Ruth "Bathroom Reviewer" N.'s Profile

My sweetie and I went here for our anniversary on a Wednesday night, taking advantage of the Earth Day/GoVeg Week offering of a 4 course vegan prix fixe offering.  Overall, the atmosphere was cute, although I agree that the dropped ceiling did not fit the ambiance they are trying to convey.   I had to remove my coat myself, no one held my chair, and I had to request that the server hang up my coat after he watched me struggle to find a place to stash it.  That's fine for an inexpensive place, but not for somewhere that costs well over $100 for two people who only have 1 glass of wine each.  They were great at clearing the table and promptly removing crumbs after each set of tapas, which was surprising after how inattentive they were during seating.  Also, I was a bit bummed when I noticed that the reservation (which was made in my name) was under a similar sounding men's name... I had even spelled my name for them when I called.  Get with the times, gents, or at least place the screen where I can't see it so clearly!

Aside from that, we felt welcome and enjoyed the meal overall, although there were weak spots on the menu.  The third course entrees (see below) were terribly bland and my partner found the textures "squishy" and "kind of gross", especially since there was little flavor to give the soft textures a purpose.  The wine selection was delightful.  My experience with Turkish food is pretty limited (1 other restaurant), but I have enjoyed what I've tried in the past.

Let me repeat this in case it didn't stand out enough in the other reviews: portions are TINY!  This was true of our prix fixe, but also of the plates going by to other tables.

The break down by vegetarian/vegan dishes (all were vegan, just leaving breadcrumbs for those searching for vegetarian, too):

Mercimek Çorbasi (lentil soup) - Absolutely delicious!  Use the lemon wedge provided, it makes all the difference.  Good for eating with the spoon and with the provided bread that is abundantly served throughout meals.  Served heated.

Mercimek Köfte (lentil cake) - tiny, but very tasty. Served at room temp.

Dolma (stuffed grape leaves) - tiny, delicious with just the right amount of tang, and soft, easily eaten grape leaves around the stuffing. Served at room temp.

Muhammara (red pepper spread) - absolutely delicious! This was our favorite dish of the night, aside from desert.  Smooth, flavorful, visually appealing, just a little spicy, and very nom-able. Served cool.

Patlcan Ezme (grilled eggplant, onions, oil and lemon) - Finely chopped enough to be a chunky spread, but not described as such.  The textures were good but it was rather bland, even with lemon juice. Served warm.

Imam Bayildi (stuffed baked eggplant) - Small eggplant cooked until very tender, filled with something resembling the Patlican Ezme (see above).  I was thrilled that the egg plant was very tender, then saddened that it had no flavor. Served warm.

Enginar (boiled artichoke, garnished with carrots, peas, rosemary) - Very soft and squishy, I was surprised it was even able to hold its shape on the plate.  The presentation was nice, but this one had the texture that made it hard to eat for my partner.  It had a little more flavor than the stuffed eggplant, but was still pretty darned bland and disappointing. Served warm.

Taze Fasulye (diced green beans with tomato, onion) - Flavorful and tasty.  This came with the above two and was the only thing worth eating on the plate.  Served a little cool.

Armut Tatlisi (poached pair, lemon sorbet, crushed nuts, dusted in powdered sugar) - Absolutely delightful and stunning.  Beautifully presented, flavors were perfect together, couldn't have been better.  

Wine: Only 1 Riesling was available by the glass, out of 3 on the list. I forgot the name but it was tasty, served nicely, and at the appropriate coolness.

Bread was beautifully presented.  The taste didn't stand out but wasn't bad either.

I would return for appetizers and desert with wine, but it's not worth another visit for the main meal.  

Bathrooms and accessibility:

Two restrooms - both are 1 seaters, unisex and clean.

The restaurant is at street level and has a small thresh hold bump, but I believe that most folks on wheels could make it through easily enough.  The ramp to the dining area is narrow with a sharp turn, so wider wheels may not work.  For those with mobility concerns: I would suggest asking for a table near the entrance, as the space between was fine for walking but would be a squeeze for wider wheelchairs and anyone on crutches.  Some chairs have sturdy arms, many do not.  Once in, the place is small and restrooms are accessible, though they're in the back so you have to get past some tables.  Bars and other transitioning aids were sparse in the restroom I visited, but it was pretty roomy.  Sink was an elevated bowl, so hard to reach if you ride low.
(I haven't experienced being disabled, but hopefully this info is still helpful.

Not so great.  The first time I went was for lunch and there were few vegetarian options. The service was slow and food was good but not great.  I just went for my second time to share a quick tea and desert with a friend.  This is a fancy place, so I certainly did not expect a deal.  But $4.50 for a cup of Earl Grey tea with a little Splenda?!  That's ridiculous.  Plus it had been steeped far too long before it reached the table as was nearly as black as coffee.  We had to ask for more water to thin it out.  We ordered the donuts  and they took quite a while to arrive, then tasted thick as though whole wheat flower was used in the mix although I'm sure it wasn't.  I ate one bite and pushed it away and my friend didn't even try them.  The manager came to ask if they could get us something else and we explained that we didn't have to time to wait as we had to get back to work.  They comped the donuts, but left us waiting a long time to pay in spite of knowing we had to run.  Meanwhile the manager chatted away in front of us instead of ringing us up.  So we paid $4.50 for tea that was barely touched and a bad bite of donut, all "enjoyed" at the bar since they don't seat between lunch and dinner.  I won't be giving this place a third try, in spite of the cute interior and nice location.

I enjoy this chain, but this is not an example of Jason's Deli at its finest.  I've eaten here about a half dozen times and have dedicated myself to finding a different salad bar restaurant to call my own while I'm online.  

If you've never been to a Jason's Deli, it offers pre-made salads, a big and hearty salad bar, a variety of heft sandwiches and some very yummy soups.  I am a fan of the vegetarian French Onion soup (topped with cheese, so not vegan as-is) and usually order that and the salad bar for dinner.  Anyone eating there can have free soda refills (assuming you order soda) at the DIY fountain, and access to the free DIY softserve machine with vanilla and chocolate.  The staff cleans up after you and sometimes brings your order to your table, other than that it's cafeteria style.

What Goes Wrong At This Jason's Deli:

Sad and empty salad bar. All but one time the salad bar has been out of major ingredients like greens, plus several toppings.  I arrive around 6:30pm, so it should be well stocked for dinner then.  It always takes a good 5-10 minutes to find a staff person who has three qualities: speaks English so I can alert them of the problem, is listening so they notice me trying alert them, and cares enough to respond.  This is sad.  I usually have to start demanding a manager in order to get greens on the bar.

They don't bus the tables regularly here. It's common to see tables that multiple folks have piled their trash and dishes on to get it out of their way, and it will still be there when you leave.  Gross.

Unhelpful staff.  In addition to ignoring the salad bar at dinner time, they're unhelpful and rude in most other ways.  If they only have the Take Out line open and thus expect Eat In orders to go there, too you can bet there will no sign and nobody will tell you as you wait and try to ask someone to help you.  Instead, you'll be ignored.  The order is frequently entered incorrectly, so watch the screen.  Keep your receipt, because it often arrives incorrectly, too.  Nobody will help you.  Sometimes the staff doesn't speak English, but usually it seems to be that nobody (regardless of language) gives a flying fart about customers.  

I am so sad, because I really want a nice Jason's Deli nearby.  I keep trying this place and it's always an ordeal.  To rub salt in the wound, you have to pay for your parking time.  That means I have to add a good 30 minutes to my parking time to deal with all of the problems that will come with trying to eat a simple soup and salad dinner.

This is one of our favorite places to grab a casual bite to eat together. Conveniently located by the Panera at the corner of Colesville and Georgia Ave., it is yummy, fast, comfy and cute inside. It is also a decent people watching spot, with all the windows. Vegetarians who like fake meats will find a wide variety to pick from here. The tofu veggie-chicken soup is a favorite when I have a crummy tummy, too. Inside is clean, as are one-seater bathrooms. Mixed drinks come in all sorts of crazy glasses with equally entertaining names. Music is cheesy but not intrusive. I have found the staff to be very attentive and friendly on every visit and we've been eating here for years now. Diet coke is plentiful, so my sweetie is happy. If you order carry out they will run it out for you to the little parking lot outside, and even run your credit card in and back. This is handy on weekend nights when that lot is full and illegally parked cars are quickly ticketed. Note that metered parking immediately out front is more expensive, so park in the garage for the galleria just a few hundred feet away or walk up the hill from the metro station. That said, handicapped parking is right out front in that lot and the restaurant as well as the restroom are accessible.  As a side note, I don't like sushi so I can't evaluate that here.

Wonderful!  This was my first time trying threading after years of professional brow waxing, including quite a few wax disasters (burns, dire purple/redness, pus filled angry outbreaks).  When my salon stopped offering wax I was distraught, as that was the only place where my brows were safe.  I figured I might as well give this a try and hope for the best.  It's right near my job, so all the better!  I zipped over without an appointment, ran up the stairs to their second floor storefront and got in the chair after a very short wait.  My brows look sharp and well defined, the skin is barely pink (even my co-worker commented on how much better my skin looks over waxing) and I'm very pleased with the shape.  The place was clean and it felt good knowing that the thread is disposed of, as opposed to wax pots that are often the subjects of gross double dipping.  They take plastic but politely prefer cash (they gave me no hassle).  My threader spoke English well so I felt confident in our communications about what I wanted.  The woman before me was very picky about what she wanted and also left satisfied, so they take feedback well.  And they do have a nice, clear restroom available.  Brows are $12.  Whole face is $40, to give you an idea of the range.  I was asked if I wanted my lip done (I declined) but she was very polite, not pushy, and not shaming.  Please note that neither the shop nor the restroom are handicapped accessible, as both are upstairs and I saw no elevator access.

It is a rare pleasure to be so surrounded by beauty, history, excellent service, and art.  I'm sure many reviews will summarize how unique the vibe is here, and that alone would be enough reason to stay.  I'm going to focus on my incredibly positive experiences with the staff at the Gladstone, at which I stayed while presenting at a smaller conference for sex-positive professionals that also included evening social activities that were hosted at the Gladstone.

I'm often a budget traveler, not always out of necessity but rather because the nicer places tend to range from pretentious to downright snooty while nickle-and-diming every service. Furthermore, the sleek commercial art/design of those places tends to make me feel like a lonely traveler, because it is slick and pretty but not comfortable (at least, not for me). The Gladstone was a bargain at its mid-range price and I wished I could make a much longer business trip of it. Beautiful, with unique personality, wonderful people (both patrons and staff) and rooms that had real personality.   As much as I love the hostel I used to stay at in Toronto, this will be my new go-to place when I visit.

I have presented at many different hotels with meeting rooms all over the USA and south-eastern Canada in events from a few hundred to several thousand in size. As a professional who often speaks to groups, especially on taboo topics related to sexual well-being (even though I'm an academic-type), I frequently feel like we are the host space's secret shame and they wouldn't have taken our group if the economy weren't so tight. I have never been a part of a group that was so welcomed and tended to prior to my stay with The Gladstone. Thank you, Gladstone, for making a point of supporting independent thought and community building with all you do.

Nobody was not great, frankly, if you'll pardon the double-negative. I appreciate this especially because my travel buddy and I frequently needed extra assistance.  Between the two of us we covered a few special needs kinda groups: vegetarian, gluten-free, new to the trolly system, and visually dissabled. I never once got the feeling that it annoyed folks to help us. I didn't get to exchange currency to tip anyone until a day or two into our trip, but folks were just as sweet to us before I got Canadian currency after, which was also deeply appreciated. The staff were absolutely amazing every moment of our stay. It would be understandable if a host and attached restaurants left us more or less to our own devices, but that was never the case here. We were welcomed from start to finish and well attended to for our entire stay, including the many meals we ate here.  We had breakfast there every morning, a few lunches and a couple of dinners.  Most of the rest of our meals were eaten within easy walking distance at various establishments right in the area.  All were delicious and delightful!

Oh, and in response to a fellow poster who gave the Gladstone a low rating, I just wanted to note that my experience with my room and toiletries was very positive.  The boutique quality toiletries really fit the bill for me, and there was plenty of soap, shampoo, and other things in our bathroom.

Deliciously delightful!  The interior is tiny but adorable and makes you feel like you're in for something delectable (which you are) as soon as you walk in.  I've had several flavors of macaroons, all of which were great.  The hazelnut is my favorite so far.  I've also tasted several of their cupcakes and all of them were so good.  I really couldn't pick a favorite.  Several have a filling (pineapple, boston cream, etc.) others don't.  My most recent treat was the carrot cake cupcake, which not only tasted great but really smelled amazing.  Macaroons are hard to make well, so I don't begrudge the price.  And cupcakes are the trendy, pricey thing so you might as get a really good ones like the flavors they serve here.  They also offered packaged shortbread cookies and a few other goodies.

It's hard for me to review this place.  The food was yummy, but there were other significant problems.  First, it is not accessible at all as the restaurant is down a decently long flight of stairs.  That's not their fault, especially considering the types of buildings in the area, but it's worth noting for folks who look to reviews for that information.  When we ordered they were out of many, many things and we each had to think of one or more other options before we able to successfully order.  There were five in our group, so that's a lot of things that they were out of.  Finally, the chairs.  They're really pretty, ornate, wood and metal chairs.  And they're entirely too small for fat people with wide hips/butts.  i would say that after a women's plus size 18 they would be uncomfortably tight.  They also offer booths that seat 4, but since our group was 5 I didn't have the option to see if they work better, however they look like they might.  So there you go - yummy with very fast service but these other problems may be something to consider.

I've eaten here three times and enjoyed it every time.  They have a tasty selection of vegetarian dishes, and I'm particularly fond of the vegetable puff appetizer (2 puffs per order, good for a pair of diners).  I've also enjoyed the panang tofu (it's my favorite) and their yellow curry tofu dish.    This is a particularly good place for folks who like non-spicy food, as other reviews have noted.  It's flavorful, in my opinion, but not hot at all.  Sodas are refillable here.  The service is attentive and pleasant, food was prompt, and the outdoor dining is nice with comfy metal chairs.  I friggin' hate cheap plastic patio chairs.  Anyway, we'll be back!

Yum! I ate here for a recent lunch and really enjoyed it.  They have a delightful selection of vegetarian foods as well as many meat options.  I ordered the spinach wrap and was greeted with a fresh pita wrapped around a hearty serving of flavorful, cooked spinach with just the right amount of feta and mozzarella.  I also had the falafel appetizer, and will be sure to order a falafel meal in the future.  The appetizer includes 4 falafels, fresh veggies, sauces and a generous basket of warm, fresh pita.  My diet coke was kept full, as was my water, and the wait staff was friendly and prompt.  Sometimes I feel like places are frustrated by single diners, but I felt very welcome here.  The restrooms were clean and accessible single-seaters, but not uni-sex.  They also seem to have a carry out counter at the back, which I may do in the future if I'm in a hurry.  I will make a point of returning here for dinner with friends sometime soon.

Note: This review is for their new location on King Street.