Harvest Food & Wine — Restaurant in Victoria

I recently had the unfortunate experience of visiting the Harvest Food and Wine Store, and I must say it was one of the most disappointing dining experiences I've had in a long time. From the appalling customer service to the complete disregard for basic hospitality, my visit to this establishment left me thoroughly irritated and dissatisfied.

Let me begin by addressing the abysmal customer service I encountered at Harvest Food and Wine Store. The waitress who attended to our table was not only rude, but also condescending and impertinent throughout our interaction. Her dismissive attitude and lack of professionalism were truly disheartening, making it clear that customer satisfaction is not a priority for this establishment.

However, the most shocking moment came when we requested pastries to accompany our coffee. Instead of providing a simple and reasonable solution, the waitress claimed that because the establishment is a "restaurant," we were required to leave the premises to consume our coffee. She even had the audacity to suggest pouring our coffee into a takeaway cup and ordering pastries from the counter on our way out. This kind of treatment is not only demeaning to customers but also reflects a complete disregard for basic hospitality and customer convenience.

Such an unreasonable policy not only ruined the ambiance of the establishment but also left a bitter taste in our mouths. As patrons, we expected to enjoy a pleasant dining experience, where we could leisurely enjoy our coffee and pastries while appreciating the atmosphere of the store. Instead, we were met with unnecessary rules and a blatant lack of respect.

Moreover, the overall atmosphere of the Harvest Food and Wine Store was underwhelming. The ambiance was lackluster, and it felt like a generic cafeteria rather than a welcoming establishment. The lack of attention to detail in the decor and overall presentation further added to our disappointment.

In addition to the poor customer service and inconvenient policy, the quality of the food and beverages failed to meet even the most basic expectations. The coffee was bland and lacked the flavor profile one would expect from a specialty store. The pastries, which we had to order separately, were mediocre at best. They were stale and tasted as if they had been sitting out for far too long.

TL;DR: In summary, my experience at Harvest Food and Wine Store was nothing short of a disappointment. The appalling customer service, exemplified by the rude and condescending waitress, left a lasting negative impression. The unreasonable policy of having to leave the premises to consume coffee and purchase pastries separately was inconvenient and showed a lack of understanding of customer needs. The overall atmosphere of the store was lackluster, and the quality of the food and beverages failed to impress. I would strongly advise against visiting this establishment if you value good customer service, convenience, and a pleasant...

Disappointing and rude experience – not what you expect in Bendigo

Visiting from Melbourne to see the Frida exhibition, we were looking for a spot to enjoy brunch beforehand. The Harvest had been recommended by a local friend, so we decided to give it a try.

We were surprised — and frankly disappointed — when we asked if they could accommodate our group of 8 and were met with a rude and condescending response from the front-of-house staff. We were told we should have known better than to show up without a booking, as it’s “really busy.” Despite the tone, she said she was prepared to seat us — but only if we were out within an hour. The attitude made it clear we were an inconvenience.

As she set the table (which was empty when we arrived), she repeatedly and abruptly told one of our group — an older gentleman — to “Sit down, Sir!” in a very disrespectful manner. We were all shocked by how we were being spoken to.

At that point, I decided it wasn’t worth staying and let her know we’d leave. Her parting words? A very dismissive “Good luck finding somewhere else.”

We were all dismayed by the attitude and behaviour. I’ve visited Bendigo many times, and this is not typical of the warm, welcoming service I’ve come to expect. If this is how The Harvest treats visitors, it risks damaging the broader reputation of Bendigo’s otherwise thriving hospitality scene.

If there is a retail association in Bendigo ... they should have a word to the business owners – as this type of customer service only impacts Bendigo’s reputation negatively.

Sadly, the only thing you can “harvest” here is poor service and a bad impression. Do yourself a favour — skip this place and explore one of the many other excellent cafes near the...

I honestly don’t know how this place is still in business with staff like the woman we dealt with today. We came in as a group of 8, hoping for a nice lunch. What we got instead was one of the most rude, unwelcoming experiences any of us have ever had at a restaurant.

We didn’t have a booking, which we understand might be a problem, but rather than handling it with any kind of professionalism, the woman at the front hit us with a sour face and the line: “You should have made a booking,” like we had just insulted her personally by walking in. No hello, no kindness, just straight-up attitude.

She did begrudgingly seat us, but made it very clear, in the most dismissive tone possible — that we only had one hour because we hadn’t booked. She said it like she was doing us a favour by even letting us sit down. No warmth, no hospitality, just tension. We didn’t even feel welcome enough to order.

The vibe was so toxic that we looked at each other and decided to leave, we weren’t going to pay money to be treated like garbage. And just as we walked out the door, she said behind us, “Good luck finding a booking!” with the most smug, nasty attitude imaginable.

We didn’t just leave, we left shocked. This woman single-handedly lost the business of eight people, at lunchtime, because she couldn’t show an ounce of basic respect. I don’t care how good the food might be — nothing tastes good when the staff treat you like you’re beneath them.

Do yourself a favour and don’t waste your time or money here. There are plenty of great places to eat in Bendigo that don’t come with a side of public humiliation.

Don’t worry Karen owner - we found a better place to eat with GREAT...