Life Alive Organic Cafe Brookline — Restaurant in Brookline

I don't know what happened to them. Life Alive used to be amazing, but the last three times I've been there it hasn't been so great. The first time, the website said they were open for takeout, so I assumed I could walk in and order. Apparently that was wrong, and I had to order online. Okay, no problem, I wasn't in a rush. So placed my order and waited outside... for a half an hour in 90° heat. I again assumed I would get a notification that my order was ready. I finally got tired of waiting and walked in Apparently my food had been sitting there for a while. Whatever, I guess I know for next time. The second time I ordered online again. Picking it up was fine, but when I unwrapped my food it was a pretty sad version of what I ordered. I get a swami wrap, which is supposed to have rice and cooked veggies with sauce. This time I got some large pieces of raw broccoli, a few raw veggies, and a tiny bit of rice, no sauce. Pretty unappetizing, but I ate it anyway. Then the third time I ordered for curbside pickup (at the Cambridge location). Probably my fault for assuming again, but I thought my food would be brought out to my car since I had to give a description of it. I sat and waited for another 30 minutes with no food, so I decided to walk inside. And there was my food just sitting there... Apparently you're supposed to call them and tell them you're outside, but nowhere in the ordering process does it tell you that. I used to love the food there. I was a regular ever since the Brookline location opened, but at this point I'm starting to think I should just go...

edited While I still stand by my initial review (about about Rainbow Harvest being delicious) I will no longer visit this location as their consistency has dipped very low. In the past couple visits I once received yellow beets (without my consent..I don't like them!) and NO ginger tamari sauce (my favorite part & a necessity..imagine a salad with no dressing..ew.) & also very, very small portions. Most recent visit was 01/16 & I was starving within an hour of eating the tiny portion they gave me for $11. I don't feel comfortable saying anything because truthfully the employees are pompous & parking is a pain..would rather be in/out but it's frustrating that their ordering website asks you "how was your order?" & I respond every time (whether good or bad) and they never respond. Safe to say they don't give a hoot.

My review is solely based on their "Rainbow Harvest" bowl. It is the best thing ever. I ate one yesterday, today & am probably going to get another tomorrow! Lemon-flax brown rice, beets, carrots, broccoli, kale, tofu, sweet potatoes, micro-greens & the delicious ginger tamari sauce! I'm not usually a "healthy" eater but I am obsessed with these bowls. They are so tasty & satisfying. Sometimes portion sizes vary..that & parking are my only gripes with this place..but I'll deal. The bowls are worth it. Their other bowls look great too but I'm "basic" & always order the same thing lol. Maybe one day I'll get a Harvest Bowl &...

Thanks for the response, sorry it has taken me so long to respond in return. The 2 stars was because:

Your menu and method of service is a bit confusing (I wasn't sure if there was table service or if I had to order at the counter and the item names are not that descriptive) neither of which are problems if your staff are helpful and explain the menu and process to customers. However, the person I met at the counter seemed to just want to see the back of me, answered my questions with unhelpful monosyllables and did not seem happy that I was reading through the whole menu even though there were no other customers waiting behind me.

When the food arrived there were further problems. I had the mushroom udon. The broth lacked salt, any kind of punch really. I know the concept is natural flavours and subtle flavours but, coming from India, I have eaten vegetarian food with no artificial seasoning with so much more flavour. I get a little frustrated with the idea that natural flavours means no flavour when I have eaten food that proves this idea wrong. The udon was overcooked, the sweet potato and bok choy were undercooked. All-in-all I left with the impression that the food was trying to prove how organic and artificial flavouring-free it was by being bland. Maybe I am just not your target audience. Hope this...