Cute independent coffee shop in University Mall. The space is super cute and includes some cozy comfy chairs if you plan to stay a while as well as standard table tops. A large outdoor patio seating area is also available. Many telecommuters can GG their work home. The staff are kind albeit sometimes a little slow to appear at the counter. The coffee is generally good but very inconsistent-- especially the specialty drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. I feel like there is no standard recipe or they eyeball measure ingredients -- not sure but I do know the delicious latte I had Wednesday may be unreplicable (and undrinkable) when I return on Sunday. This is a great place to study, work or catch up with friends but calling a hearty "beware" to customers desiring a consistent experience. read more

Cute place, surprisingly great lunch sandwiches with solid flavor for a coffee shop. Try the #9 Pesto or #10 Cubano

This place has excellent customer service. The staff. Is very kind and friendly. It's a very nice place to just hang out, relax, and study. I really love the atmosphere here and if you are looking to grab a cup of coffee as well this is the place to go. read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Iced Salted caramel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Cute little cafe set in the University Mall Plaza right next door to Dunkin Donuts. I wasn't greeted upon entering but once I got to the counter, the barista was friendly. There menu is splayed out on the chalkboard wall behind them and pretty extensive for a small cafe. I opted for the NEW menu item: Sausage, Egg and cheese on a waffle. All the food menu items seem to be in the mini fridge right behind the register. She grabbed my sandwich and placed it on a plate and then nuked it... Not what I was expecting but effective I suppose. I also got a bottle of HumanKind Water and a large cookie to go. I sat in the front window to eat my sandwich which I had to let cool because it was quite hot. Some of the edges were charred and cheese curdled but it was still pretty good. There was a tinge of sugar on the waffle which helped and was an added surprise because I really wanted syrup. I didn't bother asking for any because there was no evident silverware present so I figured this was intended to be eaten as a sandwich. Haven't tried the cookie yet but it has big huge chocolate chunks in it, hope it doesn't let me down! read more

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Yummy coffee and seasonal drinks! The barista was super kind and it's a cute spot by George mason university. Perfect for a study break or catching up with a friend :) read more

Friendly staff and wonderful cozy decor. It's a nice place to hang out. The chai tea latte is good. Apparently you can choose your flavor. Classic it is. A good little pick me up. Not overly sweet. The crossiant was also good. They can heat it if you want. Flakely and a good size. Mmmmm.... Sat and chatted with friends. Nice calming atmosphere. There's also more seating in the back. read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Comfortable coffee shop; however, the music they play over the speakers was awful. I wished it was classical or instrumental music or nothing. I don't understand the compulsion to play music in public settings. Is silence so bad? Other than the music, there was a good atmosphere and the folks that work there are pretty nice. The cappuccino was decent. read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Good coffee, outdoor tables (cushions would be nice, please) Prompt and friendly service was much appreciated.

I was witness to about ten minutes of the altercation between barista Ashley, Mayra A's brother, and Mayra A.'s sister in law. Throughout the entire ordeal, Ashley remained relaxed and held a firm but friendly tone in her voice. She explained in simple terms that patrons are not permitted to handle other patrons' possessions -- Mayra A.'s brother had moved a patron's bag, which contained a laptop, without that patron's permission -- and kindly asked numerous times for Mayra A's brother and sister in law to calm down. The two customers ignored her and continued to use loud, abusive, and mocking language against Ashley. With obnoxious tones in their voices, they opined that Ashley does not know how to do her job, that they we're being unfairly treated, and that they would be contacting "the person who signs your [Ashley's] checks" to get her in trouble. About five minutes into their rant, Mayra A's brother and sister in law walked away from Ashley. A minute or so later they returned to resume berating her. This lasted for about another four minutes. The ordeal ended with another patron ordering Mayra A's brother and sister in law to leave the premises. They did, but as they were exiting Mayra A.'s brother threatened to beat up the patron. The brother, who was carrying a baby at the time, used numerous swear words. Admittedly, the patron responded with swear words and counter-threats, but I can't blame him for that. Enough was enough. In short, Ashley did nothing wrong. Incidentally, I am a bouncer. Had Mayra A's brother and sister in law behaved in my establishment the way they did in Gathering Grounds, it would not have been a patron who ordered them out. It would have been I. And I wouldn't have remained as calm as Ashley did during the whole nasty occurrence. So my hat's off to her. She is a consummate professional. Please note: I have no personal relationship with Ashley or anyone else from Gathering Grounds. read more

It's a quiet coffee shop. The baristas have always been very friendly and diligent when I've been there. I'm not a coffee snob, so I'll just say that I liked the "campfire" and whatever else I've tried. (Shh, don't tell everyone that it's a good place to study.) read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Relaxed environment for studying... And friendly baristas... - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

BEST COFFEE ! this is my fav go to coffee place . I love ice latte and they have the biggest variety of flavors here . I am a loyal costumer and come here as often as I could . My fav is marshmallow and white chocolate. Super sweet just how I like it . read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - White chocolate and marshmallow latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Nice people, great atmosphere and a great space to work/study. I'll come again! -out read more

Great coffee! Great tea! Great beignets! I highly recommend and they seem to take good covid precautions as well. read more

Loved the cafe, loved the coffee, loved the breakfast :) I would definitely recommend people to come here for breakfast, for a snack or just to have a coffee date. read more

I'm always trying to find cool new coffee shops near me and this did not disappoint! The vibe was cool and not too loud. There was a lot of seating which was nice. Lots of options for drinks and food! And so many flavors to add to your coffee! I got a caramel and white chocolate latte and it was very yummy! Not too sweet which I like. Definitely will be going back soon read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

We wanted to try this coffee shop and it seemed to have good reviews online. I got an iced caramel latte and it was almost undrinkable. It had a very odd taste that I could not identify. We also had a drip coffee and that was even worse. There was a papery taste to it. Maybe I should give it 1 star... read more

This place is located very close to a college, so they don't lack clients. Both our drinks were nasty. I had a medium roast coffee with almond milk, it had taste of burned coffee and paper!!!, my girlfriend had an iced coffee. I noticed they have a weird sign "don't dump drinks", I think a lot of people actually dump those nasty drinks. read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Really love coming to this cafe in the mornings. There are only a handful of people sitting indoors at a given time as most people grab-and-go. Baristas are friendly; breakfast sandwiches & pastries are tasty. Can't comment on the coffee because I've never had it. Ambiance is chill with lo-fi music playing when they open. read more

What I look for in coffeeshops: 1) is the coffee good? (duh!) 2) would I like to stay and work/ read here? This place is one a few places in NOVA that makes it into that list. The baristas know their coffee and the environment is very warm and welcoming. Oh, and their lattes are great as well! A+ read more

The breakfast burritos are delicious! I stumbled across this place one day into work. It's so quaint

Great local place w unique offerings. Cute interior too. I got the Nitro iced that was delicious and tasted like maple cream coffee read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - hanging lampshades from the ceiling must be a "thing" This is the second place in the same week I've seen do this. I admit, it looks neat - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

The place is very cute however the coffee is horrible. The flavor of the coffee was plain off and tasted like medicine. I asked for a vanilla latte first and it tasted horrible so I asked for a Caramel instead and it was still bad. Not to mention the coffee is way overpriced. Would rather just go to the DD next to it than waste my money here. read more

Decent coffee, ok snacks, not very friendly baristas. Baristas always seem like they don't want to be here... Ok in a pinch but not my go-to. Today, dirty rags left on counter were pretty off-putting. read more

Gatherings Grounds is definitely my go to in the Fairfax area!! Their coffee is really good and the place is very cute and modern, good for studying, and simply a coffee date. My go to drink is the specialty latte: creamy caramel. Service was pretty quick read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - I got the Cream Caramel Latte, service was great and the drink was delicious!! Highly recommend - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

No complaints here! Solid coffee, nice decor, friendly staff. I had an issue with the WiFi but they fixed it for me. The only thing I would suggest is somehow airing out all the smoke. It got a little stifled while I was in there cause of the oven they were using. Overall I'll probably come back. I had a small coffee and a bagel (they have a great deal for $3.75). Nice spot for students and professionals alike! read more

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(More of a 3.5/5). I've been to Gathering Grounds on numerous occasions, and though I like the atmosphere (plenty of seating including some very comfy chairs in the front of the shop and an outdoor patio during the warmer months), I don't particularly like their lattes. Perhaps it was just the barista on those days, but each time I tried a specialty latte, it tasted subpar. Now, their drip coffee and nitro brew are both very good, so I would come back for those. It's a good place to go for studying/reading/working (the shop is located right across the street from George Mason University) or just meeting up with a friend. Overall, I would recommend this to those looking for a good work space and some good black coffee. read more

This coffee shop is near my university and it was such a good find! Lots of places to sit, quiet, good music, staff is super friendly and their options are good. I got the lavender tea I believe? And it was good and reasonably priced. They have marvel-themed drinks too which I thought was super cute. I will definitely be coming back to study and hang out with friends. read more

I have been to Gathering Grounds a couple of time the last one was on 1/20/17. I often wondered how Gathering Grounds could stay in business with a Dunkin Donuts right next store. After a couple of times visiting, I now understand why. Gathering Grounds caters to coffee house crowd that like to sit for extended periods of time for studying and/or chatting with friends. The space is filled with comfortable chairs and tables. (On a side note it wouldn't work for me when it comes to studying. Gathering Grounds gets a lot of traffic and would just be too loud for me.) Gathering Grounds offers a larger selection of specialty drinks and food than other coffee houses (they have a wider selection than Starbucks and/or Pete's). Gathering Grounds average costs are also higher than comparable chains like Starbucks and/or Pete's. After sampling a couple of their specialty drinks, I have to say I think it is more marketing than anything else. I haven't really tasted the flavors they describe. It is fun to experiment; and, in full disclosure maybe my palate is a little weak for this kinda of stuff. I've never had a problem with the service at Gathering Grounds. They promptly take your order and are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. In a nutshell, Gathering Grounds is very well placed for the customers it serves (i.e. primarily students). I wouldn't hesitate to go back but if I just need a cup of coffee and/or a basic egg sandwich I might opt for Dunkin Donuts next store. read more

Love this place! So many fun flavor options and great customer service! My personal favorite is the lavender latte.

I came here while waiting for a friend, as I had some time to kill before she got back from work. She told me her roommate came here and that the coffee wasn't great, but I was planning to get tea so I came anyways. Upon arriving, the barista asked me if she could help me with anything. I told her I was looking at the tea menu. She then informed me that they don't have any tea bags left. For a place that only sells looseleaf tea, it was disappointing news. I then ordered a chai latte (same price as tea, by the way...) and found a seat. The chai latte was pretty much just sugar and water, with a hint of cinnamon. I stayed since I was waiting for my friend, but if I wasn't I probably would have left after being informed tea was not available. I haven't tried the food, so I can't speak to that, but I don't plan on returning. read more

Oh, not good. We ordered a latte and a snowball latte. Customer service was seriously lacking. We tried to ask questions about the drinks and were given incorrect information about both beverages we ordered. Both expensive lattes were particularly watery and tasted like they were made from powder. I paid about $17 for drinks and a cookie - more expensive than Starbucks - and was surprised with the surly service and lackluster drinks. Will not be back. read more

Probably the last time I'll be back, which is disappointing given the proximity to my house. Ordered a matcha latte and neither barista knew what they were doing. I expect for the price to get a quality drink. Not one with giant globs of green tea mix. When I asked for another cup to try and shake some of the globs out, one of the ladies replied matcha doesn't mix well for iced drinks. It does actually, when you know what you're doing. Just ask the baristas at Cafe de Clieu or even Starbucks for that matter. I've never been fully happy with anything here. Oh well. I appreciate your response Yvonne. I would hope that they're trained before the rush of Fall classes begin. Training plus good attitude go a long way. Thanks! read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Not how a matcha latte should look. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

I'm upping my review score to a 3.5 stars! I got a better drink but I still don't think it was worth its hefty price tag. They didn't even fill up the entire cup! As can be seen in my photo. I got a macchiato for 2.50$. hefty price for such a little drink! But at least it tasted better! I was just meeting up with a yelp friend. We did come in late, around 9:30pm and they close at 10:00.pm. I myself work in the service industry so this next set of opinions I do battle myself. I feel that you should never kick guests out of an establishment even if it's after the hours that you've closed for that is just rude, but at the same time, the guest should not be staying all hours in the venue past open hours. So we were seating and the clock struck 10:00pm and they started turning the 'open' sign off and turned the lights out. I liked how it wasn't explicit that they wanted us out, but it was hints. The one thing that I was bothered though about this was the fact that they still had a lot of clean up to do, so it was kind of unnecessary for them to hint for us to leave. Finally at 10:15, an employee tapped us and told us that they were closed. I wasn't upset or anything because the service worker in me agrees with him. Guests need to leave!! But at the same time, on a technicality, a barista or a server really should never say that. I've had to stick it out with guests staying for 4 hours. So this is the big reason I can't raise them to 4 stars. The one thing that truly shocks me is the fact that it's an establishment right next to a school campus..? They should be staying open till at least 11!!! My friend ordered an iced jasmine tea. It was cool how they steeped it and then poured it over ice. Super fresh! It's why I give this place 3.5 stars. My only complaint, they were kind of skimpy as it was basically all ice. The mark up on the drink was outrageous. But I guess you're paying for the Atmosphere. All in all, I'd definitely come back, but I'd be careful with what I got! But their WiFi works really well!! read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

How is this a 4 star coffee shop? The most distinctive feature of this place is the excellent and friendly customer service and dirt cheap prices. But the food is poor quality, not fresh, microwaved and not tasty. Breakfast was a microwaved sandwich served plain on a Dixie paper plate. It was sad and not healthy and just tasted like salt and oil and processed crap. Go here for the drinks only. read more

*** 3 1/2 Stars**** They have really upgraded University Mall since I've graduated from Ye Old George Mason six years ago. Many of the shops/restaurants are still there along with many new ones. Gathering Grounds took over for Saxby's coffee but from what I can tell, they serve many of the same things. It was a hot day when I visited, so I opted for one of their specialty drinks, the British Islander, iced. This drink is coffee with macadamia nut, white chocolate, butterscotch, and toffee flavors. Give it a chance. It sounds like it would be overly sweet, but it surprisingly wasn't. The flavors worked and I felt you could still taste the coffee. It was fairly well made. There was one person working when I was there and he was friendly enough. Plenty of spaces to sit and they have wifi. They are on the pricier side in terms of specialty coffee so keep that in mind. Otherwise, not bad at all. read more

I used to go to Saxby's whenever I was in the area because they had the best coffee around. Although the ownership and name has changed, this place still has the same great coffee and service that I had come to expect from Saxby's. Over the last few visits, Gathering Grounds has been slowly improving on the Saxby's experience by offering new products, including in-house cooked breakfast sandwiches (which don't come out of a plastic bag like Starbucks) and pastries they bake right there too. Definitely worth the few extra steps further than the Dunkin' Donuts next door (yuck, mass produced food). Coffee has always been fresh, service prompt and with a smile, and recently tried their breakfast sandwiches and pastries which are on point! The owner, who is local, and the manager are frequently there and ensuring that you have a great experience. Happy to say I'll continue to come here for my coffee when I'm in the area. read more

Weak/weird latte (didn't even drink it because there was a strange aftertaste) and a lukewarm on the outside and stone cold (like from the fridge cold) on the inside spinach and tomato quiche. That was okay when I reheated it in the microwave and then sexed it up a bit with some much needed seasoning. I was overcharged for a bagel that I changed my mind about (in favor of quiche), and then the server didn't know how to refund my cash, so he gave me a card for a free drink in the future. That said, I really hope they step up their game on their beverages "in the future," because if/when I go back to get my free coffee, I don't want to have to dump it again. Seems like a waste. Other than that, the place is cute and has nice seating. The service wasn't stellar, but it was friendly enough. It just seemed that I was interrupting a conversation and that maybe if they were paying more attention to their customers than to one another that I wouldn't have been overcharged in the first place. Right next door lives a Dunkin' Donuts which I eschewed in favor of this Gathering Grounds because of the sweet name and because I prefer to support Mom-n-Pop shops over chains. I really don't like giving them bad reviews, but this was just not a pleasant experience. I might have to choose the door on the left next time. read more

Great local coffee shop, privately owned. Deliciously fun variety of drinks. See photos. read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Specialty drinks... Loved the caramel macchiato and turtle. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Stopped by for some coffee. They have a nice variety of flavoured lattes. I ordered the Mocha Mexicana (with Chocolate & Cinnamon). It was a little too sweet for my taste and the cinnamon flavour was barely discernible. Rather go to Cafein for a caffeine fix. read more

Gathering Grounds Coffee Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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So the reviews that proceed me are obviously shills for the new ownership. First, Saxby's never reached its potential because DD is right next door and the ownership didn't get creative and market their differentiation. Common Grounds is actually a weaker version of Saxby's but I will sum it up with my last experience... A very nice person held the door for me as I walked in behind him. He then walked behind the counter and started making coffee drinks. HE NEVER WASHED HIS HANDS!!! Needless to say, I walked out and over to DD for my cup of coffee. read more