Black Butterfly NSB — Restaurant in New Smyrna Beach

My friends and I came here to have a nice day out together. My friend has POTS and is a disabled person under ADA law. She has a service dog named Koda who is MEDICAL ALERT so she doesn't have a fainting spell in public.

We walk in and are told that up front was full and that we weren't allowed to sit in the back because of the carpet. The owner apparently doesn't want dogs on the carpet because of "pee and allergies".

Doing this is ILLEGAL. And not only that, but immoral to sit here and deny a disabled person a place to sit. She told us we could either sit at the bar or outside. With my friends condition, she cannot sit in a bar stool cause if she falls off during a spell, she could seriously injure her head. And forcing people to eat outside just because they have a disability is barbaric and I cannot even believe was suggested. Especially in 90 degree weather when they have NO SHADING whatsoever with the outside seating. My friends dog is also a BLACK LAB.

This shouldn't have even been an issue and I can honestly say that the owner had better change her tune about this sort of thing or she can be hit with a lawsuit. And that is 100% a battle she will not win under ADA law. A persons disability and medical alert dog is more important than your stupid carpet. Maybe also don't have carpet in a cafe/restaurant? It's unsanitary even without animals being on it.

You also know a situation is bad on the owner when everyone else that was in that cafe was supporting us and being kind to us while looking at her like she's insane. Do not support a business like this that wants to SEGREGATE people with disabilities. It's immoral, disgusting behavior. I am going to be telling every single person I know about this place and writing about it in all my online spaces. A place that discriminates against those with disabilities does not deserve to be in business. A fine for denying a service animal can go up to $75,000 in the state of Florida.. just saying.

I also wanna point out that the stress from this situation caused my friend with POTs to almost have a fainting spell out in the parking lot. If that would have happened, y'all would have DEFINITELY had a lawsuit on your hands. I'd change your ways in the future and perhaps tear out that damn carpet if it's such an issue.

One last thing to add as that my friend Hali and I were repeat customers. The food is great here so this was incredibly disappointing. I decided to bring my other two friends to show them this place. But if this is how the owner treats people with disabilities, then I will no longer support and...

I'm editing this review as I see the owner said it did not happen. I am proof it did happen to this person. I do not know the other customer personally. I am a mother and grandmother, and I am disabled along with my grandchildren. I can't sit still to see an innocent person be denied service. My hope is for the owner educate herself on ADA regulations and change her attitude. The food is great. It can be a great place but if you have disabilities go with caution. It is just sad that after calmly the customer stating the law and then the owner said "well, I can refuse you service because you are being rude." The young customer never responded but just left quietly.

If you want to support this business, you won’t be disappointed with the food. Honestly it was one of the best places to eat. Quality food. Decent price. My husband and I spend over $100 with the tip each time we ate here. The person I am assuming is the owner of the place is why we will no longer be coming as the attitude. I was eating with my family who has an autistic grandson with his service dog. We have been seated before in the carpeted area so it was disappointing to see how another person with a disability and service dog was treated today. We were seated up front on tiled floor. I never thought about it until another patron with service dog came to eat also. The patron was young and NEVER rude nor raised her voice. Not once. She was offered to sit (no table) in the seats in front. The young lady spoke of the law in a calm voice. The owner stated she was being rude and refused service because of the this. Just WOW The disabled young lady even stated what her dog was trained for but because owner was ignorant of laws the customer left. Very sad. She never argued at all. I took video of the situation for evidence if it was needed. Sad because this establishment just lost my business and my families because of the treatment of people with...

I was really excited to try out this cafe. It’s very cute, and the food looks good. I had gotten a table, but when my friend with a service dog came in, the staff asked me to move. This isn’t a pet but a dog needed to help someone with a physical condition. Basically they told us we could sit outside since there were already another dog in the room they considered okay for pets—but this was a service dog which should be allowed anywhere with the person he is assisting with a medical condition. Going around by myself as an able bodied person is so different than walking into somewhere with a person with a disability. I’m so disappointed with the manager for raising her voice at my friend who just wanted to eat her lunch at a cute new cafe. I didn’t even get to try the food because we left after the manager lost her temper when we insisted that it’s discrimination to take a seat from a person because they need a service animal. I started crying after she said “I didn’t deny you a seat. But I’ll deny you service just for the people part of the equation. The dog can stay.” I don’t like being treated like a bad person for standing up for my friend—who wanted to leave the moment our table was taken away. I shouldn’t have made the moment more disappointing for her by trying to get our seats back, but I didn’t expect the owner to blow up on us like that. It was really disappointing...