sweetgreen — Restaurant in Laguna Niguel

Last night, we visited Sweetgreen’s newest location in Laguna Niguel, which has been open for just over a week. As a fan of their fresh, healthy offerings, I was excited to try this new spot, but the experience fell far short of expectations.

Ambiance and Setup

The interior dining room is spacious and inviting, with a modern, open layout and plenty of natural light. The design feels fresh, aligning with Sweetgreen’s brand. However, the atmosphere was marred by dirty tables and overflowing trash receptacles, despite the dining room being empty. It was clear the space hadn’t been maintained during our visit, which set a poor tone.

Ordering Process

The ordering process was a significant letdown. Upon entering, no one greeted us, and there was no staff presence at the counter. Instead, we were directed to use tablets for reviewing the menu, ordering, and paying—reminiscent of a McDonald’s kiosk but without any human interaction. This setup felt impersonal and out of place for a brand like Sweetgreen. The tablet even prompted for a 20% tip, which felt insulting given the complete lack of service or staff engagement. It’s evident this location is heavily geared toward app orders and Doordash deliveries, leaving walk-in customers like us feeling like an afterthought.

Food

We ordered a custom salad and a signature bowl. The food was fresh, but the custom salad lacked flavor, feeling bland despite its vibrant ingredients. The Harvest Bowl was marginally better but still didn’t deliver the bold taste I expect from Sweetgreen. The quality fell short of what I’ve experienced at other locations, which was disappointing given the brand’s reputation.

Service and Operations

The lack of staff interaction was striking. With no one at the counter and minimal presence in the dining area, the restaurant felt understaffed or poorly managed for a walk-in experience. The dirty tables and overflowing trash suggested a lack of attention to basic upkeep, especially surprising for a restaurant only a week old. It seems the focus is on digital orders and delivery, which might work for some but alienates dine-in customers.

Overall Experience

Sweetgreen’s Laguna Niguel location has potential with its spacious, inviting interior, but the execution is severely lacking. The reliance on self-service kiosks, absence of staff engagement, neglected dining area, and lackluster food made the visit feel like a fast-food stop rather than a premium, health-focused dining experience. For a brand known for its community vibe, this felt like a sad state of affairs. I hope they address these opening-week issues, but for now, I’d recommend sticking to their app or visiting...

A Fresh Take on a Classic ​I recently visited the new Sweetgreen location in Laguna Niguel and had a great experience. The restaurant's interior is clean and decorated in a modern, mid-century style, creating a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. ​I ordered the Buffalo Chicken Bowl, which is more like a salad. It was a fantastic combination of fresh and flavorful ingredients, including tender blackened chicken, crisp romaine, shredded kale, and vibrant carrots. The cilantro, pickled onions, and tomatoes added a wonderful punch, while the za'atar breadcrumbs and generous chunks of blue cheese provided a satisfying texture and richness. ​The bowl is dressed with a mix of their Sweetgreen Hot Sauce and a creamy Caesar dressing, which gave it a perfect balance of heat and flavor without being overpowering. If you prefer to control the amount of dressing, you have the option to get it on the side. ​Overall, Sweetgreen delivered a high-quality, delicious, and fresh meal in a pleasant setting. It's a great spot for a healthy and satisfying...

This was our first time at a Sweetgreens. We ordered 2 Harvest bowls and a chicken avocado bowl. They don't have printed menus so I had to scan a QR code to see a menu. I really don't like how automated it is. All of our orders were missing the chicken and my husband's was missing the tortilla chips. I asked what happened to our chicken and was told the system took it off for some reason. They didn't know why. They heated up some chicken and gave it to us. The food was OK but I don't think it was worth the price and hassle. The also have limited drink offerings. No plain ice tea. The tables were dirty and we asked to have it clean. Didn't happen so we ended up using napkins to clean it ourselves. I don't see us...