Wild Blossom — Restaurant in Westwood

We wanted it to be good, because it's down the street ... but the food is frustratingly bland (e.g., no peanut in pad thai; ketchuppy tasting General Gau?!?) ... and the service very spotty . In fact, DO YOU WANT A LAUGH? Here's what happened at our most recent visit: It started when, after sitting for an hour, they told us they couldn't remember what we'd ordered. We told them we had to go to a movie, so we would pay for what we ate, and they needn't make the rest of the order. He said okay, went to write up the bill, then came back a few minutes later and said they found our original order and just put it in, so the food would be ready soon. I told him, no, we had to leave, and that he was supposed to just give us the check. So a few minutes later he came back with the check, but with all the food on it, even the food we still hadn't received. He said if we waited a few more minutes, it would be out. I told him we were going to be later for the movie, and we did not want the food. (I had no cash on me, so I needed a proper bill to charge my credit card.) He said he would fix the bill. Two minutes later he came back. He had removed $4 from the bill, but brought out the food and said now that food was ready, he had kept it on the bill, but gave us a discount. If there had not been other diners in the restaurant, I probably would have lost my, er, you-know-what .. but I had young kids and we just wanted to not miss or movie. Obviously, I will...

As a marketing professional, I have mixed feelings about this place. I go there for lunch and, as other reviews have mentioned, they have a good price point (around $8). However, they have a credit card minimum of $10.

I have went into this place several times time, because I work across the street. Twice now, the owner (I guess) has brought up the fact that I didn't hit their CC minimum of $10.

Let me give you some free marketing advice...if you are going to make the marketing efforts to provide a good price point and attract people with that, then don't require a $10 CC minimum, at least for lunch specials.

Frankly, the concept of attracting people with a good price point and then having a higher priced CC minimum is such a bad marketing strategy, that as a marketer, I have no respect for your minimum.

Credit card transactions don't cost that much. If you are paying more that $0.30 + 2.9% per transaction, then switch to Paypal, because that is their numbers...and frankly they are expensive. So, you must need a new CC transaction company.

The first time the guy tried to remind me of this BS policy, I didn't go back for a couple of months...there is a pizza place 200 feet further down the street. Again, I won't be going back for a while.

My hope is that you all will sort this out, because the food isn't bad...I would give the food and order accuracy 4 stars...but the CC minimum/lunch special strategy is...

We read a number of reviews on line and were a bit hesitant paying a visit here. Since the place is fairly new, I attributed it to growing pains and I was correct. We had a delightful time, free of the negative experiences that others supposedly endured. We were greeting warmly and were able to choose our table. Service was prompt and attentive. With their newly acquired liquor license (Jan, 2013) we ordered cabernet and sauvingnon blanc. There were many appealing items on the menu and because of that, choosing one or two was a challenge. We had Snow Mountain Maki with shrimp tempora and king crab and The Delights of Three which had chicken, beef pieces with shrimp and vegetables. The presentation was very nice and the meal was plentiful and tasty. We shared the Exotic Bomba dessert which was a flavorful sorbet with an edge of white chocolate. The staff was gracious and friendly. They clearly appreciated our visit and smiled broadly when we told them that we look forward to coming back! We have been to Bamboo, Kiku Yama and Genki Ya a number of times and Wild Blossom is right up there with them. This might be the best dining opportunity in the history of Islington. There is plenty of free parking in the rear or across the side street. If you are interested in going off the beaten path, this is an...