DINING FEATURE
BY GRANT CRAWFORD
PIZZA PRIDE When Karim and Jeana Aliani took over ownership of Roots in Georgetown, the couple brought the pizza recipes from their former restaurant. Roots makes its pizza dough and sauce in house. ($11-$25)
Big Kahuna: pizza sauce, mozzarella, Canadian bacon, pineapple The Baja: extra virgin olive oil, garlic base and pesto, mozzarella, grilled chicken, baby leaf spinach Kitchen Sink: pizza sauce, mozzarella, Canadian bacon, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, red onions, bell peppers, BBQ chicken: barbecue sauce base, mozzarella, grilled chicken, red onions, parsley green and red bell peppers, artichoke hearts, black olives, mushrooms, baby leaf spinach Veggie: basil pesto base, mozzarella, red onions, artichoke hearts, black olives, mushrooms, baby leaf spinach The Texan: pizza sauce, mozzarella, Canadian bacon, pepperoni, sausage, applewood smoked bacon
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The pizza at Roots is hand-tossed to order.
GRANT CRAWFORD COMMUNITY IMPACT
The Southern Tacos come with either grilled chicken or slow-braised pork.
Jeana and Karim Aliani bought Roots and took over ownership in 2015.
Wes Brauer serves up a pizza at Roots.
COURTESY ROOTS
GRANT CRAWFORD COMMUNITY IMPACT
GRANT CRAWFORD COMMUNITY IMPACT
Roots Restaurant continues role of providing space for food, family, fun W hen Karim and Jeana Aliani scoped out the building at 118 W. 8th St.
they decided to focus on Roots and other ventures. They sold Paisano’s building and equipment, but not the recipes. While many of the dishes would not make the transition to the menu at Roots, the pizza did. “The pizza we brought with us,” Karim said. “We make our own dough here fresh; we make our own sauces here. Our main focus now, when it comes to food, is our pizza.” The menu goes beyond pizza, though. With tacos, club sand- wiches, burgers and gyros, Roots takes a “little something for every- one” approach, Karim said. At Roots, customers can grab a beer or glass of wine and enjoy live music. Local bands take the restaurant’s wooden stage
Thursday-Saturday. Additionally, Tuesdays are karaoke nights, and Wednesdays are open-mic nights. “You come in on Tuesday night, there is the mom and dad and kids singing,” Karim said. “On Wednesday when we do open mic, anybody comes in with a guitar; go have at it. Local people just come in and have fun with it.” The Alianis pride themselves on maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere at Roots. “When you come during the nights and weekends, there are kids everywhere,” he said. “The mom and pop get a beer, and the kids play around. Roots is part of their culture here in Georgetown. That’s what we’re trying to keep it.”
Roots 118 W. 8th St., Ste. 101, Georgetown 512-863-7080 www.rootsonthesquare.com Hours: Mon. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Tue.- Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. noon-10 p.m.
in Georgetown in 2015, the couple was looking for a new location for their Italian restaurant. However, once they set eyes on the business already sitting among the slate of boutiques, eateries and the historic Williamson County Courthouse on the Georgetown Square, it was clear to them Roots had already become part of the community. “I liked the feeling inside of it and the potential of what it could be down the road,” Karim said. The Alianis had previously owned Paisano’s Trattoria in Georgetown for more than 20 years, but in 2019
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GEORGETOWN EDITION • FEBRUARY 2023
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