Bowls N Brews

We just moved to Santee two months ago and have been 6 or 7 times because these are some of the best açaí bowls we’ve ever had. Which is why I was SUPER BUMMED to arrive today to pick up our bowls and got a rant from the owner about how no one appreciates his work and he was closing down shop. I understand his frustration but no reason to take it out on a regular customer. Even if he wasn’t closing shop, we wouldn’t be back. We don’t appreciate being bullied.

1st time trying this place and i absolutely love it! Everything is made fresh, and the bowls are huge! The Avocado toast is ! The cold brews are better then Starbucks. This place is a 10/10.

The best acai bowls in Cali! Huge portions, delicious and fresh, and amazing service. The owner was fantastic. Definitely returning here anytime I was visit San Diego.

It’s no wonder this place is closing soon after being chastised by the owner about not tipping enough.

he quality of the food is pretty good. The service from the owner can be terrible depending on his mood. Looking at the other reviews here it looks like i'm not alone in that. I went back and looked at my bank statements. Since March of 2023 to Aug 2023, I have visited Bowls N Brews 32 times. As of late becoming a regular and spending on average $21.38 per visit. Usually this is a large Acai bowl and a large cold brew. Two visits ago my food and drink was delivered to me somewhat passive aggressively but today I got a verbal lashing from the owner. Straight up yelling at me about tipping. He expects a regular to tip. He said "Help me pay my people" but also saying he doesn't "need the money". Yelling at me to "tip at least a dollar so I can help my people". If I tipped $1 for every time I have been here I would have contributed a whopping $32 over 5 months. The prices are already pretty high for the product but evidently someone does need the money because other negative reviews here mention him yelling about tips. The end of this conversation was "if you cant tip then go somewhere else". my response was "okay i'll go somewhere else". As i'm walking back to my car he is staring at me through the window yelling "he says he'll go somewhere else" followed by maniacal laughing. It's sad to see how unhinged he can get but I really feel for the coworkers who have to deal with that behavior. Judging from the other reviews I am not the first to deal with this. I think i'll personally drop off $32 as a tip to help the workers and this is the last time I visit.

If you like acai, care about quality ingredients and real health benefits, or if you are simply in the mood to treat your taste buds: check this out!! First off, BIG portions! Second, BIG flavor, and not just the bowls! An extra morning kick-start? Grab a frap! Your taste buds will die, and your mind will fly! Skip the ridiculous line at star-whatever burnt tasting coffee drive through, and breathe in that fresh Santee air while you ask about their brew line at the window. There's been some changes in staff, but the crew is consistently amazing! You'll have to check it out for yourself, but I love supporting small businesses, and it's so easy with such a delicious and customizable product! The only way this place could be better is if it was a bigger venue with more seating and a little more shade, but I 100% understand there's only so much you can do with any given location....which by the way, the beautiful Riverwalk park almost right across the street! Do yourself a favor, build a bowl, or pick one from their delicious selection, grab a brew, and enjoy the hidden gem of Riverwalk! Keep it up Bowls N Brews, we love you!

They always close before their listed business hours. I even called around 235pm once to place an order, and was told they would make an "exception for me". If you close at 3p, maybe take orders until at least 3p? Or at least 245p. Bowls are tasty, just a little overpriced.

The guy that was working here 10:45 AM on Sunday morning June 3 is very rude and disrespectful. You can tell he creates a hostile environment for his other coworkers, because of the way their morale is down. He was really rude and disrespectful to me, telling me to go to the window go to the window when I didn’t realize there was a window instead of guiding me through it. It was just being rude and disrespectful and yelling at me. .I will never come here again.

I loved this coffee shop. I brought all my friends and family here because i loved their coffees and acai bowls, not only that supporting a local business means a lot to me as well. As someone who has not only worked customer service for 10+ years i’ve worked at multiple coffee shops and currently manage a grocery store…the customer service I received today was appalling. I have supported this business since it first opened and order from them very frequently. Like most consumers, I work…I don't always have the luxury of going 30 mins out of the way to get a coffee. I pay a premium for postmates, not only that when I order from them off of postmates one item is typically $15.00 which I have happily paid multiple times. Adding another item typically makes my order 30+ dollars and on top of that being at work doesn't allow me time to enjoy a second item from them. Regardless, I don’t think this shop cares about you as a consumer unless you are spending a chunk money at their shop and with the current climate of the economy I have reason to believe i’m not the only one ordering a single item when their coffee is already $9.00. This note is extremely out of touch and suggests that I should spend my money else where and that I don't matter to this shop unless i’m paying 30+ dollars in a transaction. Thanks SO MUCH!

Fire in the bowl, waffles with fruit & the caramel cold brew with oat milk is the perfect order. My favorite place to get açaí bowls.