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The Roost

4.2 (386 reviews)
Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

The Roost Photos

Business Info

THE ROOST ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Hipster
Classy
Casual

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Recommended Reviews - The Roost

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Reviews With Photos

"The Kansan" with a potato cake
Andy M.

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.

Roast Beef and Spinach ($15 as of 04/2025) was great.  Somewhat similar to Philly's roast pork and spinach sandwich, but much better.
North C.

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!

Potato Cakes with GF Gluten-Free Toast
Melissa C.

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.

Jamel M.

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.

Biscuits & Gravy
Kristen M.

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!

Sausage Patty

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.

Single French toast and ham and cheese omelette with spinach and mushrooms.
Haynboi D.

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

Chorizo & Eggs
Melissa H.

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.

Tomato & Avocado Benny*  Pecan Wood-Smoked Bacon

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1 year ago

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

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1 year ago

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

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

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

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1 year ago

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

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The Oread Lawrence, Tapestry Collection by Hilton - Guest room

The Oread Lawrence, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

(92 reviews)

$$$

Something very strange is happening at this place. The staff all seem extremely confused about how…read moreto provide basic customer service. The room I stayed in had plaster and paint peeling off of the wall in the bathroom. It also just felt very sparse--no carpet, no rug. The bed was only half made. Other reviewers have mentioned odd noises at night, which I also experienced. The service at the restaurant is absolutely terrible. I waited about 50 minutes after ordering breakfast. My order included a cup of coffee. After about 25 minutes, the lone server came over and explained that she had many things to do before she'd get to the coffee order and could I just get some coffee from the lobby instead? What?? You're serving breakfast and you can't just pour me a cup of coffee?? I would never, ever go back to this hotel. It's truly terrible.

The hotel is not worth the price. Other than location, not much to recommend. The rooms were not…read morecleaned during our stay. The shower was out of soap and we could never get them to refill it. Did not get replacement towels. The food was also suspect. Ordered a trio of dips, salsa, cheese and what they claimed was fresh guacamole. The guacamole had a brown skin on it and tasted like it had been in the frig for a while. The cheese also had a skin indicating it was anything but fresh. The salsa tasted like it was fresh, fresh out of the pace jar. The flatbread we ordered also came out burned. The cleaning crew did show up, around 6 am the morning we were supposed to leave. Making enough noise in the hallway outside our door to wake us up. Other than location close to campus cannot recommend.

The Jayhawker - Chicken salad

The Jayhawker

(9 reviews)

Located inside the Eldridge Hotel on the corner of Mass and 7th in downtown Lawrence, the Jayhawker…read moreis a good place to enjoy dinner and drinks before, during, or after KU games. The decor throughout the restaurant makes a clear statement to all who come- this is a KU affair! The menu has selections that are on par with what you'd expect to find in Kansas- steak, pasta, and salads. I opted for the Chicken Caesar Salad-it was very good and just what was expected. I also ordered a spicy jalapeno margarita. I will refer to it as "spicy" because it really was not. They had a few specials for the evening as well. Everything sounded good! Our waitress was friendly and very prompt with our order, which was much appreciated. It was a good time. The last time someone in my party had been here was 54 years ago for his rehearsal dinner- hilarious!

We stopped in for Happy Hour to check out the drinks and snacks. I had the Purple Haze and my…read morehusband got the Manhattan. They asked what liquor he wanted in his drink. We were looking to take advantage of HH prices but once he specified the liquor he wanted, his drink was no longer HH pricing but upgraded to regular price. He wasn't told they were upselling which seemed a bit dishonest and was disappointing. My drink was okay nothing to knock my socks off. We also ordered the HH wings. They were tasty but very tiny. The bar is inside an historic building, The Eldridge Hotel, it was empty and quiet inside the bar area.

Merchants Pub & Plate - Salmon Baguette

Merchants Pub & Plate

(477 reviews)

$$

Met for a lunch meetingon a chilly day. What was nice was I was able to have a cup of coffee with…read moreit! Our server was very helpful with navigating the menu. We had the fried green tomato sandwich and the Bison Burger at the recommendation of our server who was wonderful. Both were cooked to perfection and so good!

Stopped by Merchants Pub & Plate while in Lawrence for an event and was excited to find a place…read morewith good gluten-free options. The restaurant itself is beautiful inside -- a cozy mix of rustic and modern that creates a really inviting atmosphere. Service started a little slow, though our waitress became more attentive once she came by. We mentioned it was our first visit, so I was a bit surprised there wasn't much guidance on the menu or any recommendations. At one point I asked about the two kinds of fries (I love fries!), and the explanation was simply that they were "fancy fries," without much detail on flavors or differences. We started with drinks and the Brussels sprouts appetizer. The sprouts were actually very good, with a nice balance in the sauce, and both the wine and sangria were refreshing. Unfortunately, dinner is where things went downhill. Our meals -- a steak and a gluten-free chicken sandwich -- took about 45 minutes to arrive, which felt long for relatively simple dishes. I had asked about the gluten-free bun since they can sometimes be dry, but didn't receive much insight beyond "it's gluten free," and sadly it was indeed very dry. The chicken itself lacked flavor, though the goat cheese cilantro sauce helped make it somewhat enjoyable. The fries looked homemade and delicious but arrived cold. The steak was cooked as requested, but it didn't have much flavor beyond the mushrooms on top. The broccoli side was tasty, and the potatoes were good, though it on a bed of Some kind of cheese sauce that wasn't quite to our liking. Overall, the space and gluten-free availability were promising, and the appetizers and drinks were enjoyable, but the food execution and service details didn't quite meet expectations for us this visit.

The Roost - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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