For more than three decades, Jyoti and Raj Tewani have called Pleasantville home. Long before they opened the doors to their first café, the couple shared a deep belief in the healing power of food. “Food is the most powerful tool we have to take control of our health,” Jyoti says. “We bring the nourishment of plant-powered Mother Earth—completely hormone- and cruelty-free—to improve your health and feed your soul.” That philosophy has since become the heartbeat of Root2Rise NY, a full-service plant-based café, bakery, and cold-pressed juice bar now with two thriving locations in Westchester. They first opened in Pleasantville in 2021 and, in 2024, expanded to Larchmont in response to constant requests from their growing community.
In the crowded world of health-focused dining, Root2Rise NY distinguishes itself by refusing to compromise. Every dish is 100% plant-based, vegan, gluten-free, organic, and locally sourced. No processed ingredients. No preservatives. No refined sugars. No cheap oils. Ever. The menu draws inspiration from global comfort foods, with rich flavors woven throughout.
This summer, Larchmont Root2Rise NY raised a glass to innovation with the debut of its vegan biodynamic wine selection. The new pairing menu highlights wines chosen to complement the café’s globally inspired vegan dishes. Just as flavorful as traditional vintages, biodynamic wines are usually more sustainable and easier on those with sensitivities. Now diners can pair their plant-based meals with organic wines- proving indulgence and wellness can coexist beautifully.
Jyoti’s path to restaurateur did not begin in a commercial kitchen, but at home, cooking for her family. With a degree in math and physics, she stayed home to raise three children while nurturing her lifelong love of cooking. Over the years, she deepened her knowledge with nutrition and culinary studies, focusing on the direct connection between what we eat and how we feel. “I always dreamed of building something of my own,” she says. “Raj helped make that dream a reality.” The name Root2Rise NY reflects Jyoti’s yoga practice, borrowing from one of yoga’s foundational principles: finding your roots in order to rise. “It’s about grounding yourself before you can grow,” she explains—a fitting metaphor for a business built from the ground up.
At its core, Root2Rise NY is about more than what’s on the menu, it’s about challenging how we think about food. Jyoti emphasizes that in a nation as wealthy as ours, we should be eating more mindfully, recognizing food as both nourishment and a powerful tool for healing. She is especially passionate about teaching families and children to cook in ways that prioritize nourishment and long-term well-being. The café takes food intolerances seriously, with transparent ingredient lists and staff training to ensure allergens are handled with care. “Some allergens can be life-threatening,” Jyoti stresses. “We don’t take chances.”
Education is central to Root2Rise NY’s mission. The cafés host cooking classes on preventing chronic inflammation and making food choices that support long-term health. Customers linger not only for the food, but for the conversation, sharing experiences with health, wellness, and the personal journeys that brought them there. “We’re building a community of people with a common interest,” Jyoti says. “Through this mission, I’ve had the opportunity to make a difference in how people understand healthy eating.”
At 58, Jyoti isn’t slowing down. “My only competition is me,” she says. Her vision is clear: to bring the café’s mission—and its menu—to as many communities as possible, challenging the way people think about food, one nourishing meal at a time. In a world where convenience often outweighs nutrition, Root2Rise NY stands as a reminder that eating well isn’t just about living longer—it’s about living better.
root2riseny.com