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Back to the Grind

3.7 (751 reviews)
Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Back to the Grind Photos

Business Info

BACK TO THE GRIND ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Hipster
Casual
DJ

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Recommended Reviews - Back to the Grind

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Reviews With Photos

Club Vamp:Love Bites
Nisha M.

I came here for a drag show and was AMAZED to see the underground space/vibe that they had for the shower. It was super cool to see both a coffee bar and drinks being served. Their latte was made extremely quickly and was delicious! We also got the iced black tea, which was very yummy too.

Close up of hot vegan food items
Tamara E.

I recently visited this coffee house for a special event and was amazed by establishment's layout as well as their variety of vegan food and beverage offerings for customers. As we walked up to the coffee house, I liked the variety of outdoor seating as well as several types of indoor seating including small tables and longer tables. I was most pleased by the large amount of vegan options available consisting of sandwiches as well as deserts. After looking at the menu, I decided to order a vegan bagel melt and an orange blossom outrageous smoothie while my hubby decided to order a grilled cheese a radical raspberry smoothie. Initially the ordering process was a little confusing since it wasn't clear where customers needed to stand to order. Once we were told by an employee where to go to order, the process was quick. Our smoothies were created in front of our eyes and our food and drink were hot and flavorful. As an avid reader, I throughly enjoyed how the coffee house was filled with several bookshelves containing a variety of books along with.much CDs and other assorted items. Although I wanted to pull a book off one of the bookshelves, since I didn't see an signage saying this was okay, I decided to not browse through the books. The coffee house experience was pleasant, the food was great, and considering the abundance of vegan menu options offered, we will absolutely plan to visit this coffee shop again soon.

Amanda N.

I loved the vibes in here, very fun to bring some work or art projects. The coffee was good. Seemed to have a lot of food options but did not try.

Inside
Johnny G.

Great service stopped in between appointments...picked up a watermelon protien smoothy....knocked it out the park. Well done

First of all the vibes and ambience of this place was great, but my only complaint was the food and drinks that are always disappointing. I've given this place two chances. I got a matcha the first time and thought matcha wasn't their specialty, but I went in for a coffee and still was disappointed. Also the fact that two of my friends also got drinks and left with an upset stomach... Service was alright.

Head
Ken H.

Before reading my review, please imagine that I am a beautiful woman or handsome man who meets all of your visual criteria. This way my review will get more likes & reactions. See also: The Halo effect. Speaking of the effects of beauty, Back to the Grind is a palatial coffee house loaded with rococo furniture & sturdy wooden chairs. The walls are adorned with bookshelves full of trendy books that people pretend to have read to impress a date like The Alchemist, Harry Potter, The Stranger, etc. The rules at Back to the Grind, albeit few, do not cohere or make sense just like most places. For example, the staff will not allow people to put their feet up on any of the coffee tables. However, people are permitted to bring in dogs of any size. The tables are spotless at Back to the Grind. Unfortunately, the wooden flooring & some of the couches are redolent of kennels and dog food breath. I ordered a large hot chocolate. When I got my order, I was pleased to notice the barista properly prepared a large hot chocolate. The large here is much cheaper than a Starbucks because price gouging is not pervasive in Riverside. 5 stars for being the biggest dog shelter in the city of Riverside that also sells coffee. I would suggest that anyone who brings in a dog heavier than 60 lbs. should receive a free bagel, and one of those hand sized plastic bags for throwing away dog crap. Thank you Back to the Grind for being you in the most offbeat, passe way possible.

Coffee place
Tiffany P.

My husband and I were walking and he wanted to check this place out so we went in. They have a bar and ice cream, some coffee drinks and food items. Service was okay, ambiance was lovely. I enjoyed looking at everything but it was hot! There was an outside and had an upstairs we didn't explore. I would like to check out open mic night.

Matcha iced tea
Jenny V.

Came in today discovered by accident and OMG my favorite matcha tea ever so freaking delicious. The person that took my order was so friendly and nice ! The guy that prepared was so sweet too. The ambiance is quiet great for reading which is perfect for me. It's beautiful inside looks like a collector's museum. It's a vibe. I will be back !!

Christina G.

Love, love, love! Came in for an evening latte and stayed for an hour or so on the cozy patio. As soon as you walk in, you'll notice the cool decor. I'm a sucker for bookshelves in coffee shops! Tamia took our order - she was so friendly and easy to talk to. Definitely will return for the yummy coffee & vibes next time I'm in town.

extra ice iced latte with a lot of whole milk.
Cass F.

when i walked in here i was so excited to try this place bc the pictures looked cool. i should've looked at the reviews bc i wouldn't have driven up here knowing id experience what a lot of other people were experiencing. When i walked up to order i asked if i could have oat milk in my latte. they said they didn't have it so i said okay that's fine i'll do a little bit of whole milk and extra ice. i had specifically asked for a short latte with less milk and extra ice. i get my drink back and it was made with a regular amount of milk and light ice. so when i went back up to politely ask if they can remake my drink i was told that "they can try to make it with less ice but that's not how they usually make it". i stood there trying to understand what he meant bc i just asked for extra ice and less milk. the employee with the tattoos and blue tank top was truthfully dismissive and made me feel like an inconvenience for asking to remake my drink. i then notice that there was oat milk this whole time and the other employee didn't even bother to check. i was hesitant to leave a review because i didn't know if maybe they were having a bad day and they just needed some grace but as i see other reviews and how other people stated how they were treated i can see it clearly now experiencing it. regardless, i still didn't get what i ordered as i said less milk but i did get extra ice. i unfortunately had to throw out my drink bc the thought of being another inconvenience to the employees was not even worth it anymore. update the man in the blue tank, his name is Max i believe.

Back to the Grind
Norman R.

During a recent visit to downtown Riverside in the university area I discovered "Back To The Grind" coffee shop. It would appear to be a local hangout for college students, coffee affancianados, and tourists due to the diverse collection of patrons enjoying a cup-of-joe while chatting or studying. The establishment has a library or den decor with various artifacts and artwork adorning the walls as well as the random furniture which resides within. Offering the usual iced or hot beverages in various flavors and sizes, the shop further offers some delicious doughnuts, pastries, pies, cookies and sandwiches to enjoy. My iced coffee with a dash of cream was perfect! Flavorful dark roast, with the perfect amount of cream over solid ice cubes. The atmosphere is typical for a college study spot with a noise level that is tolerable. Outdoor seating in the rear and as well as curbside in front. Highly recommended.

Mocha
Tumbeler C.

Great stop just off the 91 freeway, it made it easy to reenter the freeway. My friend and I enjoyed mochas and we were thrilled with the high quality ingredients used. We also bought some tarts. Looking forward to visiting again. .

Pastry and smoothie with live jazz in the back.

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10 months ago

Worst matcha I've ever tried. Just tasted like milk. Would not go back for lattes or matcha.

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Timmy W.

hello, just replied to your review in messages!

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Great service and atmosphere. This place feels like a home away from home . I'm so happy I found this place.

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Page 3 of 19

Ask the Community - Back to the Grind

Is it still cash only?

Hello! No we are not cash only but there is a 4% charge for all card transactions

Do you guys still have open mics for poetry or just music and comedy now?

Hello! Our repo nights, aka our poetry nights, are on Mondays now! At 6:30

Is there places to charge laptops?

Yes

Is smoking permitted in the back patio?

Yes

Do they have pool tables? I tried searching for "pool billiards" and this was the first recommendation but I don't see any pool tables in their pictures..

No, they do not have pool tables. Mainly table sitting throughout the coffee shop.

What nights are open mic nights?

Mondays

Do they have dine-in at the moment?

No one in Riverside County is approved for dine-in at this time.

Is Back to the Grind gay friendly?

It's definitely gay friendly!

Does Back to the Grind host Open Mic Nights?

They do! And if you go on their Facebook page or go in person they have a monthly calendar that tells you their events. I believe the open mics are Monday's from 9-11pm (poetry, music and open mic night). RUPO (Riverside Underground Performance… Read more

View All 10 Questions

Review Highlights - Back to the Grind

Yeah, sometimes there's homeless crazies that come in, but mind you, we're in downtown Riverside.

Mentioned in 39 reviews

Read more highlights

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What a gem of a place! You wouldn't expect a well decorated interior from the outside streets, but…read moreupon walking in, you'd be pleasantly surprised. The ambiance is well created with the dim lights, lit bar, and sounds of ice being shaken. My fiancé and I were seated right at the middle of the bar upon opening, and our bartender named Chris (?) was extremely welcoming with a sense of humor. He gave us an ample of amount of time to review the menus. We first got an IPA and the Love me Knot. For food, we ordered some Cajun fries and the party wings with red chimichurri sauce. The wings were fantastic! The fries were very crunchy, and I wish they were a tad bit softer. For our next round of drinks, we got the Old Fashioned and the Bee's Knees. The drinks were right on par. We left after a few hours and found ourselves quite satisfied. It was a fun experience and the monthly change of words above the liquor wall is always a conversation starter. Needless to say, we'll be back!

Second time here and it was ok for a Tuesday night! Sat for about 20 min until got service got…read morerecommended the Eastside which was super good! 10/10 for the east side order the Cajun fries came out super cold 3/10 than got the Jack rose or something like that it was ok 5/10 didnt finish it. Also their Photo Booth was out of order pretty bummed.

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Heroes

Heroes

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Stopped by Heros in Riverside and had a really good experience! I ordered a burger with candied…read morebacon, onion rings, lettuce and tomatoes, it was so delicious!!!! The burger was medium, juicy, cooked just right and packed with flavor. The onion rings were super crispy on the outside and had the perfect crunch. However, I prefer the fries. The fries are crispy, meaty and super delicious. Portions are big! The Watermelon lemonade was fresh and refreshing. The glass it comes in is really really really big! So have your thirst ready! The atmosphere was fun and laidback. Service was friendly and attentive without being over the top. Over all a solid spot if your looking for good comfort food, big menu and a chill place to eat. This is my 3rd time here. : )

The food was delicious, and the drinks were great as well. We came in with a large party of 15,…read moreincluding kids, and were seated on the outside patio near the main parking lot. Unfortunately, our experience with the two female servers was disappointing. They came across as rude and made it feel like our large group was an inconvenience. We were passed by multiple times without being helped, and when we finally asked another server to get someone to take our order, he kindly stepped in and helped us himself. He had a great attitude and was very accommodating, which we really appreciated. When our food was brought out, one of the servers had an attitude when we asked a few questions, which added to the negative experience. I wish I had gotten their names. On a positive note, the bartender when we first arrived the gentleman with the long hair was very friendly and helpful. He assisted us quickly while we waited for our table, and that first impression was great. Overall, while the food and some staff were excellent, the service from the two servers on the patio took away from the experience.

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Great times!

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Mocktail

Back to the Grind - coffee - Updated May 2026

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