So I finally got around to visiting the Grounds of Alexandria on Sunday. Let me warn you - there are lines for EVERYTHING. There's a line to get a buzzer which entitles you to join an even bigger line to get a table. And while you're waiting to be seated, they have a takeaway coffee cart outside which you also have to line up for, and once you have placed your takeaway coffee order, they put you in the line for your coffee to be made. 30 other takeaway coffees later they call your name to collect your coffee.
You can tell I hate waiting. This guy on the other hand.... all smiles...
But they've set up the Grounds to keep you occupied whilst you wait for a table. There are lemonade carts, flower carts, cured meats and cheese carts, pastry tarts, freshly baked bread carts, and pet roosters and a pig (Hi Kevin!). Staff walk around with samples of sourdough bread and their amazing jam. There are jumping castles and kids play areas if you have little ones.
They had estimated an hour and a half wait (yes 90 minutes) but our buzzer went off after an hour and we were promptly seated. Can I just say the service here is impeccable. Wait staff were friendly and attentive without being overbearing. I ordered the Breakfast Board and Tom ordered the Breakfast Burger. Oh em gee. I'm not fond of tomatoes but I couldn't stop eating the tomato salsa.
Everything was just so fresh. The tomatoes tasted like they had just been picked from the garden as I placed my order. The pesto was super tasty and the feta was to die for. Both eggs were beautifully poached and the sourdough bread was divine. Coffee was delicious as was the pear, apple and mint juice!
We were heading to my parents' for dinner so grabbed some of their delicious-looking pastries to take to my parents'. It was SO hard to pick just 6 of these pastries but I managed (yes I am proud of myself).
Spot the one that overheated and fell over in the car...
OMGdness this looks incredible!!!!!! What a yummy breakfast but was it worth the wait?
ReplyDeleteYup it WAS worth the wait. Learnt my lesson though, will go earlier next time!
DeleteThe Grounds is on my hitlist of places to check out but its elusive location and increasing popularity (and consequent wait times!) have put me off so far. Hopefully I make it some day because it looks so cool!
ReplyDeleteYeah it's a great place. If you can manage to get yourself out of bed early (8am) on the weekend I would try and make the trek there (not really a trek depending on where you live but travelling anywhere at 8am on the weekend is a trek for me!)
Deletewe decided to go today!smashed avo is high on my list but those pastries look gorge!
ReplyDeleteOooh yes I read your blogpost, looks like you had fun!!
DeleteKx.