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    Proving Ground

    4.5 (103 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Proving Ground Coffee Roasteries Photos

    PROVING GROUND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Proving Ground

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    Latte
    MaryAnn B.

    Just ordered a Latte which was yummy. Service fast and friendly. Looked over the menu and had a nice selection of breakfast, brunch choices. A lot of room to sit and enjoy your coffee, meal. Outside seating as well.

    Caramelized Banana Latte
    Allison W.

    We love Proving Ground! Columbia is lucky to have this place. This morning we enjoyed a breakfast with friends. Always relaxed vibes, kind service, and everyone enjoyed their food and coffee! Tried the salmon eggs Benedict with capers, avocado, and a southwestern hollandaise. Excellent! And our favorites were great as always - breakfast croissant, avocado toast, mornin fixin's, and breakfast burrito!

    Sean A.

    I've been several times before. Finally tried something different. The eggs with the mixed potato's are great. The monkey pancakes are a bit on the sweet side but absolutely wonderful. Ordered these to share which was the right idea! Coffee is great. They've expanded their seating inside with a small patio outside for the nicer days. Staff are always friendly. Stop on by and enjoy!

    Pancake
    Jennifer M.

    When my daughter wants to spend the night with the parents (she's 24 and in her own). I treat her to Breakfast Proving Ground Café and Roaster!!!!! This place is so good. Counter service is top notch and it is fast!!!! My Morning Fixin with Scrambled Eggs, Potato Hash, Bacon and toast!!! These are probably the best hash potatoes. The sweet potatoes are what makes it!!!! Then the Schubert Special was basically the same without meat....But they got eggs over medium. I always need a pancake when I am eating breakfast out as I do not eat them often (they wreak havoc with my sugars). But we all shared it in the middle of the table!!! It hit the spot!! Great patio for gorgeous weather The Vanilla Latte (not mine) was good!!!

    Cajun turkey club with chicken tortilla soup, and Schubert's special
    Allison P.

    Went to Sunday brunch with a close friend I haven't seen in months. We arrived just before 10 am, and luckily we didn't have to wait to find a table. She got an iced chai & I got a hot chai. Both were really good. I got the Cajun turkey club with a cup of chicken tortilla soup. She got Schubert's Special. We both thoroughly enjoyed the vibe of the place and our meals.

    Oatmeal with apples,bananas and pecans
    Renee S.

    They never disappoint!! We have been coming here for years and I love everything on the menu. Including the oatmeal!! So creamy and sweet

    Tacos
    Kassidee K.

    This is the perfect place for a nice coffee or a quick bite. The restaurant is the cutest little thing! They have greenery everywhere, cute decor and seating inside and outside. They have a great selection of food and drinks. The food here is on the healthier side and it's amazing! I ordered the "Mornin' Fixins", the meal was perfect, the potatoes that was served with it was the perfect addition. My boyfriend ordered the "Tacos", he also loved his meal. We'll definitely be coming back. I also tried their "mocha-mellow" drink. This drink was amazing! The marshmallow whip on top was delicious! The staff here are very friendly and work quickly. The food came out pretty fast and our drinks were made immediately.

    Latte
    Elsa L.

    This is a favorite spot for when my dad is visiting town - we really enjoy the lattes and breakfast - it has always been consistent. Service is great for a local coffee shop - and even when the cafe is full it doesn't take long for a table to open up. I recommend trying their lattes or fresh squeezed orange juice. They are both great ways to start your morning!

    Where you sit
    Fred L.

    At first we weren't sure my wife could get in.. From the front it's a long walk for her with her walker.i drove around the side and found a ramp she could negotiate with no problem. Once inside we were greeted and found a seat and menu. Placed our order which came out pretty quick.. I got the French toast with blue berries and strawberries, it was very delicious. I did miss the hint of vanilla,like I put in mine at home. She had the eggs Benedict. The sauce was wonderful, the eggs were cooked perfectly, the potatoes were great. She took home what she didn't eat they were that good. Very helpful staff. They have outdoor seating and indoor seating. Comfortable atmosphere. We'll return again.

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    6 months ago

    One of my favorite shops. Friendly staff, cute area, and fantastic food and coffee. What more can you ask for?

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    2 years ago

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    8 months ago

    Great service, delicious food and amazing coffee at a fare price. I highly recommend Proving Grounds.

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    3 years ago

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    7 months ago

    We love the vibe of PG and the staff is always welcoming and kind. Great place for meetings

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    2 years ago

    Convenient location. Great cup of coffee. Some of the best breakfast I've ever had. Friendly staff.

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    2 years ago

    Great place for breakfast. Try the chorizo hash or French toast. Coffee is excellent. Service is always fast and friendly.

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    3 years ago

    Eggs Benedict that were off the charts and a side of potatoes that were just as good! Fresh squeezed OJ sealed the deal!

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    4 years ago

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    Cafe on the Abbey

    Cafe on the Abbey

    4.2(68 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    We had high hopes for Cafe on the Abbey, but our visit was not a pleasant one. Based on other…read morereviews it may be an anomaly? So perhaps we'll visit again, however, if there weren't so many positive reviews we would never go back. Our coffee flight was probably the worst we've ever had. They were supposed to be iced but came out lukewarm and burnt tasting. We couldn't taste a difference in any of the flavors-likely because it was so burnt tasting that's all we could taste. Neither of us liked our food. My husband's pancakes were dry and he said they tasted like they had been microwaved. My healthy bowl tasted like mostly old/not fresh ingredients. The Brussel sprouts were supposed to be shaved, but were instead halved and appeared/tasted like they were from the prior day. The Parmesan cheese was also prepackaged and not freshly grated, and for the price we paid ($50+) we didn't expect to be served food low-quality food. The only picture I took was of our coffee. Our server did the bare minimum. They weren't rude, but also weren't friendly. We ran out of Cholula sauce and she grabbed one from another table with people sitting there. Overall a very poor experience. Based completely on this one experience we would never return.

    Went for a quick holiday brunch date and enjoyed the cute cozy atmosphere and yummy coffee…read morecreations tailored for the season. It had been a while, so we couldn't remember if we should start at the counter, or grab a seat when we first walked in, but a server saw us right away and invited us to find any seat if we were eating in. Our server was attentive and we were able to pay from our table. The food was quick and good, and breakfast and lunch items were both available. We ordered the Stacked Eggs Benedict Omelette and the Pick-Four Omelette. Both came with fruit (grapes), and the "pick four" came with toast. My husband got a black coffee from the coffee bar (and one to go), and I went with the Gingerbread Cookie hot coffee drink. It even included a cute cookie man on top!

    Photos
    Cafe on the Abbey
    Cafe on the Abbey
    Cafe on the Abbey - Enjoy inside or outside on this lovely patio!

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    Enjoy inside or outside on this lovely patio!

    Salt and Honey Bistro - I got ghosted.

    Salt and Honey Bistro

    4.4(20 reviews)
    8.9 mi

    Salt & Honey has the best atmosphere, the sweetest staff, an unbeatable playlist, and truly…read moredelicious food and coffee. Every visit makes me feel so lucky to have a place like this right here in Waterloo. I highly recommend trying one of their seasonal coffees along with some favorites; the breakfast sandwich with ham & jam, cheesy bacon grits, BLT salad, or the MOCO Club. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. It's definitely worth a stop the next time you're looking for breakfast, coffee, or a lighter lunch.

    What a cute spot in Waterloo! I was looking for a good stop for lunch and I'm glad I did…read more You can enter from the front or the side door, which is disabled accessible. The service was friendly and my order was accurate. The restaurant was very clean and they had several gender neutral bathrooms. They have an outdoor deck in the sun or you can choose the main dining area indoors with couches, table and chairs or half booth bench seating. It is inviting to stay awhile. There is a decent selection of coffee drinks and they have a fridge full of canned soda, water, etc. They have gluten-free products and some grab-and-go items. They also have salads, sandwiches and soups. My Santorini salad was very fresh with Kalamata olives and a honey dressing. Get extra dressing on the side because you will want more. They have an event space available for rent with big windows. It looks perfect for a shower or birthday party.

    Photos
    Salt and Honey Bistro
    Salt and Honey Bistro - Acai Bowl

    Acai Bowl

    Salt and Honey Bistro - 20 oz. Latte

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    20 oz. Latte

    Mama's Breakfast Table - 2 fried pork chops, 2 sunny side up eggs, a  biscuit and gravy with some hash Browns.

    Mama's Breakfast Table

    4.5(72 reviews)
    7.5 miPatch
    $$

    This place was way busier than I expected it to be, but I was very happy to see that! We were…read moreseated quickly and they had a high chair and kids menu for our little one. The staff were very friendly and efficient. The owner was very welcoming! The biscuits are delicious and there are a variety of breakfast and lunch items to choose from. We will definitely be returning here for the solid food and reasonable prices.

    This was our second time visiting in the past several months. I can't recall off hand what I had…read morethe first time but it was better than what I had today. I wasn't in the modd for breakfast food today so I got the catfish special. The catfish wasn't quite cornmeal breaded like I was hoping for and was under seasoned. The hush puppies were very good and perfectly cooked. I initially asked for something other than fries but I tasted one and was glad I hadn't ordered them because they were stale and tasteless. I exchanged them for the home style potatoes which were like warm and had definitely been sitting for some time. My partner got some and said his was hot and fresh. The coleslaw was interesting and finely chopped. It wasn't vinegar based but also wasn't the sweet/creamy type like KFC or Long John. It was just kind of there. The grits were again bland. The Biscuit was hot and fresh but they didn't have butter on the table for it. I should've asked but didn't so that's on me. Our server was kind but the expediter lady didn't seem as friendly. I would say if you haven't been give them a try for yourself.

    Photos
    Mama's Breakfast Table - Interior and bar

    Interior and bar

    Mama's Breakfast Table - Breakfast sandwich with sausage.

    Breakfast sandwich with sausage.

    Mama's Breakfast Table - Front entrance

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    Front entrance

    The Breakfast Corner - The Corner Breakfast with Harvest Waffle

    The Breakfast Corner

    4.5(103 reviews)
    10.3 miSaint Louis Hills
    $$

    I had the breakfast special and it was absolutely fantastic. Even the scrambled eggs were…read moredelicious! They were fluffy and moist and you could tell that it was real egg. The potatoes were cooked perfectly with lots of flavor and that Belgium waffle Yum Yum Yum!! Our server was great. She was very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed multiple times during our dining experience. The ambience is very inviting and clean. One of the things I loved most were the pictures of old sports areas from St. Louis

    Saw a recommendation for BC and wife and I thought we'd stop by on Tuesday morning. There was no…read morewait, although the restaurant was full. FOOD-Omelettes were that, actual real omelettes not scrambled eggs with varied ingredients! My chorizo omelette was delicious. Chorizo was flavorful, I may nah e wanted more spice/hear, but float was there! Potatoes were cooked nicely. Wife's avocado omelette was also tasty as we're here potatoes. Wife also had a plain pancake which was a towering height and yummy. I had the Harvest waffle with bananas and strawberries. Again, flavorful waffle and the fruit was fresh and tasty too. We love coffee and the blend at Breakfast Corner is delightful! SERVICE-Sierra was wonderful. Gave us time to peruse the menu and took our orders. Coffee refill was timely and we kept the pot! Although the restaurant was full, food came out relatively quickly and hot. Management/ownership could be seen assisting with order deliveries and extra smiles...always a good sign! AMBIANCE-Space is brightly colored, has tasteful lighting fixtures, and the huge black and white St. Louis prints on the walls are a very nice touch! Overall noise level was good and we could take at a conversational level with ease. OVERALL-Our dishes were delightful and make us want to be back to try more items. Service was wonderful and also makes us want to be back. Happy to have found a new breakfast/brunch spot! Thank you!

    Photos
    The Breakfast Corner - Dining area

    Dining area

    The Breakfast Corner - Side of potatoes

    Side of potatoes

    The Breakfast Corner - Coffee cups

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    Coffee cups

    Proving Ground - coffeeroasteries - Updated May 2026

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