Rootimentary, in downtown Laurens, is really about getting back to roots for Chef Caleb Satterfield and his wife Jessica. A Laurens native, Chef Satterfield has chosen his hometown as the place to explore both his culinary heritage and his ties to the region. He spent more than a decade working in restaurants in Greenville before returning home to open Rootimentary.
Part of getting back to roots was establishing a presence downtown, and to that end he partnered with Holmes Development to completely gut and rehab the historic Swofford Building right on the square, at 101 E. Laurens Street. An open kitchen anchors the rear of the spacious dining room, with soaring ceilings and raw architectural elements throughout.
The menu is part steakhouse, part cocktail bar, and part global tapas restaurant, all anchored with Southern flavors and preparations. The Shrimp and Grits comes with a crispy grit cake, smoked tomato brodo, and peppers braised with country ham. Other small plates include an Asian Beef dish with rice cakes, Mongolian sauce, and crispy ginger, Fried Chicken Thighs with collard greens and peanut butter gravy, and Seared Scallops with an asparagus and bacon hash and chili crisp. On the steak side of things, treat yourself to a classic steakhouse experience with a Ribeye or Filet Mignon topped with your choice of sauce and a side of mashed potatoes or grilled asparagus. Of course Chef Satterfield changes the menu seasonally, so keep an eye out for new dishes and specials.
Rootimentary also serves a Saturday brunch with items like biscuit sandwiches, a steak omelette, and pancakes. Try the Brunch Burger, a house-ground patty with a hash brown cake, fried egg, Hollandaise sauce, bacon jam, and served on a pillowy brioche bun. Definitely the thing to cure what ails you after a night out on the town.
And speaking of night out on the town, Rootimentary’s cocktails are not to be missed. To that end, Chef Satterfield and his team are working on renovating the entire basement of the Satterfield Building and turning it into the area’s first speakeasy-style cocktail bar. While the upstairs dining room is bright and airy, the basement bar will be moody and luxurious. Expect a heavy emphasis on whiskeys and bourbons, much like the restaurant’s cocktail menu.
Rootimentary is truly a not-to-be-missed experience when visiting the Old 96 District. With his restaurant, Satterfield has planted his flag in Laurens, saying in essence, “This place deserves greatness.” The restaurant is a love letter to Laurens and its residents, and a way for Caleb Satterfield to say thank you to the place and people who raised him. Luckily for the rest of us, his thank-you’s happen to be delicious.
Matt Lardie is on a never-ending quest for the stories behind what we eat and drink. From biscuits to bibimbap, Bordeaux to beer, the Durham, NC resident is thoroughly obsessed with sharing tales of edible traditions from across the globe. Follow Matt’s latest travels on Instagram and X.