Groundhog Social — Restaurant in Brisbane City

Pretty bad experience right from the start. We walked up to this place from the southern side and assumed it was like most cafes, "just sit down at an empty table".

There was a table just being cleared by an employee and I asked if it was ok to sit there and she said yes and you "head to the counter to make an order" but then when I went to the counter I was told rather rudely that I should have waited to be seated at the front door as "they have bookings" even though that didn't seem to be the case in this instance.

If you want to enforce this then that employee who was clearing the table should have said this to me, and you probably need more signage around the corner from the door to that effect. Anyway, so we finally make our order, one latte and 2 eggs benedict. The salmon eggs benedict was perhaps the most expensive one I have ever gotten, but I remained hopeful it was worth it.

The staff brought out 2 cups and a bottle of water. Both cups still had lipstick marks on them from previous customers and the water was warm. I mean, come on.. warm water with dirty cups? Unacceptable. It is a hot day today (top of 33°) so patrons expect COLD table water.

I brought it up with the next staff member who brought my coffee out. She obliged and brought 2 new CLEAN cups and a new bottle of COLD water. I shouldn't have to ask for this..

Ok, so the coffee was watery and bitter in one of the smallest cups I've had for some time. I shouldn't have to pay an extra $1 for a mug just because your cups are too small. What a terrible coffee. Oh well, perhaps they will redeem themselves on the benedict..

Thankfully they did, but unfortunately it took 40 minutes for these to come out! It is Sunday brunch you know you will be busy, put enough staff on to cope with your workload! Both mine and my partners benedict was delicious and well presented, still not quite worth what we paid for them though.

Up until the benedict I was about to give you one star but the meal did add one star.. but still - mostly unhappy with the overall experience so we...

My mum found a black fly in her smoothie and they just said that was okay and not their problem. Also she found hair in her food- and the waiter responded " Oh well it's not my hair " then said "Surely you have flies at you'r house " I've never witnessed such unprofessionalism and bullying of a old 76 year old pension lady. I was actually disgusted in the way anyone would treat a old pension in that manner. Was boder line elderly abuse and being rude to her- I'm so beyond disgusted also no refund was offered for having a back fly in her smoothie. No apology just rudeness. I also work in hospitality but nevertheless have I witnessed in my industry waitstaff having the audacity after having have found human hair in food and a fly in a customer's smoothie to even be rude? It's unheard-of. Faith in humanity un-restored when a young boy who abused an elderly pensioner old enough to their Grandmother. I've seen it all - I hope in an ideal world we will have a respect code of respecting you'r olders is still a thing- well I'm glad growing up for me it was. Not to mention she's sick with stage 4 cancer- I wanted to treat her out for a nice lunch and she was beyond distressed and very upset- when the whole point was to have a lovely lunch out. Thanks for the awful memory and experience - just what a pensioner in her late 70s who is very sick deserves apparently ! Absolute shame on you for treating an elderly...

I've been wanting to try this place for a while, and finally had the opportunity today. The menu is really unusual, but based on my experience, trust the chef. They clearly know what they're doing with their flavour and texture combinations.

I had the lemon and peach sparkling iced tea (definitely having that again!) and the blackened chicken burger (usually a bagel but they'd run out). The chicken had a good kick to it, and the accompaniments were the perfect balance. I made the mistake of picking it up to bite into it. Two napkins later (after one bite!) I conceded defeat and traded in for a knife and fork. A steak knife would've been perfect here, but still managed to have a great time.

Finished off with a really lovely chai latte and fresh baked banana muffin, which was light and delicate, and the perfect ending.

Would have LOVED availability of cold water for the table. Being summer, it can really go a long way to enjoying the experience. But it's a small complaint in the scheme of things.

Service was fast (on a random Tuesday lunch time) and pleasant, without being intrusive.

I'd definitely try this one again, either by myself, or with friends who are likely to enjoy a different menu than that available...