Located at 487 Cambridge Street just outside Boston in Allston, Massachusetts, Root serves up hearty and delicious vegan meals with a ring of truth to them. It was our impression that the chefs of this restaurant were not simply creating vegan alternatives to popular meat dishes; instead, they seemed to be exploring the vegan cuisine by preparing meals that highlight and combine the natural flavors of the fresh ingredients they use. In short, the dishes served at Root are not trying to be anything else – they are simply to be enjoyed for what they are.
Root’s dining area
Atmosphere
The dining room is simple and quite small with only a few tables and chairs. The restaurant receives plenty of natural light and being right off a busy street, is a great place to people watch. Once you make your menu selection, you order at the cashier and after watching your meal being made in the open kitchen, it will be brought to you at your table. The atmosphere was friendly and ultra-casual.
Open kitchen where you can watch your meal being made
The Owners
The original owners are Dina Jalal and her husband Hin Tang, who currently own and run FoMu, a fantastic vegan ice-cream cafe in Allston and Jamaica Plain. Root’s mission is to show that simple plant-based foods can be delicious, accessible to everyone, and enjoyed by all.
Menu
The menu, which is listed on two chalkboards on either side of the cashier, mostly consists of various wraps, sandwiches and salads, as well as fresh juice combinations and other in-house made beverages, such as their basil lemonade and grapefruit mojito.
Famous Root burger with herbed fries
We could not resist trying the famous Root burger, made with black beans and quinoa. It came with lettuce, tomato, onion rings and garlic aioli with a side of either dressed greens or herbed fries.
LA Wrap with dressed greens
Mindy’s mother ordered the LA Wrap with b
Delicious tostadas with side of organic greens
I tried the sweet potato tostadas which included c
Service and Prices
Root Vegan Restaurant is not a full-service restaurant, but we were still welcomed into the restaurant and the cashier gladly answered all questions we had about the menu and did so with a smile. The prices were reflective of both the quality of the ingredients and the care that went into each dish.
Environmental Responsibility
This is the first time we have included an Environmental Responsibility section in a restaurant review but have done so because we were very impressed with their obvious concern for how their business affects the environment. We would gladly order take-out food knowing that their containers are biodegradable. In addition, the cups that customers use for the self-serve water available in the restaurant are not only made out of recycled materials but are also compostable. It is our hope that other restaurants use the environmental policies at Root as a model for their own.
The next time we find ourselves in the Boston area, we will be sure to visit Root again. I’m dying to try their quesadilla!