Sightglass Coffee — Restaurant in Los Angeles

i’ve been going to this place a lot over the last two years but i think the business side of this place is just determined to declare bankruptcy or something. they’re fond of making changes that make you vividly aware of how much you hate them.

covering the outlets, over priced everything, a hidden service charge, too few tables (presumably a covid hold over?); all totally inhuman choices.

the major upside to this place was that you could do excellent people watching. it has been a mecca for well-dressed casual vibes in LA. and the space was set up to do great work. the culture was chill even if it sometimes felt like the establishment was nefarious.

now someone with extreme myopia has decided to turn it into a sit down restaurant. i sat for 2 hours eating lunch and trying to work while i observed upwards of 20 people who were disappointed, disturbed or disgusted. this set up is at once complicated and idiotic without much care for the existing customer base. at 2pm when it is usually pretty full, it was mostly cleared out except for the communal bar seating, which was packed. they have always had an issue with seating, as mentioned before, but mainly because they don’t have enough two tops. this set up fixes nothing: in fact, it only exacerbates the issue because now it feels awkward to share a table. & lemme tell you right now: if i wanted to go out for lunch there are so many better places in LA for that. whereas there were very few places that felt like a watering hole. y’all really beefed it, boys n girls: either you don’t know your customer or you don’t get her & don’t deserve her.

let me fix it for you: put more two top or one top tables stay open during wine drinking hours if you’re gonna serve wine (duh) change your wifi model to a receipt based, time restricted one where you can get buy something to get more wifi. have easier add ons that still have value: more tiny bakery items or little veggie cups spending $6 on a slice of cake during the ozempic era? are you awake?

the very amusing to see a business tank itself so completely. lol good luck, babes: i’m going to find another place to spend that money you were so worried...

Ok this place is almost everything you want it to be and I hope it gets there because there is so much good about this place but its falling just a little bit short. Let's break it down:

SERVICE: Its providing the quality of a sit down restaurant but its really just a grab and go/grab and sit so there is no server (probably because hourly wage in LA is impossible to hit profit margins/ I know I lost a business after 10 years of being open and the top of our space) anything you need is on you to get except when dining in they will bring the food to you. Wait times on ordering can be a tad long for a grab and go but tolerable. Line to order is frustrating sometimes though especially if your buying something from the grocery side - really you need a self check out! Please add!

FOOD: The food is honestly great! Better than 99% of grab and goes in the area and many full service restaurants as well. The ingredients are fresh and the prices reflect but I appreciate what youre doing here...most places in LA use cheap ingredients to maximize profit margins. Here youre getting quality but you are paying for it. It would be awesome though if you weren't always running out of things...this is your downfall food wise right now. Increase supply there is obviously demand.

ATMOSPHERE: The atmosphere is solid. I appreciate the warehouse vibe. The table layout though needs work there is a lot of deadspace still here that can be utilized...how about adding more 1 & 2 person booths? A lot of people here to work or take a quick meeting that dont want to be on top of other people at the communal tables.

COFFEE: I am not a coffee snob so most of what I have had here has been great but they do run out of a lot of stuff so again increase supply there is obviously demand.

RECAP: The earlier you come the more likely to get the good stuff. Quality is great here but the prices reflect. Come prepared. Getting a clean table is a bit of a tetris match at peak hours. Service is mostly on you and prepare to wait a tolerable amount of time. I rate this a 4.4...excited to see this place evolve and I hope for the best!

Good luck and...

I am a local who has been a consistent customer at Sightglass since their opening, but after the cruelty and arrogance I just witnessed and experienced from the staff, I refuse to give them any more business and write this review so paying customers can be aware of who they are giving their money to. I was just in the store when a fully clothed, masked and peaceful homeless man entered to place an order. From the second he crossed the threshold, the cashier (a young woman with glasses, died pink hair and gauge earrings) rudely said, "Sir, you can't come in here." He took out his cash prepared to pay and was immediately dismissed and rejected, spoken to as if he were a criminal or lesser human unworthy of basic service. There was a staff of at least ten present in the store and this man presented no threat at any point. After the interaction, I kindly approached the server to let her know that as a paying customer I was personally upset by the unkind way she treated this man and in response she was excessively rude and dismissive to me.

If the purpose of not having this man in the store was for the comfort of the clientele, when, I as a client expressed my discomfort with the way they treated this man, the cashier's further dismissal made it clear that it had nothing to do with their clientele and was merely cruel and unkind behavior. It is disheartening that this new business in a gentrifying area is joining the ranks of the inhumanity that characterizes a lot of gentrification. As a new business, they have a chance to have a heart and be kind to the community and it seems are squandering this chance.

I am generally not one to write a negative review, but I feel this deserves...