Root & Bone shutters after 8 years in the East Village

Root & Bone closed after brunch service on Sunday... bringing an end to eight years at 200 E. Third St. just west of Avenue B. 

Per an Instagram post: 

After 8 years in the East Village, we have made the incredibly difficult and heartbreaking decision to close our doors. ... We are so grateful for all the wonderful people that have joined us, the friends we have made, and the family we have forged with our amazing, funny, and weird staff. 

"Top Chef" veterans Janine Booth and Jeff McInnis opened the restaurant specializing in Southern cuisine in early 2014... they later expanded the brand, with a pop-up in Puerto Rico and an outpost in South Miami in 2019. That location remains open... as does their Stiltsville Fish Bar in Miami Beach. 

This EV address was previously home to Mama's Food Shop, which closed in July 2012 after 15 years. Heart 'n Soul tried the space briefly before Root & Bone.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Mama's Food Shop closes after 15 years; 'the community nature of the neighborhood has all but vanished'

Reader appreciation: Root & Bone and Fonda

[Photos by Stacie Joy]

Erin shares this two-fer of Avenue B neighbors via the EVG inbox...

I’d like to recommend both Root & Bone and Fonda during this difficult time. So grateful to both for being open and providing delicious food and drinks with safety and cleanliness.

Root & Bone has fed me delicious fried chicken — as well as bottled cocktails — multiple times now. Both were expertly packed with all the trimmings ... Their staff has been extremely friendly and warm in these difficult times, and have really gone the extra mile with customer care. They also have a takeout menu for the time being featuring some very affordable specials.

Fonda is a restaurant I meet friends in fairly regularly ... and the environment from the takeout window is still welcoming. They are continuing to serve all the classics with some special pricing on margaritas and guacamole for walk-up orders. Additionally, they are cleaner than a Swiss lab, making sure to wipe down even pens and the card reader between each use.

Fonda is at 40 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street. They are open for takeout and delivery from 4 to 9 p.m. Root & Bone is at 200 E. Third St. near Avenue B. They are open for takeout and delivery from 5 to 9 p.m.

Want to share an appreciation of an East Village business that remains open? Send us an email here. (We'll see how this goes! So far so good! Thank you for the suggestions!)

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Reader appreciation: Le Fournil Bakery

• Reader appreciation: Abraço

• Reader appreciation: Post

• Reader appreciation: Zaragoza Mexican Deli & Grocery

• Reader appreciation: Barnyard Cheese Shop

Report: Landlord and partner sues Root & Bone chefs for spending profits

Chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth, who run Root & Bone on Third Street at Avenue B, face a lawsuit for allegedly using $286,500 in profits from the Southern-themed restaurant for personal ventures, according to multiple published reports.

The lawsuit was filed by Richard Freedman, their business partner who also owns the building. He claims that the chefs, who live above the restaurant, spent some of the Root & Bone profits on a $135,000 apartment renovation and side projects such a like-minded pop up in Puerto Rico.

Per the Daily News:

"McInnis and Booth have assured Mr. Freedman that the restaurant is 'doing fine' but that it was not making much, if any, profit," the suit says.

McInnis, however, said the matter is nothing more than "bookkeeping confusion.”

“There's really no validation of any kind of lawsuit. I wish the guy the best," McInnis said.

And...

Freedman seeks an order that McInnis and Booth have violated their lease. He also seeks damages to be determined at trial.

Eater has published a copy of the 17-page complaint here.

The restaurant opened in June 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Mama's Food Shop closes after 15 years; 'the community nature of the neighborhood has all but vanished'

Rumors: 'Top Chef' alum Jeff McInnis will help revamp former Mama's Food Shop space

Root & Bone announces itself on E. 3rd St.

Root and Bone opens Monday on East 3rd Street

There's an opening date now for Root & Bone, the Southern-themed restaurant from former "Top Chef" contestant Jeff McInnis and season 11 contestant Janine Booth at 200 E. Third St. at Avenue B.

The sidewalk chalkboard is announcing the opening date for Monday at 11:30 a.m. ...



The restaurant's website describes the place this way:

What we're all about:
Soul nurturing, conscientiously sourced, farm-fresh ingredients.

A craftsman's ethic coupled with artistic culinary thought.

A tribute to the timeless recipes and traditions of a rural America and the warm embrace of its hospitality.

This location was previously home to Mama's Food Shop, which closed in July 2012 after 15 years. Then Heart 'n Soul for a few moments.

Like Mama's, Root & Bone will offer takeaway.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Mama's Food Shop closes after 15 years; 'the community nature of the neighborhood has all but vanished'

Rumors: 'Top Chef' alum Jeff McInnis will help revamp former Mama's Food Shop space

Root & Bone announces itself on E. 3rd St.

Dental work at Root and Bone

The renovations continue at 200 E. Third St. at Avenue B, the future home of the Southern-themed Root & Bone.

Yesterday, EVG reader Peter Mitchell pointed out a discovery that workers made here… an old door was found behind a wall of the restaurant … announcing the office of Dr. H. Blicker, Dentist…



We have no idea when this door dates to (Mama's Food Shop was the tenant for 15-plus years.) We couldn't find any mention of Dr. Blicker online.

In any event, that this space once served as a dental office gives the name Root & Bone a whole new meaning ...

Root & Bone taking shape on East 3rd Street

Former "Top Chef" contestant Jeff McInnis and season 11 contestant Janine Booth have been working on opening Root & Bone here at 200 E. Third St. at Avenue B.

The sign went up on Friday… (and what's with the Quincy tag everywhere?)



… and a nighttime view via Facebook…



According to Food & Wine last Oct. 2:

[T]he new spot will celebrate Southern foodways through dishes like caramelized brisket meat loaf with smoky plantain crème, sunchoke and house-made ricotta “tater tots” and Carolina Gold rice risotto with butter beans and pickled egg yolk. To pair with the chefs’ modern takes on Southern dishes, the restaurant will serve an all-American beer and wine list with a focus on craft brews from the South. The chefs are also forming a partnership with Mama’s Bar next door to offer a hip, Southern gastropub late-night menu and weekend brunch.

This location was, of course, previously home to Mama's Food Shop, which closed in July 2012 after 15 years. Then Heart 'n Soul was here for a sec.

Root & Bone has a placeholder website … as well as an active Twitter account … A Facebook post Friday says "Our sign is up! Won't be long…" until they open.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Mama's Food Shop closes after 15 years; 'the community nature of the neighborhood has all but vanished'

Rumors: 'Top Chef' alum Jeff McInnis will help revamp former Mama's Food Shop space

Root & Bone announces itself on E. 3rd St.

Root & Bone announces itself on E. 3rd St.

As reported last week, "Top Chef" alum Jeff McInnis and current "Top Chef" contestant Janine Boothwas are joining forces to open a restaurant called Root & Bone at the former Mama's Food Shop and Heart N' Soul on East Third Street and Avenue B... the exterior is being prepped for the new venture, which "will celebrate Southern foodways," as Food & Wine put it.



... and the mural-in-progress is via @ArtByJW ...



Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Note outside Heart N' Soul explains that the chef had a 'nervous breakdown'

Mama's Food Shop closes after 15 years; 'the community nature of the neighborhood has all but vanished'

Rumors: 'Top Chef' alum Jeff McInnis will help revamp former Mama's Food Shop space

More details on Root & Bone, opening at the former Mama's Food Shop on E. 3rd St.

[April 2013]

As we first reported on Tuesday, "Top Chef" alum Jeff McInnis was coming to open a restaurant called Root & Bone at the former Mama's Food Shop and Heart N' Soul on East Third Street and Avenue B.

Food & Wine had more details on all this yesterday. New "Top Chef" contestant Janine Booth is joining McInnis for this venture, slated to open in January.

Per F&W:

[T]he new spot will celebrate Southern foodways through dishes like caramelized brisket meat loaf with smoky plantain crème, sunchoke and house-made ricotta “tater tots” and Carolina Gold rice risotto with butter beans and pickled egg yolk.

Let's hope that they fare better than "Top Chef" alum Nikki Cascone, who opened and closed Octavia's Porch within six months right around the corner on Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Note outside Heart N' Soul explains that the chef had a 'nervous breakdown'

Mama's Food Shop closes after 15 years; 'the community nature of the neighborhood has all but vanished'

Rumors: 'Top Chef' alum Jeff McInnis will help revamp former Mama's Food Shop space