Sally Loo's Wholesome Cafe — Restaurant in San Luis Obispo

I've never felt the need to leave a review on Yelp, until this very UNPLEASANT experience!!! I had been there once before and we received good service considering we were the first and only customers there at 7 AM. I had some friends visiting and I wanted to show them how great SLO was; taking them here did the opposite. Before I had to go to work, we came here during lunch time, and it was understandably busy. After seeing a customer have their order refunded due to the wait, the lady at the register explained that because it was so busy there would be a wait for our food. That was understandable, so we agreed thinking two hours would be sufficient before I had to work, considering we ordered simple orders. We sat in the very middle of the restaurant, where every food runner passed us, as we waited very patiently. We waited for a very long time, but I kept keeping my mouth closed because the worker had explained this to me. The passing food runners kept making eye contact with me as we less and less patiently waited, starving with a cappuccino being the only item off our order completed. As we saw others who came after us getting their orders, my friend tried to justify it by saying their orders were simpler. Understandable, but after 90 minutes, I finally bothered a food runner and asked her where our order was; she came back saying it had been lost. I was very upset, starving as I didn't get to eat on my lunch break. My very upset mood was brightened as my sister graciously asked for complementary pastries and they agreed. At least, the three of us would get to eat something, finally! I was still a little upset, but mistakes happen; she said they could refund our order since I was in a rush because I had to go to work. When refunding our order, she was taking forever, apologizing because it was more complicated because it would not be a full refund since we received our cappuccino! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?.... After the terrible service we received, with every worker ignoring us as we waited. We were in the very center of the restaurant in front of the register!!! But go ahead make us wait more and charge me for that lousy cappuccino. After finally getting our refund, the hungry three of us optimistically tried to pick out our pastries. After that, the worker explained we could only get one free pastry. One pastry for three people!!! WOW I was very dissatisfied. DO...

CONS: SLOW service, soggy quiche, no eggs till 8. PROS: Nice decor.

Our first trip a few months ago was disappointing, but we decided to give it another try today. Last time we came around 10 am and it was a zoo, so when our basic food took 45-60 minutes we let it go. Today we arrived about 7:25 am and there were only a few tables occupied. We ordered and paid, about about 5 minutes later were apologized to, and told that they forgot to tell us but they "don't do eggs until 8 am"? Really? Too much trouble for the cook to get in before then? They open at 6:30 mind you. Not wanting to wait 30 minutes, we changed our order to a quiche and a bagel sandwich along with a bagel for our toddler. We asked for a rush on the toddler's bagel if possible. About 25 minutes later (after the reorder) we got all of our food. Quiche was barely warm and bottom crust was near non existent and soggy.

Another annoyance is the use of the iPad swipe app where they flip the iPad over back to you and you can select a tip - starting at 15% and going up from there. This is at the counter mind you, not table service. Oh, sure, you deserve $4.50 to take my order at the counter. Sorry, no.

We really want this place to work as it's adorable, and much of the food looks great. We were excited that they are one of the few places in town that open early (toddler remember), but since the grill doesn't come on till 8 who cares? We'll not soon be back. Maybe the third time...

The wait is well worth it, and well spent. The line moves slowly, but only because the baristas and staff interact genuinely, with real smiles and concern for their customers experience. Once the order is put in, the cooks and baristas work with focus and speed, and it doesnt take long at all for the food and drinks to come out.

I had the Pesto sandwich and vegan breakfast burrito, both, to be a little graphic, made my eyes roll back in my head a bit. Food of this quality is very unexpected in a coffee shop. The homemade pesto was delicious and vegan, perfectly paired with heirloom tomato and good quality bread. They advertise wholesome food, and the flavor certainly evoques that word. The vegan burrito was a pleasure to eat, hearty and filling, a nice way to start the day. But the real star was the hot sauces. The habanero sauce was a sucker punch of flavor, hot, but with pepper character, tang, and spice perfectly balanced in equal parts. Their other sauces were well above average, but the habanero was truly mind blowing.

As for the atmosphere, the decor was cute, what you'd expect from a hip coffee shop. I like the hand drawn specials on butcher paper. What makes me smile writing this review many miles away was seeing a bit of the whole town there. Older locals and the younger tattoed generation both enjoying wonderful food.

I couldn't ask for more from a cafe. Sally Loo's was a highlight...