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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: West Village14th St-8th Ave (A, C, E, L)
14th St-7th Aves (1, 2, 3, F, V, L)
14th Street (PATH)
Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
"Undeniably, I tend to admire certain types of beauty more than others; fine features coupled with the right sensibility makes my skin…" read more »
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YAY! This is my fave coffeeshop in the WV (and I've tried them all except I think Joe's). The music is usually good, service is friendly, and the prices are great. I can get a coffee and bagel with soy cream chz for $3.25 which I think is excellent. There is free wifi and the space is delightful--there's a skylight and a choice of tables, couches, or seating along the walls. I've always been able to get a plug. There's a 1.5 hr time limit tho (that I always ignore ;) )
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I always order my coffee to go. Which in Spain use to translate to me holding my index and middle finger upside down simulating two legs walking out.
When I do get a chance to look over I notice everything looks outstanding for the comfort and fun one modestly hip individual might be looking for.
Next time! babes of grounded.
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It saddens me to give Grounded one star, since it is a really cute place I used to recommend to friends.
However, a recent experience left a bad taste in my mouth that compels me to write this review...
So, they have a "1 1/2 hour seating limit," announced on various signs throughout the cafe. Ok, I get that. It's a small space, and they need to make money. I wouldn't like people hanging around for 4 hours on a coffee that cost $2 either.
However, for that very reason, I always make sure to spend more when I linger that extra hour in a cafe, especially if I'm taking advantage of the free wifi.
Which is why I was shocked when, after buying a drink and a snack, AND SPENDING JUST A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR sharing a tiny table with my friend (who also bought a drink and a snack), the owner came by and said, "How long have you guys been here?" Before we could answer, she gave us a nasty look, and said, "you've been here awhile, huh."
WTF?!
I looked at my watch, and said "We met here at 2. We got here a little past 2" (It was barely 3:15).
It was so rude, I kind of wanted to get up and leave, but since my friend and I had just settled in and hadn't finished what we met up to do, I got up and bought a smoothie so I could stay the extra hour without having to feel guilty about overstaying my welcome. My friend bought another snack too. Needless to say, the owner still gave us dirty looks...unbelievable.
Note to Grounded: the signage around your cafe is enough. Give your customers the benefit of the doubt to either comply, or order more. Of course there will always be people who stay longer, but making people feel unwelcome is really bad form and could hurt you more in the end.
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I love this place. It is a great place to study. It is quiet and the staff is really sweet. I highly recommend checking this place out.
Didn't notice the lmit but didn't stay that long. My RedEye was great although my friend didn't like his hot chocolate. It's a cool place to sit.
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Livin' off Jane and lovin' me some Grounded! If you try their Dark Chocolate Sorbet, it will change your life! Honestly, it kicks arse! Seriously, go to Grounded with a sweet tooth and you will most likely fall in love with the place.
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Pretty cool place to take someone you need to 'meet for coffee'. Its an interesting venue and a good setting for a chat.
Theyll kick you out if your meeting goes too long, which could either be convenient or a nuisance.
Your standard "unique" coffee shop with breezy, stylish ambiance; and the lame West Village hubris that inevitably comes with it.
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Ok this should not be compared to MUD! First of all, the coffee's not as good and second, the service leaves much to be desired. Not that I expected that much here, but they really could care less and not in the carefree way..
I felt like I was "grounded!" The decor was fine, and there's a nice couch in the middle. Very cute. But no real feel for the place. The music was at times fine, at other times jarring. It was odd cause it seems so welcoming on the outside.
Mud is so much better but I'm an east villager so I'm biased.
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Menh, after all the hype, I was really expecting a bit more. For all y'all out there who are getting into coffee drinking these are things to look out for... 1) If they have more "flavored" drinks (eg. Thai Vanilla Swirl Chocolate-Chip Latte) 2) If they SCOOP the foam for a cappucino/macchiato, they have NO clue about coffee. Grounded does not know coffee - it is burnt. Incidentally, if you ask your barista what you should order if you want to taste their espresso, they should recommend a macchiato, espresso or cappuccino (not a latte).
Grounded is a nice and open venue with a light channeling skylight. Def. feels like I am back in college ... which is great if that is the atmosphere I'm looking for.
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Cappuccino was topped with a dry meringue-like foam. Completely disintegrated from (indeed, floating above) the still-black espresso. Apart from the totally careless barista, and the pretentious-casual atmosphere, the lemon poppy cookies are a treat.
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This is one of the best writer's cafes in the city - the others are Atlas Cafe in WIlliamsburg, Hungarian Pastry Shop at 110th and Tea Lounge in Park Slope (if you're in to that sort of thing). Ceiling fans appeal to the Southerner in me and a bathroom door that double locks appeals to the New Yorker in all of us.
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Unemployment sires ennui; I therefore seldom make it to WeVil these days. preferring to localize my pity party and my laptop to the nearer haunts of Ost Cafe, and The Mercury and Dime.
This afternoon, I was lured out into the snowbanks west of 8th for pork pie at Myers of Keswick's, and decided it would be a crime to neglect Yelp-famed Grounded while I was in the neighborhood.
I was impressed. I'm picky about coffee houses, and Grounded had the collegial comfort of a small-town cafe and the diverse menu of teas 'n stuffs to keep me leaving my reading to sample sandwiches and sweets for a couple of hours.
Note: 1.5 hour table limit (apparently a new policy).
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A fairly decent coffee shop...tries a little too hard to be the MUD of the w. village, which definitely is not a bad goal to aim for. The place is quite large and open for a village coffee shop, which is great if you are coming in with a friend or two.
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I am so happy I got grounded!
The coffee here is great, prices are reasonable (a rare occurrence in NYC), the staff is friendly, the atmosphere is relaxed & the music selection is excellent (Liz Phair and Velvet Underground when I visited). It reminded me of the type of place where I used to go to chill out and write in the Mission in SF. Now you, go get grounded!
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BAD: NO free refills on coffee. Refills cost $1, which is excessive. They illegally charge a $5 minimum on credit card purchases (yes, it's illegal--look it up). The shop is always crowded, with almost no seats available. I had to stand for 3 minutes and wait for another customer to leave.
GOOD: Coffee tasted better than I've had in a while. $1.75 slices of Pumpkin bread were also tasty. Free WiFi, though painfully slow because of the gaggle of hipsters downloading scenester-porn or whatever, was a blessing if only because it was free. Can't complain about "free." The music and ambience were nice and mellow.
I'd go back, hesitantly.
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I love the crowd here: artists, techies, locals, wanderers, collared-shirts, short skirts, writers, readers, young and old alike are ALL here and ALL friendly. Unwind on the comfortable couches while you wind up with their coffee or espresso. Use the free wifi while you wait for your smoothie and bagel. Savor the moment.
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Disclaimer: I just recently went in since this posting and saw a sign saying $1 for mug refills... not sure if that means no more single free refills (someone try and find out!), but will update asap with info! But still my favorite place ever!
YES - You earned it Grounded!! FIVE WHOLE STARS!!! Why? Well, I've been back MANY times since, and always find a great place to work, undisturbed (the 1.5 hour seating limit isn't really enforced it seems - probably not til it gets crazy), I love your music, your free wifi, your outlets, your super friendly staff, your great food and drink menu, the chairs with the light and comfy padding... and NOW I just learned that when you order a coffee to stay in your beautiful mugs - YOU GET A FREE REFILL!!!
Grounded, I heart you intensely. Please don't ever change.
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I do like me some Grounded. Yes, they have some pretty high prices (the reason for the lack of… Read more »
Delicious coffee, friendly people, hip atmosphere - overall it's wonderful. The only problem is that it's so crowded (though it didn't seem fair to dock them a star for their popularity). One of my winter weekend staples is to wander over to Grounded with the latest issue of the New Yorker, order a latte and one of the Murray's bagels with tomato and melted cheddar. The free wireless is the reason for the laptop prevalence, although Grounded recently instituted an hour-and-a-half table limit. I think it's honor code for the moment, but, being a laptop lugger myself, it seems like a more than fair request. 8pm close.
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I'm obsessed with their creamy hazelnut latte - so rich and full of flavor - and I love the atmosphere...something about it always increases my productivity! The waitstaff is incredibly upbeat and friendly too. My only complaint is that they've recently instated a 1.5 hour seating limit, which now takes this off my list of places to go to get work done b/c how much can you really get done within 1.5 hours?!
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Okay, the tea ain't perfect, in fact, its only a little better than OK (but I hear the coffee is more than decent). However, I just really enjoy coming here to sit and read. It gets 1 star for ambiance alone and 3 stars for everything else.
It is without a doubt, one of those neighborhood coffee/tea shops people look for. A nice pot of Makaibari and a cookie and I'm all set.
The 1.5 hour seating limit might make me reduce it by one star - but hey its a popular place.
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Have I mentioned how much I love this place???
LOOOOVE it.
Update from last review:
- their food is also delish, try one of their sandwiches
- they offer many vegan or vegetarian options for all of you tree huggers
- LOVE their many different coffee cups
- great neighborhood to walk around in, especially if you're on celeb watch
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I'm always looking for a coffeehouse with free wifi - well Grounded definitely has it, although it… Read more »
Arrived late afternoon (maybe that was the primary problem) to have a quick cappuccino, go to the bathroom and get out of the rain for a few minutes.
As others have said, very warm inside - not a bad thing with spring being late this year. My walking partner had an Earl Grey tea - nice size cup said it was good.
I ordered the Cowboy Cappuccino and pay - $6.05 I'm told and hand over a $20. Then I'm asked if I have change but I advise that I don't. Now, not to be too cheap, but when should I "have" to give change - you didn't get any all day?
One thing that was interesting was the Cowboy Cappuccino - the coffeetender messed it up somehow - and realized that he couldn't give me what he made. Therefore, it took approximately 6 minutes to make a Cowboy Cappuccino - which wasn't very exciting nor memorable. I mean, six minutes to make something rather bland takes some doing!
Didn't get anything to eat as we were going out to dinner - but some of the baked stuff looked good.
Maybe if I'm in the area next time I'll get an Earl Grey tea instead.
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As if I needed another reason to love Grounded, I've discovered the secret to my Vietnamese Coffee blues (Check out this blast from the past - http://www.yelp.com/to...). I was perusing the menu when I noticed something called a Cafe Bon-Bon, which, for all intents and purposes is Vietnamese Coffee (coffee with sweetened condensed milk - AMAZING). Not that I didn't appreciate all those suggestions from that thread, but since Grounded is actually in my normal, up and down the West Side radius, it was a happy happy discovery.
And yes, it's still cute as ever. I love this place.
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Sam's grand tradition of meta-yelping continues with Grounded! This place is truly the idyllic… Read more »
Based on all the reviews, I had grand plans to dub this my new study/research paper writing/productivity spot. I showed up after 7pm last night and because of the humidity outside and my mild dehydration I decided to order a smoothie and slice of the pumpkin nut bread. I managed to snag a table in the back, so far so good right? There are certain foods/beverages that require preparation so simple they prompt me to say things like "I mean how can anyone mess up a______." Apparently, smoothies don't fall into that category. Whoever made my "smoothie" (presumably the nice but smoothie-challenged newbie) made a concoction that was tart (how old was the fruit) , warm (not even luke I mean sat on the counter for a few hours warm) and definitely not worth $5.50 (that's the cheap grad student in me talking-but at these prices I wouldn't want to reorder after 1.5 hours!). I know, I know that's what I get for ordering a smoothie at a coffeeshop! but seriously it was so hot and they have a limited number of cold beverages AND if it is on your menu shouldn't you know how to make it?
Speaking of warm, when I returned to my table and made an attempt to write I realized how hot (sweltering ) it was in there. The space holds heat/humidity very well and my smoothie wasn't helping me cool down. Last gripe, my efforts at productivity were thwarted because they in fact close at 8pm (seriously? what happened to the late-night cafe you ask? it still exists at Bean Coffee & Tea). So even if I opted to stick around it is unlikely I would have been comfortable enough to get any work done. Those who managed, seemed to work away quietly in the small space. Their saving grace? The pumpkin nut bread! I consider myself a pumpkin bread connoisseur, they get points for moist texture and flavor balance. If I'm in the area I would stock up on a few slices ($1.75 per) and then make my retreat.
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Finally, a decent-sized place in Manhattan to just sit and relax and unwind with a book, laptop, whatever. Sometimes these harried feet get tired.
Some of the food has the funky taste I associate with all things Vegan but the pumpkin ice cream cookie sandwich was amazing. The coffee is serviceable. The tea selection is decent. Nothing particularly impressive about the menu, but how many places are you going to find to just unwind for a while without paying too much money?
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Very charming cafe with lots of characters (aren't most of the cafes in NYC like that?) In addition to that, it's nice and quite and many people brought their computer and work here.
Their pumpkin latte was delicious.
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So... it's been a while since I've been to Grounded. I used to like it well enough, but the whole closing early thing was always an issue. I came here today after visiting a friend in the neighborhood and find myself... underwhelmed. They just made me the worst Chai Latte I've ever had, informed me at 1PM that they were out of almost all of the fruits on their smoothie menu (thus making it impossible for me to have a smoothie with fruit I like), and the dude at the register was completely indifferent to me. So I'm feeling very meh about Grounded at the moment and have decided to downgrade them!
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This is yet another place I discovered through Yelp. My writer friends are always on the lookout… Read more »
Good: great snacks, comfort-food lunches (grilled cheese sandwiches!) interesting coffee-type drinks, comfy couches, friendly staff, those cards where you can get a free drink if you order 10.
Bad: Coffee's never hot enough, they run out of different baked goods as the day goes on, never enough seating.
Verdict: More good than bad but not worth all the hype that Yelpers have bestowed.
The charm has officially worn off of the "getting your order wrong" thing.
I was there over the weekend and they could NOT get their sh*t together to save their lives.
I ordered a "just dew me" smoothie and an everything bagel with tofu cream cheese.
They told me that they were out of gingerale for the smoothie, but could use lime soda. I said, that's cool, don't worry about it. And I wait for the bagel (which takes an unreasonably long time -- see original review).
15 minutes later, the bagel is ready. I take the drink and the bagel outside (it was a BEAUTIFUL morning) and start to tuck in. No sooner do I open the bagel than I realize the cream cheese is NOT made from tofu (as a former vegan I've got a sort of 6th sense). And the smoothie doesn't taste quite right.
I go inside and decide to tackle the bagel first:
Me: "I ordered tofu cream cheese, but I think this bagel has real cream cheese on it. Is this tofu cream cheese"
Girl behind counter: "No. You didn't order tofu cream cheese."
Me: "Yes I did. I came here because you guys have tofu cream cheese. It would be very silly of me not to order it."
Girl: "Okay, I'll fix it." [girl hands bagel off to guy and explains the problem]
Then I decide to tackle the smoothie:
Me: "And um...this smoothie doesn't taste quite right -- even though there's no gingerale, there's something else funny about it."
Girl: "Oh, that's because we couldn't find any limes."
Me: "Okay...maybe you could've told me that, like you did with the gingerale?"
Girl: "No, we didn't know we didn't have any limes"
Me: "So....you just left out an ingredient and hoped I wouldn't notice?"
Girl: "Yep, pretty much."
Me: "Alright, that takes guts. I can respect that. Word."
Me: "But I want the bagel fixed."
[I wait 5 minutes -- the bagel-toasting process seems to be expedited for second-round toastings]
Guy behind counter: "Here's the bagel with tofu cream cheese."
Me: "Thanks."
[I take the bagel outside, and now my former seat on the bench is occupied. I tuck into the bagel. The cream cheese is tofu, but the bagel is poppyseed, not everything. I *hate* poppyseed bagels. Ew. I go back inside.]
Me: "Alright, I don't know what's going on here, but this is now a poppyseed bagel with tofu cream cheese. Did I take someone else's order?"
Guy: "Oh? It wasn't supposed to be poppyseed? Oops, I must've given someone else the everything bagel with real cream cheese and put the tofu cream cheese on the poppyseed bagel...or maybe I put tofu on both and gave the everything bagel to the wrong person...I dunno..."
Me: "I don't think I want to find out what I'd get on the next go-round...can you just give me my money back? I'm not really hungry anymore..."
Guy: "Sure, just hold on."
[Guy proceeds to help the next customer in line...and the next, and the next, and the line keeps getting longer. I look dejectedly at the guy sitting at the next table.]
Me: "Want a bagel?"
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Ah, so many reasons to love Grounded:
yummy and creative coffee/tea drinks (green tea soy latte ftw,…
Read more »
I would have to second (or third or fourth) some of the complaints below. I haven't visited this place in a while - then came back the other day.. something is definitely not fresh in there - it was such a change from the first time I visited - was it just an off day??? It needs a good snow blower or something just to get the crumbs off the floor. Maybe a dose of bleach. And yes, they rarely get your orders right and then play it off as if you were the one who did not tell them. Maybe writing it down would result in less angry customers - I wasn't angry but there were defiitely some irate parties..
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Asking people to limit their stay in a non-Starbucks coffee shop with decent cafe tables: understandable. Expecting people who want to stay longer to re-order in the allotted time: sure. Making announcements to remind people that if they've overstayed their welcome, they should leave: ok... Walking up to tables and ASKING people to leave: not ok.
Policy aside, the food here is pretty good (but seriously overpriced). The teas and coffees are excellent. The staff is generally perky if they've had enough caffeine.
The coffee shop is sadly, mostly dead. Granted, who wants to sit in close proximity to a bunch of students talking about existential bullshit or, rather, the death of the coffee shop?
I love Grounded when I can sit in the back with an excellent espresso and get some work done, read a book, or eat a sandwich.
Bring headphones. Order your caffeine with extra shots. Try tea in a pot. Relish in the fact that you are not sitting in a cubicle.
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Great little coffee house. The entire feel of the place is open, unpretentious, and comfortable. They have plenty of tables, a bar along the wall for solo-seating, as well as some couches for extra comfy hanging out. I was impressed by the signs that indicated that they serve only 'Fair Trade' coffees. They had a nice selection of coffee and loose-leaf teas; as well as sandwiches, baked goods and more. There was a mellow, but not dark, vibe to the place. Service was friendly. I ordered a Cappuccino and it was brewed and steamed to perfection. If you're looking for a place for a quiet cup with a friend, or an hour or two by yourself to write, read or stare off into space, then this is your place. I saw many people with laptops & they have free wifi, as well as three internet terminals for paid browsing if you need to check your email quick. If I lived in New York, I'd be a regular, for sure.
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$3.50 and up for a latte -- really?! Really?!
I guess the charm of this independent coffeeshop (located just around the corner from Starbucks, natch) and free WiFi allows it to overcharge for a simple cup of coffee.
I'm just a jaded, bitter New Yorker who's tired of paying close to $5 for a strong espresso drink that will keep me going at my demanding, stressful job. But that's just me.
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This spot is adorable. Lots of potted and hanging plants give it a greenhouse vibe. Mismatched couches, chairs, and tables are scattered about. Though its usually pretty busy when I've been there, I've never had much trouble snagging a seat. Service is always pleasant, and though it may take them a few minutes to whip up your latte, its always delicious. Good for both group and solo sipping sessions. Shame they close at so early (8pm), or I would come a lot more often.
Went to Grounded today because I needed to get out of my dorm-room and do some work in a nice cafe. I had never been there previously but when Richard B. compared it to the Hungarian Pastry Shop I knew it was the place for me.
The staff was super friendly. Really cozy, good lighting, and not too loud. They had a wide variety of drinks on the menu (teas, coffee, lattes, smoothies, etc) and a delicious almond muffin. I was able to snag a seat at the counter next to an outlet which was sweet. Even though there were signs around the place warning of their new hour and half seating limit, I stayed almost 2 hours and nobody said anything to me. As well, there were people seated before I got there and still when I left. They dont seem to be too uptight about the time limit which is nice. I plan on going back more often.
The first thing I noticed was the homemade ice cream sign. I was on my way to a Community Cares senior delivery and made an ad-hoc pit stop. To my surprise this iced mocha ($4.25) was very good! Not too sweet, perfectly strong (Think's is stronger IMO), and great tasting. I just may have to pay it another visit to try the ice cream, as I am a ravenous beast when a gourmet pint is in sight.
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This is a good place to work. The atmosphere is low-key. There were tables available (though the outlets seem in short supply); there were also some comfortable looking couches. A large skylight dominates the middle of the space, adding good natural light. People come in, come out -- hipsters, sculpted fashionistas, business-types -- providing some visual variety.
The menu looks good, though I can't comment much on that beyond a single, very competent cookie. There are sandwiches, the iced cream, breakfast pastries, cookies, cupcakes, cheese cake. Iced espresso is my drink, and it was par. No self-serve water.
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Another joint to add to my "What I Miss About Jane Street" list. It's pretty much a perfect coffee joint. Wi-fi, great coffee, yummy stuff upon which to nibble, smart people hanging about....perfect.
A little spendy, maybe...but perfection ain't cheap, yo!
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I love this cafe. I found it by chance while hanging around the area one day. I love their espresso and sandwiches and sweet treats. They offer free wifi and I usually dig whatever music they've got playing.
The only cons are that it gets crowded pretty quickly so it can be hard to find a table. They were also rather slow in getting your order to you but that's probably because it gets busy.
Otherwise, I absolutely adore this place. I love coming here to study with a fresh steaming latte.
I spent a lot of time here during my week in New York (I had a school assignment to finish), and it felt just like my favorite coffeshop back in Berkeley - great espresso, good food. But Grounded has one thing that beats my berkeley place - the tea selection. The Wuyi oolong was great, and the fact that I could get a huge pot of it for a couple of bucks was awesome.
Great natural lighting, free wifi (albeit slow), and a decent amount of seating. Didn't get hassled for spending a fair amount of time there, although I did make new purchases ever 2 hours or so (it's a pet peeve when people set up in coffee shops and don't buy anything beyond 1 cup of drip coffee. how are they supposed to stay in business?). Definitely would recommend it.
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