I'm truly so disappointed to write this review. I finally got the opportunity to try Loona's a few weeks ago. I've been wanting to visit since they first opened and have been anxiously watching their social media for coverage of the beautiful dishes and drinks, looking forward for my chance to try their food. But this first visit did not at all live up to the hype or my expectations.
I came on a Thursday about three weeks ago after my annual doctor's visit. It was around 11:15 when I arrived. Note this restaurant is in the bustling Providence area. It's an attractive and somewhat upscale shopping and dining destination and parking can be a bit of a challenge. I found the parking lot of a nearby hotel that had ample spots, so I took one of those and marched over. It did look like there was a parking garage not too far away.
Anyway, the restaurant was about 1/3 full when I arrived. The hostess asked if it was just me, which I confirmed. She asked if I was okay to sit at the bar. My preference would honestly have been a table or booth, even a two top, but I told her whatever was easiest for her was okay with me, and so to the bar I went. The bartender took my order and brought my food and mostly left me alone, which was also more my preference. He was nice enough in our interactions and food was served in a timely manner.
After I ordered is when things started to go downhill. First, I asked a waitress where the restroom was and set off for a visit. Despite it being earlyish in the morning, one stall was already filthy enough I didn't want to use it, and the other one was out of toilet paper. Fortunately I noticed before using it!
I came back to my seat and was served water in a carafe. It wasn't particularly cold but the bigger problem than that was that it smelled like dirty dishwater when I poured it in my cup. Not sure if my glass was still dirty or the water itself was, but suffice to say, it wasn't pleasant.
Next, my food arrived. I ordered the breakfast burrito with a side of fries. Others have commented negatively on the pricing here, but my experience was slightly different. I ultimately wound up being charged for just the entree. The description for the burrito does not indicate it comes with a side. I assumed I'd pay for the burrito + side, which was going to be ~$25. THAT is a price tag I'd say is too high, but I was ultimately charged for just the entree, which was ~$16. I still think that's a bit much for the quality and size of the food I was served, but I can see how it would be acceptable under better conditions. That said, I'm not sure if the burrito does come with a side that's included in the price OR if they just forgot to charge me for a side.
Anyway...the food. The fries were the best part at exactly average. They looked pretty and were crispy enough. It was a pretty paltry serving even for the price I was charged; it would've been a VERY paltry serving at the $9 (!!!) a side of fries was listed as on their menu at time of visit.
Ultimately though, my main grievance is with the burrito. It needed work in about every aspect. It was put together poorly, with almost all bites I took very uneven in terms of filling, and watery sauce dribbling out before I even took my first nibble. I did ask for no avocado, but even with that in mind, I thought the amount the burrito was filled was pretty disappointing - it was tiny and heavy on the tortilla. My first few bites were only of egg and a few bacon bits - no sign of cheese, tater tots, green onions, or chipotle aioli to be found. The eggs badly needed salt or really any flavoring at all. Eventually, several more bites in, I discovered some cheese and some tater tots, but even then, the flavor-meter was pitifully low -- idk how you make a tater tot not salty enough, but these surely weren't. For a while I was convinced that they'd put some sort of very strange glaze on the bacon because it started tasing oddly sweet (à la candied bacon), but I eventually could only come to the conclusion it was the very watery, very pale chipotle aioli I was tasting. I was expecting that to be slightly spicy and definitely thicker/more mayonnaise-y, but given the listed ingredients, that's the only thing it could've been unless something went very wrong in the kitchen and some other sauce was put on my burrito. The one slightly saving grace was the green salsa, which added heat, if not a ton of flavor, to the dish. I am both mad and sad to say that I have had Taco Bell breakfast burritos that beat this one by a country mile.
I really like the design and interior of this place and the menu looks promising. The service was fine. People whose opinions on food I respect have lovely things to say about Loona's dishes. I can only assume/hope my first experience was a very odd one-off. I'd be willing to try again some time in the future, but for now, this was not at all what I was hoping for from a visit. read more