We first learned about Roots on Railroad in late 2019, and loved the food so much we tried to follow owners Chris Beckett and Katie Castillo to as many pop-locations they had around Paso Robles and north SLO County as possible.
It was at that first pop-up at Tin City Cider that we first tried their lobster rolls, and was it ever love at first bite! Over the next six months we kept showing up to their pop-up locations, and tried dishes we only hoped would make it on their official menu when they moved into their permanent location: The Backyard in Paso Robles.
ABOUT THE FOOD
The food at Roots on Railroad draws inspiration from different parts of the world, spices, flavors, and textures, but what ties it together is the consistent high quality of ingredients, attention to detail, dedication, and love owners Chris Becket and Katie Castillo put into every single dish.
Currently Roots on Railroad is open for lunch and dinner, and you can find items ranging from from Meatballs to Poke Bowls, and even Fried Chicken Sandwiches and (our favorite) Lobster Rolls on the menu. These “staples” are always on the menu, but when you visit make sure to check for specials too – they have an incredibly fun selection of rotating menu items, and you never know what you are going to find that day!
In addition to lunch and dinner, Roots on Railroad will begin serving breakfast in summer 2020. Like their lunch and dinner menu, the breakfast foods will be wide ranging with a variety of influences, but always delicious and made with love. We’re looking forward to the Poly Dolly Pancakes (traditional homemade pancakes with Poly Dolly Cider), the Pork Belly Sandwich…and their Breakfast Smash sounds like exactly what the doctor ordered to recover after a fun weekend wine tasting in Paso Robles!
HISTORY
Owners Chris Beckett and Katie Castillo may have come from completely different backgrounds, but have come together to create one of the best new restaurants in Paso Robles.
Chris started his culinary career early, and grew up cooking family meals where he started his lifelong journey of exploring new flavors, texture, and ingredients. By age 9 he had even developed his own recipes and techniques! This led him to enrolling at Le Cordon Bleu, where he continued his culinary education and refined his palate and processes.
When Chris returned to California he worked in restaurants from Pasadena to Yountville, eventually landing at Schooners Wharf where he quickly became the Executive Chef. Chris opened several more restaurants with the family that owned Schooner’s, including Cafe Della Via, The Crooked Kilt (now Pappy McGregors), Pappy’s in SLO, and was the founding chef for Fish Gaucho.
While Chris was busy at culinary school and opening new restaurants around SLO County, Katie was an Army wife with three children, and “nerding out” on her passion for food. A self-taught chef, Katie has always made tasty and nutritious meals, more often than not from scratch (including the dressings and sauces!), and beautifully prepared. In 2017 she decided to up her game, and opened Katie’s Kitchen as a way to provide nourishing meals to her friends in the wine industry during harvest time, their busiest season. Katie’s Kitchen was actually what helped bring Chris and Katie together; they knew each other through their kids’ school, and Chris started ordering Katie’s prepared meals for his wife and kids.
In 2019 Chris decided he wanted to go into business for himself, and merged his concept for a new restaurant with Katie’s Kitchen meal prep service. That fall Chris and Katie’s dream became a reality, and they opened Roots on Railroad and Roots Derailed to the community.
At first Roots on Railroad was only open at pop-up locations (very similar to a food truck), but with the highest quality food you’ve ever had in a non-restaurant setting. They were ultimately invited to take over the former Chubby Chandler’s Pizza restaurant at The Backyard in Paso Robles, and in early 2020 they finally moved into their new home. Today you can still find Chris cooking up a storm and Katie preparing all of the meals at their new location, and taste exactly what makes their combined vision so special.
LOCATION
Address:
1304 Railroad Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
- From Highway 101 South, take exit 231A for Riverside Avenue. At the offramp turn left onto Riverside Avenue, and continue .3 miles towards 13th Street. Turn right until 13th Street, and continue 384 feet towards 1st Street. Roots on Railroad is at the corner of Railroad Street and 13th Street on the right-hand side.
- From Highway 101 North, take exit 230 for Paso Robles Street. At the offramp continue straight on Paso Robles Street for .5 miles towards 13th Street. At 13th Street turn left, and continue straight for .2 miles. Roots on Railroad is at the corner of Railroad Street and 13th Street on the right-hand side.
Roots on Railroad is located in The Backyard, a local beer garden in Paso Robles. The Backyard has very limited parking, but there is lots of street parking around the restaurant.
CONTACT INFO
Phone:
(805) 296-3040
General Inquiries:
https://www.rootsonrailroad.com/location
Menu:
https://www.rootsonrailroad.com/menu
Hours of Operation:
Monday | 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
Tuesday | 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
Wednesday | 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
Thursday | 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
Friday | 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
Saturday | 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
Sunday | 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
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