Roasted Clove Food Co. — Restaurant in Portland

When it comes to food reviews I’m a real stickler.

So let’s start off with where I live, Portland Tx. Descent size community just outside Corpus. Just moved here recently and I haven’t done much eating out, I’ve been making food at home. Last week I received a flyer in my mailbox from a local business that identifies as an Italian food business.

One major rule in the food industry is CONSISTENCY!!! Break that rule once and that can be the “straw that breaks the camels back”!!! Excuses are not tolerated in my eyes, “Mission accomplishment” should be the goal of any business. And that “mission” in the food industry should be Consistency in taste, appearance and so on.....

I decided to give them a shot since I like supporting local businesses. Phone ordering was typical info needed to make an order. I’m a huge fan of a properly made Margherita pizza. The guy taking the order stated “it’s the most widely ordered pizza”. That can be beneficial or not. Is the rest of the food bland enough and the Margherita pizza just happens to be the only palatable dish there?

I ordered a large Margherita and sausage stuffed mushrooms. The wait was right at 1 hr 43 mins, not good for a first impression!!!!!

Upon receiving the “boxes” from the delivery person I noticed they were slightly squished and as cold as a body in a morgue. Not good so far, the lady stated “ we are super busy” and she even asked for a tip. 🧐.

I was half tempted to put the pizza in the convection oven just to have some form of heated food but i didn’t, technically I shouldn’t have to reheat anything except for leftovers. The crust was bland and hard, the rest of the pizza wasn’t as bland but it was cold. The sausage stuffed mushrooms might be enjoyable if warm but tonight they were not.

I ate 1 piece of pizza and 1 mushroom. Needless to say this was the worst first impression a local business could make with me when it comes to food. I will avidly avoid this place like the Corona Virus while visiting China!!!!!!!

I called the business back after eating my cold meal. After conveying my disappointment over the phone the same guy that took the order said “that’s not normal for us” I then politely stated you have lost my business permanently. Once again, this falls back to the rules of running a food related business.....Consistency!!!!!

I will gladly order domino’s or pizza hut over this place any day.

Tonight’s actual good meal was reheated Gumbo...

I normally don't take the time to write reviews, but I filter through and find value in what others write, so I hope this is helpful to someone else. I have been ordering food from VHP for several months. The location can be easily passed by, and I was a little hesitant to try it. Mark and his crew are always friendly over the phone, and in person. The pizza is fantastic! It's really hard to find a good pizza, so I feel incredibly lucky that Mark opened up here in Portland. The dough makes the pizza IMHO, and this dough is perfect. The sauce is flavorful, yet doesn't overpower, and lets the ingredients shine. The cheese and toppings are proportioned nicely and the whole pizza comes together the way a pizza should. The pizza is honestly so good that I haven't tried anything else on the menu. My wife orders the Brutus salad which is very hearty. They pack the container full and it's a meal on its own. Mark recommends the caesar dressing which pairs very nicely. One day I will try some of the other entrees on the menu. If they put as much attention into the other items as they do the pizza, then I know I won't be...

I'm not sure how this place has 4 stars... The one and only time ordering from here, the food was less than mediocre and the delivery person stated that we needed to tip him only cash because the tip we added to our card the owner would keep for themselves. And he would not leave until we have him a cash tip. It was very unnerving. Back to the food... it was nothing special and very expensive for the portions. After spending $50 for 2 people, we were still hungry and were not impressed with the quality of the taste, lack or taste of the food. Will never order here again. Even if the food was good. The service/ delivery driver was way too unsettling to the point I felt like he would retaliate if we did not give him an...