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Location
Portland, OR
Yelping since
June 2011
Update: things have improved. I'll keep going back. Please add hanging plants and other sound absorptive so people can hear in there. Thanks
Wayyyyy too smoky in here. They should think about a better system to scoop up the smoke from all those ovens/stoves. It's largely a coffee house and not just a bakery, so come on. Also, I agree with other reviews that I felt awkward asking the staff questions. Not likely to become a hangout even though I live two blocks away.
The longest wait for a rental car EVER. Missed some meetings as a result of a 57 minute delay because hadn't enough cars on hand for more than 20 customers. When I returned the car, the attendant told me to go inside and ask for a manager. As I passed yet another long line of customers waiting in line to get cars, I asked the customer service rep for a manager. 10 min later she returned to say he was unavailable and that I should call customer service. i missed the shuttle! Now, I'm wondering if I'll make my flight. And oh yeah, the shuttle to pick me up from the airport was late, too.... Just go with any other rental company and you'll be happier.
Had a really bad experience there about a year ago, and it's unlikely they'll get a second chance. This is one of those new Portland businesses that is less unique despite being packaged in a cool brand and managed by arrogance. Tired of cocky businesses encroaching on SE PDX!
I wanted to like their pizza because the toppings and sauce are decent, but they put NUTMEG in their dough. Who would kill a pizza pie with something like NUTMEG?!? Unfortunately, I asked and you don't get a choice in the matter. The service is great and the bar selection is good. "But please stop it with the nutmeg," I could hear old Italian ladies everywhere screaming. I live blocks away, but I will go elsewhere.
My server on my first visit was pleasant, but I see I wasn't the only one lately to be unimpressed with Sen Yai's food, especially since this is from the amazing Pok Pok family of restaurants.
I live in the neighborhood and finally gave their pork ramen dish a whirl. It was so heavily salted it overpowered all the other flavors and pork was tough and far to random in the ramen. I had to wait quite awhile to receive my food, so even though the chef offered to make another dish I was out of time. Twice they told me I should just add the sugar to balance it out and that this was made the traditional way. No, I have had this exact Thai dish is several cities and this was just bad. The people of Portland expect better-seasoned dishes, not extra sodium. Pok Pok will see me again, but never Sen Yai.
Got a headache from all the salt, too. Ugh....
Lastly, if someone waits long for their meal in your near empty restaurant at prime time, there's something wrong. And if they don't have 20 more minutes to wait while you concoct a better dish, at least offer a discount on that meal or for another visit. Bad karma, Thai "master" chef....