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Grass Root - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Vegan Restaurants Vegetarian Food Juice Bars & Smoothies Restaurants Live/Raw Food Vegan, Vegetarian, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Live/Raw Food [Edit]
4334 S Manhattan AveTampa, FL 33611
(813) 839-7668
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
32 reviews for Grass Root
Review Highlights
"I usually get "Sabrinas favorite sandwich."
(in 5 reviews)
"...un, sunrise burger and house burger, and all three were..."
(in 3 reviews)
"The gluten free onion bread on the wrap was what stayed..."
(in 3 reviews)
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Cara B.
Tampa, FL
10/9/2011
Although I always strive to eat healthy, the raw diet trend seemed a bit extreme, even for me. Raw veggies at every meal... a salad for breakfast... not ideal for us carnivores. However, as my friend described "the pounds melting off" and the high energy she had, I figured it was worth a try -- at least for one meal.
As I entered Grass Root South Tampa I was pleasantly surprised! Vibrant colors and unique paintings splashed across the walls creating a tranquil yet trendy ambiance, not nearly the granola vibe I was expecting.
Assuming options would be limited, yet again, I was surprised by the double-sided menu! From burgers to comfort food, not all of the items at Grass Root are raw, but they are all organic or gluten-free!
To start, my friends opted for the sweet iced green tea with ginger. I would keep it simple with a water... or so I thought. I added lemon oil for some zest, but if you're feeling a little fancy, add the digest-zen, immune boost or lime Doterra essential oils to your H2O for just a buck! If you're feeling really fancy, take your pick of one of the various shakes and smoothies at the hydration bar!
For an appetizer, the table split the guacamole with regular chips (the raw chips were a hot item that day). The guac was phenomenal - nothing beats fresh avocado and this one came with a kick!
Next up: the Summer Salad. A mixture of warm beats, yucca, corn, red onion, and house summer dressing over mixed greens, this salad came with some convincing. The thought of warm beets and yucca (fun fact: yucca cooked incorrectly can kill you!) wasn't exactly appealing to me, I was skeptical to say the least... Surprise #3, the hot/cold combo and soft/crunchy consistency made this my favorite dish!
Impressed thus far and feeling pretty hardcore, I was ready to see what all the raw fuss was about; so I went right to the raw section of the menu for my main course. Torn, I split the Sabrina's Favorite Sandwich (garlic hummus, sheeze, romaine, avocado, sprouts on a garlic on onion bread) and Pad Thai, yes, raw Pad Thai. The sandwich wasn't bad - a bit tricky to eat due to the loose leaf lettuce, but the Pad Thai was fantastic. Made from high mineral kelp noodles and vegetables and topped with a creamy almond sauce, it was a refreshing take on this classic dish. I can honestly say I didn't miss the hi-carb noodles one bit!
Our raw experience was a success! As impressive as the food was, I was more impressed with the waitress' success story of going from a size 14 to 0 after changing her lifestyle (I saw the pictures to prove it)! Sold!! Will I eat raw all of the time? I won't go that far, however, I will make an effort to lean more towards this lifestyle.
Don't believe the misconceptions that it's too difficult to eat this way. Grass Root offers a weekly meal plan service that you can pick-up or have delivered to your doorstep designed to help heal, cleanse and increase your energy organically! -
Review from Lisa R.
Tampa, FL
12/12/2011
I have no comment on the food as despite my efforts was not able to try it.
I think the concept is excellent.
However, repeated phone calls, emails and posts on facebook resulted in no contact back. Finally "Sabrina" answered the phone and we discussed a possible small catering job. It was very last minute (partly because it took so long for me to get in touch with them) and I understood they might not be able to accomodate my request. However that was the last I heard. No calls or messages back, and no response to a complaint posted on facebook (other than to block me from their facebook page).
I will never patronize this business, either in their current incarnation as a caterer, or in future endeavors. It takes literally seconds to pick up the phone and say "Sorry we can't help you this time, but would love your business in the future."
There are lots of restaurants and catering companies in Tampa that appreciate their customers. Grass Root is not one of them. -
Review from Val G.
Updated - 7/25/2011 3 photos
Returned to Grass Root recently only to find they had relocated a month or so earlier to South Tampa. Probably a good idea because the area they were in before seems to be on a downward spiral with boarded up houses everywhere and unsavoury characters lingering.
The new Grass Root is in a safer neighbourhood but more boring typical Floridian strip mall location. I miss the charming architecture of the old neighbourhood but I won't miss the feeling of unease that everyone has a "right" to carry a gun in this country... but I digress. The interior ambiance is relatively the same at the new location.
I went for the vegan parma cutlets and spaghetti this time and really enjoyed my meal. The bruschetta left a little bit to be desired. Still a great place! The hibiscus juice is very good too.Listed in: Sleepless in Sarasota, Veggie Eats all over the Yelp…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/1/2010
I had a really great and filling meal here on NYE's eve. The menu is vegetarian, vegan and raw only.… Read more »
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Review from Izzy Z.
Brooklyn, NY
11/25/2010
This place is in the serious ghetto. We drove 18 minutes from the other side of Tampa to get here because the Yelp reviews were good. As soon as I turned off the interstate, feelings of nervousness set in. Was my GPS faulty? If not, I was certainly not going to be entirely comfortable parking the van with all our musical gear inside.
We did manage to park directly outside which helped but did not entirely assuage my concerns. It was the middle of the day so I let my shoulders drop but the parade of sketchy characters that passed our tables window was non-stop.
From the outside, Grass Roots looks like an Ital East Indian Roti shop like they have in Flatbush. The look connotes a kind of Rasta positive vibration...uh...vibration type. In such place I am used to finding decent tasting food made of mostly overcooked root vegetables prepared in kitchens that are less than sanitary by Caribbean immigrants who are very well intended but lack a first world sensibility when it comes to presentation and standard business practice.
I felt a lot better once I entered the place. The ambiance still left a lot to be desired but did not look nearly as low class and sketchy as it did from the outside. In fact, it was nice in a conscious Hip Hop kind of way.
The staff were very friendly, attentive, well mannered and knowledgeable. No complaints there.
I had the raw pizza which was a choice I made against the raw pesto pasta after inquiring as to which was more filling. For that reason and the $11 price tag, I was pretty disappointed when it came. It was small, real small. It even came on a small plate. The combination made me feel insulted and I really hate feeling that way especially when I travel out of my way to support a little vegan joint.
That said, the pizza was delicious. Although in honesty there was nothing pizza like about it. Obviously it was raw and I knew that going in so no prob. But I certainly did not look, smell or taste like pizza at all. There was no marinara and the raw crust was thin as hell. I love thin crust pizza but this was like micro film or something. No way can you pick up a slice of this and fold it to fit comfortably in your mouth. The toppings would all fall off and the nut-based cheeses do nothing to hold it together. It wasn't even round for chrisakes. Weird. The only way to eat it was to cut it in to smaller chunks with a knife and fork. Pain.
It was fantastically delicious though. Very fresh, healthy and vibrant tasting. Not boring or bland at all. My tongue was very pleased. It was certainly more filling than it looked as well but still shy of as filling as I had hoped.
Bottom line---
It's delicious healthy food but IMHOP the presentation from location to plate was so lacking that the prices are unjustified. If your girlfriend is a total hippie and/or militant vegan, you'll probably have a great time swapping bites and flirting with the staff. If she's not, bringing her there will not help your relationship.
I would not go there again unless I happened to be in the neighborhood and on foot. In which case I would be psyched to pay for a place to safely chow some delicious vegan food while I waited for a cab to get me the hell out of there. -
Review from Diana R.
San Diego, CA
11/6/2010
I always look for the raw food restaurants in every city I go.
When I landed in Tampa I searched on my phone for a vegetarian restaurant and Grass Root showed up, I drove there, and from the outside it didn't look like much, this side of town seem a little questionable. But I had gone all the way there, I had to check it out. When I opened the door, I was enchanted, eclectic, fun, lively. It was about 3:00 p.m. and I was starving.
The gluten free onion bread on the wrap was what stayed with me. The Sabrina wrap was absolutely delicious, and I had a cacao drink that was out of this world. Raw (except for the bread I think). I was in Tampa for 4 days and wanted to come back but they were closed Sunday and Monday.
Can't wait to go back. -
Review from S N.
Brooklyn, NY
8/17/2010
I'm evaluating Grass Root as 4 stars in comparison to other restaurants in Tampa. It is my favorite Tampa restaurant so far (other than the Sunday food vendors at temple Wat Mongkolratanaram, and my B&B, which are not exactly restaurants).
I sought this place out because, short of finding a grocery store and buying produce, I have had a hard time finding healthy, inexpensive food here.
As raw and vegan restaurants go, this doesn't compare to my favorites at home. In a town with zero (literally) competition it's no Quintessence, Pure, Sun In Bloom, Angelica Kitchen, or any of my NYC raw/vegan hangouts. But it's here, and it's fine, and the prices are on the low side for this kind of stuff, which makes up for the lack of "wow" factor. Grass Root is more of a regular cafe/hangout than destination dining, which is rather nice.
I skipped the raw entrees because they were more expensive and sounded less inspired than the plain old vegan but cooked portion of the menu.
I had a bachelorette smoothie, which, in addition to sharing a name with one of my favorite Bjork songs, was delicious. It's an $8 smoothie, but as I have pointed out before, how many times do you shell out $6-$14 for a cocktail with no nutritional value and don't even blink? I'd rather get a smoothie or juice, the more I think of it this way.
I also had a BLT style sandwich (fake meat too salty.. But it was ok) and the burger, which I liked a lot. Not all at once - I got the BLT thing to go. If I went again I'd get another burger for sure. Maybe ask for avocados on it!
If this place weren't closed on Sunday/Monday, I would have visited more than once. -
Review from Jane Z.
Tampa, FL
3/2/2011
Pros: Tasty food at a reasonable price. Nice ambiance and decor.
Cons: Located in a part of town that didn't feel safe. Only had one server/hostess. Need to hire at least one other to help with the busier hours. -
Review from Hayley S.
Tampa, FL
3/29/2011
Ambiance is very hippy, lots of books and art with a haight ashbury feel. Not really my scene, as I am not a vegan or even a vegetarian and quit wearing hemp 15 years ago...regardless, trying new things is always good for the soul they say.
The menu was limited and my first two choices were unfortunately not available. Nevertheless, I trudged forward with a veggie burger and a side salad. Surprisingly, the food was really tasty. The side salad was the best salad i've had in a long time...and I eat a lot of salad.
The server was very polite considering our lunch order took 45 minutes to arrive, but it was worth the wait.
I went on a groupon - but full price would have been $33 for bbq sandwich (soy meat, also very good), veggie burger, side salad, two teas and tip. Pretty high for lunch in tampa at this location, which is not the best, sort of on the wrong side of downtown, but, on the other hand, only 5 minuntes from the right side!! -
Review from Kevin F.
10/5/2010
The food here just wasn't my style.
Since when does organic automatically mean "no meat"?!?!? Psssh.
I considered trying some of the food, but most was around $15 and when I saw the small portions on other tables, I opted to get tea instead.
The food was just too rich for my cheap pallet -- at least for the amount you get.
The tea was good, though. No complaints for that. -
Review from JC L.
Tampa, FL
3/8/2011
After reading about Grass Root, me and my girlfriend wanted to try it. My girlfriend and I are not vegans, but we do like to substitute a few meals a week with vegan recipes.
I ordered a whole Sabrina's Favorite sandwich and my girlfriend ordered the Piece Zah Pi. Both the meals were phenomenal! The sandwich was very filling and I actually took half home. We also ordered a smoothie from the smoothie bar and it was also excellent.
Only problem I had (which is why it got 4 instead of 5 stars) was I had a bad stomach ache after eating . I shook it off thinking it could have been something else. The next day I ate the other half of the sandwich and again the same stomach ache. I think it was my gut reacting to the onion bread b/c we eat a lot of raw foods. -
Review from Jenna M.
8/27/2010
I've been to Grass Root three times in my life, and each time has been a really enjoyable experience. I love supporting local, vegetarian businesses, and the folks at Grass Root really seem to be doing a good thing here.
Their menu has a number of consistently great dishes. Most recently, I had a BBQ sandwich, which was VERY tasty. My friend had a V-B.L.T. which was good but nothing to write home about. I appreciate the simple, clean food on the menu and the fact that there are several raw options, which was very helpful when I was eating only raw foods.
I wish the prices were a little lower, particularly the drinks, which are as much as or more than the food items in some cases... but I know the struggle of getting inexpensive, quality whole foods, so I don't think that's entirely the fault of Grass Root. I definitely recommend this place to anyone in Tampa; it's one spot I come back to every time I visit the area. -
Review from Robert S.
Tampa, FL
6/19/2008
Grass Root is like an abortion, and I mean this in the best possible way.
I believe Grass Root has a place in society, and needs to exist. Grass Root provides an alternative for those who need it and have nowhere else to go. I support it fully. I will back Grass Root's right to exist with my dying breath. But Grass Root is not something I want to personally experience regularly. It's pretty expensive for what turns out to be a little bit of mush, but ultimately it's good for you. -
Review from Benjamin M.
Denver, CO
12/26/2009
I love meat--particularly steaks--so I didn't go to Grass Root with the expectation of finding incredible food. However, I ordered the house burger (with cashew cheese) and was thoroughly impressed by its excellent taste. Wow! Who knew that plants could taste so good?!
My only beef--sorry, lame pun--with the restaurant was the portion sizes. I'm a big guy and it takes quite a bit of food to fill me up. The sandwich was simply not enough food to constitute dinner for an average American. This restaurant would be ideally suited for hippies. I'm quite the opposite.
All in all, it's a decent restaurant. I'm happy I tried it, but I probably won't return unless I find myself dating a vegetarian (unlikely).
For the record, I love hippies and vegetarians. No offense. :) -
Review from Crista L.
Updated - 5/22/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I'm still diggin Grass Roots and will continue visiting. My favorite foods are the Ramen Noodles, the BBQ Sandwich, ALL of the desserts ((key lime pie, chocolate mousse, coconut frosting cake)) and the Horchata- so fresh, so tasty.
On Grass Roots menu it states that delivery is an option, when I asked about delivery they informed me that it is only available through another service which will charge extra-- although I'm not worried about the price, the server kept focusing on it. I travel in to Tampa on business, all of my expenses are reimbursed. If Grass Roots were more accomodating on the delivery front, I'd be sure to order every single meal of every single day from them... I hate to see they are not willing to accomodate...
With that being said, I ordered a meal through their delivery service and as the delivery service arrived the restaurant, they were informed that what we ordered was not available. After waiting 45 minutes for our food, the delivery service calls us to inform we are not getting any food. WTF?
Grass Roots DID step up on their customer service and offered us a meal for free that we eventually had to go pick up ourselves....
although, I do not get the impression GR prides themselves on their customer service.....Listed in: Travelling Veg-Head
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/30/2009
Although this restaurant is situated in a sketch neighborhood, it is well maintained, clean, and… Read more »
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Review from Blake B.
Houston, TX
4/14/2009
Wow... places like this are why yelp exists. Grass Root is in a downright creepy neighborhood, with an unimpressive storefront and street parking.
Everything on the menu is not only very healthy, but also very creative. They have some really exotic flavor combinations (check out the menu on their site)
I tried "Sabrinas favorite sandwich" based on Kelsey's recommendation - and it was amazing! I really noticed the freshness of the ingredients: Sprouts, lettuce, avacado, "sheese" (fake, vegan cheese), a homemade vegetable bread, and hummus all combined wonderfully into a creamy, flavorful sandwich.
The menu might seem a bit bizarre to people unfamiliar with vegan food, so I'd reserve this for open-minded eaters.
This is the ultimate place to eat if you have any food allergies - they can whip up anything tasty if you mention what you're allergic to. Their juices and smoothies are amazing, too - but they are way overpriced ($7 for a small glass!) They are quite filling, however, and could substitute a meal.
The wait staff was very friendly, and the decor is quite tasteful and relaxing, primarily featuring warm shades of red.
-1 star for the bad location and overpriced juices.
Treat your body to something healthy, go try out the 'root! -
Review from Kelsey B.
Carlsbad, CA
3/24/2009
The location is odd... Its definitely a diamond in the rough.
I came here when I first ventured into the raw living diet.
I usually get "Sabrinas favorite sandwich." It is so GOOD.
The sheeze spread and hummus make this sandwich extremely creamy and filling.
I lunched here with my friend who eats mayonnaise sandwiches and until recently had never tasted a carrot.
Well she pretty much S**** her pants when she tried the Vegan Ginger Chik-un. She loved it. This says a lot for the place.
They have a book shelf, filled with wonderful books, that are nice to read when you're crunching away on your raw meals!
:) -
Review from Carolyn M.
Tampa, FL
12/16/2008
I've been eating high-raw/vegan for a few years now and when I first started dated my novio, we decided to go on a picnic. He said he would bring the food. I was concerned. I'm a picky, health nut, so I wondered how he could possibly fill my tummy with a smile on my face.
But, boy did he pull thru. He wouldn't let me peak in the coolers till we stopped on the right spot at the beach to dine. He first pulled out Grass Roots card and said something like "just so you know where this food is from!" GRASS ROOTS!!!
At that point I had eaten there one other time with my Dad and enjoyed it, but to see this guy I'd been on a date or two with go out of his way to get yummy raw vegan food was awesome.
We enjoyed every bite that day and continue to visit Grass Roots when we treat ourselves to dinner. (I'd rather cook than dine out when given the option; however, Grass Roots is our go to spot when we want to hit the town!)
Some of my favorites:
Raw spaghetti - for the price you get a good amount of food and a side salad. great dressing.
Vegan Cheesecake: YUMMY. I've tried to replicate this recipe, but haven't topped it. Crust is raw, the filling is a mystery. YUMMY!!!!
Some things to consider.... the price is quite steep, but that is how it goes dining at these types of joints. When they use organic produce things get pricey! Also, be prepared to wait... they aren't in any hurry, but what you get is very fresh food. Additionally, Grass Roots isn't in the best part of Tampa. I would suggest going at a reasonable hour and not strolling that part of the hood after your meal. You'll understand. However... the vibe inside the restaurant makes you forget about what lies beyond the doors!
Sabrina and Spencer, a partner team, are soulful people. Their energy shines in their food.
Definitely well worth many trips...
HAPPY VEGAN DINING!
be well,
carolyn -
Review from Christine H.
Atlanta, GA
4/3/2009
The service for our late lunch was extremely slow. We waited for about 10 to 15 minutes before anyone even greeted us and took our drink order. For a restaurant with such unique food, I would have also hoped for a more talkative server with more suggestions on what to try.
BUT the food was truly worth the wait! We tried the ginger chick-un, sunrise burger and house burger, and all three were excellent. The burgers were extremely flavorful, and the "very believable bacon" made all the difference. We also had the key lime cheesecake for dessert, but I would advise that you skip it. -
Review from Cheryl V.
La Grange, IL
1/18/2008 2 photos
I'm newly raw as of January 9, 2008 and my first trip to a vegan, vegetarian, raw restaurant was at the Grass Root. The owners couldn't have been more helpful in explaining to me the finer points of eating raw. I ordered zucchini spaghetti and 'treat balls' with the Nori sushi as an appetizer. The sushi was beautifully presented and the flavors were sharp and there was certainly alot to eat...I couldn't wait to see the spaghetti and treat balls. When the main course came with a side salad and marinara sauce, I was amazed and overjoyed that the zucchini spaghetti actually looked like pasta and tasted wonderfully italian.
It's amazing how this mom and son team could make raw food so appetizing and tasty. Oh, and dessert, 'the eclipse cheesecake'...I thought I'd died and went to heaven. A chocolate crust topped with a mango something or other was incredible. Fresh water de-ionzed (?) water served in blue glasses was constantly encouraged and refilled.
As the other reviewer mentioned, its not much on decor...that's probably not their forte and it might not be a bad idea as they grow for them to decide exactly 'what' the decorative theme of the restaturant is. But if you're looking for an aesthetically pleasing and delicious raw meal, you'll be pleased with this spot.
As a side note, I went there around the dinner hour on a Thursday night alone. It was dark and the neighborhood will look a little deserted, not many other businesses around....at least that I could see in the dark. If you're a female dining alone, just apply the usual caution. -
Review from jesse b.
Philadelphia, PA
1/15/2010
Came here last year.
Nice atmosphere, nice waiter, good food. Would like to get back here again. -
Review from Jenna H.
Swansea, MA
4/5/2011
Unlike most of the other reviews I read, I found their portions to be the perfect amount. Everything served is so fresh that I left feeling satisfyingly full. I've tried an assortment of their dishes, but my favorite is still Sabrina's Favorite. It has the perfect blend of humus, avocado, sprouts, lettuce, and "sheeze" (cheese alternative).
Their Nott Dog is good, but relatively basic. Their Peanut Punch is really delicious, but be careful they're very filling. It is a great place to stop by for lunch and have a raw drink.
The prices of the food are very reasonable and it is located relatively close to YBor. Although the location is not ideal, inside of the restaurant is really nice and quaint. I parked my car in a parking lot across the street and it was fine.
Keep in mind, since everything is so fresh, the food can take a bit to prepare so do not go there if you're on the verge of starvation! -
Review from greyson h.
Chicago, IL
4/7/2009
The service was slow. For my hungry sister, it was CRAZY slow. It was a late lunch on a Friday afternoon and the place was nearly empty. We probably waited about 15 minutes before anyone acknowledged our table. I would have liked the server to be a little more enthusiastic or informative about their specialized menu especially for my vegan/vegetarian/raw first timer mom.
The food was tasty. I would definitely return for the food. We had the sunrise burger, house burger, and ginger chik un. My newbie mom was floored by how tasty her sunrise burger was and my sister was really into the veggie bacon. My dish was a typical chik un ginger dish with brown rice. A little salty for my tastes but tasty nonetheless. We also had the key lime cheesecake, but I'd pass for a different vegan dessert. -
Review from Kenneth K.
Saint Petersburg, FL
11/12/2007
You won't regret a trip to grass Root. My friend and I had the guacamole, subtle and delicious. There was cayenne pepper at every table so you could make your guac as spicy as you wanted.
The falafel was large and a little different, but very tasty. It was not exactly what you'd find in Skokie. But it felt healthier.
The Chai Ginger tea sweetened with raw sugar was a surprise. It was less expensive than in most places in Tampa and was definitely the best that I've had in this area. -
Review from Nausherwan H.
Apollo Beach, FL
2/24/2011
I went to this place because of the yelp reviews, but I must say it was disappointing. The location was poor and the food was okay. I would say we paid way more for our meal than it was worth. The ambiance inside the restaurant was good, but it didn't make up for its location or the food quality.
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Review from teena y.
San Carlos, CA
10/16/2010
The Grass Root Organic Restaurant wasn't what I thought it would be when I walked in. It was a very casual and it seemed like a place to hang out with your friends. Nothing formal about the tables/chairs. The hostess was really nice and she gets an A+. We ordered take out and she gave us water and explained a bit about the menu. I ordered the Ramen as she mentioned that it was pretty popular but she hasn't tried it since she's a fruitarian, which was pretty amazing. The service was good and we didn't have to wait too long for our food. When I tried the ramen, it was WAY TOO salty! I had to dilute it with water (which made the food cold) and I didn't even put the entire soup base into my noodle bowl, thank God! I would recommend people try something else or at least do not order take out for the ramen. Other than that, it might be worth a second try.
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Review from Mary J.
Tampa, FL
9/20/2010
Spencer Greene and Sabrina Aird, founders and owners of Grass Root Organic Restaurant with locations in Tampa and Lakeland, truly know how to make something out of nothing. Nothing as in no meat and no dairy. Yet their delicious dishes don't rely on just the freshness of the food to be appetizing. They use natural ingredients to create flavorful food that will leave you full - yet still wanting more. Some menu items may even remind you of American classics such as bacon, burgers, cheese pizza and hot dogs! However, the all vegan, raw/living food, vegetarian and organic food philosophy faithfully followed by the couple means that meals are completely meat- and dairy-free. They've just added a second Tampa location on South Manhattan Avenue.
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Review from Charlie K.
St. Petersburg, FL
6/7/2010
I tagged along with my vegetarian girlfriend and a few of her veggie/vegan friends one night. It's a VERY small place but we went with a group of 6 and still had no problem being seated right away (we got there a little later in the evening, so either they're not super busy on Saturdays or we missed the crowd). The service was friendly, not above average but not bad, our drinks stayed full.
I'll preface this by saying I'm usually not a fan of fake meat products (I don't see the point, just eat real meat!) and I'm fairly familiar with them as my girlfiriend is vegetarian (I'm not). I decided to try some fake chicken anyway. It was surprisingly great! By no means will I give up real meat for it, but I definitely wouldn't mind going back to try some other menu items (I also tried a bite of 'chicken' parmesan, it was just ok, I wouldn't order it if I go back).
We also got a vegan dessert (chocolate 'cheesecake') that was pretty good. After a few bites I began to notice it seemed very salty and I couldn't eat any more than that, others who tried it felt the same way.
Also I'd like to note that they have vegan and raw options as well. You know, if your in to that sort of thing...
In the end I'd definitely go back with my girlfriend or a vegetarian friend but I can't see myself going out of my way to take non-vegetarians here. -
Review from Gary B.
Tampa, FL
6/11/2010
Great organic, vegan, and raw food. The Sabrina's Favorite Sandwich (which is vegan and raw) is out of this world. The chick-un tastes superb and my omnivore friends claim it tastes better than real chicken. Also, the raw sweet potato pie, and keylime pie are heavenly. Be sure to arrive early -- they make everything fresh and run out of their popular selections early.
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Review from ian b.
New Port Richey, FL
4/21/2010
Awesome food and great shakes.
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Review from Justin R.
Tampa, FL
8/21/2009
First off, I live in Tampa Heights, sorry it's creepy for some people, but I have been to Houston, and there's plenty creepy about that smog filled concrete parking lot they call a city.... This Vegan spot is was a total let down. I had some type of burger that was a Morningstar reheat for sure...I'm not a Vegan by trade, but have frequented plenty of Vegan restaurants in Chicago because I have befriended some of these poor souls that refuse to eat animals, or their by-products. I expected a lot from this place, I guess I should have set the bar low. For Vegan/vegetarian fare, the menu was average.....
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Review from Occy V.
Tampa, FL
10/9/2008
I'm not a vegan but this is pretty good food. Went their with an old girlfriend and tried a variety of stuff and was surprised by how much flavor and texture most of the food we tried had. Good place to go on the way home to let the traffic die down a little
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Review from Matthew N.
Clearwater, FL
8/22/2007
Tampa Bay's first and only restaurant dedicated solely to Vegetarian/Vegan and Raw food lifestyles. Everything on their menu is vegetarian and many items are vegan or raw or can be made raw with a simple substitution. Prices are very reasonable for such a specialty restaurant with most entrees around $8 or so. The food is decent with an obvious tilt towards healthy, you won't find any deep fried seitan or french fries here. Portions are typically smaller than your average american restaurant so if you're starving you might want to pickup an appetizer. They also have a great drink selection including home made juices. And did I mention the vegan desserts that are to die for? Tampa Bay needs more restaurants like this. The decor takes styling cues from Africa and is not very mainstream, which can be different for some at first but the helpful staff and friendly owners will make you feel right at home in no time.
Listed in: Top Vegan Tampa Eats
