It's pathetic. I'm never going again. Most of the bowls are 90% rice and 10% veg. The sandwich is great on paper, but horrible in implemntation. The thick cut spelt is dry. The chipotle aioli isn't spicy and doesn't taste like chipotle. etc. etc. And yeah, the worst is the wait.

Protip: bread of choice + avocado + Dae-Han spicy tofu = equal if better not sandwich.

I went there on my first trip to pdx, and was stunned at the positively abysmal service. Then I started reading lots of portland blogs since we're moving there this summer, and I thought oh, that's just portland service. I have to say I feel SO vindicated now and much encouraged that perhaps not all servers in portland are quite so anesthetized. I too was amazed that anyone in a kitchen could move that slow to make something so simple. I seriously wondered just how high they were, but then remembered many very high chefs i've known who moved faster than that fully baked. I look forward to reading more about vegan places in the city here though!

Twitch -- you're absolutely right about the starch to veggie ratio. J's a low-starcher, as well as vegan, and when he got his food, he was really pretty irritated. I did like the sandwich, but I had the whole wheat tortilla rather than the spelt bread. But I look forward to trying your version -- maybe tonight!

Gaile -- the service there really is amazing. Amazingly bad!

I think this is a great entry. I love BL for their food and quality ingredients and yes it has gotten too crowded so keep up the complaints and keep my line shorter!
Now that I've vented my spleen I'd like to add that some people prefer their food slow. Raw and living food is a different enterprise than a Spicy TLC, so perhaps you all need to adjust your expectations rather than complaining that someone else hasn't fulfilled them! If more places made delicious raw, living and vegan options it would be a more competitive and probably capitalistic market. If you want fast vegan food go to Vegetarian House and eat the buffet. There's never a wait there!

@ rev green: Your 'slow food' assertion would play if the food was made from to order, from scratch. It isn't.

I still go to BL pretty often, despite some of the worst service and attitude I've ever experienced in Portland. I love the food, and don't mind paying for it, but these people have to get a grip. Last time I went there they lost my order, then got pissed off at me when I wondered why it had been 40 minutes and several people who ordered after me got served first. At first they tried to deny losing the order, but then they begrudgingly admitted it when they couldn't figure out what they were supposed to bring me -- not only did we get no apology, but they acted like WE had done something wrong.

I've lived in Portland for over 10 years, and it never ceases to amaze me how bad the service is in this town compared to ANY OTHER PLACE in the US. When I read all the whining in the WW about restaurants closing because of over-saturation and the slowing economy, my first thought it, "Hmmm, maybe it's because you guys treat your customers like shit!"

Hey VJ! Great review! "Crusty vegan punks" is my favorite, the words describe how I feel oftentimes but have a difficult time articulating. In fact, one of the times I was there, there was a seriously crusty vegan punk leaning against the window right where I was sitting. Very annoying. Anyway, although I do like BL I agree. Everything except the specials seems to be over simplified, pricey and come in small portions. I kind of feel like BL and Proper Eats are very similar (although BL is much more pretentious) and everytime I go to Proper Eats it is dog slow. In fact, I thought they had forgotten about us. Is everyone high? I couldn't move that slow if I tried!

I really enjoy Blossoming Lotus but honestly make a point to go there during off times or call in my order for take out or I know I'll be frustrated. Going during my lunch hour has rarely been a good idea.

That being said, I wish they had a real restaurant! I don't mind taking off my shoes, but imagine if they had a full kitchen on site! And room to move!

Their soft serve is fantastic and even when I didn't think I'd like a flavor, I still did. And it's so well priced! Some of the menu items are on the upper end for what I'd like to pay, but they are in the Pearl. I definitely recommend people from out of town visit here, but again, know that there will be a wait..for a table..and for food most likely.

My favorite items are the soft serve, live noodles, bbq tempeh sandwich, live fudge (whoa) and ordering the specials, in particular when they involve tempeh.

Slow yes--but what do you expect from hippie food. Relax, sit in the Lotus position and meditate while you wait. It's all part of the experience. Besides, where else do you get good vegan food in PDX?

we didn't plan on eating here, but it was near our hostel, and days like Sundays, when some buses weren't running, we just ate there. and honestly, the food was sub par. We ate here twice, the first time was better than the second, but the service was slow, and "crusty vegan punks" were no where to be see,but replaced with trendy hipsters. We were in fact the "crusty couple" and I felt a little uncomfortable there; like people were thinking "how do these two afford to eat here?" kind of feeling. The place was way too trendy, and the service was pretty fucking lame, not only that, the food was pretty fucking lame as well.

I LOVE the Blossoming Lotus! As a raw foodist it is such a treat to be able go out to eat. The wait is long, but the food is so good it's worth it. I go to get inspired and usually leave with recipe ideas and sometimes personal tips from the chef. OH, and the raw fudge is out of this world!!!