240 Rose Cafe — Restaurant in Winter Park

Sorry in advance for the long post, but my party and I had a terrible experience for Mother’s Day. It was only three of us. We were sat in one of the two outside tables, after waiting for about 15min. and seeing the waitress take the order of two tables that had sat after us, I went to the host to ask if someone could come take our order, he grab the waitress who was passing behind him and she admitted (in Spanish) that she didn’t even see us sitting there, unfortunately for them although I am dark skin I am Hispanic and I speak perfect Spanish, but I said nothing. While we waited on our food it started drizzling, naturally we went to the host to see what plan B would be, he was kind of lost and had no idea what to do. Another couple had been sat at the other outside table they just left since it was just chaos, the raindrop slowed down a little bit, so we sat back down to wait for our food, unfortunately, the rain started picking up again. We stood at the outside of the restaurant holding our drinks, people in the other tables were in disbelief, one table said they brought the wrong food twice the other was upset she was half way done with her food and still did not have her coffee. this went on long enough that a group, that was getting ready to leave offered their table to us, We of course, notify the host and our waitress who agreed to that solution, while we were waiting by the table to get cleaned the manager, Carolina, whom had been inside the whole time and was oblivious to what was going on, comes out and asked the waitress why we were standing there also in Spanish, she didn’t address us in any way, and went back inside, however, returned with two of our meals in hand and tells us that we cannot just take a table and do what we want and there were reservations waiting to be sitted, still holding our composure I asked how can she prioritize someone waiting on a table over customers whose already ordered their food? Or did she expect for us to eat as raindrops falls in our food, she replied next time we should not take an outside table, obviously, after that statement, some words were exchange she was extremely rude and disrespectful and walked away. We finally did sit down when the waitress finished cleaning the table however, at that point, we had no interest in eating the food. Before we left, I went back inside and asked for the owners contact information. Carolina came around from the glass partition to my face, proceeded to tell me that they do not do give the owners information. I asked if I had a complaint regarding her who do I address and her response was you send it to me and gave me her card. I did let her know that she handled that very poorly, and she was rude and disrespectful, and she again raised her voice, and let me know that she was managing 80 people eating at her restaurant, continued to cut me off multiple times. I did advise her that I spoke very good Spanish and finish the conversation in Spanish and let her know that I understood all of the comments that were made about us in front of us in a different language under the impression that I did not know what they were saying. My friends and I are all foodies and we eat out a lot and although I can’t say that I’ve had great experiences everywhere we’ve went, this is the first terrible experience, that made me want to leave a bad review. I would never go back there nor would I recommend anybody else to. I like to mention that the waitress did try to do the right thing.

UPDATE your response explains everything. It did not pour but it did drizzle, and there is no reason why we need to seat with rain drops falling in our food. As you mentioned Florida weather is unpredictable so if you’re going to offer outside seating, you should have a Plan B. We were very patient and waited if we couldn’t have the offered table your host and served should have said that was not allowed, there is a difference between asking and demanding and we asked. If they could have not accommodate us despite having already ordered we would have been...

Dear Manager,

I wanted to inform you about our experience at your restaurant on March 29, 2025. Our server, Dani, attended to us, and I wanted to share my concerns about the service we received. Unfortunately, Dani approached our table with a very aggressive demeanor. I mentioned that it was our first time at Rose, and we had come to the restaurant because of the wonderful TikToks you’ve shared. Honestly, I’m not one to write reviews or complain, but I feel this situation warrants it.

We arrived with high expectations based on your online presence, but the experience did not reflect that. From the beginning, waiting on the sidewalk to enter the restaurant did not present a good impression. Additionally, there was no available parking, so we had to park across the street.

When we were seated, Dani’s attitude was harsh. After mentioning that it was our first visit, I would have expected a warm welcome with recommendations or a simple explanation of the menu. Instead, she quickly listed items without providing any real guidance. I was there with my two children, and when I asked if they had bread, she responded that we’d need to order a single pancake. What she failed to mention was that the pancakes are enormous. My children couldn’t finish their food, and we had to waste most of it. A simple suggestion that one pancake could be shared would have made a difference.

My son also ordered a strawberry smoothie, which unfortunately tasted like water. Within moments, it had a curdled appearance like spoiled milk. When we told Dani that he didn’t like it, she took the smoothie away without any apology or follow-up. Despite the poor quality, we were still charged $9.50 for the drink.

Additionally, I requested hash browns, and instead of politely clarifying that they go by a different name on your menu, she ignored us. When the hash browns arrived, they were overly toasted, and the dish did not resemble anything like what you advertise on TikTok or Instagram.

At one point, while collecting the menus, Dani accidentally hit my daughter on the head without even offering a simple apology.

Regarding the coffee, I had requested some latte art. She told me it depended on the machine and the number of guests, which I found confusing. Some people seemed to receive it, while others did not. When I finally received mine, the design resembled a poorly drawn heart that looked more like an amateur tattoo.

The overall experience did not justify the price. I don’t mind paying for good service, but spending $182 and then being expected to leave a 20% tip was unacceptable considering how we were treated. I genuinely dislike withholding tips, but I couldn’t justify it this time.

Dani’s lack of professionalism and customer service was evident. She did not explain the menu, treated us rudely, and failed to make us feel welcome. The food was rushed, and we didn’t get to enjoy our time there. Even the chicken sandwich we ordered was mediocre and easily replicable at home.

This experience was incredibly disappointing. I would not recommend your restaurant to anyone based on what we went through. I strongly suggest that Dani undergo customer service training to better handle guests and create a more positive dining experience. I frequently dine out, and I’ve never encountered such poor service before.

Thank you for your...

This was our first time visiting, and unfortunately the service really ruined the experience. Our server was very unhelpful and showed no compassion or effort in guiding us through the menu or recommending meals. For a first-time guest, that makes a big difference.

Another issue was with the separate checks. They stated it’s mentioned on the website that they don’t do them, but not everyone checks the website before visiting. And even with it being there, it’s just common sense to let guests know in advance, especially since I’m sure it’s not the first time a large party has asked for separate checks.

On top of that, we were basically being pushed to leave. The staff started cleaning around us while we were still there, even though other parties were still arriving. That’s not how guests should feel when dining out. Organization is key, and if there was proper organization, there would be no need to rush people out just to serve others—especially when the service itself was already poor.

Sadly, I only came because I was invited, not because I heard great things about this place. Normally, I always check reviews before visiting any restaurant, and I wish I had been able to do the same here.

It’s a shame because the place itself is nice, but the service was far from it. They would really benefit from training in customer service, because sadly, it was missing here.

Response Thank you for your detailed response. While I appreciate the clarification, I find it disappointing that more energy is being spent defending poor service than addressing the actual guest experience.

Your explanation relies heavily on policies — which, while important, should never come at the cost of basic hospitality or professionalism. Guests are not policy experts, nor should they be expected to comb through your website, reservation system, and printed menus just to ensure they receive decent service. If these rules are so critical, they should be clearly and consistently communicated in real time — not hidden behind fine print and later used as a shield for subpar treatment.

Your staff had an opportunity to manage the situation with courtesy and flexibility, but instead, we were met with rigidity and a lack of accommodation that felt dismissive rather than hospitable. Pointing to lateness or group size doesn’t excuse the fact that your team failed to communicate clearly or handle the situation with the grace expected in a service-based industry. Especially since the additional guests were known before arrival — not a surprise. Not to mention the so called server rolling her eyes at your “guest” very professional

Moreover, had your team taken even half the time they spent writing this lengthy justification to proactively guide our group at the table — whether with the check or time management — the experience might have been smoother for all involved.

Restaurants are built on more than policies — they thrive on service, experience, and how guests feel when they walk out the door. Unfortunately, instead of taking accountability or showing any willingness to improve, your response only reinforces the exact frustration that prompted the feedback in the first place.

I hope future guests are met with more focus on hospitality than on rule...