Normally I don't go back and update my positive reviews, but because I've eaten at the Chat and…read moreChew a disproportionate number of times compared to everything else I've reviewed lately, I felt a 1 year (well, 8 months) revisit might be warranted. As before, I give this a resounding 5 stars. The menu has changed a little bit since I last wrote a review, and I've tried some new items. I have yet to try anything that I didn't like. My new go-tos are the raging chicken salad on a croissant and the berries and cream pastries. If you read my previous review, you will see that I was working up the nerve to try the chicken salad, because I'm somewhat meat-averse at times, and also don't like heavily mayonnaised foods, which is a big risk with any of the so-called "salad" items (potato, chicken, tuna, etc.) in life. I can now confirm that the chicken salad is 1) not overly mayonnaised and 2) made from not-gross chicken (I have no further explanation for this, but picky eaters will know what I mean). It's relatively light, has a nice texture, and is flavorful. It is one of my favorite weekend lunch items (or weekday, if I'm working remotely and in the area) now, not just here but in general. The berries and cream pastry is delicious and I would eat everyday, or even multiple times a day, if my figure and my wallet could afford it. Sweet, rich, flaky. Definitely one of my favorite dessert / sweet snack items currently. I also got a birthday cake made here and it was absolutely gorgeous (and delicious, obviously). Very well executed and totally got my vision. As I said before, there is plenty of seating inside (outside too!) and the volume level is perfect -- lots of people coming through, but quiet enough I can read, study, or do work. We spend several hours at a time in here some weekends. Highly recommend to anyone in the area or passing through.

The Chat and Chew Café is a welcoming, locally owned coffee shop and bakery. Drink options include…read moreiced, hot, and blended beverages, including chai, drip coffee, espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, and frappes. As well as mix-and-match coffee flights for $10. Pair your drink with a snack; choose from a wide variety of baked goods, including bagels, crumb cakes, cheesecakes, Danishes, croissants, and cakes. Or if you are hungrier, consider one of their salad or sandwich options. I ordered an iced Irish Moo latte with oat milk from their featured menu and was not disappointed. If you are unsure what to order, ask the barista for a recommendation; you will not be disappointed. While you wait for your order, I highly recommend browsing the gift shop. Browse from a wide range of locally made goods. Whether you are looking for a new travel mug, candles, body butter/scrubs, handmade washcloths, or local honey, you will find something unique. Be sure to check out the paintings available for purchase at the shop. All hand-painted by the owner.

I would like to try this shop again when I'm not in a rush. Came in early this morning and was a…read morelittle disappointed at how long it took for my order to be complete. This seems like an establishment frequented by regulars, and their orders took precedent over my own. The price was average for the area with my muffin and drink totaling $9. The muffin was great! Crunchy, sugary top, but soft on the inside with plenty of lemon flavor. My drink was pretty good too, though I wish there was more of a selection. Like I said, I will probably try this again one afternoon when I have time (and they do!) to really make the experience count!

Wine and coffee in one spot... ok review over. . Coffee 10...service 10...atmosphere 10...coffee…read morenames 10...vibes...10. You get it! This is my go to spot for the last 5 years. Even though I don't live in the area anymore, when I'm nearby I going to get my fix. I don't think they have anything I didn't like in 5 years but my favorite is Sweater Weather and the white mocha one. Ooohh. No. The sweet Melissa and the almond joy mocha... ohhhh and wine... they sell wine too, delicious baked items and trinkets and knickknacks. Staff is super friendly and inviting. The atmosphere is cozy. Great place to cowork. If I still lived in the area, they'd see me everyday.

This location was formally salt of the Earth boutique and coffee shop. I am so glad that the new…read moreowners continue the coffee shop business because I was unaware of the new ownership but was looking for coffee right before my meeting. They were very friendly and helpful and told me that I could pretty much make any Matcha flavor using any of the flavors that they had. I settled on strawberry lavender and it was really good. I probably could've done with maybe one pack of Stevia added to it, but it was a great iced drink to keep me going overall.

Really great coffee! Tons of flavor options, unique drink combinations, warm inviting environment,…read moreand fair prices. The staff is wonderful, great conversation and drink suggestions. Lots of open yet cozy space to work or hang out. Literally skip Starbucks across the street and go here!!

(4.25) This place has grown on me since it first opened…read more While the drinks selection is smaller than you might find elsewhere, the coffee is reliably good. There's usually plenty of space, and Greg and Co. have always been cordial. Given rising prices everywhere, Kindred now feels like less of a reach and more like part of a new normal. In need of an afternoon pick-me-up, I stopped in recently for an Irish Cream Latte. While the flavoring was subtle, the coffee was smooth and well-prepared. It was just what I needed to fuel my walk. Thanks, Kindred.

Kindred Coffee & Kitchen was okay, to say the least. I can't really speak to the ambiance since I…read morewas in and out, and there was also a Yelp event going on (yay for Yelp Elites!). I'm sure the atmosphere is nice, but I didn't get the chance to experience it. Unfortunately, I'm fairly certain the coffee made me ill. I ordered a simple iced latte with oat milk. I'm not sure if the oat milk had gone bad or if the coffee was old, but I ended up with what felt like food poisoning later on. I'm assuming it was just a one-off experience, which is why I still gave three stars. However, I probably won't be returning.

We always come here for birthdays. They definitely know how to celebrate with the live music. Great…read moredrinks and great food as well. The vibe is unmatched definitely recommended!

Came Saturday evening around 8:30/9 pm on Saturday. We were able to find parking on the street…read morewithout an issue. There was seating available inside and outside and a DJ who was performing. Our server was a friendly young girl who gave us suggestions on drinks and checked on our table frequently. We sat outside and with the smoke from cigarettes and motorcycles with loud ass speakers, we didn't stay too long. This seemed like a mature crowd for us and we were looking for something more lively.

Great customer service. Helped right away. Food was really…read moregreat. Easy music playing in the background. Plenty of drink options available. Great experience overall.

I was pretty underwhelmed by this spot. For a place called Cafe Expresso, the baristas didn't know…read moretoo much about coffee and wasn't sure how to make an Americano. It also tasted like something you could make at home. I didn't realize there was another coffee spot in the Grandover. I probably would've went there instead. I also got a bacon egg and cheese sandwich. Everything is premade so you can't customize any of the sandwiches. Seems like all they really do is warm it up. It wasn't bad but definitely wasn't good. Surprised they have a shop this bland in the Grandover.

Joy Bar has really stepped up in recent years. First, their selection has gotten a lot wider. In…read moreaddition to more expansive seasonal menus (typically with latte, mocha, cold brew, and chai options), they have a solid lot of house specialties (the staples). Of them, I've enjoyed the Cinnamon Toast latte while my wife is a fan of the Berry Haze. I've been trying to do sugar-free syrups when I can as of late, and thankfully, Joy Bar has a larger-than-average assortment of them on hand. While the coffee is still the biggest strength, Joy Bar does offer more. Whether you need a baked good, a bag of beans, a chocolate bar (courtesy of local artisans Eigen), or a gift, Joy Bar has you covered. The baristas are always friendly, and while there isn't always a table to spare (inside at least - patio seating is usually open in nicer weather), the atmosphere remains comfortable. High Point is practically hemorrhaging coffee shops at this point, but even amid the heightened competition, Joy Bar is a reliably good option.

Very cute shop with nice atmosphere. Connected with a home furnishing shop, gift shop, and kids…read moreclothing boutique. Coffee shop offers many drinks options and limited little bites. They have a walk up window for the amazing outdoors seating (slightly loud due to Main Street traffic. Service was slightly limited questionable since they forgot the quiche then asked if we wanted warmed up or not. We responded yes and was handed a prepared wrapped quiche and instructed to use their microwave and plates to warm it up on our way when we asked about the order status (knocked off 1 star for this).

I absolutely adore this coffee truck. I love the people behind it and everything that they do…read more Their drinks are so creative so delicious. I have never had a bad drink at mags. I love that they are a different locations during the week and that way more people have the opportunity to try their coffee.

The highs: Fast, friendly service and delicious drinks. I had a matcha latte with some kind of…read morepistachio flavor and cold foam (I actually forgot what the exact drink was) and it was fantastic. The lows: High prices (higher than average for the area), for no particular reason. Some of the old appeals of Magnolia's Cafe are no longer there, at least when I visited. No flower wall, no reusable cup, etc. Not even a posted or printed menu to look at. Not sure what's going on, but my experience definitely wasn't the one I've been seeing on Instagram for months. Still, the drink was really very good. I wouldn't splurge on it again, but I will remember it fondly, and I'd recommend that anyone stop by at least once if they see Magnolia's Cafe parked somewhere.

Had a team lunch catered in for a work meeting last week, as a group we picked Bistro 1605. Food…read morewas ready when we went to pick it up, everything prepared as ordered, each meal paired with the requested side. I got the Kayden sandwich with house salad. Just like dining in, they don't skimp. They pack the sandwich and the to go box full, it was more than enough for a filling and healthy lunch. Their house dressing for the salad is fantastic, maybe some sort of deviation of thousand islands(?), tasty with just a little sweetness. Highly recommend for dine in or take out!

Bistro 1605 is a result of Alexandria's Hamilton Street Bistro moving into the former Cork and…read moreGrind location. While I never got to try the old restaurant, I was curious about the new. I stopped by a little before noon on a Friday to find the establishment very busy, a testament to Alexandria's loyal following. As much as I wanted to like this place, however, it just didn't strike me as anything special. Positives first: Alesha is a friendly and welcoming presence, and the staff here seem hard-working and personable. Though the menu is fairly limited, several items - a crostini and a spinach/hummus/red pepper/quinoa wrap - held appeal. I ultimately went with the day's special, an Italian sandwich. It took a while to arrive, but given how busy - and new - the bistro was, I'm inclined to cut them some slack. While the sandwich featured a good amount of meat, it was oddly sweet due to the choice of pepper. Banana peppers and a dash of oregano would have been a welcome remedy. Like a few of the other sandwich offerings, the Italian clocked in at $12 with a bag of chips included. Some of the salads reached ambitiously into the teens. I may need to give Bistro 1605 another shot after they are fully up to speed at their new location, but initial impressions suggest a place that will serve you neither a bad lunch (and there is something to be said for that consistency alone) nor a particularly memorable one.