The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering

 

Located at 750 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in the Midtown Market plaza in Chapel Hill (with a second location in Pittsboro), The Root Cellar offers coffee, baked goods, breakfast and lunch. It is open from 8-3 daily. Catering, prepared meals, and online ordering are available.

 

The Root Cellar is one of those places that I wanted to like more than I actually did. On paper, it has a lot to offer, but it also leaves room for improvement in a few areas.

 

Though the name may suggest a cozy café, The Root Cellar is decidedly not that. This place is huge with plenty of seating and space. The restaurant/bakery occupies the front half while wine, beer, and a few grocery items for sale can be found toward the back. While you’re unlikely to be left waiting to find a table, it can get a bit loud in here.

 

For a breakfast/lunch place, The Root Cellar’s menu offers a good amount of variety. Go for a pastry, egg plate, or smoothie in the morning or a salad, sandwich, or wrap later in the day. The sandwiches show a variety of global influences, the pastries are made in-house, and the coffee uses Joe Van Gogh beans.

 

Ordering is a bit chaotic as lines approached the register from two different sides with no indication of which was the correct queue. The cashier, while not rude, very much seemed like she would rather be anywhere else.

 

Wanting something light to tide me over until lunch, I opted for a green smoothie and an herb cheddar biscuit. I didn’t have long to wait for either. The smoothie was a bit sweet, and, at $8.50, no bargain. On the other and, the biscuit – warm and savory – was delicious and a much more reasonable $3.

 

I wouldn’t rule out returning to The Root Cellar, but it’s not a place I would go out of my way to visit during future Chapel Hill trips, either.

Mediterranean Deli

Located at 410 West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, Mediterranean Deli serves Mediterranean/Middle Eastern cuisine and baked goods from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. There is a market on-site as well as limited outdoor seating. Catering and delivery are available.

Mediterranean Deli is exactly what it says it is, but it is so much more than that. Glass cases house an impressive selection of salads, sides, and apps (including five different kinds of hummus), yet that is barely scratching the surface. Other glass cases store bars, baklava, and cakes, including several gluten free options. There are also paninis, platters (shawerma, souvlaki, gyro, etc.), and fatayers (boat shaped Middle-Eastern pizzas), as well as rotating specials. The sheer abundance of options can be intimidating and make decisions difficult, but that is about the worst that can be said for this place.

Once we got past the “everything looks good” phase, my wife and I decided on a lamb and beef gyro and a four-side sampler. Portions were rather generous: the gyro came wrapped in a large, thin pita, and the sampler definitely could work as a meal unto itself. Add to that the complimentary condiment bar (olives, tahini, tabouli, tzatziki, and more), and you will not be left hungry here. Of course, it also helps that everything was delicious. The gyro meat was seasoned well, the harissa hummus add a nice bit of spice without overpowering the palate, the curry apple orzo did the same for sweetness, the sautéed cauliflower would make a convert of even the most stridently anti-vegetable child, and the Israeli couscous simply defies description. Admittedly, the desserts here aren’t quite on the same level, but pistachio nammora and cheesecake bars were still plenty tasty.

Given the quality, quantity, and location, one would expect Mediterranean Deli’s prices to run high, but this was not the case. The gyro was $7 and the four-side sampler was $9.75. Depending on your selections, you can walk away here full and happy for under $10 per person. Counter staff were adept at keeping lines moving, wait times for food left no complaints, and there was plenty of seating.

It would be somewhat maniacal to try to sample everything Mediterranean Deli has to offer, yet chances are you’ll at least feel that temptation. With an enormous selection of tasty food at its disposal, this is a place that will keep you coming back.

8.75/10