03/16/09

They have more choices on drinks than a Swiss Army Knife!

by LittleMagoo

When I first walked into this store, I had no idea what bubble tea flavor to buy, but luckily, this cheerful looking, rosy-cheek Bald Asian Man popped out of nowhere from behind the counter and offered help. I took his suggestions and bought a Mango Smoothie + bubbles + jelly + eggnog + extra mango for a cheap price. It tasted way better than Jamba Juice!

• Pros: Many choices on drinks and happy employees and customers!
• Cons: I can't think of any.

03/08/09

Excellent bubble drinks, lousy service

by 623

Here's the good, the bad, and the ugly on this cafe:

The good: The drinks are excellent, they have many flavors, and you can add various extras to your drink.

The bad: Sometimes there is a bit of a wait, and the seating area is odd. If you want to read in this cafe, you probably will be doing it using artificial (lamp) light as the natural light comes in where the computers are located.

The ugly: The service problem really strikes me as being associated with the 30-something year old man behind the counter. He seems to be eternally cranky (but in a cool, hipster kindda way) and/ or bored. It is clear he wants you to place your order and get the heck out of his line of vision when you're done. I have seen this guy in there often enough that I almost wonder whether he is the owner, in which case his behavior is absolutely unexcusable. I don't have high standards in terms of what a cafe staff member should be like, but this guy's bad behavior is so bad, it stays with you.

Overall: the Fat Straw is a place I will likely go to again DESPITE the bad service, although it would be nice if the business made some small changes to make customers enjoy the experience BECAUSE of the service.

• Pros: good drinks
• Cons: cranky employees

07/20/08

Frequent Customer

by sruecker88

I used to work next door to Fat Straw & used to go their for lunch all the time (and during breaks!) but today I had a really crappy experience & I was pretty disappointed. One of my biggest pet peeves when I am ordering something or just greeting an employee is when they're rude & quick. I experienced that today. I asked how the person was doing and they looked at me blankly and just said "What can I get for you?' not a casual tone, or anything..just like a hurry-the-hell-up-and-order tone. I understand that it's busy & you're in a rush, but I don't think it's ever too busy to be polite to a customer & not rush them through a transaction.

I'll go again because the quaility of their drinks and food makes up for the service at times, but I hope people are more friendly next time around.

• Pros: delicious drinks.
• Cons: a little small when it's crowded, but I can't really do much about that, it's not my business =)

04/01/08

Never will i wait 25+ min for BOBA

by pooponyou

I became a member of citysearch to specifically express my frustration with waiting 25 maybe 30 minutes for a bubble tea. The counter help opted to make 15 smoothies before making my drink (takes 30 seconds). To worsen this situation they made a friend who came in after me her drink first. I work in the service industry and can understand being busy, but rude and careless? You probably should not be in that business. Will never go back.

01/15/08

Most Delicious Bubble Tea

by katyy

Fat Straw was my first introduction to bubble tea, and as soon as I tasted it, I was hooked. Since I can't always go to there, I've tried other bubble teas around town (4 other shops) and none are as delicious as Fat Straw. Fat Straw uses coconut milk and tapioca pearls (not jellies) for a creamy taste and consistency, while many other shops use soymilk or non-dairy creamer as a base. Fat Straw has a spacious, clean restaurant with fast computers, micro-suede couches, friendly, knowledgable staff and tasty food. Go there! You'll love it.

Editorial Review by Citysearch Editors

by Contributor

Fat Straw attracts Portland locals who need time off to recharge with flavored milk teas, tapioca drinks and fresh-made sandwiches.

07/10/07

Why you should come to Fat Straw and see for yourself why it's the best!

by naturedoccara

I used to walk by the Fat Straw all the time, and I never thought about entering; I didn't know what bubble tea was, and I thought that it was a fad that would be disappearing anytime soon.

I WAS SO WRONG! I came to Fat Straw finally, and as soon as I walked in I knew it was special. It has a great front room that lets light in and feels cozy all at the same time, and it's great to socialize, eat delicious bagels and drink - well, so many kinds of tea that you'll have to come see for yourself. You just may find yourself addicted to bubble tea.

They play music, as do most cafe's, but theirs is fun, transendental, smooth, chill, jazzy and bouncy and it is always a nice background, rather than a distraction or irritation.

Then there is the back room - my home away from home ( I should change my address to 'Fat Straw' !!) There is a large table, ideal for group studying or for meetings. It's quieter in the backroom, and there are couches, plants, lots of outlets for your computer needs.

The colors are soothing, and I feel like I'm in someones living room when I'm back there.

I have seen all kinds of groups meet there, from mom's with toddlers, to a non-denominational group that meets together frequently just for having fun and playng games.

Oh yeah, and everyone who works here is awesome!!!

I think that YOU should come check out Fat Straw, but...I must admit that I want it all to myself ;)

• Pros: It's right on Hawthorne. Easy to find. They have great hours, they let me study all day!
• Cons: I just can't get enough... Not really any con's; Fat Straw fits its niche very well.

09/29/06

Puts all other bubble tea shops to shame

by nonsequiter1

This is the absolute best place in Portland to get bubble tea. I used to feel this way about the Tea Zone in NW, but Fat Straw far surpasses TZ; without the bad attitude! The selection can be overwhelming, but they will make great suggestions based on your taste buds. It's a great environment, relatively easy-to-find parking, and superior customer service. The only complaint I have is that sometimes the backroom can be a little hot during the summer.

• Pros: Excellent selection, location and service.
• Cons: Back room gets hot.

08/21/06

The best Green milk tea in Portland

by clk430

I love your bubble tea place, it's so comfortable and the fresh bagels is YUM YUM...

PS: I love the Green tea, lemon, honey but didn't forget the Taro.

08/18/06

"Simple yet extraordinary" - Dr. John Troy

by drjohntroy

Don't let the name fool you; despite the name "Fat Straw," this simple bubble tea (also known as Boba or Pearl Tea) and bagel sandwiches store has many advantages for everyday customers looking for a fun place to eat and drink.

After talking to the owner, I have found out that that their boba ingredients are freshly imported from Taiwan and that their bagels and its contents (e.g. veggies, meats, etc.) are kept fresh daily. Giving the food a delicious yet healthy taste.

The atmosphere is also quite relaxing and unique, featuring a private room with comfy couches, free internet connection, chessboards, and friendly staff members to take your order.

All and all, I give this store TWO THUMBS UP. So try "Fat Straw" today as your healthy alternate to fast food places such as McDonalds and Burger King.

- Dr. John Troy, Nutritionist.

• Pros: Great healthy foods that serve as snacks or meals.
• Cons: Hard to find location.