Flying Star Cafe — Restaurant in Albuquerque

Hello, Bernstein Family-

I wanted to let you know that my family and I have been loyal customers since Double Rainbow first opened on Central. I have enjoyed your food and atmosphere over the years. While I am sympathetic to the certain economic impact the governor's orders have had on you and your businesses, I am not at all in favor of interior dining areas in restaurants remaining open as we see the numbers of COVID-19 affected people begin to rise again in Albuquerque and across the entire state of New Mexico. We have seen the affects of having the "economy open" in surrounding states. It has been disasterous. This past Sunday, 7-12-2020, Florida experienced 15,300 new COVID cases in a 24 hour period. Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona have all seen substantial increases in the number of COVID-19 cases in their states since re-opening public establishment. This is NOT what we need in New Mexico. The increase in cases of this deadly virus in surrounding states is directly related to their governments not keeping stay at home orders in place long enough and not keeping non-essential businesses closed. As soon as their economies opened, people flocked to restaurants, bars, and shopping malls and then more and more people became sick and they got other people sick. Many of those who became sick died. At those big box stores you mentioned in your message, like Costco and Target, people are required to wear masks the entire time they are inside the store. You can't wear a mask while you eat. The fact that you are perplexed that restaurants are considered places where the virus could be spread is rather remarkable to me. Are you not very smart? Do you really not understand that people who are eating, talking and laughing with friends or near others can either spread or come in contact with the virus? Or is it that you are more concerned about money than people that you were inspired to send the asinine message to your customers asking them to contact the governor? I suspect it's option number two. I noticed that you signed the message from, "The owners and teams of Flying Star and Satillite Coffee." Did you really consult with your teams? Did you really think that your staff was going to be OK with you sending this message? They are the ones on the front lines. They are the people who would potentially be in contact with customers who might be spreading the COVID virus. I seriously doubt, should restaurant dining rooms be allowed to open again, that you will be the ones at the cash register handling credit cards or cash. You won't be the ones carefully and sanitarily bringing food to customer tables. You won't be washing dirty dishes or wiping down potentially soiled seats. No, you will be the ones counting your profits while you contribute to the spread of a deadly virus that is going to be here with us for a long while. It won't matter how you clean your restaurants, or how carefully you deliver the food to the tables, people will still be gathered together while not wearing masks. I hate to tell you this, but this is how the virus spreads. Rather than asking your loyal customers to contact the governor and ask for something that we already know is dangerous, why can't you be satisfied with the money that you're making with your curbside or pick up business? Why don't you think outside of the box and devise new and creative ways to get your food to your customers that don't involve substantial risk of interior dining rooms and enclosed spaces? Why don't you do some hard thinking and not just rely on your loyal customers to try and accomplish your bidding with nonsense requests to our governor? Whatever you choose to do, I won't be there to see it. My family and I will no longer be frequenting your restaurants or coffee shops. We...

We went to grab a late tea and scone. They had lots of baked goods left, and no one was in line. You would think they would serve us immediately, but no- more than an hour before closing they were already very occupied with cleaning, and as customers it was apparent that we were just a barrier to going home. We waited a few minutes before we decided to check out other places. This has happened before, and I try not to support businesses that ignore me, so it will be a few more years until I try again, especially as they no longer seem to carry their gluten not pastries (I would tolerate their bad service in exchange for their Gluten Not goods :)). The service at other locations is much better, and is usually excellent at the satelite.

Here is my edit: This has happened many times before over the years. Although I live within walking distance, I stopped going to this specific location as I find it rude to have the staff clean when I am the only one waiting in line. Thank you for offering to contact me, but I suggest that you contact the staff that is working and suggest to consider NOT to say "we will be right with you" and have two team members continue cleaning before closure when clients are in front of them? This was 70 minutes before closing time on Friday, 7/21/2023. I still enjoyed the walk but will walk elsewhere...

Very displeased with my experience here. I ordered coleslaw as a side for my grossly overpriced impossible burger. Food runner, guy with tied back dark brown hair, brings the food and tells me there is no more coleslaw available and “if” I want a side (which I paid for) I can ask for something else. I asked him for my options and he didn’t know. He goes and gets a menu and reads off fries, onion rings, salad, etc. I tell him onion rings sound great, and his response is “but you would need to have paid a dollar more.” So at this point I’m thinking, am I supposed to get up, leave the table while my family member sits and eats, walk to the order line and pay them a dollar when I’m already inconvenienced with no side and my burger was getting cold. Our check for 2 people was $55. That included two burgers, some cauliflower wings and 2 lemonades. Seriously, I already paid $55 and this jerk makes a big deal over a dollar. Funny thing is the other person in my party had already purchased onion rings. Turns out they were cold, hard and were probably made many hours prior. Nevertheless, this guy should be proud he saved his restaurant a dollar, but unfortunately the restaurant...