The Beekeeper's Inn — Restaurant in Vittoria

We are writing this review in the hope it gets to management and/or the owner. We have called and asked to speak to the owner and a rude girl told us they don't work there and call back another day because she was busy with other things and didn't have time for me. No sorry no apology. My wife and I have been coming out to your restaurant for around 3 years. We don't spend a lot but visit often. We have brought our family our friends and we have both recommended your restaurant many times on social media . During the pandemic we both came out once a week just to do our small part in keeping staff employed. We have always been met with a smile and a hello and depending on business a quick conversation. That's all it takes. We always called your staff the quirky bunch because they were such a fun and dedicated bunch that all had their quirky personality that matched, but they very obviously worked together perfectly. We never had a bad meal or coffee. Never had anything to complain about or a bad experience. We were often entertained by the antics of your staff and you had something that couldn't be replicated. We gave this feedback often and once to the older woman owner. Apologies we don't know her name. Unfortunately since reopening this year we have had 2 rude and unexpected experiences there. I expect others have also because when we were there last week a couple walked out after they ordered in disgust. I did not hear the conversation but I saw the waitress roll her eyes and laugh when she walked up to the kitchen entrance and speak to whoever was in there We are not writing a review to have a person fired but your waitress needs to be spoken to. She needs to stop pacing around the Cafe looking busy while ignoring everyone. Her holierthanthou dismissive attitude has been directed at us twice now because we asked where all the old staff were. We were told that they were gone. Short and rude and dismissive. I said where to and she said she didn't know but it was time they were gone. We were shocked, to say the least. I think seeing our response she didn't elaborate any further As time would have it we were seated in front of a table with a single older woman on it. She must have overheard us and told us she also asked and was told some very nasty and unwarranted gossip about ex staff which is unprofessional and unneeded. This lady was visibly upset and left soon afterwards. Not even a goodbye and the brunette looked straight at her. The one that reeks of cigarettes. This is the one. We ate the worst meal and the worst coffee we have had there yet. I don't know what happened this year but the Cafe is like walking into a lions den with the nasty brunette smoker lady tartly barking her orders and bringing us food and coffee we shouldn't of paid for. I don't think she smiled at anyone the 2 times we have been. We both felt like we were wasting her time and keeping her from more important things We won't be back. Our loyalty to our favourite Cafe and honey is just not worth the drive anymore from Orange. Maybe some new staff? Your business was a one of a kind and I hope you can get that back if more customers give you such honest feedback as we have today. Good luck management, we hope your establishment can be great again.

Still wondering where all your great staff went?

Marty & Jill...

I've brought my family here multiple times and recommended clients to eat here when travelling between Orange and Bathurst. I will NEVER refer this place or spend a $1 here again. We went in on Sunday and the waitress couldn't have been nicer. My wife wasn't at the table when she came to take our order, my wife went up to her at the counter to place the order instead.

When it came time to pay at reception, the woman (not a lady) read out our order, I told her we had two big breakfasts, not the avocado breakfast. I thought she was mistaking us for the table next to us. She repeated the order and I said I was happy to wait, if she wanted to serve the people behind me waiting to pay, whilst I waited for my wife. She rolled her eyes at me, served the people behind me and then turned back to me. I asked her if the invoice had 2 coffees and an apple juice on it, then I would know the order was the correct one. She didn't answer me and stormed off into the kitchen to talk to the chef. She returned and told me the order was correct and we had the avocado breakfast. The large fellow, playing chef came out to ask what the problem was. At this point, I said there wasn't a problem and I apologised that I had mistaken the bill, explaining that my wife must have ordered something different and I hadn't noticed. I paid the bill and apologised to the woman more than 3 times whilst paying. Most people in hospitality or any service sector would have responded with something pleasant (I own my own business and its retail based), she said absolutely nothing to me and completely ignored me. Handed me the card slip, said "Next!" to serve the next person and didn't utter a single word. I still have no idea what was itemised on my bill.

I was querying the order, purely because I thought she had another customer's bill and my wife had gone to the bathroom. I was pleasant and polite throughtout and stood aside for other customers to be served, hoping my wife would have returned to clarify the order.

This woman and the chef are the stakeholders of the Bee Keepers Inn. She is the rudest, most unpleasant creature that has ever been conjured up and meets the description of other people complaining in their reviews. If she had answered my question regarding the drinks order on the bill, I would have known it was our bill, I asked twice and her resolve was to storm off to the kitchen, which is galley style and open view to everybody, waving her arms about and creating a scene. There were a couple of other tables waiting to pay by the time she had finished her personality malfunction.

The reality is that the Bee Keeper's Inn is a cottage industry in the middle of nowhere. It relies on passing traffic and reputation. I have actually recommended people stop there when driving from Bathurst or Sydney, some told me that they weren't even able to order when they stopped off, which was early afternoon.

Her behavour was disgusting. I actually turned around to walk back in and and speak to her again, but my wife stopped me. This woman should not be exposed to the patrons and should be kept out the back next to the toilet brush, she is that unpleasant.

I paid a $100 for an average meal and a jar of honey, with some abuse on the side.

I will never return again, there are nicer places in Orange and...

a few things they need to work on;

I asked for a strong/rich honey and was told the IRON BARK is the strongest, the others are very sugary. The IRON BARK is extremely sugary in comparison to other honeys including the basic capilano. They need something like tasting trays with disposable sticks/spoons so we can decide what the strength actually is.

I got there a bit earlier than another family friend and "I realised it was restaurant so I decided to eat my own breakfast outside far back in another area that I thought would be OK. My friends arrived and decided to order from the restaurant but was told the food will not be served in the area we had set up. My friend asked if we can bring our (own) breakfast to the their outdoor seating area and eat together. The girl said yes ( in hindsight she probably thought our food was from there too).

So we took our food there, then the grouchy boss with the fake smile (more like "how rude/ disgusting that you bring your food to my tables" look) said we can't eat there. We tried to explain the situation. She went inside came out and told us we have to take ou food elsewhere. So we didn't make a fuss and went back the original place. Then we were told we can't sit there as it is a place for events and functions.

MY GOD!!!

The boss didn't want to be understanding because her demeanour was self evident.

I polite way of saying "there was a misunderstanding..., I'm really sorry but... It's not right that..., stay in that back area, but next time..." would've left a better impression on the place.

Instead we moved our food for the third time, my friends asked for their food to be in takeaway packages so we can eat in the carpark from the back of our cars.

After mentioning this incident to a friend, she told me it could be because my islamic background. The only way they could think that would be due to my wife being fully covered (hijab). I am hoping it wasn't the case. I am born and raised in this country and am probably as OLD as the grumpy boss.

Anyway,

Thank you for the hospitality. I will surely remember to drive pass next time I am...