Grind Coffee Lounge in Wakefield

My client and I visited Grind (top level of Ridings) for a drink and cake after his appointment in town. When we arrived at 3:20 PM, the shop looked closed. The man behind the counter took our order but reminded us that they closed at 4:00 PM, stating that it will only give us only 40 minutes to sit down, I would understand him stating this if we had arrived closer to closing time. As I ordered, I noticed the tea bag selection wasn’t out as usual, so I had to ask what teas they had. While our drinks were being made, the man behind the counter started closing off the pop and sandwich fridge. Another customer arrived while we were drinking, and I heard him tell them they also had a time limit and that he would be closing at 4:00 PM and stated he would be asking people to leave. We felt rushed and couldn’t enjoy our visit. As we left around 3:40 PM, the brownie and cake cabinet was empty, and the whole café looked closed off to the public.

In a lovely location at the heart of the Ridings Shopping Centre. Plenty of tables and a couple of sofas if you prefer. There is a good choice of cold drinks in glass bottles. Also a choice of cold sandwiches and crisps. There is always a good choice of cakes and biscuits on the counter. My husband in particular likes the bacon sandwich and hot drink deal. Me, I like to sample the cakes.

Avoid the Ridings coffee shop! Rude staff, took order wrong & looked at me like I was stupid when I complained - order sent back to kitchen - came back with cold, inedible chips & the original toastie warmed up - shocking!! Will not be returning!!

Sunday I tried to buy drinks for myself and 3 hot, bothered children. We were the only customers. It was 2 hours before closing. There were three staff. Instead of serving me (stood at the counter in front of them, drinks ready to pay for and card out), one staff member made a milkshake (presumably for himself, no one but me to serve), one cleared and cleaned tables and the last chose to take out the bin and empty a dishwasher!?! Having acknowledged me with a "just a sec" I waited. And waited. And waited. Fed up of them clearly taking the p**s I walked out. Don't bother with this place. Wish one star wasn't the minimum you could leave.

Wow what a find! Location fantastic right on the bullring with outside seating too south facing! Had an English breakfast - and an americano. Food fresh and really good quality. Outstanding service by a very helpful and Polite lady called Katie Clean and a lovely Atmosphere would Highly Recommend - thank You !

Every time I come to Wakefield, I come to grind. Such a lovely atmosphere, staff are always kind and working their socks off, food is always nice but always get a different portion of crisps. Food can sometimes be quick to come out but sometimes it’s slow. But if you come you need to try their chocolate bar milkshakes! They have every chocolate you could thing of and although they are very unhealthy these are very tasty! Worth a visit!

We popped in for a coffee and a sausage sandwich, to take away. The lady took my order, asked what bread I wanted (white or brown) and gave me the price, which seemed incorrect. I asked if this was the breakfast sandwich and coffee deal, and she very rudely said that she had saved me money as she had put it through as another deal. Upon recieving my takeout order, I was just passed the sandwich by a lady that clearly looked like she didn't want to be there. I opened my sandwich and it was also on brown bread, when I had asked for white bread. I feel like this was deliberate. I will not be returning here.

Nice cake, boring toastie, nice kitchen staff, rude, grumpy bloke serving drinks, incredibly slow. Several people left and went to Joys.

Don’t go to their coffee shop in the Ridings, instead visit their shop on Northgate Wakefield known as the Bull Ring. The ambience and service there is far better. I have been several times and never been disappointed with the food or service. It’s always been the same staff on each of my visits and they are polite and friendly and the food service is quick. Better outlook also being in the centre of the town off the Bill Ring. It’s great for breakfast and lunch with a good selection of coffee and cakes. It’s hard to believe that it’s the same owners! On my only visit to the Riddings premises they were having staffing issues and food waiting time was 30 minutes so we changed our order to a none cook option but other customers walked out.

Walked in the restaurant and the waitress said hello to us but didn’t tell us how we order or where to sit etc so we sat at a table. It was 15 minutes before another table told us we had to order at the bar, with no mention of this anywhere in the restaurant. The one coffee we had, a vanilla flat white, was dirty and tasted like the coffee machine hadn’t been cleaned in months. Full English and scrambled eggs were both poor and rubbery. It’s like all of the breakfast food had been cooked hours before and sat on a hot plate in the kitchen because our breakfasts arrived within 10 minutes yet everything was overcooked. Service was non existent, the one waitress who served our food didn’t come back at all during our stay. I noticed that she was disappearing in the kitchen when she knew people had finished and waited for those to leave before clearing tables, as she probably knew everyone would complain and ask for their money. First and last time I’ll be visiting here, worst breakfast I’ve had in Wakefield. Soon as we’d ordered I looked at the most recent reviews of this place on here and was hoping that we didn’t regret coming here, and we did.

If you fancy bobbing in for a quick drink, then just don’t. We went in on a quiet day just for a cold drink, apart from me and my sister there was two other customers in there - one of which was in front of me at the queue … but the service was so slow it was almost like they were asleep at times. The person out front operating the till and coffee machine was in over her head just making two lattes. After waiting fifteen minutes (and actually sitting down on a chair to wait it was so slow) to pay for a bottle of sparkling water, we decided to leave it and walk out.

Well what can i say, a complete waste of money me, my husband and my grandma in law went here today for some breakfast, as soon as we stepped into the premises we had to find a table which wasn't dirty, it was like finding a needle in a haystack, we waited over 20 minutes in the queue to order, and when we did get the opportunity to order the staff member was rude with attitude and also the man who made the coffees was rude, we ordered 2 large breakfasts and 1 small breakfast with 3 cappuccinos, well it was the worst cappuccino we have ever tasted, the man made it with hot water , with a weak shot off coffee and frothed the milk with only enough to hide the scummy residue underneath, we thought it could not get any worse, however when the breakfast came the cutlery was dirt, the scrambled egg was like rubber it must have been made in the microwave, when i bit into the bacon it snapped in my mouth, the sausage looked as if it had been cooked a week ago, the only part that they could not get wrong was the toast, but i guess they had to get something right, oh and the mushrooms were small and shriveled up, we didn't even finish our coffees, they clearly have cooked the food in another premises and just reheated it in the microwave, as we were shocked how fast the breakfasts came out form ordering it, rubbish coffee and rubbish food, what a waste of £24 stay away absolutely appalling!!!

I googled my favourite cafe by chance and was surprised to see such a low score so thought I’d add my opinion. Friendly and regular professional staff. The staff must like it here and be treated well as it’s never a new face every week. It’s spotlessly clean and tidy. The food is well prepared, plentiful and well above average - and even better now they have employed a chef. The coffee is usually some of the best in Wakefield. Grind normally serves combo deals on coffee / tea and breakfasts and sandwiches but had also now started doing full breakfasts and light meals as well as cakes and pastries. Me and my friend always come here. It’s easily one of the best in the city centre with a modern and fun atmosphere and recommended if you’re visiting the Hepworth or Trinity Walk. I cannot understand the low ratings from other reviews - I have been here probably 50 or more times and the staff are usually just as friendly if not more than anywhere else I’ve ever been and very rarely have I ever thought they were run off their feet. Grind is just as if not consistent than any other cafe in the centre. The staff have a more relaxed but professional feel but I’d expect this from an independent cafe compared to a McDonalds or a Costa where the atmosphere is too fast and more like a factory . I must say that the quality of the food and service is excellent now they have employed a chef who is always friendly and remembers me on Monday mornings with my breakfast sat near the new kitchen . The English fried breakfast is absolutely excellent being high quality and well presented and very good value for money. And I don’t like greasy or badly made food. Highly recommended. If ever I saw a bunch of undeserved reviews and low stars, here they are for this EXCELLENT cafe.

Venue open and airy, reasonably clean and today. Staff lovely and very helpful. Paninis were very hot and well filled. Tea was nice but served with a chipped milk jug. On the whole it was a pleasant visit.

Coffee is nice but I ordered it to take away with an apple turnover and the cream in it was off, it tasted like pure cheese! The place is always packed so a long wait and I genuinely feel sorry for the staff they seem to be massively overworked/understaffed… badly managed place.

Came in to get some lunch (toasty) as I haven’t been before (to that particular grind) I was greeted by a lovely young women smiling however when I was ordering the women behind the counter was nothing but rude and obnoxious. She was rushing me through my order and even rolled her eyes. I could hear her moaning to staff in the back and talking to them as she talked to me. I was appalled at this womens behaviour towards me and other members of staff. I certainly will not be returning to any of your venues which is a shame as I am a regular customer and was excited to see the food side of things. I come to grind a lot with friends and family but that women is not in the right line of work to be dealing with people, she is NOT a people person.

We waited 27 minutes to order a coffee with only 5 people in front of us! From what we could see, it is really badly organised with the staff only managing one task at a time. The Latte was nice but the espresso was disgusting so after the long wait my husband couldn't even finish his drink! Not a chance i'd revisit and i think staff need training in how to multi task.

I arrived to an empty cafe with half hour to spare ordered a small breakfast and waited the full half hour it still hadn’t arrived so I had to leave with no food that had been paid for.

Quick visit Fast easy to talk to Coffee very good and seating area very comfortable Even a sunbed available Perfect for me

I came with my little sister for a bite to eat the Hawaiian and Hunters Chicken Toasties are to die for! We had a 5 minute wait before being served and a little bit of a wait for our food, which is to be expected, due to other customers waiting on food but the lady serving apologised and gave us a cake each on the house. Great service and staff! It’s a quaint little cafe perfect for grabbing some lunch or breakfast. We will be returning ☺️ Thank you ❤️

My friends visited me today so thought we would go for a bite to eat in Wakefield visiting Grind in the ridings centre. service was absolutely terrible By a male member of staff extremely rude and no patience what’s so ever ! My father in his 80s is hard of hearing and continued to shout at him as he didn’t hear first time I was next to him and was able to translate ! , my daughter asked for a milkshake and he said there is loads what do you want in an aggressive voice , she quickly had to make a decision whilst he stood sighing and waiting. Honestly the hospitality was dreadful even our friends commented on this mans rudeness . The food was ok but if this member of staff learnt some manners I would return. Until then I won’t be returning.

We visited on a Sunday morning. It appeared inviting and the menu and cakes on display captured our attention. There was a wide range of cakes, brownies and pastries on display. On this occasion I chose a spiced pastry, which was delicious.My daughter was mesmerised by the wide variety of flavours on the milkshake menu. My son chose the cheese and ham toastie and was pleased over how generously filled it was. The serving and seating area were clean and well maintained. I found the staff to he helpful and patient with my requests. We look forward to visiting again soon.

Service was terrible. The blonde woman working at the grind in the bullring was so rude taking our order that I had to leave. When you’re charging £3.50 for a milkshake, you could really try being polite if not nice to customers.

Only 2 staff on a busy Saturday 1 serving and 1 in the kitchen, dirty tables, had to clean my own with my own face wipe and hand sanitizer, warm coke cola from the fridge, very dry carrot cake and my sandwich was dry and the lettuce was limp.Very poor, will never go again.

Bueno, que broma. Acabo de pagar 3. 45 para unas tostadas. Era tan grueso como una moneda de 1. Ni siquiera podía ver ningún queso. Cuando fui a quejarme, me informaron que había una rebanada allí. sin ensalada Por lo tanto, nunca volveré. Mantente alejado si tienes hambre porque te irás con hambre? Ojalá pudiera calificarlo más bajo.

Came here for lunch and have to say I was not impressed! First of all, the service was super slow, even because of the pandemic service should not be that slow! The server did apologise for the long wait which we appreciated, however for 2 sandwiches, a coffee and a milkshake should not have taken 40 mins. On the whole the food wasnt amazing, but wasnt awful either- mediocre! I was sooooooooo shocked to see that they were charging £1.65 for 2 pieces of toast and considering that a full load can cost as little as 35p I find this scandalous in the current climate!!

The panini tasked like rubber placed a complaint cos we had tried half of the sandwich we only got half the money back “ what a joke “Cake was very dryToasties was over cooked Would not recommend a visit Unless you wish to waste money

Having just been to the grind next to tkmaxx and walking out mid queue because of the manner of the bloke (large build, short black hair,receding hairline) behind the till absolutely shocking!!!! An older couple in front of me pointed to one of the cakes on offer and just asked for the slice of which he was pointing to the ignorant man proceeded to raise his voice asking “APPLE OR CHERRY” repeatedly to the elderly couple no please or thank you! Again as he muttered something under his breath when the couple continued to order a tea “yeah I can right hear what your saying” this bloke either wants to learn some manners or find a new job no ones asking you to work there mate!

The coffee may be nice but it’s not worth it for such poor service. The man serving should get another job if he hates customers so much. Slow service, gross overcharging and a very rude manner when talking to customers.

We were at the rhubarb festival and called into the ridings for a drink. The customer service here is terrible, 3 young people serving (that is between ignoring the queue and being in the kitchen and laughing really loudly.The bloke who was doing the coffees and tea was really sloe. Got the impression they didn't give a dam.

Unbelievably shocking attitude by a couple of the younger members of staff. Sorry to have interrupted your day by asking for a teaspoon and some hot water (which you charged us extra for!!) When I was told that they had no spoons I politely asked what would you like me to stir my tea with? Off she went doing her best Kevin the Teenager impression and returned slapping the ( miraculously found) spoon in my hand and telling her colleague how I was rude and ungrateful while was still stood there? Needless to say we won't be returning to this establishment soon!!

We were pleasantly surprised how good this coffee lounge was. We hadnt seen it before but thought we would give it try. I had a bowl of Heinz vegetable soup with a lovely soft, large breadcake with a pot of Yorkshire tea, my hubby had a cheese and onion toastie with a large lattè. The lattè was hot, which is unusual in most coffee lounges normally it is warm. My hubby likes it hot. All together it cost £10.40. Well worth the money. The 2 ladies who were working were very friendly. Definitely will revisit.

Amazing cafe!! The nicest jacket potato I’ve ever had, all of the staff are lovely and well mannered - happy to help x 10/10

Doesn't pay attention to customers at all, talking behind counter with no attention what customers need... Tables dirty 4 people behind counter have fun... I do understand have good atmosphere at work but customers and cleaning first... Avoid cafe...