Hey Bear Cafe — Restaurant in Farragut

My family and I have frequented this business for a good while now since we moved to Knoxville. We have invested into this business. I stopped by there this past week. In public settings, I specifically wear a face shield that covers my entire face, except for my eyes. In other words, the face shield covers my mouth and nose however allows me to breath more easily since open at the height of one’s eye site. In fact, the clear face shield is approved by the Tennessee State Health Department, and I have worn it in this business before on a few other occasions without comment.

An extremely rude employee at the service bar would not talk to me or take my order until I put on a traditional surgical mask, changing masks in front of everyone as if that is safe in the middle of a crowd. Please keep in mind I am already about ten feet away from this person since she is behind the counter. It was not so much the request that bothered me. It was her flagrant attitude. I am compliant with state regulations, and yet the employee manifested this extremely inappropriate behavior (loud voice and moving hands hysterically) while making a scene. Her lack of customer service skills is ridiculous! Supposedly the owner was there and asked her to tell me this. I doubt the owner was there and probably would have not mentioned anything, at least not in such an unpleasant manner. Then, even after switching masks to comply with her obstinate behavior, she kept commenting on the traditional face mask that fell once below my nose. I said nothing, however it sure was a hassle just to get a drink here.

If this service worker fears people this much, then it is probably not a good time for her to be working in the service industry after all.

Simply said, we will not be going back to this cafe, and...

Horrible customer service. Order 2 drinks and when ordering we asked if the rainbow drink was sweet or not. Was told yes it's sweet so we asked for 1/4 sugar to not have it so sweet. Got our drink and took a sip and found it super sweet and asked to change it or have it remade without sugar due to how bad it was. Was told we would need to pay for another drink because if we make another without charging you it will IMPACT our merit and because we drank from it. So how else would we know its good or bad if we cant drink from it. You are more concerned about yourself instead of your customers. I have been here a million times and never been treated this way. Party of 6 and we didn't order anything else and left. Also told them you can throw our drink away also.

What type of establishment is more focused on their employee ratings versus the satisfaction of their customers.

Don't waste your time or money because you won't be served with a customer 1st mind...

I have a kiddo with 20+ food allergies, including life-threatening anaphylactic ones; we don't go out to eat often and usually when we go to HeyBear, he just sticks to water and the playground. Today, he decided he wanted a drink. After asking if they had allergy friendly options, they checked every ingredient in their options to provide something SAFE for my child to order and all the employees working today slowed their line down to completely wash and sanitize the contact surfaces, utensils, and equipment before making his drink (without me asking). As an allergy mom with an EpiPen always in my back pocket, always waiting for the next exposure, this experience absolutely touched my heart. My child rarely gets to enjoy what most other people take for granted, but today he got to feel like every other kid on the playground, drink in-hand. I may or may not have cried watching him play and enjoy his slush. Thank you Hey Bear ❤️❤️❤️ If I could give 10...