The Green Table Restaurant — Restaurant in Florida

My husband and I visited The Green Table. Our experience was good because the place is super small and cute but the food made us sick and the milkshakes were watery. They got very busy while we were there and that probably attributed to the bad quality of their famed vegan milkshakes. The place is a bit overpriced but we were willing to go back to try something else because the food did taste really good, but not with their seitan because honestly it made my husband and I have serious gastrointestinal comfort for two days. I did mention it to the owner in a review on their FB page and she got defensive instead of apologizing and of course deleted my post. She questioned why we didn’t mention it to them when we were there but we didn’t get sick from it until after we left. In addition we had ordered the milkshakes to go. She went on to say that I shouldn’t of posted it on any social media and just private messaged her. But isn’t that why social media is here, so that we can post our honest reviews of how great or not so great something is? So if you live in the Palm Harbor area and want to try a cute little semi vegan place I would say go for it but I think there are much better options on Baum Avenue in Saint Pete and in Tampa. We live right in the middle so we would definitely travel the opposite direction next time.

I was later attacked for leaving my honest review on the Tampa Vegans FB page. Please note that I never attacked anyone personally or their business.

One person replied:

What turned me off from The Green Table was the owner participating in name-calling. I went to the business's facebook page after that, to find that they posted a lonnnnng complaint about the negative reviewer, and in it they claimed she is doing this to a bunch of businesses on Yelp. I looked at her reviews and that is not the case. Then I looked at the rest of their bad reviews on Yelp and saw that they indeed have a customer service problem sometimes (perhaps another reason why the reviewer in question didn't feel comfortable voicing her complaints at the restaurant). They might consistently make vegan fare that people occasionally have problems with, but they won't be getting me as a patron.

Another person replied:

Personally the review didn’t turn me away, it was simply an honest review of their experience!! OP of that post wasn’t rude in the slightest, just wanted to offer her experience so others could be aware. as others have said, the response from the owners definitely did! they responded like children it was embarrassing, if they can’t handle criticism they shouldn’t own a restaurant! big ol yikes i don’t care how good the food is, attacking someone for a review is completely ridiculous!

Another person commented:

Same. My husband and I were finally going to swing by there for the first time this weekend (we live in Brandon so it’s a trek), but I just texted him that we’ll get lunch elsewhere. This is the second time I’ve seen/heard the owner say nasty things to a patron. Not worth my time or money.

Update:

The owner went on her Facebook page and made up all of these crazy lies and allegations that I have done this to other people and her husband called me pathetic. They also went off on me in the Tampa vegans group on FB and Yelp for leaving this honest review. I in no way insulted them or their business, all I did was comment on the quality of their food. You can also see what she wrote back to me on Yelp.

So, consumers beware, don’t think of even trying to state anything negative in a review about this restaurant online or you will be attacked as well.

She also had a whole group of people attack me. Reviews are something I look at before I visit any vegan establishment to make sure that it would be worth the trip and I would enjoy the experience. She accused me of being a “new vegan” and it made me laugh because I wasn’t the one who was acting immature, I was just being honest.

So I’ll say it again, if you want to try their food please by all means take the trip there, but do so at...

I visited this restaurant three times in a row and began experiencing skin flare-ups despite being assured that my meals were soy-free and gluten-free. I have a documented sensitivity to soy and made this clear each time I ordered. However, after contacting the restaurant again to confirm the ingredients, I learned that the milkshake I ordered does, in fact, contain soy — something that was never disclosed to me. This level of carelessness is unacceptable, especially when a customer clearly communicates dietary restrictions.

In addition to the misinformation, I experienced an inappropriate and offensive interaction with the older woman at the register, who stated she was a franchise owner. When I asked whether the whipped cream on my milkshake was vegan, she replied, “Yes, and it comes with a BIG BLACK STRAW.” This comment was both unprofessional and racially inappropriate. As a Black customer, the remark made me extremely uncomfortable and unwelcome.

Furthermore, I was told that a refund could not be processed through the system and that I would receive a prepaid card instead. It has now been over two weeks, and I have not received any refund. When I followed up by phone, I was accused of lying to get free food — an accusation that is completely false and insulting.

To summarize: • I was given incorrect information about ingredients, despite clear communication about my soy sensitivity. • I was subjected to an inappropriate and racially suggestive remark from an employee who identified as the franchise owner. • I was promised a refund that has not been received, and later accused of dishonesty.

This experience has been unprofessional, discriminatory, and deeply disappointing. I am requesting a full refund for my purchase and a formal apology for the inappropriate behavior and mishandling of my concerns. I also recommend that your staff undergo proper training on food allergy protocols and workplace professionalism to ensure that no other customer has to experience the...

I should have known this place was going to be special as soon as I dipped my french fry into their vegan house-made ranch dressing. My mouth dropped open and I went silent. Let me start by saying that I LOVE ranch dressing. I am not vegan, so I have not been limited by ingredients when on the hunt for the perfect recipe. I am very picky about the flavors. I have finally found a few grocery store brands that are acceptable and a buttermilk recipe that I am happy with. But the vegan ranch at Green Table is the BEST ranch dressing I have ever had! I enjoyed it so much that I ate all of my fries (dipped in ranch, of course) before I took the first bite of my seitan gyro with vegan tzatziki dressing.

And that's when it happened.

At first I thought, "oh my gosh! This tastes incredible." And then, my eyes started tearing up. What was happening to me?! Then I realized. This food was making me FEEL things. I've been MOVED by stories, paintings, sculptures, songs, and many other forms of beautiful art. But this was the first time I was ever MOVED by food. It was my first Ratatouille moment! (You know the moment when Anton Ego goes silent after eating the simple ratatouille dish that transports him to his childhood?) But this gyro wasn't nostalgic for me, and yet, it made me very emotional. Eventually I realized that there was emotion of care and beauty communicated through this food by the chef. There was a story in the depth of flavor.

I consider myself a foodie, and I have eaten many dishes that TASTED amazing, but this was the first food I've ever eaten that FELT amazing. My vegan husband told me that it probably felt emotional because I felt unburdened eating a guilt-free meal. Hmm, maybe. There could be something to that. At this point, I don't know if I've been converted to veganism or to the cult of Chef Niki.

But either way, I know I...