Bamboo Sushi — Restaurant in Portland

1:05 on a Thursday. I walked in to place a walk up takeout order on a very slow day with only a few tables. The hostess told me that was going to be 30-35m— I was fine with waiting. Now, I am not trying to make a wild accusation but like other reviewers, today will be my last time at the chain. Another older Caucasian lady walked in and did the same after me with a walk up order. When she heard the wait was 30m, she groaned and moaned outloud, “I don’t know, that’s a loooong time to wait” and the hostess said she could push her order and then within 10m the takeout order was handed to her. I was still waiting on the bench for another 20m. “That was fast!” She said and left. Immediately, I realized what happened. This older white lady couldn’t be made to wait but because I was willing to wait, they were going to let me wait until whenever worked best for them. I couldn’t handle it, my emotions came over me feeling like the most blatant disrespectful experience I have ever had in Portland in all my years of coming here. I opened my mouth in front of the people waiting to be seated and asked: “Do you think that’s right that you did that?”. She said that because “she ordered a California roll and [I] ordered nigiri that hers was faster to make” but that honestly isn’t right. I told her that wasn’t right and I let her seat other people because I didn’t know how to process my emotions in the moment. After waiting another 20m, fuming but trying to exercise grace, I got up and told the guy manning the nigiri zone that I was leaving because at that point I had been there for 35m. I realized he was just the messenger when he explained he received the order with a fulfillment date of 1:55p—my jaw dropped, again realizing that my hypothesis about them being willing to make me wait as long as was convenient was true. He explained couldn’t start on my order because he was assigned a different zone and that coupled with the time sent for fulfillment kept him from starting on it. So much red tape for a sushi restaurant; what is this, the IBM of sushi?? I told him he was just the messenger and that I was just letting him know I was leaving. I told him to keep the price I paid, the $3 tip for takeout, and that I will never be returning to spend another dollar here. “Have a nice day,” he managed to say with kindness that I appreciated despite feeling so hurt by today’s experience. I loved Bamboo Sushi when I came 10 years ago but I can’t love it anymore.. furthermore, I hope the white hierarchy doesn’t happen to anyone else because it’s just not cool. It was so unacceptable for so many reasons and I am happy to donate the $40 for them to never come back, ever. I hope the management at least consider about how the hostess conducted business at their establishment today. They lost a devoted customer because I looked around and realized that all the employees I could see and the patrons were all Caucasian too, so I felt extra uncomfortable and vulnerable. My heart is heavy writing this because I loved this restaurant for so long because of its sustainability mission, but it’s become something else to me. Goodbye, Bamboo Sushi— it was great...

Whilst the food was great, the service good and the environment very pleasant, we had a troubling experience at Bamboo Sushi this evening. My partner is strongly allergic to avocado and she told this very clearly to our server, who also clearly acknowledged this information upon receipt. Very worryingly, when our order of tempura prawn rolls arrived about 10 minutes later, after I had already eaten one, my partner noticed that they did actually contain avocado. We were shocked and surprised and immediately informed the closest member of the waiting staff. He took it away and then our server came up and apologised and offered us a replacement without avocado. Our server then offered us a complimentary drink and that she would not charge us for the rolls with the avocado in them or their replacements. We said that we felt that making the meal complimentary would be more appropriate given the fact that my partner would have been hospitalized had she eaten the rolls with the avocado in them. The manager then came over and apologised for the error and said she was going to still charge us $30 for the meal. Our server then came over and we paid the $30 and left. We did not feel like having an argument over the $30 especially after the slightly traumatic experience that we1 just had. I would say that if you do have allergies when you go to this place, please do double check that they have acted upon and don't be surprised if they haven't taken your health into consideration in the way that they should. A restaurant has a duty of care with your health and I am not sure if this establishment understands this as well as...

Food is great. Interesting and different. Service was dismal. Our reservation was for 7. We were seated by 720 which wasn't a big deal. Timbers game and busy. After being seated, we had no service for over 20 minutes. I literally walked across the street to the grocery and bought 3 bottles of water as it was hot and we were uncomfortable. No one around to even request water. Finally placed our order and half of our food came out prior to our drinks. We requested that no more food be served until our drinks came out and were told it didn't work that way. I finally told our pink haired server that it was a special night (my wife's birthday) and we would really appreciate if they didn't ruin our evening. Service improved (moderately). Ultimately the good mood we arrived with was completely destroyed. We left on edge and irritated for what should have been the cherry topping an otherwise perfect day. Yes it was busy but the place was not understaffed. The staff just didn't care and it showed. We have enjoyed take out from bamboo and looked forward to having them be apart of a special day for our family. They failed miserably. As a result, we won't even get take out again. Despite really enjoying the avocado on fried rice, green monster, and king salmon nigiri. We will patronage establishments that instead appreciate and respect their patrons. Huge thumbs down!

------‐---- As an edit to this review, I did reach out to Davina per her response. She never responded. No call. No email. Nothing. That added the perfect insult to injury. Thus the two...