They don’t pay their workers and rumors around town say it’s owned by a cult.
Lilliana McNary
service was fine, but the drinks were disgusting. bits of debris, and maybe mold, the proportions were messed up so it was watery and just overall gross looking, had several CHILDREN working, CHILDREN. definitely not going back, this is really disappointing.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Will Forbes
Amazing service the person up front treated us very well and he greeted me by saying “How can I make your day better” and he was kind and helpful. They had samples on the table and the sample was so good I told him to give me whatever that was. It didn’t disappoint! It was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cole Mickens
Hidden gem in the mall. Cool vibes, I got some Nitro Chai and a tasty London Fog scone. The gentleman that has been here both times I've been in was super friendly and nice. (I do wish the mall wifi worked, or the cafe knew their wifi password).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kathleen D.
Been a customer for years, Kevin and his family always make me feel like family. The dedication to quality in each cup, personalized attention, and flavor has always been great, abd if it's ever not they do everything they can to make it right. Love to see them expanding and thriving in spite of location issues. Glad to see games and tables in the space, a fun addition!
Scilynn Gros
I go here all the time and I have been for 3+ years, I’ve met the owner a few times and him and his team are amazing. Up until lately I haven’t had issues with employees/volunteers but there has been multiple times (same employee/volunteer every time) that my order has been wrong, I paid for one size and got a different one, or they gave my order to someone else. There was one day that I ordered and it was wrong, that’s fine. It happens. They offered to remake it and I took the offer because I don’t like the texture of the particular drink they gave me. They remade it and then gave it to someone else for free. I went and told them that they gave it to someone else and they completely denied it. The person they gave it to was nice enough to come up for proof. They remade it (correctly) and gave me a free cookie because I had been there for well over an hour at this point. More recently I ordered, got my drink and it seemed small. I had ordered and paid for a regular, they gave me a small. I went up and explained the mix up, they completely denied it and said I had paid for a small. I should’ve gotten a receipt but I know now. Other than the service, this place is great, good boba, good cookies, some good staff, and amazing music playing at all times. Genuinely disappointed with how downhill this amazing establishment has gone.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Very Berry
Milan A.
The service is great! The guy who's always working the register seems super kind, even if a tad overbearing but in a dad joke kinda fun way! I've been coming here since I found it in 2017! A Topeka/Midwest native, I spent most of my adolescence & young adulthood in San Diego,CA got exposed to a lot & missing boba was something I did not have to do thanks to this cute lil cafe!! Only star down would be because I hate when good things change & this place has not gone back to normal since Covid with the way that the register cart/bar is at the edge of the entrance still not allowing people inside anymore. I miss the way it was, the seating along the edge of the walkway is nice enough but not inside the establishment. I can't be picky though, this might be the only spot I can get boba at in town! I'd like coffee on the menu as well, I'm a fanatic. But I can respect their tea only & made it easy taking my 11yo cousin there today who I'd take the coffee out of her drink anyway. I wish they had some nicer looking pastries! Otherwise, still truly a 10/10 will definitely visit again.
Tatum Diggs
Cafe banarbas is one of my favorite places in the mall. They have great bubble tea and healthy snack choices. All of their stuff is delicious, but affordable. Their employees are always kind and the service is usually quick, but at times they can be busy. Other than that i love cafe banarbas!
Janel Leonard
I love this place, best ever to get your tea and some of the best cookies ever. Great and friendly staff as well. Very knowledgeable and kind. Top choice for Boba for sure
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Becka W.
The staff is very knowledgable on diverse types of teas, kombucha, chia, etc. The scones and treats are delicious! The nitro chai is amazing, as well as the matcha and ceremonial matcha.
I believe that even if every store in this mall were to close, that this little tea shop would be worth going to the mall to visit. I took my in laws to them last night because visiting this place can be more of an event than just an everyday purchase. Especially if you let the tea guru geek out about the teas! He will let you smell the fresh varieties of tea they have lovingly procured from all over the world. If you have the time to slow down and take a journey through a world of teas, this is your place. They also have a fantastic selection of Boba Teas and other delicacies made right there in the shop. There are volunteer opportunities should you decide you want to be part of a greater good in Topeka. Cafe Barnabas is a hidden gem, righ here in the capital city! I should also mention they sell a variety of tea steepers and loose teas that you can brew right in your own home! My in laws took not only some tea, but some fun memories with them back to New Jersey!
Vicki
The tea might be great but the way the company treats its "employees" in the name of religion is terrible. And by employees I also mean volunteers that are sometimes as young as 13 years old. Any company that lets its people go up to 11 hours with no lunch and no guaranteed break and not even a chance to go to the bathroom unless it's convenient for business is a hard pass for me. I will not ever be back.Also the only reason I left one star is because Google would not let me post the review if I didn't. If I could have left zero stars I would have.
Pierce Elliott
Had a coconut milk tea with mango jelly, and it was so delicious! 5 stars for sure!!!
Sue Olliso
The Boba tea one very nice
Harlee Crossette
I wasnt planning on getting anything but the kid workong caught my attention. Decided to order and he started preaching about religion to me. As someone who has religious trauma and actively avoids things like that, I was pretty uncomfortable the entire time. Wouldnt have tipped if I knew he would do that. Plus the milk tea was very watery and didnt have much flavor.
They don’t pay their workers and rumors around town say it’s owned by a cult.
service was fine, but the drinks were disgusting. bits of debris, and maybe mold, the proportions were messed up so it was watery and just overall gross looking, had several CHILDREN working, CHILDREN. definitely not going back, this is really disappointing.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Amazing service the person up front treated us very well and he greeted me by saying “How can I make your day better” and he was kind and helpful. They had samples on the table and the sample was so good I told him to give me whatever that was. It didn’t disappoint! It was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hidden gem in the mall. Cool vibes, I got some Nitro Chai and a tasty London Fog scone. The gentleman that has been here both times I've been in was super friendly and nice. (I do wish the mall wifi worked, or the cafe knew their wifi password).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Been a customer for years, Kevin and his family always make me feel like family. The dedication to quality in each cup, personalized attention, and flavor has always been great, abd if it's ever not they do everything they can to make it right. Love to see them expanding and thriving in spite of location issues. Glad to see games and tables in the space, a fun addition!
I go here all the time and I have been for 3+ years, I’ve met the owner a few times and him and his team are amazing. Up until lately I haven’t had issues with employees/volunteers but there has been multiple times (same employee/volunteer every time) that my order has been wrong, I paid for one size and got a different one, or they gave my order to someone else. There was one day that I ordered and it was wrong, that’s fine. It happens. They offered to remake it and I took the offer because I don’t like the texture of the particular drink they gave me. They remade it and then gave it to someone else for free. I went and told them that they gave it to someone else and they completely denied it. The person they gave it to was nice enough to come up for proof. They remade it (correctly) and gave me a free cookie because I had been there for well over an hour at this point. More recently I ordered, got my drink and it seemed small. I had ordered and paid for a regular, they gave me a small. I went up and explained the mix up, they completely denied it and said I had paid for a small. I should’ve gotten a receipt but I know now. Other than the service, this place is great, good boba, good cookies, some good staff, and amazing music playing at all times. Genuinely disappointed with how downhill this amazing establishment has gone.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Very Berry
The service is great! The guy who's always working the register seems super kind, even if a tad overbearing but in a dad joke kinda fun way! I've been coming here since I found it in 2017! A Topeka/Midwest native, I spent most of my adolescence & young adulthood in San Diego,CA got exposed to a lot & missing boba was something I did not have to do thanks to this cute lil cafe!! Only star down would be because I hate when good things change & this place has not gone back to normal since Covid with the way that the register cart/bar is at the edge of the entrance still not allowing people inside anymore. I miss the way it was, the seating along the edge of the walkway is nice enough but not inside the establishment. I can't be picky though, this might be the only spot I can get boba at in town! I'd like coffee on the menu as well, I'm a fanatic. But I can respect their tea only & made it easy taking my 11yo cousin there today who I'd take the coffee out of her drink anyway. I wish they had some nicer looking pastries! Otherwise, still truly a 10/10 will definitely visit again.
Cafe banarbas is one of my favorite places in the mall. They have great bubble tea and healthy snack choices. All of their stuff is delicious, but affordable. Their employees are always kind and the service is usually quick, but at times they can be busy. Other than that i love cafe banarbas!
I love this place, best ever to get your tea and some of the best cookies ever. Great and friendly staff as well. Very knowledgeable and kind. Top choice for Boba for sure
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The staff is very knowledgable on diverse types of teas, kombucha, chia, etc. The scones and treats are delicious! The nitro chai is amazing, as well as the matcha and ceremonial matcha.
Restaurantji Recommends
I believe that even if every store in this mall were to close, that this little tea shop would be worth going to the mall to visit. I took my in laws to them last night because visiting this place can be more of an event than just an everyday purchase. Especially if you let the tea guru geek out about the teas! He will let you smell the fresh varieties of tea they have lovingly procured from all over the world. If you have the time to slow down and take a journey through a world of teas, this is your place. They also have a fantastic selection of Boba Teas and other delicacies made right there in the shop. There are volunteer opportunities should you decide you want to be part of a greater good in Topeka. Cafe Barnabas is a hidden gem, righ here in the capital city! I should also mention they sell a variety of tea steepers and loose teas that you can brew right in your own home! My in laws took not only some tea, but some fun memories with them back to New Jersey!
The tea might be great but the way the company treats its "employees" in the name of religion is terrible. And by employees I also mean volunteers that are sometimes as young as 13 years old. Any company that lets its people go up to 11 hours with no lunch and no guaranteed break and not even a chance to go to the bathroom unless it's convenient for business is a hard pass for me. I will not ever be back.Also the only reason I left one star is because Google would not let me post the review if I didn't. If I could have left zero stars I would have.
Had a coconut milk tea with mango jelly, and it was so delicious! 5 stars for sure!!!
The Boba tea one very nice
I wasnt planning on getting anything but the kid workong caught my attention. Decided to order and he started preaching about religion to me. As someone who has religious trauma and actively avoids things like that, I was pretty uncomfortable the entire time. Wouldnt have tipped if I knew he would do that. Plus the milk tea was very watery and didnt have much flavor.