Grassroots Neighborhood Eatery

My family has been coming here as part of a Christmas outing the past few years. The atmosphere is modern yet cozy and the menu is unbeatable. We love ordering a variety of appetizers for the table before the main course & we have never been disappointed. Great place to spend an evening, eat well crafted dishes & enjoy conversation with family/friends.

Looked online for a place to eat before going to Black Ensemble Theatre. Took a chance after reviewing their menu. This place was phenomenal. The Vegetable Bruschetta was done well and not smothered in balsamic. The carmelized salmon was outstanding and the pomme frittes steak was very tasty, well seasoned and cooked to perfection. Top it off with warm and friendly service (Daniel was great) and you have a hit. We live 40 miles away, but will be back. It’s well worth the ride!

Very cool atmosphere at this place, and good cocktails and entrees. Service was great and a bit laid back so we didn't feel rushed. Focused menu with several great choices of meat, vegetarian, salads or pizza. A few gluten free and vegan options as well. The sweet and savory pizza was particularly good. The only minor drawback is that all beers are bottled with no drafts, but they still have a good selection that pairs nicely with the food. Bonus points for a family restroom in the lobby, which adjoins the nearby theaters. Close to public transportation as well. Get it

Unfortunately, a combination of poor timing and worse traffic led us to grabbing sandwiches on the way to the theater. But even with our limited time, the folks at Grassroots managed to squeeze us in for some quick desserts before the curtain. The Dark chocolate walnut tort, turtle cheesecake, and toffee creme brulee were amazing. And the staff was gracious and accommodating with our unique (and maybe a little demanding) situation. Thank you Grassroots! We will be back, and maybe next time in time for dinner

Great experience after going to a movie near by at the Movie Box. The staff is very conscious that many people dine here before a show at the adjoining Mercury Theater which I really appreciated. The menu changes with the season. This month they added a beef short rib pasta dish that had me basically licking the bowl the dish was so tasty.

I've said this next statement about another restaurant I visited not too long ago so please do not think this is a copy and paste. Why is this restaurant not busier??? Four of us went to the Mercury Theater and came here for dinner following the show. Great service, easy to decide menu if you know what you have a taste for and a drink menu that will give you enough options to make sure you're not left with just water at the table. We started with muscles and calamari. Sort of lucky no one left with any tong stab wounds at the table. We were all fighting for the last of each in the service dishes. And this must be said... DO NOT let the muscle sauce go to waste. Make sure you tell the server to bring you extra bread and enjoy that sauce. If you let them take the dish and you cannot see the bottom of it, you and your party have made a dreadful mistake. We enjoyed everything from linguine, pizza, a burger and steak. Nothing and I mean nothing to say here on any dish. We all had smiles, we all shared, we all enjoyed. Our waiter was the bartender as well so he offered up his suggestions on his favorite drinks and pairings with the foods. He makes a heck of a Manhattan and Martini! We sat here and watched people come and go. Not one complaint from the floor. But again, this was our experience. If there is a reason why Grassroots is not busier, we did not experience it on this date. A must go-to if your in the area, especially if you are taking in a show.

A neighborhood gem. Grassroots serves seasonal fair, with constantly rotating menu. Great mix drinks, you can get a beer or a glass of wine for less than 10 dollars. Brunch is fantastic....big fan of the tuna tacos. The dinner menu does not price itself out of being a weekly restaurant stop. They call themselves a neighborhood restaurant, and if you spend enough time at Grassroots, or down the street at the Music Box or one of the Surs, you'll see Lynne & John saying hello to various passersby. Any day of the week, Cubs Game, theater performance, or rainy Thursday, it is just a nice place to be. Good people and good food. Great restaurant, and when you sit outside great people watching to boot.

Greeted warmly and quickly by host. Seated outdoors in partial shade as requested. Attentive waitstaff as waited for brunch companion. Low-priced iced tea. Frequent water refills. Tasty vegetarian omelet with fresh ingredients from southwestern Michigan farm. Delicious fruit plate starter. Unrushed service as completed meal. Affordable, varied brunch menu. Will visit again for brunch or lunch.