musicians and often made you feel like you were sitting in your neighbor's lap - I usually ended up getting my coffee "to go". The new place has more room to sit, more wall space to display art, more room for a stage on which live music takes place a couple times a week, and more space for waiting at the counter and deciding what you want. 2) The new location of the Root, which takes up two storefronts and is proximious to the lawn of another building going around the corner, provides more parking options (since you can park on the side street and have an easy walk round the corner to the place) and also has eased some of the congestion caused by people wanting to hang out, smoke, etc. in front of the building. I am not against kids hanging out in front of coffee shops or people smoking outside them - in fact, I tend to regard hanger-outers as the sign of a good coffee shop. However, the previous location mid-block only had a small space for these folks to congregate and at times, trying to get into the store for your coffee was like pushing through a concert crowd. The Root serves all the same great coffee and even some beer. It's very awesome to be able to have a beer without needing to be in either a noisy bar (Lakewood already has about 125215 bars) or a sit-down restaurant. I understand there is also more food available, though I have yet to try it. My only complaint is that on show nights, they should find some way to allow the people who are truly interested in the music to sit or stand closer to the stage. It's disconcerting to go down there specifically to see your friend play and find every table occupied by people who are chatting with friends or using the wi-fi to check their Facebooks and seemingly couldn't care less about the musician playing a set, while the 5-15 people who stopped by specifically to see the music show have to sit way in the back because there isn't any place closer. read more

Best food and atmosphere in northeast Ohio... Vegan options are so appreciated, coffee, espresso and kombucha drinks hit the spot. Soups are out of this world and be careful when ordering the tempeh Reuben, you will be addicted and henceforth require at least one a week. Artwork and laid back vibe, also much appreciated read more

The Root Cafe - Mmmmm tempeh reuben... and Asian Ginger soup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

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Coffee shop had a good selection of food & coffee is pretty awesome too. Just didn't like the unclean tables & had to ask multiple times before someone could clean them other then that it is a fun place for ppl to hangout & have fun. read more

The Root Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

For those with a hipster deficiency, you can take care of your credentials at The Root. Unlike the old Phoenix, there are waaaaayyy fewer wayward "Taco Bell Gang Teens" hanging out. I love that this local coffee house is always packed with Lakewood's literati. I've only had coffee here, but the bakery case will wear me down one of these days. Open Mike Night on Tuesdays = fun stuff. Get your guitar and come on down. read more

Such yummy food!! We waited a while but it was worth it, I think. Even my boyfriend, who eats a lot of meat, liked his vegetarian sandwich. Really unique ingredients and a very cool conept. I hope it's around for a while so I can go back a lot! read more

What does hipster ambiance mean? Water in mason jars. A very distinguished interior, The Root Cafe resides across Detroit from Caribou Coffee. Large windows in the front with bar seating make the happenings of the street easy to view, although the people sitting there unfortunately fogged up the glass. Only got coffee but would definitely go back for food. Cute menus with cutesy order names, e.g., i am the eggman. read more

Excellent vegan food and the portions are fantastic. They have a huge menu with lots of gluten free options! They have a few good selections of Kombucha. Their mock tuna is my favorite and tastes like the real thing! read more

Great coffee, excellent vegetarian food and the best scones! I don't usually like scones, but their savory scones are wonderful! Lots of food and bakery options for vegans also. I've ordered from the menu and had specials and have never had any bad food here. A nice place to work on projects, with reliable Wi-fi and good lighting. Diverse crowd of various ages and ethnic groups, both as customers and employees. I love this place. read more

This is the best food in Cleveland! The owners are amazing and so are the employees! When they are busy it's worth the wait! They are a vegetarian plant based restaurant that also caters to gluten free and vegan. The coffee is locally roasted and the bakery is the best Ive tasted. Everything is made in house with lots of love! I recommend for any time of the day! read more

My fiance and I stopped in for a small breakfast while visiting family in Lakewood. It was our first visit, we were hungry, and there was a long line - so I'll keep my whining to a minimum, and just give you the facts: - Excellent savory scones and a lot of other tempting baked goods. I had a hard time making my selection, but olives + cheddar won me over. - Good coffee from a local roaster served in a styrofoam cup that can supposedly be recycled - but really, how many people are going to get their coffee to go, then come BACK with a dirty styrofoam cup to have it recycled by The Root on some later occasion? - Our server wasn't particularly interested in answering our questions or engaging with customers at all. We've gotten spoiled by the array of quality coffee options in Ann Arbor, but even with that caveat, I expect more from a place that has big piles o' locally roasted beans just to the left of the counter. - Heavy hippie vibe. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I can see how this place is popular, and I bet we would've had an even better experience had we not been there during the hungover and/or post-church Sunday rush. They're on to a good thing. ---------------------------- Back to update with another star for a great breakfast on Memorial Day - it was quiet, our scones were great, and the barista was very interested in the Mason jars we've been using for iced coffee. If we lived in Lakewood, we'd probably be regulars here. We haven't found a place like this where we do live, and that makes me kind of sad, dubious recycled styrofoam or no. read more

Visited early afternoon on Saturday. When you walk in, you immediately feel like you're in a downtown cafe, very cozy! Great atmosphere but they are limited on seating. You order your food with the cashier and find a seat - they do bring you your food. My friend and I sat at the bar and I enjoyed a local strawberry Kombucha while waiting. Being vegan for 2 years, I was very excited to have lunch here. I was a bit disappointed in the food- was not nearly as flavorful as I had expected. I ordered one of the featured soups, black pepper spinach artichoke. It was very spicy- and the mock tuna boats. The soup had great texture but the black pepper overwhelmed all other flavors. The tuna boats were a bit dry and bland.. my friend ordered the rice and beans. The beans were flavorful but unfortunately she didn't finish her food as there was a hair inside the beans.... when we mentioned this to the staff they did give her a complimentary item from the bakery, however I don't plan to return. read more

I stopped in for the house made chai, returned for the in house green tea, and stayed for the brown rice and kale stir fry. Life is good. I love chai and when I want one, I want a real one. At Root, like other Phoenix coffee locations,they make their own chai!! They don't pour it out of a vacuum sealed box. It's takes a few minutes, but it's worth the wait. It's perfectly spicy. It's just plain perfect. Their green tea is delicious, but don't let the tea bag sit in your cup too long. This is real green tea and it will lose it's delicate taste when brewed too long. I've been meeting my sister here for tea and dinner on Monday nights. My sister loves the Cleveland. I am loving the brown rice stir fry with local veggies (Hello Kale!)! Last week I enjoyed the curried lentil soup. This is real food, not McDonald's and it's why I love it. There's a great selection of salads, sandwiches, and desserts. Vegetarian and not. It's made to order. It's fresh and organic. They have a great list of the farms they work with posted right beside the specials. I love FARMS. They serve beer too. You get 10 cents off for bringing in your own mug instead of using a disposable one. (If you eat in they give you a real mug). I'm interested in trying the Mexican Hot Chocolate and would really like if they added rice milk to their menu. The place has a cozy and lively vibe and it's recommended if you are staying to grab a table before you order. The place has large tables for 4-6, small tables for 1-2, and a bar along the window. They also have Table Share signs to use if you don't mind sharing your table, It's a wonderful place to catch up with friends, read, Internet, or sit back and listen to live music. The place can get pretty noisy. It's an active place, full of life. read more

Hello, the Root! I love you! I wish you were closer to me! The Root is a beautiful coffee shop that serves lots of local produce (and sources its coffee from Rising Star Roastery newly located in Ohio City) and delicious treats. I love their vegan whoopie pies, and when I'm feeling decadent (which is most times!), I'll pair it with a small iced mocha. Sugar overload but it almost feels healthy because the whoopie pie is vegan...right?! Right! The space is wonderful and I'd love to be able to hang out here every day. However, it's a bit of trek to bike ride over there as often as I'd like, but whenever I'm in Lakewood, I HAVE to stop by the Root. read more

Tried and loved both the coffee/smoothie and food items on the menu. Service is quick-ish (could be better) and overall very pleased with the experience both visits. read more

I don't understand how The Root Cafe isn't more packed all the time--I love this place. It's sunny, homey, and fun, and their menu is always full of delicious, vegetable-heavy foods. From their sides (which can be as inexpensive as $1.50) like beets with basil and roasted sweet potato to their pizzas and sandwiches, everything is wholesome and incorporates fresh combinations of flavor. I haven't tried any of their baked goods, but they always look picturesque behind the counter. The people at The Root make the atmosphere so comfortable. I've seen the owners' children there several times, and when they're playing in the cafe it feels like you're in someone's home (but in a good way--the children are well-behaved and charming). And I love that they have discounted pizza (the good kind) and beer for cyclists on Wednesdays; really, how could a cafe be more wonderful? read more

Delicious food, and an even better atmosphere. The Root Cafe is the place to be if you want a unique ambiance to meet friends or have a casual business meeting. It's an easy place to get work done, especially with their extensive selection of coffee and tea. It is for sure my favorite place in the Cleveland area to take my lap top and be solo. read more

No, I'm not vegetarian, but there are just some days when I feel like I need to eat green and veggie things. I decided to stop here because I was starving after rummaging through Chelsea's. It has the typical vegetarian look. Friendly staff, cool art for sale on the wall, everything eco-friendly. First off, everything in the menu looks freakin' amazing. It was really tough for me to make a decision. I settled on the "on the road" sandwich. The food is is so fresh and the flavors are out of this world. I took a vegetarian friend here when she came to visit me, and she also gives it 4 stars. We had a pizza and a salad. I love this place and it will probably be a mainstay restaurant to keep in my menu of choices. It's definitely worth the drive. read more

I've been to The Root Cafe twice. The first time was a few years ago when I played a show there and more recently was this past weekend, when I actually ate there. When I was there the first time, they served beer. Not sure if they do now. I didn't see a beer menu, but I was there in the afternoon. Surely the afternoon isn't too early for a drink on a hot Saturday? Anyway, to the actual review. The Root Cafe is a nice little cafe/coffee shop in Lakewood. It's got a cozy and quiet atmosphere inside and seems to be a popular hangout for hipsters. If you didn't know, it's a vegetarian establishment. I was invited there, and I did not know that it was vegetarian. And I am not vegetarian. But whatever, no big deal. I ordered a bbq mushroom fake-burger, only to find out later by an employee that they had made a mistake and they just ran out of mushroom patties. So, I asked for the cheese pizza, which was a bit more expensive, and they put the order in and told me not to worry about the price difference. I thought that was very nice of them. In fact, the whole staff was very friendly, from the cashiers to the gentlemen who would walk by our table and fill our water and asked if we needed anything else. They were very attentive without being overbearing. My pizza came out the same time my friend's mushroom burger came out (he was in front of me in line and got the last one). My cheese pizza was quite good and it was a big portion. I didn't even finish all of it. Their pizza was kind of similar to the pizza at Pickwick & Frolic's (in Cleveland), which I adore. I didn't try the mushroom burger, but my friend said it was good. I suppose he may have lied, but I don't know. I got a Rwanda coffee, which I enjoyed. Wasn't burnt or over-roasted. Nice bold, earthy flavor to it. Wasn't great, but it was good. Overall, I think The Root Cafe is a nice hangout to relax and grab some lunch. I don't know that I'll be going back any time soon, seeing as though that not many things on their vegetarian menu were appealing to me, but what I had was good and I really liked the atmosphere and staff. Their pastries look fantastic, but I didn't have the pleasure of trying one. I definitely recommend The Root Cafe. read more

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. read more

The Root Cafe - Vegan style breakfast burrito - black beans, sweet taters, broccoli, enchilada and aioli sauces next to a bed of greens. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

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The food is remarkably fresh, healthy, and unique. Order a salad ! I'm a sucker for the coffee and the workers too - they're super friendly and accommodating. read more