This place is awesome... it's the third incarnation of this cute spot (formerly Cafe Sutra) but is by far the cutest, warmest and most welcoming. The music is great and conducive to working. The Stumptown coffee is delicious and the food is excellent in both variety and quality (they have homemade soup!) Southern proprietors give the place added charm. Everyone should come here so they do really well and can stick around for a long time. read more

Stumptown coffee-check Free PBR on Friday nights-check Free Music on Friday nights-check Board games- check Yummy looking vegan treats (that I didn't try)- check Note: No alcohol for sale, that's they it's BYOB and Free PBR (Tipping is customary though) read more

Came here for a meeting and fell in love! It's an adorable coffee shop with really nice staff. They serve Stumptown Coffee (delicious!) and vegan friendly food options. The only downside is, I don't live anywhere near. But I'd get on the train to come back for sure! read more

Every neighborhood needs a Roots Cafe. Stumptown coffee brewing, wonderful homemade treats, and a cozy and comfortable environment all served up by Jamey, the proprietor. Though I live a bit of a distance away, I have the "good" fortune of going to physical therapy nearby and come in for coffee (and take some to my PT) every week. Roots Cafe lives up to its motto of Coffee. Community. Culture. Great vibe and great place read more

Great place & greta people running the show. Love that borderline wrap!

Friendly staff and they have delicious vegan options for lunch. The only downside: it's cash only and their coffee is so acidic that it causes their soy to curdle, making a kind of loose tofu in your coffee cup. Please brew a less acidic coffee so those non-dairy folks can enjoy your coffee. read more

Love the atmosphere; great place to do work. But the food has been a constant disappointment: the oatmeal is utterly tasteless and the topping of "fruit" is a joke. Sandwiches come out burnt regularly. My suggestion: come for coffee and the paper; eat elsewhere. read more

Coffee places tend to either have good coffee + pre-packaged food, good coffee but lousy atmosphere, or good food but bleh coffee. This is as close as I've seen to "having it all". The coffee is the strongest point -- not a bevy of complicated choices, but what they have will get you through a day. The menu is limited but it manages to be healthy and comforting. You can have lunch with a friend here -- you will not be glared at by somebody behind a laptop like it's a library. You can also think or work here. The seating is limited but the tables are far enough apart that you don't feel like you're in the middle seat on a plane. People talk, but mostly they talk to other human beings in the cafe, not skyping without headphones or "taking a cellphone meeting". The location is a bit out-of-the-way, and the place is not kid-friendly (for better or worse), but that probably keeps it from being mobbed. read more

Roots Cafe is a gem. I live in Gowanus, so it's a tiny bit out of the way, but so worth the bike ride. The food and drinks are great and made with love. Amanda (one of the proprietors) may be one of the genuinely sweetest people I've met. If the (awesome) coffee they serve doesn't brighten your morning (along with $1 refills!) I'm sure she will. For breakfast, the granola/yogurt bowl with fruit is a slam dunk. Also really dig the egg and cheese bowl (add avocado and sausage). Something about the toast that comes with it, man...so good. Free wifi is a bonus if you need to do some work, and they also play really good music, alternating between folksy indie stuff and jazz (from the classics like Trane and Miles to modern NYC cats like Eric Alexander) There are not better places to spend a morning in Brooklyn. Do it. read more

The morning after the blizzard. Cold and sunny, a beautiful winter day. Short and fun hike in the snow from 11th st. and 7th Av. to Roots Café on 5th Av. And boom: one of the best brunches in the neighborhood. Hearty biscuits with sausage gravy (smoked locally), delicious cheese grits, wonderful egg and cheese sandwiches, surprising homemade ginger apple cider. The vibe of the place is also great: small, warm, family run with extremely nice people behind the counter. Definitely a favorite! read more

My first review on Yelp will sure goes to Roots!!! always a pleasure here really! every sandwich is divine! don't hesitate - order the hummus toast! :) read more

Probably the friendliest staff in the area. They remember everyone's name and provide such an amazing and relaxing atmosphere. Don't forget to bring cash! read more

Love everyone here! I actually begin to feel bad when it's been too long between visits. I see Amanda in the neighborhood and she is always warm and friendly, and will stop and make you feel acknowledged with a genuine smile. The coffees are fantastic and their new cold brew doesn't need milk or sugar its so smooth. They will always have a spot in my heart. read more

Amazing had the breakfast burrito so good and coffee was great they're so nice and happy in there! Great atmosphere :)

Roots is a welcoming cafe with excellent food and drinks. Amanda, the owner, greets everyone with so much warmth and friendliness, which is rare in NYC. I use the cafe space to work and I send all of my guests from outside of NYC there and they all rave about how much they love the owner/staff, beverages, and food. I always enjoy the music played and the local artwork that is on sale. read more

Cozy place that fits the new vibe of park slope. The staff is very friendly, which is a big plus! They have a few different burrito and sandwich options (some vegan) all with a breakfast feel, even though it's an all day menu. The food taste good overall too. The reason for losing a star is because if you go too early they might not have everything on the menu ready to order. It's a little disappointing because all they need to do is start preparing a little earlier. But this is still a place I would recommend going to, especially if you're looking for vegan options in the neighborhood. read more

Best coffee in south slope Brooklyn. They make a peanut butter banana and honey hot sandwich that always hits the spot. Staff is super attentive and always smiling read more

These guys know what they are doing! It is all about community. While their straight cup of Joe might not be the best in Park Slope, I would rather support them than any other shop. They employees are interesting and you can have a great conversation, if they are in a bad mood and don't want to chat I am happy because I know they partied like a rockstar the night before. They support music and art and always have new things of local artist and musicians laying around. read more

might be the best breakfast place in all of park slope... panini and grits are too die for!!!

Amazing coffee love the food. They have good vegan options, friendly staff love the artwork they always have. definitely its own little community its a pleasure to come here from time to time. read more

i love Roots! the owner makes it a point to ask and remember your name. coffee is delicious and the vanilla latte is to die for. i love having this cute little place around the corner from me. read more

Working on "this" side of the Slope sure does leave something to be desired - GOOD FOOD! Why on earth are the options so limited?! Roots was a pleasure to stumble upon a few months ago with their delicious muffins (please bring back the muffins from Blue Sky!), sultry coffee, and mouth watering Borderline burrito. There's nothing not to like about Roots (well it would be great if they took ATM cards) and its friendly staff. There are plenty of places to sit and eat, read, work on your computer, or even have an old fashioned conversation :) Don't forget about their backyard on a warm day - it truly can be a mood changer! read more

Artistic, funky decor and a GREAT Vegan BBQ Sandwich. Mmmmmm....

I would specifically like to address Katharine whats-her-face's review. Any good thing is always going to have haters, although there is a difference between constructive criticism and just downright meanness. The reason I feel compelled to address a negative review of Roots is because of how special this place is to me, and to so many others in the neighborhood. To address some specific issues: The food is just downright good. It's not pretentious or trying to be anything but what it is, which is creative, simple comfort food. A place where you can go have a superb cup of coffee (um, I know my coffee and I don't know what she tasted that day..I'm so spoiled from this place that when I go out of town I have to bring a bag of their ground coffee with me) and a hearty, tasty sandwich. What's wrong with wraps? Nothing, it's different from what you can get elsewhere, which is refreshing. A few words about the drinks: Their latte art skills are so amazing that I've almost teared up, their chais are the best you can get anywhere (not too sweet, just the right amount of flavor), and you never get the sense that the baristas are rushing through, but rather taking their time to make sure that each cup is nothing less than top quality. To counter the art criticism, as an artist and art student myself I have to argue that there is something very refreshing about their art displays as well. The artists are always from the neighborhood, and so the cafe acts as a showcase of the neighbors' personal talents. I love that this art is uniquely its own, often very playful and anti-uppity Chelsea gallery. The atmosphere is very homey, the staff is incredibly welcoming and you get the sense that you're invited to come and stay a while. Which brings me to my last point..this place really does feel like a second home to me and many others. Having lived here for several years, I can't express how difficult that is to find, and once you do you never cease being grateful for a place that is so much more than a business. It's personal. They know your name. The faces are friendly. And Roots really reflects-and creates- the unique spirit of this neighborhood, South Slope. Alive, creative, quirky and lovingly and unabashedly its own thing. The last thing we need is another yuppy cafe. read more

Okay...so this coffee shop Cafe Sutra, was opened right across the street from where I drop my kid to school right? Well, I went in and found it cold and not inviting. Months go by and I give it a second chance...Cafe Sutra still had no Karma...Hmpfh...well..while dropping my kid at school months later, I noticed that the sign had changed and so had the decor. The first thing that struck me was the down-home feel of the window display (which incidentally sports an old accordion and Lite-Brite, among other things). Upon entering, I saw that an old black and white film was being shown on an old black and white TV set sitting on a guitar/bass amplifier. Guitars hanging on the walls among artwork from local artists. The warmth of the place was a far cry from the fortress of solitude that Sutra was. Not to mention they sport Stumptown coffee and a large array of cake/muffin/pie/-Yummmmmmm!!! Well, now a day does not go by (weekday that is) that I don't stop in at Roots after the seeing my kid to school, to shoot the s- - - with the proprieter...Well Done Roots Cafe!!! read more

good coffee :) Highly recommended if you love mom and pop coffee shops

What a find! Small and very laid space (with a nice backyard seating area) that serves sandwiches and grits all day long. Staff is excellent, very warm and accommodating. We enjoyed excellent egg and cheese sandwiches on 8 grain bread. Surprisingly broad menu of grits, too!! read more

This is Windsor Terrace? More like South Slope. Or Sunset Park. Live music Friday and Saturday, with free PBR and BYOB. Good vegetarian paninis and they have vegan cupcakes, which we settled for since the pie was sold out, were quite moist. And the Scrabble boardgame had all its tiles, yeahh. But it's such a skinny little sliver of a space that will make you feel self conscious of your thighs tripping someone walking past you. read more

this place rules. free wifi. fantastic stumptown coffee. a super friendly staff and reasonable prices. they even drag out powerstrips so everyone can plug in their laptops. read more

I try to drop by Roots every time I am in the area. This is one of the few places that tries to make each customer feel at though they are an old friend just dropping by. In a huge city making your place seem like a small town cafe is a feat in itself. The owner is very accomodating and caters to those who are health conscious: gluton-free, vegan, etc., which I also appreciate. So keep up the good work and keep those jelly/biscuits coming. read more

I moved to NYC two weeks ago, and this place is everything I miss about Portland, OR. Local, organic, friendly wit behind the counter, the occasional beard and flannel shirt, weird crap hanging on the walls, but without the PRETENTIOUS HIPSTERS YOU FIND IN WILLIAMSBERG/GREENPOINT. (Which can be fun but gets overwhelming after awhile IMO.) But seriously, who doesn't love a good chalkboard menu? Great coffee, great vibe, small but just enough space, so never crowded. Also OUTLETS. Meaning they have them, because coffee shops without them are dumb and mean, both things this place is not. read more

A Very sweet neighborhood cozy joint that I love to frequent whenever I'm on 5th. I haven't been in since the re-model but I am very excited to check it out and order one of their lovely coffee drinks! read more

Strong Wifi which is very important to me. Coffee is great. Food is amazing. And the people are some of the friendliest people I've met here in Brooklyn. Also has a chill little backyard. read more

Amazing breakfast panini and some of the best cold brew I've ever had. Definitely a place worth checking out.

This is the first time I've felt compelled to leave a yelp review. This place was so great! I stumbled upon it on a lazy morning headed to the train. It's so cozy inside, and the staff is super friendly. It's clearly a spot people frequent, because everyone seemed to know each other. I got the egg and cheese bowl and iced coffee. Everything was fresh and clearly homemade. This will be a definite stop for me anytime I'm in the neighborhood! read more

This vegan coffee shop is amazing for Vegans. Roots cafe is very hipster and the staff is extremely welcoming. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for healthy alternatives read more

The coffee is really good and the staff is always super nice. I walk uphill several times a week for this place.

Home away from home. Great sandwiches and apps. Fun seasonal drinks. Stumptown coffee. Great music a few nights a week. Artsy vibe. Everyone seems to know the staff. read more

Really love this place. I haven't had their savory offerings, but their sweets are great and they make a delicious ice coffee. The guys that all work there couldn't be nicer. Good neighborhood staple. read more

Excellent options for every diet, friendly staff, great food and very affordable. Highly recommended!