Nourish

My girlfriend was excited to check out Nourish. They had good reviews (4.7), outdoor seating to reduce COVID-19 risks, vegan options, and yummy-sounding smoothies. What could go wrong? Finding parking at this building can be challenging. Most spots are either reserved or assigned to the businesses in the building. We were excited that one of their two outdoor small tables was available. We both are vaccinated but still wanted to minimize our risks. I put on my KN95 mask and went inside to get us menus while my girlfriend reserved the outdoor table. The ambiance inside is cozy and slightly industrial. It had a relaxed vibe. There is a big menu on the wall. I asked if they had menus I can take outside since we are sitting at the outdoor table. The bearded guy said they don't have paper menus except what's on the wall and online. When I'm out with my girlfriend, I would rather focus my attention on her and our experience rather than my phone. I let my girlfriend know about the menu situation. She went inside to look at their menu, while I looked up their website to review their menu online and continue to secure the table. This initial friction in ordering is already creating a negative customer experience. The bearded guy came out to check on us. He asked how we were doing. I said, "I am still scrolling through your online menu, but wish you have paper menus." He replied, "We're not quite there yet" (after 3 years in business). I thought privately, "You'd be there and have two menus for the outdoor tables if you give a kid $10, papers and crayons." It was 92°F outside and they didn't offer any water. I placed an online order for two of "The Vegan" with added tempeh ($32) and a "Keep It 100" ($8.50) smoothie. My girlfriend went in to check on the order after 10 minutes (the estimated ready time). She came out empty-handed. They brought out the food a couple of minutes later WITHOUT any glasses of water! The temperature is heading toward 93°F. I walked to my SUV to get one of our Hydroflasks and the CamelBak filled with ice water. A third of the way into our time there, my girlfriend asked for water and they finally gave us some. The description and image for "The Vegan" made it seem like it had a fair amount of vegetables. It had mostly noodles. The added tempeh (not soybean, possibly lentil) was disgustingly mushy. It would have been better to bake or pan-fry the tempeh so it's slightly crunchy before putting it in the broth. The mushroom seaweed miso broth was too salty. My girlfriend ate a clump of something that was very salty and had a texture that made her want to vomit. I guessing it was a clump of miso paste that was not properly diluted. She finished only half of her noodle soup. The "Keep It 100" smoothie had some interesting flavors. However, the combination of beet and ginger flavors overwhelmed the orange, mango, acai, and coconut flavors. My girlfriend stopped drinking the smoothie after a few sips. Halfway through drinking the smoothie, I tasted something chewy and rubbery — almost like a semi-cooked boba in boba tea. I took the item out of my mouth with my fingers and laid it on the lid of the container the noodle soup came in. The circular purple "unrolled condom" looking disk is about 1 cm in diameter and made out of latex. The "mini condom" topped off our awful experience so far. I wanted to let it be and never come back, but my girlfriend insisted on bringing it to the restaurant's attention. She carried the lid with the "mini condom" inside and showed it to them. She came out and said their only response was, "We don't know how that got in there." My girlfriend escaped and walked around the building to see what other businesses were there. I stayed to let my body digest the salty noodle soup and the condom-flavored smoothie. A few minutes later, the bearded guy came out with $8 in cash. I said, "Please keep it." He replied, "No, I insist" and left it on the table. We cleaned up our table and brought everything inside for them. We won't be coming back.

Found this gem of a smoothie shop near Oregon university, while driving upto Portland. Can't go wrong trying out this spot, the owner really cares for how you feel after trying the smoothie. I was allowed to tweak combinations without any issues, which allowed me to try the perfect smoothie - the Blueberry brain booster, with some ginger and coconut

Absolutely surprising, in the most delightful way! There was a fire party of flavors and sensations in my mouth. The spice in the sliders I ordered was definitely more than what I was expecting, might not be much for "heat lovers" but it's very noticeable for those of us who don't consume it at all. Even with that though, I was able to finish my order without a problem, it was very well balanced. The raspberry cheesecake was heavenly. It not only hit every single one of my tastes, it hit my senses in an indescribable way. The taste, texture, smell and sight of it were in perfect balance. They are specialized while also having a fair selection. The service was superb, the cleanliness was definitely above average and the welcoming relaxing atmosphere sealed the deal for me. I will absolutely be coming back and recommending!