Riverside’s Roots Kitchen & Bar, a vegetarian and vegan dining establishment, announced it will close its doors this Saturday, September 2, at 9 p.m. The restaurant has been in operation in the original home of The Salted Pig on 12th Street for one year. It will continue to offer its weekly deals, happy hour, and sushi night until the closing date.
In a statement on Instagram, the restaurant thanked its patrons and staff, saying, “Thank you to everyone who has come and supported us, we hope you enjoyed your experience with us. Thank you to our team who has been nothing but the best.”
The closure of Roots Kitchen & Bar follows the recent shuttering of other vegan and vegetarian establishments in Riverside, such as Plant Power and Vegandepot. The trend has raised concerns among locals who value plant-based dining options.
The announcement has sparked sadness among Roots' fans. On Instagram, users lamented the loss of the restaurant, with one commenting, “Why are we losing all the vegan places/ here in crappy Riverside?” Another user praised the restaurant’s atmosphere and food: "That kale burger hit better than any burger I’ve had before.”
While the Riverside location is closing, Roots Kitchen & Bar mentioned that customers in Oceanside or Santa Ana will soon be able to order food through delivery services.
For those who wish to visit Roots Kitchen & Bar one last time, the restaurant will remain open for its regular hours until the announced closure date.
This week, as pomegranate season peaks and trees all over Riverside are bowed over with heavy fruit, Seth learns about a project at UCR that aims to diversify the world of pomegranates with research into varied and delightful cultivars beyond the Wonderful.
In today’s Eat This column, a conversation with a respected donut shop owner led Seth down a donut rabbit hole to investigate whether Riverside’s independent donut shops are all serving more or less the same donuts made with the same industrially packaged donut mix. Spoiler alert: they are!
