Wolcott upscale home-cooking-style restaurant named one of the best in U.S.
WOLCOTT, Ind. — Owning a restaurant was a pipe dream for Amber Farrington, growing up on a farm in rural Reynolds with a self-sustaining garden in a family that loved to cook from scratch.
That dream became a reality for Farrington, co-owner of Roots Eatery and Pub alongside her brother, Luke Furrer, in 2018 when the siblings opened their farm-to-table restaurant in downtown Wolcott, using beef and pork raised right on their parents' farm just down the road in Reynolds.
And now, that dream has landed on USA Today's 2025 Restaurants of the Year list, standing as a local favorite and one of the 44 top places to eat in America.
"Food has always been a big part of my family, and the main thing I wanted to do with Roots was make it feel like you're eating a meal at your parents' dinner table, but elevated to where it's restaurant worthy," Farrington said. "If we've succeeded in that, and you feel like you're right at home here while you enjoy a comforting meal, then I feel like we've succeeded."
More: What's the best restaurant near you? Check out USA TODAY's 2025 Restaurants of the Year.
More: Inside look at how USA TODAY chose its Restaurants of the Year for 2025
The stars of the plates ordered in this Wolcott restaurant are the pork and beef, produced locally in Reynolds on Farrington's childhood farm. The commitment to using local products in her restaurant was one Farrington said she's passionate about, which is part of the inspiration behind the eatery's name.
"Being able to use the meat from my mom and dad's farm really helped this restaurant feel like it's connected to the area, and that's how the name Roots was formed," Farrington said. "Through the name Roots, it allows us to highlight some of the best Midwestern food out there in a small town."
Classic items like their hamburger are top sellers, Farrington said, but it wouldn't be an Indiana eatery and pub without a pork tenderloin on the menu, which is also a top seller.
It can be a bit difficult to find a well-rounded salad in small-town restaurants, so Farrington said she wanted to be sure their menu offered one, beyond a typical bowl of iceberg lettuce and shredded cheese.
"It is interesting being in a small town, because you're trying to appeal to a meat-and-potatoes crowd, but keeping things interesting with the menu is a tricky balance," Farrington said. "We do use a lot of bacon and cream cheese in our dishes, which aren't necessarily great for you, but offering good salads on the menu, too, was important to me as someone who loves a good salad."
Classic burger. It's hard to go wrong with a classic burger with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle. This top seller is made with beef from Farrington's family farm, and paired with fries, it's easy to see why.
Tenderloin. A Hoosier favorite that can be ordered breaded or grilled, this house-made sandwich is not quite as big as some of the viral sensations that have graced the internet, Farrington said. Riding the line between paper thin while still juicy, you can top this one with your preferred favorites.
Parmesan haddock. Fish that isn't fried at a Midwestern eatery may sound a bit odd, but this dish is one you'll be cleaning your plate after. A baked haddock filet topped with parmesan cheese and a tomato-garlic garnish, this plate comes with two sides to complete your meal.
Brown sugar cream pie. A German twist on a Hoosier favorite, Farrington said this sugar cream pie is partly inspired by a recipe by her grandmother's old German recipe for a sugar cream cake. Recognized as the Indiana state pie, this sugar cream pie is one that can't be passed up after a comforting meal at Roots.
See the full menu here.
More: What's the best restaurant near you? Check out USA TODAY's 2024 Restaurants of the Year.
Details: Roots Eatery and Pub, 114 N. Range St. Wolcott, Indiana; 219-747-0051, rootseateryandpub.com
Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Lafayette Journal and Courier. She can be reached via email at jellison@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Wolcott restaurant named one of best by USA TODAY
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