Crisp Salads — Restaurant in Portland

On paper, Crisp should be one of my favorite places in Portland. It's locally owned, the people that run it seem nice, they have an emphasis on healthy local ingredients, and I love salads and eat them every day. I also love cycling and their delivery is done via bike which is amazing (and fast!). But every darn time I've ordered, there's been something slightly off / wrong and I don't know if I'm going to be back after my latest experience.

The first time I ate here was over a year ago, and the greens, which are a cornerstone of any salad, were kind of wilted and didn't seem fresh. I didn't order for a while based on the lukewarm experience but recently have been very busy at work and was trying to save time. The most recent salad I ate had a dead fly in it. I know I'm being a pansy about it and should have just tossed the fly and kept eating my salad. I also know it's probably not 100% Crisp's fault since they probably get their greens from a supplier that pre-washes them, but that was kind of the final straw for me. Back to making my own salads at home.

In terms of salads, they are all just kind of OK-ish. The portions are very generous and they give you an insane amount of dressing which I appreciate. The best of the bunch is the basil lovers, followed by blue cheese.

Their chicken caesar is pretty standard fare. People complained about the dressing but I didn't personally hate it. Basically, it's not offensively bad but also not great.

I like the ingredients in the crispy chicken but the default dressing combined with the sweet ingredients of the salad is far too sweet IMO. I actually vastly prefer (and health conscious salad enthusiasts may want to avert their eyes) the crispy chicken salad at Laurelwood Brewery on Sandy.

Chopped cobb is pretty good - but it's nearly impossible to screw up a cobb salad. That's like saying "the grilled cheese was OK". Yes, of course it is, because it's made from simple ingredients that all taste OK on their own.

San Pancho is pretty good but the chipotle sauce has no chipotle taste and is actually more akin to a buffalo chicken sauce or something along those lines. Like - less chipotle, more Frank's Red Hot mixed with sour cream. Again, it's not terrible but just not quite right.

Kaleo Paleo is probably my favorite salad and as I mentioned before it contains the best dressing. It's not going to change your life, but it gets the job done when you need a healthy meal on the go.

As irony would have it, I think the best menu items are the hot ones. That Thai Yum Curry Soup is really good. And of course you can't go wrong with Brazi bites. Anyway, I might give it another year and come back. But for now there's this lack of attention to detail that turned me off after giving them multiple tries (I've eaten about 10 salads...

Frustrating Stereotyping Experience as a Mexican American Man. I’ve been to this establishment over a dozen times.

Entering Crisp should be a pleasant experience, but unfortunately, my visits are often tainted by a recurring stereotype. Each time I walk in, I’m greeted with the assumption that I’m there to pick up a DoorDash order. This constant misjudgment leaves me feeling out of place and misunderstood as a customer.

It’s disheartening to be instantly categorized based on superficial assumptions. As someone who frequents this establishment for various reasons – whether it’s to dine in, order takeout, or simply enjoy the ambiance – being automatically labeled as a delivery driver is both frustrating and alienating.

Moreover, this stereotype reflects a broader issue of unconscious bias that pervades our society. By presuming that I’m only there to pick up food for someone else, the staff overlooks the diversity of their clientele and perpetuates harmful stereotypes.

While I understand that mistakes can happen, the frequency of this occurrence suggests a systemic problem within the establishment. It’s essential for businesses to foster an inclusive environment where all customers feel welcomed and valued, regardless of their appearance or occupation.

In my experience at Crisp is overshadowed by the persistent stereotype that I’m there solely to pick up a DoorDash order. This not only undermines my sense of belonging but also highlights the need for greater awareness and sensitivity to diverse customer...

If you have $16-$20++ to spend on a salad then you can eat here. Their customer service is so bad. Not everyone who works there sucks at their job, but the majority do. I couldn’t even get a reasonable accommodation without an attitude by the employee, as a person using mobility aids. Some of the employees will barely look at or talk to in person customers. It’s very awkward. It seems they are so used to mostly doing pick up orders that they’ve lost sight of what it means to be a storefront restaurant with excellent customer service skills. There is no sign to know where to go to order. They look at you like you’re stupid if you try to order at the register instead of going to the other end of the counter. Is this really a salad bar that functions like a Subway, or??? I get that it’s hard to work in the food service industry. If you hate it that much, maybe seek different employment. Also, their seating is not designed for comfort or for bodies any larger than maybe 150 pounds. Tiny seats, and very few available, in bright sunlight or on the sidewalk. They have a couple of picnic tables around the side. Good luck getting them to carry your food to the table.

Oh, their crushed ice machine gets 5 stars. It’s better than that perfect hospital crushed ice even.

I may go buy a $20 salad just to...