The local food movement has spread with enthusiasm across the country, and here in Chester County, a new local-loving restaurant called Roots Cafe has sprung up at 8 West Gay Street.
For the early birds, Roots Cafe has a wide selection of muffins, bagels, yogurt parfaits, breakfast sandwiches, and omelets. They carry pick-me-up drinks and a variety of fair trade and organic coffees and teas from Lamont Coffee. Patrons can sweeten up their day with Roots Cafe’s sensational brewed ice teas with mango or raspberry fruit extracts. Every day, the cafe features new specials. West Chester University students get a free coffee with purchase when they present their school ID.
Owner Dan Celluci created a menu that offers equal amounts of dishes for vegetarians and omnivores alike. Two sandwiches have proven to be particularly tempting for the lunch time crowd. The “ALT” is sliced avocado, lettuce and fried tomato with spicy mayo on a toasted whole grain or sour dough. The Italian Pork is slow-roasted for six hours, pulled for an hour and its tender meat is placed on Italian bread alongside extra sharp provolone, long hots and cooked greens.
The majority of ingredients that currently make up their menu of freshly made soups, salads, and sandwiches is sourced from local farms using sustainable practices. Over the next year, their bountiful menu will be picked through and Cellucci hopes to eventually have an entire seasonally-based menu. They are committed to being a sustainable cafe; serving their meals in eco-friendly packaging and encouraging recycling amongst their customers.
In case you yearn for everything on their menu, Roots Cafe offers lunch combos that mix and match their tasty creations. Diners can finish off their meal with an indulgent experience – they carry a choice of cupcakes from Milkman Lunch Co. & Cake Shoppe—including Guinness and Molasses, Mango Fig and Wild Blackberry. Any item on Roots Cafe’s menu (including homemade baked goods and cakes) can be made to accommodate your next function, event or business meeting.
Owning a business in the food industry is deeply rooted in Dan’s family tree: his great grandfather and grandfather were excellent chefs, his grandfather owned a bakery in South Philly, his uncle owns an organic farm in VA and his Dad owned two restaurants—one was a seafood restaurant and the other was a pizza parlor outside of Coatesville. His parents and grandmother lend a hand in his new venture and many of their products are based on family recipes. Before Dan signed the lease for Roots Cafe in June, he cooked and managed his dad’s Pizza parlor and has spent most of his adult life in a kitchen.
Visit Roots Cafe from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays for a planet and belly friendly meal.
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