Lacuna Phoenix — Restaurant in Phoenix

Update: 8/30/19:

Customer service: I've been in 3 times now, and their customer service just gets better and better! You feel like family when you walk in and I wanted to give a huge shout out to Parker! Yesterday I picked up a few jars of Kava and Kratom to take home. Instead of just saying thanks for coming in and letting me juggle my purse, keys and 4 jars, he carried them to my car for me.

Chase, the owner, likes to meet his customers personally, and my Kavarista Goddess, Brittany, recognized me immediately and gave me a huge hug as soon as I walked in! Definitely the Kava Tribe version of Cheers!!!!

Health: My MS pain level is down by 70-80%, my performance at work had returned to top performer level, and I haven't even needed to take an aspirin. The migraine I had for a YEAR is gone!!!

Definitely my new favorite place!

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows you're name, and their always glad you came! (Yep everyone should associate the Cheers theme song with Lacuna Kava!)

Original review:

I'm so incredibly thrilled that this Kava bar opened! I've wanted to try it for YEARS for my MS pain, and it worked! I even bought some to go! My "Kavarista" goddess was awesome! (Barista just isn't quite the right term!). She is completely amazing! I told her what I wanted to accomplish in terms of reducing my pain and being functional. She is clearly well versed in the products and made FANTASTIC suggestions. I'm nearly pain free after just a few uses! I'm incredibly excited to see the long term effects. I haven't taken ANYTHING prescribed by my Neurologist that has even come close without serious side effects. I'm definitely going to be a regular!

Just a little forewarning.... The teas are quite bitter tasting, but they have managed to make a number of different drinks and offer a huge range of organic flavors to mask the bitterness.

For the first time in nearly 2 years I feel like i have a safe method to get my pain under control! I just can't give a suitable rating! I give Lacuna 10...

This business is truly failing if their mission is to curate a local, inclusive community. This business is fairly described as a clique for the management to feel good about themselves. Which includes the total lack of effort to card minors who are seeking drugs from this establishment. It also includes fire pits that are too close to the property, which doesn't have proper fire protection or fire alarms. I seriously caution anyone who values living to avoid this dangerous business.

The staff is always understaffed resulting in the bathrooms not having proper sanitation supplies. I often leave because I wait an hour to be served. I personally know several people who have thrown up and or gone to the hospital from consuming specifically green kratom here. They have many liquid chemicals they put into drinks that appear homemade and are not legally properly labelled. Additionally, those materials are stored at room temperature vs a safe food temperature. They serve kratom, kava, and CBD. Kava and kratom are questionable as things that are even legal to sell as food. The staff is entirely uneducated and incapable of informing patrons of the acute and chronic health risks of consuming their poisons. That is truly the businesses fault.

Specifically the general manager Marina is on a power trip and will singlehandedly destroy this businesses reputation in this city if they aren't removed. They are functionally running lacuna kava bar as a clique for themself and friends, when it appears to be trying to be a social community without alcohol in a public business. Marina is truly jeopardizing the hard work of the owner and business.

The business needs a serious holistic review of professionals that understand food and chemical safety and hygiene. As well as fire alarm and fire protection to resolve numerous code violations. This business deserves to be shut...

As someone who once considered Lacuna one of my favorite spots in Phoenix, I am disappointed to have learned how ownership has not only recently, but historically, treated their staff. I personally attended Sedona's grand opening. Before that, I frequented Phoenix's location weekly. And before I moved away from PHX, I had my going away party at Lacuna, not even two months ago.

As much as it's hard to walk away from a place I have so many memories with, and cherished deeply... I won't be coming back. I won't recommend this place to friends anymore. I'm not proud of the fact that I've supported a place that has treated its employees as if they're disposable, incapable, or unworthy of respect. Staff and management has always been phenomenal, and some of the best customer service I've ever had. However, ownership fails to recognize what they have and handles difficult situations by taking it out on staff, disrespecting them, and behaving extremely unprofessionally. A complete shame when it comes down to it because some of the best memories I have from my time living in Phoenix, happened at Lacuna.

I am in full support of every single staff member who walked out on their own jobs yesterday, in protest of their treatment. I am so proud of them for sticking up for themselves, and their coworkers. As a customer, I feel betrayed by the facade. I'm not willing to stay silent when I find out that a business that seemingly prides itself on being a safe, progressive place, turns around and treats their staff members poorly behind its customers' backs. It's NOT okay. Your customers don't appreciate it. And the people who are thinking about going here, deserve to know what they're...