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| - It's been a long time since I've felt compelled to write a Yelp review, but I felt like more folks should know what a fantastic meal I experienced at Roast. Probably would be a five star review but for one minor detail; we (my daughter and I) were somewhat unsure of what to do with ourselves when we walked in & it took a few minutes to figure out that we should go to the back of the space to order at a counter. Some signage, or someone letting us know, would've been great. But all in all, who cares- everything else was remarkable. Love the interior- brick walls, hardwood tables, terrazzo floors, and cool vintage maps.
Sorry, Roast- I had low expectations. That far down State Street I worried I'd be wandering into a raucous college bar with food as an afterthought. Even though the Pearl Jam in the background gave me slight pause, I am happy to say I was 100% wrong. The menu was tantalizing. Literally everything on there sounded creative and delicious- and still somehow cheap! All $8 or less. I was particularly intrigued by the pork shoulder/cherry pepper gravy sandwich and the "Gialla Rosa" (free range turkey, jalapeno cranberry relish, and brie... mmm) Since I don't eat wheat, I figured I'd be relegated to a salad- not to worry, there were many options.
My daughter and I ordered- she got a Boylan soda and one of the specials of the day (a guacamole burger) and I got a diet Coke and the Asian Chicken Salad. We sat down and our food came out in less than ten minutes. The server was friendly and prepared- he had napkins at the ready before I even asked for extra napkins- and the food looked and smelled great. My salad was enormous, beautifully plated and colorful. Best of all, it was composed perfectly. Equal parts Napa cabbage and romaine, with loads of fresh chopped bok choy. Plus purple cabbage, shredded carrots, lots of pea pods and red pepper, cucumbers, and cilantro. On top was an obviously freshly grilled chicken breast, still slightly warm, seasoned well and cooked perfectly- neither rubbery nor dry. The dressing was a zippy peanut/sesame vinaigrette served on the side. I could not believe the flavor and freshness of this salad. It surpassed any salad I've had at fancier establishments up on the square in portion size, amount of veggies, and taste- and it was only eight bucks.
Meanwhile, my daughter was enjoying and devouring her burger, which came on a clearly homemade brioche bun, with shredded lettuce, a generous slather of what looked (and tasted) to be just-made guac, and a perfectly balanced chipotle aioli. I cannot forget to mention the bacon- two huge slices in an X across the burger, thick cut, smoked, and cooked just right. I was able to steal two bites of the bacon and if they're not using local bacon, it's definitely a higher-end bacon. She had a side of their house hand cut fries, which were also wonderful, looked like the frites at jacs or Brasserie V but tasted even better- and not greasy! $2.50 for a side of these is a freaking steal.
All in all, I want to give these guys kudos and hope they do well. I used to work on the square and had lunch at the restaurants near my office all the time (Merchant, Graze, Marigold, Coopers, etc.) and what Roast is accomplishing regarding sandwiches/salad seems a notch well above any of those offerings; if I worked downtown now, those other places would be a distant second choice.
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