Coffee and lunch are what first got us in the door, but now it’s brunch that has us coming back every morning. Southern Grounds (695 Central Ave) has been a neighborhood hit since opening on the 600 Block of Central Avenue last year, and while we’ve been by plenty for a caffeine hit, a healthy lunch or a nice happy hour, we finally got the full breakfast experience. The review: we will be back, and we will be back often.
A video of the over-easy egg being sliced open on top of the brunch burger is all we really needed to be convinced to try it, but there is plenty that makes breakfast stand out at Southern Grounds. First is the quality from their scratch kitchen. Everything is fresh, crafted in-house, and made to-order. Even their grits are milled and then soaked on site. That’s dedication.
ADVERTISEMENT
The best part is that breakfast service starts at 6:30 am and is available all day, seven days a week. Got an office job and want breakfast and coffee after the gym? You’re set. Bartender or third-shift worker whose breakfast time is closer to the pm side of the clock? Southern Grounds has you covered, too. And for all weekend brunchers, your dining hours are as flexible as can be. Add in coffee, mimosas, wine and beer, and you have all you need.
The full breakfast menu has something for everyone. Pancakes, bagels, croissant sandwiches, breakfast burritos, salads, bowls, omelets, toasties. This is not the place you go hungry for lack of choice. That said, we have a few favorites from our recent experience.
Perhaps our consensus top pick is the Brunch Burger. I’ve always preferred a savory breakfast, especially if it’s closer to lunchtime. This pile of fresh-grilled flavor hits that brunch gray area perfectly. The grass-fed beef patty is topped with sharp cheddar, center-cut bacon, microgreens, and a sunny-side egg, all served on an ancient grain bun. It may be the only meal you eat all day, and it will be a great one.
Next up on the list is a dish for those with more of a sweet tooth in the morning. With their French Toast, Southern Grounds again does an excellent job of taking a simple dish and elevating with fresh, natural and healthy ingredients. Their braided brioche bread is soaked in egg, cream, cinnamon, and vanilla before hitting the griddle. Once it’s fried to perfection – golden crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside – it’s served with fresh berries, powdered sugar, Plugra butter, and real maple syrup. This is French toast at its best.
And finally, my personal favorite: the Southern Grounds Grits Bowl. As someone raised on Southern comfort food, these hit the spot more deeply than I anticipated. They use Logan’s Turnpike Mill stone-ground grits that are soaked in-house for six hours, resulting in some of the softest and creamiest grits I’ve had anywhere. And that’s just the base of the bowl. From there, it’s loaded up with all the comfort classics. Poached egg, sharp cheddar, bacon crumbles, and fresh chives round out the experience, though you can’t go wrong adding jalapenos if you want a little kick in your breakfast experience.
Whatever your preferences, the full menu at Southern Grounds pretty much always delivers. With lunch and dinner service also available daily, you can stop by basically any time you’re hungry and you’ll find what you need. For some non-breakfast inspo, we’re huge fans of the Korean steak bowl, which packs the exact right amount of heat and plenty of protein, as well as the grilled salmon salad, served with an avocado vinaigrette.
Want Southern Grounds to come to you? We also learned that the scratch restaurant recently launched catering service. It’s the same quality as the in-restaurant dining, made for big groups. They have breakfast platters, sandwich platters, desserts, and even family-style salads and sides.
Southern Grounds is open daily from 6:30 am – 9 pm at 695 Central Ave.
