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del.icio.usA coffeehouse/cafe with class
Daily Grind is a hidden gem in downtown Wichita.
BY DENISE NEIL
The Wichita Eagle
If you're among the many Wichitans who don't have much occasion to drive down William Street -- a tucked-away lane in downtown Wichita -- you're missing a hidden coffee gem. Emphasis on the hidden.
Daily Grind, a hip and classy coffeehouse and restaurant, quietly opened in April at 209 E. William in a spot with almost no parking and even less visibility.
But it doesn't seem to matter. The business is bustling over the lunch hour, apparently attracting lots of foot traffic from nearby office buildings.
Daily Grind is a chain based in Winchester, Va. Local franchisee Colby Stull opened his store in April.
ON THE MENU: Daily Grind brews all of the standard hot and cold coffee drinks plus some fancy smoothie concoctions. It also serves a variety of sandwiches, soups and salads, a few breakfast sandwiches and a tempting array of pastries, cakes and cookies.
DON'T-MISS DISHES: Normally, talk of dessert is saved for later. But the desserts were the star of our Daily Grind experience.
Particularly decadent was a slice of Snicker blitz pie ($4.29), a cheesecake-like concoction topped with chocolate, caramel and peanuts. It was as rich and satisfying as an actual Snickers bar, at probably twice the calories. Equally delicious was a sweet but tart lemon bar ($2.29) cut into the shape of a triangle.
Our actual lunch also had its satisfying moments, especially in the soup category. Both soups of the day -- a potato bacon and a chicken tortilla -- were pretty hearty but also a tad salty. The former was thick and chunky, with a pleasant bacon flavor; the latter featured chicken, veggies and kidney and garbanzo beans.
We sampled two of four available panini sandwiches (all $6.95), both of which were good but somewhat odd. The beef and cheddar was the better of the two -- just the right mix of melty and cheesy. The club, made with turkey breast, bacon and muenster cheese, was tasty but not very substantial and not nearly melty enough. All of the panini sandwiches are constructed between slices of a somewhat flimsy herbed flat bread.
The salad stuffer ($6.95), essentially a chicken salad sandwich, was served on an impressively flaky croissant, but the chicken salad inside was slightly dry and under-seasoned.
AMBIENCE: The interior has a slick, big-city feel with leather sofas, attractive bistro tables and a warm color scheme.
PRICE RANGE: Coffee drinks are $2.85 to $4.10. Breakfast sandwiches are $3.85 and $4.85. Sandwiches are $5.95 and $6.95. Sweets and pastries are $2.29 to $4.29.
SERVICE: Efficient. Stull has a small staff but works the counter himself and keeps the crowds moving through quickly.
REVIEW
Daily Grind
Three forks out of four
Where: 209 E. William St., 316-771-7137
Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays; closed Sundays.
Type of food: Coffee, sandwiches, soups, pastries
Alcohol: No
Smoking: Not allowed
Web site:www.dailygrindunwind.com
Ratings reflect the critic's judgment of the food, service and atmosphere in relation to the price. If you would like to nominate a restaurant to be reviewed, call 316-268-6321.
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