The Vita Cafe

05/30/08

if you like being treated like a leper...

by puddlestomper at Citysearch

I don't get how the Vita can have 4 1/2 stars?? Oh well. The food is a mediocre attempt at vegetarian food. They do have pretty good pancakes, but the rest of the food is just "meh". Actually some of their cakes are pretty good too. It's really the service that causes me to give it only 2 stars. I know Portland has this dumb thing where people in the service industy act like they're God's gift, but the kids at the Vita? Man, they are on a whole 'nother level. I have never been treated with such disdain at an establishment where my patronage is what pays the bills. I have a friend who lives out of town, and loves their food, so I find myself in here maybe once a year. Last time I was in, I waited over an hour for my (disgusting) veggie rueben. I actually had to get the food to go and eat it on my way to work, leaving my two friends in the restaurant. Each "worker" you talk to, acts like you are really harshin their mellow, and you get the feeling they'd rather you just get up and walk out. All the staff are a**holes, not worth your time or money.

05/08/08

I enjoyed the coffee...

by seizure430 at Citysearch

And that was probably because I hadn't had any that morning. My girlfriend and I were the first people in the restaurant (actually, I was there first and had to wait awhile before the waitress acknowledged me..nothing like wrapping up conversation before getting to customers), but you would have thought that the place was hopping given the inattentiveness. Whenever I requested something within normal range( additional half & half, an extra napkin), the waitress had the flattest affect and appeared that I was taking her away, not from normal job duties, but other coworkers who were helping themselves behind the bar and fixing their own breakfasts. I was excited to try the thai corn cake because friends raved about it. It was mediocre at best and the coconut 'syrup', was nothing to write home about. Bland, like they just opened the can and poured it into the bowl. Also, the almond gravy, was at best brown. I do have to say that my eggs over medium were good. Not going to put this at the top of my breakfast list.

p.s. If you are going to have a dessert case where customers can see inside, make sure that the crumbs are cleaned out and the whole cake is wrapped. Don't just keep using the same ole plastic wrap against the cut parts. The rest of the cake can still dry out. Bleh.

• Pros: you can gaze out to a pretty street...or count the people who aren't tattooed
• Cons: don't expect to be treated like a customer, more like a nuisance

04/25/08

The cakes rock

by corinnederella at Citysearch

not so much a fan.

i went there with a girl that i mentor. she has autism and eats a very specific diet to improve brain functioning. vegan cafes usually offer more variety for her than other restaurants.

not impressed by the interior - stark. bare. maybe they thought it was creative but i thought it just looked cheap. the benches were not comfy! The service was slow. we had to flag down the waitress for water, drinks, to order our dessert and also to ask for the bill. i'm not normally a "flagger," meaning, i let the waitperson come to me when he or she is available... but we were there for over an hour an a half because the service was so slow. (there were only 2 other tables occupied, mind you). part of me thinks it was because the waitress might have been intimidated by my companion. sometimes people fear individuals with disabilities. but she spent the majority of her time flirting with the guys at the next table who really loved to use the "f" word. they also enjoyed talking about illicit substane abuse and often would get up to use the restroom and "powder" their noses. not exactly classy.

the food was bad. my riblet wrap was covered in some mock bbq sauce (i wonder how vegan bbq sauce is hard to make? sugar, vinegar, ketchup?) well, they messed it up. it was red, grainy and tasted like liquid smoke. bleh! i'm not a picky eater, but this was not tasty.

the one saving grace of this place was the delicious cake we shared for dessert! a delicious chocolatey ganache that was very impressive. especially considering how limited they are with the ingredients. I think the cakes are shipped in though, so you might as well just go to that bakery.

portland has lots of vegan cafes, and i'd only recommend this one if you have a lot of time and are looking for dessert.

• Pros: the cakes!
• Cons: service, atmosphere, bbq sauce

02/17/08

Nastiest "veggie" burger anywhere, rude service

by slorenziprince at Citysearch

First of all, it was a long wait...and not because it was super busy really, but because the wait staff was just not efficient. Then, when we were seated, our server gave us complete attitude. then we didn't even get water for about 10 minutes...we were actually about to walk, but then she finally came to take our order. I got a VEGGIE burger. Usually, I ask at restaurants whether their fake burgers are veggie or soy (because wannabe boca burgers gross me out) but since it said VEGGIE I figured I was fine. I figured wrong. I tried to ketchup the taste out of it, but it didn't really work. Then the waitress tried to make up for her rudeness at the end so we'd tip her well (I was a server, I know that ploy). It didn't work. (The cakes did look tempting...but not for the rip-off price of $5!)

• Pros: Better than eating toxic waste.
• Cons: Food, service, attitude, ambience, you name it.

02/12/08

Best Vegetarian Burger Anywhere

by michellebeth at Citysearch

Their veggie burger is fantastic! For all those who want to give up beef, but aren't sure, this is the place for you. My boyfriend is not a vegetarian (I am) and he has not liked one single veggie burger we've tried anywhere (frozen and in restaurants), but he was floored by his Chili Burger. I had the Mushroom and Onion Burger. Excellent and affordable. We both had burgers, fries, and tea for $20. It wouldn've been cheaper but we added extras. Lots of choices on the menu and we'll definitely be back.

• Pros: cool eclectic ambiance, service, price, food quality

02/07/08

Good food, horrible waiter

by branchitout at Citysearch

I have been going to vita for a few years now, and always bringing new people along. Most people are so pleased to find a vegetarian and vegan friendly place that the few drawbacks can be overlooked. The food is great but the service is sometimes lacking.

To be fair I have had plenty of friendly and helpful servers in the past, however the last two or three times I have had the same waiter. I am not quite sure how he has stuck around so long considering he is downright rude to customers. I really don't know that it is worth coming here for the food when you have to put up with him.

I recommend Vita Cafe for the food, however maybe avoid it if you can't handle a rude server, I can't seem to escape him even though there are other servers there!

• Pros: great food, fun atmosphere, good price
• Cons: rude waiter!

01/19/08

Yummy neighborhood spot

by tastytreat234 at Citysearch

Here's the deal with the Vita. It's a casual cafe that has the best selection of vegan and vegetarian comfort food around - breakfast, lunch and dinner. If your a meat eater, don't freak. try some of the vegan delights or if you must have a real free range burger, some spicey salmon cakes or add some shrimp to your salad. More like a diner, the service can be slow and sometimes frustrating but that's ok. Just keep my cup of joe full and I'll gladly wait.

It's a cool place that is not pretentious or trying to be something contrived. The Vita serves up tasty, wholesome food for a fair price. Large portions too...

• Pros: wholesome cafe food

01/16/08

Horrible!!!

by realfoodsnob at Citysearch

I guess that you get what you pay for, right?!! The worst service ever ,and I got real sick from eating their gravy. Would absolutely not recommend this place unless they get a manager and start monitoring the food quality. Yuck!

01/15/08

Awesome gravy.

by ateaveira at Citysearch

Great place for the little ones. Big tables, friendly service, cheap menu. My 10 y/o had the "fish" and chips and she loved the vegan tartar sauce.

• Pros: Vegan food, kid friendly.
• Cons: none for now

01/10/08

yick yick YICK!

by ihatethevitacafe at Citysearch

The service was awful. I went with a group of friends and we split the tab 4 ways, I was the only one who paid with a card and they charged me the full tab, and my additional quarter, AND TOOK MY FRIENDS CASH FOR THEIR PORTION. The vita cafe stole double the money and if I hadn't checked my bank statement, nothing would have been done. How do you not notice extra cash in your till? Did the waiter think we left him a huge tip? I was highly unsatisfied and nothing has been done to refund my card yet. I called, left a bank statement and was sassed by the owner when I told him my bank took care of it. I DON'T THINK I AM THE FIRST THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. Be wary of going to the vita cafe or at least check your bank statements afterward.

• Pros: vegan cuisine
• Cons: horrible service, theivery