If you’re looking for Italian food with a healthy twist, look no further than Roots Italian Kitchen. Located in the heart of Boca Raton, Roots is home to Executive Chef / Co-Owner Michael Latimore and Director of Operations / Co-Owner Yuriy Kouzenkov. This dynamic duo met while working together at a food delivery service in Boca Raton and quickly discovered they had the same passions. “We are passionate about making people happy through ridiculously good food, and over the top service,” says Kouzenkov. The result was Roots Italian Kitchen, which has been opened its doors about six months ago.
After trying out the restaurant a few weeks ago, we could see this throughout our experience at the restaurant and were thrilled even more when we learned that the team is dedicated to serving fresh ingredients, made in-house and that every dish highlights a vegetable in the dish or as a featured side.
Once inside, you’ll be drawn to the clean and simple feel. From the white walls and tables to the open kitchen to the clean ingredients used in the dishes, Roots puts you in the feel-good frame of mind. You’ll smile even more when you learn that chef doesn’t use frozen ingredients in the preparation of any of his dinner.
Dinner at Roots Italian Kitchen
For our blogger dinner, we kicked things off with a plate of housemade Italian cheese. We’re not talking about your basic setup, but rather about a grand presentation that made us wipe away some drool. A bed of greens, roasted red peppers and a medley of truffled creams took the center stage, while thickly sliced Buffalo mozzarella, juicy red tomatoes, Prosciutto di Parma and creamy burrata filled up the plate. Top this all with a drizzle of high quality balsamic and you’ll quickly remember why Italian food is one of your favorite cuisines.
While the cheese plate may seem like it might be enough for a starter, for this group of bloggers, there was more to come. Next up, was a plate of Eggplant Parmigiana coming our way. Unlike other variations of this dish that weigh you do, Roots’ version came with a healthy twist. Rather than be breaded and fried, this variation came without any breading at all. Instead the eggplant was baked with a sprinkling of mozzarella cheese and served with zesty pomodoro sauce. The result – a heart-warming dish that gave us a taste of what was to come.
What’s a trip to an Italian restaurant without an order of pasta? There’s regular pasta (and yes, we enjoy it so), but on this trip, we took a different route – and went for their housemade gnocchi, a dish that Roots is extremely proud of. This house specialty is hand-crafted, using organic Yukon Gold potatoes and is available as an appetizer or pasta course. Roots’ perfectly tender, pillowy gnocchi is served with your choice of pomodoro, Alfredo or pesto sauce and fresh herbs. During our dinner, we were able to try the pomodoro and Alfredo sauces. For me, the tomatoes will win anyday, but for those seeking something a bit richer, the creamy Alfredo may be the dish for you.
With the appetizers and gnocchi behind us, it was time to bite into the main entree. Since one dish is never enough, we were given a sampler plate of three house favorites – a truffled risotto was glistening with the golden glow from the turmeric; the tender chicken marsala was enhanced by the earthy flavors of the mushrooms and paired well with the garlicky, sautéed spinach; and a Salmon filet with jumbo shrimp was melt in your mouth delicious. Our advice — dine with friends and order a few dishes to share.
Although our stomachs were fully satiated, we managed to find some extra room, as a trio of desserts were set before us. Luckily, these were served to the table and a few bites were enough to satisfy. While we enjoyed the traditional tiramisu that was both lush and satisfying and the Cannoli Cheesecake that offered a playful take on a classic dish, it was the pumpkin cheesecake that won us over. This creamy treat, a special for the season, gave us a taste of fall and with the addition of the pepitas, it was well balanced in both taste and texture.
If you’re looking to enjoy the flavors of Italy without the added guilt, head on over to Roots Italian Kitchen where the team will welcome you into their family. The restaurant is open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday and on Sunday and from 5-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant also offers catering services to local buinesses and patrons in the area with orders of 5 or more.
Roots Italian Kitchen is located at 212 S Federal Highway in Boca Raton. For more information, visit Roots online at RootsItalianKitchen.com or call (561) 757-6581.
I was invited into Roots Italian Kitchen and did receive a complimentary meal, but the opinions expressed here are my own.