Earth Inspired Salads

I am not one to write reviews or complain but I’m hoping the management sees this comment and does something to improve.  This used to be my favorite lunch spot downtown until about a year ago when the menu completely changed.  I kept trying to give it the benefit of the doubt that it would get back to the quality it was before the change, but it hasn’t.  They removed a lot of really good pre-selected options and even some of the individual ingredients/dressings. The group of staff that opened the Alcoa location was incredible but they’ve all since been replaced with unfriendly employees with lack of knowledge of their own menu.

Today’s lunch was really the last straw.  For over $12, I’d expect the bowl to be at least half full.  I got a full grain bowl (no lettuces), which is clearly an option on their menu, and the employee looked at me like I had 3 heads when I requested it.  I also requested raw cabbage and got pickled cabbage, which are completely different tastes.  The picture of the bowl was BEFORE I even stuck a fork into it to eat.  Would you pay $12 for this?

I was about to head into a conference at the Kimpton across the street and needed some lunch first.  My husband and I noticed the sign for pho, one of his favorites, so of course we had to give it a try.  It was pretty good for a fast casual place, although the noodles were not the rice noodles we are accustomed to.  The chicken in the soup really didn’t have any flavor to it either.  It wasn’t bad, but I would probably try something else if I were to go again.  Definitely something more filling than the soup.

While the potatoes are delicious in the breakfast bowls, I have yet to have a good experience here. The food is over priced, my breakfast bowl was $10.43. When I arrived at 9:30 the girl working the front rudely suggested breakfast was done (their sign above the menu states breakfast until 10:30). After checking her phone said, “okay looks like you still have time.” I put in my order and asked to add an avocado on top. She literally tried to cook my fresh half avocado which was an additional $1.50 in with my eggs. I asked her not to cook it and she scrapped it out of the pan and said so what do you want me to do with it? What wasn’t cooked and scrapped out was saved and put on top, seen in the photo. The chopped kale was left whole and while you can see it in the photo..when I pulled it out with my fork, it was just 3 whole leaves. Just very disappointing for the price and the over-all service at this location. Will not visit again.

Ate here several times on a work trip and it was great. Wonderful selection of salad choices as well as a make your own option. I tried nearly all of the menu salads and personally loved the shrimp caesar salad, which I also had as a traditional chicken caesar. The salads are a bit pricey (between $8-12) but the portions are huge and it is downtown near many large office/bank buildings so who can blame them when they are the healthiest food for blocks and they have a line nearly out the door at lunch. I highly recommend coming here for lunch if working/staying downtown. They also are open until 6pm in case you want to grab a quick take back to your hotel dinner.

Wow, is that an expensive salad.  Went into Earth for the first (and probably last) time today.  The cost for a basic salad with lettuce, chicken, cheese and a couple of veggies was $12!  I was floored.  There was nothing special about it, and you have to repeat what you want multiple times to the employees on the assembly line because it is so hard to hear in there.  Quality looks fine, but way over priced.