Sweet Bar Bakery — Restaurant in Oakland

I stopped by around 3pm on a Thursday looking for some coffee at a place with wi-fi to get some work done. All three employees I interacted with seemed downright depressed. I received no greeting, no thank you, not even a hint of a smile. Usually, I prefer a more self-serve style, but even for me this lack of interaction was disappointing.

While cashing me out the employee at the register brusquely turned to another and stated that she needed her shift to end, now. She got a snippy respons. From the brief exchange I overheard it sounded like this poor employee had been on the register all day long and needed a break. Either way, the conversation was not one I would have wanted to overhear.

So I grab my coffee mug and fill it up. $3 for unlimited refill coffee is a great deal, and the coffee was pretty good. Nothing amazing, but tasty. I got a ginger cookie which was delicious - nice and crispy on the edges, chewy on the inside, and loaded with ginger.

My time sitting was brief. The internet, well somehow it didn't exist for me or the next two people who sat down and tried to connect. The tables were also pretty sticky. To be fair, the place was very full, so maybe it was just bad timing.

Overall, desert was tasty and the menu looked great. But the employee attitude was contagious,...

I was truly disappointed by my recent visit to Sweet Bar Bakery. While waiting at the register, I witnessed a dog brought in by another customer stand up with its front paws on the counter where transactions take place. Not only is this unsanitary, it’s a clear public health concern in any food service environment.

What made the situation worse is that the same dog then followed its owner to the coffee pickup counter. Thankfully, my drink was ready before the dog had a chance to jump up again. But at no point did any staff member address or correct the customer.

I called afterward to share my concern, not to be confrontational but because food safety matters. Unfortunately, the manager I spoke to was completely dismissive and lacked any sense of accountability.

I understand that staff can’t always control what patrons do, but how they respond matters. A simple acknowledgment of the concern and a commitment to reinforce health protocols would have gone a long way.

As someone who works in public health, this type of disregard for basic hygiene and customer feedback is exactly why I won’t be returning. Clean surfaces, safe environments, and respectful communication should not be optional in a food establishment.

Sweet Bar missed the mark...

Hmm, it was my first time here, and probably my last in terms of drinks. I simply ordered an Iced Caramel Latte. It only comes it one size apparently. It tasted very "milked down"/bland. There wasn't a very strong espresso taste in it. Would probably have to order it with an extra shot next time. The cafe is super cutesy for sure. In terms of my experience, it was no bueno. The person who ordered before me, took my iced beverage when he ordered a hot ginger spice latte or something. After I saw another person receive their beverage before me, I slowly approached the counter hoping that I would be acknowledged. I literally had to flag the guy down who took my order and inform him that I was still waiting on my drink. Eventually they figured out that the person before me took my beverage. You could see the irritation in the person working that there was a mix-up. He offered me a cookie which I was not interested in and he seem to get upset simply because I did not want to take the cookie. I honestly just wanted to get my drink. Which I ended up throwing...