Phat Bites Cafe and Coffee Shop

My 2nd visit to Phat Bites today. I'm confused and disappointed. Knowing that Phat Bites is owned by the same owner of Ellendales, I just can't square the two. This place is really a dive. The menu has some pretty ambitious things on there - maybe too ambitions. Perhaps a few less items done really well would be better. It seems to attract a business lunch crowd, but immediately when you walk in the door you are hit in the face with 2 extra large open trash cans that are (from what I've heard and experienced) fulll and overflowing. It's gross! None of the workers seemed to even think a thing about it.\r \r The food is ok. Somehow, I expected a slight level of sophistication based on the owner, but when I reviewed the ingredients in the greek wrap - the dressing was ranch - not the typical cucumber yogurt. I had the 3 salad plate and only one was very good at all. It all seems to be an afterthought - not a sense of excellence like Ellendales.\r \r The service is slack - very slack. \r \r Bottom line: This place could be really good with a few tweaks and a little more attention to detail. It's all very confusing..... Pros: Cucumber Lemonade - Yum! Cons: Large trash cans overflowing in front of you while you eat more

If you find yourself hungry in Donelson around lunch time - try Phat Bites. You won't be disappointed. My faves so far are the honey almond chicken salad, cranberry barley, and the spicy humus. Ummmmmm! Pros: convenient to airport, fresh food, Cons: no table service, closes early (3pm) more

I was dismayed to read the rather harsh reviews listed here. I find that Phat Bites offers a perfect alternative to the unhealthy, hectic fast-food atmosphere so prevalent in this area. Where else can one enjoy a refreshing salad with strawberries and crumbled blue cheese, or a side of spicy sesame noodles with your quiche? The staff is comprised of friendly, creative young people who have taken the time to know me and my favorite selections. The wait can be long sometimes, but it's worth it. Bring a book or a friend and the time passes quickly. Pros: Excellent salads, fun staff Cons: No glass-bottled drinks more

THE FOOD IS ABSOLUTELY FRESH, UNIQUE AND DELICIOUS. THE SERVICE IS AWESOME. IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE REALLY FRESH FOOD YOU MUST COME BY. SINCE JULIE IS THERE EVERYDAY TO CHECK IN THE SERVICE IS WONDERFUL. Pros: EVERYTHING IS ABSOLUTELY FRESH. more

THIS PLACE IS GREAT!!! JULIE IS WONDERFUL AND THE FOOD IS HOMEMADE AND NOT DEEP FRIED OR YOUR TYPICAL FAST FOOD JOINT. IF YOU LIKE FRESH HEALTHY FOOD YOU'LL WANT TO TRY THIS OUT........LIKE THE ""FUNKY"" DECOR. Pros: FRESH HOMEMADE FOOD more

I'M NOT SURE IF WE ARE ALL TAKING ABOUT THE SAME PLACE BECAUSE THE PHAT BITES I WENT TO WAS EXCELLENT!!!! AND THE PLACE WAS PACKED, SO IF IT WAS THAT BAD THAN YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE SO BUSY, RIGHT??? YOU ALL MUST BE LOSING YOUR MIND! ANYWAY, THIS PLACE IS DELICIOUS!! IF YOU HAVEN'T GONE THERE, YOU MUST! IT'S A FRIENDLY COMFORTABLE ATMOSPHERE. GO THERE TODAY!! Pros: LOTS OF CHOICES, EXCELLENT SALADS AND SIDES more

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE BELOW ARE SMOKING, BUT I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!! THE FOOD IS DELICIOUS AND THERE IS SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM. EVERYONE MUST TRY IT!!!! Pros: LOTS TO CHOOSE FROM more

My wife and I have supported Phat Bites and the owners full service restaurant, Ellendale's, since they opened. Ellendale's has gotten better and better, while Phat Bites should just close the doors. A posted health dept. rating of 79 says it all. We were among 6 customers who were at Phat Bites around noon today only to find one person running the shop. We were told the other employee had run across the street to get lunch at a local barbeque joint. Leaving one person behind the counter at LUNCHTIME is bad business. Getting take out from another restaurant pretty much says it all. They don't even eat there.\r When Phat Bites opened, the choice of salads was 2nd to none. Quality food and even the presentation in the refrigerated display was first class. Now the salads were minimal and sitting in a mishmash of containers. Let's don't forget the place was dirty too.\r It took forever to get our order and my wife's order was wrong and had to be corrected. It was still wrong, but ate it anyway. As much as we like the owners and want them to be successful, we won't return here again. I'm truly hoping they don't own it anymore, which might explain why it's gotten so bad. If they do still own it, they need to drop by and straighten things out or lock the doors. Cons: Dirty, bad service and the food was sub-standard more

I was at Phat Bites just today. This place is nasty, unclean and unfriendly. It?s almost like the new employees there don?t want any business. This is the 3rd time in the past 2 months I?ve been there and I have never even been acknowledged by a certain bleached-blonde, tatted up 20?s-something girl behind the counter who looks at me with rolled eyes like I?m a nuisance for walking in and interrupting her 6 hour break. BTW, I don?t know their hours from way back in Phat Bite days of yore, but they close at 3PM now on weekdays, not 8PM as listed. I show up no later than 1:30pm when I visit and I get looks like I?m so rude for keeping them from closing shop early. My 1st visit there, which was at the beginning of this year, I had a broccoli salad and it was rotten?literally?not kept at proper temperatures. Every single time I?ve been there, they tell me they?re ?out of coffee? or out of something I?ve ordered. Then I ask for something else each time, and so far 3 employees, each on separate occasions, have told me they have no idea how to make my 2nd choice. Oh, and apparently they rig the internet so you can?t access it after 1:30 or so. And I still tip 30% for some reason. Oh, and I tried to leave today at 2:40pm and I had been locked in. The doors were apparently locked 30 minutes prior to closing. When the older lady (40 to 50-ish) let me out, I politely asked what time they close, knowing full and well the answer is ?3pm? and it was only 2:40. Donelson is in dire need of a decent coffee shop, at the least; it is clear Phat Bites isn?t it and has no intention of trying to be it. Pros: If you're a masochist who likes being treated like garbage and served spoiled food, go to Phat Bites! Cons: spoiled food, lousy service, filthy restaurant, rude employees, no internet, bad vibes more

The service was bad, the food was way over priced for what you get.\r Employees have no dress code, the young man preparing food had he pants hanging down off his butt. Very Disgusting! \r The cashier look like a tattoo freak with purple hair.\r I recommend avoiding the place.\r Trashy out side and inside. Cons: Trashy more

My lunch came to $7.10 I gave the cashier $20.25 he did not offer to refund my change. I stood at the counter until I could regain his attention. I told him sice he did not have change for a quarter I would exchane it for a dine. I almost told the guy the country is in a resession give me my change.....The sesame seed noodles are usually hot and quite tastie. WARNING!!! get a tast before you buy. I am through with them 2 bad experiences. This ain't no ball game with 3 Strikes..... more

Phat Bites has always had amazing food, but the service has suffered here and there. The owner is back to running the place herself and has improved the flow of service. I ordered and got my food in 5 minutes, and that was during lunch hour. The Ninja Bomb is INCREDIBLE!!! It is the BEST wrap I've eaten anywhere. Pros: FOOD is fantastic Cons: seating more

Excellent quiche and iscertainly worth the wait in line. The staff seems unconcerned and uninterested in helping you with selections. They make you feel dumb when you ask questions about a specific dish. It would be nice if they would put labels next to each dish with the ingredients then you would not have to ask the staff. I haven't been in over a year, but as I see it nothing has changed the food nor the service. Cons: parking more

The food is very good, but the whole time I was there I wondered where the owner was, or the manager.\r The resturant was dirty and the kitchen area was a mess as well. The staff that was serving the customers acted dazed and uneducated about what dishes they had that day, what quiches they had and if they even had muffins for the day. I have been waiting to go to this cafe for almost a year and I drove about 30 minutes to try out the famous Phat Bites. Like I said, the food is good, but whoever is running that place needs to manage the staff correctly and keep the cafe queaky clean. more

This place has a huge menu. The food is outstanding, but the experince to get your food leaves so much to be desired. more

I have been visiting Phat Bites for lunch for about the past 3 or 4 years. It used to be a normal thing to wait 20+ minutes for my order but lately it has been much more organized. The staff turnover was crazy but they seem to be making it work now. The salads are fresher, the service is quicker and friendlier, and they are winning back my loyalty. Many days I have seen the owner working the line right along with her employees. Lately I've been stopping in for breakfast and coffee in the morning. It's great alternative to Starbuck's or McDonald's. They also had free wi-fi which was an awesome bonus. I'd give it two thumbs up. Pros: Yummy unique food, Portland Brew coffee Cons: A little crowded more

I used to love this place, but lately it has been a hassle. the food is great and not too bad of a price. very busy at lunch time. They have different ""holiday hours"" so it is hard to know when they are open (holiday hours still in effect at the end of jan...) and they are suposed to close at 3 on sat, but a few times they have closed around 1,so when i tired to go there for lunch it was too late. that was very frustrating. i went last week and they were out of hummus, not sure how you let yourself run out of the big tub of it. so my husband and i left and went somewhere else for lunch. they are also closed on sunday. i will call every time before i go there now to make sure they are open and that they have the hummus i can eat.\r \r staff is usually friendly and the building is very cool looking inside and out. more

It is a shame that there is not another place like this in Donelson (the food is good, but DO NOT risk the discounted salads! I had purchased a bean salad only to get home hungry and realize that it had obviously expired). Although normally the food is quite tasty, I will not dine there during lunch hours. The older gentleman with short black hair is rude and extremely snobby. He never smiles, and he talks down his nose to everyone. He obviously cannot handle the stress and does not enjoy the job he chose, which makes the lunch experience rather grim. The night shift is a different ballgame, they have always been very polite, friendly, much more organized, and much faster service. And most importantly, they smile. Although that may seem like an insignificant comment, it does matter to me. I like to feel like they want my business, and want me to come back. They don't close until 8:30, so there is plenty of time. The daytime staff has potential: most employees are kind but very unorganized. If you must go for lunch, order over the phone, and get it to go. Pros: Delicious and healthy food. Cons: Lunch should be avoided. more

Phat Bites does it right when it come to fresh salads, sandwiches and soups (cannot get enough of the tomato basil). Quaint little place off of Donelson does not look like much (a paint job may be in order) but the inside more than makes up for it. Pros: Great choice of salads Cons: Cramped (which also means popular) more

Phat Bites has some of the more interesting lunch options in Nashville and lots of vegetarian options. You order out of a cold case and they have a great variety of salads and quiches, but there are sandwhich and hot options as well. My favorites are the Strawberry Fields salad, their garlic hummous, their pesto pasta salad, and their spicy Thai noodles. Everything seems fresh and of good quality. Although it's an order-at-the-counter place, the staff provides some table service and is overall friendly and helpful. Pros: Food quality, Food variety, Ecclectic atmosphere Cons: Crowded at lunch, Parking challenges, Congested area more