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    Roots

    4.3 (201 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Roots Photos

    ROOTS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Roots

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    Miso Mushroom Soup and side of brown rice - comfort food at its best
    Lisal F.

    Roots is one of my favorite dining establishments in Louisville because: - exquisite attention to flavor - thoughtfully plant-based - attractive presentation - excellent service - wide menu variety - comfortable seating - local cuisine at its best During a recent visit I was recovering from a recent GI illness and the mushroom miso soup and brown rice contributed significantly to my healing. Other, more exciting options I have previously had the pleasure of enjoying include: pho, crispy rolls, fried tofu, Vietnamese crepe, steamed banana leaf, fresh green bean and tofu, and steamed rice rolls. Truly everything I've tried has been spectacular. One can either dine sitting in a traditional chair at a traditional table, OR in one of the sunken dining areas (my current preference). Regardless of whether one's bottom rests upon a chair or a cushion, Roots consistently exceeds all expectations.

    Gyoza
    Sitav E.

    This place was wonderful! I really wish we had something like this where I lived, I can't wait to go back! As a vegetarian it's crazy hard to order certain places, and I'm just exhausted of trying to hack menus to make things vegetarian, it's tiring and annoying. Roots (and their sister restaurant next to/attached) is fully vegetarian and there were a million things on there to order, all of which sounded interesting, and the ones I ordered tasted amazing! I wish my stomach was bigger, there were like ten more things we wanted to try! The woman who took our order and brought our food was the owner I believe, she memorized everything we ordered without writing anything down, and was so so sweet and nice! The tea room we sat in was so pretty, with the super cool sunken tables, it was such a fun experience! Can't wait to go back! Run, don't walk, to Roots!

    Sierra B.

    This place is amazing it doesn't look like much at all but boy when you get in there and see the menu and all they have to offer you WILL NOT be disappointed! The tables and chairs are super clean and the space was super inviting! The service was just as pleasant, I asked them to make suggestions and I went with that. He suggested the Korean rice bowl, the rice cake and fried tofu appetizers. All three were served super hot and fresh with amazing flavors and textures. My tongue was definitely doing a happy dance. This kind of food really brings life to your body and your soul! The prices are great too!

    Forbidden Rice Risotto, Spicy Tofu Ramen,  Cucumber Roll, Sizzling Rice and Vegetables, Osprey Gunpowder Tea, Thai Tea
    John T.

    Our 3rd time to Roots and we will be back many times! The food is so delicious and the vegan / vegetarian options are just what we like. Honestly you can't even tell the the meat is missing! Great decor and they even have traditional seating in the floor. Roots is just GREAT!!

    Jayme H.

    I was recently visiting Louisville for my first time thanks to a fabulous work trip with my Yelp buddy Emily H. She knew I was a vegetarian and so sweetly scheduled our dinner plans at Roots. It was a first time for both us so we went all in, exploring different items off the menu. Everything here is meat free so it was like my dream come true. I started with my first every bubble tea. I got a taro root bubble tea and it was amazing. I can't believe I've gone this long without ever having one. The flavor I got was unique, slightly sweet but subtle. If I had to relate it something more familiar, I would probably compare it to vanilla. It was so creamy and I sucked it down. It was hard not to! In regards to the starters, we ordered the pan-seared ravioli and the summer rolls. The pan-seared ravioli was not my favorite. They were too crispy and hard for me to eat. The summer rolls however, were really good. They came with sautéed vegetables, tofu, veggie ham, mint, Thai basil, and an excellent tamarind sauce. They were very light and refreshing and I took the left overs home for a late night snack. I loved the fresh mint and Thai basil. It was a wonderful touch. For my main meal I ordered the pho. It was a cold dreary day (snow in April, whhhhattt??) so it was a perfect pick. The noodles were thicker Vietnamese style noodles and it came with veggie ham, tofu, mushrooms, and green onion. Do note that the fixings that typically come with pho were different here at Roots. Instead of the giant basil leaves, bean sprouts, jalapeno, and lime, I got almost like a small salad. It same with raw carrots, cabbage, a lime, and lettuce. This caught me off guard a bit but otherwise it was great. The broth was flavorful which is the most important and probably difficult thing to achieve when making vegetarian broth. It's hard to pack in a lot of flavor without meat products. Overall, my friend and I had a great time. Our waitress (not sure if it was the owner or not) was a sweetheart and seemed excited to have us there. If I'm ever in the neighborhood again, you know where to find me!

    Summer Rolls
    Marlene M.

    What an amazing place. The scenery very welcoming and relaxing. Host greeted with just the perfect smile and mannerism. The place was empty so our food did not take long to come out. Had the Summer rolls which had tofu ,and a bunch of good veggies inside with a great tasting dipping sauce. Very pretty and satisfying.

    Menu front
    Priya B.

    Stopped here for a late lunch while traveling. Having not eaten breakfast, I splurged a bit to try several things and everything was amazing. My favorite was the Vietnamese hot coffee and the sizzling sticky rice dish with tofu. I also got the crispy spring rolls (good, larger than anticipated)) and the potstickers (clearly homemade!) Highly recommend!

    Delicious
    Cary M.

    We went to Roots tonight and it was delicious. They got the best summer rolls or fresh rolls in Louisville. I got the pho which was good. I hope everybody knows this is a vegetarian restaurant. My wife got the summer squash soup and she liked it. We got the pan fried noodles and they were also good. They don't give military discount which I wish they did but it was good and we enjoyed it.

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    I loved this experience so much! I had to order several things because I couldn't decide & everything was amazing. Definitely will return.

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    Best vegan pad Thai. Their tofu is amazing. The Vietnamese iced coffee and boba are wonderful

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    Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar

    Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar

    3.9
    (2.5k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    "Doctor, doctor, give me the news I've got a bad case of…read morelovin' you" (Robert Palmer) Doc Crow's two locations (Indianapolis and Louisville) specialize in Southern cuisine, so you'll see pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, gumbo, pulled pork, brisket, ribs, okra, and jambalaya on the menu. Four of us had an excellent experience for our dinner in Louisville, and besides the food, a lot of that experience was due to our server, Julie. She was great, super friendly and professional, and expertly answered a ton of Bourbon-related questions from my Bourbon loving friend. My wife and I dove into the Southern theme and had a Pulled Pork Sandwich ($16), Southern Colada ($16), Fried Green Tomatoes ($10), and a Southern Gumbo ($10) for dinner. I ordered the Fried Gren Tomatoes to share with the table, and they were wonderful - "Five full moon green tomatoes fried in cornmeal and panko, topped with fresh chives and served with Doc's Remoulade". They were light as a feather, most definitely non-greasy and had a great crunch from the panko and cornmeal. My Southern Gumbo (A hearty stew filled with andouille sausage, chicken and vegetables in savory Cajun broth served over rice. Served with cornbread) was excellent. Great flavor, great spice, plenty of sausage and chicken, and excellent accompaniments in the rice and cornbread. And how could I not mention my Southern Colada, with Michter's US*1 Sour Mash, Pineapple Juice & Coconut. It was quite a bit stronger than any Colada I ever had, but I guess that can be expected when you use an 86-proof small batch Kentucky whiskey in your Colada. Of course, I loved it. This was our second visit to Doc Crow. We were there a few days ago as the first stop on our Louisville food tour and enjoyed a delicious bowl of shrimp and grits. The Doc sure treated us well. PRO TIP Be sure to check out the Doc's jaw dropping collection of bourbon bottles that seem to dominate the various rooms wherever you look.

    Stopped at Doc Crow's since it seems to be a popular spot. Upon walking in, it doesn't seem big but…read morethere's an additional space after the first section. The restaurant includes a long row of bar seating that extends to the other end of the restaurant, so there was no problem for me to find a seat on a busy day. I ordered the Mac n cheese and braised greens, and the Mac n cheese was really good and creamy. The braised greens were just okay, it wasn't the best greens I've had and it could use extra flavor. I don't know if this is a thing they do at Doc Crow's, but in my opinion the bartender excessively kept asking me what I wanted even while I was still looking at the menu. This definitely frustrated me since it was clear that I wasn't ready yet. I think she should have done a better job reading my cues to figure out when I am ready to order.

    Photos
    Beautiful Bar area
    Beautiful Bar area
    Heap N Chips
    Heap N Chips
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    On a vibey street
    Chik'n & Mi

    Chik'n & Mi

    4.3
    (543 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    First, this restaurant is great! Where do I start, the service, the cocktails, the chef or the…read morefood? All of which are stand outs. I was fortunate to be with a large party and we decided to order several dishes and share. Everything was delicious, and the banana flower salad was memorable and we ordered two. I'd also recommend the veggie sides, carrots, bok choy, and brussels sprouts. Chik'n & Mi is a wonderful place for a date, solo dining or spending time with friends. Overall, this is a wonderful place that accommodated all of our needs.

    Five stars, no notes. I love this place…read more The staff is so welcoming, funny, and great at what they do. Every time I have a cocktail it is delightfully balanced. I think my cocktail was called the Tokyo Pop? Not positive but you have to get it. Gin, bubbles, sake, and a hint of lemon in a flute glass. Refreshing, a hint of sweet, a hint of lemon, and extremely drinkable. It would be too easy to throw a ton of these back. But I was demure and had one. I enjoyed the calamari--my go-to here. Crispy, with a bit of heat from pickled peppers, a bit a of sweet form a sweet glaze, and a nice herby zing from mint, herbs, and scallions. They also top the calamari with a a nice portion of greens dressed in a lemon vinaigrette, making this appetizer feel close to a light meal. I am absolutely obsessed with the ponzu mayo that comes on the side. An absolutely delightful touch. I also enjoyed the chocolate cream pot. Talk about decadent. I love that it is served with berries, because you need that tartness to balance out the richness. Fully indulgent. Bonus points: I working fireplace. (And holiday decor still up--this never bothers me.) The ambiance is always lovely, with something iconic on the TV always playing. This spot is one of my fave representation of the Louisville food scene.

    Photos
    March 2017 Menu
    March 2017 Menu
    Chik'n & Mi
    Chik'n & Mi

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    Roots - vegetarian - Updated August 2026

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