Barnie's Coffee & Tea Co. — Restaurant in Winter Park

On Sunday, Father's Day, I went to Barnie's kitchen with my running group for breakfast after our run, like I have been doing for a very long time. This was about 8 hours after the Orange County Mask rule went into effect, and I had forgotten my mask. I was asked to leave the restaurant, which I did because I fully support this rule to cut down on Covid, though I was bummed that I had forgotten my mask. As I exited through the front of the restaraunt, there were two large groups. One was a family and the other was a group of police officers, about 8. Neither group had a mask, so I asked why they weren't wearing masks, and I was told by the manager that you don't need a mask to eat, and that the officers were officers and they didn't need to wear a mask.

This was very upsetting that I was forced to leave, but this group of officers was not even told they had to wear a mask. I even asked if I could have someone order for me and return when the food arrived since you did not need to wear a mask to eat and was told no.

I am a disabled veteran, and I remember one thing clearly from my time in the Army. We were always told we were standard bearers, and had to set an example as military soldiers repenting the country. Now these police officers may not feel they need to wear masks even though everyone else needs to make that sacrifice, but the manager at Barnie's could have been consistent in the rule. The manager even told me if it was such a big deal I should go ask the officers to leave, which didn't make sense since I was not the one employing the rule in an inconsistent way. The other family group also did not have a mask, though they were eating, which could have been the reason why. I even asked for one of the masks the staff was wearing, and would have paid for that, but was told no.

I understand these are difficult time, very difficult times, and I've gone out of my way to support restaurants like Barnie's and others during this time, but the restaurant managers need to have some consistency or common sense. To say that officers of the law who enforce the law aren't required to follow the same rule you enforce for a regular customer is not good business.

Barnie's Kitchen has probably lost a long time customer and supporter, and I hope the owners read this and try to come up with a consistent policy or more common sense practices. Also at the very least purchase some disposable masks and make them available for purchase for regular customers before embarrassing them and forcing them to leave for...

First and last time coming here. I was actually really looking forward to going to this place and spending some time working and trying out some of their stuff but it turned out to be one of the worst “services” I’ve had at any establishment.

Sat myself at a table and waited for a few minutes before realizing no one was around waiting on the tables and all the employees were just waiting around in the back by the register. I figured orders were probably placed at the register, then brought out to the table so I went to place my order and then sat back at my table. Was eventually approached by the previously missing server and told that tables were for server service only and any orders made at the register were to-go orders only. I told her that it was my first time here so I didn’t know but could I change my order to dine in instead. She insolently said that there were many signs posted everywhere stating this. There was only one singular small sign below eye level at the counter stating this. Rudely, she said that she would let the kitchen staff know to change my order to dine in but tables are for server service only just so I’m aware next time. She did not tell the staff to change my order to dine in but she did tell them to remind me that tables were for server service only. I received my food in two to-go containers, no bag, no napkins, no utensils, and was again curtly reminded that tables were for server service only by the counter staff just so I know next time. There will not be a next time, I took my food+coffee and left. Never have I ever felt so unwelcome at a “serving” establishment. Complete polar opposite to the actual service provided at Bosphorus right next door or any of the other great places on the same street.

Also worth noting that while I was waiting for my order, the family at the table next to me had an accident, one of their children spilled water everywhere. The “server” passed by, clearly saw the mess, and chose to completely ignore it. No help was offered to these people at all, the father had to go grab a handful of napkins and both he and the mother cleaned up the spill on the table as best they could with the small napkins. The spill on the floor below will probably remain there for who knows how long as I ended up leaving ten minutes later when my food was ready.

Overall, this place is most definitely not worth the money I paid and I regret coming here. I will gladly take my...

A friend and I visited Barnie's this morning to meet for breakfast, an establishment we have both been paying customers at many times. My past experiences at Barnie's have been fine, nothing about average, as the service can be quite slow with their "seat yourself" policy, which just means sit down and we'll get to you in however long it takes for a server to notice you. So we went and ordered at the counter and then sat at a table and our coffees were brought to us in paper cups, which we thought odd since everyone else's were in glass mugs. About 10 minutes go by until a server comes to our table and asks us to leave since we ordered to go and were taking up a table. We explained to her that we were not aware that we ordered to go, and then were told by her that if we ordered at the counter then we ordered to go, and that her main point was that we had to leave because we would not be tipping a server. We then told her that we did in fact tip at the counter, even when we were not aware that we were ordering to go. Even the man at the table next to us thought it was ridiculous as we just didn't know any better and were never told that ordering at the counter means ordering to go. She went and got her manager, and then he came over and told us, paying and tipping customers, that we had to leave because we unknowingly ordered to go and were taking up a table from the people waiting. He told us we should have known that we ordered to go because supposedly it says so on the front door. He then escorted us out, causing a scene, and sending us to the sidewalk where it was a 50 degree morning in WP. I'm not sure if this is new management, with the recent renovation and all, but they lost customers of 10...