Honey-Jam Cafe Wheaton — Restaurant in Wheaton

Out of all the HJC in my area this one is my least favorite. The last two experiences have sealed the reason why I would rather drive further to another location than visit this one again.

The first time we were sat at a dirty, sticky table. I asked the busser to get me a damp cloth to wipe it, but that didn't happen by the time they asked us for our drinks. We finished our coffee and left because we were not going to eat at a dirty table, but we felt it was rude to ask a second time.

Second time the waiter (who, for some reason assumed we wanted to speak in Spanish with him, I speak Spanish, but my partner's main language is English) just sees us, grabs two menus and says "excuse me" and until he was almost at our table he turned around and confirmed via eye contact that he indeed was guiding us to our table.

I recently lost my ID during a work trip, so I have my provisional one in the meantime. I am aware that I may need to provide another form of ID, so I carry my old expired one and my debit card, I didn't feel the need to bring my passport because I have been eating and living in the Wheaton area for several years now and I've been of drinking age for the most of that time, this is my third replacement, so I'm very familiar with the process and I'm aware they can deny a drink for me, I have no problem with that.

What I have a problem with is when the waiter (in Spanish) just tells me "we cannot accept this ID, but I'll make an exception" and this bothered me a lot, because he's not doing me a favor, he's providing a service and if he cannot fulfill it I rather it is denied to me than given with a condition as if I'm a kid. The ID can be scanned, so I tell him that, he explains to me that "this is a Wheaton City ordinance" but I was very skeptical because just two days ago I purchased liquor at Binny's and less than a week ago I went for drinks in downtown Wheaton with this same temporary ID. Even at every dispensary they just scan it with no issue (which you'd think would be a bigger deal, considering it's still illegal on the federal level).

The reason why this bothers me it's because as an immigrant I get questioned about my identifications often, so I have to constantly carry more than one, but this had never happened to me at a restaurant, much less over a mimosa. I tell him I don´t think that's the case (based on the experience I had that same week) and the waiter just replied to me "oh, so do you live in Wheaton?" in a challenging tone, so at that point I just got upset and told him "you know you can just refuse the drink, right? ill survive, it's 11 am" and he said "no, no, I will give you the drink, I'm just letting you know".

He tried to explain his choice of words by mentioning past scenarios at the restaurant where someone took a copy of the ID and they got in trouble, so idk if they were so desperate for another sale and a tip that he needed to take the risk this time, then he mentioned a case where someone brought a vertical ID but that doesn't apply to our case, nobody was showing him a vertical ID. At this point I'm done with the conversation because I don't think I have to explain my entire week to get served alcohol at a place I already had a bad experience at, so I repeat that he can just say no, but he confirms that he will bring me the drink.

He left, but instead of bringing the coffee and mimosa he called his manager on us, another woman who spoke to me in Spanish without even introducing herself, just asked to see my ID again and after I said "if this is such a big deal I can take a no for an answer" she said she wasn't going to serve me the alcohol with a cynical smile, making a whole scene for no reason, I would have been okay if he just said "I'm sorry but I cannot serve you with this ID" the first time, this is not some exclusive experience, it's just a chain diner, it got escalated for absolutely no reason and since I wanted my divorciados, we just went to another location and I got my strawberry mimosa with...

Larger Group? BEWARE!

On Monday, July 5th our larger party of 12 had breakfast at 9 am at the Rice Lake Butterfield’s. What a disappointment!

RESERVATIONS: Although they don’t take reservations I attempted to let them know about our large group several times. I called two weeks prior and was told to “call closer to the date.” Last week, I called and a disinterested worker answered, merely repeating the party lines “We don’t take reservations” and “it’s first come, first serve.” Yes, yes, I get that. However, after a holiday weekend, I just wanted to make sure they had enough staff on hand to accommodate us. I also went IN PERSON on Saturday July 3rd and was reassured that it would be fine. In fact, the manager had the worker write it down.

REMINDER: I called on July 5th at 8:30 to “remind them” that a large party would be arriving at 9 am. I got there at 8:50 and saw no accommodations (tables pushed together for a large group) and was admonished by the hostess that, “We thought you were arriving at 9 am.” A CLEAR admonishment that I was early. (What the heck? At 8:50 THEY should have been pushing tables together!) Instead, shortly after 9 am, the staff began pushing tables together, even having to ask a couple with a child to move so they could have their table too. Once the tables were together, I began (that’s right, me…the customer) began laying down silverware (wrapped in paper) and putting menus down.

THE SEATING: By that time, it was 9:15 and most of our party (several who had canes/mobility issues) were still waiting to be seated. After being seated, the wait time for ordering food was extremely long compared to the other tables. In spite of the fact that ALL of us were present, most tables seated after us had already GOTTEN their food before we even ordered!

THE ORDER: Our order came out around 10:15. My meal was fine, albeit expensive. ($5.99 for a side of bacon which is merely 4 strips and $4.99 for a half avocado sliced.) One person in our party had biscuits and gravy which she said was excellent. (“The best she’s ever had!”)

THE SERVICE: Due to the size of our party, a few “sides” like toast didn’t come with the main courses, which is understandable. But, when one of our party gently inquired about the toast asking, “I thought toast came with this?” the waitress responded with a diatribe about how, “I couldn’t fit everything on my tray. So, I am going back into the kitchen now to get the sides of toast and fruit!” Her tone was exasperated, like we were the worst group ever. She was passive aggressive the entire time, pretending not to see us when folks wanted a coffee refill etc.

OVERALL: Apathetic staff, unfriendly servers, unprepared to accommodate...

We have been coming here for years. I have grown to care about some of the servers, very kind, caring people. However in the last year there has been a steady change in quality of food, cleanlines of restaurant. In the past month, consistently I found a black hair in my food. I explained I did not want a free meal, I only wanted them to have cleaner practices, HAIR NETS, by cooks . My husband tapped his bread with his utensil, it was rock solid bread. I saw a big turnover of people that had been there, had left. something is wrong. I had to ask to clean out table as it was clearly NOT clean with food pieces. This was easily noticeable. The utensils were always dirty with a food partical or very greasy. Perhaps they need a new dishwasher. We have sadly changed after all of my hopes to change were ignored. We eat at a very clean, utensils wrapped and CLEAN, for a month now with no hairs in food. I saw a cook with a hair net. At Butterfield's the cooks came out very sloppy, and eager to leave at 2:30- counting the time til close at 3pm . I would suggest to take more pride in cooking as if they were cooking for their family. Wear a hair net, and there are so many that need and would be grateful for a job. Be grateful and take more pride in what you serve. Our last time there, the family behind us, refused their food saying it was terrible, not edible, and you are not inexpensive. Give proper service. I called to say I care about the people there, and hope to have these things change. I feel they may find their restaurant with very few customers unless they listen and reevaluate many practices. I was polite, and nothing I said was taken seriously. A manager should say, I 'm so sorry that is not how we want to be. There were no apologies. It was brief , and off the phone. I felt sad. When we eat at the new place, my husband pointed out things, and I said but I miss many of the servers. He said but you don't have hair in your food or rock hard bread. I was very disappointed that Butterfield's is letting their standards slip, and after being a loyal customer, who did not want a discount, I only sincerely called hoping they would reevaluate their standards, and why it has drastically changed. But they didn't care. I will miss certain servers. But my loyalty as a customer...