On a section of Grand Street that has experienced an influx of young families, professionals and hipsters since the deregulation of Cooperative Village (a group of 4 massive brick apartment complexes) in the late 1990s, Roots & Vines has staked a toehold as the neighborhood joint amid the amalgamation of old and new in this part of the City.
In its open, airy and contemporary space notable for its communal white oak table, stainless steel bar, industrial French café chairs and sidewalk cafe, morning guests perk up with rich espresso roasted by Counter Culture Coffee and fresh pastries from Eli Zabar's; young parents with their children get a quick bite to start the day, and writers and students take advantage of the free wi-fi to work on their laptops while munching on street food snacks as the day wears on.
At night, returning commuters, couples and event-goers off to see a show at Abrons Art Center sample street food offerings including summer rolls, an Asian chicken salad, Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, Mexican tortas and tacos, all of which are $10 or less. Singles at the bar get a quick bite of the Saigon burgers with a side of chili-spiced fries during happy hour while having the option to sample over 50 diverse offerings of wine and international beers ('33' Export from Vietnam, Imperial from Costa Rica, Aguila from Colombia, and Tiger from Singapore to name a few).
"Here at Roots, we've tried to craft a wholesome, earthy, hearty street food and drink menu that gets back to basics" says Nguyen (Win) Huynh who owns Roots & Vines with his wife, Natalie Krodel. "Our coffee roaster builds sustainable relationships with its coffee farmers, our wines come from smaller vineyards, the beer list is diverse and the street foods are true to their origins: flavorful and a good value."
