The Gathering Grounds — Restaurant in Kirksville

TLDR: Decent roast coffee, above average prices, always new faces on staff, decorated straight out of Hobby Lobby. Highlight: house-made syrup, friendly staff, beautiful lobby, & diverse menu. Three-star review result of high prices, occasional errors in orders, and long lines at ordering computer.

As far as the coffee goes, their roast is more drinkable than a standard chain like Starbucks. Milk and sugar are not necessary. That is, a black coffee drinker could get a decent, drinkable cup here. Their flavoring syrups are house-made, which is a pleasant surprise. I have stuck to vanilla, salted caramel, and lavender, which were all on the weak side, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Price-wise, be prepared to get an up-charge for anything you add to your drink. Standard black coffees do not include "one free syrup or milk of choice," as is common at other local cafés. Including one flavoring is $0.50, with milk at $1.00. Given the higher-than-average menu prices, being charged for these in a plain coffee was unexpected. I would like to see these "additional charges" reflected on the menu, as only the flavoring and milk options themselves are visible.

Average wait time for both "drip" and "cold brew," which are pre-prepared, from my understanding, is usually no more than 3-4 minutes. Ordering a "signature" drink might add 3-5 minutes to your wait, as they prepare fresh espresso and add several flavors. The food items usually come out within 5-6 minutes, but my orders have been "lost" twice, somehow. I ended up waiting closer to 15 minutes for a fresh-prepared crépe and hot sandwich, on separate occasions. Their side salads are fresh and enjoyable. I would not recommend their kettle chips, as they come straight out of a large, left-open bag (and are usually stale, in my experience).

The atmosphere is peak at the Gathering Grounds. Enjoyable by anyone who can spend an hour browsing at Hobby Lobby. Food items are served in reusable ceramic dishes, and there are several "used dish" totes for collection. While on the expensive side ($11 for a sandwich and side), the quality is much higher than anything you might expect from a Starbucks or local café. Additionally, there is high diversity in available tables and seating. You can find "high" tables with stools, standard square and round café tables, a faux fireplace with couches, loveseats, and rugs, a few booths, a conference-sized table, and even a dedicated kids' section (with model barista toys!). The bathrooms are notably clean and modern, as well.

Other than the occasional drawn-out ordering process, the staff are usually quite knowledgeable and friendly. Having the newer hires consistently on the computer (taking orders) definitely leads to long lines during rushes. Staff is willing to correct issues with orders, which has happened with my coffees on several occasions (either the wrong size, no milk, or no discernible flavorings...

If you are looking for a nice and casual place to relax and commune with friends, family, or in your own private doings, and want to give back to small-town businesses, this is the place for you. The Gathering Grounds is suited for all, even our college students. They really capture the city-like approach to style and cuisine in a way the townies and travelers alike can appreciate.

For food, I gave 5 Stars because all the food is made in the kitchen and by hand with the exception of the chips, bagels, and one breakfast.

For service, I have 5 Stars because the ladies who work there are always very friendly and will go the extra mile to accommodate you (I.e. allergies, questions, etc…). When you order expect to give your name because they like to greet you with your name and a smile upon handing over your food/drink.

For Atmosphere, I also put 5 Stars because the place is beautiful. There are a multitude of seating to accommodate you for your specific occasion—there’s even a long conference table in the back I believe you may reserve if you wish!

THINGS TO CONSIDER:

I would like to add that this place is not a fast food joint. At times (mainly during a huge rush) things may take time to come out. I have seen people get upset, but given the nature of their business, it’s worth the little wait!

A common confusion at Gathering Grounds is where to get your food. Upon entering the business, you will see a circular table where the lady will take your order. The left side is for food, the right for drinks. Likewise, when you go to get food, you retrieve it on the far left side around the corner and the drinks also on the far right. Some people have their grievances of this and that is okay. I, however, do not mind. Many times when we sit down, be it by ourselves or our party, we pay no attention to everyone else. Doing it this way (I think) is a way to “gather” everyone amongst their community where they wouldn’t have otherwise. Some say they just would like to have their food brought out to them to eliminate this confusion, however I think the idea is that by having you get your own drink helps free up the ladies to start on the next order which, in the end, cuts waiting times—so it’s a win-win.

I highly recommend you check it out...

I placed an order online for one med. coffee. The coffee was fantastic. My problem is that the order confirmation page said it would be done at 11:10. I ordered it at 10:50. I got there a little after 11:10 and they said it still wasn’t done, which is fine, they were super busy - I get that. About 11:25, it’s still not done. I talked to the first girl at the counter and she was very nice, I asked if I could just get a refund, but then everyone behind the counter turned and looked at me. So I instantly felt bad, because I had seen how long the line was. I decided I would just wait. I finally got my drink at 11:45. When I went up to the counter to grab it, the barista said “oh you’re that girl, so sorry about the wait”. I get that they were busy, but if it is that busy then your system needs to account for that, so I’m not wasting my time sitting around when I have other things to get done before I make my 45 minute drive back home. I honestly will probably just go to Starbucks because at least when they’re busy the app accounts for that. When I initially talked to the girl about my order, she didn’t say I was going to have to wait another 35 minutes. If they would have just said “hey, it’s gonna be another half hour before it’s done, I wouldn’t have waisted so much of my time just...