Grace Coffee Co. — Restaurant in Milwaukee

Decided to stop by because I love going to new coffee shops in the city to change things up. I had no idea what to expect aside from some pretty photos on instagram of the space. The interior design of the space is lovely and I love the aesthetic. However... it was not clean. I walked in at 3pm and the smell of the cafe was like a McDonalds dining room. It smelled like ketchup and warm garbage (like at a fast food restaurant). None of the free tables had been actually cleaned. Sure, they didn't have trash or dish-ware on them (except one table) but they weren't clean. They had crumbs and streaks from dirty rags. The booths and chairs were the same - not clean with crumbs and food on them. The floors were also very dirty which happens with white tiles in the winter but it looked like it had been days between thorough mopping. There were also buckets on the ground in the back to catch leaks (I'm assuming that's why they were there). I was disappointed. The coffee wasn't bad, the service was fine, and I liked the aesthetic but the lack of cleanliness in a relatively new place was too much for me and not what you would expect from a cafe with the some of the best real estate in the city, right on the river in the Third Ward. Automatic doors for the entrance aren't a bad thing, if not unusual, but in the winter if you're sitting within 25 feet of these doors you are going to be freezing every few minutes.

Overall, it was messy, unkept, and seemed low on any inventory of coffee beans for sale. The menu was a bit uninspiring as well. I learned from a friend they have had multiple health code violations in Madison (verified in a news article). They won't last long in Milwaukee if they don't make some changes. There's a lovely coffee shop just across the street from this location and even more...

While I typically avoid posting negative reviews, hoping my experience might be an isolated incident, I feel compelled to share my recent visit to Grace Coffee. My intentions are constructive, as I genuinely appreciate supporting local businesses over chain establishments.

My visit this time was for lunch and drinks, and unfortunately, it began with a slow and disorganized ordering process. Two employees stood behind the counter while the line grew longer, and only after some time did one employee come over to take our order. While my iced americano was enjoyable, my wife’s coffee was lukewarm, which detracted from her experience.

Things took a further dip with the food. I ordered the burnt end breakfast wrap, but what I received seemed incorrect. When I approached the counter for clarification, the employee admitted uncertainty about whether it was indeed the burnt end breakfast wrap. Awkwardly, we both stared at the dish until I decided to give it a try. Sadly, I could only manage to eat part of one half—it was disappointingly unsatisfactory.

I am disappointed because I value businesses like Grace Coffee and prefer them to chain establishments. My experiences at their Madison area location have consistently been great, and I plan to return there when I am next in the area. I hope the team at Grace Coffee can address these issues, as the potential for improvement is evident. With some adjustments in service and food quality, this location could match the high standards set by its Madison counterpart.

I share this feedback in the hope that it helps Grace Coffee refine its offerings and continue being a cherished local coffee spot. I still root for their success and am optimistic about...

First time ever at a Grace Coffee Shop. I was in the area, so I decided to drop in. On a corner in the Third Ward of downtown Milwaukee. There is another coffee shop right across the street, so plenty of competition (or plenty of coffee drinkers). It's a nice space, with plenty of windows and natural light. Plenty of different spots to sit at, and an outdoor patio too.

When I arrived at 7:30, the place was literally empty. Got a friendly (but not especially outgoing) greeting from the barista. I got my London Fog Tea Latte (a little lavender, a little vanilla, extra foam), served in a mug. There was a very nice selection of pastries, including decadent looking croissants, cookies, and scones. I usually order a scone when available. I was a bit skeptical of these because they were wrapped in plastic (never trust pastry or bakery that is packaged in plastic). Got myself the Blueberry Scone. I asked if they could heat up the scone, and they couldn't: no means to heat up bakery (that should have been a another clue).

The London Fog was very good. The scone was one of the worst that I have had. It was cold, not crumbly, and I would say stale. Heating it up might have helped, but only a bit. I was seriously disappointed. A croissant might have been a better choice. In my opinion, a decent coffee shop should offer real scones and have them fresh.

The space is nice, the service good, the drink well made, and the scone...