The Root Cafe is a popular spot in Lakewood. The cafe offers a large selection of vegetarian and vegan options and teas. We ordered at the counter and they give you cute signs to take the table. Ours was Frog. The service was quick and the Tempeh Ruben was delicious. There are not many places you can order a Tulsi tea, so I very much appreciated that option. The staff were very friendly and helpful. We had to park in a municipal lot and walk, but it was not far. In the past O have parked on the street also. The Root Cafe is a very comfortable and welcoming space. read more

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Stopped to grab coffee and a pastry on our way to the park. Love that all the pastries were vegan and they had so many unique flavors. We choose the pumpkin and were not disappointed. The coffees were delicious as well. read more

The Root Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

Delicious as always! Staff was super friendly and accommodating. I always make a point to add something to their community fridge/pantry. Very eclectic group of peeps and I always love being there. read more

The Root Cafe - My Egg Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

The Root is a perfect spot for some quaint chatting with an old friend, a good book, or some hours of studying (that is, if you can find a seat). The food is fresh and prepared to order -- with whole food ingredients + vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options. I often chose the Root Wrap for its heartiness & a golden milk latte for its Ayurvedic properties. Sad to say, although their gf vegan baked goods are often stocked, gf options for wraps + bread have recently fallen by the wayside. Servers are often welcoming upon your entrance. The most recent time I came here, there was a hiccup with my drink... as they made an espresso latte and not a golden milk latte - but they were happy to re-make it. The Root will never go out of style, for me. read more

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Okkkkk, Root Cafe! What a gem you are! As a vegetarian of 15+ years, I'm always on the look out for cute vegan spots. As a coffee lover, cafes are also always on my watch list. Root Cafe merges the best of both of those worlds into a cozy communal space right out of a Lifetime movie. There's local art on the walls, the obligatory blackboard menu, and mix-matched chairs. The staff was nice and along with the solo workers, there were small groups of family and friends, giving the space a real community vibe. I ordered their drink special for the day, but I can't for the life of me, remember what it was. As for food, I went with the "working person burrito." It came with black beans, scrambled eggs, sweet potato, onions, enchilada sauce, cheese, and a chipotle aioli drizzled across the top. Heads up, this burrito isn't fully wrapped up. That took me off guard at first. That said, it was delicious and I ate every single bite off my plate. A few additional notes.. There's plenty of street parking and a small lot right around the corner where you can pay with the app. The wifi was strong. I didn't have any trouble working on my laptop while I was there. Lastly, everything was affordable. Enjoy! read more

Great vegan cafe in Lakewood. The vibes are chill while also lively with many people meeting and chatting. There's plenty of space and tables to camp out and get work down. Luckily it never got too loud. There's a lot of natural light that comes in so it's pretty bright, which I appreciated. I got the sweet potatoe Sammy, which was a warm wrap with sweet potatoes, avocado, and some other veggies. The menu is vegan, but they did have regular provolone cheese, so I added that. My Mel was $27 total, so kind of pricey for a wrap and smoothie. The sandwich was really tasty and filling. I also got the matcha smoothie, which was good as well. Service was super friendly and pretty quick. I'd definitely return if in the area. There's no parking lot, but plenty of street parking around the cafe. read more

The Root Cafe - Sweet Potato Sammy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

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The vibes are so cozy inside and there's lots of natural light thanks to all the windows. The staff are very welcoming, kind, and patient. They were quick and excited to answer any questions I had about the menu. If you get the matcha be sure to ask for extra sweeteners/honey especially if it's hot because it is a little bitter and flavorless. The food overall though is so delicious. All the ingredients taste fresh and like someone really took their time (literally-- be prepared to wait a bit. it is all worth it!). I always feel so satiated and healthy after eating here. read more

The Root Cafe - Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

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The Root Cafe is a staple in Lakewood and is a good place to go for healthy and vegetarian food. I have been several times and really enjoy their sandwiches. I recently tried one of their pizzas, the Hoffman's bicycle one which was good but a tad too sweet for me with the tang dressing. The cafe is always pretty busy around the lunch hours, but people come and go so the wait for a table isn't too long. The service is fast as well. My one complaint is that the prices are very high for what you get. I feel that if you are paying $14 for a sandwich, it should at least come with a side. That being said, for me The Root Cafe is an every once in awhile treat for me if I want some good-tasting and healthy food. read more

The Root Cafe - Hoffman's Bicycle Pizza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

My second choice vegetarian restaurant in the Lakewood area of Cleveland turned out pretty good (the first one was packed). I found a welcoming menu of real food kind of items. The place was well attended by a young, hip crowd but I didn't have any trouble finding a seat. My matcha was offered with honey but fine unsweetened, and my vegan burrito offered no shortage of flavors, bursting with salsa, kale, sweet potatoes, and more. The check was higher than I would have thought, and included some high tip options (up to 70%!) for a place with counter ordering service. I didn't like them quite that much, but it was good quality food. read more

The Root Cafe - Matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

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What happened The Root?!?! I was there twice snd each time the food was mediocre. Too bad.

Came here after seeing Elf at the Becks Theater. It was a nice place for six of us to enjoy a warm cup,of tea or coffee after the show. The staff was really nice and the coffee was delicious. I had the card I'm on syrup,added to my cappuccino and it was really a nice treat. They had ceiling fans going on high which was the only down side. It was cool enough and just made for a bit of brrrr when the door opened,from the outside. Would return to enjoy other coffees. PS. They also have food, but we did not have anything. People were enjoying baked goods and sandwiches. Quite a few were sitting with computers or reading a book. read more

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Root is a really cool community coffee shop/diner. Food is organic, and vegan and GF baked goods uses Root's own flour blend. The room is L shaped with tables and counters. Duck and Rabbit coffee in bags is for sale, as well as other cool gift items. The menu includes salads, sandwiches, pizza, calzones, and breakfast items. Coffee comes in all varieties. I had from the dessert menu a 12 oz cup of Mayan mocha with a shake of cayenne that allowed a hot swallow. Delicious. There are also teas. Bring in your own cup! Order online! read more

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I've known about The Root for a while now. A few years ago, I was told by someone that it was their favorite coffee shop in town. It's completely vegan here. They have food too! And only alt milks. I got an iced vanilla latte, while my sister got an iced lavender latte, and my other friend got the lavender latte hot. Really good! Espresso was light, but the syrups were fantastic! I believe they make it in house? Staff was fun to chat with too. Friendly and smiley. They also love the donuts at the Vegan Doughnut place nearby. The space reminds me of a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop I used to go to back in college. Wood floors, plants, even a shelf with board games. They also had what I think was a communal fridge. Interesting concept! Would love to come back! read more

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Had an awesome brunch here today! They have a great lunch menu but they serve breakfast all day which I totally love. They have several breakfast sandwich options...it was hard to choose which one. I went for the Adam's egg sandwich and swapped out the bread for a vegan biscuit (for a $1 upcharge). It was delicious and didn't make me feel like garbage after I ate the whole thing, which is always a great bonus. My friend got the damn good egg sandwich and agreed it was aptly named...especially with that garlic sauce. I ordered a cafe au lait with their house made nut milk and house made cardamom syrup and it was *chef's kiss*. I will be back for sure! read more

The Root Cafe - Cafe Au Lait with nut milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

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I love this place, they have really good options to choose from and I've taken my picky bf and mom here and they enjoyed themselves. Everyone's really nice and the vibes just gives me small town cafe, like everyone's really nice, games, none of the furniture really matches lol it's very cute. The only thing that's kind of off is how long it takes for food but that's how I know it's being made fresh and it usually always is. Also it can get really busy in the morning so I just go after lunch. But I definitely recommend if you're starting your vegan journey or just is mindful about what your putting in your body. read more

The Root Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

My go to is the Adam's Breakfast Sandwich on gluten free with a side of the potatoes! Amazing

Great atmosphere, positive and knowledgeable staff . First time coming here , will definitely come back again .

It had been a long time since we visited the Root Café. It was every bit as good as I remembered. Although it was a crowded Saturday morning, things moved quickly, and we never felt rushed. read more

I found this wonderful place here on Yelp and was quite impressed. I wasn't greeted or even looked at upon walking in the restaurant, and there was no sign that said Seat yourself or order at the counter. I figured it out after a minute, grabbed a menu and went to order. I am pretty sure it's just due to staff shortages so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. They were friendly and the food was delivered within 15 minutes. I had the Working Man's breakfast burrito and it was tasty and gigantic. I got 2 meals out of it and I'd definitely go back and try some other items. Street parking was plentiful and not too expensive and there's a good vibe overall. read more

The Root Cafe - Working man's burrito and redskin home fries - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

Delicious refreshments. I got their ice latte with just oat milk because I wasn't feeling anything sweet. It was delicious. The atmosphere was great and there was art showcased everywhere. It gets pretty busy though, so if you are going with a large group it may be pretty tricky to find seating. read more

The Root Cafe - Matcha latte and an oat-milk latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

Tasty food with many vegetarian and vegan options! I appreciate the groovy vibes inside with many plants, large open windows, and the efforts towards sustainability- silverware instead of plastic utensils, mason jars and mugs instead of disposable cups, and even a composting option (that's odorless- so don't ya worry). The service was good and I also appreciate that they try to source their ingredients locally when possible. It is a nice place to hang out or do some work in a cafe setting. I recommend this place. read more

As someone who lived in Lakewood off and on years ago I definitely used to love this place which makes it extra disappointing to see what a crappy place it is now. There's a charge to refill drinks. The food is mid at best. The service is moronic. Stopped in with my daughter for a quick bite and decided to share a pizza. So that's two people ordering one pizza. This should be easy, right? Server drops off the pizza on a plate. One plate and sees both of us sitting there. Had to go up to the cashier and ask for plates. Which wouldn't have prompted me to leave a bad review but it was that plus the boring flavorless pizza and the prices that weren't justified by the product. The place is as quiet as a library which I find odd for a restaurant. So why go here? The food? Nope. Can get better tasting vegan food from a soulless corporate drive through window. Service? Nope. They get the tip at the time of order so they really don't have to try hard at all. And they don't try AT ALL. Ambiance? Definitely not. Dead quiet place and it feels like you're interrupting some solemn moment if you speak up and ask for something. Never trust a place that asks for the tip before providing service! read more

With COVID, I am happy to see they are taking social distancing precautions by wearing masks and only allowing 3 people in at a time! I got the My Egg Sandwich which was actually really tasty and a black n tan to drink. They have a nice tea selection, too, for those who aren't coffee drinkers. My only complaint was I had about a 30 min wait for 2 egg sandwiches which seemed long for me... but it was a Sunday and had a few people ahead of us so... first come, first served I guess! read more

The Root Cafe - My Egg Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

Food is good, service is adequate, staff is friendly. Value proposition is horrible though. Got a tiny sandwich, no sides or anything else, a coffee drink, and a cookie. It was almost $30 with a 20% tip. I saw nothing to justify this pricing. This was a $12-15 meal at best. The food cost on my food consumed, was $2.25-3.00 and that's being incredibly liberal. read more

My favorite cafe in Cleveland! This place is such a gym. You really can't go wrong with the food. The coffee is top quality, in my opinion. Starbucks is across the street but Starbucks is like McDonald's in comparison to this place. read more

Came in on a Thursday morning for breakfast and ordered Everyone's Egg Sandwich. It was absolutely delicious! The chipotle aioli with the melted goat cheese, spinach, and fried egg on multigrain toast was a perfect blend of flavors. Had some coffee that was locally roasted and a bit too acidic for my taste, but I'm going to write that off as choosing the wrong flavor on my end. My daughter got more of a scrambled egg sandwich and found it bland. Therefore, I know I will be back so she can try what I just had! read more

The Root Cafe - Everyone's egg sandwich. Delicious! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

Always have the best time eating here. Staff is super friendly, menu is large and everything is always fresh! I love that they sell local art and make drinks with their own nut milk. read more

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Wonderful food and coffee. Very slow food service. As many know the quality of product is out of this world. Wonderful, healthy food and exquisite coffee. A major issue is how long it took the food to come out. 20 minute wait for soup, and twenty five minutes for a breakfast wrap. Coffee was definitely gone before the wrap came out. read more

The Root Cafe - Root Cafe Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

Seems like they need to decide whether they're going to choose to serve walk-in customers or continue to prioritize call-in and app orders, because they have neither the staff nor the process in place to adequately handle both. Walk-in customers were told to expect a 50-minute wait time for breakfast sandwiches. Baristas were compelled to have their heads down in devices to facilitate remote orders while living, breathing, mostly confused human customers waited right in front of them. Greater efforts are needed all around to speak in volumes sufficient for use in customer-facing roles, especially if mask-wearing is going to continue. Everyone was low-talking and, for the record, 50 minutes sounds a whole lot like 15 minutes through a mask or anytime. That said, the Working Person's Burrito was very good, if you're willing to wait 90 minutes for it. read more

Sunflower butter cookie was green tinged and somehow managed to be soft in texture but badly drying in the mouth simultaneously. It lacked any sweetness and was trashed quickly. The chocolate chip cookie was so incredibly crumbly abnd entirely flavorless that it too was made garbage. read more

The Root Cafe - Green tinged sunflower butter cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

UPDATED REVIEW: I still LOVE the Root Cafe. My all time favourite dish to order is the culture sandwich. In my opinion, this is by far the best item on the menu. I am not even a vegetarian but I love this tempeh sandwich. Try it!!! The "my egg sandwich" for breakfast is absolutely delicious. I think the avocado and cilantro inside really bring out the flavour of the sandwich. I've also tried the "vegan style burrito" which I didn't actually order. A friend ordered it and I eat almost half of it. It was very good but I didn't realize it has onions inside so I didn't like it as much (I hate onions). I've had the Root Wrap twice now and while it is tasty, I didn't like the mushiness of it. It either has too much chipolte aioli or sweet potatoes. The wrap ends up being too soft/mushy; thus, when you try to bite into it, some parts fall off. Live music is here on some weeknight evenings so call ahead or check out their website for a list of events if you are interested in listening to a band. Or just call ahead if you want to come here to work or study because I know I can't concentrate too much if loud music is on. read more

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Decided to stop by and give this place a try. Just needed a mid-day coffee pick me up. The coffee and latte were absolutely not good. Very bitter flavor of coffee. Coffee isn't fresh. If you get iced or a latte it comes out of a container sitting in the fridge. Prices are high and not worth the cost. read more

I've lived in Lakewood for over 4 years and for some reason I've never been here. I'm glad I finally stopped in and I will definitely be back! It's so homey and welcoming when you walk in. Every member of the staff that I encountered were all super friendly. The gentleman behind the counter was very nice and helpful because I had never been there before. He helped me pick out a latte that I would like. They serving rising star and duck rabbit coffee which are the best coffee options in the area in my opinion. I decided on the brown sugar and cardamom latte. It was delicious! A little bit sweet for my taste but very good and came in a big coffee mug that made me feel like I was drinking coffee at home. I then picked a table to sit at. All of the tables and chairs are mismatched - I love that. It makes you feel like your at your grandmas house. I ordered "the working persons burrito" My burrito was huge! Enough for two meals (reheats well!) It comes in a tortilla and the insides consist of black beans, scrambled eggs, sweet potato, onions, enchilada sauce, cheddar cheese & topped chipotle aioli. The combination of everything was delicious! The sweet potato really made the burrito - soft and flavorful! I loved it. This seems like a place that regulars meet for breakfast on the weekends - I saw plenty of groups there meeting up. I will definitely be back to try more coffee and one of there delicious salads! read more

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The service was not great, and the drinks are always mediocre or just bad in general. I love supporting small businesses but ive never had a good experience with any of their drinks. The food is great though! read more

Great food and atmosphere. I ordered the green doodles and lentil soup! Delicious! A must stop! read more

The Root Cafe - Good food! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

Thr white chocolate raspberry scone was very good. Also tried the latte. Might want to come back to try the salad which seems seasonal

I met a vegan friend for lunch. I'm not a vegan. Thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast biscuit sandwich. I'll go back for that biscuit!

Excellent vegetarian/vegan menu, lots of drink options. The atmosphere is great too, very cozy.

Food was not good. $15 for a disgusting mushroom sandwich. Service was terrible. My chair felt like it was going to break. They had dirty plastic glasses that an employee handled with her hands. Everything was rundown. A disappointment for what could've been a lovely vegan experience. read more

If I lived in Cleveland, I would go to The Root Cafe all of the time. This is a vegetarian cafe in Lakewood with a large menu of foods and non-alcoholic drinks. They have everything from tempeh reubens, rice & beans, pizza and baked goods. All of their food is rich and flavorful and filling. My favorite is the tempeh reuben, it's a huge sandwich that is absolutely delicious! I love the vibe of the cafe too. It's full of greenery and has a very community-centered vibe. Plus it's in a great location. read more