ROOTS Cafe

We've been here for a Valentine's Day and it made our day! The food was insanely delicious, so multicomponent, rich tastes, great recipes... I'm European, and struggling to find a good cuisine in Charlotte, but this is the one. And the service is nice:) thank you

We might have found our new go-to spot for good food, great service and amazing coffee! Me, my wife and my daughter stopped by ROOTS Cafe on a Saturday morning and it was obvious why the place was packed. Only two tables were open so we quickly scooped one up. You order at the register so we went with a Bananas Foster Latte and Crème Brulee Latte to drink. Both of those were top notch! For food, we ordered Avocado Toast, Breakfast Burrito and the BELT. Food was brought out timely and tasted amazing. Everything we ate was delicious. We will definitely be back again even though it is a 45 minute drive! Would highly recommend ROOTS Cafe!

Quaint and cozy coffee shop with cute vibes. Not a lot of seating so you may need to wait for a table. Coffee was exceptional and the breakfast options we ordered were alright, a little burnt/overcooked. Pricing was a little high for the quality but we would still come back for a nice treat. Looks like they have fun evening activities too with cocktails and games!

Wow such a hidden gem. I came upon this place because I was across the street after dinner looking for a coffee shop that was opened and found Roots. Lovely staff. The espresso was delicious and I didn’t realize they had cocktails too and let me tell you the Finding Rose #2…. Amazing. The place is so cute and has such a beautiful vibe to it. They also have food which I didn’t know about. Will definitely be back!

Zoë with Offline - so glad I was able to go to Roots Cafe!!! It is extremely welcoming and the staff is fantastic. While small, the seating is comfortable and tables outside. Diverse menu, good for all dietary needs. Latte was 10/10. All of us for different dishes and each was delicious. Great portions. I will definitely be back! Ample parking. Great location in Southend.

Cute cafe! We stopped in for breakfast on our way out of town around 10 am on a Saturday. The Croque Madam breakfast sandwich - delicious! The breakfast sandwich was yummy too! My Americano was hot and just perfect. Bagel double toasted as requested. Snug little place - we got here just in time to snag a little table for two. Judging by the number of guests, very popular spot! We recommend!

Roots Cafe in South End has been a favorite for years now. Whenever I’m in the area I stop in for one of the best lattes in town - only use house made syrups! Their breakfast and lunch menu has superb rotating choices. I can’t ever stop ordering their goat cheese grits bowl in the morning, but at lunch the salads call my name!! The Roots Bowl is a classic but this salmon salad was beyond delicious!

I luv to venture out of Fort Mill and into Charlotte and RooTs was a great find !! I don’t eat a lot of meat but the soup that I had was DELISH !! ..it had meatballs and rice .. name ? 💭 can’t remember 😛.. but the pleasant staff , the decor and the ~just right size~ of the dining space gave it an authentic vibe I want to return to !

The breakfast burrito has so flavorful! Such a unique flavor that I have never had before. The ambiance was so warm and chill. Hubby had smoked salmon bagel. He doesnt eat much for breakfast so the small size of this dish was fine for him. Just a very thin smear of cream cheese and one piece of thin salmon on each side of the bagel (with lovely microgreens and capers). Drip Coffee was yummy!

Love, love, love!!!! A must try!!! Service is great, food is fresh and it's such a cute place with a cool vibe!!

Pulled up before a haircut - first time in. The place is really cool inside and has a comfortable and clean vibe. I ordered a breakfast burrito to go - because I wanted something fast. That was what was suggested - also got an Americano. I was in and out in probably 5 minutes. Very solid! I would come back for sure.

Upon entering the ambiance was quiet with modern decor. Server was warm, welcoming & provided input on menu options. Hummus tasted fresh & creamy. So enjoyable I almost finished it before remembering to take a pic lol. I enjoyed the pecan maple bar & caramel chocolate chip cookie equally. The blt was by far one of best I've tasted. Unfortunately, the star topper cocktail didn't taste how I'd imagined it would & left me with an off putting aftertaste.

Leaving 4 stars because they were so slammed and took forever to get our food. I dont know the situation in the kitchen if they can fit more cooks they definitely need too but I know it's small so I dont know if they can. Didnt see what it looked back there. Otherwise food is very good and worth the wait. Seating is also very limited as well as parking

The food was pretty good. Definitely would come back if I'm in the area. Not a huge menu, but we both found something we liked. The coffee was not very good. The iced latte did not taste like a latte. Service was pretty fast and there were a lot people.

Best Vegan breakfast burrito ever!!! When I tell you, this is my new go to spot after crazy night to refuel and recharge!

I love Roots Cafe! It's such a vibe & I stumbled across it one day searching for coffee shops. I drive about 25 minutes just to get a bacon, egg & cheese croissant because it's so good. I've also tried their latte. There's indoor & outdoor seating. The dining area is so small but I never had issues with finding a table, regales of how crowded they seem. There's small and large tables with plugs for computers & phones. Love this place. Came here and was able to brainstorm on some projects & have a nice bite to eat on a few occasions.

I guess I was so hungry I took pictures of everything but the food! The environment and service was very nice! I was disappointed I hadn't made it over sooner but I'll definitely be back. I ordered the breakfast Sammy on a bagel with sausage. They have an affordable menu and the serving size is good! I'm excited to come back and try some different stuff!

Service is attentive and considerate. We sat outside on a gorgeous Saturday. The tables were very clean and nicely spaced. Our order came out very quickly. The flavor is great and the combo of veg/protein is perfect. We will return!

Great honey lavender latte. Breakfast sandwich was good. Both indoor and outdoor seating. Very busy inside. Also serves lunch

Best breakfast sandwich!!! I have been looking for cozy spots to grab a quick bite when down in Charlotte for appointments from time to time. This place is adorable, the people were super nice, and what I thought would be a plain Jane sandwich was A-Mazing!!! I also loved that when I asked simply for water they gave me a large container so I didn't have to always wait for refills (I drink a ton). I have found the spot! Although I don't live in the area, it looks like a peaceful place to get work done, there is also outdoor seating, but there are signs requesting you to limit your time during peak hours. I don't think that's an unreasonable request at all. Their hours are varied and they are open until 10pm some nights so I'll definitely have to head back for dinner.

The interior design is nice. That's why it gets 2 stars. The food prices are a joke. The breakfast sandwich is simplistic, dry, and $11??? For 2 slices of bread, 1 egg, 1 slice of cheese, and some bacon???? No sauce, no house specialty, no flavor. Could easily make the same thing at home for 1/4 of the cost. The breakfast burrito is 70% potato and beans and will run you for $15 if you want any protein. Not to mention you get lukewarm water.

Breakfast Sammy on croissant. This is a classic and a southend staple. Place is always slammed I recommend ordering ahead and forget about getting a table on the weekend

Their chicken caesar wrap is really really good! I'd come back again for it- that was the only thing I tried.

I came here while waiting for my dentist appointment, and it was pretty nice. The cafe is very peaceful and quaint, and the food was really good. Great place for a quick breakfast :)

If you're looking for a quaint, homey coffee shop in the heart of the city.. then look no further than Roots Cafe in South End!! This location is almost hidden around the corner from the Atherton shopping center, but that factor helps create the calm ambiance of the space. I got the BELT sandwich which included bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato and the star of the show.. the pesto spread!! This delicious sandwich paired with an iced latte was a perfect brunch! The cafe had lots of parking but limited seating inside, though they did have a small patio. I'd love to go back to try one of their other sandwich options!

We stopped in for a bite to eat on a rainy Saturday morning. I parked on the street and didn't have any trouble. We arrived and it was very busy. You have to put your name in and when a table becomes a available, they seat the next person in line. There are tables for up to 6 people I believe. Most tables seat 4 or less. Once we were seated, our sever popped over and took our orders. I ordered the Smoked Salmon. It includes Housemade English muffin, lemon schmear, dill, shaved cucumber and local radish. I also ordered their hash. The sandwich was very good. There was plenty of salmon. The sandwich was filling and had great balance. The hash wasn't my favorite. It definitely though it was going to be more a potato hash but it was sweet potatoes and it had a strange taste to me . All the components didn't mix well for my taste.

It was an okay place. My husband and I got the fresh start wrap, the vegan breakfast burrito. It was good but forgettable and not worth the cost for the amount of food you get. My friends also got a series of different dishes and not all of them loved their food. It a really cute location and the service was fast. I just wouldn't go again.

We come here minimum once a week-favorite brunch place in CLT! Their breakfast Sammy and vanilla latte are always incredible. We've also started going at night for cocktails, dinner, games, etc. and it's just as good! Super cute environment with both indoor and outdoor seating, and the staff is always incredibly nice and helpful!

Roots has always been a cool local spot. Not as good as it used to be. Portions are smaller and priced higher. Per usual I suppose. Barely any chicken in the wrap. Nice spot to sit outside

Were here for breakfast with my friend! It was absolutely delicious! Delicious coffee and croissant with bacon! We enjoyed it very much, I will definitely come again!

PHEW did this place have one of the best breakfast burritos of my life. I ordered the classic breakfast burrito with a delicious, thick, hot, sausage patty. My memory is typically poor but some things you just can't forget! The beans and sweet potato were a unique touch and the chipotle aioli was just dripping with flavor in my mouth. I took the whole thing in one sitting! Hot sauce at the tables to spice things up, a meaningful touch, just how I like it. Absolutely delicious! Docked a star due to the size of the place and difficulty in finding seating. Kind of like a first come first serve. We turned into hyenas in there stalking our next available seat but let me tell you, what Roots Cafe lacks in size - they sure make up for in quality. You gotta love it! Bravo!

To all my matcha drinkers, you have to try the new iced coconut matcha latte! Perfect summer pick me up.

I love this place. The vibe inside is so calming and my coffee is always tasty. I love being able to grab a smaller breakfast to start my day and this english muffin sandwich was sooo good. I also found it to be reasonably price. I always recommend this place!!

My husband and I tried Roots one Saturday for breakfast. The location is convenient in Southend, directly across the street from West Elm. There's plenty of parking in the lot, or on the nearby side street. I ordered the avocado toast and added scrambled egg with cheddar, and my husband got the breakfast burrito. We both got lattes with extra shots. I want to start with the lattes, because I haven't had coffee this excellent since Crispy Crepe closed. They use whole milk as their standard, and it made the lattes so creamy and delicious. (Oat and almond milks are also available.) They use locally roasted espresso beans, too. My avocado toast was a unique combination of avocado and grapefruit vinaigrette. I liked the tangy addition from the grapefruit! The scrambled egg was cooked flat (like an omelet), and topped with a slice of cheddar. The serving was generous, and I couldn't finish it (even though I wanted to). My husband loved his breakfast burrito. The black beans, chili aioli, and added added chorizo provided such wonderful flavor! I would have preferred a bit more cheese, but he was fine with the standard amount. He's been commenting about it all week! There's limited seating inside, but there are a few tables outside, and they told us they are expanding into the space next door for more room. The interior is very cozy and comfortable, but we can't wait for their expansion. We'll definitely be back!

This cafe was so cute! The service was fast even with a large line. I got the B.E.L.T sandwich for breakfast while my boyfriend got the breakfast Sammy with bacon. They both were delicious. The decor in this cafe was so cozy and gave off the perfect boho vibes. Plus, great outdoor seating if you're bringing your fur baby!

Stopped by this place to get a mid day pick me up! Cute, quaint with friendly staff! Parking is relatively easy, located around similar buildings as well as plenty of street parking available. They were busy when we came in but was able to get seats at the bar pretty quickly. I initially came in since I was craving a good latte, but ended up ordering a whiskey chai which I'm so glad I did! It was so good! Just the right amount of whiskey to chai. I absolutely loved it paired with my cinnamon cookie, ugh to die for! I've been wanting to try this place for awhile, so I'm glad I got to stop by, even if it was just for a snack. I am definitely looking forward to coming back and trying the rest of their menu!

Super cute brunch place. I believe they also do wine and tapas at night, but I've only been for breakfast. It's pretty small, so be prepared for a wait, especially on a Saturday morning. They don't have tons of parking spots, but there is a good amount of parallel parking around. I got the croissant which had ham, egg, and honey on it. It was delicious and filled me up.

The staff here are rude. They try to cover it up with a fake smile & sarcastic "oh I'm sorry" followed by rolling their eyes. It's a shame they treat people this way. Please hire people who have actual costumer service skills. I believe in giving a place a second chance in a couple months to see if anything has improved since food was really good & had the best coconut matcha I ever had.

It's a little tight in there but was a good place to pop into for lox on an English muffin and to get work done before a meeting. Get their early to get a good spot is my recommendation cause it fills up quick but the chai tea I got was delicious.

Have eaten here twice, even though we live out of town. The food is pretty good and they allow dogs outside. The only downside would be the cost.

nice spot. coffee, food, cocktails...try not to go before say 12:30 pm on Saturday...South End's gonna South End. (Closes at 3, reopens at 5) huge amount of salmon on the English muffin...still thinking about it. had a delicious gin/honey/cucumber (if I remember correctly) cocktail, and the wife had the breakfast sandwich and coffee...all good.

Overall great experience... I've actually been a few times over the last few months. I got the breakfast burrito. Greatness! I love how the coffee is local as well. My only feedback is better customer service. The first couple times I went the older women in the front would just stare at me and wait for me to speak. It was strange. The food is great though so I'll keep coming back ! I do food reviews on TikTok! Check it out @SwaleEats

I'm on a mission to try every coffee shop and/or cafe in Charlotte... This was my first time to Roots Cafe. The dinning area is super cute. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Seems to be a pretty popular brunch spot because their wasn't any open seating. The staff was polite. I had their Breakfast Burrito with sausage and that was amazing! Their chai tea latte was good too. I would say it's a spot worth trying.

Ended up here because the place we wanted to go to had a long wait but it worked out perfectly! This place is decorated very cute & cozy and seems like a great spot to get some work done. They have tables that can fit groups or solo diners. You order then seat yourself and the waitress will bring the food to you when ready. Everything was tasty and fresh.

Roots cafe is the most perfect spot to work, meet up with friends, or grab a quick to go bite/coffee. The atmosphere is earthy & welcoming. I typically get the iced latte with caramel, and it's 10/10. love this place!!!

Service was very rude. I've never wrote a bad review before but they made me feel SO uncomfortable and bad. On top of that, I ordered a cappuccino to drink there and when I sat down on a table they just throw it on a to go cup. I had such high hopes for this place but I'll definitely be not going back there.

Came to do some work and had a good experience! The places is very cute and has seating indoors and outdoors. However, there are not many tables. I came on a weekday so luckily had not problem finding a table. When I first tried to login to Root's Wifi, I had trouble as there were too many people on the wifi. After trying a couple more minutes I was able to get on. I ordered the BLT with vegetables on the side. The BLT was good and the bacon was very crispy. I didn't love the vegetables on the side as they were very salty. I also ordered a latte that is not pictured with lavender syrup and loved it. It had a perfect amount of milk in it :) I'll definitely come again for coffee/food! Staff was also very friendly.

Shame..such a cute space. I stopped in because I was shopping in the area one weekday morning...their breakfast sandwich options looked good online and I had some work to get done. I got in line to order and immediately, I got a stale/unwelcoming feeling from the staff. I was given that "why are you here making me work" look. After ordering I looked for seating (pretty limited) but if you're looking for an outlet for your electronics, forget about it unless you're sitting along the wall. I ended up stalking a table and snagging it as soon as some other guests left. I was honestly getting the most weird and unfriendly vibes I've gotten from an entire staff at an eatery. I was brought my sandwich (which was really good!) and shortly after, brought a pastry that I didn't order. I politely informed the staff person (to be courteous bc clearly, the pastry was for another guest) and she sort of goes back and forth with me "well this is your number!". Weird af lol, yikes. I asked another staff person for water and she looked at me like I was sprouting a new head. I also saw her roll her eyes several times at other patrons. I'm giving it 3 stars because this is my one-time anecdotal experience and I will not be back to give them another try. But looking at other reviews, the rude staff seems to be a culture problem in the establishment. Not cool. There are way too many nice spots in Charlotte to be spending my money where the staff acts like I'm unwelcome. Next coffee shop me, please!

Roots is a go-to for me and my friends. The food is great but they don't have ketchup :( One downside: VERY limited tables! Sometimes you have to wait in line to get a number and wait for a table to open up... then once a table is open for you, you have to get BACK in line to order your food... then you can finally sit down. Its a hassle but I still keep coming back ‍

I cannot say enough good things about this place. I've been a loyal customer for the past year and they have never disappointed me. I love this place with all my heart. They make the best breakfast burrito in Charlotte. Thank you for always taking care of me!!!

So we are visiting in Charlotte and looking for breakfast too accommodate our vegetarian tongue. We found this place thru Google maps and decided to give it a go. There were a couple this great and a couple not so great. Here we go: Location: This is located in a somewhat residential business area. In a strip of bottom stores, but in a very nice community. Great for the locals to work directly to. This location is slightly small, as full capacity may be around 20 ppl seated inside. There are a few tables outside available. They also have dogs treats for the locals walking about. Atmosphere: This was by far the best thing about this place. Super cute and great vibe. Great decor, and great music. Perfect place to have a business lunch with a small team, or sit alone and tap away on your laptop. Price: Price was a tab bit high, but not surprising for the community. You can walk into the location and get a breakfast meal and water for 10 bucks flat. That seems reasonable. Food: This was a big plus and minus. My husband had the egg and vegan sausage croissant sandwich. It was really good, and rightly seasoned. I had the avocado toast and a chair latte. I did not finish either item. Avocado is my absolute favorite! It is actually going to be a main dish in my cafe in Heaven...good Ole Avocado and salt (can't beat that). So you can imagine my disappointment to get bad tasty Avocado toast. It's too easy of a dish! But here is where I believe the problem is, thawed out Avocado. So the Avocado was cold and no flavor with weird texture..but it local (color wise) fresh. I believe they cut it fresh in advance, and freeze it for the morning of. They must place it in the frig each morning or night before to thaw. I get it. Seems like that would be a good way to prep, but NOT with the mighty Avocado. Blah blah blah. COVID: Staff all wore masks. No requirements that I noticed for customers. So overall, this is a toss up on if I would go again if in the area. I would tell others to try it (just maybe not the avocado). Totally worth the Atmosphere, and tue vegan sausage sandwich. But if I was going specifically for food...I may reconsider. You don't mess with the sacred avocado! I gave it a 4 because I really want them to win! Vibe, music, service and great.

Great food with amazing service good place for a meeting over coffee or to sit and get some work done in the morning.

The Skinny: Cute tucked away cafe with a variety of options and a great taste. Atmosphere: Quaint location in South End a little tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main street. Order at the counter, seat yourself, and they'll bring your food over style. Food: My friend and I were looking for to try a few different things for brunch during out trip to Charlotte and Roots was the perfect spot. Everything had a little unique twist and great balance of flavors. Ordered the avocado toast, loaded grits, and cauliflower gratin. Don't just look at the entrees because the sides all looked delicious (and could serve as a meal) as well. Avocado toast was very nicely plated but overall pretty small portion-wise. Good if you want something light. Grits bowl came with a good portion of bacon, peppers etc for a nice hearty meal. Cauliflower gratin was a nice healthier yet just as delicious substitute for a potato gratin - cheesy and creamy. Overall, would recommend everything we had. Service: Food came out quite quick and everyone at the cafe was super friendly and helpful. Price/value: $$ Pretty good prices, portions vary. Would I come back? If I'm ever in the area yes! Would love to try the rest of the menu - had a hard time deciding what to get because all the options looked amazing.

Visited on a Saturday afternoon with a former coworker and it was packed inside around noon, however, we were still able to snag a table. It's very small on space with a bar area and tables of various sizes packed closely together. There are also about 2-3 tables outside in front of Roots. As other reviewers have mentioned, you walk in and place your order at the counter. If dining in, you grab a number and plop it down on your table of choice. They pride themselves on serving locally-sourced ingredients so you can feel pretty good about anything you order. With menu options such as Basic B, avocado toast, and various bowls, this place is the perfect spot for millennials. As a millennial myself, I enjoyed my bowl but I wish there was a bigger portion of sweet potato offered in the bowl. My former coworker ordered the bunless veggie burger and cleaned her plate. After around 1:00, the place died down. We had a couple people check in on us for water refills and to take our plate but we never felt rushed as we ended up staying and chatting until after 2:00. They serve various coffee drinks that I wouldn't be opposed to trying but I cannot see myself coming back as it's not in my regular 'hood and there are a ton of other places that I enjoy more for brunch/lunch.

Located just off South Blvd in the space occupied once by Cluck-n-Cup, Roots is an eclectic, hipster joint offering up their POV to the interested, curious, and hungry. Today I mosied in for breakfast. I ordered the Basic B which is two eggs over easy, two strips of bacon, and a white/sweet potato hash topped with a tomato jam. It was cooked perfectly but arrived lukewarm which surprised me since I was the sole patron. Tasty, however, and gone in a jiffy. A couple things I didn't care about. The tables appear set up for table service, but it's a walk up counter, and being unfamiliar with the menu, I felt rushed (the staff was friendly, I just wanted more time). My coffee was refilled and the staff asked about the meal. Nice. Secondly, I dislike having to choose tip options when the payment screen is spun around. I feel like an el cheapo if I don't throw something into the cup, but, damn you haven't done anything that's not obligatory. If I lived in the neighborhood, Roots would be an easy walk over. Would I drive outta my way? Not really. However, I still say "give 'em a whirl." Lets support locals cranking it out

Nice atmosphere to meet up with the girls, brunch date or alone. The decor is very homie. I loved all the plants.

I have been to Roots 50 plus times. Great food every time. Really solid and well sourced food product. Recent interactions with a front register staff member will require intake a bit of a brake and try again in a couple months. She is not friendly. Does not agree with basic coffee drink specific requests. Too frustrating to have same person present obstacles to standard requests I have had tons of times. I hope someone will recognize she needs retrained or replaced.