Saw Dust Coffee House & Dessert Bar II — Restaurant in Putnam

Sawdust is a aesthetically beautiful addition to Putnam and has an inviting and open atmosphere. Their staff is always so pleasant and helpful + the interior is full of places to sit, talk and/or study - with a variety of views and types of seating (tables, booths, couches + stools) that make spending time here very enjoyable. Similarly, the external part of the building resides the same historic Putnam environment with modern aspects and additions; + they have outdoor seating!

As for food and drinks, I feel like my opinions varies based on what you’re getting. Coffee, lattes, and teas are always done well + have complexities to them that’s both unique and comforting. I’d recommend anything from their drink selection from coffee and espresso to matcha and chai. Their pastries are also quite good, with most of the in-house pastries on the shelving units being my favorites; the muffins are probably the most displeasing with the use of pronounced artificial flavors that aren’t really worth the price. The rest of their meals and food feel the most inconsistent, pricey and not really worth your money. While their breakfast sandwiches are good, choices like their flatbreads and sandwiches are not only small in portion, but lacking in complexity/depth of flavor and high in price. With so many competing restaurants in the area, I feel like it doesn’t make much sense to produce food that comes so close to matching prices but ultimately not providing a taste profile that matches the standards of their drinks and other meal options. I would recommend staying away from some options on the menu, but I imagine most of the common choices find themselves to be more than okay.

Overall though, I think Sawdust is a great place to come to - whether you’re in the area to grab a drink or snack, or want to sit and enjoy the area c:

Atmosphere: 4.5 Staff: 4

Coffee/Drinks: 4.5 Pastries: 4 Meals/food:...

I usually work at Saw Dust on weekdays as I work from home and sometimes need to go out to change scenery. A few weird things have happened here as I think about what happened. The first incident was bringing my own water bottle (hydro peek) and an employee asking me to put it away as they do not allow it and explaining that they have water there for customers. I smiled and apologized and told them it wouldn’t happen again. After this, I saw multiple customers bring their own water bottles on different days without anyone enforcing the “rule.” This has happened on multiple occasions. NOTE: I WAS 5 MONTHS PREGNANT AND NEEDED TO STAY HYDRATED. Today’s incident was my last straw, and I will NEVER be back there. I am currently 8 MONTHS PREGNANT. I got there, ordered, and noticed it was busy. I sat on a couch and waited 30 minutes for a table to open. A lovely family came over to me and told me that I could have their table as they saw me using my laptop on my lap. I thank them and move my stuff over (mind you, no smaller tables are open now). After sitting there for 30 minutes, an employee approached me and asked me to move as a family of 4 just came in and had nowhere to sit. I looked around, and the table next to me just sat down with a party of 2 (I get it, they just got there); then I looked across the way, and there was also another single person sitting at a four-person table which has been there before I even got to Saw Dust. REMIND YOU; I waited 30 minutes for a seat; other singles at a four-person table had been there hours before me, and I am 8 months pregnant. Saw Dust; you’ve made me feel like an outsider in an already white demographic area. I was so upset to be treated in such a manner...

Let me start by saying, I almost passed this place up because its name gave me pause. So glad to have gotten beyond the superficial. When I had learned Victoria Station was no longer taking up space at this location it saddened me to a degree. After my experience at Saw Dust Coffee House yesterday, I can assure that all trepidation has dissipated and I've been left with great enthusiasm.

They've done a wonderful job with the aesthetic... it's really a beautiful, noticeably transformed space. Ample seating and classy decor. Booths, tables, couches, bar seats. Just very tastefully done.

I brought along my laptop to get some work done out of the house. It was a Monday and not dreadfully busy but seats were surely filled. I decided I'd get a large dark roast coffee and a bagel with cream cheese. My total ran $8 and change which I thought was more than reasonable especially in consideration of the size of my coffee cup and a distinctly large bagel. The coffee and bagel were both exceptional.

It's important to highlight the staff. The young women working the counter were unwaveringly kind and could not have made me feel more welcome in their space. This is so important and so many establishments seem to hire miserable people. Not true of Saw Dust Coffee House. I hope the staff is very well taken care of and I hope the owner(s) appreciate what their staff is doing for the business -- creating repeat customers.

While I do not live remarkably close by, I will for sure keep Saw Dust Coffee House on my list of top locales to get work done at out of the house. Which reminds me: ample WiFi connectivity.

One more thing to add: they...