I've been visiting C'Verde at the Robinson's Magnolia food court for a while now, because it's one of the few places that serves vegetarian and vegan-friendly options (like the vegan kuchay and many of their shakes), and mostly because if I'm eating alone, I'll spend as little as possible, just so I won't eat the decorative plants.
Sadly, the quality of their meals has declined since their store first went into operation, and is now palatable at best.
Before I transitioned into veganism, I've had their veggie burgers and they were just passable -- they smell and taste vaguely like a burger, but with none of the flavor punch. I don't expect it to taste like meat, but it could have had more flavor aside from the mayo and ketchup.
Their zucchini fries (vegan) were alright. Same goes for the bean and cheese taquitos, which are served hot and melty, good if you're vegetarian.
The bite-sized vegan kuchay dumplings are tasty, crunchy, and served piping-hot.
Tofu with veggies on rice are also okay, and would be better without the sauce that's like soy sauce-flavored library paste.
But the kicker was the veggie pad thai. It did not look like pad thai, nor did it taste remotely like it. IMPOSTOR. It was just a cup of sticky, overcooked rice noodles coated in a flavorless textured brown sauce topped with thick slices of badly mixed omelet (the white and yolk aren't blended properly), a few strips of unseasoned fried tofu, and a slice of buttered toast.
Buttered toast does not belong on pad thai. And from what I recall, it should at least taste like peanuts, chili, lime or calamansi, and sweet soy, plus it should have at least some bean sprouts, spring onions, bell peppers, and more peanuts.
I swear I could hear Gordon Ramsay throwing F-bombs in my head.
My point is, if you cannot serve a dish properly, even if it's a budget version, then don't serve it at all. Better if they had stuck to their specialty shakes than expanded their menu with substandard meals. For the same price of that pad thai, I could get an excellent vegan bibimbap that's good for two from this new store in our neighborhood.
The first and last time I ate that pad thai, I wished I had eaten air instead. Or the ornamental plants.
The thing is, I've always been rooting for C'Verde as well as other budget vegan-friendly shops. It's sad to see such a promising store fall to the wrong cost-cutting measures that are likely to alienate their target clientele in the long run. read more