the LOCAL EATERY — Restaurant in Cambridge

Sorry, I really wanted to like this place. I'm hoping it's growing pains from what I'm reviewing there are new owners. I went there during the week and I ordered the beatnik sandwich and the immortal smoothie. The smoothie came warm and full of pulp and chunks which didn't taste good. If you make a smoothie it's important to separate the pulp from the liquid to make it appetizing for the customer so they don't have to use a spoon to drink it. Also the sandwich was so hot burning my tongue and that wasn't because of a little bit of hot sauce but because of I don't know how many cloves of raw garlic they mashed up into it. The whole sandwich looked like mashed up beets with no discerning distinction between the hummus, hemp seeds and greens. It just looked red and shredded. All I could taste after that was garlic, my tongue burning had to stop eating it, the whole room at my house was filled with garlic smell and my husband said he could smell it several hours after the fact. I want this company to do well but if you're going to buy a company and take over then you need to know the product and you as the owner need to taste the product and definitely do not leave one person behind the counter who still seems new to this job. That's putting this employee in a unsuccessful role, setting her up to fail. You have to show up to your company and be there all the time until the kinks are worked out. And taste what you're serving for crying out loud before you serve it to customers, business rule 101. Don't serve product that is unsatisfactory and expect great returns from customers. Every customer you do this to will lead you down a path of business suicide. I tried calling to see if I could talk to someone but the number is not assigned. Also not a good look, you need to do better. Know your product, love your product and own it. If you wouldn't serve your children this food then don't serve it to anyone else. I didn't mind the atmosphere even though the chains and grass squares are a bit confusing but the music....you have to turn it down, it was way too loud. You shouldn't have to raise your voice and not even be able to think when looking over the menu because the music is at decibels way too high for ordering. I hope you can see this in a positive light to make change and be successful. I want this company to prove to everyone that they have what it takes to...

EDIT** Since this review was made, I have had a terrible experience and it actually put me off going again. We went back as we wanted the same experience and fancied a salmon bagel. However, when we ordered the smoked salmon bagel, we were told that they don't do that but it was on their board above the counter. When the woman realised what I meant she put it through. My partner ordered the same thing too. My salmon came out first, when I looked at it, there was a lot less salmon on than what I'd had previously but looked clumped. When I went to move bits around, so it was spread out, I found that the salmon was frozen still! I took the plate back to the woman at the counter and she asked if I would like it to be microwaved?! You don't microwave frozen salmon, that's how you make people ill. There was also a man standing behind her the whole time with an intimidating look about him. I asked for my money back as we wanted to go elsewhere. This seemed to also be a confusing task (I paid by card) but ended up receiving cash back.

I'm not sure whether these two people work there regularly or not or if the woman was training but it has put me off ever going back.

My partner had told me about this restaurant as he had been twice previously and highly recommended it. We went on Saturday and I cannot fault it. We had a warm welcome from the staff there and wasn't rushed to order something. We both ordered the Salmon and Cream Cheese Sesame Bagel with a hot drink. I had ordered mine with the sprouts and my partner had it without, which I'm glad he did as the sprouts were actually arugula and I'm not a fan, so we swapped :) It was better than I had expected and tasted great! It was definitely value for money. I...

Food 1 star - I ordered the burrito, the menu listed; Garlic Spread, rice, beans, pickles, tomato, chipotle cashew sauce, greens. I double checked if the garlic sauce had dairy (as I’m dairy free) which they ensured had no dairy. They asked me if I wanted cheese on it and I said no, as I’m dairy free and can’t eat cheese. Mid way through eating my burrito I noticed shredded cheese in the burrito, an ingredient that isn’t even listed on the menu, and something I explicitly declined. I immediately stopped eating my meal, and told them right away that I don’t eat dairy and how come this happened? They apologized, I asked for a refund for my meal and they said no and that they would only remake my order. Which at this point wasn’t an option, cause my trust is broken now and for the amount of time it takes to make.

Service 1 star - 2 of 3 of our party received our orders 10 minutes apart, the last of us didn’t get the order as they forgot. Which they began to make, once we told them, a cheese quesadilla took another 10 minutes to eat.

Atmoshphere 1 star - other guests were also not happy, not receiving their orders at the same time and also having missed items. Seemed like a disappointing atmosphere, but at least we weren’t alone.

Edit to original post: as I left they offered to refund me! So I did get the...