Verde Cocina Hillsdale — Restaurant in Portland

I'm not sure what is up with this place lately . . . I've been a customer for years. But the last three times I've been here, service has been awful. Today I walked in alone, the place was pretty empty and I was going to ask to be seated outside. The entry area was empty of customers except for me.

I was completely ignored by two sets of staff - bartender was engaged in a convo at the end of the bar with someone, and totally ignored the fact that I came in. No eye contact, no acknowledgment at all. Like deliberately ignoring that a new customer came in, is what it seemed like to me. It was really rude.

Kitchen staff same - one person was standing within view of me, talking to another person I couldn't see, who was in the kitchen. I was totally ignored by all of these people, even tho they clearly weren't busy. Finally after a few minutes, I sat down at the bar. Then finally the bartender begrudgingly acknowledged me. Again, they were not busy. I was the only person who walked in, and outdoor seating was completely empty.

I guess I need to show more cleavage or leg to get their attention? lol. I don't know but this is the THIRD time when I have been treated really rudely by staff when trying to get a table. It's just weird .. .

They clearly ignored me and I felt like I was a nuisance for wanting to be a customer. I had the same experience the last time I was here, which is why I stayed away for so long. Then finally when I was seated and ordered, I finished my soda and wanted another. No one came to check on me. One of the staff was about ten feet from me, VERY intent on hanging lights in the outdoor seating area. Dragging a stool around, loudly, focused on re-hanging lights. I tried a couple times to make eye contact with him and he was obviously avoiding me. I was the only customer on the patio at the time.

Finally I stood up and walked halfway to the bar, and THEN the guy hanging lights intervened and asked me if I needed help.

I asked for my second drink AND the check at the same time, because based on past experiences, I figured I'd never get the check otherwise.

I don't know why this restaurant can't get good help for service at this location. They have a good model of healthy fusion food. The food is always good. But I've been crapped on by several staff here - the service seems to seethe with hatred and resentment. It's unpleasant.

Food is good as usual. I don't know why this place can't get the service right - just always attitude and rudeness. Too bad bc it's a nice...

An odd place. Ambience is lovely; that I cannot deny. Steak for asada was really tough and did not appear to have any normal asada marinade/flavors or, for that matter, salt. Eating vegan, veg, or GF is seamless here, but that means you will receive: quinoa, kale, garbanzo-white bean slop, and no more flavor than with the steak. The "chile relleno," which is somehow relleno por quinoa, is made vegan by subtracting the cheese, which is the only thing contributing flavor.

The Caesar dressing has great, delicious, robust flavor -- just not that of a "Caesar." The tofu is fried Ota tofu and nothing more: no seasoning at all. I like protein, I like fried, and I like calories, too, but I like flavor too much to eat their "crisped sauteed tofu" as anything but sustenance or penance, like dumping a double scoop of flaxseed or whey powder on top of what otherwise would have been a tasty and already healthy dish.

The tortillas were somewhere along the continuum of Mexican corn tortillas, arepas, and sopes. The fundido had great flavor, and the sauce was well-constructed and blended/heated, but I had no idea why it needed potatoes, sweet potatoes, or kale up in it, nor what was going on with the "local chorizo," which bore more resemblance in appearance and (lack of) taste/seasoning to Domino's "pork topping" than to either Spanish or Mexican chorizo.

TLDR: Not every single dish needs quinoa, kale, and sweet potatoes, not even...

Got upstairs, wanted to sit together with my snuggledoll, but the table configurations were apart. Fine, I get this. Go downstairs, and we sit at the bar, where 2 people are being served by one very overworked bartendress. Again, I get it, it's a busy Friday night. People entering and bumping into me every minute, alright, this they could probably change the layout for, but really I couldn't move much, the downstairs layout is just...awkward?

So then we finally order, and another larger group comes in, orders, and they are served first. Had trouble getting the bartenders attention to say that we were ravenous, and wanted our appetizers also.

Then we get the food, and I'm not sure if they messed up the seasoning, or what, but the food had very little taste, but lots of heat. Not sure what was wrong there, we've had breakfast there before and been pretty impressed. Man and people coming in I just kept getting bumped into, which got old fast.

They comped us for the oversight on our appetizer. I'm just going to say this place is probably good on most days? However, they have some things to work out. I'd give it 3.5 stars, because it's somewhere between "OK" and "I liked it," but really the combination of everything not coming together makes me think they should reconsider the downstairs as a realistic seating...