Bonnie Blue Southern Market & Bakery — Restaurant in Winchester

Unfortunately I have to rate this experience on this experience. Past experiences have been much better. My son and I were looking for a nice place to have dinner. I figured we had plenty of time to order a sandwich and drink and eat it. Immediately upon getting out of the car we heard a fire alarm go off. It was a fire alarm above the front door of the restaurant. We decided to take a look. As we walked in and looked around we saw no one in sight. The chairs were all on the table and it looked like they had already closed. I called out but no one responded. It was eerie that a business would be so empty during business hours especially when a fire alarm was going off which caused me concern, like something wasn't right. I thought maybe there was a fire or perhaps a burglary in action. It didn't seem right. So I called out again, "Hello?! Hello?!?" several times until finally this woman came out from the back looking like "what do you want?" I asked if they were open? She kind of shrugged her shoulders. I asked what time they closed. She said "6pm". Then I asked what time it was. She said "5:30pm". I say "I guess that gives us time to order something to eat then." She asks "For here or to go?"! I say "we have to eat it here, we have dogs in the car." She tells me that we can go outside and she will bring us some menus outside. I looked at her confused, for health reasons, I must eat it here" I tell her. . She repeats that that they have seating outside (a picnic table) and she will bring menus out there. I asked if we could look at the pastries for a moment as I usually get one and like to pick from sight instead of menu. She says okay and walks away. I start asking my son if he's like to go somewhere where they clearly aren't trying so very hard to get rid of us. He says "yeah,". I did want an iced Chai really badly however so by the time the next woman came out with a more convincing "hello, can I get you a drink?" I says yes please and asked her for an iced Chai. Then I saw her getting the same box of chai I but from Walmart and pour the last few drops out into the cup. It was only about 20% of the glass not 50% like it should be. I assume she's getting a other box out. Nope. She gets the milk out and fills it the other 80% with milk. It tastes like milk I couldn't even taste the chai in it. We walked away with only a raspberry type of pastry and a cup of milk which I hate straight milk so I didn't drink it. So I paid over $10 for a single serving of pastry and to be treated like "how dare you come in here 35 minutes before we close! And to make it worse- we think the fire alarm was a ploy to get rid of us so we it came on right when we got out of our cars and went off some time after we went inside the restaurant. That's beyond unprofessional. I wonder if the owner knows the employees are play these games...

First time here and had a great time. You can sit inside or outside and taking the option for indoors; really loved the atmosphere of the restaurant and the decorations was really eye catching.

The staff were very kind and courteous. They offered personal recommendations, chatted with us from time to time, and it was just the kind of interaction you wish you could have more often.

Came during brunch hours, so we had options of both breakfast and lunch items. The menus for both meal slots were great options but wasn't overwhelming. They kept it to one page each and didn't try to fill it with too many choices or using a small font. Each item had a brief description and was to the point.

The food was really good. But, here's my criticism. As a family of 4, we went with the items that would give us a broad interpretation of what this place has to offer. The one thing we all found that each meal had in common, was vinegar. In certain meats and the catfish, there was a strong vinegar flavor. As well as, in the sides themselves. Not saying it was bad, it's just not expected when you're use to certain meal standards from other establishments.

Now, as far as the bakery is concerned, it's part of the restaurant but it's seperate. They're on different ends of the building with their own entrances. It's quaint and offers an assortment of goods and confections that sticks to the menu style of small but great choices.

We picked up a birthday cake that was ordered as bakers choice and we weren't disappointed. The cake was gorgeous and very rich but delicious. They went with a cream cheese icing over a tri layered red velvet cake. I offer many thanks and kudos to the baker that crafted such a wonderful treat. Took a little over a week to finish the 10" cake, lol.

I recommend you to try Bonnie's and see for yourself how great they really are. And, if you read this far, give a reply with your own experiences. I would love to hear your view. Maybe, I may even see you there the next...

Atmosphere is great:

Born and raised in Winchester this place was delicious till about 2016. Everyone who actually lives in town knows it’s been atrocious since - taking shortcuts on the food, nothing good anymore. Me and a few friends, also og townies since before half of this town was apartment buildings and townhomes, decided to give it a go again.

The food is disgusting. The service was ran by what looked to be 14-16 year old girls. Drinks came out WITH THE FOOD, which arrived lukewarm on our table within 5 minutes of ordering!

I know brunch is hard to get right and SOME things have to be prepped beforehand - but come on!

The waffle had clearly been made before we even sat down - I don’t think a single thing was fresh. Sausage gravy had a good flavor gravy wise but the sausage itself was chewy and undercooked and the pieces were much too large. Potatoes had a good texture but the flavoring just wasn’t right; chicken and waffles included chicken that was gray and chewy inside with flavorless breading, a strange tasting syrup that did truthfully cancel out some of the bad flavors, and a cold waffle. Hm.

Upon picking at our food hoping for redemption, pretty much done at 20 minutes, the child worker who was waiting our table gave us death glares as it seems this restaurant runs on quantity not quality.

A few tips from people who actually live in this town when you run out of transplants and tourists from that New York Times article from 2015;

The first is maybe make sure some food is fresh. And not cold. The second is to ensure your child workers know that you should fire drinks before food. The third is to ensure your bathroom isn’t disgusting. Fourth, learn southern cuisine. Finally, reconsider the whole wannabe hipster vibe and get back to focusing on the food. Great location, but there is a reason why everyone who actually is from this area avoids Bonnie blue...