By Mark Baratelli
Owner
I'd gone to the media preview of Barnies Coffee Kitchen Tuesday November 8, 2011, and was enthralled by the interior, the menu changes (real food!), redesigned coffee bag packaging and a giant honkin' coffee roaster as the room's centerpiece. Friday November 18, 2011, it was time to go in as a regular joe and give it a try.
I had the salmon and creme cheese on a bagel. Two things need to change: they need an "everything" bagel option and some other savory creme cheese flavor besides "plain." Other than those nit-pickin's, the breakfast meal was great. I mean, look at the photos. I did wince at the price, but it's in Winter Park. Eight bucks for fish on a bagel is the norm there. I don't know really. Winter Park doesn't let me inside it's gates often. I kid.
When the plate was brought to my table, my judging eyes went straight to the tomatoes. They looked rotten. I was assured these are heirloom tomatoes and this is how they look. No idea what the purply moist thingies were, but I ate them, too.
I have to mention the coffee service. I order the cheapest coffee option possible for $1.70 and I want you to LOOK at the presentation below. Giant lovely ceramic mug with plate and spoon accompanied by my own ceramic milk dispenser and cache of sweetners. I wanted to stand up and clap.
This place is so NOT what you know Barnies to be. Its an utter shift in product, presentation and atmosphere. It's coming to downtown Orlando inside the City Arts Factory in 2012 and probably soon, across the US.
Owner
I'd gone to the media preview of Barnies Coffee Kitchen Tuesday November 8, 2011, and was enthralled by the interior, the menu changes (real food!), redesigned coffee bag packaging and a giant honkin' coffee roaster as the room's centerpiece. Friday November 18, 2011, it was time to go in as a regular joe and give it a try.
I had the salmon and creme cheese on a bagel. Two things need to change: they need an "everything" bagel option and some other savory creme cheese flavor besides "plain." Other than those nit-pickin's, the breakfast meal was great. I mean, look at the photos. I did wince at the price, but it's in Winter Park. Eight bucks for fish on a bagel is the norm there. I don't know really. Winter Park doesn't let me inside it's gates often. I kid.
When the plate was brought to my table, my judging eyes went straight to the tomatoes. They looked rotten. I was assured these are heirloom tomatoes and this is how they look. No idea what the purply moist thingies were, but I ate them, too.
I have to mention the coffee service. I order the cheapest coffee option possible for $1.70 and I want you to LOOK at the presentation below. Giant lovely ceramic mug with plate and spoon accompanied by my own ceramic milk dispenser and cache of sweetners. I wanted to stand up and clap.
This place is so NOT what you know Barnies to be. Its an utter shift in product, presentation and atmosphere. It's coming to downtown Orlando inside the City Arts Factory in 2012 and probably soon, across the US.
