Community Grounds: Trolley Café & Mercantile — Restaurant in Columbus

I spent a very pleasant half hour or so last week [6-23-2022] visiting Community Grounds during the middle afternoon.

I have been familiar with Community Grounds for the past 1½ years or so -- without ever having been there -- because I edit the calendar in the Columbus Free Press and because BQIC [Black Queer and Intersectional Collective] holds a monthly "Free Resource Friday" at Community Grounds, 4:00-6:00 p.m., on the last Friday of each month.

The Open Shelter [that had previously been located on the second floor of a church building in downtown Columbus] moved recently to a large one-floor building at 1037 Parsons Ave. [about five blocks north of Community Grounds].

Last Thursday [6-23-2022], I had been planning to attend an open house at the new location of The Open Shelter so I decided that I would visit Community Grounds immediately before arriving at the open house.

Since I completely avoid caffeine [for medical reasons] and I attempt to limit my eating of sweets, my "food options" at Community Grounds had been quite limited.

I had carefully studied the menu -- "on line" -- in advance of my visit -- and had decided that I would order and eat a "Chickpea 'toona' Salad With Pita [Okolona's Chickpea 'Toona' Salad served in a pita]." That food item had unfortunately been "out of stock" when I had been there; my one remaining backup choice that had been of interest had been a calzone.

I ate my calzone, drank a glass of water, walked around Community Grounds and took several pictures, and had a wonderful conversation with my server [who had been the only other person there at that time].

If you are looking for a pleasant and relaxed location at which to drink some coffee and/or to eat some snacks, I strongly recommend...

This is going to be a long review, but it’s worth it, just bear with me!

I grew up in Columbus but spent most of my young adulthood in Cincinnati before moving back here 3 years ago. Columbus didn’t feel like home for most of those 3 years until we started coming to Community Grounds. The owners are incredibly welcoming, the baristas all feel like friends, and with all of their inclusivity, we’ve finally felt like we’re putting down roots after three years back in my own hometown. Columbus doesn’t always have the most welcoming face, but if you’re looking for one, it’s on Parsons!

The importance of a Good Coffee Shop can’t be overstated. It needs to be a place that’s welcoming for hours of work or socialization or those days when you need to ignore your gluten intolerance to order 4 calzones and cry in the corner for an hour. It needs to have good food and good drinks and options for people with dietary preferences. It needs to have baristas who were not once part of my college’s Socialist Alternative who then became weird bullies. Community Grounds checks all of those boxes and more!

As an immunocompromised person, Community Grounds is also the only place I feel safe going over two years into the pandemic. The baristas are always wearing masks and there are multiple areas to sit so I can keep my distance from any plague-spreaders in the area.

Thank you,...

I've always been satisfied coming here, and I'm glad they appear to be doing well. There are several cafes in the area and each has something to offer, but Community Grounds is by far my favorite. Good prices, tasty drinks, and great bagels and treats is what they offer, and that's all I'm looking for.

I was particularly moved to reviews them today after ordering an incredibly delicious calzone! Like really, really, good, the best I've had in Columbus. It had great dough, it was fluffy, but with a bit of texture. Filled with cheese, some spinach, and beyond sausage. Juicy, chewy, flavorful, just amazingly good. I've spent most of my life in a land of great pizza and Italian food, and this is right up there. I ate mine as a hand pie, rookie mistake. Be civilized and use a knife and fork, I lost some of the delicious sauce, and you won't want to do that. Pair with a drink and one of the prepared salads they typically have and you have a delicious, well balanced lunch.

I understand the owners have a restaurant in Hilliard which is where these calzones are made fresh. I'm heading out there at my earliest convenience to enjoy the...