Root Hill Cafe
Photo by Nomi Lubin
"Root Hill is a very pleasant and intriguingly designed space to be in, from the unusual light fixtures that mimic a pressed tin ceiling to the modern tables and chairs to the green fabric covered, built-in couch-like structure wrapping upwards around the middle of the floor," writes Man Seeking Coffee.
Root Hill is known for its Clover-brewed coffee, and loyal customer Nomi Lubin wrote in to tell us that this machine makes it worth paying "over three dollars for a cup of coffee. It's freakin magic, that machine. It somehow takes the bitterness out and leaves you with a kind of complexity of flavor that is simply beyond anything I've ever had before. It requires nothing; I drink it black because anything else detracts." Adam Kuban for Serious Eats writes, "The clever owners are clearly hip to the hype surrounding the machine and know that folks love to watch how it works, so they've installed an angled mirror on the ceiling for your viewing pleasure."
Chowhound dimples comments on Root Hill's food offerings: "We got a chicken salad sandwich and a salad; the sandwich was served on chewy, thick WW bread that went really well w/the chicken. The salad was carrot w/toasted pumpkin seeds on red lettuce. The salad was quite nice, w/the pumpkin seeds adding a contrasting flavor." Kristen Haas for A Brooklyn Life adds, "Root Hill Café recently introduced a full breakfast menu to compliment its Blue Sky muffins and pastries from a 9th Street Patisserie, and I can't stop ordering those homemade cookies." How would you rate this place?
Reviews (7)
benson wrote a review on April 7, 2009 12:30 PM
I love this place. It's part of my morning ritual to stop in for a cappucino prior to boarding the nearby subway. What I also like about it is the folks who run the place. They are friendly and down-to-earth.
I also appreciate that they have a pitcher of water available for your meals, rather than promoting the bottled-water rip-off.
toadie wrote a review on April 7, 2009 12:37 PM
I've tried the clover coffee twice, and been somewhat disappointed. Struck me as a good cup of coffee, but nothing extraordinary or worth the price. Nice place, nice folks, and a very convenient location for me, but for some reason I haven't tried anything but the coffee.
fsrg wrote a review on April 7, 2009 12:43 PM
may be a great place for a 'hang' but SLOW SLOW SLOW Service......
gkw wrote a review on April 7, 2009 1:30 PM
I agree the service is terrible! I get my coffee at the spanish place down the street because don't have time for the wait there...
Brooklyn Chicken wrote a review on April 7, 2009 1:36 PM
It's not really fair to comment on Root Hill as a restaurant. I love the place, and I love the Clover Coffee (two days' worth of caffeine in every cup!), and I love the Blue Sky Muffins. But I'm sorry to say the prepared food I have gotten there has mostly not been very good. The oatmeal (not very hard to make) was delicious, though. Service, as noted above, is extremely slow -- maybe they need to give some free Clover Coffee to the staff?
Root Hill is a coffee place with good baked goods, great for a day when you have an hour to kill or need a place to chat with friends.
Nomi wrote a review on April 7, 2009 1:51 PM
I've experienced the service as unusually friendly and service-oriented. I have not yet ordered prepared food, only coffee and baked goods. The delivery time on those has been fine. I'm already quoted above on the Clover coffee; the baked goods I've gotten have been excellent.
I enjoy sitting there. The feeling is just more welcoming than many other cafes. I'm very fussy about coffee and have not found anything comparable in the area even to Root Hill's regular brewed coffee, which costs $1.50 for a small.
rafael wrote a review on April 7, 2009 2:27 PM
Nice place to sit and have a coffee where you know they care about what you are drinking (and eading) The few times I've eaten anything (snacks or cooies) they've been quite good. The clover is reliably good and a nice option if you're a coffee lover. I prefer espresso to American coffee (Clover or otherwise) and they make a mean shot.
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