{"slug": "california-cafes-ai-slop-menu-advertisements-spark-false-advertising-backlash-of", "title": "California cafe’s ‘AI-slop’ menu advertisements spark ‘false advertising’ backlash, wave of negative reviews", "summary": "Grind and Unwind, a San Francisco café, faced backlash and negative reviews after using AI-generated images of its food and drinks in its front window, with customers calling it 'false advertising.' Owner Lyndsey Lozano, who bakes the pastries herself, said the images were never meant to deceive and has since replaced them with real food displays. The controversy included online criticism and vandalism, with one Yelp reviewer calling the AI images 'AI slop.'", "body_md": "# California cafe’s ‘AI-slop’ menu advertisements spark ‘false advertising’ backlash, wave of negative reviews\n\nSee more of our coverage in your search results.\n\n[Add The California Post on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=nypost.com)\n\nTurns out, in San Francisco, [using AI to advertise](https://nypost.com/2026/05/30/us-news/nyc-model-allegedly-cloned-for-outrageous-unauthorized-ai-ads-by-brazen-clothing-retailer-lawsuit/) your croissants can stir up more drama than the [morning coffee rush](https://nypost.com/2026/07/20/health/how-much-coffee-a-day-is-safe-and-linked-to-heart-benefits/).\n\nGrind and Unwind, a café that opened just a few months ago, found itself at the center of an unexpected controversy after displaying computer-generated images of its food and drinks in the front window, according to [NBC](https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/restaurant-backlash-ai-menu-san-francisco/4115961/).\n\nWhat the owners thought was a simple, temporary way to catch the attention of tourists quickly snowballed into online criticism, negative reviews and even vandalism.\n\nAdvertisement\n\nOwner Lyndsey Lozano, who bakes the café’s pastries herself while also running the business with her husband, said the reaction to the AI images was unexpected and that the pictures were never meant to fool anyone. The shop had just opened, and she wanted something eye-catching in the window while they got established.\n\nAdvertisement\n\nInstead, the internet had plenty to say.\n\n“The AI food poster on their store front window isn’t doing them any favors and wouldn’t want AI slop to be representational of their actual food which looks WAY better,” One [Yelp reviewer wrote](https://www.yelp.com/biz/grind-and-unwind-san-francisco). “I would rather it be just their logo on black if they are looking to fill the space.”\n\nAnother user added, “I went inside and I had to do a double check because their menu is all AI. Like, how am I supposed to know what the actual product looks like? Their [croissant](https://nypost.com/2023/03/31/croissant-meets-pancake-with-must-try-tiktok-dessert-hack/) looks like a Lego in the menu. I know SF is tech capital but this is just false advertising.”\n\nAnd the backlash didn’t stop online.\n\nAdvertisement\n\nAbout a week ago, someone spray-painted what appeared to be the word “seriously” outside the business. The graffiti has since been covered up.\n\nLozano has now ditched the [AI artwork](https://nypost.com/2025/10/02/tech/artificial-intelligence-friend-necklace-causes-uproar-ai-wouldnt-care-if-you-lived-or-died/) altogether. These days, instead of digitally generated pastries, the real thing is front and center in the window, giving customers a much more appetizing preview of what’s inside.\n\nAdvertisement\n\n“We’re focusing on our good pastries, on our coffee, we have a really good burger,” Lozano told NBC. “We’re trying to make a really nice spot for locals to hang out, to be with each other and enjoy really delicious baked goods.”\n\nIt’s a reminder that while AI might be everywhere these days, when it comes to flaky pastries and fresh coffee, people still prefer the real deal.\n\n**Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters **\n\n**California Post News**: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheCaliforniaPost/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/californiapost), [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@CaliforniaPost), [X](https://x.com/californiapost), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@thecaliforniapost), [WhatsApp](https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6a2IV1NCrL6q2AWq0E), [LinkedIn](http://linkedin.com/company/californiapost)**California Post Sports** [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/capostsports/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/capostsports/?hl=en), [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@capostsports), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@CaliforniaPostSports), [X](https://x.com/capostsports)**California Post **[Opinion](https://x.com/californiapost) **California Post Newsletters**: [Sign up here!](https://email.nypost.com/#california-post)** California Post App**: [Download here!](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/california-post/id6751343487)** Home delivery**: [Sign up here!](https://subscribe.californiapost.com/defaultCAP)** Page Six Hollywood**: [Sign up here!](https://pagesix.com/hollywood-signup/)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/california-cafes-ai-slop-menu-advertisements-spark-false-advertising-backlash-of", "canonical_source": "https://nypost.com/2026/07/20/us-news/california-cafes-ai-generated-advertisements-spark-backlash/", "published_at": "2026-07-20 18:37:49+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-20 19:01:17.302550+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-ethics"], "entities": ["Grind and Unwind", "Lyndsey Lozano", "NBC", "Yelp", "San Francisco"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/california-cafes-ai-slop-menu-advertisements-spark-false-advertising-backlash-of", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/california-cafes-ai-slop-menu-advertisements-spark-false-advertising-backlash-of.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/california-cafes-ai-slop-menu-advertisements-spark-false-advertising-backlash-of.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/california-cafes-ai-slop-menu-advertisements-spark-false-advertising-backlash-of.jsonld"}}