We stopped here while passing through the area a few weeks ago. Â I normally follow a friends advice and wait until I have visited the place a few times before leaving a review. Â However, since this is about 45 minutes away from my home spot, I will break that rule this time.
My dining partner and I stopped here based on the Yelp reviews and was surprised to find such a great place in a strip mall. Â The decor is light and natural, with an open casual feeling, , which surprised me. Â I expected something a bit more stuffy to be honest.
There were families with young children, businessmen and couples dining on this Tuesday evening and the dress was casual to business professional. Â I prefer the focus to be on the food, rather than the fancy decor so I appreciate the understated feel of the dining area.
After glancing through the menu, we decided to order the tasting menu with the wine pairing. Â Since we knew it wasn't easy for us to return, we wanted to try several items on our visit and this would allow us to do so. Â
Appetizer:
Brie - This was my choice, and as big of a cheese-lover as I am, I was a little surprised to see that it was served by itself with no bread or crackers. Â Then again, I throughly enjoyed it so I must not have missed the carbs that much.
Crab Cakes - I am not usually a fan of crab cakes, but these were the exception. Â The crab cakes were much lighter than I am accumstomed to. Â I would consider ordering these again.
Course Two:
Soup Du Jour - I think the soup was Chili. Â I can't speak to this because I don't even remember what my DP ordered. Â
Orchard Salad - This was my choice. Â I loved the orchard salad, but they ended up sending out the "dinner" portion of the salad rather than a small side. Â Which was nice mistake, except that I don't have a huge appetite, so much of it went to waste. Â I loved the surprising addition of the Marcona Almonds. Â If we go back here, I would definitely consider ordering the Orchard Salad as a main meal.
Intermezzo:
This may have been my favorite part of the meal. Â The intermezzo was a small scoop of lemon (sorbet?) that is meant to cleanse the palate before the main meal. Â It was light and refreshing and I could've eaten a whole bowl.
Course Three:
Chicken - the waiter talked me into ordering the Chicken over the Trout. Â I would normally never order a Chicken dinner - but I took his word for it. Â The chicken was served in a light, creamy sauce and tasted exactly like something I would cook at home. Â So of course I liked it, but I felt that I could cook this at home anytime, and it left me wishing I had ordered the trout.
Pork Shoulder - My dining partner ordered the pork shoulder (no surprise here) and he almost licked the plate clean. Â It's a hearty dish, and the pork was cooked perfectly.
Dessert:
Lemon & Lavender Creme Brulee - If you're a creme brulee fan, then you will love their rendition of the popular dessert. Â The lemon flavor really took front stage and it was the perfect blend of creaminess and citrus.
Banana Cream Pie - While we wouldn't normally order a cream pie, we were sold when we read "salted caramel." Â The salted caramel really sold the dish. Â It's not the typical cream pie with this lovely addition. Â
Overall, we enjoyed our meal and the service was outstanding. Â Only one portion of our dining experience fell short of our expectations. Â The Root supports Michigan by offering many locally-grown food and wine. Â With that being said, the wine pairings were predominanatly from Michigan-based wineries. Â Which is great...and for some people, they may love Michigan wines but I felt that the wine pairings left something to be desired. Â Surprisingly, the only non-Michigan based wine that was offered in the pairing was the dessert wine - which is where a Michigan wine would've stood out! Â My suggestion - raise the cost of the pairing and offer top of the line wine choices.
I live about a mile from The Root Restaurant and heard it was good so on our 31st anniversary I decided to make a reservation via Yelp. Â Turned out to be a good idea. Restaurant was way above my already high expectations.
I stopped by earlier in the day to drop off a card and a single yellow rose to be placed at our table before our reservation time. Â We arrived early and were told our table will be ready in a couple of minutes so we went into the bar and ordered a glass of their house wine. The wine was a Louis Latour Chardonnay from France. Tasted spectacular.
We were then shown to our table and there was the rose and the card I had dropped off for my wife. Â She was blown away that I would do that and I was blown away that the restaurant didn't forget about it.
Food was absolutely amazing, service was extraordinary. Â Our server was socially pleasant, and attentive but not annoying as many servers can be. We enjoyed our brief conversations and her recommendations.
Bottom line is we can't wait until we return for many other occasions. Â It is well worth the trip even if you have to drive 50 miles. Next week we are going there for lunch.
Tried a few items here including the scallops and the braised pork shoulder, both of which were delicious but not as filling a meal as I require. Was pleased to order a New Holland Dragon's Milk, less impressed with the house Bloody made with McClure's. It was too salty and over seasoned. Overall a place I'd visit again without hesitation.
Review Source:I am still dreaming about that beet salad and crab cake. It was perfectly prepared and the beets were freshly cooked (you can really taste the difference). The bartender who waited on me was very pleasant, as was the dude at the bar sitting near me. I wasn't sure how many black folks are in the neighborhood, but I felt comfortable here. I'd go back weekly if this place wasn't so far from me!
Review Source:Experience started out great. Service was good, ambience very pleasant -- not what you would expect at this location. Bread was delicious as were the salads. We shared the beet salad and one with blue cheese and cherries. Main courses were not as good though. I had the trout in cream sauce. I thought it was rich and the sauce on top of the fish -- sort of a tangy sweet sauce, didn't mesh well with the creamy sauce on the bottom. My mom had a steak which she found inedible. My father tasted it and agreed -- too tough. We told the waiter and he said he had never been told that before, however as we were leaving we noticed three/quarters of an uneaten steak being bussed away from another diner's table. Hmmm......
My son had a pasta dish with morel mushrooms. Quite delicious but again, rich. I would have liked a vegetarian dish on the menu with a healthful preparation but everything was in rich sauces. My dad had the meatloaf which he enjoyed. We did not have dessert.
It was good but nothing special. Probably won't return.
Outdoor seating available but not appealing. Overlooks the parking lot.
Hands down, the best meal I have had in America. I mean.....seriously? Scallops are incredible, fried bologna sandwich tastes like a million dollar sandwich. Decor is darling and I just can't say enough good things. Thank goodness it's a bit of a drive from me in Royal Oak, otherwise I would be in serious food comas quite often.
Review Source:5 stars are simply not enough for The Root.
My first of many visits was lunch last week.
Roasted beet salad
black bean soup special
pork shoulder and grits
trout in cream sauce
( yes, this was split between my wife and me )
when I see the words "depth of flavor" thrown around on Top Chef and the likes, I always wonder what that really means because for the casual diner or the avid foodie, so many dishes even when delicious, are one dimensional
This menu and the food absolutely rocked my world
Every selection above, especially the pork and the bean soup had wonder depth of flavor.
The pickled asparagus on my black bean puree soup. I was rendered speechless.
This is beautiful and amazing food served in a bright, cheerful space by wonderful waitstaff
I would say this place is what happens when you combine thoughtfulness, creativity, great skill, preparation, Â wonderful produce, passion and love.
It was an absolute delight and I also have to comment on the great value. I would easily pay double or triple for this food and still feel like I was getting my moneys worth
the pork shoulder and grits was 10 dollars. Seriously amazing plate of food and would easily be enough for an entire meal. I couldn't finish it. Bravo! Did I mention the beautiful subtle and soft smoke flavor on this pork, and the spices. then the beaurtiful tender succulent but lean meat. so wonderful!
This is my absolute favorite place to Eat, all after one lunch
Just a quick update, once again The Root proved that it is providing top notch service and of course excellent food. We had dinner reservations @8pm on Saturday night. The restaurant was busy and we were not seated until around 835. First of all, the hostess was very apologetic which we appreciated and the  true sign of good management followed, the waiter informed us that our first round of drinks was on the house.  So many restaurants don't even bother to apologize for delayed seating.  We thought the free drinks were a nice touch. The root will continue to be my favorite restaurant and I look forward to many more visits.
Review Source:We were lucky enough to be able to enjoy this amazing restaurant on the recommendation of The Detroit Free Press and I cannot stop telling everyone I know about the meal we had. Â It is the best food I've had . Â Ever. Â Do it...make a reservation and drive how ever far you have to, you won't be disappointed.
Review Source:Our son insisted that we spend the last night of his visit in a farm-2-table restaurant and found The Root close by. The drive of more than 1/2 hour was discouraging and almost a mood killer, but once we opened the door all changed: it was perfect, best place in town, fresh ingredients, top chef made dishes delicious, service was warm, friendly but subtle and not intrusive, atmosphere is modern rustic, just perfect night out. Went back for lunch another day, but we'll try to make dinner next time - we love the intermezzo; don't miss the orange ice cream, perfect!
Review Source:Definitely a fine, fine restaurant that feels more at home on Chicago's Randolph Street than in White Lake, MI. Â
Three of us came here and had fixed-price meals, one vegetarian, with wine-parings. The menu changes frequently, as the ingredients are locally-sourced, a definite plus. Â Describing my meal might not help you at all, since the menu changes, but in general:
- Ambiance is nice, and makes you forget that you're in a strip mall in the middle of nowhere.
- Service is very good, and I never felt rushed or had to wait. Â The food courses came out with good timing.
- Very vegetarian friendly. Â I think the vegetarian menu is probably tastier than the regular menu, and cheaper to boot. Â Our group's vegetarian was very pleased with the options.
- Ingredients really shined through. Â It was easy to pick up on individual herbs and spices in all of the dishes. Â For most of our dishes, this was fabulous, and a wonderful eating experience fit for picky foodies. Â This was a double-edged sword though, as one of our fish dishes was extremely sweet, and its accompanying pickle side was extremely sour. Â Mixed together, it wasn't as good as separate. Â
- Wines are good here, but beware, the wine parings are not parings. Â There is not much thought into which wines will go with which dishes. Â It's more to showcase their whites, reds, and sweets, without worrying about whether you are eating a chicken dish or a fish dish or a soup. Â The wine paring is a good deal though, with the equivalent of 3 glasses for $20-ish. Â
It's one of the best restaurants that I've been to in Michigan. Â If it were located in Birmingham, the waitlist would be months long. Â As it is, it's a hidden gem and worth the drive.
The Root has a lot going for it, but fell short. This review is going to sound harsh, but  this place could be a lot better than it is, and should be; had it lived up to its promise I would have given it at least four stars. Falling so short, I give it only two.
The Pork Belly appetizer was okay: braised well, seared nicely and balanced with the slaw, peanuts and sauces. But it had very little fat, and a good amount of fat is absolutely necessary in pork belly. So instead of being excellent it was only pretty good.
The Roasted Beet Salad was good, but if they were roasted I couldn't tell; there was no sign of any of the caramelization that roasting should have produced. Perhaps they were roasted whole before being peeled and cut? Whatever, but that slip made a good salad out of one that could have been great.
Chicken Cacciatore: breast and thigh were both cooked well, the breast still moist, the thigh tender, the ragout well flavored. Â It would have been quite good if it hadn't been very oversalted.
Pork Shoulder: took one bite of the pork and another of the grits, and sent it back. Pork was dry, not very well marbled, and not well smoked. The grits were quite simply the worst I've ever eaten: half-cooked, still had a raw taste, and badly oversalted. Who on earth would think that al dente grits were a good idea? Would you ever serve a polenta like that?
Meatloaf was nothing special: dense and bland. The mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts were swimming in butter, and everything was oversalted.
The Chocolate Cake was excellent: rich, moist, not too sweet, a hint of raspberry jam... we fought over it.
Good philosophy is no replacement for great execution, and it was mostly in the execution that The Root fell short. Oh, and dump the lean pork: you don't have to go with something like the Mangalitsa you can get at Baker's Green Acres (it's freaking amazing meat) but something in that direction would be a great improvement. The modern aversion to fat has resulted in a generation of folks who think they've eaten pork, but haven't.
Ok, I have eaten all over the world, and this is good. Had several items and we all shared. My daughter(12) devoured my foie gras! The beet salad and butternut squash soup rocked. Â (Though a bit sweet for me.) Â she saved her leftovers and had it cold the next day for lunch. the braised lamb was very good, but I think stirred a bit too much with the farrow. Â Boy am I being picky! Â The pork belly was very good, grits a bit underdone. Â We didn't have desert, but it looked and sounded enticing.
We will go back, try more, and also try Not to be so darn opinionated. Â Enjoy good food when you find it, and remember its hard to be a great chef and be different in Michigan. Â I look forwards to going back.
This place was definitely pleasant. If you're looking for a place to have a long leisurly meal this is the place. Â
It is a little on the pricey side, especially for the location, but the food was of really good quality and worth it. Â I also love the Michigan spin that is put on everything (local ingredients were used in the dishes that they could be used in). Â I went with several friends so there was some sharing going on. Â We had the brussel sprouts which were the real winners of the whole meal, which I followed with scallops, I enjoyed these a lot. Â My friend had the mac and cheese, which she wasn't too thrilled with so I might skip that. Â There were many more things on the menu though which I want to try - sadly I moved from the area so I think it might be a while before I get to.
The service was great here too. The wait staff was both attentive and friendly. Â And the atmosphere was WONDERFUL, the decor was amazing, even the restroom was beautiful .
My one complaint is that while it was nice to be leisurely about the meal the food did take a little too long to come out. Â
All in all though if I get the opportunity I would like to go back to the root again.
We had the tasting menu the first time and it was delicious. Good service. No problem to make substitutions to the menu. Everything was tasty and prepared fresh. My husband loved the variety of beer to chose from and my wine was great. We like the focus on local ingredients. The quality was well worth the price. It s easy and recommended to make reservations.
Review Source:Freep named The Root Restaurant of the year for 2012.  I can see why.  The focus here is on local Michigan ingredients.  Very reasonably priced for an upscale restaurant.  That is located in a strip mall!  Also an hour drive in White Lake.  It was worth it.  I can't wait to go back.  Why?  The attention to detail with the food, the great list of Michigan craft beer on draft, and the price was so affordable, who wouldn't want  to eat Roast like food for half the price? Â
Our bill was $77 before tip - but we had tons of left overs, and every course, here is what we had:
Vegan Farro Salad - Our favorite by far - fresh, tasty, healthy, it had a punch.
Hummus with pita - Not very good, no taste to the hummus, we didn't even put a dent in it and noone else in our party was impressed with this. Â It needed salt and garlic.
New York Steak and hamburger - very good, huge portions, most of it went home with us. Â Our entrees were cooked perfectly. Â
Maple Syrup Gelato -Our other favorite, it was out of this world. Â
Drinks: Â They serve Keewenaw Beer Widowmaker on Draft, yes, they have Yooper Beer here! Â They also had Faygo Rootbeer. Â I hope they get more Faygos to choose from. Â
The ambience is great inside, relaxed, yet still upscale, I don't think it matters if you dress up or down, it is all about the food here.
After reading another review from someone who had the tasting menu and said the portions were small and they left hungry, I can come to only one conclusion: the person who made that statement is a competitive eater. There is simply no other logical explanation, because I had the vegan tasting menu this weekend, and the portions were HUGE.
I started with a delicious Asian salad that could have been a meal by itself, followed by an amazing butternut squash soup, then a stuffed pepper that was nearly the size of my head. (The woman at the next table also ordered the stuffed pepper, but as an entree -- not as part of the tasting menu -- and our peppers were the same size. I definitely did not receive a smaller portion with the tasting menu.) For dessert, I had my choice of menu items and selected a blondie; again, delicious, and very generously sized. At the end of the night, I took food home with me. There was no way I could eat it all!
My boyfriend had the crab cakes and steak and loved both, especially the crab cakes. He said they were the best he'd ever eaten! It was his birthday, and The Root treated him to a free dessert, too -- thank you, Root.
Every time we visit this restaurant, I wonder why I don't come more often. I love it, and hope to go back soon.
Very very good. Â I am a vegan and they had a vegan menu. Â My friends are carnivores and they have that too! Â The wine menu is extensive, the booths are comfy, the wait staff is attentive and the food was great. Â My pasta had an olive paste on it and I HATE olives and loved it still. Â
We will be back for sure. Â Oh and the prices are not terrible.
If the principals were fairly priced then I would give this place another star. But that combined with poor service constitutes my rating. Â We had the trout, pork shoulder, crab cakes, pasta, burger and assorted sides. The food was tasty enough, but everything could've been warmer. The waitress admitted to the long wait but her excuse was that she waited for the order of crab cakes to be finished first. The crab cakes were ordered by my friend as an entree. Even so, had we known this is what the waitress chose to do, we would've let her know that we'd like the food all at once. It wasn't so much an option but more less an assumption.
Review Source:OUT standing!! Â GREAT, cool, fun and the food was really good. Â I had a new cocktail called the southern, now I'm hooked. Â But I must say that the steak was not my best choice. Â The potato's are the best I have ever had. Â And the pork shoulder an experience all until to it's self. Â Out of the party of 6 no one bad meal. Â
Great work the staff was great as well. Â I'll be back.
I waited to review The Root until after dining here for a second time because I was very surprised by the mediocrity of my first visit, given the hype surrounding this place. But I left again feeling pretty "meh" about it; at The Root you pay for a fine dining experience, but you do not receive a fine dining experience. Sure, the food is okay, but if I'm going to drop an easy 50 bucks on dinner I want it to be more than just "okay". Therefore, I am leaving a somewhat harsh review because I expect more of a restaurant that receives accolades and charges a hefty fee.
First, the atmosphere seems excessively casual for this price point. The waitstaff wear blue jeans and t-shirts. I found myself to be way overdressed compared to the other patrons who mostly opted for ratty jeans. To The Root's credit, I think they have done a good enough job with the decor that you forget that you're in a strip mall.
The drink menu is also pretty unimpressive. There are a handful of cocktails, but they all seemed pretty similar within their own categories and nothing seemed particularly unique. The Corpse Reviver was tasty and quite strong; I ordered that one both times, but had to add some ice cubes because it wasn't cold. The beer list features a lot of Michigan microbrews, but none that you can't find at every nice-ish bar or restaurant. The exception might be the huge variety of Keewenaw Brewing Co beers, but I am not a fan of any of their offerings (I've tried all of them, I think).
The most important part, the food:
The crab cakes were the standout; they were probably the best I've ever had. The presentation was nice and the portion was reasonable. I was impressed by the tiny brunoise of salsa on top.
The meatloaf was a bummer. The portion was huge, but it was lacking in flavor. The greens served with it were so bland and overcooked I didn't even eat them (and I love greens).
The house pickles were so insanely vinegary. I was the only person who would eat them, and it was painful but I did it anyway.
Pork belly appetizer was just okay. I've made better myself at home.
The special vegan pot pie was alright, but pretty small & simple given the price. There were maybe 2 tiny little pieces of kale mixed with mashed pumpkin as the filling. It was okay, but again, I've made much better myself at home, and to make this at home would be extremely inexpensive.
Unfortunately, I cannot recall the dessert that I ordered, but I remember liking it?
I am really glad that The Root focuses on local and seasonal ingredients and I think that other restaurants should do the same. However, I think they need to step it up a notch and make their offerings match the prices. I'm sure I'll be back again sometime in the future, but I won't be making a special trip just to go to The Root. I hope that when I find myself in the area next The Root will have some really great, creative dishes that will make me want to come back again and again. We'll see.
Love the beer and wine selection at this place. Microbrews galore!
We had crab cakes for an appetizer and they amazing. Love the mix of guacamole and salsa. I had the pork shoulder and it was good but not all that great. Then again, I am not the biggest fan of grits but I wanted to give it a try since so many reviewers loved it.
Overall, a great place to grab a nice meal and drinks. Definitely would recommend this restaurant to anyone.
White Lake, Michigan is a beautiful town known much more for its lakes and woods than for its restaurants. Â Growing up on my father's lake, our produce was always purchased from stands on the side of the road. Â So when I discovered The Root, located about 2 miles from my dad's house, I was ecstatic that I could enjoy a meal with intricate attention paid to that same local flavor.
Despite being positioned in a strip mall near a JC Penny and a Marshalls, the clientele were out in full effect on a Tuesday evening. Â By 7:00, the place was packed. Â The interior is sharp, modern, fresh, and airy with a fair amount of outdoor seating available. Â Our waitress, who was training a new employee, explained that The Root focuses on local Michigan ingredients in all of their dishes. Â She drew my attention to the bevy of Michigan-brewed beers on the menu. Â I can tell I'm going to like this place.
We start out with soups: french onion topped with gruyere and a bean/tomato/pork belly bisque (the soup du jour). Â Wile I don't normally order soup at restaurants, I am certainly glad I did here. The french onion was not overly sweet nor salty, gruyere perfectly melted and very well-balanced. Â The bisque, while less glamorous than the french onion, was delicious. Â Smoky and smooth with a fresh tomato and bean flavor, this is highly recommended.
For our entrees, we ordered their staple, the cider-braised pork shoulder served over cheese grits, a wild lake trout topped with ancho and honey glaze served over creamed spinach, and linguine with farm-raised Michigan shrimp in a ragout. Â The pork was extremely juicy and flavorful and the salsa verde provided a nice, sweet, fresh kick with each bite. Â The trout was thick, fresh, and juicy and the glaze was spicy and sweet but thinly applied so as not to overwhelm. Â Locally caught trout done proud! Â The presentation of this dish was excellent as the trout sat atop spinach that was still crisp despite sitting in cream, bordered by fingerling potatoes. Â The linguine evoked the comment, "This is the best shrimp I've ever had!" and the ragout sauce was clearly complex while not overpowering the fresh pasta. Â All three dishes were a hit. Â We had no room for dessert!
Although awkwardly located (I'm not complaining), this is clearly not slowing down The Root as it was evident people were willing to travel to eat here. Â My only regret is that my girlfriend, Yelpette extraordinaire Fannet K., spent a week in White Lake last week while we had no idea this fantastic tribute to Michigan fare waited 2 miles away from us!
We have been wanting to try this restaurant since it opened, but given the drive we just couldn't commit until last night. Â I made an 8:30 p.m. reservation and when we arrived the restaurant was full, people were waiting, but our table was immediately available.
The service was prompt. Â Our server brought bread to our table - four large pieces of focaccia - tasty. Â We started with wine and an appetizer. Â The number of wines by the glass were a little sparse, but I was thrilled to see L. Mawby on the list of Michigan wineries. Â I ordered a glass of the bubbly and the smoked trout appetizer - the evening's special. Â It was served as a spread with a creamy topping and pickled onions - very good. Â I sadly passed over the soup and salad course, while my husband ordered the roasted beet salad. Â It had a good quantity of beets but he felt the flavor was a little bland. Â
Next, onto the entrees. Â I've been ordering a lot of pork lately, so I continued the theme with the braised pork shoulder. Â It arrived drenched in sauce, and I was initially turned off. Â I couldn't even see the cheddar grits supposedly tucked underneath. Â Then, I took a bite. Â [...slow applause...] The pork was tender and delicious; full of flavor. Â The sauce was heaven. Â The green apple salsa verde provided a little kick. Â The cheddar grits cake (I agree with other reviewers that it was more polenta cake than grits) was flavorful and provided yet another vessel to scoop up the initially loathesome sauce. Â I had to fend off my husband's fork for fear I might lose a morsel. Â Simply a wonderful dish.
My husband ordered the meatloaf. Â The portion was enormous - three large pieces of meatloaf settled on mound of whipped potatoes with braised greens tucked onto the side. He enjoyed the dish, but I was not at all impressed with my bite. Â Maybe I'm just used to the unrefined meatloaf of my childhood, but I felt the texture was off and I did not enjoy the marinara on top. Â I'm glad I had my pork!
For dessert we ordered the special - apple, blueberry pie. Â It was decent, but not mind-blowing. Â Next time I'll try the peanut butter pie or the Campfire cup given all of the hype. Â When we left, the restaurant was still hopping. Â We'll definitely return, despite the drive!
I've been wanting to try this place but just never got around to it. Â Was having a bad day on Saturday so my wife decided to take me here for lunch to cheer me up.
Mission accomplished.
Started with a Margarita for her and a "Tiger Lilly" for me. Â I'm usually a dry martini guy but I wanted to try something with their house-made mixers. Â They'e proud of them-and they should be. Â this one was made with raspberry syrup and you could definitely tell it was fresh. Â Sweet but not too sweet, slightly tart. Â Delicious. Â My wife loved the Margarita, served in a tall glass, Don Julio tequila which was a nice touch, fresh citrus juices and right on the edge of sweet/tart. Â Great drink.
I ordered the roasted beet salad and Spicer's cider braised pork shoulder. The salad was terrific, if you like beets. Â And if you don't you wouldn't order it anyway. Â But this one is crammed with beets, to the point that it was almost too filling as an appetizer. Â (Almost). Â Beets, arugula, pickled red onion and just the right amount of goat cheese to counter the sweetness of the beets. Â It's great. Â If you like beets.
Pork shoulder. It's evidently one of their most popular dishes. Â I would say it might be a good idea for local pigs to run and hide, because wow. Â Possibly the most tender and porky pork I've ever had. Â A perfect forkful with the polenta, Â smeared with the green apple salsa verde. Â Again, wow. Gave my wife a bite and she literally started laughing at her own reaction to the flavor. Â By the way, I keep saying "polenta" although the menu says "cheddar grits". Â Whatever. Â I grew up with grits being served creamy, these were more like a sauteed polenta cake. Â Delicious in any case.
She had a burger, char-grilled and grass fed. Â She enjoyed it very much and had to take half home. Â I tasted it and it was very good, very "beefy". Â Grass-fed is definitely a different flavor. Â But to tell the truth I think she was a little envious of my pork.
Also, really great, addictive french fries.
Yes, it can be a little pricey, but seriously not that bad. Â In Yelp terms it straddles the line between "moderate" and "spendy". Â My pork shoulder / polenta dish at lunch was 12 bucks. Â the portion was not huge, but it was lunch. Â And the quality of ingredients is spectacular. Â It's not hard to spend 12 dollars at Panera for goodness sake. Â
I'm also going to say "Good for Kids", because the menu is very approachable and really, most of our kids need to get out more, right?
The only thing I didn't like about the place is that I couldn't go back for dinner. Â Yet.
I met a friend here for lunch. It's a hike from my house, but well worth the drive.
The menu had so many delicious sounding items to choose from. Most ingredients appeared to be local and seasonal, always a plus.
I had the roasted beet salad to start with. Nice portion size. Plenty of beets and goat cheese tossed in a tasty blend of beets and dressing. Â They were out of the trout, bummer, so I had the salmon. Wonderful flavor.
We saved room for the Campfire cup and a Spanish coffee... And was not disappointed!
Will be back for dinner
I love a place that focuses on fresh, seasonal, local ingredients! Â The Root either makes it themselves or sources it locally and the menu tells you where the products are from. Â I heart that!
I liked that you could sit outside. Â Inside I loved the twig/tree decor. Â Nice bathrooms to boot.
I started off with a cocktail called the Real Housewive of White Lake- the name is a hoot and it had flavors to boot!!!!!! Â Valentine Vodka (Ferndale), House made raspberry syrup, house made lemonade and cucumber....divine! Â My fellow diners also loved the margaritas with home made sour, a side car and a Tiger Lilly with flamed orange essence. Â The entire drink menu elicited an excitement from me!!!
For dinner I had the fork tender pork shoulder, which sat on top of smoky cheddar grits and it was topped with a green apple salsa verde. Â The sauce was made from Spicer's apple cider from Fenton, Michigan. Â So tender, so flavorful and only 12 bucks for lunch. Â It was plated very nicely.
Three of the diners had the Root Orchard Salad. Â I had a small bite, but did not get any of the house made bacon :-( loved the Michigan blue cheese, marcona almonds, apple, and again the Spicer's Cider in the vinaigrette.
The soup of the day was a smoked cheddar broccoli. Â A cup ran on the large side. Â The smokiness of the cheese came through, a little heat, and everyone was pineing for the recipe. Â It was topped with brown butter crutons.
The burger looked huge.
The side a very large and we had a ton to take home. Â I highly recommend the roasted curry cauliflower and the smoked cheddar grits. Â The pickled veggies (cabbage, cucumber, carrots, jalapeno, onion) Â were good, but who needs that many pickled veggies? Â They had quite a bit of heat/spice if you are sensitive. Â I WISH I could have tried the potato onion gratin....
The two super stars that I CANNOT get out of my head were the deserts. Â The peanut butter pie and the campfire cup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Â
Peanut butter pie: cookie crust, yummy peanut butter filling, chocolate ganache on top. Â Then sprinkle it with candied nuts that tasted like smashed brittle....it was unbelievably great. Â Home made whipped cream and a fresh raspberry decorated the plate.
Campfire cup: Â chocolate pudding cake, topped with HOMEMADE marshmallows that were toasted/brullied and it was served with HOMEMADE graham crackers.
Another diner had the peach raspberry pie- I payed no attention....who could with the other two deserts.
I am not even a desert person, but I am here.
I had an excellent late lunch at The Root recently. Â I arrived around 3:45, so the place was pretty empty. Â It was cool to see the staffers getting ready for the dinner service by cleaning the wine glasses on the tables using steam - nice touch.
I had the House Smoked Meatloaf with potatoes and greens which was great. Â Actually I wasn't a big fan of the marinara on top of the meatloaf, but that's just a personal preference - I knew that's what it came with. Â The portion size was very big and I was only able to eat half - the remainder came home with me for dinner.
Dessert was also delicious, but beware the House Made Marshmallow - it was so incredibly sticky that it was almost impossible to cut or get off the fork. Â
I love the fact that the restaurant uses so many local products. Excellent food, I'll be back for dinner!
This was the creme de la creme of dining experiences. Â My boyfriend just graduated from culinary school so I decided to take him here for dinner in celebration with 2 of his friends. Â I prearranged with Mary to have a Maple Brown Butter Cake made for a surprise dessert and requested that if possible the Chef come out and speak with him during dinner. Â
Well to my surprise and amazement!!!....the chef came out pre-dinner and offered us our own tasting menu of his choosing with wine or champagne paired with each course. Â We had the most exquisite 8 course meal of our lives! Â The Chef and the Staff were so accommodating and totally went out of their way to make this an amazing experience for us and I'm so grateful. Â
1st Course - scallops with a white bean puree, chopped pistachios, oil and arugula
2nd course - strawberry salad with peccorino cheese, garlic croutons, pickled onions and a sweet dressing.
3rd course - pork belly.....OMG....thats all I can say...OMG
4th course - raspberry sorbet drizzled with a raspberry vodka
5th course - sweet pea and ramp soup, garnished with a drizzle of oil and smoked whitefish.
6th course - foie gras with apple chutney, caramelized onion, crustini and a foam that tasted like key lime pie.
7th course - sliced beef atop a fried mashed potato cake, morel mushrooms, vegetables, drizzled with oil and topped with some cheese.
8th and final course - Maple Brown Butter Cake - pure heaven.
This was the best dining experience of my life! Â Thank you Chef Rigato, Mary, Ed and our awesome server! Â Can't wait to come back!
This place is in the middle of a strip mall, but when you walk in it reminded me of a high scale place. Â The bar has many good beers on tap and a bunch of exciting sounding drinks.
I had the tasting menu tonight. Â The Scallops were great!!!! Â They came on top of a bean puree with some little bits of wonderful on top. For my salad course I had the cabbage salad - an asian type slaw. Â The slaw was good, but the dressing was a bit overpowering. Â For my entree, I had the trout. Â The trout was OK, but the stuff that came on it made it a pretty good dish. Â Finally, I had the Creme Brulee with cardimum and orange. Â The flavors were a little weird. Â All in all a good dinner and I left stuffed, but next time I think I will just get a huge pile of the scallops.
Funny that as I'm writing this review, I noticed that it is exactly 1 month ago that I came here for the first time. I've actually been here a 2nd time with another friend for lunch, but the first time Husband and I came here was for dinner. Man oh man, was it a good dinner too! At the time when we dined, I actually was unaware of the fact that this place was awarded a prestigious title from the Detroit Free Press. However, after our meal, I wasn't surprised at all.
First off, we really liked the decor and feel of the restaurant. It was actually a lot bigger than I would have anticipated for the style of food. The bar is very impressive, but we didn't bother to hang out over there. We were there for the food!
We had made reservations, but when we arrived, I realized that there was more than enough space and that a reservation wasn't needed. Promptly seated, we looked over the menus while our waiter came by to greet us. I believe his name was Merrick, and he was a really nice guy and super accommodating, maybe a little TOO accommodating, but we were fine with that. :) After he explained the specials, we placed our order.
We ordered:
Appetizers:
- Braised Pork Pasties ($6): You get 4 pieces in 1 order, so good value. The filling was nice and moist and the tomato flavor was nicely balanced with potatoes and other vegetables. The flaky crust wasn't too thick and the curry sauce used to dip really gave a balanced sweet taste to the meat filling.
- Pan-Seared Scallops ($12): Three SMALL scallops. Cooked well, but would have been nice if they were either bigger for the price or a few more smaller ones. The sauce was okay. It had an orange kick to it, and was unique, but we wanted more tang.
Entrees:
- Spicer's Cider Braised Michigan Pork Shoulder ($19): This was very good! Big portion of meat (I'd say around 6 oz.) and it was moist, tender, and SUPER flavorful. I don't even know how many aromatics were in the meat, but with the smoked cheddar grits and green apple salsa, MY! It was REALLY GOOD. I just love an array of flavors that bounce off each other, creating a beautiful harmony of flavors.
- House Smoked Meatloaf ($16): A bit on the salty side, but a very big portion nonetheless. The texture of the beef was moist and tender, but just over seasoned. The consistency of the mashed potatoes was wonderfully executed, but it wasn't anything wow. We both liked how the greens were braised. Not oily at all.
Sides:
- House Cut French Fries ($4): Served with a roasted shallot aioli and ketchup, this was a hand full! They give you a lot! It was fried well, and nicely seasoned. We definitely had plenty to take home with us, as we wanted to sample their dessert.
Dessert:
- Apple Streusel Pie ($8): Meh. Pass. Totally regret ordering this, but it sounded good!
Overall, this place is very special. For what you pay and the area it is in, it IS on the HIGHER side, but they definitely give you a lot. Enough that you could have leftovers. Service was great as I previously mentioned. Our server came by occasionally to check up on us without being invasive.
I'd definitely recommend coming here with some friends or for an intimate date night with your special someone. :)
I am going to raise my eyebrow very high... right... now.
If I were to rate this restaurant by big box shopping center standards (in which, by the way, it's located), this might be a four. If I just came in with no expectations and did not read this as a high-food cuisine, then I think it's a three. But with all the hubub, the claim to fame, and the claims of fresh local food and culinary greatness, it's a two.
I like the interior. What can I say, I like branches and I like christmas lights. The seating is nice and there's an open kitchen. The bar area kind of irked me because where we were sitting, we could easily see over the little partition into sports-watching after-work drink land. Kills the mood for we who are the love-struck hungry birds.
My S.O. and I actually dressed up a little to come here and I think we were by far the most clothing-conscious people in the restaurant. I don't want suits and ties or ball gowns, don't get me wrong. But maybe just not ratty jeans and the occasional sweatshirt. Just confused me. This goes for the servers, too, which seemed odd. I like casual dining but maybe a LITTLE effort wouldn't kill them.
Now comes the sad part. Let me get my handkerchief ready and prepare for the soft-light starlet close-up. Aaaaaaaand yes, the tear. Cut and print. The food was so average for a moment I didn't know where I was. The menu looked pretty tasty but its execution was far from exciting. No layered flavors, no impeccable textures, no impossibly-perfect compositions. My S.O. who hasn't jumped on my critic bandwagon even looked at me and said, "This is it? Really?".
I felt bad because I dragged us all the way out there and we paid a hefty price and we both left disappointed (but thankfully it brought us closer together - take that, Root!).
How can I possibly be so incongruent with everyone else??? I'm not doubting my tastebuds... but... maybe we just drove up to the wrong place.
The Detroit Free Press was right... This is by far one of the best dinning experience I have had in Southeast Michigan. The food was absolutely delicious, the portions were very generous, the drinks were neither water down nor too syrupy, the place had great ambiance, and the waitstaff was attentive and knowledgeable.
I went with my husband to celebrate Valentine's day. We made reservations, and although the restaurant was rather empty when we arrived it started to fill up pretty quickly. We order the Pan Fried Crab Cakes (Who new avocado mousse could go so well with crab meat?), the Smoked House Meatloaf (great flavor), the Roasted Miller Half Chicken (awesome texture and flavor, plus my husband tells me the risotto was superb), and for dessert the Banana Cream Pie with homemade brown sugar ice cream (Best if shared).
If you are around the area or you are looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion go to The Root. You wont regret it!
I wanted everything on the menu. That is a pretty bold statement from me. I had a really hard time choosing which usually annoys my husband but here he had a hard time picking as well.
We felt lucky to be at The Root at all. We are rarely in the area. When car buying took us relatively nearby, yelpers steered us here. I had heard about it but as it was so far from our usual stomping grounds I hadn't paid as much attention as I should have.
The atmosphere here is pleasant but not overdone at all. Â People seem down to earth while still being informative. I found everyone to be friendly and attentive. When asked for some guidance on what we should choose, we actually got help to make our selections. Help beyond, "oh everythings good", they know flavor profiles and can speak of the menu items in terms that can help if you are waffling. When I talked of wanting a fun but a bit different type of cocktail and mentioned some others I normally like, I was recommended a moulin rouge cocktail with champagne, lemon, elderflower and cherry that was excellent. Perfect.
My main choice was quite delicious, the recommended braised pork shoulder with cheddar grits and green apple salsa verde was a soul satisfying choice on a cold Michigan evening. The hint of sweetness from the cider braise and natural fattiness in pork was tempered with smokiness from the cheddar and some sharper tart notes from the salsa and the pork itself was as tender as can be. Absolutely delicious. My husband had the strip and it was very happy as well. Nicely seasoned, cooked to perfection and served with a potato gratin and greens. We swapped bites and eventually just started eating at random off each other's plates. Everything made us content.
We were happy we skipped apps when we spied dessert. He went with some peanut butter pie to go. They also packed up a root campfire cup for me, a dark chocolate pudding cake with marshmallow and graham. After a long drive back home we dove into them, slightly warmed and OMG bliss. You must sample these, even if you wuss out like we did and get them for take out. Its just evil pleasure.
When the winter passes and we are meandering once again I am sure we will come back.
Strip malls of America unite. Â You CAN have a fancy restaurant and it CAN be amazing. Â (if you build it... they will come)
This... this was one of the better surprises in my culinary experience. Â Not that it's THE best that I've ever had, but it's a great and complete package of joy. Â A friend that lives nearby told me about The Root and I decided to give it a go. Admittedly, while driving up I was a little concerned about the location. I can't recall many times where the restaurant across from a JCPenney was actually any good; but I suppose there are first for everything.
The Root's menu is seasonal and attempts to source the ingredients locally. Â In fact, they provide a list of the ingredients that are sourced as such and where exactly they are from. Â The chef doesn't turn this into a hard line, and that's a good thing. Â If the local ingredient simply isn't up to the task, then they find the best there is regardless where it's from
On my first trip, I had the "Spicer's Cider Braised Michigan Pork Shoulder with Smoked Cheddar Grits and Green Apple Salsa Verde." Â Heck, it seems to already taste good just by reading the title. Â But what is in a name? Â Well, in this name you will experience soft tender (no knives needed at this party) pork shoulder seasoned just right with hint of tartness from the salsa and some down home comfort from the grits.
My wife had a char-grilled burger made with Michigan grass-fed beef. Â She added Michigan white cheddar and house-made bacon. Â This is not someone that eats a lot of red meat, but she said it was one of the best burgers she has ever had.
In addition to the food, the service has always been excellent. Â The atmosphere is lively but not too loud. Â You simply get a sense that this is a place that is actually frequented by the locals, but they are happy to have anyone come in for a good time.
In short (hah!) The Root is a fantastic gem in a nearly unbelievable location. Â Add it to your bookmarks and pop in for a great evening.
On our first visit so far, we started off by looking at the menu and saying, "this looks good" followed by "this looks good too" and then we realized we'd be repeating ourselves for the whole menu. Â
Great service from the time we walked in. Â Attentive, knowledgeable, relaxed but detail oriented. Â
Even on a packed night, dishes came out promptly.  Other reviews have covered the food  - attention to local ingredients, great preparation, smart portions.  All true.  Nice small wine list.  The "Peanut Butter Cup" desert was stellar.  The lemon/lavender creme brulee was less interesting.
Glad we drove the 40 miles - can't wait to go back.
I really loved this restaurant. Â The food is some of the best in Michigan. Â Below is what I had.
COURSE ONE
Pan Seared Scallops. Brown Butter. Grapefruit. Caper. Brussel Sprout. Pistachio.White Bean Puree. (I think the Scallops were my favorite part of the whole meal. Â This dish was unbelievable.)
COURSE TWO
Cabbage Salad or Poached Pear-(I tried both as my husband ordered the Poached Pear and I had the Cabbage Salad. Â Both were great but I really loved the poached pear as it had a lot of complex flavors going on and the blue cheese, which was local, was amazing.
COURSE THREE
Masa Dusted Lake Superior Whitefish. Green Chile & White Bean Mash.
Charred Corn & Summer Vegetable "Succotash". Smoked Tomato Vinaigrette. (this was also amazing and perfect)
COURSE FOUR
Lemon and Lavender Creme Brulee. Fresh Berry Garnish
Everything was spectacular but my favorites were the scallops, and the Poached Pear Salad. Â Very fresh, very well thought out, nice pairings and creative dishes. Â
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that the ambiance was a little bleh. Â With food this amazing I expect to not be in a strip mall overlooking TJ Max. Â I guess i am a little snooty in this way. I hold this restaurant to a higher standard then some others I have reviewed because the food is something you would find in Napa or San Francisco. Â But then again, I guess it is nice to not have to dress up and be around food snobs. It was very casual and I saw many people wearing shorts. Â The other reason maybe not a 5 star is that, although the waitress was good and friendly, she seemed unprofessional or like a newbie at the food industry. Â Again, not what i would expect for food this good. Â
So it could be a 5 star to a lot of people if they enjoy a more kicked back atmosphere and very down to earth service. but for me, food this good deserves a little more respect. Â
It almost seems like they don't know how good they are.
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