Social Grounds Cafe — Restaurant in Port Macquarie

Visited this cafe after reading high reviews although the experience was a little disappointing :(

We arrived just before 11am on a weekday, although there was a line outside of customers waited to be seated (not the cafe's fault ofc, just a very busy little cafe, so if visiting, make sure to allocate extra time!). Finally got seated just after 11:30am where breakfast is stopped and a lunch menu is rather served instead. The lunch menu does have a few brekky items such as the smashed avo (which I ordered). You do have an option to add egg for an extra $3 but this cafe only offers fried eggs options (not poached or scrambled) during lunch hours.

Avo smash was not bad in taste however portion size was minimal- a thin piece of bread, little cherry tomatoes and a dash of carrot puree (which was absolutely lovely, just needed way more). The brekky was not fulfilling unfortunately and way too much greenery was presented on the top of the breakfast plate. It was not pleasant to eat either and definitely suggest to not eat them. It was just too much unnecessary green going on.

Coffee was presented beautifully however the blend tasted a little bitter and is great if you like very strong coffee. Even after adding some sweetener, the bitterness was still there.

We did order some fresh juice which presented in sealed bottles and had a nice taste.

Cafe had a nice vibe and it's best to go on a day with good weather as there are plenty of outdoor seating...

Great food, fair prices, no fuss.

Social Grounds in Port Macquarie is the kind of café every town wishes it had—relaxed, welcoming, and serving food that punches well above its weight.

The Brisket Hash is a standout. Tender, smoky brisket piled over crispy potatoes with just the right balance of richness and spice. It’s hearty, satisfying, and exactly what you want from a café that takes its food seriously. The Vegan Hash holds its own too—fresh, well-seasoned, and full of texture, proving that meat-free doesn’t mean flavour-free.

The real surprise was the Hot Honey Burger—a juicy piece of chicken with a sweet-spicy honey glaze, crisp slaw, and soft bun. It’s got heat, crunch, and balance. Simple, but done really well.

Drinks are another strong point. The Chai Latte is warm and spiced without being overly sweet. The coffee is smooth and consistently good—clearly a focus for the team. And the ginger juice is a winner if you’re after something refreshing with a bit of a kick.

Best of all, everything is great value. Big portions, top ingredients, and prices that won’t make you flinch. Service is fast, friendly and down-to-earth.

Final verdict? Social Grounds does all the café basics right—and then some. Good food, good coffee, good people. If you’re in Port Macquarie, don’t miss it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Quality without...

I’m giving 4 stars because I don’t want to lower your Google score too much because I’ve been to social grounds many times before over the years and have appreciated the food and friendly staff. Today, not so much! I arrived at 1:10pm (paid at 1:14pm - checked my bank statement) and was told by the guy at the front counter in a clipped annoyed voice that kitchen was closing in 5min - Like I’ve really put everyone out. He even said to the guy in the kitchen “this will be your last order” in a way that made it sound like I put them out again. I then got my drink delivered to me which he gave me another strainer for the tea as he managed to get the tea leaves into the main part of the tea using the plunger strainer. That wasn’t the issue, it was the shrug and rude attitude that this guy had that said he didn’t care that he’d made a mess of the tea and for me to deal with it with the extra strainer. They then started to clean around me while I tried to eat. I felt totally unwelcome and rather offended that my patronage was viewed with such contempt. It’s such a shame because I knew the owner and he’s lovely. Does he know this is how the staff are treating people? If I was too late to order, why not just say it and I’ll understand and leave, rather than make me feel bad about it. Not...