This is another example of somebody doing really well and then changing things and trying to modernize and coming out with not as good a product. They're de-emphasizing the bakery and trying to make it more of a cafe. The bakery goods were one of their greatest assets (now no potato bread rolls! WTF!) I actually preferred the old-time homey-ness of the little bakery before the remodel. It was quaint and cute. Now it resembles more of a cold coffee place. And what's up with the owner? As I was leaving my table after eating my sandwich, I had purchased a loaf of bread. One of the employees kindly came over and asked me if I wanted a bag for that. The owner actually questioned her employee as to why she was giving me a bag. High cost of bags too much for her? Bizarre. read more

Excellent sandwich's, muffins and the like here. Go early if you want a place to sit as it gets a little crowded during the lunch rush. Hmm.. A busy place must mean something huh? read more

Cute bakery/deli that according to my in-laws, expanded to accomodate more customers. My mother-in-law swears by their croissants. Unfortunately, we didn't get to taste one since it was lunchtime and my stomach was rearing for a sandwich. I ordered a BLT - $6.50 which was a good size, not too large but just right for a light lunch. My mom-in-law ordered their cucumber cream cheese sandwich. That actually looked really appetizing that I started making them a few weeks later. Great menu for breakfast or lunch. Prices are reasonable. read more

One of my friends at work raved out the bagels at Grounds. So one Saturday morning I decide to make the trek down to check this place out. I love everything bagels, here at Grounds the everything bagel is a bagel stick...it's just not bagel shaped. I decided to get two. One toasted with cream cheese, and one untested with cream cheese on the side. The bagel is a $1.10. I was surprised that the cream cheese was more than the bagel at $1.25! The cream cheese on the side is one of those tiny Philadelphia cream cheese containers for a buck 25! The bagel was a good tasting bagel stick. It wasn't the best bagel I had, but it certainly wasn't the worst. Grounds has a variety of baked delicacies like cupcakes, croissants, cookies. And they also do sandwiches. I'll definitely come back and check out their other items. Service was nice and friendly. Plenty of parking in this shopping center which is on Spring right off Los Coyotes Diagonal. read more

Being new to yelp i'm shocked this place doesn't have more reviews. It's amazing. My girlfriend's coworker tipped us off to it. I can't comment on the lunch/sandwiches but i can tell you that the breakfast items/pastries are amazing. a good bagel seems really hard to come by in Long Beach. This place makes them fresh on site and they're super good. They also have fresh bread you can by as well as an assortment of pastries. Best thing is that it's family run and seems to have a ton of regulars, which is a good sign. always friendly, even when crowded. Worst thing about it is that i have to drive too far to get there but i can't blame that on them. I just wish there was one closer to downtown LB where i dwell. It always amazes me that this place is trapped within a strip mall. You would never think but it's a gem, definitely deserves the hype as a destination location. read more

Very nice place to come to for a quick breakfast or maybe to meet up with a friend for lunch. They have a self serve coffee station that I was a bit surprised with but the coffee quality was actually very good. The coffee is what it's all about after all. Right? Sometimes you just need it! They also have all the great espresso machines as well for any espresso infused drink you happen to be craving. The cool thing about this place is that it's also a bakery as the name implies. I must have passed this place a million times but finally decided to go in. Now I have another nice place to stop in for a macchiato when I need a pick me up! read more

Grounds Bakery Cafe - Interior - Bakeries Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Definitely the best bagels that I have had in Long Beach. The atmosphere in the cafe is very warm and inviting and the baked goods all look to die for. I tried both the onion bagel and the garlic cheese bagel. Both were good, but the garlic cheese bagel is definitely something that I will crave in the future. The bagels are so tasty-- big, but not heavy. There are also many drip coffees to choose from in the back. I liked the Irish Cream but the French Roast is good if you are looking for something a little richer. read more

Oooh one of my fave things to do on Saturday morning is riding my bike here for their giant almond croissants and bottomless coffee refills from the gourmet coffee bar. Nice nice. FYI the renovations are all done and there's plenty of parking again. read more

Yummy bread, and many baked goodies, especially the cookies and chocolate chip muffins. Sandwiches are excellent, I really like the Cuban (pulled pork and ham). I also like the breakfast sandwiches. I am not a fan of the bagels, as they are fluffy and airy, which to me is not a bagel but a round piece of bread, but I know people who drive across town just for these bagels. Alos, they greatly expanded at the end of 07, taking over the place next door, so if you haven't been since then, go take another look. read more

Cool place - cheap tasty sandwiches and 8 drips of coffee....REFILLABLE! Nice + meeting room (reminiscent of Library reserve rooms!) Inexpensive, Good Quality cool, spacious place! read more

I've found a my new local gem. Some of the best bagels I've had. I love the all the flavors of bagels and cream cheeses they have. I'm eager to go back to try a sandwich. They even have fresh breads to can buy for your home sandwiches. Grounds Bakery, you have gained a new regular. read more

I want to give a higher rating but I just can't. The general ambience at Grounds hasn't particularly changed and I've been there several times over the years, since before their renovation. Their bread is quite good & they've finally added a gluten free option which is nice... But they charge extra for it. There is where one of my key issues lies... They're really expensive and on too of that, nickel and dime customers with every little thing... Extras are extra here. Service... Is slow. Very, very, very slow. If you have long lunches and plenty of time to spare... You'll be fine. If not, go elsewhere. They took about 15 minutes to deliver a sandwich to my table the other day. Their bakery options are decent. The almond croissants are good, but since I'm not a muffin or cookie fan, I wouldn't be a good judge. Their newish offering is macarons. They're ok. But not the best I've had by a long shot. And also a bit pricy at $1.60 each for a mediocre macaron. Some staff are helpful and friendly here and others have been snappy and rude. Really depends on who you get. The older lady who seems to run/may own it can be downright nasty to customers. That might fly in NYC or on a Seinfeld episode, but doesn't fly for me! Overall, I can say they have good bread. If you're looking for just bread, give them a try. But if you want a place for an amazing lunch experience, this isn't it, at least from my viewpoint. I know a lot of people are impressed...& I do compare bakeries to those in Europe. I wish I could say they fit the bill since they're local, but they don't. read more

No other way to put than to say...it is simply delish . The staff is uber friendly, the coffee is simply divine, the food and bakery...well...if you haven't been here to try their super amazing soups, salads, sandwiches and baked goods than more for me. But you are missing out on this well known Long Beach gem that just happens to be one of the BEST spots to come in for a nice breakfast, lunch, cup of coffee OR sweet treat pick me up 7 days a week with a customer/client of yours or meet your girlfriends for a nice catch up or like me I brought my mom just to sit and enjoy my best friend. Heck, I come in by myself with a book or laptop for a coffee and treat to get some work done. Oh they have loaves of bread, bagels to buy or order there to be toasted how ever you like.... Yummy!!! Oh I really don't want to recommend the scones because they already sell out fast enough but da** they are the bomb dignity...!!! Oh pumpkin bagels...yes pumpkin bagels during fall season. OMG!!! Just like Scooby-Doo Snacks to me!!! This review does come with a warning...Once you try their BBQ Chicken Sandwich (extra BBQ Sauce)or the Pastrami on the Toasted Baguette you will be hooked. Enjoy!!! read more

Great service, prices and quality! We don't live in the area but if we did, this would be our go to place! The bagels are huge and fresh! They are only one dollar! Even the specialty ones. I got the chocolate chip bagel which was light but do opus and filling. My fiancé got the poppyseed bagel. We also noticed that the prices for everything was very affordable. They have a nice indoor eating area but bc it is in a strip mall there really isn't much in the way of outdoor eating area. They have free wifi and one free refill on coffee while you're there. read more

Overall goodness: The space, the options, and the fact that it's independent. It's nice to go to a well run cafe and not have to go to the Starbucks or the Coffee Bean. My friend Moi S. and I ordered Italian sodas, and a chocolate eclaire. It was very well done and the sodas were yummy. The space is incredibly well kept and inviting. I ask you to give this place a shot. Support local businesses! read more

Love it! so much on the menu looks good. if i worked in this neck of the woods it would be a favorite lunch spot. terrific lox bagel, served cold with cream cheese, tomatoes, and cucumbers. the bagel is on the small side and very soft. it feels a little healthier than my usual lox with a huge bagel and red onion. the coffee is good and the desserts are so plentiful that you can spend a lifetime trying all of them. there is always a line on weekends :( read more

Was looking for a quick breakfast that was a better option than McDonalds. Definitely rang that bell. GREAT sausage and omelet croissant sandwich that was probably really bad for me, but it really tasted good. Wide coffee selection in 'Panera-style' decanters. Again, better than a fast food place - maybe not quite as robust as Starbucks. I was there on a Saturday morning. Maybe a fluke, but there was a big party of young children that was crazy noisy! Thought I would find some quiet time to prepare for a seminar presentation, but it was way too noisy to think about much of anything. But the food was great and the coffee was very good. Would go back if I were in the neighborhood! read more

Frozen lemonade - if you like super sugary drinks, then you'd probably enjoy it. Turkey/Avocado - super plain and they messed up my bread. sad. cake pop - again, if you want a big ol spoonful of sugar, then this is prob ok for you. Overall the place had potential, but the sandwiches were blah, it took SUPER long to get my food, and it was was just blah. Then the other items tasted so overly sugary I really couldn't eat it. read more

I really wanted to like this place. It's in my neighborhood and its not Sbux. However.... coffee was meh. My scone was dry, small, and overpriced. The place was incredibly loud...at 9am! I couldn't focus on my studies at all. Free wifi is nice but I would MUCH rather go to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf across the store. read more

I just had the MOST PLEASANT experience with this professional and friendly eatery! I wanted to send food as a bereavement offering and was losing hope when I couldn't find anything other than pizzerias that deliver. Much to my delight, not only does Grounds Bakery and Cafe have the most delicious, hand-made sandwiches with a wide variety to choose from, they also DELIVER! The person taking my order by phone, Regina, was very helpful, professional and patient. I can rest assured that the food delivery is in the best of hands. This is now my "GO TO" place for healthy, good food served with a smile. Your newest fan, ~Tina read more

I came after reading Holly T's review and was a happy camper. They have so many choices for freshly baked bread options that it's hard to choose which one to use for your sandwich (they have croissants too). I ordered an iced coffee, egg salad sandwich with cheddar sourdough bread (yes, it is completely carb-indulgent worthy) and black-forest ham sandwich with wheat bread. Although I looked like a cow ordering an egg salad sandwich and black-forest ham sandwich, I wanted to try both. As the owner brought both of them to my table and asked if they were both for me, I gladly took the tray. My eyes are really bigger than my stomach (okay, only sometimes). The egg salad was a little bland that day but still hit the spot. The black-forest ham sandwich was stuffed with so much meat I didn't know what to do with it. All of it was yummy, I'll have to come back to try more of the sandwiches and breads. The service is quick and friendly, usually plenty of parking in the shopping center. read more

These are the kind of places that you know will always be around because of the good unpretentious food they serve. Nothing special or fancy here but no matter what you get, you will leave with happy tastebuds. The decor is also pleasing being casual modern. It almost like your in someone's tastefully decorated huge kitchen/dining room. All the bread here is delicious, soft, airy, doughy, heavenly... well... you get the point I hope. I am a huge fan of their turkey and avocado sandwich ( i add jalapenos to mine to give it a kick). If you want a smoothie, they have that too. Anyone who is in the mood for a good sandwich - and no... I don't mean Subway - I would highly HIGHLY suggest to come to Grounds. A word to the wise though, if you want to pick it up to go or are crunched on time CALL IN YOUR ORDER AHEAD OF TIME. This place gets packed during lunch so you have been warned. read more

Grounds Bakery Cafe - The new yorker - Bakeries Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Our favorite breakfast place to go to on the weekends. They recently changed their menu, but the quality and taste are still the same: delicious and comforting. I always get the lox on an onion bagel with cream cheese, tomatoes, red onion and cucumber. My husband gets the pastrami on sourdough with Dijon mustard and we always split. We have also had the turkey sandwich with sprouts and the ham and cheese croissant sandwich. I have not tried any of their baked goods (cupcakes, cookies, muffins, pastries, etc.) but there is always a fresh variety displayed. The service is always good and the staff are very accommodating and attentive. Recommendation: pastrami sandwich read more

I originally went to place a year ago b/c I had a gift card. I had to wait so long to get a bagel toasted with butter, that I ended up giving the rest of the card balance to some lady in the joint b/c I never planned on returning. Well, I went back yesterday (6/5/08) and had another miserable experience. I waited 15 minutes for some Jackalope to put my order together (while it was sitting there getting cold) b/c he was busy telling his life story to the big titted blonde (not even attractive) in front of me. The food was mediocre. If you are one of those people that like to spend their time gabbing away in coffee houses and have time for bull, this might appeal to you. I swear I will never set foot in that hole again. Oh yeah, they charged me for butter!? read more

Sandwiches, soup and baked goods are stellar. Plenty of room to sit - great place to meet up with friends and catch up. Service was mediocre; the blonde cashier I had lacked personality, which made my overall experience somewhat lame. The barista who made my cafe mocha, and I'm not a complete java snob, did not know what he/she was doing - as I felt like I was drinking cheap hot chocolate with a hint of coffee. Overall, I'm there for the food - not the staff - so it really deserves your attention. read more

Just to update to my prior review, the service definitely has dropped. I went early on a Saturday, and I arrived in the parking lot at 5:50, ten minutes before they opened. They opened right at 6, no surprise there, and I was the first person there. However, the girl at the counter seemed like she was already tired of work. She had no enthusiasm, and definitely was not excited to be there. That shouldn't change the quality of the food, but boy was I surprised there. I got a muffin and croissant, both of which felt like it was over a day old. I expect better from them, even if I come that early in the morning. They really need to step it up with their workers. read more

This place does a reasonable job as a bakery/cafe. For being in the Los Altos area of Long Beach, it is a good alternative to many of the chain restaurants. They do bake their own bread, I would not consider it artisan by any means, but a step up compared to most places. I occasionally order a sandwich from Grounds. It's a bit pricey considering the level of food/service and the mini mall location. In several of the sandwiches that I have ordered, there is an obvious lack of love, they are edible, but belong in the mediocre category. For example, the chicken salad is rather bland and unappetizing. In short, this place only survives because it has no competition in the area, the only alternative would be going to Subway or Togos. read more

I just discovered this place a few months ago and I was going to school really close by! I wish I had discovered it sooner. The bread is really amazing there! The sandwiches are good, but the bread is definitely what makes it, but duh, it's a bakery! It's a really nice place to go for lunch, soup and sandwich really hit the spot. I think my favorite sandwich is the grilled ham and cheese with sundried tomatoes, but one of the employees told me also the turkey avocado is the best selling sandwich, which outsells two to one of all the sandwiches combined. If that many people love it, must be good right? It can get a little busy during lunch time, but the wait is never really that long. Overall, I recommend this place. I have yet to try any of the desserts or bagels but hopefully soon! read more

I was really shocked (which never happens) when I came here. The customer service at the front, the older lady, I cant remember her name but she was SO AMAZINGLY great at her job! I know it doesn't seem like a big deal but coming from a person who has worked in the customer service industry for 15+ years I really was impressed by her. The simple act of kindness by giving me two small bags of chips for free, blew my mind. Its small business' like this place that deserve our money and support. Their food is GREAT! Oh man, their Tuna, avocado, tomato sandwich on squaw bread is so perfect that I get major cravings for theirs and theirs alone!! My bestie said their smoothies are wonderful because their not full of preservatives and syrup which two major thumbs up! Their italian sodas are sooooooo good :] I really cant stop recommending this place. read more

The roast beef sandwich on the baguette was very good. Also my partner loves the egg salad sandwich. Their salads are very fresh and you can add on extra things for additional cost. read more

I've lived in the South of Conant area since 1991, 28 years, and have eaten at grounds many many times over the years. Every time is bliss from the teas and coffees to the baked goods...especially their breads. Try the lox and bagel and you will never want to eat it anywhere else. The bagels are not heavy like Einstein's or other places but light and tasty. And they are a little bigger than everyone else's. I can say for sure that everything is baked fresh early in the morning and nothing I've had tasted stale or old. Lastly the staff and service are phenomenal. They do get very busy on the weekend so prepare to wait a few extra minutes but I can sssure you it's worth the wait read more

Grounds Bakery Cafe - Sesame bagel. Notice sesame seeds on both sides. Yum yum. - Bakeries Near Me - Long Beach, California

Do not get me wrong, the bagels here are AMAZING. However, the service I received at my last visit was APPALLING. I came here one morning to order several bagels to go. Grounds wasn't too busy: a few people had ordered ahead of me and I was able to step up to the cashier and order immediately. I place my bagel order, paid, and walked around to the other side. There, I proceeded to wait- A VERY LONG TIME. Again, this place wasn't very busy. It was the food preppers that were taking forever. I could see other customers we getting annoyed as well. A younger girl and a younger guy seemed to be flirty or chatting away constantly instead of preparing the tickets coming in from the counter. Now, just because I said "younger" doesn't mean I'm some grumpy old lady- I am very much less than 30! Back to my gripe: these two employees were joking around with each other while standing around the counter. The girl occasionally would walk to the bagel case, grab a bagel, set it down, then casually walk over to grab another one. Again, several people were waiting. And if I recall, the guy was pretty much standing there watching her instead of helping. An older employee walked past both of them, said nothing, and proceeded to his work. Again, I love the bagels here, but I didn't realize the service went downhill. I really hope these employees shape up or new ones who will take their job seriously are hired. read more

I grew up in Lb and ate at this place three times a week at one point in my life. They always have a variety of fresh bread, great sandwiches, and they're bakery items, like their scones, are pretty satisfying. The customer service has always been excellent. They are very kind and respectful. It's been years since I've eaten here and I brought my husband in after raving about what great sandwiches they have. I am so sorry to say that it was so disappointing. The dark squaw was supposed to be sweeter than the normal squaw and it was rather flavorless. My husband said the same about his sourdough. No sprouts and limited meat. Both sandwiches we're mediocre at best. Perhaps it was due to it being in the evening and they'd run low on food? I'll visit again. In the earlier hours. Hopefully it will be different. read more

Eh, its a samich place...... Customer service is good, enough seating- on an oh so busy 12 o'clock lunch hour. vegetarian options don't vary to much.... But the bread! Bread is great, This place is amazing when it comes to bread.... I think they make it? dont quote me... all I know is that it is amazing and yummy, but if it was not for their bread they wouldn't have me coming back.... There are a zillion (well kinda) types of bread, there's a kind for all.... I heard their cookies are good too, but have yet to try one. read more

For all the Cookie Monster and Sugar Tooth peeps this is the spot for you. I had a turkey avocado sandwich and got the wifey an Italian sandwich. The sandwiches are okay. I like the chocolate chocalate chip cookies cause Im a cookie monster...nom nom nom. read more

My boyfriend and I needed breakfast and after searching, he thought this seemed like the place to go. Unfortunately, we weren't that impressed. The prices, a little on the pricey side, and we're from new york. I had a couple of questions about the menu, which the girl behind the counter seemed unwilling to answer, or knowledgeable about. Okay... Although I warned him (I mean, what new yorker eats a bagel outside of the tri-state area), my boyfriend had a bagel... let's just say he didn't eat a bagel the rest of the time we were there. I had an omelet sandwich... or rather, that's what I ordered. Maybe it's just east coast vs. west coast, but my idea of an omelet sandwich is, an omelet that just happens to be between two slices of bread... not the case there. It was a scrambled egg between two pieces of bread was added toppings, like a tomato, in the bread. My cheese wasn't even cooked into the omelet, it was just laying on the bread, sad. Sad cheese. Disappointing. I didn't even eat half my sandwich. Maybe the baked goods are worth it? read more

Hooray for my neighborhood bakery cafe! The ambiance here is a good compromise between Mega-Corporate Generic and Run-Down Coffee Cave. To be more specific, there's local art on the walls and some personality, but it's always clean and suitable for consumption. I have grown to love all their soups...butternut squash and lobster bisque are my faves so far. Lots of healthy sandwiches, including quite a few hearty vegetarian options, and if you don't feel like either you can go ahead and try their grilled cheese sandwich, which has tons of gooey cheese, tomato and bacon! As Dora the Explorer's annoying-ass backpack would say, Deeeelicioso!!!!!! So far, all the sweet treats I've tried there have been excellent, especially their cookies. Most times I'm there, they'll sell a sampler pack of all their flavors, and you can choose your favorites from there. read more

Great bakery and cafe. My friend and I split a pastrami on sourdough and a turkey avocado on squaw. The bread was delicious. We didn't try any of the baked goods, but they looked delicious. Next time I will try the bagels. The staff was very helpful in recommending sandwiches as they have a huge selection of sandwiches. The sandwiches are on the expensive side, but worth it as they are delciious. read more

Seriously the best sandwiches and soups. I really like the Turkey BLT with Avocado on Sourdough Bread. They make their own bread and the ingredients for the sandwich are always in perfect proportions. Just enough mayo and generous amounts of turkey, avocado, and bacon. The sandwich comes with potato or macaroni salad. I like them both, and if you're feeling feisty, the chocolate chip cookies are amazing! I like to order their "lunch box" which comes with a sandwich, side, cookie, and drink. They put them in cute boxes and will even mark which box belongs to whom in your party. I also like to buy bread from this place and they can slice it thick or thin for you, which... being a Weber or Wonder kid, I didn't know you could get bread sliced thick... Lol Great place, comfy vibe, and good food. Nuff said. I only wish it was open for dinner. read more

Grounds has a million different types of sandwich , on their home made bread,and display case full of sweets right at the register to tempt you and really good coffee. I was so overwhelmed both time I went that I have no idea how much I spent. They let you get your own coffee, like Its a Grind, so I agonize on the choice. I sip one, sample another, go back to the first, try some fru-fru flavored thing and reject it. It took me a while to settle on one coffee to fill my cup with. It's a deli. Your order, pay and they bring it out. So if you want someone to refill your coffee for you, skip this place. I haven't had the breakfast but will go back. read more