Good Grounds Coffee & Bistro serves coffee and breakfast sandwiches in a cool, modern space.
I was on my cross-country roadtrip when I decided to stop for a quick snack. I love a good frozen hot chocolate and breakfast burrito.
I could've done without the extra chocolate at the top of the drink, which lent a little bitterness. But, otherwise, it was delish. The breakfast burrito was full of sausage, potato, egg & cheese. It was good, but a bit dry overall. Some salsa or sour cream or even more cheese would have hit the spot.
Grade: B
The Grand Hotel is a stunning display of elegance. It's a proper resort, which reminds me of The Greenbrier in many ways. Its architecture is beautiful in an old world charm kind of way.
"Since 1887, Grand Hotel beckons guests to a time where old-world meets new charm. Experience the tradition of Afternoon Tea in the Parlor, dressing up for dinner, nightly dancing to the sounds of a live orchestra, and sitting in a rocking chair on the world’s longest porch overlooking the Straits of Mackinac. Discover the rich history and tastefully preserved architecture of this National Historic Landmark, while enjoying the hotel’s modern amenities and unsurpassed service. Slow time and spend time, in the relaxed atmosphere of Mackinac Island, voted “Best Island in the Continental U.S.” at the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. Welcome to Grand Hotel, where past meets the present," reads the website.
I stopped at Grand Coffee & Provisions for a quick snack. To my surprise, they had individual quiche loraines, and I was sold. This is one of my favorite ways to eat eggs. This one was definitely a bit more egg-y. I love mine with lots of veggie filling. Warmed up, the quiche was filling and quick.
Grade: B
Groundhog Grindz Cafe is a coffee shop and bakery in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Punxsutawney is home to the famous weather-predicting groundhog, Phil. So, there are a lot of groundhog-related shops, art, restaurants and more in town.
My friend Kayla and I traveled to town to experience Groundhog Day. It was a cold one, and after we finally made it down pff the hill, we stopped at this cafe to warm up and use the restroom.
The cafe is small, so it was overrun with folks. But, it was cute inside and even had a specialty menu for Groundhog's Day that had fun drink names.
I ordered a large hot chocolate with whipped cream and a ham & cheese croissant.
The hot chocolate was a bit watered down, but I was happy with the ham and cheese croissant, which was flat and toasty rather than super airy and crumbly. That made the cheese melty and delicious.
Grade: B
"In 2010, Panther Coffee began roasting and developing its wholesale program in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami. Shortly after, the coffee shop was opened to the public ... Founders Leticia and Joel Pollock have decades of combined experience in the coffee industry. They met at a coffee convention and decided to combine their expertise and open a wholesale and retail coffee company. Visiting Miami in 2008, they quickly realized that although Cuban-style coffee shops were abundant, the specialty coffee scene was nonexistent. They thought this would be a lovely place to call home and to build what is now known as Panther Coffee," according to the coffee shop's website.
"Each single origin coffee we serve have been selected for taste as well as individuality and origin ... After the selection of green coffee, the roasting team defines the specific roast profile to be used. Their goal is to achieve full development and caramelization of the sugars present within the coffee bean, without the conversion of these precious caramelized sugars into carbon, which can result in an ashy or smoky taste."
I went with an iced coffee, which doesn't have all the bells and whistles of some other coffee places. You really get a feel for the coffee bean flavor, which is definitely more on the bitter side.
This is a wonderful. For those who want to know the origins of their coffee and really appreciate the individual flavors of what each bean can offer. I can't pretend to be that knowledgeable; I only judge based off of what tastes good. But, I can appreciate the art.
Grade: B
Biggby Coffee (pronounced "big B") is a coffeehouse franchise based in Lansing, Michigan, with over 390 locations throughout the United States.
The drink optiond include everything fron lattes and hot chocolate to tea lattes and sweet foam cold brew.
I ordered a hot chocolate and an asiago bagel with cream cheese. You just can't go wrong. They are simple, but each was done well. A great bite to start the day.
Grade: A
Smokey Row Coffee Co. is located in and around the Iowa capital city of Des Moines.
They have the standard coffee offerings, plus specialty drinks and a soda fountain. I went with a caramel milkshake. I think caramel should be a more standard option for milkshakes, to join the big three: chocolate, vanilla, & strawberry. It's sweet, but has those deep rich flavors.
To go along with that icy, cold milkshake, I ordered a bowl of hot cheeseburger chowder: "our signature soup with a hearty cheese flavor, featuring ground beef and shredded potatoes." Warm, comforting and very flavorful.
Grade: A
The Girl and The Raven Cafe and Brazen Raven Coffee Roasters offers top quality coffee, southern dishes and fresh baked treats.
I ordered an iced chocolate and a bologna, bread and butter pickles, pimento cheese, and Lusty Monk Mustard sandwich.
This is a down and dirty homemade summer sandwich with a fancy upgrade of the mustard. I joke that dishes like this speak to my white trash upbringing - because despite being poor, meals like this are still delicious.
Grade: A
Wrdensville is a cool little town with a handful of amazing, locally owned shops and restaurants. Drifters Cafe is one of those - and a hidden gem, as it is literally on the backside of a building with a bookstore so you need to walk around to get to the entrance.
This open space offers food and coffee in a relaxing, fast-casual environment. I opted for a blended hot cocoa and breakfast quesadilla with a side of avocado ranch.
A frozen hot chocolate is maybe one of my most favorite drinks. It may be partly because of the paradox, but I know I just enjoy it. It is sweet, has that icytexture and has just a tiny touch of bitterness from the cocoa, making it not too sweet.
The breakfast quesadilla was huge. It could have fed too easily. I enjoy the concept here, but I do wish that there was some more melted cheese and salsa. The ranch just didn't hit like salsa would.
Overall, though, I did enjoy this combo and would be happy to stop here again to try some more menu items.
Grade: B
Coffee & Cream Cabana, established in June 2023, is a Myrtle Beach destination offering freshly roasted coffee, espresso drinks, and homemade ice cream.
Hand-crafted ice cream and locally roasted coffee sounds like a good match to me. I ordered a hot chocolate, which was lightly sweet, and an almond croissant, which was better than any croissant I've had. I think of croissants as being dry and flaky, but the sweet almond cream filling was perfection.
Grade: A
7 Brew Coffee has entered West Virginia, and its ground zero is Beckley."7 Brew was born from a desire to change drive-thru coffee into a fun, mind-blowing experience for everyone. We dreamed of serving premium coffee in record time and making new friends while we’re at it. The dream came alive with our first “stand” in Rogers, AR and our 7 original coffees. Today, we’re cranking out all kinds of custom-hand crafted drinks in different locations throughout the country. 7 Brew is so much more than just a coffee stand. It’s the concept of cultivating kindness and joy with every drink – through our service, speed, quality, energy and atmosphere. It’s contagious and it’s changing the drive-thru coffee industry," according to the website.
I ordered a blueberry pomegranate smoothie, which was light and fresh and refreshing. Not too thick or overly sweet. It could even do with a bit bolder flavor. That would be OK in my book.
Grade: B
"Java Detour is “changing the way America buys coffee”™ by responding to the overwhelming demand for gourmet beverages delivered with speed and convenience without sacrificing quality! Java Detour sells the world’s finest gourmet coffees, fruit smoothies, premier blended espresso, iced drinks and select baked goods from drive through and in-line facilities that emphasize speed, quality, and customer service," according to the website.
I had a jumbo beef bagel dog because how wild does that sound? Texture had that combo of too doughy AND too hard, though. The Mellow Mango smoothie, though, was on point. Icy cold and punchy with flavor.
Grade: B
Cafe 1925 is a new coffee shop in Wheeling Park located in thd White Palace. The shop features Starbucks drinks and nice outdoor patio seating.
They do offer an online ordering option, but I placed an order about an hour before I arrived, and it was nowhere to be found when I inquired at the counter, they simply said that the machine doesn't print online orders. So, they then started making my order.
I ordered a caramel frappuccino and a spinach feta pretzel. I did see that there were some locally made foods, like pepperoni rolls, for sale. But, it seems like the majority is from the Starbucks product line.
The space is nice, with several seats inside and a shaded outdoor patio, as well. It would be a great spot to meet friends for a coffee or even do some writing.
The coffee drink is just like any that you would get at a Starbucks. I like mine closer to a milkshake than coffee, so a frappuccino is perfect for me.
The spinach feta pretzel may be offered at Starbucks, but it was the first time I have tried it. And, it was actually quite tasty. The cheesy, salty, creamy combination of feta and spinach is always a homerun. But pairing it with the buttery, flaky pastry made it even better.
Grade: B
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