Roots Steak House, 401 Springfield Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901

Roots Steak House, 401 Springfield Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901 is part of the Harvest Restaurants Group which also includes 3 West, Ciao Cucina, Huntley Taverne, Tabor Road Tavern, Trap Rock Restaurant & Brewery and Urban Table.  I am a real fan of Harvest Restaurants and have dined (several times) at five of them - the other two are on my radar screen.  Recently I went for dinner at Roots Steak House, a short distance from my home in Summit, and a venue that is buzzing with activity, happy looking and sounding diners and innovative cuisine.  Without doubt, Roots Steak House is known for its excellent steaks however it also serves an abundance of fish and shellfish, all incredibly fresh, beautifully presented and interesting.  I am never disappointed and find it difficult to decide what to order!  This time I started off with a superb Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail - the shrimp were boiled and served with tomato sauce and grated horseradish on the side (the nice thing is that you can mix your own to the taste you like) all sitting on a thick layer of ice to keep it cool although I was extremely tempted to get the Oysters Rockefeller as they are delicious too andn I have enjoyed them before!)  I then shared a delectable Heirloom Tomato Salad with my dinner companion (I can't ever resist heirlooms!!) before we were served perfect Fillet Steaks, cooked just right and tasting delicious, accompanied by Brussel Sprouts with applewood bacon and pearl onions in a creamy sauce (one of several great "rotating" side dishes at Roots.)  Roots has a wonderful selection of wines and we chose a Malbec and a Cabernet respectively to compliment our steaks and compliment them the wines did!  Although we did not have dessert (and, again, Roots' dessert menu is up to the same high standard, seasonally inspired and I have enjoyed several desserts there before) we ordered coffee which is always good.  Service is excellent there with attentive wait staff who don't interrupt one unnecessarily and all the presentation is first class.  Frankly I could eat anything on the menu at Roots and be happy as it all appeals to me and includes seasonal favorites and specialties, depending upon the time of year.  With fall in the air, the emphasis that evening was on harvest foods and the menu choices were truly inspiring.  The dining room includes intimate booths and some round tables and is lively without being overwhelmingly noisy considering that the very attractive (and bustling) bar is a big feature in downtown Summit.  It is a real treat to eat there and I highly recommend that you try Roots Steak House, 201 Springfield Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901.    3 Wes