Southeast Grind

This place has changed quite a bit from what it was several years ago. I work just down the street, next door to the Aladdin Theater. Formerly fireside something or other, it was awkward and a place I actually avoided. Now it's my #1 go to place. The coffee is tasty (coffee snob here!), the food is great - all local fresh and organic, and they're open and serving 24-7. Vegan friendly but not exclusive - the special just today had bacon:) Although located close in on busy Powell Blvd, it's chill and cozy inside. The only drawback is sometimes when they're busy the service can be a bit slow. But it's worth it. I love love love this place, and so do my coworkers! more

My plain hemp latte was rather bitter and not the most pleasant experience, although the friendly barista did top it nicely with some foam art. Otherwise, I thought it was a good place to sit and write. I found the background music, with some Pete Rock and Bhangra-esque instrumentals mixed in, to be stimulating but not distracting. There is a good variety of seating options (couches, stuffed chairs, high tables, low tables), and the place was fairly quiet but not dead. The big south-facing windows are also a nice touch. Some of the tables, chairs and walls look a bit run-down, but not to the point where it seems any less sanitary than most other coffee shops. Given the location, I kind of expected the prices to be lower--I'm pretty sure a 16oz soy latte is $3.75, and I paid $4.25 for the hemp. But given that coffee shop lattes are never really an economical purchase in the first place, it's hard to complain too much about the price. more