Local Roots — Restaurant in Liberty Township

Wrote this review as a way to provide feedback but have since received comments back from the owner with complete disregard to the constructive information I was providing. It appears to be a common theme among the lower star reviews that the hostess desk/wait times suffer. Also a comment was made about OSU game day (12 pm game, we arrived in the evening way after game) is irrelevant and also shows the disregard for feedback. The comment by the owner says to me that if you expect to sit at a table with family don't try to come here on weekends and maybe call ahead to make sure the place is empty.

The below responses from owner show the disconnect. Specifically the last paragraph "Yes, put your name on the waitlist. But if there is a group before you or after you on the waitlist and their whole group is here - they will be seated first".

We were those people after on the waitlist and we were not seated first. Either your whole party has to be present or not, as long as there's an understanding then OK it makes sense but to be told one thing by the hostess and to do another 10 minutes later is frustrating. I was there without my party and I could not be seated or even be on the list to be seated but 10 minutes later a party that was not there were seated in front of us. We were there before the party of 7 but could not be seated or on waitlist because the whole party wasn't present. We were skipped, that's all the owner has to admit to and that it was a mistake on the staff to not add us to the non existent at the time waitlist because there were several empty tables. Instead we waited for the party to arrive and were skipped anyway by a party not present.

Regarding enclosed patio, this was just a comment on improving reservations and meant for others reviewing posts. At the time the restaurant used OpenTable and it specifically said enclosed when it was only covered. This has since been resolved with their new reservation system. If you see the patio for a reservation option in the colder months just know that its not enclosed and they will seat you there if it is in the 30s...

Let me start by saying the inside atmosphere was comfortable and pleasant and the wait staff and service was excellent. However, you are only as good as your weakest food item.

Here is what I done got...

-Tortilla chips with 3 dips guac, mango onion salsa, and a black bean salsa. The dips were fresh and delicious, However the delivery mechanism for said dips were stale. Wah wah...ohh, my kingdom for a warm crispy tortilla chip! Loaded Fries I cannot comment on these as I am not of the loaded fry congregation and therefore did not partake although my 3 companions said they were very good. -Rueben Wellll, tough rubbery corned beef, paired with sauerkraut that was reminiscent of neither "sauer" nor "kraut". Unfortunate. The rye bread was ok, but probably from the bread aisle in the grocery across the street...unremarkable. Let me just say it was not the sandwich you get that is too much to finish and So wonderful you want to carefully take the other half home and at midnight warm in the oven and experience it all over again. At home. In bed. Watching Dateline. Shoving it into your face because you don't need to eat politely...

Lastly, the parking and physical access was not a joy nor designed for ease. While no one in our party had a walker or wheelchair, because I have family and friends who do rely on these things I am always mindful of that when I go places. It would be challenging for someone with limited mobility. The parking directly in front are very limited (most of which are reserved for the other businesses) And they are on an angle that is extremely tight so UNparking is a real test, shall we say. You can, of course, park in the large lot to the east of the building but then you have a distance issue and an incline/stairs and if you or your friend has limited mobility...you get the picture. I realize this is not their fault and really beyond their control, but it is important to know. Oh! I almost forgot. Allow ample time to Leave the parking lot as going left is almost certainly not happening so you must got right, turn left at the next light, and...

Just a warning to others to beware when ordering from Local Roots for pickup. After a year without going to any restaurants we decided to ease back in with a couple of their awesome LR lobster macaroni & cheese dinners that we’d pick up and eat at home. So this past Friday night my son got in the car and headed to LR from Plain City, intending to call in an order on the way so the food would be hot when he got there. Unfortunately, the girl who answered refused to take his order because LR can only accept orders sent online, not by phone. He explained he was already in the car on his way from PC so didn’t have access to a computer and didn’t want to try ordering over the phone, and she said sorry, all pickup orders for Friday & Saturday nights now have to be done online, no exceptions. My son replied that there wasn’t anything mentioned about this on the website so could she please take his order because he was already on his way. She said no, sorry, she couldn’t, nor could she give him a reason why phone orders were being refunded other than they were busy. He told her she could have taken his order in less time than she spent arguing with him on the phone and she still said no. He finally asked if he could speak with the manager and the girl replied, “I don’t see her.” Seriously? This is how much they appreciate their customers? Evidently they don’t need the business. After all this time we were so psyched for those dinners, but because we didn’t have the inside information that orders were limited to online we had to settle for a pizza from Donatos. What a disappointment. LR should post this information on their website, or at least include it in the recording you get when calling in. In my opinion the restaurant deserved zero stars for this experience; however, I gave them two because of the outstanding service & food we’ve had there in the past. Note to restaurant management: this is how one lousy experience can ruin your previously good history for your...