Kiesha S.
Yelp
Let me preface this review by saying the two stars are NOT because of their food. Nazareth Bread has FIVE STAR food. I mean it is deeeelicious! However, my first experience there almost caused me not even to try their food. Here's the tea:
I ordered falafel, spinach pie (their version looks like an egg roll), and a vegan sandwich. OMG, every bite was phenomenal. I am drooling just thinking about the food. The flavors, the sauces, the freshness. Oh, my!!!! There was this one...um...thing, though. After I placed my order, I asked to go to the restroom. I wish I had not done that.
I proceed down this long, dingy hallway and notice the walls are actually dirty. Like legit dirty hand smudges around the doors, the staff come and go out of. I try to stay calm. I reach the end of the hallway, find the restroom and boom. NIGHTMARE. It's disgusting. Two out of the four stalls are out of operation. It's dark and not well-kept. I panic, not knowing what to do since I am disabled and need to use the facilities. I go into "I am everyone woman mode," get soap and water, wash what I need, double wash my hands, and hightale it out of there. I am FREAKED OUT. As I returned to walk down that dingy hall, I realized that the staff using those same gross facilities also cooked my food. OH NO!!!
I am a woman of faith and a firm believer in not judging people, so I try not to let my anxiety take over, and I sit in the dining room and begin to pray. As I was sitting, I began to look around and noticed that NONE of the facilities seemed well-kept. The tables are not cleaned, the booths are cracking and unkept, and so much seems disheveled. Had I let the Yelp! Review and allure of this place blind me? What to do? My ticket gets brought to me with a smile as I ponder, and I am startled. I sit there, pray over my take-out order, and open the boxes. The food looks and smells, again, delicious. I make a bold decision to try the food. As I leave, a line of customers is almost out the door (it's around 5ish now). I asked a few customers how they liked the food. Everyone raves; some say they've been coming for years. That gives me some hope I will not suffer a fate like food poisoning. Regardless, I can not shake the visions of the hall, doors, and bathroom. I hurried along, and the customers were correct. When I got home to eat my meal, everything was scrumptious. However, I haven't gone back because, well, those visions.
I hope the owners of the establishment read this review and do something about their facilities because there are people like me who will not be returning, regardless of how good the food is, if cooked in what I feel are unsanitary conditions.