Roots and Vines - Lower East Side

This place has a bit too much of a "too cool for school" kind of vibe--I'm not a huge fan of that kind of thing, but the food was pretty good. It's a very nice and clean spot in LES on Grand St. a block from the glorious Donut Plant. Prices are in the middle range ($6-$10) and they have a great selection on their menu: burgers, banh mi and Mexican. Being part coffeehouse, part bar and part street vendor--Roots and Vines is not a banal stop, which probably adds to its trendy mood and decor: soft lighting and a too many rich kids with macbooks sipping lattes. There's probably someone wearing a beret there right this second. But don't let any of that stop you from scarfing some tacos and burgers or even better: a banh mi.

I tried out the banh mi and although it's smaller in size compared to Saigon Bakery in Little Italy, it's still pretty substantial and well prepared. The bread was crisp and toasted to a fine texture, enough to bed crunchy but not so much that it crumbled apart. The inner working were also pieced together nicely with each ingredient segment nicely portioned so that I could taste a bit of patte, pork, pickled carrot and cucumber in each bite. It was delicious, but when I was finished it left me wanting another--so cruel.

Props to the chef who designed their menu. It has all the beautiful types of food I love: banh mi, tacos, burgers and tortas. Sure, none of them are particularly on the "light" side, but for those people that want trick themselves into healthy choices they offer some salads (goat cheese anyone?). I'll definitely return to try out the tortas, the thought of which make my mouth water.

This a very chill spot, so probably a good place to get a coffee or a beer and something to eat with friends where you can have a conversation. I'd take friends here who like a more modern and cleaner looking establishment--maybe the ones aren't as fond of the dives and grimier places.

409 Grand St., New York, NY 10002, 212 260 2363, Menu Page