"My mother and I decided to try Root29 despite some mixed reviews on Yelp, as they had a promising menu and favorable reviews on their website. When we arrived, we were greeted with a "Please seat yourself" sign, which I found strange given the menu pricing. We selected a side table in the open and elegant restaurant, which was not overly formal. Our waiter, although kind, seemed overwhelmed as he was also acting as the bartender and doing inventory. We ordered drinks, a Pinot Grigio for my mom and a Strawberry Basil Collins for me. Although our waiter initially didn't have fresh basil, he made the extra effort to get some from the kitchen. Unfortunately, my cocktail lacked gin and tasted more like strawberry puree. Moving on to the food, we ordered sliders, French fries, and maple bacon Brussels sprouts as we weren't too hungry. The food was okay, not exceptional but not terrible either. The sliders tasted like frozen patties on a dry ciabatta bun, the fries were standard frozen fries in a small portion, and the Brussels sprouts needed more crisping and had a slightly burnt taste. The bill for our drinks, appetizer, and sides came to $34, which I didn't find unreasonable. Charlottesville has many excellent restaurants, and I don't think Root29 can compete with them."
