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    The Root Cafe

    4.2 (423 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    THE ROOT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Root Cafe

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    The Root Art
    Jillian S.

    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.

    Sweet Potato Sammy
    Stephanie S.

    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.

    Matcha
    Ev L.

    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.

    Hoffman's Bicycle Pizza
    Katie E.

    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.

    Matcha latte
    John B.

    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.

    Cafe Au Lait
    Rose K.

    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.

    Debra V.

    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!

    Front part of the coffee shop and the register area
    Saphace A.

    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!

    Cafe Au Lait with nut milk
    Katie H.

    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!

    Jada C.

    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.

    Working man's burrito and redskin home fries
    R Y.

    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.

    Matcha latte and an oat-milk latte

    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.

    My Egg Sandwich

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    1 year ago

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

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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

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    2 years ago

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

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    Julie H.

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    3 years ago

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

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    3 years ago

    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!

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    3 years ago

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

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    Breadsmith

    Breadsmith

    4.5
    (79 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $

    Breads are out of this world good! Try the multigrain marathon bread!! Crazy good! I am on a…read morespecial diet requiring me to eat whole grain breads that are not highly processed--this bakery has saved me!

    Whenever I want to be transported to a makeshift European bakery, then I come to Breadsmith. Mind…read moreyou, I've never been to Europe but that's beside the point, haha. The breads at Breadsmith are fresh and made daily. I don't come here often but I should. I love walking inside to the delightful smell of fresh breads. I first tried one of their breads, the Rustic Italian bread in January 2019 when I bought it from Nature's Oasis in Lakewood, a little cafe and convenience store (see video and picture below). I finally visited Breadsmith in October 2021 and I've been back a few times in 2024. I've bought their white Country Buttertop Bread ($6.75) which can be bought sliced or un-sliced. I've also had their Honey Wheat (I believe that's the name). Both tasted so fresh and good. After 3 days, their breads will start to taste stale because they are made without preservatives. Next time, I'll ask if I can get a smaller loaf of bread instead of such a large loaf because I can't finish a whole loaf by the 3rd day. They also sell muffins, cinnamon rolls, honey, etc. I haven't bought any of those but I've had their pepperoni roll before which was just fine and slightly expensive. I wish they sold croissants. Come here for the bread and stay for the friendly customer service. I'll definitely be back. The cost of all their breads are reasonable. TIP -- They offer a customer loyalty punch card. After you've bought 12 loaves, you get the 13th for free. **** GOAL of 150 reviews in 2024 - 41/150 total reviews in 2024 - 691 total overall Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 2 June 2024

    Photos
    Very little bread for $5.25
    Very little bread for $5.25
    Breadsmith
    Vegan pumpkin cookie

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    Vegan pumpkin cookie
    Becker's Donuts & Bakery

    Becker's Donuts & Bakery

    4.5
    (120 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $

    I remember Becker's Donuts growing up as a kid in the late 50's and all through out the 60's. They…read morehad a store on Miles Ave between East 138st and East 139st, on the South East side of Cleveland. I lived on East 138st. My Mom loved their freshed baked Vienna white bread, as she would buy a loaf once or twice a week. She would also buy a dozen donuts, especially when compa y came over. I used to ride my bicycle up close to their store front window and they had a real pretty lady working their named Pauline. If i saw her there i used to wink at her, as i road by the window. (I was only 9 or 1o at the time). Every now and then she would wave me in and give me a free donut. So i have very fond memories of growing up with Becker's Donut shop right around the corner on Miles Ave, near East 138st. My favorite donuts were the cream filled ones. Yummy!

    The glazed yeast donuts aren't bad. They're the typical Cleveland bready kinda thick style but not…read moredry really. Not as moist and fluffy as Biagio's but not bad. A dozen is about $18 which isn't bad at all. The chocolate glazed yeast was also unremarkable. Not dry or stale or off flavored but just kinda there and not any kind of fluffy lightness you'd write home about. The crullers here are unique! Very rugated, soft, fall apart in your hand and quite tasty. Best in the Cleveland area and I'm not even a big cruller fan. The plain glazed cake had a great texture. Moist inside, some crispiness outside. But it had an offish kinda almost remotely lemony flavor I am not a fan of.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Pumpkin Donut
    Pumpkin Donut
    Interior Photo Wall

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    Interior Photo Wall
    Farkas Pastry Shop

    Farkas Pastry Shop

    4.8
    (73 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $

    We were in Copley, Ohio visiting my mother-in-law and I wanted to prepare a Hungarian meal for her…read moreand other family. I was looking for a bakery that makes Dobos Torte and came across Farkas Pastry Shop. Not only was the Dobos Torte DELICIOUS, it was a beautiful, fancier version of what my mother used to make for me growing up. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We also loved the poppyseed roll as well as the Tepertös Pogácsa. It was great talking with Mike while picking up my order. It was well worth the drive to Cleveland! Can't wait till my next visit to Farkas! Köszönöm Szépen!

    After reading so many great reviews we had to stop in. Not over but two days in a row. We don't…read morelive here so we had to get our fix and enough to bring home. We ordered the Napoleon, Amaretto Square, the Gerbaud, and Apple Linzer. The Napoleon was a 10 out of 10. We are one in the car and went back for more. The texture was great. Flaky, creamy, delicious. The Amaretto Square. Was good as well. Not too sweet, beautifully made. The Amaretto flavor wasn't as good as some others I've had. Maybe it's the type of flavoring/Amaretto used. The Gerbaud was definitely a crunchier dessert. Again made beautifully and has great flavor. The Apple Linzer. Another hit. The filling and Crust were perfect. Wouldn't change a thing. Service was great. Obviously this place has been around for a very long time. They know what they are doing. Only thing I would say is that it needs a facelift. Maybe not for locals but coming from out of town the look doesn't make you want to come in. Nor does the way the pastries are show cased. It just all feels run down. Not a place I would ever visit or offer good from ordinarily if I hadn't read such great reviews before going. We all eat with our eyes first.

    Photos
    Storefront close to St. Ignatius
    Storefront close to St. Ignatius
    In store menu
    In store menu
    Napoleon and Lemon square

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    Napoleon and Lemon square

    The Root Cafe - coffee - Updated July 2026

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