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Restaurants

The Grounds, Alexandria

There’s a lot to like about The Grounds in Alexandria. You’ll find an organic vegetable and herb garden supplying the kitchen, a bakery, a café, a children’s play area, a takeaway space, well-kept chickens and a “research facility” in bold yellow neon lights with an in-house roastery.

The Grounds, Alexandria
The Grounds, Alexandria

Set amidst an industrial zone in Alexandria with a tall factory chimney within view, the Grounds is a welcome oasis headed by creative entrepreneur Ramsey Choker and renowned coffee expert and former World Latte Art Champion Jack Hanna.

The Grounds, Alexandria

Roaming through the urban garden before sitting down to a table is part of the charm of visiting the Grounds, a product of The Artistry interior design. Rustic, dog-friendly and well-organised with arrowed signs pointing to different sections, there’s a lot at which to marvel. You’ll even find a horticulturalist on board.

The Grounds, Alexandria
Flat white

Inside the café, from the large blackboard with illustrations of coffee production to the explanations and tasting notes alongside diagrams in the menu, this is a place that takes its coffee seriously.

The Grounds, Alexandria
Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Cheddar

The breakfast menu ranges from smaller items such as the Grounds Granola ($12) with fruit and vanilla bean yoghurt, and more substantial dishes such as Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Cheddar and garden herbs, roasted field mushrooms and toasted miche ($15), pork and veal sausages with free range fried eggs ($17) and the excellent Grounds Breakfast Board ($19) with double-smoked ham, poached eggs, Persian fetta, avocado, and more.

The Grounds, Alexandria
The Grounds Breakfast Board

Equally tempting from the lunch menu is the tortilla of spring onion and potato ($14) and the Grounds Picnic Box for Two ($28) to savour on the premises.

The Grounds, Alexandria
Pork and veal sausages with free range fried eggs

Breakfast runs until 11 am before a lunch menu takes over at 11.30 am, leaving a half hour gap for a coffee, one presumes.

Still in its early days phase, the Grounds will also offer cupping and coffee making classes as well as garden workshops.

The Grounds, Alexandria

At the time of visit, the Grounds had only opened its doors ten days earlier and it was still finding its rhythm. A massive Saturday morning crowd, a long wait for service, a stressed waitress with no customer service skills then being informed after placing the order that it was a cash only facility are factors that didn’t make it a glowing first-time experience. But don’t let this dissuade you. Like any new establishment, it needs time to settle particularly as Sydney’s food fashionista converge en masse at the latest hotspots.

The Grounds is an innovative concept combining a passion for the bean with designer surrounds, a beautiful place to come to be it for a coffee, a hearty breakfast or the lunchtime menu. The crowds aren’t likely to disappear so allow plenty of time and explore the surrounds at a leisurely pace.

And that is exactly what we intend to do.

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The Grounds are featured in our guide to Sydney’s Top Breakfast & Brunch Spots

The Grounds
Building 7A, 2 Huntley St
Alexandria NSW
www.groundsroasters.com

About the author

Corinne Mossati

Corinne Mossati is a drinks writer, author of GROW YOUR OWN COCKTAIL GARDEN, SHRUBS & BOTANICAL SODAS and founder/editor of Gourmantic, Cocktails & Bars and The Gourmantic Garden. She has been writing extensively about spirits, cocktails, bars and cocktail gardening in more recent years. She is a spirits and cocktail competition judge, Icons of Whisky Australia nominee, contributor to Diageo Bar Academy, cocktail developer and is named in Australian Bartender Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential List. Her cocktail garden was featured on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia and has won several awards. She is a contributor to Real World Gardener radio program and is featured in several publications including Pip Magazine, Organic Gardener, Australian Bartender and Breathe (UK). Read the full bio here.

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