At any coffee house, the snacking scene provides at least 50% of the joy. Sure coffee and caffeine are good – great, even. But the chewable companion pieces are absolutely essential.
Community Grounds brings some quality edibles to its scene. We’re not talking about vague muffins and cookies imported from a big box food service. We’re talking real deal snacks made in-house or by That Bakery. It’s all win-win-win.
In the savory department, there are calzones, more precisely: vegetarian calzones. They’re more dome-shaped than the crescents you may be familiar with. One version is filled with a tower of spicy, animal-free pepperoni piled atop a foundation of stretchy cheese. Marinara is served on the side for dipping: It all makes sturdy, tasty food.
And the scones? We don’t typically order scones as a general rule, because they tend to be dry and disappointing, with flavorless icing on top to provide the death blow. Community Grounds (via That Bakery) is an exception to the rule. The strawberry scone has an unearthly tender texture. Every bite is delicious, highlighted by sweet-tart strawberries and a drizzle of icing that is actually sweet (not some weird invisible flavor).
Additionally, a limited-edition Mr. Rogers Cookie was irresistible. Like the scone, it exceeded expectations with icing that actually tasted good. The sweet scene is on-point.
Now, if we talk about Community Grounds only in terms of the consumables, we’ll be misrepresenting the joint. It’s food for the soul with a model that supports and feeds its community through a ton of charitable initiatives. One way to support the mission at a modest price point is to deposit a quarter in the house gum-ball machine. What rolls out is a bauble filled with words of wisdom from neighbors. Ours said “Getting even never healed a single person.” We’ll be back for more.
You’ll find it all at 1134 Parsons Ave. on the South Side.
For more information, visit mycommunitygrounds.com.