Griddle & Grind Cafe — Restaurant in Ephrata

Seems like the people are lovely and I’m sure the owners are as well… we came here for brunch because I have a small biz friend who is on their staff. So, my husband and I plan to come for his bday brunch. We’re big fans of Rachel’s and so we were excited to try a new crepe place. Also, their Instagram marketing makes the food and beverages look amazing. First and foremost, I did not realize it was an order first and seat yourself establishment. I don’t think this fact is advertised enough. We showed up expecting sit down service. I think that method would also help the space work better. It feels extremely cramped and awkward. You order at a bar in the right room and then have to crossover the line of people to get to the seating area. The vibes were off from the moment we walked up. A crowd was waiting for them to open at 11am. It was exactly 11 and an old man was yelling at the girl to hurry up and unlock the door. I can understand wanting to be ready to actually open, but it’s the weekend… your prime business days. Have your staff ready to serve at least 5-10 minutes prior on your busiest days. It’s just good service. As first timers we walked up and had no clue where to go. There’s a sign with points and instructions but it would be nicer if the staff greeted and interacted with customers instead of looking terrified to start the day. The crepes were more of a German style so the batter is more like a soft tortilla than a crispy pancake. I found it too soft and soggy with the fillings (which while healthy and clean, pretty boring). The side of hash browns saved my meal because they were more like a delicious seasoned latke, but there wasn’t a enough of a portion. The coffee drinks were great (even though my large iced coffee was an 8oz mason jar with a ton of ice), so overall my takeaway was that maybe they would be more successful as strictly a coffee shop and bakery… given the size and capability. The acoustics in the dining room were brutal so no one was talking, and there was no music to cover conversations as it was only playing from the back kitchen. Lastly, opening on a weekend morning with one person on register is probably not a good usage of staff. The nail in the coffin for me was: we had decided to come here because Google said they had affogato. It was nowhere on any menu and then I saw a man get served it. Didn’t look like the right experience anyway bc it was served to him already mixed instead of including the poor over experience. All this to say that I was pretty disappointed and really...

I'm struggling a little bit with personal bias because I really, REALLY don't like self-serve restaurants, but I think these things would apply even without that.

This place is CRAMPED. Not specifically with people, just small. The front door is very narrow, the two dining rooms are so small and have very limited seating, and it's difficult to navigate. The water, which is also self-served, is impossible to access if the two tables nearby are full, and one table is right against the entry which means that's also equally blocked, not to mention most of these tables will be subjected to a ton of employee and customer traffic alike (which could be limited if it wasn't self-service). This place is an ADA disaster.

My bigger issue was that I paid nearly $9 for a SMALL salad. There are meal salads and side salads offered. I ordered a meal salad received a side salad sized lunch. I guess the cost is justified by these items having to be kept fresh? I don't know- it tasted good, but there was about 50% not enough of it and the amount of greens underneath some heavy toppings was disproportionate. I just did not expect to go out for nice lunch and leave both hungry and irritated. Since my husband did enjoy his food and felt his food was a fair value, I guess 2 stars is warranted 🤷‍♀️

I'm really surprised there are so many positive reviews when another AMAZING creperie nearby with two locations is available with more reasonable dimensions, prices, and serving sizes. I tried to take a picture of the entryway with tables that can both block the door as well...

Wanted to like this place more than we did. We did not like the crepes we ordered, but the coffee was good. The service was quick and the cashier was nice. The ambiance was quaint and cozy. Would like to try their sweet crepe the next time. We had the veggie omelette crepe and the special crepe.

So glad the owners care so much about their quality. I appreciate that they aim to please, and they do with most guests!

I guess I’m used to the Japanese styled crepes. Much sweeter. The crepes at Griddle & Cafe are spongy and egg-like. The crepe by itself is a bit bland. The veggie omelette on the inside of the crepe I got was not seasoned so it was sponge, on mush of egg and veggies. The ‘marinara-type’ sauce didn’t add much to the flavor.

My husband liked nothing about the special crepe. The sauce on top was hard to place the flavor, but it looked like creamy peanut butter, which it was not. Just not for him.

All in all, I’m sure this place will thrive just based off of the love and care the owners put into their business.

Thank...