Taproot Lounge & Cafe

I’ve been a fan of Taproot Lounge & Café since a close friend introduced me in 2019. Located in a charming 1860 historic building in downtown Salem, it’s always had great vibes and a solid focus on smoothies, fresh juices, and plant-forward plates. They have full breakfast menu as well. Their Brussels sprouts dish has long been my favorite, I never skip it when I’m in town. So when I met up with a visiting friend yesterday, we headed there right away. Sadly, this visit fell short. The Brussels were bitter, under-seasoned, and oddly undercooked, totally unlike the dish I loved. We also tried the Spicy Bowl, which felt underwhelming. The carrots and snap peas didn’t have the usual vibrant crunch, and the sauce was more of a whisper of spice than a real kick. It just didn’t hit the spot. On the bright side, my smoothie was delicious as always, this place consistently nails those. PARKING NOTICE: Important if you’re visiting after July 10, 2025. Downtown Salem is ending nearly 50 years of free on-street parking. Starting July 10, 2025, you’ll have to pay for street parking in the Downtown Parking District. Parking garages will still be free, but permits will be needed for employees, students, and residents. More details look up the article on Statesman Journal about Parking Change. Taproot is still a place I love and want to keep supporting, but I’m hoping this was just an off day for the kitchen. I’ll definitely return for the smoothies, but maybe I’ll ask if the Brussels are having a good day first.

It has the best flavor, the drinks are carefully made and delicious, and the burger was amazing! The servers are amazing in service, and the cooks definitely know what they are doing. The sauces are perfect and this place is worth everything! Would recommend highly. Taproot is the best.

I have gone here before for dinner and love the food, drinks, people and atmosphere! Today I went for breakfast for the first time and was mind-blown! I tried the loaded biscuits and gravy which was phenomenal, and my friend got the deep fried pancakes! We were both amazed by this food and will definitely be returning for breakfast again soon!

An incredible spot! It’s a favorite in my lunch hour especially! So many healthy and fresh options! They are definitely very unique in both food and drinks. Everything I have ever gotten has always been delicious. The staff are friendly and attentive.

I’m really disappointed in how far this place has declined. It used to be one of my favorite spots to eat. After a bad experience last year, I decided to give it another try, hoping things had improved—but sadly, they haven’t. I used to love the Willamette sandwich, but this time it was a letdown. The bread was drenched in butter, and there was barely any peanut butter—definitely not the generous portion they used to serve. I understand that food costs have gone up, but so have menu prices, so it’s frustrating to see quality decrease. We were also surprised to be charged for drink refills—$14 for four lemonades—and weren’t informed ahead of time. While our server was friendly, that’s something that should absolutely be communicated. My husband ordered the chipotle chicken tacos, which were served cold, and the tortillas were overly greasy. We’ve been loyal customers for years, but sadly, I don’t think we’ll be returning. The food quality has dropped significantly, and the place itself feels like it’s falling apart.

If you're out of town or looking for a new favorite place this is the spot to try. Food is always 10/10. High quality food all around. The atmosphere is wonderful as there's a sitting area in the back for meetings, there's a nice gorgeous bar, and a nicely sized seating area for families to eat. Kids are welcome until about 8pm I believe. Live music at night on some nights, and just an all around great experience. This is definitely a town favorite. The owner is also very friendly and a great person to get to know. My absolute favorite thing is their freshly made juices whether they are blended or juiced, never ever store bought. Negatives: The bathrooms are usually a tad bit dingy, there's graffiti on a few items in there as well as a smell sometimes. An air freshener would help a bit. The booth seats have a pretty thin cushion so whenever I sit down my mind thinks it'll be a soft landing but I quickly realize every time that it's an extremely thin pad as if I were sitting on 2-3 blankets on a wooden bench.

The atmosphere here is great! They are pet friendly, so if you don't like dogs...I would not recommend. The shuffleboard table is a fun way to spend your time (it's in the back, you get the equipment by leaving your driver's license @the bar). Expect a wait on the weekends it's a popular place!

Tasty food but portions are a bit sparse. The spicy bowl was tasty and the ingredients were great but it wasn’t very satisfying. The chicken salad sandwich was diced so the whole thing fell apart when trying to eat it. Pancake was nice and dense with a good flavor. Glad I went but I wouldn’t go again.

I've been a fan of Taproot Lounge & Café since a close friend introduced me in 2019. Located in a charming 1860 historic building in downtown Salem, it's always had great vibes and a solid focus on smoothies, fresh juices, smoothies, and plant-forward plates. They have full breakfast menu as well and my friend says their ciders are solid. Their Brussels sprouts dish has long been my favorite. I never skip it when I'm in town. So when I met up with a visiting friend yesterday, we headed there right away. Sadly, this visit fell short. The Brussels were bitter, under-seasoned, and oddly undercooked, totally unlike the dish I loved. We also tried the Spicy Bowl, which felt underwhelming. The carrots and snap peas didn't have the usual vibrant crunch, and the sauce was more of a whisper of spice than a real kick. It just didn't hit the spot. On the bright side, my smoothie was delicious as always, this place consistently nails those. PARKING NOTICE: Important if you're visiting after July 10, 2025! Downtown Salem is ending nearly 50 years of free on-street parking. Starting July 10, 2025, you'll have to pay for street parking in the Downtown Parking District. Parking garages will still be free, but permits will be needed for employees, students, and residents. More details, look up an article on Statesman Journal about Parking Change. Taproot is still a place I love and want to keep supporting, but I'm hoping this was just an off day for the kitchen. I'll definitely return for the smoothies, but maybe I'll ask if the Brussels are having a good day first.

Overall really good experience! Food was great, it came out in good time and was served nice and hot! Service was great, the server we had was patient and frequently checked in on us! Ambiance is comforting and welcoming. There's a lot of seating and it is good for an early morning breakfast, mid day lunch or even a nice place for a drink with friends. Would definitely return!

This is my all-time favorite lunch and dinner spot. Taproot is always the best place to go however it could definitely use some TLC in the booth seating as well as the bathrooms. The food feels so clean, so high quality, and the servers are pretty quick and extremely friendly. Their food options are by far one of my favorites, as they offer juices as beverages and I'm always for that. I always get the cucumber Apple mint juice and it makes me feel so good right before my meal! Sitting at the bar is always a really good experience too! They offer live music some nights as well. An absolute gem for Salem downtown.

I am not sure if they changed management, or if it really depends what you order. This place was recommended by a friend- and my Mom and I went there in the fall of 2024 after an appointment we had in Salem. It was sooooooo good! Both of us loved what we ordered, and we were pleased with our coffee drinks, etc. However, the 2nd time I went about 10 months later- I took my husband and we were both disappointed with our meals that we ordered for seperate reasons. His dish was the "Israeli Couscous Salad" and unfortunately we didn't see that description in the menu that said "tossed in their house spicy sauce". He said it was way too strong, like someone overused red chili sauce or crushed red peppers and it made his stomach turn and he lost his appetite and only ate about a quarter of it- and we intentionally did not elect to take our leftovers. ANd my dish, I ordered the "Chorizo Jalopeno Hash" but apparently when I subbed the chorizo for veggie sausage it confused the chef and so they subbed my country potatoes for TATER TOTS. So, I got served a plate of tater tots, with some jalopenos, onions, cheese sprinkled over top and my eggs were forgotten. I ate my fresh avocado and the veggie sausage, but that is basically all I ate of that food that would be served in the County Fair. It was not appetizing at all. This dish we did not eat, or take leftovers which says a huge amount for me and my husband. ANd, we even paid extra for the veggie sausage. It was such a slap-in-the-face in the quality of food and such a drastic change from my first visit with my Mom to my 2nd visit with my husband, and we don't go to Salem that frequently, so I'm not sure if I will revisit it and give it another chance to be honest.

Fantastic fun staff that seems to love laughing and sharing smiles. But remember to wait to be escorted. You won't be chided for seating yourself, but you'll get some good-natured ribbing. The place is well appointed with thoughtful touches. There are numerous vegan choices, which wasn't my preference but great for those groups that have meat eaters and plant lovers. The regional beer was great and the price was pretty, pretty, pretty reasonable.

Great little spot! Good food, friendly service. Nice tap list, tasty cocktails. Within walking distance to my hotel when I'm in town.

Oh my god this meal was so fricken good. The combination of the sweet potato's (that were cooked to perfection), the seasoned tofu, and the chili beans mixed with the avocado and tomato was like that scene in ratatouille when remy was giving his brother emile cheese and grapes from Gusteaus kitchen with the fireworks going off in his imagination. That literally happened to me. As a life long vegan, I approve this message

Stopped in based off a recommendation from a neighboring bar. Taking a break from driving, I needed a snack and wanted a drink while I took some time to explore the downtown. Bartender was 10/10. Experience was 10/10. I ordered the nachos with pulled pork. The mf goat cheese 10/10

Had a brilliant time at Taproot Lounge and Cafe a few weeks ago We walked in and were immediately greeted & seated! Loved the vibe of the decor which left us all feeling comfortable and relaxed! Superb service, delectable drinks (Mary enjoyed a Jungle Love while Nanci happily imbibed a Tequila Mockingbird) plus some terrific tapas including their not to miss Brussel sprouts, fries with honey mustard & something we made up- Guac Tots !! An absolute on the #mangiamammascale

Very healthy and vegan friendly (if you want it). All the food is delicious and savory made from scratch. Had the pesto chicken sandwich and it was superb. Açaí bowl was also delicious and any drink out of this world. Also have a dog menu and caters to dogs.

FIRE FOOD!!! Got the taproot tacos with veggie crumble and it was so good!!! Pretty fast service and cool ambiance Bestie got desert bowl and it SLAYED BOOTS Other bestie got chipotle ranch tacos with chicken and IT ATE AND LEFT NO CRUMBS (except there were some crumbs left on the plate)

Such a cute & cool place. We stopped in for breakfast and the food was fabulous. So fresh, light and delicious. Server was very friendly and just had a great breakfast. I had the Farmer's Wife and hubby had the biscuits & gravy. Have you ever had biscuits & gravy that were light & sauced with a light gravy? This is the place. It was so good. Including fresh spinach & a cup of fresh strawberries & blueberries. Highly recommend.

I tried a pressed juice which was absolutely delicious. I'm glad they had to-go options for that.

If you are vegan or vegetarian please note there is NOT a dedicated fryer for the vegan/veg food. Our server informed us of this when we were there for Mother's Day and I was very grateful. Sadly, like many places that have vegan options, you cannot trust the hot foods are not cooked on the same grills or fried in the same fryers with everything else. There are some cold salad options that will work, but I'm sad my main go to in Salem is not safe.

This place has super tasty breakfast foods & coffee. I also love the ambiance in this place, it manages to be both a nice brunch spot to take your parents and a chill nightlife hangout place.

Met the owner at Willamette Heritage Center at his cafe there ( which was very nice) and he let us know about his place in downtown Salem. We went and LOVED it. Great service, cozy atmosphere and great food. Don't let the front appearance fool you. Real gem inside. Have visited Salem for three years and this will be my go to going forward. Michele is awesome at the downtown location but all of the staff was great!!!

Service was awesome!! Came here on a Friday night and they had live music. All the food was good and reasonably priced.

I was pleasantly surprised by this place. I highly recommend it. The bloody Mary was delicious, the atmosphere fun, and everyone fog looked amazing.

Would recommend! Our food was all very good (elk burger, taproot tacos, carnival smoothie) and the servers were friendly. Its also so cute in the restaurant! I love the lanterns, the music, the organized chaos feel. I'm coming back!

First time was incredible and bar none amazing. Sad to learn it's a hit or miss with the kitchen. Egg yolks were over cooked, nobody came to check in on me- I had to ask for my own bill by flagging them down while they were bringing items to another table.

Elkhorn burger was amazing. Fun atmosphere and clean. Service was on par. Would definitely eat here again

The good: the service here was spot on. We were greeted by the host and seated right away. We were there on a not busy weekday early afternoon. They took our drink order and we got them pretty quickly. This place is super cute and has a fun atmosphere. They have a beautiful shuffleboard and lots of fun art. The bad: the potato cakes were overly cooked and dark brown in color. They had no flavor and very hard on the outside. I don't know if they pre make them keep them frozen then reheat them or what, but they were terrible. The veggie sausage was also a huge disappointment and they were also over cooked and very dry with little flavor. The eggs were cooked perfectly but had NO seasoning. I didn't bother to send it back since we were in a hurry and it took awhile for our food to come out. I would try this place again and order different food, but I am leery.

Consistently consistent Stellar service Stellar food Stellar ambience Need I say more Nope! Favorite restaurant in Salem

I friggen love everything about this place. But I mostly love the desert bowl, davotacos, and samosas. And they're drinks are great. Staff is super friendly, it's clean enough. It's not just for hipsters - is that a word anymore? There's all sorts of ppl there. It's a gem here in crappy Salem

Great place to eat. Love their menu. Lots of plant-based options! I've visited several times and have never been disappointed

Highly recommend acai bowl. It was generous servings and really good. Like the booth seating area. Would love to come back.

I read Taproot had an amazing veggie patty, so I figured I should give it a try. When I got there I was super intrigued by the Willamette, which is essentially an elevated pb&j. I decided to combine the two and asked for the sandwich without bacon, but adding the veggie patty. The server was great and made it happen! The veggie patty turned out to be amazing! It was a mix of grains and veggies, and perfectly matched the peanut butter and house made marionberry jam. There was just the right amount of blue cheese to enhance the other flavors. The tots were also perfectly cooked. No complaints!

Vegan food here is great. The roasted Brussels sprouts are delicious. The juice is so good for you.

UH-MAZING literally nuff said! But I'll say more! We came here as our first outing with our sweet pup. We sat outdoors and the waitress was kind enough to bring us water for him. I tried an amazing mojito mocktail and enjoyed the date salad. My husband got their chicken tacos and said they were fabulous. We also shared the brussel sprout starter with the house mustard. Honestly just incredible from start to finish! Looking forward to coming back and maybe trying breakfast next time!

Visiting from Portland with a friend and stubbled on this cute place, great drinks, cool vibes, friendly bartenders, and delicious food , hidden gem!

Another rotten meal in Salem. Another spot where people who were sat after my group were served their food before us. I ordered the poutine which came out last was cold and tasted like fries covered in cold Campbell's mushroom soup. Really bad. We waited nearly 90 minutes to get our food. If a restaurant knows that the kitchen is backed up and it will take a while for the food to come out TELL THE CUSTOMER!!!! Don't bother coming here.

Very yummy food and drinks, especially the chicken tenders and fries. Also the lemonade is good and the servers are nice.

This place was so neat! There was so much for the eye and wonderments. The cocktails, the appetizers, the service, the environment and the elk burger....all fantastic! When we visit Salem again this is totally on the ToDo list!

Went to Taproot at 3:00 today. We were seated right away. It was not crowded and there were maybe three or four other tables with diners. People who arrived after us (and sat right below us) were able to place their order. We sat there 20 minutes without being offered water or an opportunity to order. When I tried to point this out to the waitresses one questioned me about where we were sitting. We were perfectly visible at the only table in the front window! Pretty sad service!!!

This was a welcoming restaurant for a group of late Sunday night hungry patrons! The service was outstanding and the variety of food accommodated everyone's tastes!

Food is decent. Service is awful. Really awful. Had to ask for something for the table more than once. It was never delivered. Waitress seemed drugged.

Adorable place. Waitress was sweet & excellent. Food was very good with a great selection. On the down side we waited about 45min for our breakfast. Also my wife ordered a menu item but made a change, she was charged full price (13$) but ended up with less food (more like a 8-9$ meal).

Excellent eatery that caters to the health-conscious but leaves plenty of options if you're wanting to go the other way (hello, chocolate layer cake!) Along with a commendable choice of brunchy food choices, there are various juices, shrubs (!), coffees and teas (fire chai!). Everything is fresh and minimally processed, and they have a knack for blending comfort foods with gourmet flavor combinations that make it clear why this place draws people in like a local hotspot. I visited recently and tried the veggie burger with a side of sweet potato fries along with a side of the flash-fried brussels (with blue cheese and balsamic glaze, which I believe is a mortal sin to omit). Both dishes were extremely fresh and flavorful. I'm not all that into fries, but I loved how light and crispy these fries were. I went to the bathroom at one point, and someone accidentally cleared my table. The staff graciously made me another order to go and wouldn't accept my offer to pay for the 2nd meal. This place has a nice vibe, and they have live music on some weekdays. Highly recommended.

My best friend and I have gone to Taproot Café and lounge at least a couple of times now and we are always happy to be there when we visit, and leave full and satisfied! The menu is packed with fresh, vegetable forward, vegetarian and vegan options. The cocktails are delicious, and the atmosphere is lively both inside, and outside in nicer weather. The one thing preventing a 5 star review is that the service is just okay. Nothing outstandingly bad, just not great. One of the times we went, we waited a very long time in between check-in's from our server, going without refills on our water and waiting a very long time to order another round of cocktails. Nothing that's a major dealbreaker, but it does stand out. We will still be back though because the food is delicious and it hits a very particular spot when you want to eat delicious, flavorful yet healthy hearty food.

Had a late lunch here and found the food to be generally disappointing. Not terrible, just not at all good. The beer list was solid, so that was nice. Our server was indifferent without quite crossing the line into blatant unfriendliness. The person who seated us was nice and the restaurant was cute, so it gave a good first impression. It just dropped off quickly the longer we were there.

Breakfast here was absolutely delicious. Got eggs Benedict and the potatoes on the side were perfectly crispy and salty. The whole meal was savory goodness heaven. Partner enjoyed her scramble and smoothie as well. Mmmm will be back for more and would love to try their dinner and drinks menu next time. Went around 10am and it was nice and quiet inside, not a bunch of people, chill ambiance and love all the brick and plants.

An order of brussel sprouts is a MUST here! It's perfectly seasoned and roasted. I recommend asking for a side of balsamic to drizzle on it. Great service. Great food.

Absolutely delicious vegan burger! The Brussels sprouts were amazing also. Will definitely return the next time I'm in town

The bartender was super kind and personable. They had an array of NA beers to choose from. The food was different but really good.

Some friends and I went there a few weeks ago and it was my first time there. I got some sort of chicken bowl and it was so good and the perfect portion size. The only thing I would say that didn't really meet my standards was it took like 15 minutes for the server to bring us water and I was very thirsty. Other than that, a really good experience!!

Been visiting taproot a few times this year and each time is a different experience. Their food is good, but the service is hit or miss. Most recently, the lady and I visited two times in the last two months and both times got the same waitress. Nice and polite, but not very attentive. I can't count how many times they walked by our table (with low to empty glasses) before realizing we may want another round. In other instances, other workers jump in and are more attentive. Other than that, it's a good spot to chill. Cheers!

This local downtown bar and eatery always does a brisk business and for good reason, it's SO GOOD. Breakfast lunch dinner and late night, all great. They have a bloody Mary you can probably order all day long but especially at breakfast is so ridiculously over the top satisfying, it could be a breakfast all by itself. Getting a breakfast dish too is almost like having two breakfasts. I/we have been there many times and a few times had what I'd call perfunctory service--efficient but not overly friendly--but this last time (mid-August 2024), our server was spot-on perfect: warm, friendly, efficient, etc. And you know how the food and ambiance can be great but the server can make or break your experience? She was great! The food is uniformly creative and fresh, and it is a great local place that I want to highly support. Lovely historic building, with some live music in the evenings. During good weather, they have outside dining tables as well. Word of caution: like all the other eating and drinking establishments at the intersection of State Street and Liberty Street that have outdoor dining, on nearly every Friday night throughout spring, summer and fall for the past two years (2023 and now 2024), you will be forced to listen to a truly awful street musician who is holding the entire neighborhood hostage with an electric guitar (same four chords over and over again), an amp, and some off-key tone-deaf "singing", who will make you wish you were eating indoors. If you see her there on a Friday night, you might want to ask to dine indoors.

La comida muy deliciosa y el lugar muy agradable se lo s te comiendo voy a regresar me gusto mucho

This place is nice, it's one of the healthier places there is. It's hard to find a decent place that has vegan options. I've also gotten food from their happy hour menu. The quesadilla is the best ever! Their happy hour starts at 3-6 on Mondays-Thursdays. I prefer their happy hour menu. They also have live music sometimes and gives the place a nice vibe. The people that work there are always pretty happy.