Reviewed by Craig Dugas
■■□□□ 2.2 / 5 "Sack lunch"
The Grind just might be the tiniest restaurant in Bozeman.
They offer a small array of specialty sandwiches and gourmet coffees and sodas - of which I ordered the Turkey Raspberry Cream sandwich with fruit and a glass of water. I always love the choice of alternatives to chips. The fruit selection was decent- apples, bananas, apricots and Ziploc bags of dried cranberries. I picked the cranberries as the most unique of the selection - they were good. The sandwich was not your monster half-sub you get at Pickle Barrel. In fact, it was more bread than ingredients, which is somewhat disappointing. The flavor was packed full of mediocrity... I just don't see myself taking the trip out there specifically for that sandwich. However, if I were in that area and wanted a coffee or a very light meal, then it'd probably fit the bill. The service was kind, and the establishment had an all-around pleasant feel.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviewed by Eric Barnes
■■□□□ 2 / 5 "If I were starving, and near the hospital..."
In some ways, I felt like I was walking into some grandmother's kitchen when I entered The Grind deli. Everything felt homely, from the paintings on the wall, to the knickknacks neatly scattered about. Instead of an old lady behind the counter, however, there was a young lady. And instead of little grandchildren playing around, there were doctors and nurses filing in and out. Upon seeing this setting, I immediately braced myself for a simple, homely meal - and that is exactly what I received.
I ordered the Turkey Bacon Guacamole sandwich, which had turkey, bacon, red onions, diced tomatoes, and guacamole on wheat bread. Despite all of these ingredients, the sandwich was vertically challenged and mild in flavor. But, just as if you were at someone's grandmother's house, you politely eat what you are given, and thank the cook when you are finished.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviewed by Matthew Johnson
■■■■□ 3.5 / 5 "I rounded up from 3.5 on the fourth block..."
The Grind Cafe is nestled away in the building just behind the Rocky Mountain Surgical Center off of Highland Boulevard. This little lunch spot is not new to me, I used to frequent it several years ago when I was running my own consulting business and enjoyed chatting with the owners who started their business the same week I did. Unfortunately the owner's weren't there today, but I was able to enjoy the nostalgia all the same. The Grind is small, very small - it can accommodate 6, maybe 8 people max in an odd little space between two offices. The service is slow, but not excruciating considering that there was only one person performing every job typical of a cafe while we were there.
I ordered the Roast Beef sandwich ($6.50), chips, and an espresso shake ($3.00). The sandwich had a creamy horseradish spread, red onions, lettuce, and of course roast beef (there may have been a few other items too, but I've forgotten). If I had one complaint about the sandwich if would be the undistinguished slices of grocery store bread it was made with, but otherwise it was delicious! The shake however was a letdown. To me, an espresso shake means milk, ice cream, espresso, and whipped cream on top. To The Grind a shake means: ice, espresso, and whipped cream. There might have been some ice cream in there too, but not much. The chips were good.
On our way out, Barnes added a delicious looking cookie ($1.00) to our order which he was will to share half of with me. I must say the cookie was only two thirds as good as it looked.
All in all, I like The Grind and would recommend it anyone looking for a new place to eat, but I'd only tell 3 people at a time so as not to overwhelm them.
