usually when people go out to eat, it's b/c they want good food and don't feel like cooking at home. so of course i was completely appalled when we went to verbena and were served re-heated frozen french fries and kraft mac and cheese straight out of the box. i posted a picture so you can see i'm not exaggerating. this "restaurant' is serving processed packaged orange powdered "cheese" and trying to pass it off as food! and not only that, they tried to charge $6 for that teeny bowl. i'm pretty sure you can buy a whole box from kroger (you could even splurge and get the name brand) for 1/3 that price.
i am an extremely amateur home chef, and even i have managed to master a tasty mac and cheese recipe made from scratch (i like alton brown's mac and cheese on <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffoodnetwork.com&s=fceb7ee2b7334598c07a158afa80ce55af05deab86cc2e613bfa8f4210a6d09c" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://foodnetwork.com</a>). and there's no excuse for frozen french fries. how hard is it to peel and cut a potato? even fast food chains like in-n-out make their fries from fresh potatoes.
my nephew also had a lipstick stain on his water glass. so unsanitary conditions on top of the disgusting food is just another reason why we'll never come back.
it really is too bad that the food was so terrible. the restaurant itself was bright and tastefully decorated and the waitress was very friendly. but i would still prefer an ugly hole in the wall restaurant w/ a grumpy waiter over this place, so long as they had good food and clean glasses.
I eat at Verbena 2 to 3 times a week. Â I absolutely love it. Â They offer delicious breakfast and lunch menu choices with something for everyone. Â Everything is fresh and many of the recipes are original creations by the experienced restaurant owners. Â Its in their DNA and it shows with their concern for their guest and your overall dining experience. Â
Yes like any business they have an off day, but 99% of the time you'll find the food and service exceptional and a great value too. Â
My recent menu favorite, the Tuna Salad-Salad Is a great example and something I encourage you to experience. Â Yes I am referring to the salad vs the sandwich. Try it...YOU won't be disappointed!!!
A friend and I went to Verbena this week because it was close to where she works. We both ordered the Crispy Chicken Salad and i was hugely disappointed in what was served to us. We got a plate of field greens with 4 or 5 fried chicken tenders, still hot ( I don't care for wilted salad greens myself) and fanned out over the greens accompanied by a sliced hard boiled egg overly sprinkled with paprika. The honey mustard dressing served on the side tasted nice. As the server turned to leave I said "I thought "artisan"bread came with the salads" and he looked at me like I was insane and very sharply said "No", then, "Do you want some?" I said yes, we would. He returned a few minutes later with two thin slices of some grainy bread and one pre-portioned container of butter on a plate. My friend said, "May we have another butter please?" and again we were met with incredulity at the request. Some minutes later, he blessed us with one more container of butter.
The server came by the table only once to refill drinks, he never cleared our plates nor did he ask if we were interested in dessert before he dropped off the check. I only just now looked at my receipt and noticed that I was charged $1.75 for the bread. In most restaurants I've been to, I have always been informed if I request something additional to my meal and there will be a charge. The server never said a word.
For my first visit to this cafe, I am underwhelmed at the food and service and not likely to return.
When I try a new restaurant, I like to try what they consider their house and signature dishes.  So I tried their house Skillet and was wildly disappointed.  Aside from the skillet being only decorative instead of hot, the asparagus was cooked (steamed) on the side leaning towards mush and the hash browns were sopping with oil.  The only good part was the bread, which was well done.  I tried also one of their egg specialties, the Eggs Burrito Olé (which aside from being spelled Ole' on the menu as if it were being done by someone with a typewriter-it wasn't) didn't really speak to the dish at all.  The eggs looked like a substitute-not in and of itself bad-but they weren't seasoned at all.  The pulled pork on this dish was out of place with the rest of the menu and a savory option would have fit both the decor and made it a more coherent statement.  The atmosphere in the cafe was acceptable, even though leaving an open industrial ceiling looks lazy in new construction.  Overall though, I think it failed in it's aspirations.  They'd be best served by learning to use herbs in their preparation, learning and executing proper preparation, and dialing into creating something new, instead of being a simulation of an old feeling.
Review Source:Verbena Cafe is a cute spot way out on the East end of town in Norton Commons. It is only open for breakfast and lunch. This is one of those reviews where I wish Yelp let us give 1/2 stars because it was a solid 3.5, but not a 4.
The atmosphere in the cafe was cute, bright and cozy. But the location is odd and out of the way, and I think the business would do better closer into central Louisville. Norton Commons is currently an incomplete planned community with a couple of store fronts, vacant lots and some matchy-matchy houses. I have to admit these neighbors kind of creep me out, so I was immediately turned off by the atmosphere outside. Inside was much better.
Service was good although a little slow. I opted for breakfast food instead of lunch (although the sandwiches and soups at the tables around me looked yummy). I opted for one of their variations on Eggs Benedict - Ham, Swiss, Parmesan, Poached Eggs and  Hollaindaise on an English Muffin. The Hollandaise sauce was homemade and tasty. Ham and Eggs were excelllent, but the English Muffin was not toasted or grilled as far as I could tell. Under the Hollandaise and Egg yolk it turned to pure mush. Disappointing. Still good, but soggy. The Verbena Browns were good but a little on the undercooked side, and not crispy like I would have expected.
Bathroom doesn't have hooks for a purse and a coat which is always a frustration. Just had to wedge them onto the doorknob.
You pay at the register as you leave. They weren't very busy, only a couple of tables occupied, and the woman who took my check abruptly stopped ringing me up, laid my check down and went to go seat another group coming in the front door. I found that to be rude. Complete the transaction with the customer in front of you.
Overall, it was an A-OK spot, thus the 3 stars. I wouldn't drive out of my way to go there, but I would stop by again if I was already on that end of town.
A new establishment that is simply amazing! Menu offers delicious breakfast fare and a substantial lunch selection. Owners care about you (YOU) as their guests. Greeted and sat by the owner (Mike) and cashed out by his darling co-owner (Laurie). So - five stars - without question for food quality, portion, price and service. Craig did a great job waiting on us. What more can be said? For a harsh food critic, I give these guys a thumbs up - especially for a new concept. Assuming that everything continues to improve over time, this is going to be sure hit. Go now before you can't get a seat!
Review Source:
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