Root in Mendip

We wanted to try Root's menu - it looked interesting and innovative - but we were pleasantly surprised by the ambience and approach to lunch service. A lot of the dishes were understated in their presentation, but there's obviously a (justified) confidence in the cooking. No need for flowery garnishes, just great dishes. There's a great skill in creating plates that look inviting rather than intimidating, and that draw unforseen levels of flavour from potentially unpromising ingredients - celeriac, for instance. Everything was enjoyable, and comforting on a cold December day in exactly the way we had hoped. Excellent.

whoever came from michelin must have had his eyes closed, or else chef had night off when we went. given table by kitchen dispense with runway of staff going by. Leeks were soggy, sorry leek; fried potatoes dropped in creme fresh!; risotto looked like rice pudding from a tin; carrots separated too early from the ground and overcooked; fish ok but expensive. Wine overpriced, cheapest was portuguese white at £34, go to aldi for £10 bottle next time. Presentation poor, product poor and inadequate. £100 wasted when any cafe on brixham sea front would provide a better meal

A superb restaurant with a truly imaginative menu. We were taken there by friends who live locally and recommend it. The service was perfect from the moment that we walked through the door. Although the menu is predominantly vegetarian there were choices for both fish and meat eaters. The wine list has been selected by someone who loves wine. We’ll definitely be back

I really love this restaurant. We had a fantastic evening last night and the food was sensational. It would be very hard to pick a standout dish, but I particularly enjoyed the sprouts and cauliflower. What particularly made the evening for me was the warm, friendly and attentive service. Thank you!

Absolutely stunning experience! Firstly our thanks have to go to Claudia, Tilly and Kat for being so welcoming and attentive. The chefs definitely need a shout out too for a delicious menu. We are in Wells for a very special reason and have found the place to be super lovely. The restaurant is right across from the Hotel we are staying at and have to say we had one of the best meals we’ve ever had. Superb!! Forgot to take photos because I left my phone back in the hotel room but we didn’t have lunch so ended up having around 7 or 8 dishes cos we were very hungry but came out feeling very satisfied and well fed. If you get the chance, you *must* try the Buttermilk Celeriac… out of this world! Already looking forward to future visits to try new additions to the menu! Thank you Root!!

Food was all fabulous, service was seriously lacking. I will definitely come back though, as maybe they were just short staffed today. Update: Second time there today and the food was absolutely flawlesss! Wonderful experience. My only comment is: The server should pay a bit more attention to guests. We had to wait an inordinate amount of time for our bill as she was busy chatting at length with nearby guests.

What a delight. A succesion of plates with new flavours and veg combinations. So good to find a restaurant with a new take on food. Very fresh and clearly all homemade. Very accommodating about my dietary requiements. Finished off with two delicious puddings between three of us. All very, very lovely.

All the dishes we got were fantastic, so flavourful and interesting. Would go back if I happened to be in the area again!

Eating out with two small children can be stressful at times, particularly if you want good food. The team at Root were genuinely warm and welcoming and helped to keep our two girls entertained while we had the most delicious lunch. Our food was packed with flavour and really well balanced. I am surprised that we managed to get a table in this great little place without a reservation. I’m just sorry we’re not local as we would be back in a shot.

Could not fault this restaurant in any way. Everything was wonderful, we had a fantastic evening.

Highly recommend a visit to Root. The food was delicious and the staff were friendly and attentive. It's possibly the best vegetarian meal I've ever had and we loved the sharing plates. Will definitely visit again.

The most delicious vegetables I’ve ever eaten. Very quick friendly service. Quiet relaxed atmosphere. A return visit is guaranteed.

A very unusual menu but all the food was delicious. Friendly staff and good service but not all the food arrived at the same time. This may have been deliberate.

Excellent food. Really exceptional. Lovely service.

Root Restaurant is truly a standout in the dining scene, offering a culinary journey that masterfully balances fresh, seasonal ingredients with innovative small plates catering to all dietary preferences. Every dish is an artful creation, bursting with flavor and imagination. While some may find the prices on the higher side, the quality and creativity make the experience well worth it. What sets Root apart even further is the exceptional service. We were lucky to be looked after by the delightful trio of Tilly, Cissy, and Kirsty, who made our evening truly unforgettable. Tilly’s youthful charm and attentive care, Cissy’s insightful recommendations, and Kirsty’s warm hospitality created an atmosphere of genuine comfort amidst the restaurant’s stylish coolness. Each of them went above and beyond to ensure we had the best experience, making us feel valued and welcomed from start to finish. Even when the restaurant was bustling, the atmosphere remained inviting, and the service never faltered. The attention to detail and personalized approach made us feel like the only guests in the room. If you’re looking for a place where exceptional food meets equally exceptional service, Root Restaurant is it. Special thanks to Tilly, Cissy, and Kirsty for making our dining experience so wonderful – we can’t wait to return! This version highlights both the restaurant’s strengths and the personal touch from the staff! Let me know if you’d like further adjustments.

Wonderful food with amazing service

Genuinely the best resturant I've ever been to ❤️ The food was absolutely amazing, the house bread was the best bread I've ever eaten. Phenomenal service, the waitresses where so friendly and lovely atmosphere. Not too busy and the decor gave a classy natural feel.

Terrible... Terribly lovely! 🙌🏻 Hah! That got you didn't it! 😄 One good turn does another aon here's my review: Most ppl who dine here appeared to be with others.. I showed up and was let down by a no-show date.. but the staff here were really friendly, and slick with it 👍🏻 It felt like a well-controlled environment and that transferred well to me as a customer. Staff: I'm grateful for the A1 professional manner. Casual and friendly. You're in good hands here. Food: I chose the house bread + oil, plus the grilled potatoes. You won't be disappointed with the flavour and you get stacks of bread as well so if you chose a smaller plate like I did with the potato, you'll be fine. I can't away forgetting about the date as the food was top notch. Thanks chef(s)! Thanks all! Would def return. Would def recommend. 👍🏻

Incredible food, lovely selection, could honestly eat them all. Staff were very pleasant and the restaurant was clean and not sat too closely to other tables which was nice

Excellent experience, food presented beautifully and tasted even better. Had 13 plates between 4 of us and it was exactly right, we were hungry too. A pleasant and social dining experience, highly recommended.

This place is wonderful. We’re pescatarian and rarely do we get to go to a restaurant where we can eat almost the whole menu - we couldn’t make our minds up as everything sounded delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed everything we did have, but the cheese puffs snacks were incredible! The restaurant itself is nice: pared down, modern decor and tables not too close together. Staff were lovely too. Can see how this place has such a high rating.

As vegetarians, the restaurant was very attractive to us both. The ambience and service is extremely good and the small plate menu also appealed. We ordered six dishes between us together with a good bottle of Tempranillo. The first dish to arrive was the cheese puffs which were delicious, as was the charred hispi cabbage however others lacked depth of flavour and seasoning, especially the Cornish potatoes and fusilli. The tempura vegetables had a great texture and the fried slice of lemon was inspired but too much of the food was simply bland. With small plates, one needs differing, punchy flavours; some spicy, some salty, some sweet, some rich. I'm afraid that too many were off the mark. One dish we ordered wasn't delivered.

The cheese puffs with chilli jam were very moreish, so glad we ordered this 'snack' to go with the small plates. The other standout highlight was the lamb ragu pasta- did not expect the lamb to be outshone by the best cooked pasta I've ever had. The fried potatoes are like patatas bravas which were a bit heavy and didn't really go with the more delicate other small plate options- our bad choice. We were fine with four plates and one snack, between two but we did have dessert elsewhere.

If you haven't had the pleasure of eating here yet what are you actually doing with your life?? It is an absolute joy of the senses!

Wonderful lunch. Great food, great service. We chose the “tapas” option and ordered 5 small plates between us was adequate, although we did kick off with the home made bread, which was superb. Finished off with the almond olive oil cake with cashew custard - a taste sensation. As someone famous once said, “I’ll be back”

Amazing!the food is wonderful, really tasty. Staff great and very helpful. They have managed to create a wonderful atmosphere. Would definitely recommend. Looking forward to our next visit.

Amazing food, fantastic choices for vegans and vegiterians. Friendly, helpful staff. Excelent value. Hope they get that Michelin star, they deserve it.

Been before but still the best most delightful staff and service, impeccable vibes. Food excellent as well, very good chefs. Will keep coming back forever! 💖💕 much love to everyone

Interesting food, well cooked and presented. Excellent atmosphere: efficient and the staff looked like they were enjoying themselves, unlike some other places I've eaten :) The worst I can find to say is that my plate became empty too soon. Yes, I will return next time I am in Wells.

Lovely staff and atmosphere! The variety of dishes and flavours was incredible. Would definitely recommend - one of the best meals I’ve had!

Staff - friendly, good conversation, helpful and efficient, food well presented, great flavours and will return.

A perfectly judged restaurant. Well laid out and furnished, interesting food well prepared and an eclectic wine list. The palomino is great. Service is good, they actually look at you to see whether you need anything. Highly recommended

What a gem! We found this place and had the fixed menu lunch. The food was delicious, novel and interesting. Superb. Tilly our waitress was quite literally bubbling with enthusiasm and couldn't do enough to make our visit perfect. They were welcoming and fetched water for our dogs without asking. The meal was the best of our holiday.

i visited this restaurant with 3 friends on Wednesday (17th July 24) . it was market day in Wells and all the tables were in use and the waitresses rushed off their feet! Nevertheless the food was delicious and the service outstanding. our waitress (who i think may have been the manager) was so friendly, good humoured and frankly just fun to be around - she seemed to genuinely love her job. she certainly my made our experience exceptional. Thank you and sorry we were the last to leave !!

i visited this restaurant with 3 friends on Wednesday (17th July 24) . it was market day in Wells and all the tables were in use and the waitresses rushed off their feet! Nevertheless the food was delicious and the service outstanding. our waitress (who i think may have been the manager) was so friendly, good humoured and frankly just fun to be around - she seemed to genuinely love her job. she certainly my made our experience exceptional. Thank you and sorry we were the last to leave !!

Lovely relaxed atmosphere. Food was delicious, fresh, and light. Wines were also great. Staff we very helpful and friendly. Would love to go back!

Having visited Root Wells twice now it has solidified itself, in my opinion, as one of the best restaurants in Somerset 🙌🏻 Despite the small plates, each dish proved itself to be a little shining star cleverly designed by Root to include flavours that compliment each other. Although the restaurant itself is extremely modern, the service and atmosphere certainly didn't feel intimidating. Our server was beaming with smiles and laughter, and advised that the menu changes practically daily with the produce that is on offer. Each visit has been 10/10, I would highly recommend a visit in such a great location in the centre of Wells. I'll certainly be visiting again.

A lovely restaurant in the heart of Wells serving delicious vegetarian sharing plates. Fantastically fresh flavour combinations and joyful staff - a real pleasure to eat here.

Snacks and Plates makes a nice change from the usual restaurant fare, Root was busy and buzzy, people of all ages, great service and interesting food. We had the house bread (which was a bit spongy), cured meats, tempura veg, lovely burrata with honey and peach, beetroot with grapes apple and nuts, and fried potatoes with chilli yoghurt and parsley. We washed it all down with South African palomino and finished with shared chocolate mousse and rum baba. £110 including gratuity. Really enjoyable.

A fabulous evening. Friendly staff, great, imaginative food. What a find!

Wonderfully inventive food in a gorgeous setting looking out onto the cathedral. We particularly enjoyed the Grilled Hispi Cabbage and Jersey Royals with Ewe’s Curd dishes. Warm, thoughtful service too. Can’t wait to go back!

Amazing meal loads of choice for vegetarian, staff were all ready friendly and explained everything that wasn't veggie, lovely evening all round

Great food. Really friendly staff.

Gem of a place. Amazing plant based and quite unique dishes. Every plate was a wonderful experience . Talent all around. Great service. The manager was very guest focussed. A great find. It deserves all the good reviews.

Wheelchair accessible entrance and ground floor loo - not accessible but manageable for me as a ambulatory wheelchair user; plenty of room in the restaurant for a wheelchair or rollator. Small plates, vegetable focused and fabulous! Incredible and unusual combinations. A beetroot, pickled grape and walnut dish was a standout. Plenty of gluten free options. Great service - attentive but not overbearing. Heartily recommend!

My mother and I wandered in here for lunch and was not disappointed! The staff were lovely and explained through the menu for us. We both enjoyed the mock-tails and found the plates were the perfect size for sharing (we had 5 between the 2 of us). Highly recommend, and we’ll be coming back soon :))

Some of the best service and most friendly service staff I have ever had. And my oh my the food and wine here is insane, it is on the pricier side but it is definitely worth it. Would go back if I was in the Wells area again such an amazing place

4 of us enjoyed sensational everything here! The food was a delight, so varied and perfectly presented. The flavours were distinct for each of the plates. We can’t complement Beatrix enough. The white Burgundy was crystal and dry. We rather liked Root!

Absolutely stunning, inventive food. Each dish was meticulously prepared so it looked beautiful and was full of flavour. Having been to Ottolenghi's restaurants in London, I would say that Root is as good as, if not better than those! They really make the most of the ingredients and and elevate humble vegetables to the next level. Also, the staff were fantastic and all in all we loved our meal and would definitely come again when next in Wells. Highly recommended.

Loved it here. Waiting team really knowledgeable about the dishes and service was lovely and not intrusive. Relaxed way of trying lots of new things and all were delicious.

Amazing flavors and food! The tiramisu was the best in the world!!! Highly recommend! Everything was exceptional! I could list all the food choices but it would take too long.

Fantastic flavours and mixtures of food served by friendly and attentive staff-great atmosphere-highly recommended

Very tasty and creative small plates menu. Really impressive gastronomical experience!

Absolute favourite - couldn't recommend more!

Fast becoming my favourite restaurant delicious food at a very reasonable price and excellent service

I had been meaning to try this place for months. Why did I wait so long?? The food was outstanding in every way- great menu, wonderful flavours, lovely presentation. Service was warm and friendly. Ambience was relaxed and low key (it was lunchtime). Can’t wait to go back.

Had an amazing experience this week dining at Root Wells! Any chef can get decent flavours using meat, but this is a serious, plant-led menu with fantastic flavouring and excellent for anyone interested in good cooking.

What a wonderful place! Clean, modern restaurant in the heart of Wells. Superb staff, very helpful, very responsive. Gorgeous food, plate after plate of lovely flavours and textures. Not a vegetarian restaurant but you could skip the meat very easily and still have a stonking good meal! Great food served simply.

Had an excellent lunch here today. As a veggie who does eat fish it was great to find a place that offered such a variety of sharing dishes.

This restaurant has good quality food, small plates, great, not enough of them though. Perhaps bit more meat and shellfish. Quite expensive, not really a great deal of choice in Wells, we might return if passing.

Innovative mouth-watering menu. Every choice was delicious. Even if you are generally a meat-eater, try this. You will truly not be disappointed. Staff delightful and chef clearly excellent. We shall be back!

As previously still fab food. With great service. Love it. Highly recommended . Wonderful choice on the menu. I enjoy bringing friends for the 1st time.

Enjoyed excellent cheese puffs hake and duck. Recommend dark chocolate mousse with olive oil and delicious rece pudding with burnt orange

Amazing food. We had an incredible date night here with fantastic food, lovely service and well priced for the quality and amount of food. Must order the cheese puffs (I will be back for these). The seasonal mushroom dish was delicious as well!

The food was absolutely delicious! Couldn't fault it. Service was a little lacking. The waitress didn't ask if we wanted to order any drinks at all and just generally felt a little forgotten sitting in the corner. The atmosphere was also a little less intimate. The lights were bright and gave the place more of a daytime cafe feel, but all minor critiques to an otherwise lovely place for food. Best vegetarian restaurant I've ever been to.

Obscenely good - food is amazing, inventive, vibrant, with influences from the southern med to the middle East. Service was friendly, attentive and wonderfully enthusiastic. Cannot recommend this place highly enough, and can't wait to come back.

Food - Superb. Service - Superb. Ambience - Superb. Do go, the place absolutely rocks. You can thank me later! In the words of the great Arnold Schwarzenegger, I’ll be back 😍

Super special curated set menu, worked really well for us

Amazing little gem in wells! Droid and service was really high standard ! All ingredients were fresh and wholesome ! We loved all the different veggies and how the chef used ingredients to make every dish stand out with colour and flavour!

It's ok, slightly over priced for small plates for food that don't quite match expectation or description. Left feeling a bit underwhelmed. Too long a wait for dessert and coffee...

Excellent service and food as usual, catering for vegan and meat options effortlessly.

Amazing small plates full of flavour. They were able to veganise a lot of the plates and these were explained along with the alternatives. We got our drinks a little late, however when we reminded the waiter she then took them off of the bill for us which we hugely appreciated and would not have expected. Would definitely recommend both for the food and attentive nature of the team.

Nice relaxed environment, lots of vegan options the beetroot dish was good, everything else was excellent

Well cor blimey, what a lovely lunch. It was a challenge to maintain decorum and not pick up the plates to lick them. Really delicious food put together by people who really get how flavours and textures work together. Also really appreciated the friendly and personal service. Will definitely be returning (probably with parents in tow) - thanks so much Root for a really great lunch.

Lovely restaurant, attentive friendly staff and the food is amazing! Two of us ate our fill with wine and aperitifs for under £90. Gratuity (10%) is automatically included in the bill which prevents English stinginess, I approve!

Lots of choice for vegetarian - dishes are best for sharing tapas style. Wine was good and not pricey. Service attentive and good. I will definitely come back,

As a pescatarian, it’s difficult to find restaurants that serve quality options. We were two couples and chose to share the selection of small plates between us. A great way to be able to experience a variety of dishes and flavours. Every single one was superb! Hot, fresh and delicious! Every member of staff was friendly and offered a great service. It was a return visit for us but a first for our friends, who loved it. We will definitely be returning. Highly recommended.

Highly recommend, great food, great service and great atmosphere. We had lots of sharing plates this made for a varied and fabulous meal….we will go back 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

Great staff, excellent food, A great night out. A really outstanding restaurant. We live outside Wells and love this restaurant. Our London friends this weekend loved the food and the experience.

Not only was the food amazing and the service excellent, they made changes in the menu to accommodate my dietary intolerance's that was superb and again very appreciated. If we are ever in Wells again we will be going back there.

What can I say I know that a business should make hay as the sun shines as the saying goes but my visit to ROOT was during wells carnival and it was daylight robbery £10 for a pizza that was about 4 inches across and was black and burnt around the edges. As you can see from the picture the pizza is not as big as my hand.

Just okay is our rating, very heavy flavours and lots of fried food, not a lot to counter balance. Price point was high compared to other restaurants recently (we’ve been travelling for 5 months in Europe and UK). Our waiting staff person suggested we have two of the same dishes for a starter - way too much and it was a bit down hill from there. I will say, the oysters were outstanding!

We visited Root on Friday evening for a birthday meal and had a really lovely evening. The service was genuine and wonderful, the food was imaginative and totally delicious (and fairly priced)! I was well catered for with a diary intolerance and it was refreshing for this to be a totally breezy experience and not an inconvenience. I was given a different menu card with possible adjustments on for the dishes, which mostly consisted of having the sauce served separately, but it was wonderful to still be able to eat most of the same dishes as my friends, and be involved with the sharing plate style of eating. Rather than feeling left out, and this was very much appreciated :) The colourful veggies really are the stars of the show, would totally recommend eating here for something different and will definitely be back! Thanks again!

Gosh; great epicurean surprise after a desultory experience following the wife around the shops. Beautiful tastes delightfully constructed. Thanks team

Not cheap , but excellent nonetheless.

Some of the tastiest food we’ve had in ages. Well balanced and brilliantly cooked veg …. Everything on the menu sounds delicious, and in the 7 plates we ordered everything was spot on. And the squash “cheesecake” with sage was probably the best tasting pud I’ve ever had Would 100% go back

Centrally located and with a delightful although slightly limited view of Wells Cathedral through the windows at the rear, this was a relaxing and enjoyable lunch experience. A warm and courteous welcome was followed by helpful menu explanations. Small plates are generous, and flavours hit the mark. Despite being busy, service was prompt and always with a smile, allowing for a relaxed lunch in no more than an hour. Highly recommended.

Good looking modern restaurant with great food and very friendly staff. Small plates that were delicious

An amazing lunch with such an interesting and delicious range of dishes. Fresh locally sourced seasonal ingredients which are imaginatively combined and immaculately presented. Stylishly simple interior with character and a great atmosphere, with impeccable service. Would absolutely recommend if you're in the beautiful Wells area. Thankyou Root, we will be back for sure.

A beautiful restaurant. Fresh, elegant decor and delicious food! Staff were very attentive and food was served quickly despite being very busy. Would happily return to sample a different seasonal menu!

I could eat here every night (and I have friends who spent a week in Wells and did just that!). Instead I bought the cookbook, though it does not come with the lovely hospitality of being in the restaurant. There are so many delicous dishes and while the menu is very vegetable-forward (very fresh, fantastic flavour combinations) the meat and fish are both cooked to perfection. I've eaten here several times with various age groups and both for fun and for business and the experience has been wonderful every time.

One of the best meals I’ve ever had. The food is served on small plates, mostly vegetarian but they usually have a meat and a fish option too. Every dish was absolutely delicious and unique. The decor is stylish but still relaxed and comfortable, and the staff were excellent. I can’t wait to return for another meal! Really can’t recommend highly enough.

Root exudes warmth, thoughtfulness and style. I have a fairly extensive list of dietary requirements at the moment which I’d emailed about at the time of booking; our host remembered this immediately when I gave my name on arrival and made me feel as if it was no trouble at all. I’m heavily pregnant and was offered a soft seat on account of this, and we were talked carefully through the menu and told how most of the dishes could be carefully adapted for me (ingredients replaced with thoughtful alternatives rather than removed as most restaurants do). All of the dishes we ordered were outstanding and tasted fresh and interesting; at one point we saw one of the chefs go out to some planters behind the restaurant to take fresh herb cuttings! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Root: you will find the highest quality of food and experience a very warm welcome. If we lived locally we would certainly be regulars!

Had a lovely time at root the food was all incredible , each dish had lovely flavours and we ended up ordering loads to try as much as possible ! We booked early for 1730, had a really nice table and wasn’t very busy at all, really cool music playing and a relaxed vibe , it started filling up as the night went in but still felt chilled. Service was spot on and the waitresses really friendly . Loved that it was veggie based but there’s still options for fish and meat if you fancy it . We particularly liked the fresh oysters , the courgette and butter bean dish and the pickled beetroot dish , also the cocktails are incredible ! Will come back with mum and dad to try the lunch menu !

Interesting small dishes, well worth trying them out.

When I die and go to heaven, this is the food that will be served. It was one of the most delicious meals of my life.

Wir waren dort zum Abendessen und haben es sehr genossen! Das Personal war super freundlich und hat uns alle Fragen beantwortet. Wir hatten 5 verschiedene Gänge (ähnlich Tappas) ausgewählt, davon 4 vegetarisch. Und alle waren ausgezeichnet! Toll gewürzt und sehr schmackhaft. Einzig die Lautstärke im Lokal war etwas hoch.

Visited here with work colleagues. Amazing food, service style is relaxed yet extremely knowledgable and the food is the best I’ve had for a while. Please note that this is NOT a vegetarian restaurant. There is as much for non vegetarians as there is vegetarians.

This was my second visit but first for lunch - and it was just as wonderful as out first meal. The small plates are created with such care, so that simple ingredients (carrots) were transformed into magically fabulous dishes. The welcome is warm, the service is excellent and the small plates were all incredible. If you can find room - have the cheesecake too. We will be back.

Food and service were exemplary. The Root team were friendly, informative and attentive and the atmosphere in the restaurant was superb. In terms of the cost, this was extremely good value based on the quality of the ingredients and the cooking. I will have no hesitation in recommending this establishment to my friends and family.