Griffin Lounge — Restaurant in Petersburg

A new Petersburg gem: Great service! Incredible flavor! Unique sweets! Amazing coffee! Don’t let the unassuming outdoors fool you.

I'm so enjoying having Griffin Lounge in the neighborhood. I live half a mile away and lemme tell you it's a treat. They are still developing their processes and updating their hours etc as they hit their stride so please allow some grace for that as they settle in!

Coffee: Varied and delicious. I had a cardamom/cinnamon latte that's the best caffeine I've had in the area. They import and roast their own beans and know how to use them for all the usual suspects as well as turkish and other traditional coffee treatments. Some great tea offerings as well:

Sweets: A big highlight of this place is the pastry case. Their sweets master is a 6th generation baker and makes EVERYTHING fresh EVERYDAY. Even the chocolate is made in house. Menu varies depending on what he makes each day but I've commonly found croissants, cookies, savory buns, variations of baklava and kunafa, cakes and con leche style dessert slices. Don't skip the Honey Butter Bars or the house made version of the viral Dubai Chocolate Bars (that barely survived for me to photograph).

Food: I've only had the breakfast sandwiches and I have no notes. DELISH. But the salads and the club that walked past me last time were mouth watering looking.

Space: The family and staff have done an incredible job of converting the interior of the old trailways bus station into a really welcoming spacious coffee shop/bakery moment! The light is great, the seats are cozy, the staff are so incredibly welcoming. The wifi is servicable for a work from home day if that's your speed. There is an enclosed cigar lounge in the space that they are working on expanding hours and offerings for. There's definitely some curb appeal work to be done, but there's ample parking and once you're inside it is such a nice place to spend a while.

Go get a sweet treat and support a new...

This is my new favorite place in Petersburg. The owner Faris, father / son bakers, and staff are all incredible. So many things to praise about this place - but in summary, everything you order will be the highest quality and low priced & you’ll have a great experience in this historical spot with lovely people. • The food - Must try the steak, egg and cheese croissant - best croissant I’ve ever had, it melts in your mouth. Philly cheese steak sandwich is also delicious. • The bakery - Bakery has fresh Turkish goods, the breads and sweets are both delicious. The sesame bread with mozzarella inside is great with coffee. • The coffee - delicious coffee beans from Yemen, definitely try the V60 - it’s a pot of fresh drip coffee. The husk is also really good. And Turkish coffee is a must try. • The teas - Moroccan tea is incredible - it’s mint and a little sweet. if you really like sweet, golden tea is delicious. • The cigars - there is a gorgeous cigar lounge with great selection (and price). It’s also closed off from the coffee area, so if you don’t like cigar smoke, nothing to worry about. • The Bus station / history - beautifully restored and historical spot. Comfortable chairs and couches and gorgeous bathrooms, with the historical elements preserved beautifully. • The people - last but not least, the staff. The wonderful staff show so much kindness and provide a service you...

The Griffin Lounge reminds me of long afternoons spent enjoying the spirit and ambiance of a café as much as, if not more than, the perfect coffee, exquisite pastries, and light lunches in which I delighted, or the friendly and irreproachable service I received. Many of those whimsical memories are from times I spent abroad. There is Mediterranean and Middle Eastern finesse in the desserts and salads, not to mention a deep, inimitable authenticity from those sands and seas in coffee preparations. The charm of the Griffin Lounge, however, also stems from the roots and past of Petersburg and the lore of the Trailways Bus Station, impeccably restored, the story of which has been epically recounted in conversations I’ve shared in the cigar lounge with folks who know its value to the collective memory of the region. The diversity of clientele, loyalty and friendliness of staff, jazz and artefact-infused nostalgia, and endearing charm of its personable and charismatic owner all draw me back to the place whenever I come to Petersburg and have given me reason to want to live there. There are plans for a collector’s car show, a music stage, and specialty evening dinners. Finally, Faris, the owner whom all customers have met as a host, knows his cigars. Five stars, because there...