UPDATE******NOW CLOSED FOR BUSINESS*******The Root and Soul is a full service Soul Food Restaurant that recently relocated in Scottsdale Arizona. This restaurant originally opened in the DeSoto Market less than a year ago only weeks before the DeSoto Market was to close. This new location of The Root and Soul looks to be a mix of classic and a bit of contemporary with a bar. The menu is mostly (but not entirely) broken down to meals that include two sides, Sandwiches that come with House Cut Fries, Big Plate Specials and MORE!

We both were torn on ordering a few different menu items. I was going to go with the Blackened Redfish Platter as the Redfish is flown in fresh from Alabama most days but today it didn’t make it in yet so I went with my second choice The Carolina Spicy Chicken Sandwich.

It’s a non-conventual beauty! (and my photo doesn’t do it justice……)

This Carolina Hot Chicken is unique and unlike any other hot chicken sandwich I’ve tried. It starts with bread that is soft and neutral and it sponges up all the goodness from the chicken. This bread lets the chicken have it’s staring roll. This chicken is very fresh, plump and very moist boneless breast meat. It’s coated with an extremely crisp thin batter that’s drizzled with a not too stingy but just enough heat tangy hot sauce and is countered with the creamy (and not drippy…yeah!) slaw. Each bite is delicious! I think even if you don’t like spicy you might still LOVE this sandwich……because it is so tasty!

I got to try the Millionaire Macaroni and Cheese. WOW-wee it’s very rich with loads of real cheese and buttery goodness. With this one you have to add the seasoning if you want seasoning. Loads of Cheese….It’s not dry.

My husband went with the Jambalaya and a side of Red Beans and Rice. (red beans and rice I forgot to photo)

He was very surprised that he got a very generous amount of very tender perfectly prepared shrimp. He said the plate was delicious as well as the red beans and rice. He said they both were very good and that means something because he doesn’t usually like this sort of food outside of New Orleans.

My first taste at The Root and Soul in Scottsdale was Worth a Fork!

Every THING is Subject to Change and your experience may or may NOT differ.

We went back for a 2nd taste.

This time tried the Big Daddy Plate.

The fried chicken is delicious. The chicken is very tender, very juicy and very flavorful. The chicken has a well seasoned delicious crispy crust. I got a piece of red fish…The fish is moist and mild tasting…The coating here has little flavor…not sure if it was made correctly and found out that the son of the owner just started cooking. Hush puppies are fried nicely and are fluffy, seem free of oil and are seasoned. The Southern style cabbage is steamed and has lots of pepper in it….I was told that this wasn’t made correctly. My husband said the red rice and beans were good.

It seems the chicken fried steak was a little off today.

It’s sort of tough and chewy and lacks seasoning and flavor…..but we waited a long time today for it so my husband didn’t feel like sharing his thoughts on it at the time. The corn bread is fine but the macaroni and cheese is also a little off today….Hopefully the son will improve his cooking skills. The management was understanding on our complaints and took a little off our bill today.

*****UPDATE *****NOW CLOSED FOR BUSINESS