Life Alive Organic Cafe Salem — Restaurant in Salem

I’m giving Life Alive Salem 3 stars because sometimes it’s great and sometimes it isn’t. You never know what you’re going to get. I’ve ordered here many times for pickup and my experience is hit or miss. I’d like to say firstly that the staff is always very friendly. I have never come across someone working there who is unfriendly in any way. They always make you feel welcome. I also want to point out that the one consistently wonderful dish is the Living Caesar. Perfect every time. Very simple. It’s one of my favorites. However, some examples of dishes that have been inconsistent .... Avocado Sol: last time I got it, the bowl wasn’t even filled and it was dry and tasteless. It boggles my mind, because this is one of my favorite dishes that I love! But a few times it was awful. I even threw it away after eating half of it last time. Avocado Greens: the first time I ordered this, it was amazing and looked just like the photo. I ordered a few more times, but it was half filled, somewhat soggy with pieces of avocado and really not worth finishing. Green Goddess Bowl: sometimes amazing. Mostly the bowl has hardly been filled with very little rice and cold broccoli. Peanut Butter Cup Açaí Bowl: for the most part, this is great. I think they have the best açaí I’ve personally found anywhere. The toppings are mostly very generous. But I have also had it a few times where there wasn’t much on top. Iced Golden Milk: always inconsistent with the amount of spices and/or maple. When made correctly it’s awesome. But usually it’s very weak with spices. The last time I bought this, i was accidentally given hot golden milk. Understandable. I asked them to replace them. I didn’t realize they just poured them over ice. What I ended up with were very weak, watery golden milks that didn’t even have any sweetness. Why do I keep going back? Because I really want to love Life Alive. When the food is made well it really is awesome! It’s just such a disappointment to be so excited to bring the food and drinks home and they’re tasteless, half full or made...

Usually 5 stars but they blew it so so terribly tonight. We used to come here often and get the Swami bowl with udon noodles, usually I get 2, one each for my fiancée and I. Tonight I ordered 4 of those and 2 Buddha bowls just to try them, because my brother’s meeting us at my in laws’. There was legitimately no more than 2mL, we’re talking droplets, of the sauce on the swami bowls. I’ve gotten at least 15 of these in the past, they have never had such little sauce. I walk back in to ask if we can get the actual amount of sauce they usually come with, pointing to the visibly sauceless noodles as I explained (and considering I just spent $70 on them). The woman at the register interrupted me as I was asking and said ok ok as she went over to the register and said $6 something. I didn’t feel like arguing so I was like ok… Then it’s not even coming up on the card reader so part of me feels like she just wanted to pocket $6, but that must just be the cynic in me after being so deeply unsatisfied with the food and service tonight. Anyways I asked, wait, does it cost money for the sauce it usually comes with? and she muttered something like yeah that’s just the swami bowl.. And then I pointed out to her how it wasn’t popping up and anyways… just damn they really...

The cashier was stressed and rude. This was my first and last time at this cafe. While placing my order, the cashier told me if I didn’t know what I wanted to move aside. There was a short line behind me but it was a slow Saturday afternoon. I continued my order. He didn’t know what Braggs is which is all over their menu. I ordered a brownie and mint choloste chip sundae off the chalkboard menu. It didn’t list that it had coconut in it. I had to return it and I placed an another order for something basic: peanut butter and strawberry jam in a tortilla. The busboy already told me I could have a refund for the ice cream and I decided to try something else. Unfortunately I had to deal with the same cashier. He told me I should have told them I was allergic to cocunut. I believe they should have listed that there was cocunut in mint choc chip ice cream and cocunut flakes on top. He didnt believe the busboy and went to his supervisor before finishing my second order. I received the PJ & strawberry jam torilla but it was full of bananas which was also not listed in the menu. So I’m not sure if the chefs don’t know the menu or they just don’t list all the ingredients, but with the bad menu and the rude customer service, I would rather give my money to another...