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

11/18/07

Good food, bad service.

by rrrocket at Citysearch

The food here is decent, but the service is downright terrible. The servers act like they hate you! What gives? I've been here plently, and I'll go back for the food, but the owner needs to send all of these hipster kids to charm school.

• Pros: decent and sometimes great food
• Cons: horrible rude and slow servers

07/01/07

Humdrum food

by sugarxbooger at Citysearch

This restaurant draws a decent vegan following, and as a vegan, I'd like it if I were deprived of delicious, vegan food. I give a big thumbs up to the nachos, but I'd rather head over to Paradox to give them my nacho business. The fish and chips are sad - battered triangles of tofu, and mediocre fries - and should be named as such, without any pretense. I hear the mac & cheese is variable - and in our case, it was clearly an off night. Even the "country comfort" - a promising mix of biscuits, gravy, potatoes and vegetables - had good promise, but failed. The potatoes had been sitting around, the gravy is bland, and even though amazing fresh vegetables are available in June, the veggies were steamed cabbage?! Again - go if you can't cook for yourself, and don't know what you're missing.

• Pros: nachos, veggie-friendly, fun outdoor area
• Cons: the food

03/03/07

Great... until you are seated

by portlandmama at Citysearch

We have been here twice and have been disappointed each time. The menu looks great and the atmosphere is inviting, until you try to get service. The first time, over a year ago, the service was aloof; they are just too cool for school. The second time, we tried to give them another chance. We brought our two wiggly kids and they have toys and crayons - great! But 10 minutes after we were seated we realized we were deserted. A table of 12 came in and they got all their waters and our waitress even started taking their orders before we... well, we were not acknowledged after that because we up and left. If you have kids and want family friendly and prompt service, go to the Tin Shed instead; we're sure glad we did.

• Pros: eclectic menu
• Cons: not friendly. at all.

01/28/07

Great taste, too poor of service

by wonderwindy77 at Citysearch

I had eaten here once before, alone, and had a fairly nice experience. This time I took my three year old and my dad and had an unfortunately poor experience and don't think I will risk going back again. When we arrived it was fairly busy and it wasn't the table we were waiting for it was any sign from anyone to acknowledge our existence. Once seated we were attended to promptly and the kid's order I put in early came rather quickly which was great however they brought me a scramble and I had ordered the special with tempeh(which I had asked our waitress if the special was good upon ordering)so then they bring me the special but with tofu. By now I had waited too long and was too hungry to have them change it yet again, however I did mention the mistake to our server and she just said "oh, yeah" and walked off. Now I am a server myself and perhaps my expectation are high. I want to be served as I serve and I feel this experience lacked greatly. We probably won't be going here again and my search continues for the perfect place with great food, atmosphere, and superb service.

• Pros: great taste
• Cons: service lacked greatly

03/08/06

What Happened to the Vita?

by laughingmonk at Citysearch

After my latest visit this week, I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon. I heard a rumor that the ownership changed hands- maybe this is why the quality took a downswing?

Anyway, our food was not great, to put it nicely. I got the caesar with grilled salmon, and it tasted very off, not fresh at all, like it had been frozen and thawed more than once. And last time I was here, one waiter was serving and bussing a full house at peak brunch time! I felt really bad for him, he was keeping it together pretty well too. I have witnessed the quality of service and food go way down, and I think I'll start eating out elsewhere. It's a shame, I used to really like the Vita, and bring my out of town friends there, but no longer, until I hear they have improved....

02/06/06

Service Going Bad? Good Vegetarian Options

by pdxswing at Citysearch

I am updating my review because lately the service has been really not up to par. Also my favorite dish Tofurky scramble is down the drain and is much more expensive now.

This place has some really great dishes like tofurky scramble, macaroni and cheese(less). Some dishes are not as good however. The deserts are great.

The service to be honest is really bad with attitude. Some servers are much nicer than others.

Still a great place for breakfast and dinner.

• Pros: Vegetarian Options
• Cons: Service, More expensive now

01/13/06

Turn of to becoming a vegan

by arester at Citysearch

Maybe I haven't eaten the right dishes but everything here has been a total turn off. Before I became a vegan this place made me feel down about moving in that direction. It was not until I started cooking at home that I realized that being a vegan didnt' mean you had to eat bland undercooked tempeh or everything sprinkled with nutritional yeast The only good thing I have tried there was the dessert and that was made by piece of cake. Someone who knows how to cook vegan needs to open a place It would I am sure be packed. As far as the service, I've had bad and I've had good. I just go with the flow...

• Pros: atmosphere
• Cons: food