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Sacred Grounds
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
233 N Main StEdwardsville, IL 62025
(618) 692-4150
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
25 reviews for Sacred Grounds
Review Highlights
"...is good, but the Sweet Potato Cake is especially delicious."
(in 4 reviews)
"Four stars for the baked goods, two for the coffee."
(in 7 reviews)
"Use Mississippi Mud beans, and that is truly as good a..."
(in 2 reviews)
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25 reviews in English
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Review from Robyn W.
Longmont, CO
1/28/2012
Good coffee, great baked goods, dirty bathroom.
So I struggled with giving this place a rating, but I knocked it down for the condition of the bathroom. Gross! Even the soap dispenser was dirty! Needs a good scrubbin' in there!
Moving on: I got a latte and it was very good. However, the star of my experience here was the biscotti (we got both the chocolate and white chocolate almond) Both very good. I also got the...I think it was called a dream bar. It was graham cracker, chocolatey, coconutty, gooey delicious! Highly recommend.
All in all, I would definitely go here again, but I would make it a point not to use the restroom! -
Review from Mel G.
Glen Carbon, IL
10/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Laid-back vibe, rotating art installations, and great coffee and tea drinks. The staff are friendly and and knowledgeable about coffee/tea drinks and the local area.
I haven't had a meal here, but the desserts are delicious. -
Review from Patrick F.
Glen Carbon, IL
2/6/2012
Good coffe and crap service.
I came into Sacred Grounds a week after ankle surgery to relax and meet up with my wife and daughter. When I tried to order coffee (while standing on my crutches) the girl lost patience with me because I could not get my hot coffee to my table while walking with crutches.
Instead of offering me help she just stared at me and got upset that I was stuck at the counter.
When I asked for assistance she looked at me lik I was from a different planet.
What a horrible littllle bitch! -
Review from Sam H.
Edwardsville, IL
2/4/2012
I was looking for a little downtown coffee shop today, and found this place on Yelp. The reviews were good, so I decided to give it a try. Besides, the line at Starbucks was ridiculous. I worked in a small coffee shop back at home, and found this place to be fairly similar. I ordered a small Turtle Dove Mocha latte, which was delicious. It had hazelnut, caramel, and chocolate in it. As others, I wish they had wifi, but it's not a big deal. I'm anxious to go back and try some of their food!
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Review from Melissa J.
Edwardsville, IL
1/8/2012
great food for great prices
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Review from Rob B.
Mays Landing, NJ
10/24/2011
There are good people, good coffee, and a good atmosphere.
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Review from Melissa C.
O'Fallon, IL
5/6/2011
I went to Sacred Grounds about a week ago and was very impressed. My boyfriend and I decided to try it out so we drove 35 minutes up to Edwardsville. The drive was definitely worth it.
When we got there, we were immediately greeted by a helpful and laid-back man at the register. He informed us of some great drinks and menu items to order. I decided on the Eggplant panini and chai latte while my boyfriend chose the Sicilian panini and a coconut red tea. Both sandwiches were bursting with flavor and very delicious.
After our meal, I ordered an apricot cake and grape walnut scone to go. The apricot cake was moist and wonderful while the scone was rather dry and tasted of purely flour.
All in all, I would love to return but may not be able to as much as I'd like due to long distance. -
Review from Andrew T.
Saint Louis, MO
1/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't often find myself in Edwardsville, but I had to journey to the Madison County Building yesterday to fight a speeding ticket (damn you, photo enforcement vans!). After two and a half hours in a courtroom, I needed some caffeine to fuel my trip back to St. Louis. I walked outside and spotted Sacred Grounds a few buildings down. I had been there once before two years ago when visiting a friend at SIU-E, and it left a good impression, so I popped in, paying closer attention this time.
The decor inside manages to be simultaneously spare and cozy. As Josh Y points out, the owners have forgone leather couches and big comfy chairs in favor of simple wooden tables and chairs, but the place still seems warm and welcoming. The baristas and bakers were as friendly and helpful as anyone could ask. It may not be the best venue for an all-day study session, but it served my purposes just fine.
Furnishings aside, the menu at Sacred Grounds could sustain even the sleepiest, stress-hungriest student. I opted for a "shot in the dark," which is a mug containing a shot of freshly brewed espresso, topped off with black coffee. Caffeine bliss. I also had a sweet potato cake, which was moist and well spiced. The frosting, which I'm guessing was cream cheese frosting with some whipped sweet potato mixed in, was a tasty touch.
St. Louis has its share of great coffeehouses, but I left feeling just a little sad that this place couldn't be in my regular coffee lineup. -
Review from Anne F.
Saint Louis, MO
2/11/2011
I'm actually a little embarrassed to say that I had never been in Sacred Grounds until today. It's on main street right next to a bead shop, yet I somehow always managed to miss it. Luckily, I have an awesome older brother who loves coffee almost as much as I do and suggested that we go there tonight.
I was pleasantly surprised. The interior is modest but comfortable. There was a nice number of people inside but not so many you feel like a sardine.
The coffee was good- I had a drip coffee but I don't recall which brew. I also had some type of pecan coffee cake that was absolutely delicious. It's nice to eat a pastry that wasn't thawed out 4 hours earlier. The menu itself is simple in a good way. There's plenty to choose from but you're not left overwhelmed. Also, hats off to being a vegetarian establishment.
I'll definitely be back to try to snag some beans to brew at home. -
Review from cathy j.
Paradise Valley, AZ
7/31/2011
I can't give it ANY stars! I went there last sunday and we walked in at 10:50 am -it was uncrowded but there were a few tables waiting for food. We were a party of four and in one hour WE HAD RECEIVED NO FOOD and no one seemed to care! It was crazy -- we had ordered quiche which should be just cut and served. When we asked about the food, we were told it would be another 15 minutes! We walked out - they would NOT refund the money for the coffee that I drank while waiting.
Will NEVER go back. It seemed as if teenagers were working except for the guy who took our orders and refunded our money the others were incompetent.
CJ -
Review from Josh Y.
Denver, CO
9/7/2010
My favorite part about Sacred Grounds is the kitchen staff, particularly the bakers who make some pretty fine vegan muffins and scones. Sometimes I catch them walking around with mixing bowls and I wonder what warm fluffiness will come out next.
I, however, miss some of the amenities of a standard coffee shop. Give me internet. Give me more power outlets. Give me sofas and easy chairs to get comfy in and read my book. Give me menu options that will actually fill me up.
Perhaps I sound like a big fatty American....but why not offer what people expect, and let those who like moments without wifi and hard wooden chairs to choose that option if they prefer? -
Review from Michael H.
Granite City, IL
4/25/2007
First, a disclaimer: I've been going to Sacred Grounds (or "Sacred", as it's called by many in the local vernacular) for years. Maybe this will have no hope of sounding impartial, or maybe it will. Take that for what it's worth. Here goes:
In travels across the country, I have never found a coffee shop that combines the comfort, friendly atmosphere, ambiance, vegetarian food selection (it's great, and I'm not even a vegetarian), quality and consistency of coffee drinks, local flair, and passion for good community causes that you can find at Sacred Grounds in Edwardsville.
I looked back at old digital photo albums to try to figure out, if I could, when I started to go to Sacred, or when it may have opened. I got as far back as 2000 and 2001 and had some early photos of me and friends there on Wednesday nights, drinking coffee or Jones soda and playing poker or Trivial Pursuit (there's a good selection of board and other games available at Sacred for patrons to use during their visit.) I had some pictures there with ex-girlfriends and some old sketches that I made on trips there by myself. There was a time when I would be there almost every night. Again, the comfort factor is what draws in the regulars and makes it a sort of "Cheers" for metro-east caffeine addicts.
When I met my now-wife back in '02, we immediately started going there a few nights a week to talk, relax, unwind, enjoy the environment, and share some drinks and baked goods. And to this day, we're still frequently there with our young son for Sunday brunch (don't miss the chance to catch the brunch on Saturdays or Sunday mornings.)
Sacred carries the standard menu of coffee and tea drinks of any good coffee shop. It also has a huge assortment of niche sodas, juices, and other bottled drinks for the non-caffeinated crowd. The nice-sized glass case of baked goods are outstanding - my personal favorite is the pumpkin bread. And through lunchtime and the evening, don't miss the chance to try one of the grilled sandwiches (the Sicilian rocks!) or paninis or soups of the day. And, again, the weekend morning brunch has a different menu each weekend but is always outstanding - and you can never go wrong with the vegi-Mex brunch option offered each weekend.
Goodness knows when they open (I don't think I'm up that early), but they close nightly at 11 PM.
There's no Wi-Fi, which is actually a nice thing even thought I'm a wired 24/7 kind of guy, since it creates a less modern, less hectic kind of environment. Sure, people are always there with laptop computers, but there's no Internet access available onsite.
The art on the wall is coordinated by the local art council, features a local artist each month, and changes out once a month, normally the weekend mid-month.
The only downsides: During or just after busy times, it may be hard to find a clean table (or, if you find one that's empty, you may be inclined to ask the staff to wipe it, or to just lend you a wet rag to wipe it yourself.) Sometimes during the weekend rush, it can take more than a few minutes to get your food, but it's cooked to order and well worth the wait. Patience is a virtue we could all use some more of nowadays.
So stop by, grab a cup of joe, and introduce yourself to one of the regulars. I've never had a disappointing conversation here, and no one bites. Cheers!Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Kara G.
Maryville, IL
2/18/2010
I go to Sacred at least once a week, I'd say. It's the perfect atmosphere. They have abandoned pretension for the sake of just having a place where people can hang out, read a book, pick at the guitar, play a game, drink a cup of coffee and talk to one another. No wireless internet, not too many fancy drinks, no leather couches. Just good coffee, in normal mugs and really good food.
I love that you usually recognize a face or two. I also love that they cycle in and out different brews of coffee, and local artwork for that matter. Their baked goods are delicious (particularly the ganache bars and scones) and breakfast always makes my mouth water, even though I have yet to try it. Oh, but I will.
My only gripe is that if you go in 45 minutes before closing, the coffee is 100% cold, but hey- that's to be expected and I keep going back b/c I just love it. It is far better than the alternatives in town - (Starbucks and Borders) -
Review from Ashley M.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2011
This was the first cafe I ever had a "real" coffee drink: raspberry mocha. These days I don't really like that drink, but Sacred Grounds turned me onto other tasty sips. Whenever I'm back in town I enjoy stopping in and grabbing a cup of joe.
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Review from John H.
Sorry Sacred, it's all about the coffee for me. Lately, I'm not sure if I gonna find the warrior "A" crew, or the war-weary "B" crew. On a recent morning, I tried to draw a cup of "Sumatra" - empty. No worries, I don't mind a cup of "Costa Rican" - empty. Oh well, I'll bypass the "Decaf," and have "Hazelnut" - empty. As a consolation, the staff pointed a few of us to carafes on the kitchen counter, and I drew a cup of something labeled "Medium." The baked goods aren't visually impressive, but taste very good -loved the sweet potato cake one day, and pumpkin-spice bread another. But the coffee tasted a bit stale this week - when I could get it. Four stars for the baked goods, two for the coffee. My experience is always weekdays - perhaps things are different evenings and weekends.
Listed in: E'ville Restaurants, Down on Main Street, Best Part of Wakin' Up
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/21/2010
Very good coffee is the rule here, rivaled in E'ville only by Artisan 222's Goshen Coffee. At Sacred… Read more »
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Review from Elizabeth C.
South Bend, IN
10/22/2010
My five stars are placing this coffee shop in the context of Edwardsville. I grew up in and dearly love Edwardsville, so don't take that as a condescension, please: what I mean is, this is the best coffee shop in Edwardsville, though I could wish for a few things to be different. There are several good places to eat in town, but not many good coffee shops. (222 actually counts now that they have grudgingly decided to have seating, but Sacred Grounds was already right on the mark.) This is an excellent coffee-and-baked-treat place, or brunch or lunch place, or hangout place.
I think the menu is actually ovo-lacto-vegetarian, but my very-non-vegetarian-senior-citizen parents and their similar-profile friends go there every Sunday--religiously, if you will--after church for brunch, and they don't seem to care a bit that there is no bacon or sausage. Why would they? The food is fresh, creative, pleasant, and filling. My kids love the waffles and pancakes with fruit and nuts, and I love the quiches and eggy-veggy-cheesy dishes. It's not ideal for a big group, though. I wish they owned more forks and cups, and I wish they had more seating so there was room for everything on the table and so we wouldn't always feel a bit guilty when there are more than four of us together. We scooch tables together and nobody complains, but still. The baked goods range from good to stellar, with sweet potato cake being heavenly almost all the time, and the apricot pound cake amazing when it's fresh (beware of slight staleness if you go at night--these are actual baked goods made from actual food ingredients, which means that they can in fact get stale when they've been out awhile). The scones--hooray for the whole-wheat ones!--have been absolutely delicious every single time I've had them. And the coffee is great: We always buy a pound of whole-bean Jen's Blend to take with us, and that's all we drink at home when we're in Edwardsville. -
Review from ashley s.
Fullerton, CA
5/6/2008
I've been going here for 10 years now. I really enjoyed this place when it first opened. They had the most amazing olive pesto.. alas they haven't carried that for probably eight years now, lol. They've gone through some great help and some bad help as every business does. Its consistently good coffee and realllly great grilled cheese!
The worst thing about this place is unfortunately some of the "regulars." Don't get me wrong, theres plenty of friendly patrons and 90% of the people are great, but there are those obnoxious, territorial regulars who tend to know how to bring a place down.
Also it can get full of loud tweens and younger teenagers on weekend nights. Avoid at crowded hours and you'll have a much more pleasant experience. -
Review from William S.
Elsah, IL
3/20/2011
Been twice -- great latte, especially the large triple shot. Use Mississippi Mud beans, and that is truly as good a coffee as you can get -- it rivals or beats any bean I've had in Seattle or Portland!
The wraps and paninis are good, but not perfect -- although the cucumber sauce on the falafel wrap is homemade and amazing. The eggplant panini was good, but the grated cheese hadn't melted.
The baked goods are surprisingly good. A lemon-coconut bundt cake yesterday looked so plain, but tasted amazing. The chocolate biscotti are great, but the other biscotti were ok (but not great).
Some good art on the wall in rotating exhibit. Otherwise the decor is sparse/spartan.
I like it. -
Review from Ted R.
Bellaire, TX
8/18/2010
Great latte in nice location. Dropped by on way to Peoria As good a latte as on can find. Looked like a few nice restaurants nearby
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Review from Jennifer H.
Fenton, MO
4/15/2008 1 photo
Sacred Grounds is one of my favorite coffee shops in the St. Louis area. Located in downtown Edwardsville, IL, this place can sometimes cater to the college crowd, but can also be one of the best places to sit and think, write yelp reviews, or enjoy a good book. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that if you go to Sacred Grounds more than once, they'll remember your drink order. This cafe also offers a wide selection of vegetarian and omnivorous options, as well as some great sweets. Everything is reasonable priced. Sacred Grounds also features a rotating art wall where you can admire some local talent while you enjoy your chai latte and pumpkin bread.
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Review from Jen B.
Bethalto, IL
3/7/2010 5 Check-ins Here
The honey nut latte is amazing! Have had their paninis before and theyre quite delicious especially for vegetarian. Their chocolate truffle cookie is to die for too! We go there all the time with friends and love the atmosphere. They always have local artists on the wall and a diverse artsy crowd.
Listed in: Caffeine fix, Sweet tooth Desserts
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Review from Bill C.
Edwardsville, IL
8/20/2009
This place is awesome. It attracts all ages. We eat breakfast there almost every weekend. Incredible food, all made from scratch. Wonderful baked goods. Didn't even know it was vegetarian until I'd been eating there for a year! Probably the best coffee in town (sorry Starbucks!). Staff is friendly and quick. Only complaint: It is losing some of its ambiance charm. Starting to look worn - get some new chairs and tables!
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Review from B M.
Edwardsville, IL
5/8/2011
Complete and utter indifference to it's customers. Maybe the hipster thing is to be too cool too offer quick service, because it's taken 10+ minutes to get my drink on multiple occasions. They are completely indifferent to how long you waited. I'll pass.
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Review from Daniel L.
East Alton, IL
1/21/2009
I'm a huge fan of Sacred Grounds. It's a Coffee Shop done right! From it's delicious bakery items, from one of my person favorite cheese quesadillas of all times, and the endless amount of board games to play. It's a very cozy atmosphere with brick wall on one side, and the other side covered in art and beautiful wood floors and furniture. I highly recommend this place and absolutely love taking new friends that don't know much about Edwardsville here.
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Review from Morgan W.
1/2/2009
I really miss this coffee shop. First things first, they actually have good coffee. They always have more than one to choose from, and a couple of refill options in case you only feel like a cup or two (as opposed to the 10-12 that I regularly lived on while in college). Second, this place has baked goods like you would not believe. Everything is good, but the Sweet Potato Cake is especially delicious. Third, the food is also delicious...this is a trait that can be hit or miss at most coffee shops. Sacred Grounds is as much a great lunch establishment as it is a place to get a good beverage. Forth, it is stupidly affordable (especially compared to DC prices). My mom and I got two cups of coffee, two salads and two desserts for $13. For those of you keeping track, that is way cheaper than a two-person meal at Chipotle, and it's probably better for you as well. It does fill up with the overdramatic teen crowd on the weekends, but honestly...they can't go to bars, so where else are they going to hang out?
