Bean in the Woods — Restaurant in Melbourne

Here used to be my favourite place in Ringwood, until I was treated very badly by a lady staff who imitated me in a humiliating way and refuse to apologise.

I have been experiencing an ear infection and cannot hear clearly in my right ear and sometimes couldn’t control my voice very well. Came here this morning for brunch. After this waitress brought food to our table, I thought I would also need some napkins. I turned to the waitress and said ‘Excuse me’. The waitress did not respond and walked away.

After a little while she came back and ask me loudly ‘Is there any reason you were screaming here?’ I was shocked that she accusing me for screaming, and wasn’t sure what she was talking about. Then she made a very exaggerated and ironic face with her right hand waving on her side saying ‘Excuse me!’

I realised she was copying me and feel the way she imitated me was very offensive. I tell her I need a napkin and tried to tell her that I can’t hear my voice and didn’t mean to be loud. But she quickly point to the napkin and turned away.

After the brunch, I went to pay and explained to the waitress that I didn’t mean to be loud, and the way she describes me as ‘screaming’ and imitating me ironically makes me feel offended. However, she quickly put her face down and insisted that she didn't imitating me and I was being very rude. I didn’t expect her to be sympathetic to my pain, but I couldn’t understand why she keeps calling me rude and keep rolling her eyes on me after I explain to her I have ear problem for many times. Not to mention an apology for her offensive behaviour.

I always came here for brunch and was always treated very nicely by the boss and other staff here, the experience today was shocking. I was humiliated because of my illness and really think this is not a normal standard of Beans in the Woods.

I admit that I was being very emotional today; this experience was really not a big deal. However, what makes me so angry was, I am a disability support worker working with people with mental health related disabilities such as ASD. My clients often tell me how they are treated unfairly in public places because of their disadvantage, and had to walk away with all the negative emotions. I remember I often encourage them to speak up when treated unfairly. However, I realise today that, sometimes even you try to communicate, people just wouldn't listen and make you feel worse, especially when they are carrying a prejudice...

Every now and again you come across a place that ticks all the boxes. Bean in the Woods is that place. I came here for a light breakfast but the menu tempted me in every direction plus the staff made the whole experience quite unique. Their spacious, light and open restaurant caters for everyone both in comfort but also in culinary choices. The menu is extensive and has something for everyone and best of all - whether its breakfast, lunch or dinner - it's available all day so don't worry if you feel like having bacon and eggs late in the day because there are no rules here. I'd been watching Bill the owner speak with his customers and his staff on a level was both delightful and refreshing. We chatted briefly and his passion / dedication to food and service comes from the heart - the loss of his sister! Her values around hospitality have clearly had an affect on how Bill focuses his energy to giving every customer an exceptional experience. "The heart is in the front of house and the soul is in the kitchen" (hope I've quoted him correctly) and that's exactly what I saw. Young 'waiters' pre-empting a customer's needs, putting another bottle of water on the table, asking if they'd like their milkshake to take away because they didn't finish it all, making way for a customer with a walking frame, so the path to the table was easy. These small actions cascade to a reaction of being seen and heard. Now down to the food. I had an iced latte that was excellent. Could've been a little colder but heck it was a hot day and I doubt anything could've quenched my thirst. After tossing between several dishes, the lamb pizza caught my eye and within 15 minutes, it was on my table looking absolutely photosnapping, mouth watering delicious. It was! Lamb tender. The base not too thick. Plenty of toppings. And of course, I couldn't get through it all, so was able to take the two slices home with me. Notes: plenty of parking available, wheelchair friendly, kid friendly, dietaries catered for, credit cards and apple...

I had a terrible experience at this Cafe. I am a disability support worker and went into the Cafe to buy three coffees for three people with disabilities. I asked for three separate receipts with one coffee on each receipt so l could put the cost of each separate coffee into all of the people accounts separately. The waitress tried to give me three receipts with all of the three coffees on each of the receipts. I told her l could not accept the receipts as it looked like each person with a disability had purchased 3 coffees. She then insisted that l accept the receipts and l explained to her that l needed each coffee on a separate receipt as that is the evidence of purchase that the organisation wants me to give them. I tried to explain to the waitress that l didn't create the client account management system but that l had to provide the system with the evidence of purchase for each person that it required, and to do this l needed each coffee on a separate receipt. She then said to me very rudely, "l didn't create our system." She then walked behind the owner who was standing at the cash register and pulled a face at me. I then asked the owner for the money back and explained to him that the waitress was rude to me. He gave me the money back and told me that the waitress was not rude to me and that they run the Cafe out of love. I was then so shocked by his refusal to acknowledge the situation and walked out of the Cafe. I then went to another cafe around the corner named Naughty but Nice and ordered 3 coffees for the people with disabilities from them and did not have any trouble with the receipts. I will never buy people with disabilities anything from the Bean in the Woods Cafe again due to the rude treatment l received, but the Naughty but nice cafe was more than...