As an AVID chaperone and self-appointed elite food explorer, I always treat campus trips as a chance to discover hidden gems. While my daughter made a beeline for Subway, I took the more adventurous route and headed straight for The Root Burger a spot we definitely don't have back home. I ordered the Swiss Mushroom Burger, and let me tell you... wow. The melted cheese hugged every inch of that juicy patty, the mushrooms were perfectly sautéed, and the bun was soft enough to make you close your eyes for a second longer than you meant to. Truly a pleasant surprise in a college food court. I'd order it again without hesitation. The fries? Solid. Crispy enough to keep you reaching back in the bag. The wedged salad? Ehh... let's just say it wasn't the star of the show. Not terrible, but definitely something I could've skipped and been just as happy. Service was fast, kind, and efficient exactly what you want when you're wrangling kids on a school trip and trying to sneak in a good meal. All in all, The Root Burger delivered a tasty, satisfying experience. If you find yourself on the UCSB campus, go ahead and treat yourself. Your taste buds will thank you. read more

See all

This place is soooo good and reminds me of when I used to try to make the kitchen staff custom make my order of tomato grilled cheese sandwiches when working at 3 am until late graveyard shifts out of state and it helped my comfort of missing home and starving at such a late hour and that morning coldness during that time period. Everything on this menu is beach side American/California comfort food. I loveee their veggie grilled cheese sandwich and from the perfect amount of butter on each side of the warm toasted bread and the fact that it's on sourdough and has a nice chewy crunch and the American or velveeta cheese oozing with veggies mmmmmm. I hope they make another location. The location is inside a ucen center in the university eatery hall. You have to pay for parking and it's a bit of a walk but worth it. read more

See all

come to root its so delicious the baddies at root will serve with no crumbs left behind!!! read more

The burgers are high quality frrrr likeeee i was amazed ... The prices (to me atleast) are decent especially if u get the chili fries . The chili fries are mid if u do not dress it up. I get raw onions on top and then i pour ranch on it. I add salt and pepper too. Amazing. My favorite place on campus. The picture of the burger f*cked up because i had to eat immediately when i saw it. idgaf! read more

Root Burger - Chili cheese fries - Sandwiches Near Me - Goleta, California

See all

Salty oily food. So terrible. Never again. Expensive as well. If you want food, get from arbor or habit. Don't recommend burgers from here read more

Root Burger - Cheese burger - Sandwiches Near Me - Goleta, California

Worst burger ever... so oily... so salty.. no taste at all... shame that they are selling such burgers on campus. Unacceptable! read more

Root Burger - Double Cheese Burger - Sandwiches Near Me - Goleta, California

Really good options for vegans. Most of the food is organic or locally sourced. For that reason it's a bit pricey, especially for on campus, which is my only complaint! read more

Root Burger - Lots of vegan options - Sandwiches Near Me - Goleta, California

This is one of the best places inside university center ( UCen) inside Ucsb! Their burgers are pretty good. We went as a group of 4. All of the rest three had the gaucho burger and they really liked it. I had chicken (both baked and fried) sandwich. It seems they have a lot of vegetarian options. One can get pita bread too instead of the usual ones! You can have combo with onion rings or fries but not with drinks! The onion rings are tasty! They don't have many options for drinks! Otherwise a big thumbs up for this place! read more

There's a great atmosphere in the bottom floor of the UCen. Root 217 offers healthy options with big servings at a decent price.

I've ordered different things from here in the past which ranged from okay to good, never too outstanding but eh it's the UCen so you shouldn't expect too much. However today was a big shock, I had a breakfast burrito which at first seemed to be fine but the potatoes inside were totally uncooked, as if they had been slapped on a grill for 30 seconds and scooped onto the burrito. The other thing was that there was some kind of sour sauce inside of the burrito, which I assume should not have been sour. The reason I assume so is because not more than 15 minutes later that burrito had made me very sick, and I had to miss part of my class because I was in the bathroom with severe stomach pain. Wish I could have my money back; maybe this is why everyone goes to Panda instead. read more

When my order was ready, I noticed the coke I ordered was not there. I politely reminded them I had ordered a coke (and not really minding whether they wanted to correct my bill). I got a sneer from one of the employees behind the counter "The next time this happens, we'll have to charge you." in a tone that seemed to suggest that I was being accused of defrauding them. Wow. Never again. read more

the onion rings were very good!!!! besides that... yea... just order onion rings lol read more

Root Burger - onion ringsss!!! - Sandwiches Near Me - Goleta, California

I'm disappointed. No more spicy ketchup. This, I get. I imagine it's quite pricey. Beans in the chili are always hard. Fried chicken is flavorless. If only I had some spicy ketchup. But the true reason I am disappointed is because the once glorious breakfast burritos are now just O K. Updates: (1) Paltry amount of bacon in breakfast burritos leaves something to be desired. There used to be at least 2 slices. My last few burritos had maybe half a slice each. Where's the meat? (2) Potatoes are cut into huge chunks making it difficult to eat and less seasoned overall. Please cut 'em down smaller so you can season more potato surface area. (3) The ingredients are not distributed evenly. The small amount of bacon is usually crammed at the top or the bottom, the potatoes dominate one side (e.g. the left), the cheese dominates the other side, the egg is only in the middle so the top and bottom are eggless. This is still my go-to breakfast burrito spot on campus, but now it's only because of its location. Address these b-fast burrito issues and I think you guys will be back to 5 stars. One thing I do have to say is that you continue to have excellent service. Friendly, efficient staff! read more

Sorry. I know its trying to be different but its pretty bad. Now I know why Panda Express line is always so long. Given this place a couple tries and each time, it misses the mark. Plus, its not worth the money. I don't know what it is about it...too healthy? Or, just trying to be different and it does it too much? The food just isn't great. read more

I could make a tastier sandwich with my eyes closed.. Really disappointed that the food doesn't support their "fresh" motto or taste good for that matter read more

Root Burger - Inside of breakfast sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Goleta, California

I had a horrific experience here about a month ago and I have decided to write a review. I ordered the chickenless wrap, explicitly stating I wanted the vegan "chickenless"wrap. Once my order was ready I took a bite and immediately thought it was real chicken. I went back to the counter and the cashiers INSISTED it was vegan. I took it back not wanting to waste money and continued to eat it. My friend who is not a vegetarian had a bite and said that it was definitely real chicken. Again I went back and the cashier insisted. Then they brought the chef out and he looked at it and immediately said it was real. All they said was "oh sorry". Having not eaten meat in years I ended up being sick all night since my body was not used to digesting meat. No one who worked here cared or thought it was significant they made this mistake. They ended up giving me a refund only after I asked. This place is horribly mismanaged and if you are a vegetarian/vegan. DO NOT GO HERE !!!!! read more

I will never eat at this place again. I ordered a simple veggie burger and what do I end up biting into 2 beef patties. I was so grossed out and lost my appetite right away. Never doing that again... read more

This place is good. Beats making line at Panda during lunch rush. I've tried most of the menu because I eat here a lot. The veggie breakfast burrito add bacon is one of personal favorites. THE PESTO fries are bomb. Want something that will fill you up? Get the gaucho burger I have one of those every week on Fridays. And on Tuesdays I do the street tacos! read more

Good food menu choices and fast service, my order came out exactly as I wanted and the wait time was very reasonable and the prices are low-moderate given the quality of food items available on the menu. For a quick snack on the UCSB campus this is a good choice for students as well as anyone looking to take those hinger pains away. read more

This is a ok place inside the UCEN. For being "fresh,organic" I don't really taste the difference. I guess you feel like you're eating healthier than the other places inside the UCEN, which is something. The one thing they do well is the popcorn chicken wrap. It has become my goto meal. Be aware though, the buffalo sauce is very spicy. Might not be for you if you're not a fan of spicy foods. They are also a bit more expensive than I'd like. I guess that comes with the whole "organic" thing. When it comes down to it, this place is, at least, worth trying. Just don't get your hopes up. read more

I was really excited to hear that a healthy food place opened on campus. Nothing about this place is healthy.... I do not know why it claims to be. If you want healthy, at least go to Subway where you can get more veggie options. Sadly disappointed with my meal :/ read more

Everything here is bland...except the hummus veggie burger. Crunchy veggie patty, pickled veggies, hummus...more veggies. It was actually pretty good. Don't get the burritos or the chicken sandwiches. Much disappointment with those two. read more

One of my preferred places to eat inside the UCEN. The prices are fairly priced, and honestly I'm surprised from the reviews that people don't like the food here. I've tried things from the sandwich, french fries, quesadilla (it's red interestingly!), and etc. Honestly everything tastes pretty good to me. The fries are pretty yummy, quesadilla is alright, sandwiches taste fine to me, and etc. I don't think the sandwiches competes well with sandwich specialized places in IV, but overall from what I've tried from the menu it's all generally good. I mean nothing tastes amazing, but it's a decently healthy alternative to the other food places in the UCEN and still yummy. I haven't tasted anything that's bad or super bland or anything. I do dislike how they charge for water, even though it's pretty cheap. Since pretty much every other place, you can easily just get a water cup. As for the pricing for the food, I think it's alright not expensive, but not cheap. The portion size is fair for the price and the wait has never too long for me (just a couple minutes generally). Overall, Root 217 is pretty good. If I ever find myself eating in the UCEN, this would be one of the places I'd go to. It's not exactly the healthiest place, but it's at least healthier than the other places in the UCEN or on campus. I suppose it's not for everyone, but I definitely suggest giving it a try at least! read more

If we're all being honest here, no one expects good food in a university sandwich shop, and most sandwich shops that use organic ingredients follow the Mendocino Farms model of charging $12 for just a sandwich with no side. Root 217 is surprising in both senses, as it has quite good sandwiches (especially given the low quality of its competition), at prices well within a college students budget (mostly around $7-8 per sandwich). Given the high quality of the sandwiches and the low cost, I don't get why anyone goes elsewhere in the UCen read more

Since it opened about a year ago, this has become my go-to place for eating on campus. They started off with a basic menu of just burger, veggie burger, chicken sandwich, fish sandwich. Since then they've expanded their offerings a bit, notably adding a very tasty BBQ pulled pork sandwich. The place has an eco-friendly/sustainable angle. I heard about this as the "concept" before it opened, and I had low expectations, because in my experience when a place's specialty is being healthy or eco-friendly, it often means the food is either expensive or not very tasty. This place proved me wrong. The food is consistently good, and the prices are very reasonable. The pulled pork is a standout item, but the burger and fish sandwich are also good. They have two kinds of chili (red and white), both of which are delicious and a deal at less than $4 for a good-sized bowl. I definitely recommend this place. read more

This place is awesome, their pesto fries are really good and also their spicy ketchup! I like their cheese quesadillas and their veggie burger too. Their veggie burger doesn't taste like it was frozen and the patty has a slight good crunch to it. Probably one of the best veggie burgers I've had. This is the place I eat at most, all their stuff is compostable, organic and local. It is kind of a wait to get your food like up to 10 minutes, which is different from the other places surrounding it. read more

They have the best breakfast burrito I have ever tasted. Egg, potatoes, cheese, bacon, and this amazing salsa.

I was expecting something that would be pretty decent when I was paying $8 for a burger, taking into account that it does not come with any sides. But the first sign that I knew it wasnt going to be particularly good was that the lamb burger, despite being lamb, was cheaper than most other burgers on the menu... While the burger was hot and fresh, it took a little while to come out yet it still looked like it was simply slapped together. The toppings were scarce and only in the center of the burger, leaving half of it with just lamb patty and bun. The burger in general was simply not tasty despite the delicious sounding ingredients. Overall, i might consider eating here again because of their interesting items and variety; however, if I'm looking for a burger, I would much rather go to The Habit or any other burger joint even if its further away, simply because they're all either cheaper, better in quality, or both. read more

I had high hopes for this place. I ordered the veggie burger and it was awful. From all the places i have ordered a veggie burger from this is the worst I have had even the sweet potato fries were horrible. The guy who helped me out didn't even bother to ask if I wanted anything else he simply just took my order of the veggie burger and was done. I had to stop him to say I wanted sweet potato fries. I will not be eating here again. read more

They're food is okay. They seem healthy but when I got my sandwich it didn't seem fresh. They have a lot of options though! Many things to choose from. My friend said their breakfast burrito was pretty good though! Breakfast is served all day. They also charge water for 10 cents so just a heads up there! read more

My fries and onion rings were very good! I really enjoyed my meal and the prices were really good for UCEN food. I would go again and the employees were friendly to me. I think it's because I came at a none busy hour. read more

This place is eco-friendly, inexpensive, healthy, and has variety. Unlike some other mainly organic places, the menu is f not only those with the diet of a rabbit, but for vegans and omnivores alike. I recommend the chicken quesadilla. Absolutely delicous! read more

i ordered the gaucho burger with fries and the burger was so big, I had trouble taking bites. It was pretty good, but I prefer the habit and in n out. Regardless, I left full and satisfied. read more

Pretty good and healthy fast food place. Food is always fresh and and tastes good. A little over priced for its portion.

The food is decent but not great. I can see how the prices might be high for students but overall the price is average. I always get a burger or a fish sandwich. The sodas are good too nice carbonation and ice. The sweet potato fries and regular fries with ranch and ketchup are very good. They always put too much lettuce on everything and the cheese is $1.50 for a slice which is ridiculous. I don't think they let the water drain from their lettuce because there's often water dripping on my sandwich. read more

Wow, I'm surprised with the low reviews . . . I LOVE that local food sources are used, and that organic is an important criterium. For breaky or lunch, the toughest part is trying to cut through the long line for Panda Express, which is next door. I will select real, organic food every time!!! read more

Decided to go back to this place after being over Panda Express. I have to say, they're quesadilla portions are pretty large, and tasty. The more I eat at other places in IV, the more I notice the over the top amount of food they give you. Maybe, root 217 is giving us the healthy amount of food, but we've adjusted an extreme amount, as common and a normal amount, as too little read more

Like the other posters, I had high hopes for this place as well. My salad came with a bunch of rotten lettuce. Disgusting and very frustrating! No wonder there was no line. read more