Erika Schreiner
This place is so cute !!! The music was great, the decorations and vibe were awesome! The house made baklava was TASTY AF! The staff was so cute and very attentive.
Definitely coming back for that good coffee and baklava to wake me up in the am!
Nancy Bryans
It's a quaint cozy charming little cafe. I like the indoor Christmas lights and large wall posters from Iran. Plus recently they has on display a Noruz, Iranian new year Haft Seen table with all the 7 S items. I've enjoyed their hospitality. Recently had the Sierra chicken wrap with fresh red onions, avocado, green romaine and tomatoe. It was superb. I like their chocolate macadamia cookies too. Very nice spot.
Mark Freeman
Good coffee and the treats look amazing but didn’t try. Downside: my wife felt judge for her request that includes the staff pulling a face on how she wanted her drink.
Eileen Yeh
This a small and cute coffee shop. My homestay family recommend this coffee shop. I visiting here with my Japan classmate.We really like this place. Recommend carrot cake and cappuccino. December, 2014.!
Stephanie A
I don’t want to lower the rating because the service is always really good and overall I like the atmosphere and the food is usually pretty good. But I just have a couple suggestions.
The iced coffee and lattes are more expensive than Starbucks ( obviously being a small locally owned cafe), but they’re not made well at all, the ice is always melted and the drink is watery with no flavour. The sugar free vanilla is also something I don’t really like. You don’t find out it’s sugar free until you drink it. I would really like to have a better quality syrup in my drink. I’m sure the espresso itself is good quality but it gets ruined when the ingredients added aren’t good as well.
Also, I’m not sure where your donuts and some baked goods are from but the donut I had specifically was very doughy and it tasted like it either wasn’t cooked enough or the filling had been in there for so long that it was soaking into the dough. It tasted very similar to the donuts from Walmart which isn’t what you expect when they are around 4 dollars.
I really like this cafe but I just wish that there would be more focus on the quality of the food and beverages that are being served especially when other local competitors currently offer similar better quality items.
Arnika Shahrokhi
very cozy place for good coffee and a bite to eat. the staff was very friendly and the cafe environment was super neat. definitely going to go back!
Queenie V
Stopped here during my walk back home and purchased a iced caramel macchiato and a blueberry muffin, both were very delicious and the espresso was just what I needed. Definitely a must try!
GWoo
Really small cafe that serves up quality baked goods , wraps, other items to eat and serves up locally roasted Fernwood Coffee. The servers are friendly and it is conveniently located close to downtown Victoria and Chinatown.
Michelle Wielgus
Grindstone Cafe exceeded my expectations, thanks to the exceptional service provided by Nosheeka. Her friendly and attentive approach made me feel right at home. The iced Americano she prepared was perfection—refreshing and full of flavor. Grindstone Cafe is a must-visit for coffee enthusiasts looking for great service and a delightful cup of coffee.
Paul
I’ve been over from the U.K. visiting family and have had espresso (they use Fernwood Roasters Coffee), here a couple of times, and each time the coffee has been on point, amazing crema, and the best espresso I had in my 15 days on the Island. Well done Grindstone and well roasted Fernwood ☕️
Tom Peds
This place serves the singular most scrumpdiddlyumptious mocha I have ever had the great fortune to drink.
When the elixir of the 12oz Mocha passed through my lips I had an out of body experience, seeing myself from the perspective of god looking down from on high.
Due to this I have turned my life around, gotten sober, and I have been going to the gym daily for 13 1/2 minutes.
I love the grindstone cafe.
J-doug131
Cute quaint neighbourhood coffee shop. Friendly family(?) run place. Their london fog was 👍👍 The baked goods at the counter didnt look too appetizing though. On a quiet street corner a block from Chinatown, and away from the busy downtown core so easily overlooked.
It's A London Fing
My favourite cafe in this area. The tortilla soup is fantastic, and the carrot cake is the best I've tasted by far. The staff are friendly and easy going. A nice little Victoria Gem... well worth a stop rain or shine <br/>
Michi_eats
Rating it 4.0 for the Best Carrot cake I've eaten in a long time - moist cake and delicious cream cheese frosting. <br/><br/>Rest of food is ok. A friend had the thai salad which she loved (see photo)<br/>Tea is Silk Road Tea can be made iced or hot. Have not tried the coffee, but they do have the regular menu of specialty coffee and lattes. Seating is tight to the side of the wall, as the counter and prep area takes up most of the space; table and chairs outside as well.
Chocoholic Frenchie
Grindstone is a cute and quiet little cafe near Chinatown in Victoria. I have been there multiple times in the past and I have always enjoyed this place. First, I find the decor pretty. I like that it is small. There are only 3-4 tables so every time we go, we can easily find ourselves alone in it. And yet, it doesn’t feel cramped because there are windows everywhere, letting in a lot of light and making the place seem much bigger than it actually is. The food is also very good. I usually take the veggie sandwich. Vegetables including tomatoes and avocados on focaccia bread with a small salad. I have always liked this sandwich because it is warm. The heat melts the cheese making the whole dish deliciously gooey. This time, however, I tried their veggie quesadilla which I also found excellent. The bread was toasted and crispy and the cheese melted. A bit spicy for my taste but I have a fairly low tolerance for spicy food (even pepper is sometimes too much for me). Overall, I have yet t
AlanaM
Stopped in for a quick late morning breakfast and had the breakfast sandwich with some green tea. The sandwich was delicious with the avocado, bacon and egg toasted together on a ciabatta bun. Yum! Laid back and friendly service. Give it a try!
Douglas Adams
Poor Show - New Owners. Bad decision from the new owners. They will not honour my $10.00 giftcard issued by the previous owners. So with that decision, I never know how good their coffee, food and service could have been. This cafe is away from the tourist trap and relies on locals to keep them afloat. I hope they change their management decisions before they sink.
Tammyrafter
Not good. I tried this cafe for the first time (and last time) a few days ago....really disappointing. <br/>I ordered a granola bar and a half-caf americano and was told they can't make that drink because of their machines or something.<br/>So I then asked if they could just make me a decaf americano and top it up with some regular drip coffee and the barista proceeded to charge me for 2 coffees. I tried to explain what I wanted again and she charged me the correct amount so I thought she got it this time but then I watched as she poured the shot from the espresso maker into an already full cup of regular coffee. Anyways, not a big deal - we all have bad days...in fact I wouldn't even be writing this review had the drink or food been decent but both were terrible. The coffee was absolutely awful...and the granola bar was so salty and hard I couldn't eat it. <br/>How do you make a bad granola bar?
Dotpearson
Coffee. For a number of years I have ordered coffee and a sandwich or carrot cake at Grindstone and always enjoyed everything -- particularly the coffee. Since they have reopened I have found the coffee inferior. It is flat and bitter. I would like to know did they change the equipment or the coffee they are using.
Ilovebread
What happened?. I used to LOVE this place. Super friendly and great food. Since their re-opening I have found service very slow and the food is not nearly as good. Previously they were fantastic about substituting tomatoes for green peppers - now there is no substitution and the request for no tomato falls upon deaf ears.<br/><br/>I decided to try once more today as I was craving their tortilla soup and have come out very sad. This soup used to come with a small baggie of tortilla chips (when you get it to go) but now come with two triangles of multigrain (in-house?) toasted tortillas, NO cheese in the bottom and about 6 squares of avocado. I am basically eating broth. Very disappointed. Sadly I will not be back.
Sara
Extremely disappointed in my experience this weekend. It took barista 10-15min for mocha which tasted very bitter & No whip cream!<br/>Wasn't busy either.. When i brought the drink back for refund there was a couple in front of me .. Got a reg drip coffee instead (was also very bitter) Ended up leaving without refund as they were having interact problems or something! Very time consuming!
Arakara17
Thanks guys!. I am a vegetarian with a few sensitivities, one being wheat. <br/>No problem....even though there was nothing in the showcase for me the owner made me a beautiful Thai salad with Rice Noodles! Beautiful! Love the bright and cozy space and the Red cups:-)
Alison Longacre
Friendly staff and awesome Mexican Blackbean soup!
Tom
A Victoria gem. I've been coming here for years and I have never had anything I didn't like. The carrot cake is the best I've ever had and the soups are phenomenal. Service is always great. Background music always seems to really suit the place. No better (and more reasonable) place to have lunch in Victoria. Highly recommended!
Themer
I work next door, and I eat lunch there EVERY day. This place is rad! Hit up the carrot cake or the corn bread if your lucky enough to snag a piece!
Ignatious Jones
The food here is among the best in Victoria. Flawless service to go with there fresh and amazing menu. Coffee that is on par with some of the more upscale coffee joints in town to boot.
Angie
Oohhh definitely. Went there today for lunch. My hunny and I shared a grilled veggie sandwich and mexican black bean soup. OH I will definitely be back. Cute little spot for a lunch or coffee if you're downtown (chinatown area). Really friendly staff, and not painfully expensive if you share. Food was presented in a basic but pleasing way - and the taste of the meal we had was very good, we left happy.<br/><br/>January 2012 update:<br/>We have visited the cafe this month for lunch, and we had the grilled veggie sandwich. I thought it was pretty tasty, but salty and didn't have enough veggies to be a veggie sandwich, just my opinion. There was a lot of cheese and some avocado and I think a bit of tomato. Some crunch would be a great addition to this sandwich. I didn't see "half sandwich and soup' option which I'd also like (maybe I missed that option if they do have it) because i always have trouble choosing between a sandwich and a soup. Still loving this place though. We also had coffee and it was very pleasing.
Justin
Best americano EVER!
Lroter
Tasty great value!. The Grindstone Cafe is a cute little cafe in Victoria that serves simple yet wholesomely delicious soups, salads, sandwiches and treats. I am a local and frequent them often.<br/><br/>The portions are also ample and they serve great coffee! I especially love their signature Tortilla soup -- I even fashioned my own soup recipe after theirs based on my taste buds' recollections!<br/><br/>Try this place out for a quick, tasty, and well priced cafe meal! If the owners are around, you'll get a top notch greeting and follow-up as well!
Ali
Grindstone is one of my favorite places to grab a bite. The tortilla soup is always great. They also have a different soup on everyday. Yesterday I had the curries butternut squash and it was amazing. I love their coffee and I believe try serve silk road teas, they're great anyways. The jalapeño cornbread is probably my favorite baked good but it often sells out by lunch time. Overall I would recommend going often.
Urbanfan
Little cafè with so much to offer. I love this cafe. Set on the edge of Herald and Store street, you can't miss this little hideaway that serves delectable delicacies that will rule your taste buds to glory. Their homemade iced tea is just perfect thirst-quencher on a warm sunny day. From sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, muffins, cookies - they have so much to offer. The staff are friendly and are fast at attending to their customer's order. Seating area is very limited but most of their patrons simply enjoyed themselves when dining in at this little cafe with big potential.
C.N.R.
Lovely, delicious food!. Wonderfully nutritious, homemade soups, sandwiches, salads, and wraps, all made to order... and their coffee is locally roasted ...and spectacular!
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