Haven Bodega — Restaurant in Lilburn

I went to Haven Bodega after driving past numerous times. After looking through the menu, I decided to try it out. It was the early afternoon and pretty quiet when I walked in, with about three other customers in the store. There was no greeting when I walked in, which would be fine if that was the standard for every customer-I quickly learned that it was not. I wandered about a bit and walked to the back deli, where I was greeting politely by the man behind the deli counter. He was very nice and took my order. When I went to the front counter to pay, the person at the front counter was muted and neutral, which, again, would be fine if that was the standard for everyone who came in. It wasn't. I sat down and ate my VERY DELICIOUS sandwich. In the time I sat down to eat and stood up to leave, I observed numerous people who came through the store and were given a completely different customer experience. The different experience I witnessed included the following- warm and enthusiastic welcomes from the front cashier and the owner/manager (I couldn't pinpoint his role) almost immediately after walking in, an offer of a tour, and engagement in friendly conversation from the manager/owner. It was bizarre. The only other customers who had an experience similar to mine looked around and left without buying anything after two minutes. The similarity between myself and the couple was that we are all black people. It was disheartening leaving because it felt like no one wanted me in there. I have rarely felt like this in Lilburn. For now, I won't be coming back anytime soon; why would I voluntarily subject myself to such treatment from a business? But do you want to know the worst part? I had probably one of the best sandwiches of my life at Haven Bodega. Fresh and delicious ingredients making for a wonderful lunch. I want small businesses to thrive within this community and with the products they provide they definitely might. I wish I could bring friends and family but I don't know if we would be be treated well. Overall, it seems that Haven Bodega has a specific type of customer in mind. If you don't fit into it, they will...

If I could recommend this coffee shop to everyone in the world, I would—without hesitation! It’s truly one of the most unique and memorable experiences I’ve ever had. The drinks are incredible, the food is delicious, and the bodega is a hidden gem, stocked with locally made foods and condiments you won’t find anywhere else. This time, we picked up a loaf of sourdough bread and some spicy pickles—both were absolutely amazing.

Last Sunday, my sisters and I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, who shared the heartfelt vision behind the space. He created the bodega as a community hub where customers can connect with his team and with each other. After placing our order, we sat down and watched that vision come to life. The shop was filled with families, couples, and individuals, all interacting warmly—not just with their own groups, but with us, too. The energy was beautiful and welcoming.

We ended up spending nearly two hours there, and honestly, we still didn’t want to leave. Whether you’re local or need to make a little drive, it’s 100% worth the visit. You won’t regret it—and it just might become your new favorite coffee shop in the...

Pricey but good.

I came here on a Sunday afternoon and was greeted by kind service. I was happy to find free parking in front, and it was peaceful on the inside.

I ordered a caramel apple latte with coconut milk and the garam masala chicken salad sandwich.

The latter was ok. The coconut milk has a bit of an aftertaste as if it was canned and that overpowered the caramel apple flavor.

The sandwich was lovely. It was perfect and delicious. It had a healthy portion of juicy, chopped piece of chicken - not sliced processed deli meat chicken. The ciabatta bread was perfectly crispy on the outside but soft on the inside, not think and hard at all. It was $18 but very satisfactory - to be expected when using fresh ingredients. For $1.50 more to can make it a combo with an additional drink and cookie or chips.

I upgraded to the combo and got a bottle of water with a white chocolate cinnamon cookie. It was firm but a little chewy with...