The Root Restaurant To Be Featured on Cooking Channel

Chef James Rigato will share three recipes on TV.

A favorite of White Lake will soon be shared with a national audience. The Root Restaurant & Bar will be featured on the Cooking Channel's "America's Best Bites" on Saturday, April 27 at 4:30 p.m. According to the show's website, host Natalie Forte will interview Executive Chef James Rigato and will feature Lake Superior white fish, pierogi and farro salad. The restaurant, located at 340 Town Center Boulevard, opened its White Lake location in May of 2011. In February, the Detroit Free Press named The Root its 2012 Restaurant of the Year The restaurant specializes in seasonality, offering a variety of locally grown and produced products. What do you think of The Root? Add your review in our directory.

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The Root Restaurant Finds Second Home at Howell Theater

The Root has purchased an historical theater for its second location.

Detroit's Restaraunt of the Year has decided where it will open its second location. The Root has purchased the historical Howell Theater Building in downtown Howell and plans to transform it into a restaurant similar to the original one in White Lake, according to media reports. Chef James Rigato told The Livingston Post that the movie theater will continue to operate for a couple of months before they begin renovations. But one part of the 86-year-old building will remain in tact. “We have every intention of keeping the marquee,” Rigato told The Livingston Post. Rigato was previously considering opening the restaurant's second location at the Heart of Howell project on Grand River Avenue, but the location didn't work out. Rigato told the…

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The Root Restaurant Plans to Expand

Chef James Rigato is hoping to open a second location in Howell soon.

The Root restaurant is looking to open a second location in Howell, but it might not be where you think. Although Chef James Rigato was considering opening at the Heart of Howell project on Grand River Avenue, he said the location didn't work out. "We are sorry to say that The Root Restaurant will not be moving into the main floor of Heart of Howell. It was a pleasure working with The Root team and wish them the best of luck in their endeavors," said a post on the Heart of Howell Facebook page on Friday. But that doesn't mean The Root's dreams of opening a location in Howell are over. Rigato told The Livingston Post that the restaurant is looking at another undisclosed location in Howell. “We’ll have something concrete soon, but I can’t …

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The Root Restaurant & Bar to Close for Maintenance Jan. 7- Jan. 8

The popular White Lake restaurant will open again for dinner service Jan. 9 at 4 p.m.

If you want to get your fix at the Root Restaurant & Bar in White Lake you better do it quick. The popular local business will be closed Jan. 7 and Jan. 8 for scheduled maintenance according to owner Ed Mamou. The restaurant will reopen on Jan. 9 at 4 p.m. for dinner service and resume normal business hours the following day. This month the restaurant is offering a special Wild Game feast Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. The event is reservation only and costs $60 per person. The menu includes: To make reservations for this event call the host desk at 248-698-2400. Other specials offered at the restaurant are as follows: Winter Weeknight Specials   (Weeknight offers valid January 14 - February 28 on the specific weekday listed.) The Root Restaurant & …

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The Root Restaurant & Bar to Offer Black Friday Breakfast, Thanksgiving Pies

The White Lake restaurant, and Detroit Free Press Restaurant of the Year, is offering several holiday specials including deals on bottles of wine and holiday pies.

Need to bring a dessert to Thanksgiving dinner but don't want to cook? The Root Restaurant & Bar in White Lake is offering 10-inch house made pies to-go throughout the holiday season. The pies, that serve 12, will be $30 and are made using Guernsey's dairy, Michigan farm fresh eggs, Michigan sugar, and local, seasonal produce, according to Executive Chef James Rigato. Interested customers can choose from a variety of pies including: All Thanksgiving pie orders must be made by noon on Monday, Nov. 19. Pies will be available for pickup anytime on Wednesday, Nov. 21, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. The restaurant will be closed on Thanksgiving. To order a pie, call 248-698-2400 or email eat@therootrestaurant.com. However, The Root will be open on Black …

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Best Thing I Ate

The Root Restaurant Offers Unique, Seasonal Specials

If you're looking to try something new, you won't be disappointed at The Root Restaurant & Bar in White Lake.

One my favorite things about The Root Restaurant & Bar in White Lake are the specials offered at dinner time. They range from watermelon salad to barbecue Amish chicken wings - and I've yet to be disappointed. This week's dish was no exception - squash blossoms. I know what you're thinking, "how can squash blossoms taste good?" It was the same reaction I had when I first ordered them. I quickly found out just how good this dish can be, and have since ordered it every time it's been offered when I'm dining at the restaurant. This week's squash flowers were battered in tempura and Vivant Farm Hand Ale, stuffed with Michigan suckling pig pork shoulder (pulled pork) and served on top of creamed corn (made with Guernsey's cream) with a smoked …

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Nicole Maendel

11:50 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Beautiful . Delicious. Innovative & Local :)   more ›

The Root Sees Reservations Surge after Restaurant of the Year Award

On Sunday, the White Lake restaurant was named the Detroit Free Press 2012 Restaurant of the Year, an award won by Clarkston's Union Woodshop in 2011.

Monday was a busy day at The Root Restaurant & Bar in White Lake. According to Chef James Rigato, business was way up following the announcement of the establishment being named the Detroit Free Press 2012 Restaurant of the Year. "The phones have been ringing all day," Rigato said. "I think we were about 40 percent busier then an average Monday. Which is great. The whole month of February is filling up fast though. Valentines Day is nearly booked as are the next couple Saturdays. The Cabin Fever Feast on Feb. 23 is about halfway booked." If you want to reserve a seat and try the highly touted menu on a weekend, Rigato suggests making reservations for a day early in the week. "The weekends are still the most desired time for reservations," …

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The Root Named Restaurant of the Year

Detroit Free Press names new White Lake eatery top restaurant pick for 2012.

Many White Lake residents had already known about the wonderful cuisine at The Root Restaurant & Bar and now many more in metro Detroit will soon become of aware. The Detroit Free Press today has named The Root its 2012 Restaurant of the Year. With an emphasis on modern American cuisine, the Root, located at 340 Town Center Blvd in White Lake, sits in a 4,700-square-foot building in the Village Lakes Shopping Center next to Highland House Cafe & Carry Out. Its original plans called for 111 interior seats and 28 outside. It serves lunch and dinner and is open every day but Sunday. The restaurant's chef, James Rigato, described the food as modern American. He also said he wants the atmosphere in the restaurant to have a casual feel. “We don’…

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Teresa Mask

11:55 pm on Sunday, February 5, 2012

It's really unfortunate that this conversation has turned so drastically away from comments about The Root. I'm turning off comments. Thanks to all who have participated.   more ›

White Lake's The Root Named One of the Best Restaurants in Metro Detroit

The Detroit Free Press announced metro Detroit's 10 best new restaurants, bestowing the honor to White Lake's own The Root Restaurant & Bar.