Beets are full of naturally occuring sugar. When you roast them this adds to the flavour. Try golden varieities, or the white ones as well as the red. The pickled ones are, well, pickled and totally ruin the flavour of the little darlings....or they have their own flavour but it tends to be drowned in industrial strength vinegars...
Instant recipe for the compliments at the dinner table -
roast a couple of red beetroots, skin them and coarse grate them when cool.
Place on a plate with a few drops of orange juice, and top with a round of goats cheese.
Grill 'til the cheese just gets a little brown round the edge, and serve with a nice salad and fresh proper bread for a light lunch, or use as a starter to get hte juices flowing...
and dont forget that the beet tops - all the green leaves and stem - are packed full of minerals, vitamins and have tons of good veg fibre too, so use them up as well - don't just chuck them.