Ottawa Foodies

I go here every couple of years, and I'm never really happy or sad about it.

As with The Table: many hot dishes ruined thanks to unnecessary tofu (what is the excuse for putting it in spanakopita? With feta -- it wasn't making it vegan. Flavourless meat-textured filler -- why?), all hot dishes ruined by not actually being hot. By the time you make it through the queue, everything's chilled. Still a few edible things, though. The quiche is usually good, but at that temperature...

Also along Table lines: cold dishes are pretty good -- nice selection of salad-y what-not. Green beans nearly raw, though, and a lot of it was too heavily salted. Sushi a bit flavourless. "Greek" salad quite good, and the only way to pile your plate with cheese.

I commend their judicious hand with oil, and the fresh herbs.

More Table similarity: hit-and-miss desserts. Cheesecake had an unfortunate texture. Raspberry pie redolent of fresh raspberries. Real whipped cream.

As for the cafeteria atmosphere -- eh. $25 was neither a lot nor a little for two lunches with dessert. Awfully cramped at lunch, though; tables around us kept being pushed and pulled to accommodate new arrivals.

We went after an appointment at the Civic Hospital, and I couldn't help comparing it to the cafeteria there. Price- and quality-wise, it was worth it -- but it's still cafeteria food.

I am not a fan of this style of eatery.

Paying by weight should be a crime.

It's a friggin buffet! So how is it freshly made to order?

Bland seasoning. Places like this give vegan\vegetarian food a bad rap.

Won't recommend it, won't go back.

It's no wonder that the Boomers love the place. They're retired and have the money to eat there, and their taste buds aren't developed enough to appreciate flavour.

which is better - The Green Door or the Table?

I vote for the Green Door on Main Street. It has been around even before i was born- 1988. The Table is the copycat. I believe The Table started in in the late 90's.

I spoke with the people at the Green Door and I am impressed with their effort to use local, seasonal, and organic vegetables.

Once, I had the opportunity to help out in a fundraising event for Sierra Club, which was held at the Green Door.I had a peek at the kitchen and I noticed all the basic ingredients are of quality like the organic extra virgin olive oil, San-J wheat free tamari (i.e soy sauce), French Sea salt, Umeboshi (Japanese Plum) Vinegar and all organic flour, milled locally.

I shop at health food store for my grocery. If you check out the prices for those ingredients, boy, you would think how do they make money. I use San-J tamari at home and it costs me $6.00 for a 375ml bottle.

They also take pride in making all the food( all hot food, salads, desserts, chai tea, bread etc) from scratch everyday.

My mother is celiac and they have lots of gluten free desserts, main dishes and salads. It is always good to ask the staff because sometimes I can't read all the signs because there are so many of them.

The only thing I don't like about the Green Door is the waiting in line that makes my food cold. But then again, I know there are no cheap fillers!

I love the food at The Green Door, and the overall selection. Regarding the desserts, the Banana Chocolate Chip cake was amazing. It's also a good place to take kids.