Roots Steakhouse — Restaurant in Ridgewood

We visited Roots Steakhouse last night. Three friends decided to take the local parish Priest out for a nice dinner. We arrived at Roots and were welcomed by a very friendly hostess. To me the first sign of a great restaurant is a welcoming hostess. We immediately felt comfortable and were glad we decided to eat at this restaurant. After confirming our reservation, we were escorted to our table. It was a Monday evening, however, there seemed to be a constant flow of patrons entering this establishment. As we looked around, we also noticed Roots has that old school steak house feel with wood trim and a good mixture of tables and booths. The bar is located toward the front and several patrons were seated at the bar and at nearby tables. The bar appeared to have a good selection of spirits and there were several patrons eating their dinner in this area. We were then greeted by our waiter, Charles V, a young man who appeared to be in his 30’s and wore a red face mask, which was different from all of the other waiters in the area. He had a friendly greeting that seemed to fit in with the welcoming feel of this steakhouse. After receiving our choice of water, which was “tap”, Charles V took our drink order. Two of us had an alcoholic drink and the other two had water. We stated that maybe before the meal we would order a bottle of wine. Shortly after, we were greeted by a young service person, who served us popovers. They were beautifully done. These popovers were light and tasteful. Probably one of the best popovers that I have ever enjoyed. After receiving our drinks, we asked Charles V, for some advice on making our menu choices. He explained the menu options and guided us through our selections for dinner. We ordered the Dry Aged Cowboy Steaks on his recommendations. When the steaks arrived, they were excellent. Our selections were seasoned and cooked to perfection. The sides we ordered were also excellently prepared. Prior to the arrival of our main course, we asked the waiter for a bottle of wine. After a short discussion, we asked for a Malbec. As the main course was delivered to the table, our wine had not yet arrived. I caught the attention of our waiter and he stated that he would go check on our wine. Soon after the wine was served. The entire meal was excellent, and the service was great. We shared a rather large carrot cake, which ended a great meal. When the check arrived, it was quickly returned to the waiter with a credit card so our guest would not feel obligated to pay any portion of the bill. When my credit card was returned along credit card receipt for signing the bill was not with it. I asked the waiter for our bill so I could review it prior to signing my credit card receipt. The bill was retrieved from the waiter’s front pants pocket. It was in a crumpled ball, which he quickly unraveled and handed to me. Upon reviewing the bill, we were shocked to discover that the waiter had served us a $133.00 bottle of wine (the most expensive Malbec on the menu). At no point did we act like we were seeking an extraordinary bottle of wine. This ruined an extremely nice meal. I never expected that anyone at this restaurant would attempt to inflate our bill for any self-serving reason. My guess is that the higher the bill, the higher the gratuity at the end of the evening. If you do decide to go to this restaurant, be careful and make sure your waiter does not try to inflate your bill. Even though I had a nice meal, I will never go back to a restaurant that I...

Roots in Ridgewood is on par with any of the great steakhouses in NYC. The decor is both elegant and inviting, creating a warm, sophisticated atmosphere that sets the stage for an unforgettable meal. The vibe is upscale but comfortable, making it perfect for both special occasions and casual dining.

The staff truly sets Roots apart. From the moment we walked in, the service was impeccable. The hostesses greeted us with warmth, and our server, Sara, was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive without being overbearing. Manager Kyle made the rounds, ensuring everything was perfect, and his touch added a personal, welcoming feel. This level of service is something other restaurants should aspire to achieve.

Now, let's talk about the food – an absolute highlight. We kicked things off with the Slab Bacon appetizer, which was incredibly tender and packed with flavor. It was the perfect start to the meal. Next, we had the creamy burrata, served with fresh basil, heirloom tomatoes, and a drizzle of balsamic. The combination was just perfect, and the crostini added a delightful crunch.

But the real standout appetizer was the Lobster Bites – a must-try. These little bites of lobster were creamy, cheesy, and so decadent. Honestly, they were better than most lobster dishes we had during a recent trip to Maine! If you're a lobster fan, you can't miss these.

For the main event, we ordered the Porterhouse for Two, and it was nothing short of spectacular. The steak was perfectly seasoned and truly melt-in-your-mouth tender. It didn't need any sauce, but Roots offers several, and we couldn't resist trying a few. The horseradish sauce was a true standout: balanced, creamy, and not overly sharp, it complemented the steak beautifully. We also enjoyed the au Poivre and Béarnaise sauces, which were both rich and flavorful. There's also a house-made steak sauce that reminded us of the famous Peter Luger's – a great option for those who like a bit of extra flavor.

For sides, we went with the classic Mac and Cheese and Brussels sprouts. Both were delicious – the mac and cheese was rich and creamy, while the Brussels sprouts had the perfect char and were seasoned just right.

Roots also offers a refreshing alternative to alcohol with their selection of iced teas. We tried the raspberry and green tea mango varieties, both of which were wonderfully refreshing and a great non-alcoholic option.

We couldn’t leave without trying the Roots Signature Butter Cake, and we're so glad we saved room for it. This warm, buttery dessert is a dream – rich, indulgent, and utterly delicious. It's worth the trip on its own!

And yes, we definitely had plenty of leftovers to take home – the portions are generous, but the quality is worth every bite. We absolutely loved our experience at Roots, and we’re already looking forward to...

The food continues to be exceptional. The people are pretty quick and attentive. It is completely worth the price. Honestly, the steaks at Roots in Ridgewood outshine every other upscale steakhouse in the general area.

We’ve been going here for years and will continue to do so because it is consistently amazing. We’ve celebrated many anniversaries and Valentine’s days here and they have always been very attune to our celebrations. The staff is very respectful and accommodating.

They did recently change the menu options though from what I recall and I actually think that was a pretty good move. It’s a great way to freshen a few things up while keeping the main components that continue to be so good. We tried a few new things this past time and again it doesn’t fall short of expectations - in fact it continues to impress how good the food is. I hope everyone who likes upscale steakhouses gives Roots a try.

The only thing I do wish is that they would hold their dress code a little stronger. I’m going there to enjoy an upscale atmosphere and to enjoy a fancy night out with delicious food for an upscale price. I like to dress appropriately and it’s really disappointing when the people behind us are wearing hoodies. I understand not wanting to be too strict to turn people away or off, but I think you lose something about that feel and air of upscale atmosphere when you have people wearing shorts. It doesn’t have to be stuffy, but there should be some minimum requirements (nice jeans, no rips, no sneakers, no hoodies, no hats, etc.). After that it doesn’t have to be strict but if you want to cultivate that atmosphere to match the absolutely amazing food, then there really should be some sort of stricter guideline.

To be totally clear, the staff themselves have a super upscale atmosphere. It’s clear that they are prepared to and regularly do provide an exceptional experience. They dress very well and have more than enough people around to be as attentive as you need. They even have a pretty nice valet process which is both free and really great for the location. I just wish that there was a stricter dress code for the other patrons...