Taproot Lounge & Cafe

Enticing Menu, we went for breakfast; & ate lunch instead. sounded so delicious. Hard to decide. Not the same boring dishes like everywhere else so I couldnt wait. Our waitress was prompt & patient with me. I had her come back 3 times cuz I couldnt decided. She recomended the pork belly fat with onions & rice! It was SUPERB! Good prices. $19.00. YUMMY! I will visit again!

Great spot. I stopped in for a coffee and had a genuinely good experience. The server was helpful without trying too hard and actually took the time to talk. He shared how he moved from California to Salem over 10 years ago and gave me solid, honest tips on places to check out around town. The atmosphere is relaxed and intentional good art on the walls, not random clutter. He also explained that they host open-mic comedy and have bands play from time to time, which fits the vibe perfectly. It feels like a place that actually supports local culture instead of just pretending to. I’ll definitely be back.

We had a great experience at taproot yesterday. I took my daughter's and they loved the food. I had the sticky wings and they were done to perfection! My oldest daughter had a breakfast sandwich and the upbeat had pancakes and bacon. Overall it was delicious. The atmosphere is a little dark and we liked it! Our waitress was also the bartender and she did a fantastic job of being attentive to us! We will definitely be back.

I celebrated my birthday here last year, and all my guests were very happy with both the food and the service. The atmosphere was great, the staff were friendly, and everything went smoothly. A couple of weeks ago, I came back just to enjoy my favorite — and very delicious — couscous salad. However, I had to wait around 10 minutes just to place the order, and then another 20 minutes for the salad to arrive. Today I stopped by again and ordered a juice. First, I had to wait 5 minutes just to be seated (even though the place wasn’t crowded — only 3 other tables). Then I waited 20 (!) minutes for the juice. In total, 25 minutes for just one drink. Luckily, I wasn’t hungry and only wanted to enjoy the juice while reading. I stayed at the table for another 30 minutes, but no one ever came to check on me or bring the bill, so I had to leave the money on the table and walk out. To sum up: the food and drinks are truly delicious, and the place has a beautiful, cozy atmosphere. The staff are kind — but unfortunately, very busy and not attentive.

This place is a rare find in that they actually have products like vegan mayo or milk choices with everything from hemp, soy, almond, coconut, and regular so you can really build out your options on things like smoothies or other food items. They have vegan sausage and vegan cheese too. The menus are coded to stand out for these types of meal choices. They offer varieties of things like Brussels sprouts, edamame, and even samosas. Fries, tots, and onion rings. House made vegan patty for those folks that don’t want the usual beyond or impossible type options. All these choices and more are small ways to show that they care and they’re all well made and delicious. The amount of drink options for juices, smoothies, and more are enormous too. The folks there are kind and accommodating and the portion sizes are great. You feel like you get a good return for your money. The atmosphere is really nice. The small touches with an actual lit candle at the table or the ceiling that looks like a sky as well as other ambiance decor were well thought out. There is a lot of room in there for seating and doesn’t seem loud or crowded. It’s a child friendly place that made your kids feel like they belong. Our last waiter even gave the unicorn stuffed animal its own ice water. They had a nice round of activities and crayons available. I mentioned a lot of vegan options and this isn’t a vegan only place but that also means there are substitutions that cater to almost every need. Pricing is very reasonable. It’s clean. They’re also open late and on weekends.

Great healthy food menu. My Vegan kid was very happy with their meal and smoothie. I was happy with my non-vegan meal (an elk burger) as well, the tots were super yummy, and the draft list was good too :)

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'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.

The service at this bar is always great! They have really tasty cocktails, that also give off aesthetically pleasing vibes. They offer a lot of seating, sometimes outdoor seating as well.

Didn't order any food but my friend did and seemed to enjoy it. I gave this place 4 stars based on its vibe and atmosphere. Super old school vibe and lots of character ... great local beer selections and cool Staff. We had the pirate ale which was an interesting change from my usual Guinness on tap.

I have never had a experience like this before here. But I feel like I need to say something in hopes that management or the owner sees this. I have zero issues with the food. The food is always good here. But the service has absolutely been terrible this visit. The moment we get to the door the waitress had an unwelcoming attitude. My party had been seated outside and we watched people go and out of the restaurant for an hour and thirty minutes and they were upfront about a waiting period for our food but this has been a little bit ridiculous. We ended up just leaving without getting our food.

Used to be a fan of Taproot. Hadn't been in a while, decided to try it out for breakfast. Got the eggs and potato hash. The hash was so salty as to be inedible. And I like salty things, but whoa. Also, they had two sets of music playing, like one on top of the other, or maybe they were playing one song in one part of the space, and another in another space; but they overlapped, and it wasn't pleasant. The music was LOUD. Don't think I'll be coming in again anytime soon.

Fun atmosphere, trendy food choices and great staffing. Always a great time when we go

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.

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

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.

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 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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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

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

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!

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Taproot is one of my favorite lunch spots in downtown Salem. If possible, ask to sit on the sofas in the back to get away from the noise and for a more comfortable experience. The Brussels sprouts are a must have appetizer! I recommend getting them without bacon and blue cheese, but follow your heart. I opted for the sweet & savory burrito which has such a unique combination of flavors that somehow work together. This burrito makes me feel like Emile from Ratatouille when he eats grapes and cheese together for the first time.