Amazing atmosphere and good and honest people came out from las vegas nv and they treated me like family here . Olav the owner and erika the server greated me and satisfied my every needs highly recommend this place .
(5)
Sprinkles C.
Food is majorly overpriced for the crappy quality and portions. I watched a whole family sit down, receive their waters, check out the menu, apologize to the server because the menu was "not what they thought it would be", then left. I don't blame them! There are MUCH better places to eat in the Grove. Originally my boyfriend and I wanted to watch the game with our dog at Taurus (a much better bar/restaurant just down on Main Highway), but they don't open until 4pm and the game we wanted to watch was airing earlier, so I indulged in the happy hour and the $7 spring rolls that had obviously come out of some prepackaged frozen situation. What REALLY got my goat was that the manager/owner practically hovered over his employees...and not in a good, efficient way. He ripped into the poor server that had the table with the family as if it was her fault that they left. Last time I checked, the servers aren't in charge of the menu. But also, the way he spoke to his employees was clearly unprofessional and verbally abusive. My boyfriend and I assured her that she was not in the wrong and that she didn't need to deal with this sort of horrible management. I hope she finds a new job soon!
(1)
Annette G.
Attended a lively networking event in the Grove Spots's private (almost hidden) room and then stayed for dinner. Love the new delicious items on the menu! Finally settled on the Filet mignon salad with arugula, pineapple and just right amount of dressing. Out of town guests were delighted to discover a place with good food where the locals go and even happier when they got their check. A nice surprise from overpriced and over hyped meals they had elsewhere!
(4)
Antonius M.
Great Food. Great Staff. Very nice people around this town. I'm from out of state and they were very welcoming here. Me and my friends went 4 times in the last week. Thank you.
(5)
Steve C.
Andy and I ducked in to meet the Wolfe before hitting the Arts Festival. I had a breakie sammy, Andy enjoyed sausage and eggs. JC the manager was a hit, our server was a cutie and efficient. Good value. Good flavor, good instagram special.
(4)
Darian W.
Erica was such a great server. I hope I spelled her name right. Came here with my girlfriend after living in the grove for such a long time can't believe we never came! She had the New York steak I had the chicken fajitas both were awesome! Chef came out made sure we were happy. Everything was very nice here! Live music, great food. Great prices. We happened to come on Wednesday which had cheap Heineken! I would recommend! Definitely coming back. Can't wait to show my friends coming into town this place. If you live in the grove. And you know about the code... Nuff said.
(5)
Matt D.
Came here with the family for an early dinner on a Thursday night. We were the only ones! Not bad considering we had a toddler, but would have turned me away if it was an adults-only party. The patio is great. Nice to be so close to the CocoWalk and still be able to hear each other across the table. Service was pretty good. She was attentive and responded to all requests in a timely fashion. I was a bit surprised at how long it took to make a cobb salad and fish and chips considering the lack of customers, but it didn't dampen the experience. My fish was fresh and flavorful. The breading was heavy, crunchy, and quickly discarded. Fries were typical frozen variety. Salads were slightly better than expected. Potato skins lacked toppings, but had a nice crunch on the top. Beer menu is terrible (Beck's, Bud Light, Shock Top, etc.). I tried the Grove Spot amber lager. It's malty and dull. But, the happy hour prices are outstanding. 50% of all tap beer, so mine came to $2.25 each. Two entrees, an app, and two beers came to $36 before tip -- good value for the area. I could see myself coming back for a drink and an app, but probably not dinner.
(3)
Aorta D.
Completely rude. I'ts not even like they have good food. I'll chalk this up to a BIG CULTURAL DIVIDE. Like HUGE. The only people they respect are Dutch. Really it sounds crazy but it's true. Their menu sucks it seems like it's all microwavable fried food. I'm a good resource because I've been here SEVERAL times trying to give it a chance. They put customers last. I presume this comes from the top management and it's unfortunate. Is like pulling teeth to get them to be kind. It's hard to enjoy your experience there.
(1)
Marqus R.
The Grove Spot is actually somewhat removed from the heart of the Grove. The drinks are simple, but the patrons seem to be more of the beer drinking types. The food is cheap and unfortunately tastes cheap with a flavor and consistency somewhere between truck stop and food cart. They do have entertainment, but because that varies so much and is so dependent upon a persons subjective tastes, I won't bother to comment. The wait staff is, to be rather blunt about it, somewhat seemingly unskilled as well as untrained.
(2)
Benjamin B.
I went to The Grove Spot for my first time with some friends who live and work in the Grove and are trying new places. Both the world cup and Heat games were playing that night, and we wanted a place to watch both relatively unmolested by others. We fortunately arrived in time for happy hour, which featured $2.50 beers, two-for-one cocktails, and special apps during games. We ended up ordering a variety of appetizers and people seems fairly satisfied. I can tell you that the fries were a hit at the table--two rounds were ordered--and I ordered some jalapenos wrapped in bacon topped with buffalo sauce, which provided a great salty food to accompany our beer. I also saw some people order the potato skins, but the cheese was not melted on top, so I stayed away from them. Nevertheless, I heard no complaints. Overall, I would say that his is a fun place to grab a cheap beer and watch some games. Again, it was not packed and no one bothered us, so The Grove Spot really met our needs.
(3)
Gis C.
This place is flat out terrible. Food is bad, the service is the WORST!!! Absolutely no customer service. When our group asked for water, the server did not want to bring it to all of us. She only brought waters to the females at the table because we were "girls". The first time I came it was awful. Gave it a second chance because I wanted to like it but it solidified why I dislike this place. Do not come here. It's so bad that it has become my personal mission to let people know it SUCKS!
(1)
Katherine H.
We lived in the grove for over one year and had eaten at the grove spot, as well as ordered in, many many times. In the beginning it was great! Great food nice people no complaints. When new management took over it was a whole different story. I always ordered the same thing there and they took it off the menu. Its a chicken sandwich not duck l'orange. The manager refused to make it for me at first and then reluctantly agreed. Upon leaving he told me if I came back not to order the sandwich and that I wasted hours of his staffs time.... its a chicken sandwich. Customer service in Miami is generally appalling but this was just crazy!
(1)
Orr R.
Pleasant spot for brunch with a decently large group. Very reasonably priced, varied options. I had a hard boiled egg sandwich on a tasty wheat roll and a side of baguette with butter and jam. All were fresh and simple. Service was a bit iffy.
(4)
J D.
The service here was horrible. I'm new to the area and thought I would try out this spot since it's within walking distance and the reviews seemed ok. My experience began when I asked the waitress if they served any organic beers. She said she did not know but that she would go check. She came back to my table and said they did not have any organic beers and that her manager laughed when she asked him. She also said that the manager told her to make sure she told me that he laughed at my outrageous question. How's that for customer service? I think my outrageous question must have offended the manager, because when he brought my food he seemed very bothered. I might have been the only person who got this impression because he seemed very pleasant to the other customers. The food was very mediocre and portions were small for the price. I will not be returning to this restaurant. Good luck treating your customers with disdain.
(1)
Chris K.
Mediocre. The outside patio is nice and location is great. Service was OK. The main deficiency was the poor food quality. I might go back to drink a beer but not for a meal.
(2)
Howard B.
It's Tuesday the 7th of April 2015,we are tourist, we were looking for a place to have breakfast /lunch and used yelp for ideas. The Grove was extremely close,we went their and the place was close to empty,at 11:50am .The girl was very polite ,and we were able to sit anywhere. ..after 10 minutes we had not received any menus ,so we left....We may have deprived ourselves of one of the best restaurants in Coconut Grove, but I doubt it.
(1)
Alfredo R.
Not friendly w dogs not even if you tell them it is a service dog. Ask to move a table out of the sun and they could not help. If a client asks for something it is a must to help. Service not recommended. Really bad experience being my first time there.
(1)
Marilu F.
My husband and I live in the Grove and up until last night this was one of my favorite hangouts. The prices were always right and the food was tasty. Well, last night we met with a group of friends here, my husband ordered a drink, I ordered a drink, EVERYONE ordered a drink. My husbands drink; a Tom Collins was wrong, it was mixed and prepped wrong, he returned it to the Server and stated he would like a Beer instead, that the mix of his drink just wasn't right. She began Verbally Harassing him in front of our 10+ group of friends, imploring him to explain to her why he didn't like the drink. My husband is the most easy going guy ever in our 3.5 years together I think I've seen him mad once. The waitress then proceeded to spill beer over one of my other friends, she didn't even apologize until he said "excuse me" or something along those lines and then gave him a heinous attitude. When my tab came she had charged me for the Tom Collins my husband returned earlier in the night, I told her "I'm sorry, but this drink was mixed wrong and he didn't drink or enjoy it" she got defensive and said she HAD to charge me for it, that there was NOTHING wrong with the drink and she had, had to throw away a whole glass of liquor. I said I'd like to speak to the manager, she pretty much told me I could go fetch him myself that he was at the Bar. My husband went over to talk to him his name was "JC" and he proceeded to also verbally harass my husband. I couldn't believe it. What terrible, Horrific service. Truly shocking that anyone would treat customers in such a manner. At the end of the night the drink WAS removed, though hesitantly and with an unfortunate amount of attitude and poor service. I am not the type of person to NOT leave a tip, both my husband and I have worked in Food Service and we know how little servers are paid, we try to be as generous as possible. However, I am not ashamed to say I DID NOT leave a tip, you have to earn your paycheck and treating people with no respect, harassing them and giving them an attitude is not the way to do so. TL:DR; Horrible service, customers are treated poorly with no respect. Manager JC, argues with Guests when they dislike an item or it is not prepped right.
(1)
hannah a.
*Local review for Breakfast:* Atmosphere: Many locals come here often for breakfast. We really shouldn't: Leave This Place To The Tourists. Seriously. Food: Fine, if uninspired and lethargic. Price: nickel and dimed for everything: side of bread, $2.50; Slice of tomato, $2.50, cheese, $2.50, extra espresso shot, $2.50. Juice, $5.00 and it's from the jug from Publix. Good God, a $6.00 omelet ends up to be $15.00. Jesus. locals, find another grove spot and leave this one to the uninterested owner who is making a killing off of tourists.
(2)
Tony S.
Stopped by for lunch. Had a Guinness and pulled pork sandwich. The sandwich was smaller than I expected but was very satisfying. I'd also consider it moreso pan con lechon than pulled pork. I would go back for it, it was delicious.
(4)
Drew H.
Awesome little spot in the grove. Great happy hour and weekend happy hours. They have an awesome Grove Spot Red Ale which is my favorite there. The staff here is awesome and very helpful. They also have a drop down projector and screen outside for larger sporting events. Me Gusta.
(4)
Danielle E.
Not a fan. The only thing that brings me back is the cheap drinks during happy hour. If you're looking for amazing food, this is not your place. Is it edible? Yes. Would I want to eat there every time I go? No. You get what you pay for here. Go expecting cool waiters, cheap drinks, and cool people hanging around.
(2)
Whitney K.
Have you ever wondered if friendly neighborhood bars, the likes of which you grew up watching on Friends or How I Met Your Mother, actually exist? You know, that place where the bar tender actually does know your name and the drinks are strong but cheap? That place you consider a go-to spot within crawling distance of your other favorite venues or apartment? A place to start and end your night? Grove Spot isn't anything fancy, but the comfortable outside seating, worn wooden benches, and small acoustic stage all hint at that elusive place everyone's searching for. Don't be surprised to find a regular patron snoozing in the back, a bunch of noisy twenty-something's closing down the bar in the front, or a few couples people-watching out front. The casual, unassuming atmosphere just has a way of putting you at ease no matter what you're wearing, who you're with, or where your night might take you.
(4)
Elizabeth R.
The Grove Spot has been my standard, go-to Happy Hour stop for ages now. Whether I'm just starting off an evening or stumbling up their stairs to find some greasy food to sober me up at the end of the night, The Grove Spot has been there to deliver. I haven't explored the menu too much, but my standout favorite is the Chicken Shwarma with fries. Nothing like a pita stuffed full of shwarma to sop up the liquor and save me from a nasty hangover. The "G" Spot (what the locals call it) also offers up some killer beer specials, including a free draft beer with check-in on Instagram. All you need to do is #instabeer and show them that you are checked in (@thegrovespot) and voila - free booze. The servers have always been great and very tolerant of rowdy, drunken behavior (some I have witness and been involved in). They do cater to students and/or sports fans with the weekly games up on the big screen TV after all, so they should be used to it. Never super crowded, a nice, spacious patio for people watching, decent food, clean bathrooms, good prices and a welcoming vibe. What's not to like?
(4)
Mitzy R.
Tried the place for breakfast since it had so many great reviews. It was so disappointing. The egg white omelet was more salty than the ocean we could not eat it. When we told the waiter he didn't offer to change it or take from the check. They will not have me as client.
(2)
Lucy F.
Repeat customer party of one right here! This is probably one of my new favorite places to frequent. The food is out of this world and they always have some mouth watering special that i just can't wait to try. Favorite dishes: chicken shawarma and greek salad. The staff is always smiling and willing to go the extra mile. And hello - Thursday nights...Pint Night? Who ever thought of this was a genius! Even if you forget your pint and buy a new one it's worth it every time. The patio provides a pleasant place to eat, chatter with friends and is puppy friendly which is great in the Grove.
(4)
Rogelio D.
Was here to watch World Cup. Chilled atmosphere, great service, and menu was perfect: small and well executed. Loved it!
(5)
Alberto R.
The neighborhood alone gets this place a high rating. Breakfast quality was simple, yet delicious. Servers were considerably friendly and willing to make suggestions. The only thing I would have changed is the fact that they were too sparing on the amount of nutella in the nutella pancakes. Could have used a little more. Either way, I'll be sure to come back.
(4)
Luis C.
Love this place. Affordable. Happy hour runs till 8.
(4)
Michael S.
Came to town for vacation from Portland, Or. Was looking for a few cold cocktails and reasonably priced bites. Saw the grove and am so glad I dropped in, meals are delicious and most are under 10 bucks! In addition there happy hour is on weekdays noon to 8. Top shelf such as stoli vodka ends up being $4, all around very pleased. Also special compliments to our bartender Sarah, hope I spelled it right. She was adorable and very friendly!
(5)
Gaby S.
Didnt try the food, came here just for happy hour. Place was pretty dead around 530 when we got here. Drinks were good though and everything but the bottled beer was half off until 8pm.. Not bad :) PS- They make a mean lemon drop martini~
(3)
Yulissa M.
We were looking for a spot that served breakfast all day but refused to go some chain restaurant while on vacation!! Front desk at the hotel referred us just across the street to the Grove Spot. There is indoor and outdoor seating - although it was a bit hot - the outdoor seating was perfect. They had some shadier areas which was nice plus your right in the heart of the grove, so the feeling is quaint. Expected the breakfast menu to be a bit more extensive but it was short, sweet and to the point. The food was good, decent, nothing too impressive but just right. We had the Grove Omelet and the Breakfast Sandwich. Coffee was excellent and service was up to par. Price was a bit high for what you were getting but hey you are in a Tourist spot.
(3)
Marcos R.
I've been here many times over the last few years. I've brought groups here each time to watch our college football games. But for some reason the staff and/or ownership had decided it would be okay for them to lie to us and treat us rudely on the last occasion. That will be our last occasion there. Those of you that know me, know that I tell it like it is and I LOVE a comfortable spot to grab a beer. I don't expect much, nor do I expect to be treated like royalty. We enjoy our games, but we're not disrespecting to others and we're pretty well mannered. We cheer for our team and enjoy a hollar or two after a good play, and that's about it. Honestly, we were baffled at the treatment we received. As a business owner/manager, if you care about your business, you should be smart enough to realize that there are PLENTY of bars to enjoy a drink, a meal, and a football game. But if someone or some business is going to dog me and my group in an underserving fashion, well.... you will never see me again.
(1)
Gabe d.
This place should give up in food and just be a bar. Awful!!! The food was terrible, the service was fine. I can't say much more than: only go for drinks and avoid the food!
(1)
Cristina V.
This place is removed from the downtown/Coco Walk area, which is nice. It also has a cute little outdoorsy area to hang out on. But if you're looking to eat breakfast - and not just hang out - keep walking to Le Bouchon or Green Street. We came here on a Tuesday morning before having to fly back to Boston. Needless to say, we were looking for something quick and easy. I really enjoyed the location itself. The menu? Not so much. It was pretty weak in the breakfast department. Want to sub fruit for potatoes? Nope - not unless you pay for the fruit in full, which is an extra $5. Really? I had the eggs benedict, which included tomato and bacon. The bacon was anemic and the tomato was not large enough to cover the english muffin below. The muffin itself did not seem toasted and instead turned to mush when combined with the yolk from the eggs. I will say that the eggs were nicely poached, though. The potatoes were greasy and had a weird after taste. My fiance got an egg sandwich on a hoagie. He was surprised when the waitress asked if he wanted wheat or white. I could tell by the look on his face - "isn't a hoagie a hoagie?" I think it's nice to have options. But overall, he was unimpressed. The mayo on the sandwich was overpowering and the dish came with no side. We'll probably come back for a beer next time we visit, but we certainly won't be back for breakfast.
(2)
Macarena O.
I had the Grove Omelette, it was okay but for the price I expected some home fries or something! I just got toast...also, the Orange Juice was $5!!! Who does that? Still, I guess it is cheaper than other places in the Grove and the service was great.
(3)
Alex H.
I was invited to the Grove Spot for a Beer Tasting as part of Grovetoberfest. My review will be limited to my experience therein. The Grove Spot is not a place I've noticed. If you pull out a dictionary and look up "out of the way", the Grove Spot has a picture right next to the definition. By no means is it hard to find or even hidden, it's just not on any of the main arteries of Coconut Grove. The bartenders were very friendly and helpful. The sitting areas (in the front) were very comfortable. The doors were open so it was hotter than ideal, but it was expected in the South Florida weather. My only complaint was the bar stools. They were just "too short" for the bar. A few inches taller may help keep me at the bar itself. Bottom Line: I will revisit to try the food; drink selection was very good
(4)
Enrique C.
I came here with The Boy (my bro) and Curious George. The service was excellent. I had the Seared Beef Tenderloin and The Boy had the Ahi Tuna Steak. My meal was incredible and his tuna was fantastic, so he says. This place is a great find. Very cozy and gives off a great vibe. I'm not sure if that makes sense. I am definitely adding it to my rotation of awesome Grove restaurants to frequent. Daaaaale!
(4)
Adalberto M.
I always scratched my head wondering why can't I like this place?? So I decided to give it one more try. With no expectation my wife and I sat down and waited for service. A few minutes later the waitress came by and asked us for our order. I asked for HH specials, basically everything was discounted but she couldn't give me exact details. oooook. The list of beers they offered was decent, but one peaked my curiosity - Grove Spot Red Ale. For $2.25 a pint, why not. Not bad at all! They have an extensive menu, but I'm not ready for that just quite yet (baby steps). So I increased my review to 3 stars. Only because this is a good place for outdoor seating, people watching while sipping on a cold beer.
(3)
Stephanie W.
I was pulling for this place. It's got cool ambiance and a stage! I started off with their special brew, which was the best thing about the experience. Our waitress was extremely gruff and unpleasant, and we definitely weren't the only table to notice. The food was over priced and they charged extra for adding mushrooms and onions to the burger. I was really looking forward to my egg-on-top burger. I was talking about it all night. But when it finally arrived the egg was missing. I waited five minutes for our waitress to come out. The egg took 10 minutes to come out of the kitchen, by which point in time my burger was cold and pretty much inedible. In short, terrible service and nasty overpriced bar food. Maybe I'll come back for a drink. Just maybe.
(2)
Jen A.
Would love to love the Grove Spot, but everytime I am there the food and servers are awful :(. I live nearby and it is so annoying because i like the deck and want to become a regular. If I end up there again I will re-review if better
(2)
Lorely B.
Here's the thing about Grove Spot - I really wanted to like it, plus it's cute inside, but one bite of the food and I went straight to "Meh, I've experienced better." I'll be straightforward. If you're looking for a cute, comfy spot for a beer (I enjoyed their ice cold Blue Moon) or to watch a game, this would be the spot - but skip the food!! I had a hot dog and it was just that, a plain ole' hot dog that you can make at home (and I'm not a good cook). Then I tried their world famous fries... Guys, it's Ore-Ida. Maybe to them Ore-ida fries are world famous - if so, then fair enough. On to the chili, with this I was pleased. So pleased, I decided to give the mediocre fries a twist by pouring some on! Pretty good idea on my part, I highly recommend it that way! The consistency of the chili was delish, not watery, and perfectly spicy, so it made a good fry topper. So anyways, unless you're a chili freak - skip the food and save the calories for the ice cold beer and the ambiance.
(2)
Chris C.
Always a table available. Drinks are reasonably priced. Staff is friendly. Sports on flat screens. Menu has typical bar food and a little extra. The perfect little bar.
I have been coming here for over 2 years. Either for hanging friends or for designer meetups called 'Design Miami.' Place has a great selection of american type-ish food. I would recommend the Virginia chicken if you have not checked out that bad boy. However, what I love about the Grove Spot is its 'Grove Spot Ale' that is a refreshing homebrew ale.
(4)
Alex S.
I work in the grove, so I am in here at LEAST once a week, sometimes more. For as many times as I've been here during the week, I have NEVER been here on a weekend. Mainly because I'm saturated with the grove by the time Friday gets here. That being said, I don't know how it is on weekends. They already know me in here, Angela is usually there on weekdays, and she's always filling me in on the specials going on that day. I've had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich, the linguine carbonara w/ seared chicken, the Greek salad, and plenty of times I've walked over to grab some breakfast when my insides start rumbling around 9:30am. Everything has always been great. The prices comply with the neighborhood. Everything I've had is roughly in the $10-$12 range. I've never tried their Grove Spot brew, but its next on the list!
(5)
Jaclyn G.
I flippin' love living in Coconut Grove. After having spent 32 years of my life cloistered away in a hellish suburbia (have you tried making it to Downtown from West Kendall at 8am? No? Right. Because you're probably of sound mind and live east of the Palmetto), I'm enjoying actually being able to walk to do my groceries, nails, take my dog to the park, and MOST important.... Get my drank ON. Enter: The Grove Spot. Right on Virginia, about a block or two before you make it into the clusterf*ck of CocoWalk, lies a little oasis of drinks, solid food, and non-pretentious-kick-back-your-feet-and-chill-the-Âhell-out good times. Oh, you're wearing flip flops and don't feel like changing out of your faded-ass NKOTB t-shirt from middle school that you enjoy moping around the house with all day? (I will not deny or confirm that this may have been me at some point over the weekend). It's cool. You're just as welcome there as the chick squared away in a DVF wrap dress and Tory Burch flats. Grab a seat on the dog-friendly outdoor patio, order up a sparkling sangria or cold glass of craft brew, take a deep breath in, breath out the stress of the day, and take a gulp of your cold cocktail. Repeat process until you've forgotten your boss' name. Hell...forget that you even HAVE a boss for a moment. The food here is pretty decent - solid burgers, salads, and wings. The bratwurst, knockwurst, and home fries that are were on special for the month of October were plump and savory. (That's what she saaaaid! Let's keep it real with overplayed jokes, shall we?) For those who like to indulge in their adult libations on the cheap during weekends (which is pretty much everyone I know), happy hour is *every* day from 5-7. Thursdays play host to a kickin' pint night where for the purchase of a nifty Grove Spot glass, you can come back every Thursday with it and score $1.50 on Domestic Beers and $2.50 on imports. Service here is hit or miss, but I've found that the bartenders are generally friendly and on-point as are some of the wait staff. (Shout out to Ann! I'm a sucker for a waitress with a bit of playful sass!) This is a spot where you can catch a game, listen to some live latin jazz, and let your hair down for a bit and unwind. Just don't let it down near my food...that ish is gross.
(4)
Wl M.
***ALERT*** This place now has a sign outside that says they will give free beer if you give them a good review. IGNORE any good reviews because they are being bought. This place just gets sadder.
(1)
Hannah S.
I'm bummed this place was a wash. It's so close to home, and with a charming outdoor patio, wifi and TVs, I thought I'd have to love it. Sadly, the staff was less than friendly, which made me likely to never return. We stopped in to do some work and nurse a couple drinks. I went with a bloody mary, which had wayyyyyy too much worschestershire. My friend had a latte, which she said was fine. We thought about ordering some food, but we had recently eaten, so we went without. Our waitress was very attentive when trying to get our order, but seemed unhappy with us when we didn't order more. At one point the manager, or someone, came out and told me to keep my dog on a shorter leash because he was blocking people. He wasn't particularly nice about it, at all. All in all, we felt pretty uncomfortable here. It wasn't exactly a welcoming atmosphere, and I probably won't return. Damn shame!
(2)
Cassie G.
I'll give this place a break since it's brand new and hasn't had enough time to truly break in it's porch patio furniture but I might expect better next time. After ordering a latte that took forever to prepare (and they only have 2% milk), I also ordered a breakfast plate mainly to sample their "famous" Irish sausage. It was definitely the best part of the plate, as I was unimpressed by the undercooked potatoes (usually my favorite part of a breakfast meal) that left me looking for some sort of kick. I also had to ask for my bread after my food came out since the waitress forgot it, but it is clear this is her first gig as a server. The owners were around and seemed very nice and eager to get their place going. I would come back and try another meal because it's sandwhich menu and "world famous" fries sure are luring.
(4)
Justin R.
This place was not awful, it just was not a great place to watch any kind of televised sporting event. While I was in town for the Miami marathon, the friends that I was staying with, took me here to have some post-race beers and watch the Heat game. The beer was inexpensive and service was alright, but they refused to turn the sound on the tv. Not sure if their tv's don't have sound or if they were just being a pain in the ass, but we had to listen to the awful live band instead of the game commentary. If you're about 50, and you're looking for a "hip" place to listen to some live tune, this is your place.
(2)
Natasha M.
I've only been here once and I'm pretty eager to come back. It was during happy hour, so I was able to get Stella on draft for $3 or so, which is awesome. They had a bunch of other beers for pretty cheap too. For lunch I had a fresh mozzarella/tomato/prosiutto sub and it was tasty. I wanna come back! This place is so chill.
(4)
Doug W.
A blah brunch with oily eggs, limp bacon that looked like the precooked stuff meant for the microwave, and flavorless potatoes. If you want a good breakfast, go elsewhere. There's a reason why this place is so much less crowded than the other brunch spots in the Grove.
(2)
Ess B.
The Grove Spot is the place to be in Coconut Grove. The casual atmosphere isn't pretentious or trendy, like a lot of the other bars and restaurants in town, and the food, drinks and service are high quality. They have music (Jazz on Wednesdays), and breakfast all day long. I pass by over a dozen places on my way to Grove Spot because they're worth it!
(4)
Jessica L.
I went for breakfast and had the eggs Benedict and a Belgian waffle with bananas. The food was average but the service is great and the food comes fast.
(3)
Tony A.
We went to the Grove Spot after we heard that they claim to have the coldest beer in the Grove. Now, I did not take a thermometer, but let me tell you, it would be very difficult to find a colder beer. I swear it's the coldest beer I've ever had anywhere. We ate lunch and I ordered the meatloaf as it as a special that day. (I like doing that because I feel restaurants put extra effort into their specials.) It was served with garlic mash and veggies - very typical. What was not typical was the meatloaf. It was phenomenal!. Not super sweet style of meatloaf, but the meaty, steak'ish style. We'll be going back for more cold beer and to try more lunch specials.
(5)
George R.
It's amazing how incompetence can ruin the simplest concept. This is a relax joint a few blocks from my house and I really wanted to like it, but ... This place is always empty The first time I ate there the waitress was inexperienced, but eager. She recommended their special potatoes but she admitted they weren't made from scratch (frozen IOW) so I ordered the Grove spot potatoes with the Kiwi breakfast. Compared to a breakfast diner the plate was small for the price but the quality was way better than any diner. The Irish sausage was very good (possibly home made) , there was grilled tomato, the potatoes were cooked with leeks and I don't remember what else so it was very good. The second time I had another young but helpful waitress and I ordered my breakfast a la carte (about $11 for the plate to get the items I wanted). Well it's the Grove so the prices were on par with that. The third and last time there was one couple eating and two guys having a beer, that's it. I sit at the terrace as usual. A young waiter jumps to help, gives me the menu and asks what I wanted to drink, I told him black coffee and water and he takes off. Fifteen minutes later I'm still sitting there no water, no coffee and no one took my order. Nobody showed up for the other customers either. I get up and go inside. There's a waiter (I think) sitting at the bar watching TV and he says hello. I ask him what's up with my coffee, and the first waiter pops up and tells me he's making a fresh pot. I said ok but I want to order. I return to my seat and after 10 more minutes of waiting and waiving for a waiter I just gave up. The first idiot thinks that his job is to stare at the coffee brewing and the second idiot kept his back to me fixated on the TV. The couple that was there witnessed the whole thing smiled at me and we ended up joking and laughing about the service. One bad waiter, ok that happens often but this was too much. Looking at the other comments here I see that my experience was not a fluke, and all the good reviews but one were from last year. WARNING: before writing this review I tried checking the Grove Spot web site again to remind me of the exact prices and items but AVG Anti Virus blocked it saying that it was a malicious site. Now, that takes the cake (sic) 8-)
(2)
Jonathan P.
The first day I'm in the grove I looked for an alternative to Starbucks. Didn't find it till my second day. Just having coffee. Good coffee and very friendly service and the owner is present. Wifi available. A great place to read the morning paper.
(5)
Tori S.
I ended up here to wait out the rain before my walk home. Friendly staff and decent coffee.
(3)
Bob J.
Food is usually pretty good and consistent. The waitresses are usually a bit slow. Prices aren't too bad. It is definitely one of the better spots to eat in the Grove as far as food and value is concerned. Weekends they have live music. I gave 4 out of 5 starts because there is not anything that special to me about the place.
(4)
Amy J.
Was really disappointed today... Absolutely zero customer service this afternoon. What ever happened to that slogan: "the costumer is always right."... Certainly don't ask for the manager...cause the server just comes back with the same lame ass response... I could have called India for that... NO OFFENSE. Too bad it's so close by cause I'm a very generous repeat patron.
(1)
Ale R.
hmmm not a huge fan of the food menu, and the plates always look half full. Drink specials are awesome!
(3)
Gregory N.
We had our Everglades Bike Club meeting at this place tonight. I ordered a beer and something to eat. The beer: Bud Light for $2.00. Nice and cold and served by a pleasant bartender. I had a bite to eat, too. The food: a chicken schwarma and fries. The chicken was very tasty, but it was more like a ceasar salad with chicken than a Middle Eastern flavored sandwich. What's gets my goat, however, is that there was probably 1/4 cup of chopped chicken in this sandwich! Along with romaine lettuce stuffed in a pita, it was so small it should have been listed as an appetizer. Tasty, but just not enough for the price. Note to restaurant owners everywhere: Don't take advantage of your customers! I know you need to make money, but if your customers don't think they're getting value, they're not going to eat in your restaurant anymore!
(3)
Cynthia M.
Our bartender alone, Jorge (pronounced "George"), merits 5 stars. He was the kind of bartender that a group of gals needs on a Saturday afternoon -- a little flirtatious, funny, witty and patient. Looking to continue the fun after the Arts Festival, we walked here hoping for a slightly more mature crowd than could be expected at Fat Tuesday or Sandbar. On a Saturday afternoon, however, the place was pretty empty and peaceful. Not exactly the kind of mood a group of girls looking to get their flirt on was looking for. Definitely a place I'd come back to if I want to hang out with friends and grab a bite -- or try during a later more appropriate hour for drinking. The bar had a narrow selection of liquor and a good selection of draught beer including a special red ale named after the restaurant. A refreshing break from the frenetic Cocowalk ambiance.
(3)
Agatha M.
so... after hearing about this place for about 4 years, I finally went with my co-workers. couldn't have been more disappointed. I asked for a margarita and the response i got was, and im quoting here: "I am not much of a bartender, sorry" mind you, a. its lunch on Friday b. there were other servers on the staff!!! WTF, you have it on the menu. anyway, moving aside from my alcohol-deprived moment. the food was mediocre at best.
(2)
Amit S.
The bangers (sausage) was greasy and weird.. The toast were great through..
(2)
E Alexander G.
Yesterday I had lunch at The Grove Spot, with a bit of trepidation after reading some of the reviews here, but since it is the closest restaurant to my apartment, and the weather was great, hung out here with a few family members. I had a Greek Salad, which was amazingly beautiful to look at, and tasted great. My sister had a Reuben and fries, which she loved (toasted bread, not fried or greasy). My brother in law had the pulled pork sandwiches, which he enjoyed, and assorted beers rounded up the table. I have to say that our service could not have been any friendlier, and we all left happy and satisfied. I look forward to trying them one evening when the jazz is playing as well.
(4)
Curtis S.
Been there twice now, I didn't write a 2-star review the first time because I figured it was only fair to give them another shot. Everybody has bad days, right? Seems more often than not at the Grove Spot. I used to love going to Olav's little place next door. How could such a good thing go wrong? Breakfast for me & the wife was a 2 hour affair, with only 3 other customers in the entire Spot. The waitress was friendly and at the mercy of the slowest kitchen in the Grove. One side dish was omitted when the food arrived at our table, and she was berated by the owner right in front of us. How unprofessional, and uncomfortable. That's no way to run a business, and no way to talk to a person. Shame! Coming back from the Arts Fest yesterday, we had a friend with us, and thought we'd stop to quench our thirst before the walk home. Even though Happy Hour prices were posted all over, we were (quite rudely) informed that Happy Hour prices weren't in effect - and I can't make this part up: "Because of the Arts Festival". Again, I think this is the wrong way to run a business. Taking advantage of a local event to gouge customers is just plain unscrupulous. As a local resident, I take pleasure in patronizing neighborhood businesses, but cannot see myself going back to The Grove Spot.
(2)
Marie S.
This place was a nice size. We went for breakfast and were able to sit outside in the nice weather so we took our dog with us. They had a very limited breakfast menu, slightly over-priced. I wouldn't go back unless I was craving one of those items. They didn't even have pancakes. I ordered a bagel with cream cheese and lox which was very good. Although I didn't like that they only gave you a small packaged cream cheese. They also didn't have honey which is the only thing I drink in my coffee. Coffee was meh...plus it would be nice if they would bring the coffee around to refill your cups rather than taking it away from you and giving you a new cup. I probably won't be back.
(3)
Paula E.
I like this place. It's homey and sets a higher standard for your typical bar dives in the Grove. I've been here a couple of times with friends and its mostly a place to kick back and lounge on a more regular basis. Don't get me wrong, on any given weekend this place is up and happening, but I rather go when it isn't so I can grab one of their board games, order a glass of wine with a friend and chill and enjoy the good music while owning at some serious backgammon games. The happy hour has some really good specials. This place is great for an after dinner drink.
The Grove Spot had an allure of convenience for how close it was to our residence. We gave it a couple of tries and can't say much good about the place. The handful of things they do well (uncork wine, take caps off beer and a handful of specialty drinks) they do very well but this place is not good for vegans or vegetarians; even the potatoes are fried in bacon grease. I can't recommend if for food allergies either since the food is prepared on a common surface, short order style. The service is unbelievably slow at breakfast even though there were only 2 groups in the whole place. Our server had serious trouble following instructions. We asked for no toast and got toast, asked for medium and got well done, asked for over easy and got over hard. You get the picture. By the time our food arrived it was cold and greasy. The coffee was burned and overpriced and I'm not sure if they were out of soy milk or never had it as the server seemed confused. The glasses were smudged and we had to send back our silverware twice because there was dried dirt and food on it. We decided to give it another go for drinks after dinner at another restaurant lured by the promise of live music and half off happy hour specials. The slim selection of unusual imports were cute but didn't really appeal. We had to explain to our bartender how to prepare a Tom Collins and still got a Jose Collins... tequila, seriously? My husband asked for gin and soda and got gin and tonic (which is a huge problem since my other half is allergic to the quinine in tonic water). The live music did little more than appear at the appointed time and place. The bathroom was clean and they had WiFi. That's the only part I can recommend and still sleep at night. It seems like a local place: don't go for the music, service, food or drinks. The drunken regulars were odd at best. There are a lot of restaurants in walking distance that are a full 5 stars for food and service with better happy hour service.
(1)
Ignacio C.
From my previous reviews you can see I have been looking for a new place in the Grove. And maybe I am a little prejudice because I feel like I already know the bartenders and patrons, and it is just down the street from me, but I am ALL ABOUT the Grove Spot (or G-Spot if you are feeling naughty). It is located just on the side of Cocowalk, across from Mayfair hotel, so it is still in Heart of Grove but away from the trashy spots. It was opening night so things were still getting sorted out but I tried a couple of their cocktails (both delightful) and a Stella on draft. There was a green piano which one of the fellow patrons took over and belted out a few songs and nice outdoor seating to compliment the spacious dining room. I was also told about a private dining room in the back with a full bar and rumors of a pool table and darts! I did not get to try the food but I think I will actually go back for lunch today. I am just happy there is a new place in the grove that understands it's patrons, isnt pretentious, and on the other extreme, dont have to worry about getting an STD from the sink.
(5)
Michelle B.
I work down the street from the Grove Spot and go about once a week. The prices are reasonable and they have the best french fries in the Grove. The owner goes out of his way to make sure we're taken care of and the staff always remembers my drink.
(4)
Juan S.
Every neighborhood should have a Grove Spot. Friendly, good prices and decent food and drinks. Nice place to have a beer on the patio or to watch a game.
(3)
Kellie K.
Love this little spot right across from the Mayfair. They serve breakfast all day and have maybe the best bacon tots, wait, the ONLY bacon tots I have ever had. The atmosphere is great and with outdoor seating, I can bring my pup along with me! Always screening the most popular sporting events too! I would say my only drawback is that the service tends to be a little slow, so plan on spending a good chunk of time there and watch one of there several TVs. Oh yah, did I mention the bacon tots??
(4)
Bill A.
We just call it Olav's, and I love it. This is his new location, just up the street form the old location. And I am proud to state: they still have the best BLT in TOWN! and the best fries. Make sure to ask for the garlic mayonnaise. Also, the red beer is good, try it. I have been going to Olav's for over 5 years, at least (I am thinking... my son was born when..). Staff is totally cool and very kind! Another reason I love this place, everyone who works there is really nice, no joke. Lot's of outside seating for the soon to come cool nights of the dry season. Lastly, they do have a good happy hour. If you live in the Grove or just like the Grove, this is a good place to hang with friends. See ya there, bill
(4)
Gregg W.
Great overall atmosphere. We are from out of town and The Grove Spot was just what we were looking for to capture the Miami dining experience. Great food, Fabulous service and all 8 of us left full and satisfied. Will definitely be back before we leave. Gregg
(5)
Brad B.
Try it once and you'll keep going back when you're in the area. It's a great place to have a drink (or 10) and watch a game. Very European ambiance and good live music unless they are too loud and the building alarm goes off. Lots of TVs.....would be a great place to catch some of the Olympic events this summer!!!
(5)
Mia M.
Nice spot to sit outside and have breakfast or lunch. The food is tasty, excluding the scrambled eggs that I ordered that had tasteless cheese, but very small and simple for the price. I would only go there again if I lived very nearby.
(3)
Kenny A.
Great establishment, really like the people that work there and a perfect spot for locals.
(4)
Juan B.
Worst service ! Dont go to this placethe service is bad, the price high and the food bad
(1)
Whitney R.
I have been going here pretty regularly. It is the first bar in the grove when I walk in from my house...(So easy!) The drinks are quite cheap but the atmosphere is great. I have done the group of 10 getting drinks here, and the one other friend grabbing a glass of wine. It is great for either! I had the spring rolls, they are decent. Happy hour prices are great. This is great spot in the grove, because there are no trashy college students puking outside, the crowd is kinda local and really chill. It's the type of place where the bartender has a conversation with the customer. Great! This really is the G-Spot
(4)
Alex F.
Service took long and there was no one in the place. Waitress was too busy talking with her friends at another table.
(2)
Isamala G.
i love the place honestly! i love few of there plates ! they have great happy hours special and pint night. i agree with some people that sometime the food its slow to come out but they dont notice if there is an even they where prepping for or something. olav the owner he a sweet guy once you get to know him. he may seem mean but you just have to get to know him period! but i honest LOVE grove spot !!
(4)
Sami S.
The Eggs Benedict is the best I have ever had, amazing! Coffee is good too. The service is snail paced. The food takes a while to get to you, that's fine... its delicious... I'll wait for good food. The waiter I just had was very professional, and nice, but absent. I took 45 mins to get my food and eat it. I waited another 30 mins for him to pick up my plate... 15 minutes later he comes out with the check and tells me "if you need anything else, just let me know." I handed him my credit card (which I had ready) and he took care of me right then. Why was the service slow? He was chatting with girls inside the place (I was sitting outside) every chance he got. Every time I looked for him he was sitting there yapping, never even checking if I needed more coffee. If he had looked at me once he would have seen me sitting around playing games on my phone because I was bored. If you want to go with a big group and chat around for a long time I highly recommend this place. If you want a quick brunch... go to Berries in the Grove! I would say go there to people watch... but there are no people around!!
(3)
K M.
i work nearby and go in for lunch sometimes. The food is good, the prices aren't Miami-style atrocious... but the service is. If you go in here with a big group, the kitchen shuts down. They just don't seem to be able to handle it. We waited for almost a full hour before getting our food. I've been here in the evening and they seem to be a bit better prepared. The beer is also good and the ambiance is comfortable. I will go again, but not with more than 3 people during the day.
(3)
Marie W.
Everything we had at the Grove Spot was excellent. I almost did not order the Pork Tenderloin b/c this cut tends to be dry. I was pleasantly surprised by how tender, moist, and flavorful it was. The "mushroom sauce" exceeded my expectations, since it was an interesting departure from the usual. The sauce, lingonberries, and house potatoes all harmonized perfectly with the pork. Their Red Ale added the finishing touch. The Ahi tuna was sweet, moist, and seared rare just as requested. My only disappointment was that they were out of Bitterballs, another Dutch specialty at this wonderful place, but that will be our next item to try with that great Ale! Also, they offer a Dutch style breakfast item which I have not seen anywhere else and look forward to trying. What a great place to hang on that great porch for breakfast in flip flops and shorts!
(4)
Adriana J.
There's a reason why "simple is best". Sometimes, you don't need the fancy decor or the bizarro menu (tilapia cupcakes, wtf?!) This place delivers. My husband and I came here on a Sunday afternoon and the staff was friendly and very attentive. Our server came to check on us repeatedly throughout our meal. We ordered a burger (juuuuicy!!) and the chicken shwarma (delicious, my attempt to be healthy). Food came out quickly and definitely hit the spot. I can see this place filling up during soccer games--although it was quiet and calm when we went--since they have a pretty big TV screen and a layout that lends itself to crowds. My only qualm is that you had to pay an extra $2 for fries which is LAME-O in my book but again, maybe it worked out since I was going for "healthy"--by the way, you get chips instead of fries. Still, it's a nice alternative to the Grove's shenanigans if you're looking for something chill.
(4)
Alicia C.
First let me start by saying I love the location...the waitress was friendly but the food is lacking. The beer was served quickly and ice cold which is a plus. We have been here before for drinks and all was good. We, even after reading the reviews decided to give the food a try...mediocre at best. Prices here are more reasonable then most of the Grove but I guessneed you DO get what you pay for. We started with the bacon wrapped tots which I could have made at home and cooked throughly. My cheeseburger would have been better at a Jersey diner and his odd chicken thing he seemed to like but it wasn't appealing to even look at. Would not come again for the food...it almost seemed like the menu revolved around a hot flat grill and a deep fryer. A grill would serve them more. I will stick to just drinks in the futute!
(2)
Mike C.
Ate there last night with the wifey-poo - nice laid back atmosphere, service a little spotty, but to be expected on prime time Friday night. Great selection draft beer, appetizers so filling we cancelled our dinner order and ordered more! Prices are reasonable - we'll definitely keep this on our to-eat list next time we visit my sister in Miami!
(5)
Anne M.
They have a nice quiet casual location. Dining on the terrace was nice with the children. The portions were small and the prices a bit high. It was about $45 for 2 adults and two small children who basically only ate french fries. We came home and had more to eat because we were still hungry for dinner. It's a nice chill spot. Probably better for a beer and fries or a casual breakfast than for dinner. We probably won't be back.
(3)
Julie K.
I held an alumni happy hour at The Grove Spot last week and it was the perfect location. Our group was able to take over the back room, which has its own bar. The space has a good mix of seating: bar, high tops, low tops, and couches. The primary feature of The Grove Spot that will inspire me to hold another event here was the staff. Each and every one of them was so friendly and really went out of their way to be helpful. From making sure that we had drinks, to adjusting the timing on our food to accomodate for our fashionably late start, to providing personalized music to our preferences, we couldn't have asked for anything more. Thanks so much and I look forward to being back!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
James G.
Amazing atmosphere and good and honest people came out from las vegas nv and they treated me like family here . Olav the owner and erika the server greated me and satisfied my every needs highly recommend this place .
(5)Sprinkles C.
Food is majorly overpriced for the crappy quality and portions. I watched a whole family sit down, receive their waters, check out the menu, apologize to the server because the menu was "not what they thought it would be", then left. I don't blame them! There are MUCH better places to eat in the Grove. Originally my boyfriend and I wanted to watch the game with our dog at Taurus (a much better bar/restaurant just down on Main Highway), but they don't open until 4pm and the game we wanted to watch was airing earlier, so I indulged in the happy hour and the $7 spring rolls that had obviously come out of some prepackaged frozen situation. What REALLY got my goat was that the manager/owner practically hovered over his employees...and not in a good, efficient way. He ripped into the poor server that had the table with the family as if it was her fault that they left. Last time I checked, the servers aren't in charge of the menu. But also, the way he spoke to his employees was clearly unprofessional and verbally abusive. My boyfriend and I assured her that she was not in the wrong and that she didn't need to deal with this sort of horrible management. I hope she finds a new job soon!
(1)Annette G.
Attended a lively networking event in the Grove Spots's private (almost hidden) room and then stayed for dinner. Love the new delicious items on the menu! Finally settled on the Filet mignon salad with arugula, pineapple and just right amount of dressing. Out of town guests were delighted to discover a place with good food where the locals go and even happier when they got their check. A nice surprise from overpriced and over hyped meals they had elsewhere!
(4)Antonius M.
Great Food. Great Staff. Very nice people around this town. I'm from out of state and they were very welcoming here. Me and my friends went 4 times in the last week. Thank you.
(5)Steve C.
Andy and I ducked in to meet the Wolfe before hitting the Arts Festival. I had a breakie sammy, Andy enjoyed sausage and eggs. JC the manager was a hit, our server was a cutie and efficient. Good value. Good flavor, good instagram special.
(4)Darian W.
Erica was such a great server. I hope I spelled her name right. Came here with my girlfriend after living in the grove for such a long time can't believe we never came! She had the New York steak I had the chicken fajitas both were awesome! Chef came out made sure we were happy. Everything was very nice here! Live music, great food. Great prices. We happened to come on Wednesday which had cheap Heineken! I would recommend! Definitely coming back. Can't wait to show my friends coming into town this place. If you live in the grove. And you know about the code... Nuff said.
(5)Matt D.
Came here with the family for an early dinner on a Thursday night. We were the only ones! Not bad considering we had a toddler, but would have turned me away if it was an adults-only party. The patio is great. Nice to be so close to the CocoWalk and still be able to hear each other across the table. Service was pretty good. She was attentive and responded to all requests in a timely fashion. I was a bit surprised at how long it took to make a cobb salad and fish and chips considering the lack of customers, but it didn't dampen the experience. My fish was fresh and flavorful. The breading was heavy, crunchy, and quickly discarded. Fries were typical frozen variety. Salads were slightly better than expected. Potato skins lacked toppings, but had a nice crunch on the top. Beer menu is terrible (Beck's, Bud Light, Shock Top, etc.). I tried the Grove Spot amber lager. It's malty and dull. But, the happy hour prices are outstanding. 50% of all tap beer, so mine came to $2.25 each. Two entrees, an app, and two beers came to $36 before tip -- good value for the area. I could see myself coming back for a drink and an app, but probably not dinner.
(3)Aorta D.
Completely rude. I'ts not even like they have good food. I'll chalk this up to a BIG CULTURAL DIVIDE. Like HUGE. The only people they respect are Dutch. Really it sounds crazy but it's true. Their menu sucks it seems like it's all microwavable fried food. I'm a good resource because I've been here SEVERAL times trying to give it a chance. They put customers last. I presume this comes from the top management and it's unfortunate. Is like pulling teeth to get them to be kind. It's hard to enjoy your experience there.
(1)Marqus R.
The Grove Spot is actually somewhat removed from the heart of the Grove. The drinks are simple, but the patrons seem to be more of the beer drinking types. The food is cheap and unfortunately tastes cheap with a flavor and consistency somewhere between truck stop and food cart. They do have entertainment, but because that varies so much and is so dependent upon a persons subjective tastes, I won't bother to comment. The wait staff is, to be rather blunt about it, somewhat seemingly unskilled as well as untrained.
(2)Benjamin B.
I went to The Grove Spot for my first time with some friends who live and work in the Grove and are trying new places. Both the world cup and Heat games were playing that night, and we wanted a place to watch both relatively unmolested by others. We fortunately arrived in time for happy hour, which featured $2.50 beers, two-for-one cocktails, and special apps during games. We ended up ordering a variety of appetizers and people seems fairly satisfied. I can tell you that the fries were a hit at the table--two rounds were ordered--and I ordered some jalapenos wrapped in bacon topped with buffalo sauce, which provided a great salty food to accompany our beer. I also saw some people order the potato skins, but the cheese was not melted on top, so I stayed away from them. Nevertheless, I heard no complaints. Overall, I would say that his is a fun place to grab a cheap beer and watch some games. Again, it was not packed and no one bothered us, so The Grove Spot really met our needs.
(3)Gis C.
This place is flat out terrible. Food is bad, the service is the WORST!!! Absolutely no customer service. When our group asked for water, the server did not want to bring it to all of us. She only brought waters to the females at the table because we were "girls". The first time I came it was awful. Gave it a second chance because I wanted to like it but it solidified why I dislike this place. Do not come here. It's so bad that it has become my personal mission to let people know it SUCKS!
(1)Katherine H.
We lived in the grove for over one year and had eaten at the grove spot, as well as ordered in, many many times. In the beginning it was great! Great food nice people no complaints. When new management took over it was a whole different story. I always ordered the same thing there and they took it off the menu. Its a chicken sandwich not duck l'orange. The manager refused to make it for me at first and then reluctantly agreed. Upon leaving he told me if I came back not to order the sandwich and that I wasted hours of his staffs time.... its a chicken sandwich. Customer service in Miami is generally appalling but this was just crazy!
(1)Orr R.
Pleasant spot for brunch with a decently large group. Very reasonably priced, varied options. I had a hard boiled egg sandwich on a tasty wheat roll and a side of baguette with butter and jam. All were fresh and simple. Service was a bit iffy.
(4)J D.
The service here was horrible. I'm new to the area and thought I would try out this spot since it's within walking distance and the reviews seemed ok. My experience began when I asked the waitress if they served any organic beers. She said she did not know but that she would go check. She came back to my table and said they did not have any organic beers and that her manager laughed when she asked him. She also said that the manager told her to make sure she told me that he laughed at my outrageous question. How's that for customer service? I think my outrageous question must have offended the manager, because when he brought my food he seemed very bothered. I might have been the only person who got this impression because he seemed very pleasant to the other customers. The food was very mediocre and portions were small for the price. I will not be returning to this restaurant. Good luck treating your customers with disdain.
(1)Chris K.
Mediocre. The outside patio is nice and location is great. Service was OK. The main deficiency was the poor food quality. I might go back to drink a beer but not for a meal.
(2)Howard B.
It's Tuesday the 7th of April 2015,we are tourist, we were looking for a place to have breakfast /lunch and used yelp for ideas. The Grove was extremely close,we went their and the place was close to empty,at 11:50am .The girl was very polite ,and we were able to sit anywhere. ..after 10 minutes we had not received any menus ,so we left....We may have deprived ourselves of one of the best restaurants in Coconut Grove, but I doubt it.
(1)Alfredo R.
Not friendly w dogs not even if you tell them it is a service dog. Ask to move a table out of the sun and they could not help. If a client asks for something it is a must to help. Service not recommended. Really bad experience being my first time there.
(1)Marilu F.
My husband and I live in the Grove and up until last night this was one of my favorite hangouts. The prices were always right and the food was tasty. Well, last night we met with a group of friends here, my husband ordered a drink, I ordered a drink, EVERYONE ordered a drink. My husbands drink; a Tom Collins was wrong, it was mixed and prepped wrong, he returned it to the Server and stated he would like a Beer instead, that the mix of his drink just wasn't right. She began Verbally Harassing him in front of our 10+ group of friends, imploring him to explain to her why he didn't like the drink. My husband is the most easy going guy ever in our 3.5 years together I think I've seen him mad once. The waitress then proceeded to spill beer over one of my other friends, she didn't even apologize until he said "excuse me" or something along those lines and then gave him a heinous attitude. When my tab came she had charged me for the Tom Collins my husband returned earlier in the night, I told her "I'm sorry, but this drink was mixed wrong and he didn't drink or enjoy it" she got defensive and said she HAD to charge me for it, that there was NOTHING wrong with the drink and she had, had to throw away a whole glass of liquor. I said I'd like to speak to the manager, she pretty much told me I could go fetch him myself that he was at the Bar. My husband went over to talk to him his name was "JC" and he proceeded to also verbally harass my husband. I couldn't believe it. What terrible, Horrific service. Truly shocking that anyone would treat customers in such a manner. At the end of the night the drink WAS removed, though hesitantly and with an unfortunate amount of attitude and poor service. I am not the type of person to NOT leave a tip, both my husband and I have worked in Food Service and we know how little servers are paid, we try to be as generous as possible. However, I am not ashamed to say I DID NOT leave a tip, you have to earn your paycheck and treating people with no respect, harassing them and giving them an attitude is not the way to do so. TL:DR; Horrible service, customers are treated poorly with no respect. Manager JC, argues with Guests when they dislike an item or it is not prepped right.
(1)hannah a.
*Local review for Breakfast:* Atmosphere: Many locals come here often for breakfast. We really shouldn't: Leave This Place To The Tourists. Seriously. Food: Fine, if uninspired and lethargic. Price: nickel and dimed for everything: side of bread, $2.50; Slice of tomato, $2.50, cheese, $2.50, extra espresso shot, $2.50. Juice, $5.00 and it's from the jug from Publix. Good God, a $6.00 omelet ends up to be $15.00. Jesus. locals, find another grove spot and leave this one to the uninterested owner who is making a killing off of tourists.
(2)Tony S.
Stopped by for lunch. Had a Guinness and pulled pork sandwich. The sandwich was smaller than I expected but was very satisfying. I'd also consider it moreso pan con lechon than pulled pork. I would go back for it, it was delicious.
(4)Drew H.
Awesome little spot in the grove. Great happy hour and weekend happy hours. They have an awesome Grove Spot Red Ale which is my favorite there. The staff here is awesome and very helpful. They also have a drop down projector and screen outside for larger sporting events. Me Gusta.
(4)Danielle E.
Not a fan. The only thing that brings me back is the cheap drinks during happy hour. If you're looking for amazing food, this is not your place. Is it edible? Yes. Would I want to eat there every time I go? No. You get what you pay for here. Go expecting cool waiters, cheap drinks, and cool people hanging around.
(2)Whitney K.
Have you ever wondered if friendly neighborhood bars, the likes of which you grew up watching on Friends or How I Met Your Mother, actually exist? You know, that place where the bar tender actually does know your name and the drinks are strong but cheap? That place you consider a go-to spot within crawling distance of your other favorite venues or apartment? A place to start and end your night? Grove Spot isn't anything fancy, but the comfortable outside seating, worn wooden benches, and small acoustic stage all hint at that elusive place everyone's searching for. Don't be surprised to find a regular patron snoozing in the back, a bunch of noisy twenty-something's closing down the bar in the front, or a few couples people-watching out front. The casual, unassuming atmosphere just has a way of putting you at ease no matter what you're wearing, who you're with, or where your night might take you.
(4)Elizabeth R.
The Grove Spot has been my standard, go-to Happy Hour stop for ages now. Whether I'm just starting off an evening or stumbling up their stairs to find some greasy food to sober me up at the end of the night, The Grove Spot has been there to deliver. I haven't explored the menu too much, but my standout favorite is the Chicken Shwarma with fries. Nothing like a pita stuffed full of shwarma to sop up the liquor and save me from a nasty hangover. The "G" Spot (what the locals call it) also offers up some killer beer specials, including a free draft beer with check-in on Instagram. All you need to do is #instabeer and show them that you are checked in (@thegrovespot) and voila - free booze. The servers have always been great and very tolerant of rowdy, drunken behavior (some I have witness and been involved in). They do cater to students and/or sports fans with the weekly games up on the big screen TV after all, so they should be used to it. Never super crowded, a nice, spacious patio for people watching, decent food, clean bathrooms, good prices and a welcoming vibe. What's not to like?
(4)Mitzy R.
Tried the place for breakfast since it had so many great reviews. It was so disappointing. The egg white omelet was more salty than the ocean we could not eat it. When we told the waiter he didn't offer to change it or take from the check. They will not have me as client.
(2)Lucy F.
Repeat customer party of one right here! This is probably one of my new favorite places to frequent. The food is out of this world and they always have some mouth watering special that i just can't wait to try. Favorite dishes: chicken shawarma and greek salad. The staff is always smiling and willing to go the extra mile. And hello - Thursday nights...Pint Night? Who ever thought of this was a genius! Even if you forget your pint and buy a new one it's worth it every time. The patio provides a pleasant place to eat, chatter with friends and is puppy friendly which is great in the Grove.
(4)Rogelio D.
Was here to watch World Cup. Chilled atmosphere, great service, and menu was perfect: small and well executed. Loved it!
(5)Alberto R.
The neighborhood alone gets this place a high rating. Breakfast quality was simple, yet delicious. Servers were considerably friendly and willing to make suggestions. The only thing I would have changed is the fact that they were too sparing on the amount of nutella in the nutella pancakes. Could have used a little more. Either way, I'll be sure to come back.
(4)Luis C.
Love this place. Affordable. Happy hour runs till 8.
(4)Michael S.
Came to town for vacation from Portland, Or. Was looking for a few cold cocktails and reasonably priced bites. Saw the grove and am so glad I dropped in, meals are delicious and most are under 10 bucks! In addition there happy hour is on weekdays noon to 8. Top shelf such as stoli vodka ends up being $4, all around very pleased. Also special compliments to our bartender Sarah, hope I spelled it right. She was adorable and very friendly!
(5)Gaby S.
Didnt try the food, came here just for happy hour. Place was pretty dead around 530 when we got here. Drinks were good though and everything but the bottled beer was half off until 8pm.. Not bad :) PS- They make a mean lemon drop martini~
(3)Yulissa M.
We were looking for a spot that served breakfast all day but refused to go some chain restaurant while on vacation!! Front desk at the hotel referred us just across the street to the Grove Spot. There is indoor and outdoor seating - although it was a bit hot - the outdoor seating was perfect. They had some shadier areas which was nice plus your right in the heart of the grove, so the feeling is quaint. Expected the breakfast menu to be a bit more extensive but it was short, sweet and to the point. The food was good, decent, nothing too impressive but just right. We had the Grove Omelet and the Breakfast Sandwich. Coffee was excellent and service was up to par. Price was a bit high for what you were getting but hey you are in a Tourist spot.
(3)Marcos R.
I've been here many times over the last few years. I've brought groups here each time to watch our college football games. But for some reason the staff and/or ownership had decided it would be okay for them to lie to us and treat us rudely on the last occasion. That will be our last occasion there. Those of you that know me, know that I tell it like it is and I LOVE a comfortable spot to grab a beer. I don't expect much, nor do I expect to be treated like royalty. We enjoy our games, but we're not disrespecting to others and we're pretty well mannered. We cheer for our team and enjoy a hollar or two after a good play, and that's about it. Honestly, we were baffled at the treatment we received. As a business owner/manager, if you care about your business, you should be smart enough to realize that there are PLENTY of bars to enjoy a drink, a meal, and a football game. But if someone or some business is going to dog me and my group in an underserving fashion, well.... you will never see me again.
(1)Gabe d.
This place should give up in food and just be a bar. Awful!!! The food was terrible, the service was fine. I can't say much more than: only go for drinks and avoid the food!
(1)Cristina V.
This place is removed from the downtown/Coco Walk area, which is nice. It also has a cute little outdoorsy area to hang out on. But if you're looking to eat breakfast - and not just hang out - keep walking to Le Bouchon or Green Street. We came here on a Tuesday morning before having to fly back to Boston. Needless to say, we were looking for something quick and easy. I really enjoyed the location itself. The menu? Not so much. It was pretty weak in the breakfast department. Want to sub fruit for potatoes? Nope - not unless you pay for the fruit in full, which is an extra $5. Really? I had the eggs benedict, which included tomato and bacon. The bacon was anemic and the tomato was not large enough to cover the english muffin below. The muffin itself did not seem toasted and instead turned to mush when combined with the yolk from the eggs. I will say that the eggs were nicely poached, though. The potatoes were greasy and had a weird after taste. My fiance got an egg sandwich on a hoagie. He was surprised when the waitress asked if he wanted wheat or white. I could tell by the look on his face - "isn't a hoagie a hoagie?" I think it's nice to have options. But overall, he was unimpressed. The mayo on the sandwich was overpowering and the dish came with no side. We'll probably come back for a beer next time we visit, but we certainly won't be back for breakfast.
(2)Macarena O.
I had the Grove Omelette, it was okay but for the price I expected some home fries or something! I just got toast...also, the Orange Juice was $5!!! Who does that? Still, I guess it is cheaper than other places in the Grove and the service was great.
(3)Alex H.
I was invited to the Grove Spot for a Beer Tasting as part of Grovetoberfest. My review will be limited to my experience therein. The Grove Spot is not a place I've noticed. If you pull out a dictionary and look up "out of the way", the Grove Spot has a picture right next to the definition. By no means is it hard to find or even hidden, it's just not on any of the main arteries of Coconut Grove. The bartenders were very friendly and helpful. The sitting areas (in the front) were very comfortable. The doors were open so it was hotter than ideal, but it was expected in the South Florida weather. My only complaint was the bar stools. They were just "too short" for the bar. A few inches taller may help keep me at the bar itself. Bottom Line: I will revisit to try the food; drink selection was very good
(4)Enrique C.
I came here with The Boy (my bro) and Curious George. The service was excellent. I had the Seared Beef Tenderloin and The Boy had the Ahi Tuna Steak. My meal was incredible and his tuna was fantastic, so he says. This place is a great find. Very cozy and gives off a great vibe. I'm not sure if that makes sense. I am definitely adding it to my rotation of awesome Grove restaurants to frequent. Daaaaale!
(4)Adalberto M.
I always scratched my head wondering why can't I like this place?? So I decided to give it one more try. With no expectation my wife and I sat down and waited for service. A few minutes later the waitress came by and asked us for our order. I asked for HH specials, basically everything was discounted but she couldn't give me exact details. oooook. The list of beers they offered was decent, but one peaked my curiosity - Grove Spot Red Ale. For $2.25 a pint, why not. Not bad at all! They have an extensive menu, but I'm not ready for that just quite yet (baby steps). So I increased my review to 3 stars. Only because this is a good place for outdoor seating, people watching while sipping on a cold beer.
(3)Stephanie W.
I was pulling for this place. It's got cool ambiance and a stage! I started off with their special brew, which was the best thing about the experience. Our waitress was extremely gruff and unpleasant, and we definitely weren't the only table to notice. The food was over priced and they charged extra for adding mushrooms and onions to the burger. I was really looking forward to my egg-on-top burger. I was talking about it all night. But when it finally arrived the egg was missing. I waited five minutes for our waitress to come out. The egg took 10 minutes to come out of the kitchen, by which point in time my burger was cold and pretty much inedible. In short, terrible service and nasty overpriced bar food. Maybe I'll come back for a drink. Just maybe.
(2)Jen A.
Would love to love the Grove Spot, but everytime I am there the food and servers are awful :(. I live nearby and it is so annoying because i like the deck and want to become a regular. If I end up there again I will re-review if better
(2)Lorely B.
Here's the thing about Grove Spot - I really wanted to like it, plus it's cute inside, but one bite of the food and I went straight to "Meh, I've experienced better." I'll be straightforward. If you're looking for a cute, comfy spot for a beer (I enjoyed their ice cold Blue Moon) or to watch a game, this would be the spot - but skip the food!! I had a hot dog and it was just that, a plain ole' hot dog that you can make at home (and I'm not a good cook). Then I tried their world famous fries... Guys, it's Ore-Ida. Maybe to them Ore-ida fries are world famous - if so, then fair enough. On to the chili, with this I was pleased. So pleased, I decided to give the mediocre fries a twist by pouring some on! Pretty good idea on my part, I highly recommend it that way! The consistency of the chili was delish, not watery, and perfectly spicy, so it made a good fry topper. So anyways, unless you're a chili freak - skip the food and save the calories for the ice cold beer and the ambiance.
(2)Chris C.
Always a table available. Drinks are reasonably priced. Staff is friendly. Sports on flat screens. Menu has typical bar food and a little extra. The perfect little bar.
(4)Maria A.
If an easy-listening radio station came to life as a restaurant it would be The Grove Spot. This unassuming, simple café starts serving up breakfast early and goes late into the night with drinks at the bar. I came in for breakfast and took advantage of their free wi-fi to get some work done. The food is average, the service is better although slow. The setting goes from a casual bar to the 70's inspired dining room in the back. That same room is decorated with black and white photos which only adds to that throwback feel. The music helps, it's all 70s and 80s soft rock/pop easy listening. So there you have it, a friendly, welcoming place open early and staying open all day. Friendly service, average food, and free wifi. If you ever need to score some nourishment while surfing the web and being serenaded with some smooth listening you know where to go.
(3)Fabian A.
I have been coming here for over 2 years. Either for hanging friends or for designer meetups called 'Design Miami.' Place has a great selection of american type-ish food. I would recommend the Virginia chicken if you have not checked out that bad boy. However, what I love about the Grove Spot is its 'Grove Spot Ale' that is a refreshing homebrew ale.
(4)Alex S.
I work in the grove, so I am in here at LEAST once a week, sometimes more. For as many times as I've been here during the week, I have NEVER been here on a weekend. Mainly because I'm saturated with the grove by the time Friday gets here. That being said, I don't know how it is on weekends. They already know me in here, Angela is usually there on weekdays, and she's always filling me in on the specials going on that day. I've had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich, the linguine carbonara w/ seared chicken, the Greek salad, and plenty of times I've walked over to grab some breakfast when my insides start rumbling around 9:30am. Everything has always been great. The prices comply with the neighborhood. Everything I've had is roughly in the $10-$12 range. I've never tried their Grove Spot brew, but its next on the list!
(5)Jaclyn G.
I flippin' love living in Coconut Grove. After having spent 32 years of my life cloistered away in a hellish suburbia (have you tried making it to Downtown from West Kendall at 8am? No? Right. Because you're probably of sound mind and live east of the Palmetto), I'm enjoying actually being able to walk to do my groceries, nails, take my dog to the park, and MOST important.... Get my drank ON. Enter: The Grove Spot. Right on Virginia, about a block or two before you make it into the clusterf*ck of CocoWalk, lies a little oasis of drinks, solid food, and non-pretentious-kick-back-your-feet-and-chill-the-Âhell-out good times. Oh, you're wearing flip flops and don't feel like changing out of your faded-ass NKOTB t-shirt from middle school that you enjoy moping around the house with all day? (I will not deny or confirm that this may have been me at some point over the weekend). It's cool. You're just as welcome there as the chick squared away in a DVF wrap dress and Tory Burch flats. Grab a seat on the dog-friendly outdoor patio, order up a sparkling sangria or cold glass of craft brew, take a deep breath in, breath out the stress of the day, and take a gulp of your cold cocktail. Repeat process until you've forgotten your boss' name. Hell...forget that you even HAVE a boss for a moment. The food here is pretty decent - solid burgers, salads, and wings. The bratwurst, knockwurst, and home fries that are were on special for the month of October were plump and savory. (That's what she saaaaid! Let's keep it real with overplayed jokes, shall we?) For those who like to indulge in their adult libations on the cheap during weekends (which is pretty much everyone I know), happy hour is *every* day from 5-7. Thursdays play host to a kickin' pint night where for the purchase of a nifty Grove Spot glass, you can come back every Thursday with it and score $1.50 on Domestic Beers and $2.50 on imports. Service here is hit or miss, but I've found that the bartenders are generally friendly and on-point as are some of the wait staff. (Shout out to Ann! I'm a sucker for a waitress with a bit of playful sass!) This is a spot where you can catch a game, listen to some live latin jazz, and let your hair down for a bit and unwind. Just don't let it down near my food...that ish is gross.
(4)Wl M.
***ALERT*** This place now has a sign outside that says they will give free beer if you give them a good review. IGNORE any good reviews because they are being bought. This place just gets sadder.
(1)Hannah S.
I'm bummed this place was a wash. It's so close to home, and with a charming outdoor patio, wifi and TVs, I thought I'd have to love it. Sadly, the staff was less than friendly, which made me likely to never return. We stopped in to do some work and nurse a couple drinks. I went with a bloody mary, which had wayyyyyy too much worschestershire. My friend had a latte, which she said was fine. We thought about ordering some food, but we had recently eaten, so we went without. Our waitress was very attentive when trying to get our order, but seemed unhappy with us when we didn't order more. At one point the manager, or someone, came out and told me to keep my dog on a shorter leash because he was blocking people. He wasn't particularly nice about it, at all. All in all, we felt pretty uncomfortable here. It wasn't exactly a welcoming atmosphere, and I probably won't return. Damn shame!
(2)Cassie G.
I'll give this place a break since it's brand new and hasn't had enough time to truly break in it's porch patio furniture but I might expect better next time. After ordering a latte that took forever to prepare (and they only have 2% milk), I also ordered a breakfast plate mainly to sample their "famous" Irish sausage. It was definitely the best part of the plate, as I was unimpressed by the undercooked potatoes (usually my favorite part of a breakfast meal) that left me looking for some sort of kick. I also had to ask for my bread after my food came out since the waitress forgot it, but it is clear this is her first gig as a server. The owners were around and seemed very nice and eager to get their place going. I would come back and try another meal because it's sandwhich menu and "world famous" fries sure are luring.
(4)Justin R.
This place was not awful, it just was not a great place to watch any kind of televised sporting event. While I was in town for the Miami marathon, the friends that I was staying with, took me here to have some post-race beers and watch the Heat game. The beer was inexpensive and service was alright, but they refused to turn the sound on the tv. Not sure if their tv's don't have sound or if they were just being a pain in the ass, but we had to listen to the awful live band instead of the game commentary. If you're about 50, and you're looking for a "hip" place to listen to some live tune, this is your place.
(2)Natasha M.
I've only been here once and I'm pretty eager to come back. It was during happy hour, so I was able to get Stella on draft for $3 or so, which is awesome. They had a bunch of other beers for pretty cheap too. For lunch I had a fresh mozzarella/tomato/prosiutto sub and it was tasty. I wanna come back! This place is so chill.
(4)Doug W.
A blah brunch with oily eggs, limp bacon that looked like the precooked stuff meant for the microwave, and flavorless potatoes. If you want a good breakfast, go elsewhere. There's a reason why this place is so much less crowded than the other brunch spots in the Grove.
(2)Ess B.
The Grove Spot is the place to be in Coconut Grove. The casual atmosphere isn't pretentious or trendy, like a lot of the other bars and restaurants in town, and the food, drinks and service are high quality. They have music (Jazz on Wednesdays), and breakfast all day long. I pass by over a dozen places on my way to Grove Spot because they're worth it!
(4)Jessica L.
I went for breakfast and had the eggs Benedict and a Belgian waffle with bananas. The food was average but the service is great and the food comes fast.
(3)Tony A.
We went to the Grove Spot after we heard that they claim to have the coldest beer in the Grove. Now, I did not take a thermometer, but let me tell you, it would be very difficult to find a colder beer. I swear it's the coldest beer I've ever had anywhere. We ate lunch and I ordered the meatloaf as it as a special that day. (I like doing that because I feel restaurants put extra effort into their specials.) It was served with garlic mash and veggies - very typical. What was not typical was the meatloaf. It was phenomenal!. Not super sweet style of meatloaf, but the meaty, steak'ish style. We'll be going back for more cold beer and to try more lunch specials.
(5)George R.
It's amazing how incompetence can ruin the simplest concept. This is a relax joint a few blocks from my house and I really wanted to like it, but ... This place is always empty The first time I ate there the waitress was inexperienced, but eager. She recommended their special potatoes but she admitted they weren't made from scratch (frozen IOW) so I ordered the Grove spot potatoes with the Kiwi breakfast. Compared to a breakfast diner the plate was small for the price but the quality was way better than any diner. The Irish sausage was very good (possibly home made) , there was grilled tomato, the potatoes were cooked with leeks and I don't remember what else so it was very good. The second time I had another young but helpful waitress and I ordered my breakfast a la carte (about $11 for the plate to get the items I wanted). Well it's the Grove so the prices were on par with that. The third and last time there was one couple eating and two guys having a beer, that's it. I sit at the terrace as usual. A young waiter jumps to help, gives me the menu and asks what I wanted to drink, I told him black coffee and water and he takes off. Fifteen minutes later I'm still sitting there no water, no coffee and no one took my order. Nobody showed up for the other customers either. I get up and go inside. There's a waiter (I think) sitting at the bar watching TV and he says hello. I ask him what's up with my coffee, and the first waiter pops up and tells me he's making a fresh pot. I said ok but I want to order. I return to my seat and after 10 more minutes of waiting and waiving for a waiter I just gave up. The first idiot thinks that his job is to stare at the coffee brewing and the second idiot kept his back to me fixated on the TV. The couple that was there witnessed the whole thing smiled at me and we ended up joking and laughing about the service. One bad waiter, ok that happens often but this was too much. Looking at the other comments here I see that my experience was not a fluke, and all the good reviews but one were from last year. WARNING: before writing this review I tried checking the Grove Spot web site again to remind me of the exact prices and items but AVG Anti Virus blocked it saying that it was a malicious site. Now, that takes the cake (sic) 8-)
(2)Jonathan P.
The first day I'm in the grove I looked for an alternative to Starbucks. Didn't find it till my second day. Just having coffee. Good coffee and very friendly service and the owner is present. Wifi available. A great place to read the morning paper.
(5)Tori S.
I ended up here to wait out the rain before my walk home. Friendly staff and decent coffee.
(3)Bob J.
Food is usually pretty good and consistent. The waitresses are usually a bit slow. Prices aren't too bad. It is definitely one of the better spots to eat in the Grove as far as food and value is concerned. Weekends they have live music. I gave 4 out of 5 starts because there is not anything that special to me about the place.
(4)Amy J.
Was really disappointed today... Absolutely zero customer service this afternoon. What ever happened to that slogan: "the costumer is always right."... Certainly don't ask for the manager...cause the server just comes back with the same lame ass response... I could have called India for that... NO OFFENSE. Too bad it's so close by cause I'm a very generous repeat patron.
(1)Ale R.
hmmm not a huge fan of the food menu, and the plates always look half full. Drink specials are awesome!
(3)Gregory N.
We had our Everglades Bike Club meeting at this place tonight. I ordered a beer and something to eat. The beer: Bud Light for $2.00. Nice and cold and served by a pleasant bartender. I had a bite to eat, too. The food: a chicken schwarma and fries. The chicken was very tasty, but it was more like a ceasar salad with chicken than a Middle Eastern flavored sandwich. What's gets my goat, however, is that there was probably 1/4 cup of chopped chicken in this sandwich! Along with romaine lettuce stuffed in a pita, it was so small it should have been listed as an appetizer. Tasty, but just not enough for the price. Note to restaurant owners everywhere: Don't take advantage of your customers! I know you need to make money, but if your customers don't think they're getting value, they're not going to eat in your restaurant anymore!
(3)Cynthia M.
Our bartender alone, Jorge (pronounced "George"), merits 5 stars. He was the kind of bartender that a group of gals needs on a Saturday afternoon -- a little flirtatious, funny, witty and patient. Looking to continue the fun after the Arts Festival, we walked here hoping for a slightly more mature crowd than could be expected at Fat Tuesday or Sandbar. On a Saturday afternoon, however, the place was pretty empty and peaceful. Not exactly the kind of mood a group of girls looking to get their flirt on was looking for. Definitely a place I'd come back to if I want to hang out with friends and grab a bite -- or try during a later more appropriate hour for drinking. The bar had a narrow selection of liquor and a good selection of draught beer including a special red ale named after the restaurant. A refreshing break from the frenetic Cocowalk ambiance.
(3)Agatha M.
so... after hearing about this place for about 4 years, I finally went with my co-workers. couldn't have been more disappointed. I asked for a margarita and the response i got was, and im quoting here: "I am not much of a bartender, sorry" mind you, a. its lunch on Friday b. there were other servers on the staff!!! WTF, you have it on the menu. anyway, moving aside from my alcohol-deprived moment. the food was mediocre at best.
(2)Amit S.
The bangers (sausage) was greasy and weird.. The toast were great through..
(2)E Alexander G.
Yesterday I had lunch at The Grove Spot, with a bit of trepidation after reading some of the reviews here, but since it is the closest restaurant to my apartment, and the weather was great, hung out here with a few family members. I had a Greek Salad, which was amazingly beautiful to look at, and tasted great. My sister had a Reuben and fries, which she loved (toasted bread, not fried or greasy). My brother in law had the pulled pork sandwiches, which he enjoyed, and assorted beers rounded up the table. I have to say that our service could not have been any friendlier, and we all left happy and satisfied. I look forward to trying them one evening when the jazz is playing as well.
(4)Curtis S.
Been there twice now, I didn't write a 2-star review the first time because I figured it was only fair to give them another shot. Everybody has bad days, right? Seems more often than not at the Grove Spot. I used to love going to Olav's little place next door. How could such a good thing go wrong? Breakfast for me & the wife was a 2 hour affair, with only 3 other customers in the entire Spot. The waitress was friendly and at the mercy of the slowest kitchen in the Grove. One side dish was omitted when the food arrived at our table, and she was berated by the owner right in front of us. How unprofessional, and uncomfortable. That's no way to run a business, and no way to talk to a person. Shame! Coming back from the Arts Fest yesterday, we had a friend with us, and thought we'd stop to quench our thirst before the walk home. Even though Happy Hour prices were posted all over, we were (quite rudely) informed that Happy Hour prices weren't in effect - and I can't make this part up: "Because of the Arts Festival". Again, I think this is the wrong way to run a business. Taking advantage of a local event to gouge customers is just plain unscrupulous. As a local resident, I take pleasure in patronizing neighborhood businesses, but cannot see myself going back to The Grove Spot.
(2)Marie S.
This place was a nice size. We went for breakfast and were able to sit outside in the nice weather so we took our dog with us. They had a very limited breakfast menu, slightly over-priced. I wouldn't go back unless I was craving one of those items. They didn't even have pancakes. I ordered a bagel with cream cheese and lox which was very good. Although I didn't like that they only gave you a small packaged cream cheese. They also didn't have honey which is the only thing I drink in my coffee. Coffee was meh...plus it would be nice if they would bring the coffee around to refill your cups rather than taking it away from you and giving you a new cup. I probably won't be back.
(3)Paula E.
I like this place. It's homey and sets a higher standard for your typical bar dives in the Grove. I've been here a couple of times with friends and its mostly a place to kick back and lounge on a more regular basis. Don't get me wrong, on any given weekend this place is up and happening, but I rather go when it isn't so I can grab one of their board games, order a glass of wine with a friend and chill and enjoy the good music while owning at some serious backgammon games. The happy hour has some really good specials. This place is great for an after dinner drink.
(4)Sebastian E.
Moving into the new location with a new name, Chef Olaf has expanded well. It is quite an improvement form the little whole in the wall he used to be in. with a larger space come more challenges and opportunities. ...I like the design and the outdoor seating (did I mention I really like outdoor seating in South Florida?). The décor is sleek and fits the owner's style and cooking. The menu has some Dutch staples created in a modern and lighter way. German and Dutch cooking share a lot of similarities and I can certainly appreciate the great sauces and meaty combination. Some creations might seem strange but do give them a try! The twist the Olaf is able to create on some of these dishes have me come back here... Guten Appetit!
(4)Chris T.
The Grove Spot had an allure of convenience for how close it was to our residence. We gave it a couple of tries and can't say much good about the place. The handful of things they do well (uncork wine, take caps off beer and a handful of specialty drinks) they do very well but this place is not good for vegans or vegetarians; even the potatoes are fried in bacon grease. I can't recommend if for food allergies either since the food is prepared on a common surface, short order style. The service is unbelievably slow at breakfast even though there were only 2 groups in the whole place. Our server had serious trouble following instructions. We asked for no toast and got toast, asked for medium and got well done, asked for over easy and got over hard. You get the picture. By the time our food arrived it was cold and greasy. The coffee was burned and overpriced and I'm not sure if they were out of soy milk or never had it as the server seemed confused. The glasses were smudged and we had to send back our silverware twice because there was dried dirt and food on it. We decided to give it another go for drinks after dinner at another restaurant lured by the promise of live music and half off happy hour specials. The slim selection of unusual imports were cute but didn't really appeal. We had to explain to our bartender how to prepare a Tom Collins and still got a Jose Collins... tequila, seriously? My husband asked for gin and soda and got gin and tonic (which is a huge problem since my other half is allergic to the quinine in tonic water). The live music did little more than appear at the appointed time and place. The bathroom was clean and they had WiFi. That's the only part I can recommend and still sleep at night. It seems like a local place: don't go for the music, service, food or drinks. The drunken regulars were odd at best. There are a lot of restaurants in walking distance that are a full 5 stars for food and service with better happy hour service.
(1)Ignacio C.
From my previous reviews you can see I have been looking for a new place in the Grove. And maybe I am a little prejudice because I feel like I already know the bartenders and patrons, and it is just down the street from me, but I am ALL ABOUT the Grove Spot (or G-Spot if you are feeling naughty). It is located just on the side of Cocowalk, across from Mayfair hotel, so it is still in Heart of Grove but away from the trashy spots. It was opening night so things were still getting sorted out but I tried a couple of their cocktails (both delightful) and a Stella on draft. There was a green piano which one of the fellow patrons took over and belted out a few songs and nice outdoor seating to compliment the spacious dining room. I was also told about a private dining room in the back with a full bar and rumors of a pool table and darts! I did not get to try the food but I think I will actually go back for lunch today. I am just happy there is a new place in the grove that understands it's patrons, isnt pretentious, and on the other extreme, dont have to worry about getting an STD from the sink.
(5)Michelle B.
I work down the street from the Grove Spot and go about once a week. The prices are reasonable and they have the best french fries in the Grove. The owner goes out of his way to make sure we're taken care of and the staff always remembers my drink.
(4)Juan S.
Every neighborhood should have a Grove Spot. Friendly, good prices and decent food and drinks. Nice place to have a beer on the patio or to watch a game.
(3)Kellie K.
Love this little spot right across from the Mayfair. They serve breakfast all day and have maybe the best bacon tots, wait, the ONLY bacon tots I have ever had. The atmosphere is great and with outdoor seating, I can bring my pup along with me! Always screening the most popular sporting events too! I would say my only drawback is that the service tends to be a little slow, so plan on spending a good chunk of time there and watch one of there several TVs. Oh yah, did I mention the bacon tots??
(4)Bill A.
We just call it Olav's, and I love it. This is his new location, just up the street form the old location. And I am proud to state: they still have the best BLT in TOWN! and the best fries. Make sure to ask for the garlic mayonnaise. Also, the red beer is good, try it. I have been going to Olav's for over 5 years, at least (I am thinking... my son was born when..). Staff is totally cool and very kind! Another reason I love this place, everyone who works there is really nice, no joke. Lot's of outside seating for the soon to come cool nights of the dry season. Lastly, they do have a good happy hour. If you live in the Grove or just like the Grove, this is a good place to hang with friends. See ya there, bill
(4)Gregg W.
Great overall atmosphere. We are from out of town and The Grove Spot was just what we were looking for to capture the Miami dining experience. Great food, Fabulous service and all 8 of us left full and satisfied. Will definitely be back before we leave. Gregg
(5)Brad B.
Try it once and you'll keep going back when you're in the area. It's a great place to have a drink (or 10) and watch a game. Very European ambiance and good live music unless they are too loud and the building alarm goes off. Lots of TVs.....would be a great place to catch some of the Olympic events this summer!!!
(5)Mia M.
Nice spot to sit outside and have breakfast or lunch. The food is tasty, excluding the scrambled eggs that I ordered that had tasteless cheese, but very small and simple for the price. I would only go there again if I lived very nearby.
(3)Kenny A.
Great establishment, really like the people that work there and a perfect spot for locals.
(4)Juan B.
Worst service ! Dont go to this placethe service is bad, the price high and the food bad
(1)Whitney R.
I have been going here pretty regularly. It is the first bar in the grove when I walk in from my house...(So easy!) The drinks are quite cheap but the atmosphere is great. I have done the group of 10 getting drinks here, and the one other friend grabbing a glass of wine. It is great for either! I had the spring rolls, they are decent. Happy hour prices are great. This is great spot in the grove, because there are no trashy college students puking outside, the crowd is kinda local and really chill. It's the type of place where the bartender has a conversation with the customer. Great! This really is the G-Spot
(4)Alex F.
Service took long and there was no one in the place. Waitress was too busy talking with her friends at another table.
(2)Isamala G.
i love the place honestly! i love few of there plates ! they have great happy hours special and pint night. i agree with some people that sometime the food its slow to come out but they dont notice if there is an even they where prepping for or something. olav the owner he a sweet guy once you get to know him. he may seem mean but you just have to get to know him period! but i honest LOVE grove spot !!
(4)Sami S.
The Eggs Benedict is the best I have ever had, amazing! Coffee is good too. The service is snail paced. The food takes a while to get to you, that's fine... its delicious... I'll wait for good food. The waiter I just had was very professional, and nice, but absent. I took 45 mins to get my food and eat it. I waited another 30 mins for him to pick up my plate... 15 minutes later he comes out with the check and tells me "if you need anything else, just let me know." I handed him my credit card (which I had ready) and he took care of me right then. Why was the service slow? He was chatting with girls inside the place (I was sitting outside) every chance he got. Every time I looked for him he was sitting there yapping, never even checking if I needed more coffee. If he had looked at me once he would have seen me sitting around playing games on my phone because I was bored. If you want to go with a big group and chat around for a long time I highly recommend this place. If you want a quick brunch... go to Berries in the Grove! I would say go there to people watch... but there are no people around!!
(3)K M.
i work nearby and go in for lunch sometimes. The food is good, the prices aren't Miami-style atrocious... but the service is. If you go in here with a big group, the kitchen shuts down. They just don't seem to be able to handle it. We waited for almost a full hour before getting our food. I've been here in the evening and they seem to be a bit better prepared. The beer is also good and the ambiance is comfortable. I will go again, but not with more than 3 people during the day.
(3)Marie W.
Everything we had at the Grove Spot was excellent. I almost did not order the Pork Tenderloin b/c this cut tends to be dry. I was pleasantly surprised by how tender, moist, and flavorful it was. The "mushroom sauce" exceeded my expectations, since it was an interesting departure from the usual. The sauce, lingonberries, and house potatoes all harmonized perfectly with the pork. Their Red Ale added the finishing touch. The Ahi tuna was sweet, moist, and seared rare just as requested. My only disappointment was that they were out of Bitterballs, another Dutch specialty at this wonderful place, but that will be our next item to try with that great Ale! Also, they offer a Dutch style breakfast item which I have not seen anywhere else and look forward to trying. What a great place to hang on that great porch for breakfast in flip flops and shorts!
(4)Adriana J.
There's a reason why "simple is best". Sometimes, you don't need the fancy decor or the bizarro menu (tilapia cupcakes, wtf?!) This place delivers. My husband and I came here on a Sunday afternoon and the staff was friendly and very attentive. Our server came to check on us repeatedly throughout our meal. We ordered a burger (juuuuicy!!) and the chicken shwarma (delicious, my attempt to be healthy). Food came out quickly and definitely hit the spot. I can see this place filling up during soccer games--although it was quiet and calm when we went--since they have a pretty big TV screen and a layout that lends itself to crowds. My only qualm is that you had to pay an extra $2 for fries which is LAME-O in my book but again, maybe it worked out since I was going for "healthy"--by the way, you get chips instead of fries. Still, it's a nice alternative to the Grove's shenanigans if you're looking for something chill.
(4)Alicia C.
First let me start by saying I love the location...the waitress was friendly but the food is lacking. The beer was served quickly and ice cold which is a plus. We have been here before for drinks and all was good. We, even after reading the reviews decided to give the food a try...mediocre at best. Prices here are more reasonable then most of the Grove but I guessneed you DO get what you pay for. We started with the bacon wrapped tots which I could have made at home and cooked throughly. My cheeseburger would have been better at a Jersey diner and his odd chicken thing he seemed to like but it wasn't appealing to even look at. Would not come again for the food...it almost seemed like the menu revolved around a hot flat grill and a deep fryer. A grill would serve them more. I will stick to just drinks in the futute!
(2)Mike C.
Ate there last night with the wifey-poo - nice laid back atmosphere, service a little spotty, but to be expected on prime time Friday night. Great selection draft beer, appetizers so filling we cancelled our dinner order and ordered more! Prices are reasonable - we'll definitely keep this on our to-eat list next time we visit my sister in Miami!
(5)Anne M.
They have a nice quiet casual location. Dining on the terrace was nice with the children. The portions were small and the prices a bit high. It was about $45 for 2 adults and two small children who basically only ate french fries. We came home and had more to eat because we were still hungry for dinner. It's a nice chill spot. Probably better for a beer and fries or a casual breakfast than for dinner. We probably won't be back.
(3)Julie K.
I held an alumni happy hour at The Grove Spot last week and it was the perfect location. Our group was able to take over the back room, which has its own bar. The space has a good mix of seating: bar, high tops, low tops, and couches. The primary feature of The Grove Spot that will inspire me to hold another event here was the staff. Each and every one of them was so friendly and really went out of their way to be helpful. From making sure that we had drinks, to adjusting the timing on our food to accomodate for our fashionably late start, to providing personalized music to our preferences, we couldn't have asked for anything more. Thanks so much and I look forward to being back!
(5)