Loved the tuna tartar and Connecticut lobster role. Food and atmosphere are excellent!
Bob Provencher
The food and everything was fantastic. But the service left a little to be desired. Before the end of the meal, both I and my date city up to go to the bathroom, and when we got back, everything was cleared, including leftovers. I had planned on taking home and my phone! They got it back, but the food was gone, and you would think they would know we’re not done if I hadn’t even been presented with the bill yet. A strange experience to say the least.
Bill
Roots Steakhouse in Princeton isn’t just my favorite restaurant—it’s a culinary meditation. A place where ritual meets reverence, and each visit becomes a reset. Not just a meal, but a metaphorical spa for the palate— Where flavor is not rushed, but revealed, like a symphony in slow motion.
The 20 oz Dry-Aged Cowboy Steak is my anchor. Marbled like a well-written sonnet, seared to a crust that sings, each bite a reminder that simplicity, when done with devotion, transcends trend. It’s primal, elevated—earth meeting flame with finesse.
And then, the Ricotta Gnocchi—pillows of comfort that melt on the tongue, bathed in a mushroom cream sauce so delicate it hushes conversation. The peas and basil? Spring whispering through a rich, velvety dream.
I always begin with the Maine Lobster Bites: tender, briny jewels cloaked in gruyere and kissed by lemon garlic beurre blanc. It’s indulgence without arrogance—elegant, familiar, and completely transportive.
And to drink? Salvestrin’s Napa Cabernet Sauvignon— A wine that knows how to listen to steak, that swirls with black cherry, leather, and dusk, completing the alchemy of richness and restraint.
At Roots, I am reminded that excellence doesn’t shout. It simmers, it savors, it shows up on a plate and makes you pause. This isn’t dining—it’s coming home to your senses. And every time, I leave restored.
DENNIS ILITCHEV
I don’t leave bad review - however the experience at this establishment was so excruciatingly disappointing that I feel no other recourse.
Came in for a quick and easy dinner at the bar, as I was in the mood for a quality steak.
1) For a supposed “fine dining” steakhouse the low prices of the cuts caught my attention immediately. I have never encountered- and do not expect to encounter any reputable steakhouse that can provide Prime or Prime + beef for the listed menu prices.
2) I ordered the 20oz dry aged Ribeye and the steak served was absolutely not dry aged. This is false advertisement. How do I know? Dry aged beef has a completely different taste, aroma, crust, rendering of fat and moisture content. The steak was absolutely horrendous. Chewy, poorly seasoned, sinewy. Mind you - I ordered it rare. Some poor fellow might have required construction tools to cut into it had it been more well done.
3) I couldn’t get beyond 3 slices of this abomination before I crossed my utensils and asked the bartender to check me out. No resolution! No manager in sight! They slapped a full bill in front of me when clearly I barely touched the food…..
I’m no stranger to fine dining. I regularly eat at the best steakhouses and Michelin star establishments in SoFlo/Miami and across the country.
This restaurant is focused on pretentious uniforms, pretentious service - and not what matters most. From my impression Roots Ocean Prime seems like a popular local hangout for locals to indulge on wine/cocktails. As far as food service…. they don’t have a clue!
Great food and great service. That’s what matters most. That’s what drives repeat business. To the hospitality group that runs this brand: your staff are in serious need of in-service training. Also examine your vendor/sourcing relationships because there isn’t one thing under the sun you could do to make that steak palatable.
I called the restaurant to speak with the manager after I left and was promised a return phone call. Nothing. Silence.
Mike D
I am not sure how to say how awesome the experience was. But it was. The restaurant is located in a beautiful location. Parking would be the only negative, but only if you don't plan ahead. We ordered the seafood tower and were not disappointed. It came out with a great selection of seafood both cooked and raw. There was three of us and we ordered it for four. It was a meal on itself. The presentation with the dry ice and smoke flowing was a wonder for our young daughter that loved it. My wife and I both ordered a cocktail to start and they came out perfect. For entrees our daughter ordered the Mac and cheese and I had the beef wellington. The wellington was cooked perfectly and delicious. The Mac N cheese was the best she's ever had, in her words. The fish that my wife ordered came out delicious as well. I would highly recommend for a nice evening out. Parking near the wawa in the garage or on street is the way to go. It's a quick 6-8 min walk from there.
Dana Jabush
This was the 2nd time I was here and the food is as excellent as the ambiance. It's a perfect date night restaurant 😋
Atanas Entchev
First time visit, overall very good experience. The tuna tartare was outstanding. I had the petit file mignon with blue cheese crust. I ordered medium rare, it came out close to medium. Regardless, great dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, Petite Filet Mignon Cooked Rare
Karl Sidney
Had an absolutely amazing ribeye steak!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eglo Olem
I was quite disappointed of this place. The bread maybe interesting, but taste was questionable, tuna tartare appetizer was outstanding, however the rest was not. The crispy calamari was avarage at best, the Pan Seared Viking Village Scallops felt dense and not fresh, although the risoto was good, the Potatoes Au Gratin were not cook that same day for sure, possibly even was frozen, the Creme Brule was really disappointing, so heavy. Expected so much more for the price.
We had our small wedding dinner at Roots Ocean Prime back in September and we were blown away by the service as well as the food for our celebration. All our guests were comfortable and so happy with the service in the private room. Brian and Jarrod were phenomenal to work with and so attentive and open to ALL our suggestions/requests. We would highly recommend Roots Ocean Prime to anyone considering a private a event there, you will not be disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Diana Gravitch
We celebrated our 15th anniversary this past weekend at Roots Ocean Prime and they really made our dinner feel special. We’ve been several times before and it’s always consistently great. It is our favorite restaurant for steak in the area. Our server Luis was attentive and gracious. The bartender makes expert cocktails! We enjoyed the lobster bites and tuna tartare to start, and shared the dry aged ribeye and seafood special (enormous lobster tail, scallops and shrimp) with creamed spinach and the loaded baked potato as sides. They brought us the ice cream sundae for dessert which was super fun. All in all, a fantastic meal!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
T M
Love this place. I just wish the portion of the beef Wellington was a bit larger. Also wish they offered an entree with two smaller portions of sides for people who dine alone at the bar (i.e., a 14 oz strip with creamed spinach and potatoes) rather than having to order two large sides, or having to choose between one or the other.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex Robertson
This is my favorite place to get lunch in Princeton. They have a great lunch menu, that includes some more appropriately portioned seafood dishes. I think the sliders are my favorite. One of my other favorite things is the 2-top booths facing out onto Alexander drive. Very chic.
Loved the tuna tartar and Connecticut lobster role. Food and atmosphere are excellent!
The food and everything was fantastic. But the service left a little to be desired. Before the end of the meal, both I and my date city up to go to the bathroom, and when we got back, everything was cleared, including leftovers. I had planned on taking home and my phone! They got it back, but the food was gone, and you would think they would know we’re not done if I hadn’t even been presented with the bill yet. A strange experience to say the least.
Roots Steakhouse in Princeton isn’t just my favorite restaurant—it’s a culinary meditation.
A place where ritual meets reverence, and each visit becomes a reset.
Not just a meal, but a metaphorical spa for the palate—
Where flavor is not rushed, but revealed, like a symphony in slow motion.
The 20 oz Dry-Aged Cowboy Steak is my anchor.
Marbled like a well-written sonnet, seared to a crust that sings, each bite a reminder that simplicity, when done with devotion, transcends trend. It’s primal, elevated—earth meeting flame with finesse.
And then, the Ricotta Gnocchi—pillows of comfort that melt on the tongue, bathed in a mushroom cream sauce so delicate it hushes conversation.
The peas and basil? Spring whispering through a rich, velvety dream.
I always begin with the Maine Lobster Bites:
tender, briny jewels cloaked in gruyere and kissed by lemon garlic beurre blanc.
It’s indulgence without arrogance—elegant, familiar, and completely transportive.
And to drink? Salvestrin’s Napa Cabernet Sauvignon—
A wine that knows how to listen to steak,
that swirls with black cherry, leather, and dusk,
completing the alchemy of richness and restraint.
At Roots, I am reminded that excellence doesn’t shout.
It simmers, it savors, it shows up on a plate and makes you pause.
This isn’t dining—it’s coming home to your senses.
And every time, I leave restored.
I don’t leave bad review - however the experience at this establishment was so excruciatingly disappointing that I feel no other recourse.
Came in for a quick and easy dinner at the bar, as I was in the mood for a quality steak.
1) For a supposed “fine dining” steakhouse the low prices of the cuts caught my attention immediately. I have never encountered- and do not expect to encounter any reputable steakhouse that can provide Prime or Prime + beef for the listed menu prices.
2) I ordered the 20oz dry aged Ribeye and the steak served was absolutely not dry aged. This is false advertisement. How do I know? Dry aged beef has a completely different taste, aroma, crust, rendering of fat and moisture content. The steak was absolutely horrendous. Chewy, poorly seasoned, sinewy. Mind you - I ordered it rare. Some poor fellow might have required construction tools to cut into it had it been more well done.
3) I couldn’t get beyond 3 slices of this abomination before I crossed my utensils and asked the bartender to check me out. No resolution! No manager in sight! They slapped a full bill in front of me when clearly I barely touched the food…..
I’m no stranger to fine dining. I regularly eat at the best steakhouses and Michelin star establishments in SoFlo/Miami and across the country.
This restaurant is focused on pretentious uniforms, pretentious service - and not what matters most. From my impression Roots Ocean Prime seems like a popular local hangout for locals to indulge on wine/cocktails. As far as food service…. they don’t have a clue!
Great food and great service. That’s what matters most. That’s what drives repeat business. To the hospitality group that runs this brand: your staff are in serious need of in-service training. Also examine your vendor/sourcing relationships because there isn’t one thing under the sun you could do to make that steak palatable.
I called the restaurant to speak with the manager after I left and was promised a return phone call. Nothing. Silence.
I am not sure how to say how awesome the experience was. But it was. The restaurant is located in a beautiful location. Parking would be the only negative, but only if you don't plan ahead. We ordered the seafood tower and were not disappointed. It came out with a great selection of seafood both cooked and raw. There was three of us and we ordered it for four. It was a meal on itself. The presentation with the dry ice and smoke flowing was a wonder for our young daughter that loved it. My wife and I both ordered a cocktail to start and they came out perfect. For entrees our daughter ordered the Mac and cheese and I had the beef wellington. The wellington was cooked perfectly and delicious. The Mac N cheese was the best she's ever had, in her words. The fish that my wife ordered came out delicious as well. I would highly recommend for a nice evening out. Parking near the wawa in the garage or on street is the way to go. It's a quick 6-8 min walk from there.
This was the 2nd time I was here and the food is as excellent as the ambiance. It's a perfect date night restaurant 😋
First time visit, overall very good experience. The tuna tartare was outstanding. I had the petit file mignon with blue cheese crust. I ordered medium rare, it came out close to medium. Regardless, great dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, Petite Filet Mignon Cooked Rare
Had an absolutely amazing ribeye steak!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was quite disappointed of this place. The bread maybe interesting, but taste was questionable, tuna tartare appetizer was outstanding, however the rest was not. The crispy calamari was avarage at best, the Pan Seared Viking Village Scallops felt dense and not fresh, although the risoto was good, the Potatoes Au Gratin were not cook that same day for sure, possibly even was frozen, the Creme Brule was really disappointing, so heavy. Expected so much more for the price.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Excellent service. Looking forward to going back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Always my go to. Food and service and impeccable you won't be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miso-Glazed Chilean Sea Bass, Petite Filet Mignon Cooked Rare, Shrimp Cocktail
We had our small wedding dinner at Roots Ocean Prime back in September and we were blown away by the service as well as the food for our celebration. All our guests were comfortable and so happy with the service in the private room. Brian and Jarrod were phenomenal to work with and so attentive and open to ALL our suggestions/requests. We would highly recommend Roots Ocean Prime to anyone considering a private a event there, you will not be disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We celebrated our 15th anniversary this past weekend at Roots Ocean Prime and they really made our dinner feel special. We’ve been several times before and it’s always consistently great. It is our favorite restaurant for steak in the area. Our server Luis was attentive and gracious. The bartender makes expert cocktails! We enjoyed the lobster bites and tuna tartare to start, and shared the dry aged ribeye and seafood special (enormous lobster tail, scallops and shrimp) with creamed spinach and the loaded baked potato as sides. They brought us the ice cream sundae for dessert which was super fun. All in all, a fantastic meal!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love this place. I just wish the portion of the beef Wellington was a bit larger. Also wish they offered an entree with two smaller portions of sides for people who dine alone at the bar (i.e., a 14 oz strip with creamed spinach and potatoes) rather than having to order two large sides, or having to choose between one or the other.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is my favorite place to get lunch in Princeton. They have a great lunch menu, that includes some more appropriately portioned seafood dishes. I think the sliders are my favorite. One of my other favorite things is the 2-top booths facing out onto Alexander drive. Very chic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Bisque
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