Root & Sprig by Tom Colicchio - Aurora

such a great place - love eating here on my days at the University. Healthy tasty food, reasonable price, minimal waste (you have to opt into bag and napkins), friendly staff. This is the way its supposed to be done.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Mediterranean Fall

Today I went and got a white cheddar melt on ciabatta bread...having purchased this item 4 times over the last year, I can say that the sandwich I purchased today (for the same price) was half the size of the same sandwich I've purchased before. The lady behind the counter tried telling me it was "hot pressed" and that's why it looks small. No, it IS smaller. The food here is very tasty and the restaurant is in a convenient location, however, I think from now on I'll go to the cafeteria in the hospital or Woodgrain bagels when I want breakfast or lunch. Also, the bread on the sandwich today was Super hard and chewy.

Meh. That's about the best word to describe the food at Root & Sprig. It is overpriced for the amount you get. I ordered the ultimate steak sandwich and the whole thing is smaller than my hand. It had more unflavored, sauteed kale on it than actual steak. Location is convenient for those centrally on campus, but considering I was still hungry after I ate, it is not worth the money. I'll echo what others have said, we need affordable food options on campus. Make some lunch specials or combo packages.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 5

I was there yesterday and received the BEST service from Sabrina - not only was she helpful but had the loveliest personality! Give her a raise!!

Just alright.

The food is definitely good, but I feel like they would benefit from adding a little less fluff to the food or shortening the menu and dropping the prices slightly. Could probably have also spent less on renovations and hip looking cosmetics. It was a full kitchen/cafeteria and coffee shop before, none of that could be repurposed? The portions are very small. $6 for a cup of tomato soup is pretty laughable. I mean, this is a campus that has a free food pantry for its own students and employees facing food insecurity, $20 lunch isn’t going to go over well among the plebs like me.This is the closest replacement to Etai’s on campus, but I definitely still miss Etai’s. This is off the beaten path a bit in a building people rarely go in (but should, it’s beautiful).I also miss the affordable but basic salad bar and simple cafeteria style place I already mentioned used to be there. That price point and style is ideal for the low paid students and employees who frequented it. Times are getting tougher by the day, on the rare occasion I don’t bring lunch, I would much rather make a salad to my size and liking at a salad bar for $10 than buy a smaller salad that isn’t custom for $16. This isn’t downtown by the ballpark, this is a working campus where we’re still in desperate need of affordable/fast basics. Hint hint, CU.The only major plus I saw for this place is that it’s open later than other places on campus that close at 2-3PM. I mean, it would be a plus if they were actually open as late as stated (5PM on Google, but 4PM on their website). Came by at 4:30 based on Google to a closed restaurant, but apparently the closing time is actually 4, my bad. Came by at 3:15 the next time to them pulling down shutters. The one time I did manage to get food it took 20 minutes to come out with no one waiting.Maybe I’ll splurge sometime again in the future but this won’t be a regular spot for me.

Bland and the place wasn't clean. The cashier wasn't happy ?

So nice to have this healthy option on campus. I've had a few salads and sandwiches, and all have been delicious! GREAT customer service and they always have my meal ready right away!!! I will definitely keep going back!

So disappointed in this restaurant. As a fan of Top Chef and Tom C. this is not what I would have expected at all. I have tried it 3 times now, 2 sandwiches and 1 salad. Very pricey and small portions, the sandwiches are on the hardest bread I have ever eaten, they do not know how to cut veggies except as large as possible and no flavor for the sandwiches. I just paid 11.50 for a small side salad I could make better at home (with terrible pickled onions - Denver is known for its pickled onions and these stink!). Lesson learned will not eat here again!

Came about a month after opening. Was sparsely occupied as it’s pretty hard to find and the building is badge access only. It’s listed as 1st floor, because the Fitzsimmons building is European style, with a ground floor and then 1st floor, so it’s upstairs and down the hall from the main entrance on the south side. Everything is around $10 per plate for light lunch portions. The physical space is very odd. It’s been grafted into a previously more strange extra large hallway by the parking services office. So seating is weirdly arranged to preserve traffic flow, not really their fault, it’s an awkward space. Order from touchscreen or cashier counter. Got the “The Chicken and The Goat” flatbread and a black tea Arnold Palmer, tasty and a good small lunch portion. Tea was somewhat smokey.

Food was excellent, as would be expected from a restaurant group started by Tom Colicchio . I got the southern BBQ plate and every aspect of the dish was delicious and well made. However, this was no plate. This was a small snack. For $12.50 I received two slices of brisket, maybe 1/4 cup slaw and about 4 fingerling potatoes, which did nothing to satisfy my hunger. I understand that inflation is rampant right now, but for less money I can get a larger meal that is home-made at Chai and Chai on campus. Extremely disappointing as the food being offered is delicious, but I would not come back again. Money is tight for a graduate student.

So wonderful having this on campus! Some more signage would be great but we found it. Go into building 500 (fitzimons building), head up one floor and it’s down the hallway. Aside from that, the food is incredible. Will definitely be coming here often!

The food is definitely good, but I feel like they would benefit from adding a little less fluff to the food or shortening the menu and dropping the prices slightly. Could probably have also spent less on renovations and hip looking cosmetics. It was a full kitchen/cafeteria and coffee shop before, none of that could be repurposed? The portions are very small. $6 for a cup of tomato soup is pretty laughable. I mean, this is a campus that has a free food pantry for its own students and employees facing food insecurity, $20 lunch isn’t going to go over well among the plebs like me.This is the closest replacement to Etai’s on campus, but I definitely still miss Etai’s. This is off the beaten path a bit in a building people rarely go in (but should, it’s beautiful).I also miss the affordable but basic salad bar and simple cafeteria style place I already mentioned used to be there. That price point and style is ideal for the low paid students and employees who frequented it. Times are getting tougher by the day, on the rare occasion I don’t bring lunch, I would much rather make a salad to my size and liking at a salad bar for $10 than buy a smaller salad that isn’t custom for $16. This isn’t downtown by the ballpark, this is a working campus where we’re still in desperate need of affordable/fast basics. Hint hint, CU.The only major plus I saw for this place is that it’s open later than other places on campus that close at 2-3PM. I mean, it would be a plus if they were actually open as late as stated (5PM on Google, but 4PM on their website). Came by at 4:30 based on Google to a closed restaurant, but apparently the closing time is actually 4, my bad. Came by at 3:15 the next time to them pulling down shutters. The one time I did manage to get food it took 20 minutes to come out with no one waiting.Maybe I’ll splurge sometime again in the future but this won’t be a regular spot for me.

Expensive fast casual, no flavor, slow service for food that was precooked. Will not go back.

So great to have another delicious option on CU Anschutz campus! Everything I've tried so far has been fantastic.I definitely recommend The C&C sandwich. The cauliflower chicken combo was great, well-seasoned, with just a bit of heat to it.