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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?
Hipster
Classy
Casual
Moderate noise

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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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6 years ago

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4 years ago

My favorite place to eat on Mass. Fresh ingredients and I love the self serve coffee. It is delicious.

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6 years ago

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6 years ago

The Roost is my fav place for breakfast and coffee in Lawrence! Even though it's always crowded it's worth the wait.

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4 years ago

Awesome place to eat, awesome place to be. Great environment, nice staff, awesome food.

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7 years ago

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7 years ago

Got the corned beef hash and all the potatoes were raw or severely undercooked. Good selection of food and drinks.

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9 years ago

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

So amazing!!! And if you can get there on the weekends to get some deviated eggs!!!!WOW. Incredible

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7 years ago

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The Oread Lawrence, Tapestry Collection by Hilton - Guest room

The Oread Lawrence, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

3.1(93 reviews)
0.5 mi
$$$

Sure, most think of it as a hotel first, but The Oread is way more than the sum of just its rooms…read more Those are jammed every weekend throughout the school year and possibly the summer. I live less than a mile away so unless I decide to do a getaway I can walk to I may never actually be a hotel guest. However, I have plenty of insight into the venue to offer that most won't. It's part public space that hosts all kinds of corporate and school functions, weddings and related parties, private meetings, all of which require catering and staffing. Of those I've attended my share. It's also public space with several dining facilities and bars. Head to the rooftop, AKA "The Nest" for the single most breathtaking view of the entire city and campus, one that has no equal in the entire city. Breathtaking. Visit in the evenings on weekends and you can catch live music and a small bar on the rooftop, everything you need for a special night out, and I already mentioned, that view! Not just for hotel guests that are staying, in case you wonder. First floor, The Birddog Bar has a nice selection of my favorite beers and spirits and is a relaxed place to kick back and has a credible bar menu. For fine dining, "On The Hill," their Italian restaurant is turning out the best hand crafted pasta dishes and more in the city. Elegant, and highly rated. And for folks like me wanting to quaff a great cup of joe on a morning walk, that's available ala Starbucks in the morning in the lobby by the front door. Oh, and for the college crowd there's an age appropriate bar on the backside down the hill. I'd consider myself a bit old to visit according to my daughter. Wise advice from what I've heard. I'll stick with that. If you come: valet parking, close to everything KU related, you can even see parts of the football field for game day, and the University promises it'll be a winning team in a year or two. We can only hope, right? One last thing: a neighbor is a lead housekeeping worker in the facility and speaks highly of her employer. THAT gets my attention.

We first stayed at the Oread Hotel on their grand opening many years ago. Whenever we come to…read moreLawrence, we have tried to stay at the Oread. It's always been a good stay. This trip so far has been the extreme opposite. We came to the hotel at 12:30 hoping to be able to check in a little early. We stood at the front desk for almost five minutes before a woman came out and said, "do you need something"? She asked our name and said, "we have nothing available right now". We had hoped to change clothes and freshen up before a meeting with University of Kansas officials and a subsequent dinner with them. There is no school going on at KU as commencement was the previous week. There were only six cars in the hotel garage. We have never been treated so rudely by a hotel's front desk personnel. I also asked when the room might be available and was told 4:00. She made no effort to look anything up or accommodate us in any way. Very disappointing.

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The Oread Lawrence, Tapestry Collection by Hilton - Guest room

Guest room

The Oread Lawrence, Tapestry Collection by Hilton - Meeting Room

Meeting Room

The Oread Lawrence, Tapestry Collection by Hilton - Guest room

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Guest room

The Jayhawker - Chicken salad

The Jayhawker

3.7(9 reviews)
0.3 mi

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 at The Eldridge for a mid-day cocktail. The Eldridge is a Cool Historic Hotel. The…read moreJayhawker Bar is located right inside of The Eldridge. The Bartender Garrett greeted us right away and seated us at the bar top. My friend and I decided on a Bloody Mary, it was a little spicy but not heavy. Garrett was friendly and attentive, he engaged in small talk with us which was nice. We only stayed for one cocktail but I would definitely go back to try some other delicious cocktails that I saw on the menu.

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The Jayhawker
The Jayhawker - Sunday Funday: Bloody Mary's!

Sunday Funday: Bloody Mary's!

The Jayhawker - "Spicy" jalapeño margarita

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"Spicy" jalapeño margarita

Merchants Pub & Plate - Salmon Baguette

Merchants Pub & Plate

4.1(477 reviews)
0.2 mi
$$

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.

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!

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Merchants Pub & Plate - Dining area

Dining area

Merchants Pub & Plate - Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Merchants Pub & Plate - Dill Pickle Martini

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Dill Pickle Martini

The Roost - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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