Roots and Fruits

Vegan heaven! A real health food café where everything tastes amazing!
Been here a couple of times whilst in Leeds and absolutely love the vibe, staff are always friendly, smiley and ready to help.
This time we came however we had to sit outside, the café as tables had been booked inside (the people who booked it were 25 mins late and they still kept the table) quite irritating for us but at least they give you ages if you’re late!
It wasn’t IDEAL sitting outside, but actually turned out to be quite nice as loads of people were walking past in fancy dress (we visited on Halloween) so got some really interesting people watching in!
The waiter came over and took our order (after we’d deliberated for ages) I had the mandarin jigger and others ordered hot drinks etc. Everything was bought quickly and efficiently, our waiter was so lovely when we took ages to decide our food too!
I eventually decided on the nachos, complete with salsa, coconut sour cream (!!!) and jalepenos!
All of it was amazing and so tasty! I definitely didn’t expect the coconut sour cream (vegan of course) to taste so good but it was great! The vegan cheese on top was also great and generally really tasty while also feeling you were being (quite) healthy!
After much more deliberation we chose the chocolate cheesecake (all vegan) with a desiccated coconut base– different but very delicious!
I have to give this place 5 stars, its ethical, friendly and everything I aspire to in life– really makes you think twice about what you’re eating and how you’re eating it!
A real eco hub for anyone interested in conserving our planet :) Goes without saying the napkins and loo roll etc is all recycled too :)

+ Vegetarian restaurant in Leeds
+ Affordable and delicious food
Roots and Fruits is a wonderful vegetarian restaurant in Leeds. I found this place when I was back in town for the first time in ages.
I found this place after walking about and marvelling at how the city centre has developed in the few years I was away. I naturally assumed this establishment was a fancy new addition to this thriving town. Oh I was so wrong. According to its website, this restaurant has been in business at its current location since 1994. Good for them. I guess I wasn’t that into exploring quality eat-​outs in my uni days.
Anyway, this restaurant is located within a little shopping quarter called Grand Arcade, which is not as grand as the name suggests, but definitely has a nice character and is within a short walk away from any of the modern shopping malls in the city centre. I went in for a little late lunch on a weekday. Inside the brightly lit restaurant, I was greeted by a very friendly staff, who showed me to a window seat. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of choices. There is usually one or two vegetarian options at a normal restaurant. But here, every option is veggie-​friendly. I went with the salad of the day, which consisted of quinoa, baba ganoush (aubergine dip), olives and green salad, served with a pita bread. (Every main dish is served with a pita bread here.)
I liked everything about this dish. The fluffy quinoa was seasoned with fresh lime juice. Baba ganoush had a very smoky flavour and a little spicy kick from crushed raw garlic. Hidden within the smooth paste, this baba ganoush contained a few small chunks of perfectly roasted, juicy aubergine. It was such a delight to find these little bits in this already perfect aubergine dip. I guess it’s like fresh juice with bits in it. You get to enjoy two textures in one go. It sounds like a good deal to me. The green salad was seasoned with lemon/​vinegar based dressing and fresh coriander. I liked the way cucumbers and carrots are sliced super thin to create the texture that you don’t usually get. I was very impressed by the quality of food here. I will definitely come back to try other dishes next time I’m in Leeds.

Being hardcore veggies, we turned up to this place after being recommended their vegetarian breakfast. The place is in the handpicked hall which is a shame as it is in the out of the reach of most places in the shopping arena and you have to make a wee bit of an effort to get there.
Leave that aside and you enter to be treated with a lot of love and affection. The new owners look like they are equally as good as the previous ones after hearing about the old one’s stories. The couple is absolutely polite and sweet and it is a lovely experience to dine in this wonderful place. We hogged the complete breakfast and it was amazing as you could tell the food was made with a lot of love and affection.
Defo recommend this place to anyone who wanders up this side

Great spot for veggies or not, perfect location opposite the handpicked hall to marry them up nicely.
So much selection you forget there are no meat options.
We felt like we were on holiday with the terracotta colours and the temporary heat wave Leeds was having at the time.

This is a lovely little place, perfect for a Sunday afternoon after a trip round the shops. I was actually taken here by my previous vegetarian, now mad-​on-​meat friend who advised it has not changed since the last time she came a few years ago. I knew i was in for a treat when she chose a vegetarian place over a meaty place, out of choice! And I can see why it has not changed, it was delicious! proper home-​cooked, wholesome food. I had the vegetarian pie which was yum with a lovely mango smoothie. I was then informed we HAD to have the brioche bread and butter pudding which, although full to bursting I shovelled in and it was well worth it! Its a sweet little café and the owners are very friendly, the toilet is a bit dodge but i would definately recommend this place if you fancy somewhere for some tasty lunch. It isn’t somewhere you’d go for a posh meal but it is very tasty and you do get 10% student discount!

The food is generally not too exciting and the price is a bit on the high side HOWEVER the food is good quality, tasty, well made and it’s definitely a must for any veggies in the area.

I’m nearly positive that I wrote a review about this place almost a year ago, but I don’t see it. And that is a travesty, because everyone needs to know how great this place is. It’s very «quaint» and the couple who work there/​own it are awesome. I’m a pretty dedicated meat eater, so when the Mr brought me to a veggie place I was kind of annoyed. I took that back, fast! The goat’s cheese salad and veggie lasagna are absolutely magnificent. I love them, have dreams about them. The prices are great and I’ve never seen more than 3 groups at a time there, so it’s good for a casual intimate meal.

Lovely place, friendly staff, beautiful food — highly recommended

Oh my god this place is adorable. It’s like going to your dear old grandmother’s house — the one who always spoils you, and insists on making you a sandwich even if you’re not hungry.
I visited at a funny time — just before lunch on a weekday, so it was very quiet. The menu isn’t very adventurous, but it caters for pretty much anyone’s tastes: sandwiches, lasagne, falafels, cakes… I got a mozzarella sandwich and some coffee. The sandwich was generously filled, not bursting with flavour, but very reasonably priced, and honestly I was so charmed by this little place I probably wouldn’t have complained even if it was filled with sawdust. (Just to be clear, it wasn’t).
They’ve also won my undying love by giving free refills of coffee. Every time my cup emptied, the owner would quietly potter over and refill it. Bliss. I was enjoying myself so much I stayed for dessert: sticky toffee pudding. Again, not a gourmet delight, but a bit like a school dinner on the very best day when the dinnerladies have really done themselves proud.
So basically, a nice if not spectacular lunch at a low price, in a lovely friendly setting. If you’re out and about in Leeds and want to avoid the crowds, I’d definitely recommend this place. And for veggies it’s great to have your pick of a wide-​ranging menu!

Despite being a long time vegetarian and Leeds resident, it took me until this week to make my first visit to Roots & Fruits.
I have passed many times and seen it looking sadly empty, which is certainly more to do with the location than the café itself. I always feel a little on edge when taking a meat eater to a veggie restaurant — I want the place to wow them to prove a point that there is flavour beyond meat! Usually this is the case and people end up trying something wonderful they would never have chosen if meat was on the menu as well.
I would say the difference with Roots & Fruits is that I don’t think there is anything that unusual on the menu. In fact, it felt like all the veggie options had been taken from a range of café/​pub/​restaurant menus all listed as one menu. Spring rolls, samosas, etc. So whereas I could choose anything off the menu (a novelty for vegetarians) — I wasn’t really going to find anything new or exciting here.
The upside to this is that you know what you’re getting and it gives you a comforting feeling, which goes with the service, the atmosphere and the homely décor. There are better veggie options at other cafes in Leeds but more choice here and therefore it is easy to return to.
I went for the chickpea fritters with mint raita, followed by the highly recommended spinach and feta lasagne. Yum. My friend had the nachos and the falafel. All dishes tasted delicious and we were both pleased with our choices (and stuffed!).
We had a Taste card which gave us a 2−4−1 deal on the main courses. Our final bill came to £19.70 for 2 starters, 2 mains (2−4−1) and 2 soft drinks. The portions were huge and we thought it was good value.
It’s not leading the way in vegetarian cooking, but as an independent café it knows what its good at and I’m pleased it is still going in Leeds

Reading the rave reviews below, I am aware this review is going to ruffle some feathers…
I have honestly never understood the attraction or hype relating to this Vegetarian Café. However, the café is located half way between my ex-​colleagues new place of work and my office and as we were meeting for lunch during the week we are, unfortunately, on 1 hour slot. The only other option is the Lounge Bar and Grill nearby (where I go often as it is wonderful) but we thought we would try this place again having not been for over 1 year.
Having had lunch there, I am even more unsure what the attraction and hype related to as it’s dark, dingy and drafty with little heating. In addition, the menu is expensive for what the fayre is: Dutch Fries (aka chips with cheese) £4.50! Sandwiches all £4.95 (no, there not toasted either) There was little vegan choice also. I had what was described as Chickpea Fritters but really they were deep fried and made with potato to bulk them out. I asked for chilli flakes as they were so dry and bland and they presented me with west Indiam hot sauce (full of e-​number and artificial additives). In the end I left half of the meal and bought a delicious roll from Millie’s Organics enroute return to my office!
The 2 owners ensured their status known by spending the duration of our visit leaning on the counter staring at the few other occupied tables.
The fact remains that there are plenty of fantastic Cafés /​Restaurants in Leeds that Cater for Vegetarians and vegans alike. One does not need to go into a specific place for this cuisine anymore unless they are so insistant that meat or fish never enters a premises (very strict veggies).
I’m glad at least, that I went with my ex-​colleage and not someone I wanted to impress!

OK, so I came back and I conquered like some kind of decadent lord. That is, I conquered their amazingly delicious veggie lasagne. My friends and I had planned to meet here for lunch, as her strong recommendation had convinced me to dine here, so having sadly only had a drink on my previous visit I decided to go full throttle and nom some of their food. There’s a host of tempting options to choose from in the intimate sweetly laid out café, included an ever changing specials board, and although that boasted a lovely sounding roast I opted for this famed lasagne.
The service was excellent; our food arrived in plenty of time but not so quick as to spoil the chances of a good natter first. The place was abuzz with happily chomping customers and it was the perfect place for a catch up over food. In a city that is sadly lacking in proper venues to enjoy cuisine sans meat Roots & Fruits fills the void well, creating an atmosphere that can chameleon from a great café to grab a coffee, a busy and vibrant lunch destination to the more intimate early evening setting. If you’re meat shy, or simply can live without, this would be a great place to go on a date as it manages to create a welcoming and yet intimate space in which to dine.
Even though I felt full after about half of my dish I strove on to conquer my tasty lasagne bounty, only to realise that shortly afterward my lasagne had, in reality, conquered me. But that was perfect, as it gave ample opportunity to sit and digest the food and latest gossip over the remainder of my drink. An utterly pleasant lunching experience!

I never understood the attraction or the hype relating to this Vegetarian Café. However, the café is located half way between my ex-​colleagues new place of work and my office and as there is only The Lounge nearby (where I go often) there isn’t any other option.
Having had lunch there, I am even more unsure what the attraction and hype related to as it’s dark and dingy with no heating. In addition, the menu is expensive for what the fayre is: Dutch Fries (aka chips with cheese) £4.50! Sandwiches all £4.95 (no, there not toasted either) There was little vegan choice also. I had what was described as Chickpea Fritters but really they were deep fried and made with potato to bulk them out. I asked for chilli flakes as they were so dry and bland and they presented me with west Indiam hot sauce (full of e-​number and artificial additives!).
The 2 owners make their status known and spent the duration leaning and resting on the counter staring at the few other tables that were occupied.
I’m glad I went with my ex-​colleage and not someone I did not know as well. Being principle led, I would of suggested we go elsewhere but that would of mean’t not eating and as an Athelete who was hungry, that was not an option.
The fact remains that there are plenty of fantastic Cafés /​Restaurants in Leeds that Cater for Vegetarians and vegans alike. One does not need to go into a specific place for this cuisine anymore.

I love. I have been here probably more than any other eaterie in Leeds and I am ashamed to say I am not that good at diverging from my norm (shared nachos and spinach and feta lasagne). The lasagne is so good though I cannot bear to switch. Having said that, whenever I do branch out a bit, the most recent being a sweet potato and brie pie, it is never disappointing. In fact, as this gem came from the specials menu it was very disappointing to find on my next visit that it had vanished. Here’s hoping it returns again soon!
The prices I think are reasonable, the portions are quite large and there is an impressive selection of teas and smoothies. It gets quite busy Saturday lunchtimes but there is always a very relaxed and cosy atmosphere. I often take people here if it is my choice of eating establishment, and no-​one has ever been unhappy!

Visiting Roots and Fruits is like meeting up with an old friend. Homely and comfortable, however long it has been since you last caught up, the atmosphere is always enjoyable.
Whilst the surroundings of the arcade may have faded during the 21 years that the café has been in business, the honesty and wholesome quality of the food remains consistent.
I have frequented Roots and Fruits on many occasions, usually on an overcast day, accompanied with a good book. It is the perfect place to lose yourself for a couple of hours, away from the frenetic speed of the city centre. Although the décor has aged slightly, this somehow adds character to the ambiance. Their rich, flavourful soups are perfect on a gloomy day. My favourite dish from the café is the falafel kebab, served warm with salad, raita and pitta breads, it is absolutely delicious.
After eating, I often wile away the rest of the afternoon with a Darjeeling tea and a moist slice of cake. Who says procrastination has to be dull. A well-​used haunt for dedicated vegetarians and fans of meat-​free cooking, long may Roots and Fruits continue.

I like it here because it’s very laid back and the people that run it are lovely. They don’t serve alcohol but you are allowed to bring in your own. The food is good and the dutch chips with cheese are my personal fave, other menue options include stuffed peppers, spring rolls, apple crumble and warm chocolate tart (yum!). If you are looking for a lively atmosphere then I suggest that you go elsewhere but if you are wanting a more chilled out vibe then this is the place for you!

Calling all vegetarians. Here’s one for you, you lovely herbivores. Roots and Fruits just sounds like a vegetarian food haven. As a registered carnivore I was heavily of the opinion that a meal of vegetables was just a plate of side dishes. Yeah, ok I was wrong. There is an awesome array of meals and snacks to choose from, and the portions are really filling, to my utter and complete surprise. I was also surprised at the range of teas on offer here too. Normally it’s coffee in the multitude but for the fussy tea people you can pick from a range of at least ten. Price wise it’s on the more expensive side of café food, but everything tastes really fresh and tasty, and it’s definitely an excellent alternative to pub grub. Plus with the Mediterranean style décor, it’s all very relaxing and homely, and again, not something you usually associate with a café. If you’re a student, flash your NUS card, as there’s a 10% discount on the bill, 10% may not sound like a lot, but it’s better than a kick in the teeth.

Having worked here for a short period I can honestly say the food is prepared fresh and most of it is home-​made. The chefs have a lot of control over what to cook and care about taste and presentation for customers providing a variety to the menu through a specials board. This is a completely and utterly vegetarian restaurant that isn’t cheap but is far from expensive. There’s a sprinkling of salad with most dishes; the hummous salad and falafel are favorites of mine.
The interior is a shabby/​rustic and the owners very affable and this is there one and only restaurant, a true rarity. Check-​out the tea shelf as there are loads and sit down to a home-​made cake.

With only two vegetarian eateries in Leeds, you wouldn’t think the two would worry too much about each other. However, when your competing establishment is the indomitable Hansa’s, you have to work hard to avoid being overshadowed entirely. Roots and Fruits succeeds at this remarkably well. More a café than a restaurant, Roots and Fruits has been in business for twenty years and it’s easy to see why. The décor is light and airy, if a little dated, the staff friendly and the atmosphere unpretentious, with not a trace of the self-​conscious worthiness too often found in vegetarian and vegan establishments. Fitting into that old cliché of being so good carnivores won’t notice the lack of meat, the food here is fresh and tasty and the portions generous. I shared a plate of creamy, delicious goat’s cheese fritters to start, followed by the veggie burger which was served with all the trimmings. Prices here are a little more than your average café, but the quality of the food and the BYOB policy mean it’s still fantastic value for money.

I disagree about the price; for the UK, and for the quality of the food, I thought the prices reasonable. That said, it’s tiny, chic-​shabby and located inside a shopping arcade, so maybe you could expect cheaper prices. But the flavour and freshness and choice are excellent. I had a simple dinner of bean burrito type things and a fruity, Caribbean style smoothie. No dessert, although I would have liked to. Also very friendly, good service.