Roots Steakhouse — Restaurant in Summit

I'm just going to put it out there--Roots Steakhouse is not cheap. I'm sure a meal for one costs about what I paid for a suit here in the late 1980s (When Roots was an esteemed haberdashery for men). I love steak and from everything I have heard about Roots, they do steak exceptionally well. But I am going to save my steak visit and my steak review for when my father comes up. He loves steak just as much as I do and he is well deserving of what may just be--according to the reviews--the finest steak in the NJ-NYC area. So what did I order from Roots? Well on this particular Saturday the town of Summit is abuzz with dozens of sidewall diners. After an intolerably long statewide hibernation due to the Coronavirus, restaurants are  beginning to segue back into serving customers on site, but only outdoor dining is allowes. On this occasion, I ordered takeout. When I called, Rebecca picked up the phone to take my order. She was very delightful to speak with and extremely professional. I asked her about the tuna and she described how it was prepared but in the end I decided against it (definitely will try it soon!). I ordered the colossal lump crab cake with tartar sauce, the Rhode Island crispy calamari and the cherry peppers and roasted red pepper marinara and broccoli with garlic and oil. All three were phenomenal. The crab cake was pure lump crab though and through. The calamari was perfectly breaded and the accompanying cherry peppers were the best I have ever had. The broccoli was roasted with garlic and there was just the right amount of oil on them. I cannot reiterate how perfect each one of these dishes were. Rebecca was so kind. She asked me if I wanted to leave a gratuity for the wait staff and kitchen. She was not pushy at all. In my confusion she said no worries but it was without question I would leave an appropriate gratuity. I will admit, during normal times I am reluctant to tip for takeout but these are unusual times. Our food workers have been furloughed long enough. It is great to see things moving...

Why 3 stars. Well to be honest they would have gotten a higher rating but for the money spent on the meal I figured it was justified. In a hurry:

The reasturant itself was clean and neat, a little dark but no big deal. The staff seemed very nice and tried to be as helpful as possible. The food however was blah, good but not worth the money.

In detail, the bread pop or starter prior to appetizers was a nicely presented peiece of bread, but was just a bland airy roll is the best description. The appetizer we had was charred on the grill and had been overpowered by the burnt spots from being made on the grill. The potatoes both fries and au gratin had seemed like they had been kinda Luke warm, and the asparagus burnt from the grill. The main event or steak cuts, i had tried both the filet and ribeye. Ribeye was a very nice cut, tender yes but again, the grill had charred the outside so the flavir of the meat had to compete with the charred flavor (no bueno for a fancy steak if you can taste other flavors than of seasoning and meat). The filet, a nice sized cut of meat, not the most tender for the cut that it was but still noticeably more tender than the ribeye. The one thing i will say is it was surprisingly bland, nearly to bland just like warm mush, not good for a star of the menu. Now take that all with a grain of salt if you will, the meal was very good to the average person looking for a steak, but for the money spent i have to say i wasnt overly impressed.

Also big turn off is i dont like eating a $50 piece of meat with a serrated texas roadhouse style blade, that kinda destroys the meat in my mind. Now maybe im the one whos backwards but i was always taught that to better appreciate the meat to use a SHARP straight blade.

Hope i didnt make someone blow a gasket or hurt anyones feelings. Bottom line food is good but for the price there's definitely things to be said. But im no top notch food critic, just some average joe who was a little underdressed to fit in with the crowd who didnt...

This restaurant is absolutely phenomenal! Although I’ve only been here twice—once for my birthday and another time for a family lunch—it has quickly become one of my favorite spots in the Summit area.

Our server, Kyle, was incredibly sweet and went above and beyond by treating my family and me to a complimentary sundae and crab cake dish. The reviews claiming the staff aren’t great couldn’t be further from the truth. This restaurant stands out for its supportive, attentive, and genuinely caring team that ensures your dining preferences and overall experience are top-notch.

The bussers were exceptionally organized and friendly, which added to the seamless flow of our visit and made us excited to come back. The red-headed hostess was wonderfully kind, making sure everything about our dining experience was quick, smooth, and enjoyable. One young man that really catches your eye is named Willy, who was incredibly polite and added into that fun, energetic atmosphere that the staff creates as soon as you walk through the door.

Kudos to the chefs and kitchen staff for creating such mouthwatering dishes that left us wanting more. The flavors were incredible, and the attention to detail was clear in every bite. For vegetarians, pescatarians, and people who just have allergies… they also offer a variety of options to suit different dietary needs.

I had the oysters, and they instantly reminded me of refreshing summer day at the beach. They were perfectly salty and incredibly fresh, capturing the essence of the ocean in every bite. It came with a delightful selection of toppings, including lemon juice, marinara, vinegar, and the cutest tiny bottle of Tabasco sauce, allowing you to customize each oyster to your taste. It was an unforgettable taste that set the tone for an amazing meal!

This restaurant truly exceeded our expectations, and we can’t wait to return for another amazing experience....