The Tasty — Restaurant in Philadelphia

I left a review for The Tasty 2 years ago, and I guess I just gave it 5 stars and didn't say anything. I live 3 blocks from The Tasty, and it's gone on like this since I moved into the neighborhood. Frequent and undeniable 5-star visits with excellent food and service, but just never making my way back to Google to write anything. Today, I have something important to say.

I just ordered three cake donuts from The Tasty. Cinnamon, chocolate icing, and glazed. I should preface by saying I am a HUGE cake donut fan. I don't know if most people have a donut preference other than a favorite flavor, but I will die on this hill- cake donuts are better than the alternative. They're crispy on the outside, soft and substantial on the inside, they just absolutely slap, okay? Those other, regular donuts totally collapse when you bite into them and have no real substance at all, it's just a soft and empty sugar ring that feels like you're eating fried icing. I hate them. They're mostly air. If you've never thought about whether you're a cake donut person or a regular donut person, you need to take a long, hard look at yourself and make that decision. It's going to define the rest of your life.

Anyway, these three sacred donuts from The Tasty were the best donuts I've ever had in my entire life. 3 of them were like, $7 or something. Who even cares, because based on taste alone, I would pay literally one hundred dollars for those three donuts. I have so many regrets. First, I regret that I've never gotten a donut from The Tasty before. I can't stop thinking about every time I've gone to The Tasty and not gotten a donut. That's so many missed donuts. Second, I regret that before ordering, I'd already agreed to split the three donuts with my boyfriend. This was my worst mistake. I really love my boyfriend, but when I looked over and saw him eating his 1/2 of the donuts, I felt angry. Like, genuinely seething. At him, for having the donuts, and at myself for just blindly giving them to him. I think our relationship will be okay, but we're gonna have to put some work into overcoming this obstacle, for sure.

I'll wrap this up, as much as I'd love to go on in the longest Google review ever written about a single donut experience (which I could do). The Tasty is such a pillar of this neighborhood, and of the larger vegan scene in Philly. As a vegan person, I actually often hesitate to even talk about it as a vegan diner, because it's an incredible diner and food establishment, period, and it doesn't deserve to be pigeonholed by non-vegan observers. Their service is always incredible. It continues to be incredible even in the one minute you spend on the phone ordering, and the 30 seconds you interact with the staff who brings your food out. I don't know how someone can make it so clear that they're genuine and friendly and really care about the service they provide in just those 30 seconds, but they do. They make it clear that they truly value your patronage. It feels like they know that things are really tight right now for a lot of people, and that choosing to spend your dollars at their restaurant can be kind of a splurge for someone (all their food is totally reasonably priced, we're just all in different financial situations) and they put love and care into everything that goes out their door.

God, I just really love The Tasty. I'll always love The Tasty. I want to spend my life becoming one of those people who gives out Michelin Stars, because I would give The Tasty a Michelin Star. I would die for...

I wanted to share my experience here. My first time I felt was over all a good one. I ordered the sandwich everyone loves as my 1st try and it came with a side kale salad. I asked for a side of salad dressing & they gave me one & we were on our way (my 5yr old Love & I). I enjoyed the kale salad so much I Ubered over and picked another up 2 days later and got a large size and asked for salad dressing on the side. There was a $2.00 charge that I asked for clarity about and the manager proceeded to get snappy asking me to hurry up because she had another job to go to. I thought she came across rude, but I paid the extra and went on my way with both my daughters Love & Light.

I then was so excited about the kale salad I wanted it for my birthday, so I walked 4+ miles & (getting my exercise in) ordered pick- up as well as the biscuits and gravy for my little one to try. We made it just in time & I asked to add 2 sides of salad dressing upon paying and the cashier said let me check. She came back and said they couldn’t give it to me because the kitchen was closed. I told her I’m celebrating my 44th and I really wanted to enjoy this salad and I had no problem paying extra for the dressing and the manager who was rude previously on my last visit, came over again and said “we don’t have anymore and no we can’t get you any in a cold vibe. Could you hurry up and pay?” I thought about the treatment and realized a few things. I don’t want to eat food prepared by someone with that demeanor towards me (I can definitely make it myself). Also the all cashiers seem kool and kind. The bad energy was coming specifically from the rude manager. So all because this individual is there, this place is a no-go for me and she definitely gave off inferior/racist type vibes. So just letting y’all know the tea cause I’m not from here and I definitely don’t play the “r” card..but I’m picking up on some nastiness in that department and I’m not for that. It’s 2024..,WE ARE ALL DIVINE BEINGS & DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THE UNNECESSARY NEGATIVITY. But it’s a blissing in disguise because I want NO food this lady has touched. She wears a mask if you’re wondering which manager I’m speaking of. I’m not from Philly but learning & exploring what this beautiful city is about and has to offer & I’m grateful my daughters & I experience people who are kind & loving in our overall interactions here✨🌸✨

The Manager that I had the negative experience with is lying in the response about payment (clearly I DID PAY $2.00 extra for salad dressing see pic below), so here is a picture I attached to prove she’s a liar trying to cover up her nasty behavior @ work. How many times have we seen this? BUT I GOT RECEIPTS BABY✨

And for the record I’m definitely not mad, I’m sure you could see the joy oozing out of my pours each time I’ve came inside your establishment! I’m just sharing my experience because that’s what I do. I travel around the world trying the best plant-based food restaurants & then I give an honest report on them! I have WAY tooooo much joy to be mad @ anyone. I’m grateful to be alive sweetie! I am however very disappointed that there are people who act like you but you only come to make me stronger & remind me to make my own yummy delicious salads, which is exactly what I did! & it’s sooooooo goood so thank you for reminding me of the fabulous...

I cannot help but wonder what drugs the other reviewers are smoking that they actually rated this place 5 stars, using descriptors such as "amazing", "the best", and "delicious". Either that or they're all biased reviews from the staff, trying to drum up business. Hmm...

Anyway, I visited this place last week, and after walking in and seeing the cheap, shoddy seating arrangements (backless benches with dirty pillows thrown atop?), my first instinct was to turn around and exit. BUT, I decided to grab a seat at the counter and at least give the food and service (lack thereof) a try. The man behind the counter who wasn't very approachable (probably because I showered and shaved that morning) took my order for a Caesar salad with grilled chicken. When I asked for water, he pointed me to an urn full of warm tap water, which I had to get up and help myself to. As I approached the tap water urn, I then learned the customers were also expected to grab their own silverware out of a container labeled "clean". After you eat, you're apparently supposed to return your used silverware into the bin labeled "dirty". Classy.

When I returned back to my seat at the counter, warm tap water in hand, I noticed the dirty looking woman (sans gloves) who was preparing food shouting out people's names. One by one, people were lining up next to where I was sitting to retrieve their meals. WHAT?

As if the experience wasn't poor enough, my salad was bland and tasteless. The "chicken" was some imitation mystery meat, and there was almost no dressing. TERRIBLE!

So, to recap: no waiter/waitress service, goofy seating arrangements, dirty looking staff, horrible food. If that's your definition of "amazing", I'd hate to see how YOU live!

I was born and raised in South Philly, in fact one block from this establishment. Eating at this terrible place really made me miss the old "Atlantic Pizza", the cute little neighborhood cafe that used to be where this dump is now. It is so sad to see the direction in which my...