Cultured Grounds — Restaurant in Peoria

Review Visit: May 7th, 2018

The definition of ‘cultured’ is defined by the dictionary as: enlightened; refined. Is Cultured Grounds a cultured place? Yes, for the odd location.

Cultured Grounds has taken over for where Novitasso Coffee was. Sadly, I never got to go there so there; so I made sure to visit Cultured Grounds to avoid that mistake. The coffeehouse is located on the main floor of Twin Towers Place in Peoria. The location is a rather odd place, as I am not familiar with the buildings and never would’ve guessed there were businesses located there.

Cultured Grounds is located on the ground level, in the middle of the main area surrounded by a green fence. The coffeehouse itself is lit by a giant skylight that provides ample lighting. The layout and decor are really nice. They have these big brown couches that were super comfortable. The cashier must’ve known I was cozy as she brought my drink to me. I give props to whoever decorated the coffeehouse as it was well put together.

I ordered an iced caramel latte and it was pretty yummy. It was a decent blend of caramel and espresso but the espresso was a bit overwhelming for my tastes. Not bad by any means, though! They offer packaged and homemade snacks to compliment your drink. I snagged some milano cookies and those went perfect with my drink.

It’s a good thing I don’t live in the towers. I would spend all my free time lounging on the couches, sipping coffee and eating milano cookies.

Check it out… if you are...

Cultured grounds is a cute little gem tucked away in the twin towers shopping plaza. The natural light of the skylight made it feel almost as though you were outside but without the outdoor elements, which was a nice experience.

The menu was a little hectic to read. The employee didn't really explain anything about it, but he was busy cooking. My friend and I asked if the food/drinks contained our different allergies, and he wasn't sure.

The food/drinks tasted fine, like a standard coffee taste. It has a nice "local regulars" type coffee shop. It's just a little confusing for a...

The service is top notch, and the experience was GREAT. That said, there was just something missing from the Chicken Salad croissant.

Also, it was a bit confusing to get to, but once I figured it out (that's all on me!) it was super cozy and comfy. I had zero idea this place was in the towers!

All of that aside, I am definitely going to go again and try something different. It's more likely personal preference than an issue; but I just wasn't a fan of the flavor of...