The Root

This place probably deserves 4 stars on an average night, but my experience only gets 2.
My friend and I went and were just a tiny bit underwhelmed by the atmosphere, but that’s excusable. Once we saw the menu we were convinced we had made a good choice. We ordered fries with parmesan cheese and truffle aioli as an appetizer and some beers. The fries were good and we had high hopes for dinner.
My friend got a burger and mac and cheese and said both were delicious. I ordered a vegan burger and a side and the kitchen was out of both items. I had to settle for something else entirely and was not terribly impressed by either the main course or side I picked. On top of that, our server wasn’t all that attentive during the meal.
We were offered a free desert to make up for the trouble with my order which was a good gesture and which we accepted, but being unable to have basically all of the things I intended to have as my meal and being unimpressed by what I ate instead, I can’t really say I’m excited to go back to The Root anytime soon.

Moving away from Elon has left me with Root withdrawal.
MUST HAVES:
Edamame dip
Brussels sprouts
Any soup of the day
Vegan burger
Caprese Sandwich
Crispy topped fries

My dinner was good, though it was nothing I had to take friends back to.

Food is supposed to be great, but staff was incredibly rude!!! Tried online ordering which took forever because it kept kicking us out each time you click next screen. When we finally called to verify if the order had gone through, it took 20 minutes to get anyone to answer the phone. When they finally did answer, they said they didn’t know if they had the order. I told the girl who answered the phone that we were having problems w online ordering and wanted to verify if they had to order. She said «Sorry we are very busy. No body else is having a problem with online ordering.»
Really? How can she possibly know that? How many people would work as hard as I did to get an order in? Wouldn’t they just give up?
I was finally so frustrated with how condescending she was that I just hung up on her bc she was so rude. I’m not interested in spending my money to support a business who thinks their food is so good that they can be rude to customers. I’ll spend it next door at another great restaurant with nice staff.

I ordered Shrimp and Grits, and it was very good. My friend had ordered brussell sprouts. I have never like brussell sprouts but my friend made me try because she said they were so good. I tried and couldn’t believe how good they were. They have a crispy texture. So far, anything I have tried has been very good. It is a place I like to take family/​friends to when they come to Burlington.

Great little place! Was visiting family in Elon so we decided to meet at this place and it was so worth it. I ordered a burger while another family member the sweet potato starter. Both very delicious!

The Root is our favorite «date night» in this area. Usually don’t come when school is «in» but we were craving it tonight. Very disappointed this time that the amazing fried chili corn on the cob has been removed from the menu. Hope people complain until it comes back! Until then… truffle fries will have to do.

Excellent goat cheese burger. Full of flavor. Quinoa salad was also excellent and the fries were nice and crispy. Loved it.

Wow were we impressed by The Root. Visiting Elon we wanted to eat somewhere local & this popped up in our search– what a treat!
We started with the fried corn on the cob which was out of this world! I’m not sure it counts as a vegetable after its trip to the deep fryer, but it was so good we didn’t care. My daughter & I each had their foodie grilled cheese, which was outstanding (I added bacon & arugula to mine). I also had their crispy topped fries as my side dish & we all ate them greedily. I am still thinking about that sandwich & fries. My son had a burger which was hilariously huge & very juicy.
Honestly, I wish my daughter would go to Elon just so I have an excuse to come back to this place. YUM

Good food, extensive craft beer selection and very trendy. The crispy Brussel sprouts are excellent and the sweet potato fries have just the right amount of crisp. The barbecue tofu sandwich was tasty with lots of sauce. Very flavorful.

There is no better restaurant in the area other than The Root! Everything on the menu is worth trying and I have never been unsatisfied. The crispy topped sweet potato fries are my number one suggestion. Such a weird combo but absolutely delicious! The service is great and the décor is another highlight. Definitely worth the trip from Liberty to eat at!

Food was good and the atmosphere was pleasant and unique. The menu has a cute twist on American cusine I ordered the Shrimp Scallop burger which was very tasty. Their famous Truffle Fries are a must have when you come here.

The food was excellent. The service was horrible. They were unfriendly and inattentive. It ruined the whole experience.

Super cute place and tasty vegetarian food. We were very happy with our meal there. I will be going back as soon as possible. Very reasonable on the ol pocket book too.

The crispy Brussels sprouts are AMAZING. I didn’t even know I liked them until I had them here for the first time. Both the regular fries and sweet potato fries are delicious as well. The portion size is nice and the menu includes salads, soups, wraps, sandwiches, burgers… pretty much everything. The staff is made up of mostly Elon students and their all very friendly.
This is a great inexpensive lunch or dinner option in Elon! I would highly recommend it to anyone stopping through.

Worth the drive! My husband and I took a Sunday drive to Elon, NC which was about 25 miles from our home to experience The Root. I had been in the area the day prior and was given the recommendation from a coffee shop nearby. We were both thankful to have taken the chance.
The restaurant was nestled in the most charming area. The seating was comfortable and cozy and the staff was friendly and eager to please. Our server Amy was super nice and very helpful in picking out our entrees. She informed us that most all the foods were local and fresh. There was gluten free choices as well as vegan choices.
Our appetizer was the Crispy Topped Sweet Potato Fries. They were amazing and nicely crunchy. They were drizzled with a yummy mayo glaze and sliced fresh scallions. My husband commented that they were the best sweet potato fries he ever had.
The soup of the day was Tomato Basil and it was fresh made and very tasty.
Both of our entrees were delicious and were a hefty portion. The Sloppy Joe was heaping with ground beef and homemade BBQ sauce topped with just the right amount of melted cheddar cheese on top a large and delicious bun. The side was fresh made coleslaw that was not drowning in mayo. The Flat Iron steak was perfectly cooked to medium and extremely tender and juicy. The flavoring was just right and the steak was not overpowered by the seasoning. The green bean side was spiced to my liking and had just the right amount of crunch.
The manager knew we came a ways to try The Root and she was kind enough to offer us complimentary deserts for our travels. The crème brûlée had the right crunch topping and a creamy texture custard that was just the right sweetness. The gluten free brownie was a big size and very good with a delicious vanilla ice cream oozing with a decadent chocolate syrup. All the deserts, we were informed, were made fresh by the manager. Let’s not forget my hot coffee which was in a big mug and had a deep fresh taste with no bitterness.
Amy told us that they have special salads for the four seasons and each one is unique and equally delicious.
So guess we will be driving to Elon often

Visited for the first time last Friday night. The wait staff was friendly and made some nice recommendations when they heard it was our first time there.
We tried the Edamaname Dip. The House — made chips were delicious, would have liked a few more cucumber slices (2 really?, what’s the point). The dip itself was light and refreshing … but lacked something. Not a homerun.
The entrees came out about 1 minute later, I am sure on a busy night that never happens, my friend got the Mozz Burger and I the Root Burger. We agreed to each split them so we could try both.
Fantastic, both burgers were great. The chips and fries were great … could not have been more thrilled with these. Worth going back right there.
We also both had Grit Cakes, I think we agreed they were nothing to get too excited about.
But nothing else mattered, the burgers blew me away and made me a regular going forward. AWESOME!

I’m delighted at the service in this spaciously quaint Elon establishment. From the moment I arrived until the moment I walked out 90 minutes later, I received remarkable service.
As a vegan, there are plenty of options on the menu and I chose a seasonal salad that did not disappoint.
Since I was new and interested in several items I ordered an appetizer that upon delivery was cold and not hot. I sent it back to the kitchen.
Five minutes later the manager was at my table with a personal apology and a recommendation for a different appetizer. I accepted and enjoyed the new dish.
Ten minutes later the manager was back at my table with a brown paper sack and a complimentary cup of vegan soup for me to take home and sample.
My bill at the end of the evening had only my salad charged to me.
Will I be back? Without question. And I’m already planning for that to happen sooner than later.

For those unaffiliated with Elon, this is a great stop between the Triangle and the Triad. It has a funky vibe that can lend itself to a casual lunch or to a date, while the delicious food and solid drink choices will keep everyone happy.
I recommend the shrimp dip as an appetizer, preferably with some sort of spicy beer (I had this with the ltd edition Fullsteam Cackalacky — beer with a theme of ginger — and it was perfect!).
I had the Mozz burger, and it was absolutely delicious, though I recommend adding sliced tomato to it in order to get it just right. My sweet potato fries, though they appeared burned, were absolutely perfect, and I enjoyed having the perfect range of tender vs crispy bits to choose from.
My boyfriend had the Basil Bleu Cheese Burger, and it was delicious albeit a bit dry (again, I recommend adding a slice of tomato). He had crispy brussels sprouts that were delicious, conjuring up flavors of sauerkraut more than the conventionally scorned vegetable.
We shared an order of cheesy grit cakes (out of curiosity), and they had perfect texture though they were a bit on the bland side. I won’t be getting them next time.
The service was friendly and attentive (never an empty glass!) but never overbearing, i.e. just the way I like it. I can’t wait to go back!
ALSO: You can call in an order for pick-​up! Dangerous knowledge…

Great spot for an after-​school sit-​down lunch or a convenient dinner-​date spot. The Root does not offer a wide range of options, but its restaurant atmosphere offers an escape for on-​campus dining for those who don’t want to go too far.
The service is amazing and you are more than likely to be catered to by your fellow students. If you want a quick fix, you can call ahead or utilize their phenomenal online ordering system for take-​out orders.
I would say the hours are the only real downside to The Root. Their primary customers are college students, but they don’t always cater to the hours of a college student. During the school week the latest they stay open is 9:00 (on Mondays its 3:00).