Gina L.
Yelp
We stayed at the H.S. Clay house B&B for part of our 25th anniversary road trip. The way the proprietor, Kelly, spoke so glowingly about Root Rood + Wine, we knew we couldn't pass up the opportunity to eat there. It was like being invited to your cool foodie friend-of-a-friend's house. It's an intimate experience, going into a converted house and having a seat at one of the few tables in the front room. We were made to feel like treasured guests the moment we set foot onto the property.
The mixologist, Dylan, who was super friendly, came and told us all about his carefully crafted cocktails. I highly recommend the old fashioned, a complex and lovely cocktail. I can believe it was 23 ingredients--there was a depth of flavor, all well balanced and nuanced, that I've never encountered before. Our second drink, we challenged him to make us his interpretation of a negroni and a martini, and he brought us absolutely delightful luxury versions.
Between the husband and me, we've been all over the world, had all sorts of gustatory experiences, and it's hard to surprise and delight old campaigners like ourselves, yet every new dish that came out did just that. They introduced us to several new flavors we'd never encountered before over the course of the evening. We went with the 3 plate option, hubs got one series of the dinner menu, and I got the other so we could get the whole picture.
I went with the mushroom barley soup and literally said, "this would totally be what they'd bring you when you were sick if you lived in The Shire." It was magical, dry ingredients served in the bowl and the most fragrant broth poured over at the table, fragrant and surprisingly rich for being a clear broth. My second course, the salt roasted beef and fingerling potato was lovely, tender and nicely seasoned. The husband got the smoked duck breast and it was so perfect--the center was a glorious deep purple-red, and there was a curl of crispy skin--it made him really miss his grandma, whose duck was so good that all duck he's ordered after her passing has been a disappointment until that evening. The last plate was a gorgeous little rich desert, I got the chocolate caramel mousse and hubs got the pecan and maple semifreddo and we traded halfway through. Both were rich and sweet, nice balance of crunch and creamy without once being cloying. We finished the evening with Irish coffees that came with a fun little side cup of whipped minty boozy cream because it was St. Patrick's Day.
Over the course of the meal, we got to meet most of the folks working there that evening, they all seemed so very cool, those rockstar kids out doing what they love. It was a fantastic energy. They treated us like favorite auntie and uncle. Dylan even brought the husband a new cocktail recipe book he was getting a big kick out of, like your favorite nephew would bring you a new toy to show you when you came to visit! We are so over the moon, we're already planning our next trip there!
Sounds like they get busy as the wine tour season really gets under way, definitely make reservations as early as possible. Looks like they have a fun patio when the weather's fit. We will make it a point to stop there as often as possible! Go give it a try and help these lovely folks keep their dream alive!