• “The food is usually very good, especially considering that it is student-run and the staff changes annually.” in 12 reviews

  • “My friend frequents this establishment often and really enjoys their Eco bowls and other vegan baked goods.” in 3 reviews

  • “Vegetarian breakfasts and lunches are served here along with coffee and pastries.” in 5 reviews

    Good For: Breakfast

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  • Start your review of Food For Thought Cafe.

    Rating
    • Eek! Methinks not.
    • Meh. I've experienced better.
    • A-OK.
    • Yay! I'm a fan.
    • Woohoo! As good as it gets!

    Select your rating.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/13/2014

    Great cafe with lots of vegetarian/vegan options! Their day old baked goods are just as good for being day old. Tried their lavender lemon macaroons and OMG so moist (day olds)!

    Their coffee is ok, not the best, but for the price you're getting, it's good enough. They have other dishes that I'd love to try. My friend frequents this establishment often and really enjoys their Eco bowls and other vegan baked goods. Their chai latte is also pretty yummy.

    They accept card, but there's a $2.50 minimum, which is not that hard to meet.

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/7/2013
    1 check-in

    I think I was expecting too much.

    I bet FFTC s awesome for PSU students. Heck, I wish my undergrad had a place like this.

    But for me, from across town, there are many spots I would pick from over this one that have (which FFTC did not) easy parking, little to no line, tasty food, and a window I can look through, for the same $10 I spent.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/8/2014

    I have mixed feelings about this place.

    Pros: They have the cheapest d*mn lattes ever! They don't charge you for milk alternatives. I can have a hazelnut milk latte for the same price as a regular latte. Yes! Their food is pretty good and it's a veggie safe space. Also there is a lot of room for studying.

    Cons: My mixed feelings come from how rude the staff can be. There is definitely an 'in-crowd'. I guess somebody forgot to tell them this isn't high school. How you are treated definitely depends on whether or not you look like them and are their 'besties' or something. Sorry I don't fit your description of awesome. I'm just trying to get my coffee and some food. I don't need to be over looked or talked to in a monotone voice only to find that you're super peppy, kind and helpful to some hipster kid behind me. Rude, much?

    All in all, I like the coffee and the food enough to keep going there. I figure if I continue being nice they'll treat me nice someday.

  • 1.0 star rating
    3/31/2014

    I'm pretty sure none of the employees have ever taken a shower, or even know what one is, but they're the only place on campus with vegan cream cheese so I'm forced to look at dirty people doing food prep. Icky.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/18/2013

    Love it here, the food and coffee is outstanding. I am an alumni and always try to bring my friends here for a laid back sustainable meal. We are never disappointed.

    Only down side is try not to come close to lunch/breakfast time mad rush of students and lines. Other is parking, so take your time to take the trolley from the square up or bus, otherwise be prepared to pay to park if you can find a spot!

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/3/2013

    If PSU were high school, food for thought would be the cool kids table. This place is really awesome in theory, a student run collective with a very friendly menu for our friends with food intolerances. However, I have found that it is extremely hit or miss. One day the staff will be on point and the food will be so delicious and creative. The next day the counterperson ignores you for eternities (all the while chatting up their bestie  (who also works there) and blasting shitty music) only to tell you twenty minutes after you order that they are "completely out of everything." A lot of the time the food tastes like it has been cooked three or four times already, especially the homies. No, those potatoes are not your friends! But inevitably, being a poor vegetarian coffeeholic, I keep coming back.

  • 1.0 star rating
    11/14/2012

    I understand that when showing up within the first few minutes of opening that some things won't be ready, but almost every time I'm in there their home fries aren't ready, their coffee isn't ready, they don't have the change to break a ten (not a twenty! Not a fifty! Just a ten should be easy right?)... To me it seems like if you're ready to be open you should have everything you sell at least mostly ready!

    Abysmal service 90%  of the time. Today I ordered eggs and toast (cuz there were no home fries), waited fifteen minutes, then I watched my eggs sit on the counter for five minutes after kitchen called order up because the guy at the counter was too busy making himself an espresso. Only after the order after mine came up did he notice the food and then set it on the counter and mumbled my name and walked away. I ate my lukewarm over medium congealed eggs in silent sadness because I didn't have time to wait for a new batch nor didn't want to disturb the counter guy from his angsty wall-slouching...

    Tried saying thank you on the way out, got stared at and ignored because texting is more important than customer service.

    Only saving grace is $1 really good coffee. I actually like Trailhead better than stumptown now (apparently blasphemous but hey). Really good coffee. Only reason i keep coming back here. Cheap breakfast that if you get it when it's still hot is pretty good.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/25/2011
    1 check-in

    Healthy cheap food? Um... yeah. I can get down with that.

    Food For Thought Cafe sits in the basement of the SMU hall at PSU. Serving up hippie food to the alterna-students, FFTC is the hip and healthy kids' alternative to the chain food upstairs on the main floor. The food down here with its wholesome ingredients, conscious composition and green message is much more likely to appeal to a specific demographic, and that's obviously they crowd you'll be hanging with when you dine here.

    Word has it that this is actually a student club that may be in part subsidized by the University. But if that means creative and innovative vegan and vegetarian food made in-house and served up fresh and hot for prices in the $3-$7 range, then that's okey dokey with me. The food I sampled was filling and... well, kinda bland, but it was a decent amount for a cheap price, which is something I would be totally enamored with were I still a starving student. Matt D's dish of 2 tacos was ginormous and it looked downright delicious (which he confirmed it was), so I'm guessing that there's more to this place than the bean and rice bowl I had. Oh, and my cup of tomato/coconut bisque was damn good.

    I give PSU props for supporting this endeavor and the students get some love for rising to the occasion. This is definitely a place I'll stop in again to try some more of this good stuff.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/28/2011
    3 check-ins ROTD 7/25/2011

    I go here almost every other day. This is a student run cafe in the basement of one of PSU's buildings. It would be kind of weird if you went here and weren't a student, but luckily I am and I would probably still swing by even after I graduate (yeah, one of those awesomely creepy peeps).

    Food Food For Thought has the most creative vegan pastries. Here are some of the pastries I've had:

    lavender raspberry tea cake
    peanut butter blondie with cinnamon frosting
    earl grey scone
    carrot cream cheese muffin
    pizza scone
    chai bran muffin

    You never know what they will have. It's always a surprise.

    I am addicted to their salads as well. The $4 large salad with lemon tahini dressing, usually sprinkled with a heavy hand of almond/hazelnuts and cranberries/golden raisins is insanely addicting. I can't say enough good things about this place! In terms of ambiance, there are community tables, a piano (often being played by some badass) and rotating art gallery of PSU students work.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/6/2014

    My boyfriend and I go here several times a week and hope to go here even after we've left psu. They always have something new and tasty for a good price :) And they're soups are awesome.

  • 1.0 star rating
    7/25/2012

    There was a live Maggot in my sandwich...

        I've been in here a few times to study and eat, and yesterday I ordered the buffalo tofu sandwich (Tofu, Lettuce, Carrots, Cucumbers, and Tomatoes with Cashew Cream).  The sandwich itself was really tasty, but with a full bite in my mouth I looked down only to see a little maggot inching its way through my food. Not a satisfying site to say the least.

        I told the girl behind the counter and she apologized, but no refund was offered. In my opinion, if you find a creepy crawly that eats rotting things in your food then you should be issued a refund.  

        I have worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years and have even worked in a place that had a lot of flies hanging around, and I have never seen maggots in food. Maggots=rotten protein or produce, which is never a good thing to be eating.  Despite that, my sandwich looked fresh, so I am not sure what the issue is, perhaps the produce just needs to be washed more diligently.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/18/2010
    24 check-ins

    I spend ludicrous amounts of time at Food for Thought.  I'm a big fan of kinda crappy basements and the whole post-apocalyptic business model, but that's why I find certain places equally aggravating and fitting.  Best thing about Food for Thought is the total cheapness.  Where are you getting 2 giant pancakes for $2.50 downtown??  seriously, if you find anywhere else, Let me know.

    Coffee is Stumptown and good, they're super vegan friendly, and some pretty awesome people.  Plus, I love the piano and all the lovely humans who give it regular use.  Usually to cafe-wide applause at the finish.

    Yeah, they really don't care if you bring your own food either, just hang out, it's joyous.  They have some computers, too, if you didn't bring your own.

    Their hours make me want to punch a kitten.  Average day isn't too bad, usually 8 to 6 or so, but weird pseudo-hours on fridays and closed saturday through sunday ( and I have a big problem with weekend closers....). They get crazy wonky in the summer, too.  I just can't understand how the abundant, bored PSU business majors haven't stepped in on the running of some of their stuff.

    Rehash:
    ~ CHEAP! and Tasty
    ~ Piano!
    ~ Good coffee!
    ~ Computers for those in need
    ~ Trademark Co-op sucky hours

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/21/2012

    I'm so glad there's at least one place on or near campus where I can get a healthy, delicious meal. The eco bowls are almost always delicious, and as a broke student I'm always especially glad to see a $3.50 lunch option that won't leave me still starving. Since they're on campus and connected to the university, they don't mind people taking over a table for 4 hours to do homework/group projects. I wish they had more hours, maybe a dinner option, but they're primarily a coffee shop, so it is what it is.

    The vegan pastries are consistently delicious. I often spend 5 minutes trying to decide which one to get, and when they were without an oven for 6 months this year I really missed them. I especially love the blueberry cornbread muffins, they're delicious.  

    Always a good loose-leaf, self serve tea selection. The earl grey and jasmine green are my standards, but I've been meaning to branch out and try some other options. I appreciate the hippie vibe and the compostable everything.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/24/2011 Updated review
    5 check-ins
    Listed in Vegan Portland, Coffee

    Every vegan baked good I have had from here is delicious, even the ones i dont think are going to be that good!  
    I have had brownies,
    a peanut butter cookie,
    a chocolate cookie filled with peanut butter (described by non-vegan classmates as "everything you wish a reese's was...") ,
    an almond rosewater cookie (rosewater... ewwwww!  but not this cookie!) an oatmeal raisin cookie (which I am usually not a fan of),
    and I am sure something else.

    4.0 star rating
    11/29/2010 Previous review
    Disclaimer: the only things I have consumed here baked goods and coffee.

    With my first quarter…
    Read more
  • 5.0 star rating
    5/9/2011
    2 check-ins
    Listed in Downtown

    I took me two whole years of study at PSU before I found one of the best food spots on campus, and I really wish that I had found it sooner!

    Food For Thought is one of Portland's best kept vegan/vegetarian secrets. It's very easy to miss the place as it's located in the basement of Smith Center, but you'll never want to leave once you do find it.

    The menu at FFT changes every single day depending on the seasonality of ingredients and moods of the chefs. They do have the eco bowl (lentils on rice/quinoa) every single day, though. Some of the more popular items, like their vegan reuben, will make random returns to the menu.

    The other wonderful thing about this place is how cheap it is! Most of the food ranges from $3-6 for an enormous portion of hearty, healthy food. I'm pretty sure the university helps to subsidize the cost of their ingredients because I don't understand how they can maintain this price point.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/26/2011

    My business teacher and I have a dispute over this place.  She thinks it's a waste of student money, a tragedy which students are supporting.

    I think that's bunk, it's the healthiest available meal on campus and has a low enough marginal cost per meal that their customers can afford to eat there.

    I go in regularly, and there's a fantastic variety of available meals, each of which is far healthier than I would eat on my own.  Sure, I don't get my daily helpings of salt, sugar, and complex carbohydrates, but I get a tasty, healthy (and sometimes sizable) lunch for less than eight bucks; even the health-food-oriented food cart (singular) within six blocks can't compete with that.

  • 1.0 star rating
    11/30/2012

    The food is vegetarian and whole foods based. I want to give a better review since I worked there but I just can't. Not being bitter, only being honest. If I could erase this review I would.

  • 2.0 star rating
    3/10/2011

    Food for Thought.... where to start. This place is terrible. They, however, have a monopoly on decent beans on campus. Unless you want Starbucks or Portland Roasting, you are pretty much doomed to come
    here. The food is awful and the service is absolutely terrible.

    It gets one star for having Stumptown, and one star for being a minute away from my 8 a.m. class. Next term it might go down to just one.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/13/2010

    Having FFT right down the hall from my office is kind of like having stoned roommate that fancies themselves a cook.

    The place is crazy unorganized and probably a terrible abuse of my tuition money, and the staff is mainly there to hang out but doesn't mind serving the occassional scone or bowl of whatever grain and protein combo they have that day.

    The food is nothing you can't make at home, and it's not really anything special. Sometimes they do crazy things like put raisins on a salad. But where else on campus can I get a decent sized portion of black beans and brown rice with a variety of hot sauces to dress it up, and high quality loose leaf teas and agave (I like to pretend agave is the syrup form of tequila) to put in it for under $5? No where. Definitely not upstairs from any of the PSU sponsered Aramark vendors. And if I can get an A for my senior capstone for simply writing a 2 page book report, FFT can get 4 stars for that.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/16/2008

    One would think that with the universally known epithet "broke college student," there would be numerous places around Portland State with cheap food options.  And one would be wrong.  

    From the $7 burritos at Chipotle in the Broadway dorms, to the over-priced Aramark cafetorium in the Smith Student Union, for those that live on campus in kitchenless dorms, eating 3 square meals comes out to about $15-$21-at least- each day.  Unless you want to throw health to the winds and live off of dollar menus and Hot Pockets during your university career, your low-cost food options are few and far between.

    Enter Food For Thought, the student-run vegetarian food co-op.  FFT serves up delicious, filling, and HEALTHY foods, many items for under $5, to students who find their way to the basement of the Smith building.  

    The GOOD:
    *Awesome drip coffee priced at $1 if you bring in your own mug
    *Really good brownies that are pretty much impossible to finish in one go.
    *Yummy breakfast foods

    The NOT-SO-GOOD:
    **Someone please, please, please get these kids some practice at steaming milk.  Every latte I've ever had here has been flat and foamless and somehow even though I always get them unflavored, I can never taste the coffee in them.  Aside from the Starbucks also in Smith, FFT's lattes are the worst I've had in Portland.
    **Also, mac'n'cheese? Should not have the consistency of oiled noodles, and it should also ideally actually TASTE like something.

    For the newly initiated, the vibe here is very relaxed and self-service.  If you've got exact change for your coffee, you can skip the long line at the cash register and drop your buck into the cash pot and help yourself.  You can also use their toaster bar to get your bagel just the way you like it before slathering it with jam or cream cheese.  

    The dining area is spacious and somehow cozy at the same time - a great place to study before class or write some inspired bad poetry or meet up with friends.  My only gripe is that they close at 2:30pm on Fridays and are not open on weekends.

    (Edit: see Zosia's post for hours they are open during the scholastic year; during the summer they have a sign on their door saying they are open outside, but I have no idea what their hours are going to be).

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/24/2010
    2 check-ins
    Listed in $1 coffee list!!!

    It's good.  I usually start my morning with a yogurt parfait before class.  They have good veg and vegan options (if you're into that sort of thing) and a simple rotating menu.

    The problem is that the food is very inconsistent.  I have had really great dishes here, but too often am I disappointed by undercooked starchy noodles, or just straight up cold food.  The salads are always a safe bet, as well as the soups.  Everything is very affordable too.

    DING DING DING.... $1 stumptown coffee!!!1!!11! I will always go for a $1 cup of coffee, and this is stumptown.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/26/2010

    -cheap coffee

    -great pastries that are actually worth their money and filling

    -a place i can go to chill out....i can even bring my own food and no one cares.

    -lots of weird/cool/informational pamplets and flyers to stare at and stand in front of in the coffee line while i piss off some poor sap trying to get to the half & half.

    -student art on the walls = giant plus

    -lots and lots and lots of conversations to overhear and keep you alert while you pretend to write a paper

    -my latte was cold....but then again ive only ordered one one time there.

    -a staff composed of both hard hard hard working people obviously juggling long hours + work....and an occasional person who seems to resent having a job and resent you ordering anything as well

    -familiarity...they don hire anyone else but their friends...but .....whatever...what place in portland doesnt.

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/27/2010

    The last time I ate here I ordered scrambled eggs with potatoes. They were swimming in a pool of water. People talk about the cheap prices being a plus and yes $3.50 is cheap for breakfast, but you are getting a small serving.  They are providing a good alternative to eating in the campus cafeteria but the service and quality is not good.

    I could not figure out why my food was sitting in pool of water. Where does water even come in, when making eggs or potatoes?  It grossed me out but I ate them anyway because I needed the energy for studying.
    This was not a solo experience, every time I go, there is something off with the cafe or its food.
    The coffee does not taste good either, due to the fact that it is sitting in that aluminum container.
    I keep telling myself not to go back.

  • 2.0 star rating
    12/5/2012

    I do not want to give this place a bad review, but they are very disorganized and not following their own mission. I recently inquired about their dairy only to find out it is "Dairygold". I was also met with a bit of hostility. They have been using this dairy for at least a year and I do not know if that will change. I wonder what other foods are purchased without thought? I felt duped and so should you if you are really trying to make a conscious decision with your dietary habits. I will not be returning unless/if this changes.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/11/2009

    This place is a life saver for anyone looking for decent, healthy, inexpensive food near PSU. The food is usually very good, especially considering that it is student-run and the staff changes annually. I liked it better when they had Gabrielle's bagels, but hey, you can't ask for everything. They use sustainable to-go packaging, a plus, and compost their waste.

    The wi-fi is free, but for registered PSU users only.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/27/2010
    Listed in Good for Groups

    It's in the basement but it has lots of tables, couches. Usually student art displayed. I love the yogurt parfait and their lattes are huge if you don't get them to go! Great food at a reasonable price. The only reason I put 4 stars was when I was a student, it was quite busy, and the staff just seemed a bit overwhelmed. Also pretty down to earth, you get your own silverware and bus your own table!
    For good-for-you food it was excellent!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/20/2009

    When I first went vegan, I was a 17-year old kid living in Idaho. I hung out with some punk rock kids and we would use our two vegan cookbooks and a lot of creativity and whip up some vegan grub and be so proud of ourselves. The food we came up with reminds me of the food at Food For Thought. That is to say, it is often delicious, sometimes puzzling, but always charming. And also, it's $5 for lunch, so when it's not that great, I still won't complain.

    The menu varies every day-- I've heard that the staff comes up with it on the spot when they get there in the morning-- so you never really know what you're going to get. I've had jerk tostadas, Middle Eastern plates, chunks of tofu floating in a bowl of peanut sauce...I've never had anything inedible though sometimes it's a little questionable. However, I honestly think that's part of its charm. Plus it's a roomy place, great for doing homework or hanging out with friends, and they serve Stumptown Coffee, even though somehow they manage to completely ruin the lattes about 50% of the time.

  • 1.0 star rating
    6/3/2011

    The food does not taste good. Also, it's very hot and stuffy. Furthermore, there is little to no cellphone reception down there. I do enjoy watching Hipsters eat though.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/10/2012
    2 check-ins

    I am a student at PSU so it was easy to come here on my way to class when I forgot to make my lunch. The food is pretty good actually I was impressed considering it is vegetarian and vegan. I am a true meat eater and I thought it was still quite satisfying. The only bummer about this place and it's definitely not everyone who works there, but some of the staff aren't too friendly and it could have been just a bad day for them who knows.

  • 2.0 star rating
    2/5/2009

    We came here for a lunch date, since he had had good experiences at FFT in the past, and I loved the idea of a student-run place with a you-get-what-we-cook-you menu.

    We ordered one each of the lunch plates, both vegetarian (or vegan? I eat meat and didn't pay attention to that detail) - he got the Pasta and I the Couscous, both with side salads. Neither were anything special. I could've made the exact same meal at home, and probably for cheaper. (Sidenote: I DO rejoice at getting a whole meal for $5, but bulk couscous is ridiculously cheap, and there were hardly any vegetables mixed in.)

    He mentioned that last time he came the portions were cheaper, there was more food on the plate, the room had a lot more tables in it, and music (of which yesterday there was none) was playing.

    I'm sad to say that, "Meh. I've experienced better." is exactly how I felt when I walked out. I really like the concept, the atmosphere was awesome (despite being underground), and everyone who worked there was genuinely friendly. Plus, I don't drink coffee, but I heard they offer Stumptown cheaper than anywhere else. Maybe some combination of the economy, a bad manager, or just a plain old off-day for the chefs contributed to my reaction.

    I'm going to try it again. It's got so much potential that I can't let one experience write the whole place off.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/2/2007
    First to Review

    For Portland State students, this coffee shop and cafe is the place to get coffee, use the computers, or study.

    Food For Thought is student-founded and operated and is a project in sustainability.  Food is bought locally and prepared vegan or vegetarian.  Students work or volunteer here to keep it afloat and it is well patronized by the campus.  

    Vegetarian breakfasts and lunches are served here along with coffee and pastries.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/8/2008

    I have become a complete groupie of this place. They have the cheapest Stumptown Coffee in Portland while also featuring some really good hardy meals.

    I have never gone wrong with their soup of the day and also highly recommend their salads, which are loaded with walnuts, dried cranberries and feta (if you are not vegan).  The soup of the day also comes with some sort of bisquit/bread/cornbread/pita that is also freshly made and compliments the soup nicely.

    The wait for coffee may be long, but it's Stumptown for a dollar!

    I am a huge fan of the joint's philosophy and though sometimes the music is pretty bad, when eating cheap, organic and sustainably, it is  hard to be put the mood to complain.

  • 2.0 star rating
    2/28/2010

    I keep coming here because of convenience. The baked goods leave something to be desired and the service for the most part is not too friendly. The only saving grace of this place is the cheap and sometimes good coffee, as well as the free pancakes I received one morning, which were pretty tasty.  Other than that, I feel like there are much better places to spend my money, but when I'm skipping class, it's easier just to head down to the Smith basement then across town for some coffee and some munchies.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/17/2009

    i used to eat here a few times a week when i lived in ondine and i was usually very pleased. :)

    i LOVE the salads! both the tahini dressing and balsamic dressings are awesome. go for the tahini if you're looking for something a bit more creamy. i really wish i had their recipes for the dressings. the salads are always a little different with the kinds of lettuce and nuts they use and sometimes they run out of feta but whatevs.

    oh, and a great place to study!

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/17/2010

    oh how i miss this place! best pancakes, best specials, best borscht soup! i really enjoyed taking naps in their couches and striking up random conversations with people.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/21/2011

    this place is so amazing :) I don't even have words for how grateful I am that they are there! xo

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