Food & Drink Reviews

Great online food delivery service but costly - 2x the real food prices

Look, Zomato’s app experience is top-notch. It’s slick, super easy to navigate, and the tracking is spot on, which makes the whole ordering process a breeze. I’ve had zero dramas with my orders arriving on time and the food quality is always decent, so their reliability is solid. My only gripe is the hit to the hip pocket. When you compare the menu prices on the app to what you’d pay walking into the actual restaurant, you’re looking at double the cost. It’s a convenient service for sure, but definitely a luxury you’re paying a premium for. Good for a lazy night in, just watch those sneaky markups.

Ordered 3kg for our office — arrived perfectly fresh, team loves it

Ordered a 3kg bulk pack of their house espresso blend for our office. The order arrived in two days, packaged with nitrogen-flushed bags and sealed valve. The coffee has been a hit — our team has stopped buying from the downstairs cafe chain. The office kit they include (dosing card and brew guide) was a nice touch. The price per gram is reasonable for the quality tier. I will say the website checkout flow has some friction — had to re-enter my delivery address despite being logged in, and the promo code field was not obvious. Small UX issues that did not stop me ordering again. Will be setting up a recurring office subscription.

Direct trade sourcing is the real deal — the farm transparency sets them apart

What I respect most about Grounds is their transparency on sourcing. Each origin page on their website shows the farm, the producer's name, the altitude, processing method, and the price per kg they paid vs Fairtrade floor. For their Colombian lot they paid 42% above Fairtrade minimum. This is verifiable commitment, not marketing. The coffee reflects this — the Sumatran Mandheling is one of the best low-acidity coffees I've found for my espresso setup. Their Smith Street cafe has some of Melbourne's most technically proficient baristas. The food menu is good quality but the coffee is clearly the priority. Happy to pay slightly above market price for the sourcing ethics and quality consistency.

Best filter coffee subscription in Melbourne — consistently exceptional

I've been on Grounds' fortnightly filter subscription for 14 months and the quality has never dipped. Each delivery comes with detailed tasting notes and brew guides specific to that batch's roast profile, which I genuinely read and use. The Ethiopian Yirgacheffe they sourced last quarter was exceptional — the most complex filter coffee I've had at home. The beans always arrive within 48 hours of roasting as they promise. The subscription portal is easy to use — I've paused twice for holidays with no hassle and swapped my roast preference once with zero friction. The Fitzroy cafe is lovely too — the V60 bar service is unhurried and the baristas are genuinely knowledgeable. One of Melbourne's best.