Sa-Tén @ Canopy — Restaurant in Austin

I was excited to visit this spot as I had previously had good experiences here, unfortunately, this visit ruined the allure and my interest in coming back.

The two women behind the counter looked annoyed when I interrupted their conversation by showing up at the counter to order. This typical entitled/disinterested hipster attitude seems somewhat par for the scene but the following condescension was enough to make me grit my teeth while smiling and walking away.

I got my drink and it was fine...but I came for the atmosphere, not the drink to be honest. When I picked up the drink I looked around on the walls and by the bar for a WIFI password but couldn't find it in any of the usual places. I walked to the counter and looked at one of the baristas who was drinking something and held her finger up at me like "hold on..." and to the other one who was on her phone. When I asked if I could have the password they both simultaneously in exasperation pointed to a small placard on the wall next to the counter.

Do you wonder why you have to answer that question so much...? Try making the information 1) larger, and 2) in a more appropriate place (condiment bar, along table or bar)...not somewhere you essentially have to get in line to inquire about/see. That takes up employee and customer time they could otherwise potentially be using productively. When someone walks into a cafe/coffee shop they look at the menu first, not for the WIFI password. I had even looked around initially but it blended in too much with the generic kitschy decor. Ultimately it didn't really matter one I got the password because the WIFI didn't work despite trying multiple solutions and devices.

I'm bummed to say I won't go back and I will not recommend this place to people anymore. Bitchy, lazy employees who act like you are a pain in their side shouldn't be an issue going to study/relax/meet friends. Despite the fact that the prices were average, I didn't pay $5 for some milk and flavor to get treated like I'm in kindergarten. I worked in coffee shops and restaurants for more than a decade...just be friendly, make the best of your time there, and try to create real relationships rather than obliterating your mind with your phone and...

When it comes to coffee shops, it's hard sometimes to find ones that have healthy, fresh, delicious food. Now that may seem self-evident to a lot of people because many go to a coffee shop just for the coffee. But when you're a student, young professional, or creative person who's looking for a place to go work on your laptop for several hours, it can matter with the food options are. And if you're in one of those categories, often you have to choose between pizza, pastries, or, at best, a sandwich in a coffeeshop. Those choices can get tiring very quickly.

Luckily, Sa-Ten has arrived to save us chronic coffeehouse sojourners from mediocre meals. They provide great coffee drinks as well as delicious and healthy Japanese-based cuisine. You can choose options like a yakitori chicken bowl with rice and kale, or curry dishes, rice bowls, or miso grilled chicken. Most of their entrees come with good-sized portions of vegetables on the side that are seasoned and prepared so well that you might enjoy them as much as the meat. I'm a carnivore normally but I have to admit that sometimes I crave their kale more than anything.

And yes, their coffee is great. The only thing that I would say is a negative is that they close by 10 p.m. If you really want to be successful in the coffee shop market in Austin, you should consider staying open later or becoming a 24-hour establishment.

Otherwise, I have no complaints. The staff is always friendly and helpful and the ambience is laid-back and conducive to studying or for having quiet chats. Go check out this quality...

I literally love everything about Sa-Ten. They are one of my go-to places whether its to hang out and catch up with a friend, study, or just grab a bite to eat. Sa-Ten is a really nice and cafe that offers a wide-variety of Japanese inspired dishes. The food there is really good, especially the curry. Sometimes I have to get that a la carte and just eat the curry because its that great! They also offer a pretty wide ranges of drinks from teas, to sodas, to coffees. I don't really like coffee at all, but there Ohaiyou (can't remember how to spell it) signature coffee was actually really good and did its job of keeping me awake. I definitely think that Sa-Ten's menu is a big part of their popularity, but I think another part is just the atmosphere of the place. Sometimes the cafe can get pretty loud, but most of the time its pretty quiet and the talking or music can be filtered out into just some minor background noises. A lot of people study there so it wouldn't be weird to just bust out all your stuff and just get to work. I actually would recommend trying to study there once or so to feel it out and see if you like it. Also, the location is really convenient. They have a parking lot so you don't have to worry about street parking or paying for parking while you are here. It's also an awesome location to take photos if you are going for that Austin/hipster kind of vibe. I've taken some pictures here and they came...