Local Roots

December 27, 2010

Local Roots
15 East Olentangy Street
Powell, OH 43065
(614) 602-8060

In operation a little more than a year, Local Roots accounts for an improved landscape at the crossroads of Powell (Powell Road and Liberty Street) once inhabited by Saturday's Sports Club. 

Although Lori first believed the establishment to be a hair salon, it is appropriately named as the owners strive to use locally-sourced produce (from their own farm) and continually change their menu to showcase the freshest seasonal products.  They also maintain a small herb garden on the patio, presumably when its not covered in snow and ice, from which they hervest most of the herbs used in the kitchen.

I had been to Local Roots one other time with my girls and found it to be a nice place for dinner.  Lori treated me to lunch this day using a gift card she received for Christmas...from me!  There is always a method to my madness!

We arrived shortly after noon.  The restaurant was sparsely populated at the time, but as time passed, more and more patrons arrived accounting for a healthy lunchtime business.

The space itself is very nice with a lot of dark wood and an attractive bar area with rows of beer, wine, and liquor bottles standing guard.  The bar was also separated from the dining area by a wall of about six feet.  The acoustics were such that we could hear very clearly a conversation between two bar patrons without seeing them at all.

Whereas the menu features pizza and calzones, it also has a nice selection of appetizers, sandwiches, and entrees.  We selected Potato Dippers as an appetizer.  They are battered and fried potato wedges served with a bowl of bacon and cheese dipping sauce.  It might not have been the healthiest choice, but it sure was good!  For an appetizer, the number of wedges and the amount of dipping sauce was more than adequate.

For lunch, I ordered the meatball sub accompanied by onion rings.  It was just the kind of sandwich that usually ends up on my shirt, but I was successful in eating it without incident.

Served on a toasted bun, the three rosemary parmesan meatballs were topped with a housemade marinara sauce, banana peppers, onions, and cheese.  It was a good sandwich.  Even though I ate them without any hesitation, I was a bit disappointed in the onion rings.  The onions were sliced too thin and their flavor was trumped by the batter.  With little onion taste, they were little more than batter rings.  Fortunately, the batter was good.

The portions were sizable and we exercised some discretion (this time) by not ordering any of the homemade desserts.  However, there is still money left on the gift card, so we will undoubtedly return...that is, if Lori invites me again!  It is her gift card after all!

Local Roots also offers catering, has a nice kids menu (at $5 for a meal, side, and a drink), and offers friendly and attentive service.

Visit the website to review the daily and Sunday brunch menus and to plan your own visit to Powell!

(Photos from Local Roots' website)