The atmosphere is great. The waitress's were quick and very nice and quick. The prices are great also.

My wife and I stopped by The Roost for breakfast, and it definitely lived up to its reputation. I ordered the corned beef hash with scrambled eggs and sourdough toast. The corned beef hash was outstanding, crispy where it should be, tender where it counts, and clearly made by someone who actually cares. You can taste the effort. The scrambled eggs were perfectly cooked too. Now, about that "sourdough." I have to confess I'm a bit of a sourdough snob after spending time eating the real deal in San Francisco. This wasn't sourdough. It was good white bread wearing a fake mustache. That said, it was fresh, buttery, and the marmalade was absolutely delicious, so I still happily cleaned my plate. The coffee is self-serve and bottomless, which I actually like. If you're the type who enjoys topping off your own cup whenever you want, it's perfect. If getting up to refill your coffee feels like an Olympic event, you may disagree. Service was friendly, fast, and exactly what you hope for at a breakfast spot, attentive without hovering. We visited around 8:30 on a Saturday morning. Since it's a college town and summer break was in full swing, it wasn't busy at all. I'd expect it to be a much different story once students are back. Overall, I'd absolutely come back. Just one request for The Roost: either upgrade to real sourdough... or call it white bread. My inner bread critic will thank you. read more

Stopped by to try brunch while in town. The wait was about 10 or 15 minutes. Took a look at the pastry case. Some very interesting things there. Was seated sooner than it was quoted, which was great. Wait staff was amazing. I ordered the chorizo and eggs. I give it a three out of five. It was a little on the bland side. They had some green Cholula; thar made a huge difference. Also ordered the French toast, which was a four out of five. Amazing meal! The vegan hash was also three out of five, and the same with the biscuits and gravy. The bigger issue was that the drinks were ordered at the same time as the meal. It took over 43 minutes after the drinks came for the meal to show up. The wait staff apologized for the long wait, but that was just way too long to wait for a meal. We were just about to pay for the drinks and leave when the food actually came to the table. The ambience of the place has a nice hometown feel to it, but the turnaround time on meals was entirely too long. I wanted to try some more things out of the pastry case, but because of the long wait, I had to get back on my way. If I ever did stop back by, I'd have the French toast again, but I definitely tried some of the other things in the pastry case that looked rather delicious. read more

See all

Not worth it, the atmosphere is weird and some guy mentioned a weird bias yes they are not surprised about that one waitress who randomly talked about politics they seem like the type based on their attitude..the food sucks not worth it how do you undercook potatoes totally sucks read more

I've been growing up going here as a morning brunch after the farmers market and the food never misses. It's always consistently solid and homey, the food and the ingredients are so fresh and you can really appreciate the local farm-to-table taste. Believe it or not my favorite thing here is just a slice of their in house sourdough made with their fresh strawberry jam AND whipped butter. This combination is so nostalgic and if you haven't tried a bite with all of these mixed together you are missing out. Their biscuits are not anything crazy, on the dryer crumbly side - but the gravy is sooooo savory and good it makes up for it. On the weekends they have a mushroom gravy and that's a lot lighter if you think the regular gravy is too rich! Free parking in the parking garage behind the restaurant! read more

See all

To start, I love a brunch and I don't get to go get brunch enough--the Roost has showed me this. Some great brunch options, coffee galore, and a real home-town feel! We went on a Sunday, and because there was only 2 of us, there was only about a 15 minute wait. So be ready to wait if you have a larger group, or be sure to get there earlier than 11 am! When we got seated, we were told that if we wanted coffee, we could take a cup from their collection and choose our coffee for the day (lots of options from decaf, light roast to dark roast!). After sitting for just a few minutes, our server came around and got our order. Loved that the menu had such a wide array of options. My partner got a traditional type breakfast (eggs, sausage, potatoes--he loved it!), and I got one of their types of benedicts (tomato and avocado), which was good but I was hoping for a bit more flavor. I'm very impressed by their ambiance and the swag that they sell (go inclusivity!), so I am looking forward to my next brunch date to the Roost! Thanks everyone for a great experience! read more

See all

A classic breakfast restaurant with that diner feel. This place is generally bustling and a bit noisy at times but the food is and coffee are so worth it. They've got a fairly big menu for a breakfast joint with the usual suspects. They've also got some elevated dishes but when it comes to breakfast I like the classics and I think the Roost really suceeds at making those. I definitely recommend this place just make sure you go early or with a small party because Lawrence peeps seem to love this spot and come out often. My experience with the service has been great as well , no complaints on that front. read more

The Roost - "The Kansan" with a potato cake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

My favorite restaurant when I am visiting my son at KU. Delicious baked goods, fresh ingredients. Options for bloody Mary's and mimosas. Be ready for a wait if you come in on a weekend morning. read more

The Roost - Biscuits and gravy. Homemade jam, fresh fruit and a fried egg. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

See all

One of my fav brunch spots for years! Amazing breakfast and lunch options, great drinks! The goat cheese and leek omelet is perfect. Love their thick cut bacon and the huge decadent French toast Lovely patio on a warm day. Lots of indoor seating but on the weekend you might have a long wait, especially in a larger group. Love the local art displayed on the walls and friendly servers. Biscuits and gravy is also really good! Great lattes! read more

This review is for late lunch for two on a weekday in early April. service: Samantha was fantastic. Super professional and engaging. Then again, everyone we talked to - hosts, other waitstaff, bartender, were all outstanding. bar: They have a handful of house cocktails - Bloody Mary's, coffee collaborations, and sparkling options. Also plenty of coffee choices and handful of beer in cans. food: My wife's sausage, egg, and cheddar Biscuit Sammy ($9) was excellent. My Roast Beef and Spinach ($15) was fantastic. This is somewhat similar to Philly's slightly famous roast pork and spinach sandwich, but infinitely better. Maybe it's the Roost's exceptional au jus. details: Don't miss their baked goods! Place was still plenty busy at 1pm on a Wednesday. I'd expect to wait on the weekend. It's at 920 Mass, so parking can be an adventure. Interior is warm, bright, and enjoyable - with zero televisions! read more

See all

Had breakfast with grad student daughter. Everything was delicious (Eggs Benedict, The Campfire, Biscuits & Gravy and the Honey Pecan Sticky Bun)!!! Samantha, our waitress, was really great, too. Will definitely be back. read more

My partner and I came to shop downtown and started with breakfast at Roost. The patio was comfortable, and service was quick. My partner and I both ordered potato cakes, which come with eggs and toast. They have GF toast, and the potato cakes also are gluten-free. The toast comes with apple butter or fresh jam. Both were great. We'll definitely stop in again when in the area. read more

The Roost - Potato Cakes with GF Gluten-Free Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

See all

Wonderful food, great service, busy cafe feel. All the self serve coffee in 4 wonderful varieties that you can drink! Sometimes staying in Lawrence, it feels like the Roost is just part of the morning routine. I forget how special the place really is until I'm NOT in Lawrence and I'm walking up thinking I need to beat the crowd to the Roost... aww shucks. This is certainly a place worth trying, with all sorts of very well done breakfast foods and lunch items. I honestly can't single out one thing to recommend, because everything I've had has been delicious! The place can get a little noisy, when packed, and sometimes it is a bit hard to maneuver to get up and get your own coffee, but to me it is all part of the experience. In fact the only real complaint I have is that they do not have heavy cream for the coffee. I bring my own in a coffee thermos, if you must know. read more

Food ok Waitress went on a political rant and we were not talking politics at all. She wouldn't stop. Called the restaurant and they wouldn't say they weren't for or against political speech by the waitress. read more

Friendly staff, good food only downside would be our waitress was a little slow. but great eggs and bacon! They also put designs in their lattes. read more

Finally got there on a weekend to try their biscuits with the madeira mushroom gravy, and it was delicious!!! Since quitting meat years ago, I don't get biscuits and gravy unless we make them at home; I love that The Roost has this concession on their menu! read more

An unfortunate issue of food quality kinda spoiled my experience today. Still not a favorite eatery. My minimal experiences at the Roost have not been memerable one way or the other, food isn't special, atmosphere is hard loud and uncomfortable, though thus is tipical of mose breafast/lunch joints. Service is fine and I would go again, if my party wanted. I can at least have a good cup of coffeen even if it is self serve and seldom piping hot. read more

If I could give it 6 stars, I would! The ambiance, the food, the coffee. All outstanding. They have a self service coffee bar to make sure you are never waiting for a top off. I can't wait to go back! read more

The Roost - Biscuits & Gravy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

the roost is a fantastic option for breakfast. warning - it's busy. be prepared for a 20+ min wait. the staff will work quickly to get you in but brace yourself. the menu is standard. would recommend the kansan. you get a little bit of everything. if you're a little hungry, you can add a side biscuits & gravy. the drink options are plentiful. it's a not a great option for large groups (7+ people) but try at your own risk. it's a little snug throughout so be mindful of that. read more

The Roost - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

I have been here 3 times The first time, I had phenomenal service, the food was phenomenal. 10/10. It was definitely a gem and thats why I chose to come a second time. That time around, the experience wasn't as good as the first but hey, nobody is perfect so whatever no big deal. I went a third time a few days ago and I will definitely not come back after this last time. Something like this is easy enough to make my decision that I will no longer support this establishment. They not only burnt my sausages patty but also forgot about my bacon and I ended up having to take them to go in s box because they didnt arrive in time for me to enjoy it with the rest of my food. The fact it reached multiple employees before getting to me and they all thought this was okay is insane. I was told they were in the zone back there and pushing orders fast which isnt a valid excuse to burn my food and still serve it to me. Im deeply disappointed in The Roost and will more than likely disregard it as a option to eat from moving forward. read more

The Roost - Sausage Patty - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Loved all things "The Roost"--just went the first time on Easter and will be back! The overall vibe was so fun and friendly. Really outstanding brewed coffee and we thoroughly enjoyed our breakfasts! Leave room to try a pastry or take some home. You will not be disappointed. read more

Service was great. Tasty food and great recommendation from other yelpers. Server offered suggestions and host very pleasant. read more

The Roost - Single French toast and ham and cheese omelette with spinach and mushrooms. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Wonderful staff, fresh food and perfect portions. A go to place at the top of my list!

The Roost is a great little brunch spot in Lawrence. They have breakfast, lunch, coffee, cocktails, and pastry's. Sadly I didn't get to try any pastry's but I'm going to have to go back. Everything I tried was really good and there were so many options that I wanted to try. Tomato & Avocado Benny: was really good. The English muffin was nice and billowy. It had a great chew. Perfect poached eggs. Thick hollandaise. Plenty of avocado. The breakfast potatoes looked a little skimpy but it ended up being the perfect amount after I plowed through my Benny. Acapulco cocktail: rum, tequila, pineapple juice, pomegranate juice. It was a nice heavy hitting brunch cocktail. I would definitely drink this again. read more

The Roost - Tomato & Avocado Benny* Pecan Wood-Smoked Bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

See all

Went here for our first breakfast in Lawrence and it did not disappoint. Portion sizes were very generous. Very much enjoyed the chorizo and egg entree. The honey brown latte was also yummy. read more

The Roost - Chorizo & Eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Disappointed. Wasn't able to actually try the roost. Hours are listed but upon arrival appears they are closed down at least a couple days a week. I don't make it back to Lawrence very often so might have missed an opportunity I just don't know read more

Excellent food, coffee and service. Unique ambiance. If ever in Lawrence again, I'd definitely return here!

Amazing breakfast spot with really great food, coffee and cocktails. They don't do reservations so during busy times there may be a wait! read more

See all

Well I finally made it to the Roost for a meal and it was unforgettable. It wasn't too crowded at lunchtime and was pretty quiet inside. My husband and I sat at the bar. Our waiter was very helpful explaining the specials, soups, drinks and answering all of my questions. We each got a soup and sandwich. Mine was Turkey with avocado on the best multigrain bread with a side of the tomato bisque. My husband got the Ruben and said the sauerkraut was straight from the grill, also on multigrain bread, his soup was four cheese. Both soups came with a very light cracker. Every detail of this meal made the taste unique and unforgettable..... Yes for soup and sandwich. We ordered a slice of Salted Carmel Chocolate Cake. It was chocolatey caramel deliciousness but was rather rich if that is not for you. The food was super fresh, so many choices for breakfast, lunch, coffee, mimosas and drinks. I will definitely be back!!! Well my husband did go back and purchased a box of goodies.... All was great! read more

See all

Flew into Lawrence and stopped here for breakfast, which really turned into brunch. The wait time was 45 minutes. The hostess took our number to text and never texted. We eventually checked back in and she said she texted but sometimes their system doesn't send them. So she had moved on down the list. Ironically, she immediately seated us after inquiring. The waitress was nice but super busy. Everything just moved slow. Fortunately, coffee is self-serve from the coffee bar and I do great serving myself (thus the 4 stars). Food and coffee were good. I had traditional breakfast and my friend had some kind of omelet with salsa. He ate it so fast I barely saw it. The coffee bar had 4 or 5 different coffees. Loved the ones I had. The place is a hot spot. They get busy. Don't expect to get in and out quick. You won't regret waiting either. read more

The Roost is one of my favorite places to get breakfast. Even though I don't live in Lawrence anymore, I love to come by here for awesome food. It is worth the wait. While you wait, you can order a coffee or other drink from the bar. They have some of the best lattes around. So amazing. I believe the head barista here is a championship winning barista? I heard that from one of the staff. I believe it. As good as the drinks are here, you'll never want to go anywhere else. The pastries are insanely good. I have to resist the urge to get one anytime I come in. The food is awesome. I've never had a bad dish here. I like getting the biscuits and gravy or the Kansan. The staff is always great as well. This is a gem in downtown Lawrence. read more

Pros: - Coffee drinks are unique and tasty - Food is usually really good Cons: - The wait was LONG, and this is typical - They gave our table away as we were walking up to claim it, so the wait became LONGER - Service is hit or miss A good brunch option on it's own, but not worth the usual hour+ wait time. read more

See all

Servers are great. Best hot chai tea, and the homade jam is the best ever. Try the strawberry !

I have resisted going to this restaurant for the longest time. Same old excuses... it's downtown and parking is a pain. It's too trendy... not my crowd. I had a wide assortment of excuses. Boy, was I glad I took the plunge. Fabulous food! Breakfast is my thing. Love it and think breakfast food is the best. The Roost did not disappoint. Met a former colleague here and we both enjoyed our food and the atmosphere. This is a busy, busy restaurant and it's usually packed. The funny thing is... it's busy but it's still intimate. The food is good solid breakfast fare. There is nothing exotic or fancy here but that is part of the magic. I ordered pancakes, eggs and bacon. I swear the pancakes were the best pancakes I've ever had. And I've had a lot of pancakes! Delicious! Prices are reasonable for a quality breakfast. Great coffee, too. Servers were nice and pleasant. The only drawback for this place is the parking. Downtown parking is tricky and sometimes it's difficult to find a good parking spot. For delicious pancakes, though, it's a risk I am willing to take! read more

Waitress was very attentive and helpful. Food was good with good portion size. Busy on a Sunday morning but we got in quickly.

There is a long wait for a reason- it's delicious and worth it! We had a party of 7 at 9:00 on a Saturday and there was a 45 minute wait. Because of this, I had come and never stayed to eat. (Driving in from out of town, it was hard to get there earlier than that). My kiddos LOVED the hot cocoa and homemade marshmallows! Their fruit bowls were pretty impressive as well. Our party also had an assortment of coffee cocktails, French toast, breakfast bennys, biscuits and gravy, breakfast sammys... everything was absolutely phenomenal! read more

See all

Holy. Moly. I visited this location as I was on the hunt for a really good breakfast. I had never been to Lawrence, KS before so I was just cruising Mass and happened to spot it. Apparently I made the best choice because everyone I met there was a regular and had a story to tell. My waitress was so fast on my coffee as I was trying to wake up. I ordered the pecan bun to start off to get the sleepy out my eyes and it was so perfect. It was just sweet enough, and huge! They were having a weekend special of Pork Belly Benedict and let me tell you my friends!!! I died and went to heaven. I can't rave about this restaurant cafe enough. If you've never been please go. read more

The Roost - Bottomless House Cup, Honey Pecan Sticky Bun - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

See all

I always think of this place when I'm having a breakfast cheat day. Real bacon, fresh eggs, everything just tastes so fresh & so good. A must in LFK. read more

Very reasonably priced and the food was really decent the first time I visited. Came again this Sunday, and waited for 2 hours (1.5 hr for the wait, another 30 mins for food to arrive) for a spot of 2. Food was still decent but a couple of mistakes with the orders this time around (my bf asked for potato cakes but got the French toasts instead, my potatoes were the bottom crumbs so it was extremely hard and stale) Highly recommend visiting during non-busy hours and not Sunday/sat brunch because it definitely gets a little chaotic and the food quality goes down. Will visit again but maybe on a weekday - hope they'll come up with a better wait/reservation system that could easily benefit both customers and the restaurant. read more

Great food! Over weekly visits across many weeks, I've experienced consistent high quality and delicious food. The wait staff is attentive and pleasant. Great breakfast atmosphere and high energy dialog. read more