Bean Scene Cafe

Reading through the reviews, we can see why this business has had bad energy for many years, because a member of our team experienced it firsthand, talking with the owner himself. As a startup, our CEO invited him to beta test an app that would enable his employees to receive useful feedback and increased tips. Apparently he was dismissive, disinterested, and doesn’t value his staff. He said some nonsense about «doing business in a unique way.» Really? Uniquely anti-​entrepreneurial. Not sure how this place is in the spot it is, but we think this business is undeserving of such a prime location. Advice to customers: Stay away. Advice to owner: Care about your staff.

For how much money that has been dumped in to the Performing Arts Theater, you’d think that they could do a little better.
On the other hand, it’s all about location and convenience.
It’s one thing to support the center, but stopping at a real coffee place might be in order next time I go see a show. Without a production I wouldn’t see any other reason to stop here. But maybe that’s because I don’t live in the area.

So disappointed :(I ordered the vegetable crêpe and the dough tasted like uncooked flour and the spinach was brownish green so that means it’s old. It ruined my day! Maybe they’re better at coffee drinks but what can you expect from a young girl making food? I hope the owner isn’t approving of this poor quality for recipes.

Amazingly rude. I got there at 11 am to while away time till my noon lunch appointment. I did not want to ruin my appetite before lunch, so I thought of maybe getting some coffee. Their credit card minimum is $ 4, though, and I did not have any cash on me, so I decided to pass on coffee this time and just sat down at the table. The barista came up And asked me how he could help me. I asked him whether I could just sit around and wait for my friend, but he said it’s for customers only! I could not believe my ears! There was nobody in the café! Whose spot was I taking? I might have bought something later from them, didn’t he think? Never going back.

I never feel welcome here. Food and drinks are sub-​par. The location is super convenient if you are at the library or theater. Recently I came here with a friend and our kids. The cashier yelled at me for not waiting to sign my credit card receipt. The bill was only 4.50 and he had already moved on to the next customer so I had assumed there was nothing to sign and had moved on to get my daughter seated. The staff glared at the kids the entire time. The kids were reasonably well behaved and seated away from any other customers. I felt really uncomfortable and left early.

Terrible service, overpriced desserts. It took us over ½ an hour to get our coffee. The place seems woefully understaffed. Also staff isn’t friendly. Desserts were stale and overpriced. Pity I didn’t pay more attention to the negative reviews.

I had similar experiences as I was reading the reviews for this business; this establishment does not let people sit on their chairs if people do not buy drinks from them. I thought the city owns the chairs, but I guess the business do. The people in this business are mean and greedy. Why can’t people hang out in front of a Performing Arts Center and City Hall. I feel like they should allow people to sit down even though these people didn’t order drinks from them. When people see a crowd, they want to see what’s going on and if they see a coffee shop with a crowd hanging out their coffee shop, people may flock to their coffee shop and try their coffee. As of right now, they are pushing these people away and evil never prevails, I hope they go out of business.

This is a very negative environment and I wish to share my experience. I entered the shop to see if they have any gluten free food. The employee said no, so I sat down inside the shop to wait for a play at the performing arts center. After 1 minute I was asked to leave since I had purchased a drink from another store and had brought it in with me. I totally get it but, I was surprised since this coffee shop is in the same building as the arts center and I was seeing a show. I left without argument and sat outside at a table in the courtyard. The same employee came up to me again outside and said I could not sit here either. I did not argue with him but I told him I was not going to leave, it was 8 pm at night and there was no one around. He then threatened me saying he was going to call the cops. He then called the cops. I could not believe the anger and downright meanness of this person. There was no sign on their table indicating it was reserved for the coffee shop. And it was in the same courtyard as the arts center. I kind of feel bad for this person, he must really hate his life if he is treating others like this. I will never do business with this shop.

We were on our last day in the San Jose area and decided to check out the Mountain View area so we could get an idea just in case of a relocation to the area.
We felt a bit hungry and thirsty so we headed here and got something.
I had my eye on the sweet treats available but instead we opted for two of the savoury pastry things I believe they were called Empanandas but could have passed for Cornish pasties from home.
We had one beef one and one spinach and ricotta one and shared them. Additionally we got a coffee and a diet sofa.
The place was quiet and relaxed and we got to sit right near the fish tank which kept our toddler entertained!

My co-​worker and I had a nice lunch at Bean Scene Café following a meeting at City Hall. I expected a little more traditional chicken cordon bleu preparation in my chicken cordon bleu panini, but the sliced deli chicken breast was fine. Plus these guys don’t have a proper kitchen for cooking chicken so I should just cut them a break. Sandwich was fine. What I can’t overlook as easily is the stained and tired furniture. My chair cushion’s lining was coming off, and most of the chairs had stains — that shouldn’t happen. Decent place but needs some TLC.

Was sitting at their tables outside, literally the only person there, and they kicked me out because I wasn’t a customer.
The business looks dead and kicking previous customers off what really should be public seating is messed up.

Wow was I disappointed. With lots of other great places within walking distance, I don’t know how this place survives.
When you first walk in, it looks decent enough, but it’s LOUD. The refrigerator cases make a lot of noise and in a fairly small space with mostly hard surfaces it gets annoying fast.
The employee was nice, but my drink was, at best, O.K.
The I went to sit down. The seats were truly disgusting. Fabric covered chairs and benches that were filthy and stained. I was quite hesitant to even sit down.
At a coffee shop (or restaurant), you have to expect people will spill food and drink on the seats, so plan for it. Either expect to clean and replace frequently or use vinyl or finished wood surfaces that are easy to clean and hard to stain.
I am a big believer in second chances, but these are basic things that are unlikely to change, so it probably won’t happen.

Came here for breakfast because I felt like contributing to a small business this morning. The café is located adjacent to the MV Performing arts theatre. Very quiet here and there was plenty of seating inside and out. I brought my dog so found a table next to the fountain.
Ordered a breakfast burrito and latte. Both were fine. Not great but okay. The man who helped me wasn’t friendly but he also didn’t look like he wanted to be here.
Anyhow happy to support small businesses and avoid the crowds at Starbucks :-)

The service here is tremendously awful; very, very rude staff. I would not recommend this place to my best friend, or my worst enemy.
There is no shortage of coffee shops on Castro Street; I suggest you select ANY other place.

This is my favorite go-​to afternoon work spot in Mountain View because:
1) it is guaranteed that tables will be available, both indoors and outdoors,
2) there is a good wifi connection and
3) there are many food options.
The food is okay, nothing special. There are great beverage options, which is perfect for someone that wants to just work for a couple hours in the afternoon.

3 stars for the almond bar and chocolate milkshake (though maybe lucky ordering given how stale most of the baked goods look and the other reviews…) Negative 4 stars for the rude service and markup. Over $ 10 for a milkshake and pastry?!! The only reason this place isn’t totally out of business is the daytime city hall employees and the evening theater goers. The guy at the register couldn’t be less friendly if he was making a conscious effort to make customers uncomfortable. The woman who made the drinks seemed neutral and very pleasant in contrast. This is the reason customers have such a hard time choosing local independent stores! At least the chain stores train employees how to interact with other humans!
Give yourself some extra time when coming to the theater and check out one of the many places on Castro st with better food/​coffee and infinitely better service! Between the overpriced menu, substandard quality and loud refrigerators/​display cases you owe it to your paycheck and your workout to do better justice!

I’ve been to this place a few times out of convenience when I’m at the performing arts center but I’ve determined it’s not worth it when I can just go down the street to any number of places. (Posh bagel is delicious.)
Don’t waste your time or money here!
My main issue with this place is the service; specifically the one guy that always seems to be working the register. He is very rude to customers. Probably because he is guaranteed business from the audiences next door, he doesn’t need to worry about good customer service. Even if you bought something earlier if you are not still consuming it and you come in a little bit later during intermission he will rudely tell you to leave. Even while you’re ordering from them he’s pretty unfriendly.
The coffee and food is not even good anyway.
I won’t be spending any more money here.

While I was sitting outside waiting for my friends I was approached by the staff telling me outside seating is for customers only. So I asked him how do you know I am not waiting for someone to join me and eat here? the response is there are tables on the other side where I can wait for my friends I wanted to laugh as I took a look around and saw all the empty tables and chairs awaiting for their «customers» I smiled and walked away.
I think can spend my money elsewhere where customers are valued.
Bean Scene Café, Good Job keeping outside seating vacant and making your business look dead!

Great location, decent stuff, but TERRIBLE customer service!
Came here to study and sat outside on the Civic Center patio with my friend to study. We open our books, and within 2 min we’re told by the barista that THIS IS FOR CUSTOMERS ONLY. Space was completely empty, but apparently that didn’t stave the complete urgency of us needing to buy something RIGHT NOW.
I understand the angst, really I do. The friend I was with is a small business owner, I know that it’s not easy. But seriously, if you’re going to run a small business, have the right mindset! Yelling at yuppie coffee drinkers to leave your area unless you are a customer is not a great way to gain customer loyalty.
So fine, after we’re «scolded» by the unpleasant barista, my friend buys an iced tea. A couple minutes later, a friend joins us with tea from Tea Era. Within 5 minutes again, the barista runs outside scolding «no outside food or drink!!» Dude, it’s an outside patio, no one’s around, we already bought something from your store! If anything I would think that having people at your café would be a positive thing, but apparently not. Pay your $ 2 or get out!
Apparently Bean Scene owns all of the Civic Center patio — who knew? All I know is that I’d really rather take my money to Starbucks or pretty much anywhere else on Castro. 20 min of hanging out with friends with too much unpleasantness from the staff = bad combo. Part of me feels bad since to act like that it makes me think they’re not doing too well, but a bigger part of me feels wronged as a customer

I’ve never met an unhappier barista. His face was thunderous and I could actually hear him sigh while he was making coffee. There were a lot of pastries, and I was excited for my pumpkin muffin, but it turned out to taste and feel like cardboard.
The only pluses were the abundance of seating and prime location in downtown Sunnyvale. I was also worried there would be a card minimum that I couldn’t make, since I spotted an ATM machine on one side of the café, but I guess my barista didn’t care enough to enforce it.