It was my first time going there after hearing some good things about it however we ended up having a bad experience. We wanted to sit at the table after the people left and asked the lady to clean the table before we sat but she didn’t clean the table well and it still had crumbs and spilled coffee on the table, we ended up cleaning it ourselves. My sister ordered cappuccino expecting it to be in a glass cup like the picture they have on the website but instead she got it in a disposable cup and it tasted really weird. Lastly I ordered vegan chicken and the bread was so hard it gave me small cuts inside my mouth and it hurts really bad.

Amazing sandwiches with excellent service! Right spice and ingredients!! Loved the rose gold!

Literally the BEST chai I have had. could not believe how good the saffron and rose chai was- caramel cold brew was incredible and coffee was smooth. donut was the best donut I have ever had!!! employees were so kind and amazing even though we came right before they closed. 100000/10 would recommend!! Thank you for such an amazing experience! Will be making this a weekly trip!!!!

Just discovered this place and happy to say that I was blown away. The food was beyond amazing. Fresh and bursting with flavor. The drinks were also well made and hit the spot.The chicken Tikka sandwich was loaded with meat and the seasoning was perfect. It was really well made. The perfect savory meal/snack.The grilled cheese was great too. I was hesitant when I saw that it was loaded with onions and tomatoes, 2 things I dont usually like (its a texture thing). But the slightly spicy taste made up for it, and I downed it very quickly, without further hesitation.The masala fries maybe couldve used more masala, and thats my only complaint about those.The aloo Chaat was great, with an interesting use of hashbrowns as the aloo. Almost a fusion item that was very well made.The donuts were also great and my daughter loved trying each one!Convenient iPad ordering system too!Overall very happy, and will definitely be coming back for more!

Pretty good place to relax your mood with some awesome food.. fresh chai made right in front of you.. sandwiches and wraps were one of a kind.. this place is definitely going to be my frequent coffee (tea) spot.Alfredo and Jessica are very customer friendly.

Food was good. Not that bad but not worth the price. We ordered spicy grilled cheese sandwich, gulab jamun donut, veggie samosa and rose milk with mango icecream falooda. Falooda tasted really good.. not too sweet. I wished it was more creamy. Loved Mint chutney with veggie samosa. Gulab jamun donut tasted ok as it didn’t seem fresh. If you’re charging $4-$5 for one donut better give it fresh.

Nice, creative drinks. I have only been once but I will definitely be back to try some more.

Homemade chai shoppe in New Brunswick. The apple spiced chai was very good, while the cardamom chai was too strong...and I didnt care for it. The donuts were so pretty. I think they would of been better earlier in the day, as they were not very fresh when I went. The service was nice, and there are tables outside to sit at.

Super tasty food with amazing drinks. I tried the samosa grilled cheese which was packed with flavor. The mint and date chutney was so bright and fresh while the samosas had a wonderful crisp and spice. The sauce on the grilled cheese reminded me of a spicy barbecue sauce and was truly amazing. If they sold it separately I would definitely buy a jar. The gulab jamun donut was the perfect sweet treat. The magic masala chai was filled with warm spices and the perfect drink for a cold winter morning.I loved the sweet note on the donut bag!!

Excellent quality chai with different flavors. Great veggie sandwiches. Awesome service and great prices. Perfect for a quick stop, the Rose Gold is the best! You can taste the rose.

Location is chill, the vibe is nice and quaint. The chai price is up there, hitting you at 4.75 but the flavor is decent. I found it to be more of a floral chai, than a spicy chai which i prefer. Maybe thats how they market themselves, as floral chai and i didnt take note. Anyway, not bad but not my cup of chai.

Got my coffee super quick and tasted pretty good.

Imagine a you’re at a basement show in New Brunswick that has somehow morphed into a specialty coffee bar. The laid-back, welcoming attitude is complemented by world class java, the bucks has nothing on hidden grounds. You have your grad student crowd, mixed with unassuming undergraduates - socializing on a Sunday afternoon. And then you notice they offer their own beans, not sure what was on drip today but it rocked!

Local cafe with a relaxed vibe and multiple vegetarian/vegan options. There was limited indoor and outdoor seating when I went so I took my food to go, but I would have loved to stick around.

Love it here :) I initially was not a fan but I think my coffee taste was just different back then, but now I love it! Everything about this place is great! Staff is very friendly and ambiance is perfect.

So my coworker was ordering from here because she’s vegan and after seeing how beautiful her food looked next time she ordered I told her I wanted in. I ordered the shredded chicken pita sandwich and was BLOWN AWAY!!! The presentation is pristine, and the ingredients explode in your mouth knowing every bite is fully fresh. I ordered again today because I’ve been craving it but decided to pick up my food instead of ordering through grub hub. I added a ice mocha cafe to my order and the women threw in a bag of chips and a pastry complimentary!!! Even the bag they give your food in is beautiful. I was just as impressed with my meal today. Think I foundMy new favorite restaurant in New Brunswick. Thank you! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Awesome customer service. Delicious food and I feel in love with the Chai Latte very smooth .

The tea and masala grilled cheese sandwich were good.

The coffee was good. But the interior is a little dark and it is not very spscious

Really nice atmosphere and staff. Food options are interesting and tasty.

I was so excited to visit Simply Chai and left somewhat disappointed. Their hot Rose Chai was tasty and a pretty pink. The Chicken Tikka Sandwich was good. We also ordered the Magic Masala Fries which were far from magical. The seasoning on the fries was flavorful and definitely had a nice kick, however, youre just paying a premium for frozen bag fries that they pop into an air-fryer. Id rather purchase the seasoning separately so i can sprinkle onto better fries. The cold brew was okay. The donuts were the real winners except you should expect to pay close to $5 per donut. Its a bit much for a donut. The reason Im giving this place two stars is because of the low quality employees. Bad service kills the entire experience for me at any place. The person who took our order was incredibly rude (for absolutely no reason..like, literally nothing happened and she responded rudely). She was also defensive when we asked questions. It didnt make any sense. The place is pretentious and the service did not add up to the dollar amount. I expect friendlier service from a place that wants to get away with selling $5 donuts and overpriced frozen bag fries. Maybe I just have high expectations.

Very quaint place. Coffee and crumb cake was very good. They also have WiFi for the customers! I will be stopping by again!

Delicious spicy egg sandwich and yummy chai - nothing else needed!

Loved the grilled sandwich and magic masala chai! Delicious food!!

Worst restaurant/cafe ever. The customer service is zero, they don’t have any kind of management. Would make you wait for hours to even provide a single cup of coffee!!!

Absolutely delicious drinks, good vibes, and friendly staff. I highly recommend this establishment to any lover of coffee and tea! Not only do they have a variety of chais to sample, but an equally exciting variety of coffees and pastries. I would definitely recommend the Purple Haze cold brew, it is a delicious lavender based coffee!

The food tastes good.The lavender chai latte was so good.However, I feel rose gold chai can have a little more strong f. As soon as ice started melting the f was very diluted.Gulab Jamun donut was mouthwatering.The only reason for 3 stars is it was very dirty and bad-smelling.Take-out is preferable you cant seat and enjoy the food there.

Best staff, and best chai tea - so many options of it too!

Very pricey. Horrible Taste. Tried their fancy and colorful coffee and donuts. Really expensive compared to Starbucks and Dunkin Donut. I wonder why people go there to drain their pockets. Tried for the first time, and it will be the last.

The first time I went here it was great back in August. The spicy grilled cheese was nice and the bread was great! Now they changed the recipe and the quality was not the same. Bring back the old recipe.

Highly not recommended, high prices and no food option to choose. All chai tastes almost similar with a little ting of different flavor which we don’t feel it. Not a great place to dine in.Gulabjamun doughnut taste like rose flavor doughnut.Chai tea latte is copy of Starbucks with more cost.I would go to Starbucks anyday over this.

Was really excited to come here, but was not impressed at all. I did not like the aroma inside. I also remember walking in and waiting 5 minutes for a worker to acknowledge me (I was the only one in the lobby in line). Then, I paid for my drink. I realized I was hungry and apologized and asked I could have a doughnut as well, and the woman instead gave me a pastry that I couldnt identify. I accepted it bc I just wanted to get out of there. The Rose Chai was good, but the pastry tasted like play-doh. I would say that the drinks are good, but the service is pretty weak, and the aroma is odd.

Ordered the Lavender Chai, Avocado 🥑 CLT, and two vegan pastries. Absolutely out of this world. Staff was ultra friendly and accommodating

Omg, how did I spend a whole year around the corner from here during the pandemic and not venture in? With one week to go before moving out of NJ, I decided to try the places I never sampled during lockdown. The rose chai here was so refershing.. Rose has to be handled very delicately or it overwhelms. This was done so deftly I was amazed. And the gluten free vegan donuts? The woman behind the counter said the lemon one tastes like a lemon Girl Scout cookie, which was always my favorite, and it tasted exactly like that! Im going to stop here every day until I move. Thanks for a lovely memory!

Delicious food! Great, fresh produce, rockin samosas/chutney, and absolutely delicious lattes delivered piping hot even in the dead of winter -- and in compostable packaging! Im moving out of state in a week and wish Id discovered this gem earlier!

Such a cute place! Been coming here for years and it just keeps getting better

Great coffee place.

Not worth the Hype!I went their because i heard so many good things about their donuts which have unique flavors like gulab jamun, rose something etc. but I was badly disappointed. The donuts were rock hard and stale. Would never recommend it to anyone 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼PS- I did warm it up before having it and it still tasted stale.

Superb Grilled Cheese, if you are Spicy food lover. They make food as per instructions provided, nice & chic interior of restaurant.Vegan Donuts are also a delicacy worth trying

I finally made it to Simply Chai in date night with my mom. There is an adorable sign on the outside that says if I bring my parent they get free ice cream. Not only did we enjoy delicious mango ice cream on the house, but also had an amazing falooda, mouth watering gulab jamun donut, coconut donut, ras malai cupcake, (yes yes, we found the sugar high we were looking for) and the lavender chai (by the recommendation of the lady in charge) and can I say...YUM!!!! Not only are they super duper nice and sweet, but their offerings are delightful. By the time we made it home (after enjoying our treats in the park), my father most definitely looked jealous of all of the treats we had eaten. Can’t wait to bring him next! Thank you Simply! Glad to know you are in town!

Ordered here through DoorDash and its definitely my new fave. The Bombay sandwich was refreshing and filling, the samosas were delicious and I wish Id gotten more to snack on later, and seriously - try the Purple Haze cold brew. Incredible.

Great niche chai place, unfortunately they wouldn’t let me use the bathroom, even as a paying patron.

Food was amazing and the coffee was scrumptious. Would definitely recommend!

New and unusual for me, but yummy. The samosa grilled cheese was very good. The chai (I had the basic chai, first one on the list) was a little over- boiled or maybe next time Ill choose another milk. Ill be back, though.

Super clean and the food is amazing.

Good selection of drinks and food!

Best place to have indian special tea (try roasted chai)as well indian style donuts plus variety samosa grilled sandwuch

Everything was top notch, definitely try the fries!

It was great - the music was a little loud though

Very tasty, great staff!

The bestest chai in the area!

Great chai and sandwiches in a little corner place. Two picnic tables outside. Mindful of masks and distancing.

EDIT: Been a bit disappointed the past two times I’ve been in January. Bagel toppings very stingy. Does t make sense to pay 5 dollars for a sandwich with no toppings! Disappointed with quality and hoping that it’s just a fluke and quality goes back to what it used to be.PREVIOUS REVIEW: Great coffee and a nice enviornment. Chill staff who update their witty tip jars every day. They have plenty of seating if you choose to stay for a few hours and have yummy sandwhiches and baked goods to munch on. A must go if youre in the area!

Worst donuts ever- they claim the gulab jamun donut is the best- it’s coated with frosting thats like plastic, with a donut that’s like store stale pound cake. The chai is nothing but hot milk with extra sugar. Way overpriced for the items, would not recommend to anyone. Save yourself the trouble and don’t even go here.

The food was good but I haven’t had a bad customer service like this in a long time . It took them a good 20 minutes to make the sandwiches and gave only one (we ordered two) . We realized as soon as we got to the table and went back to him . This man threw a fit and tried for us to pay for the second sandwich . His co worker at the register kept apologizing but he remained obnoxious and reluctantly gave the second sandwich. I felt he was even menacing towards the girl on the register. Not sure why they hire people like him.Update 10/4/21 - Since I left a bad review a while ago and the owner was kind of enough to respond, went there again. Food was good as usual and was surprised to see how “chai” was made right in front of us the way it should be made. Customer service was amazing and the desi gentleman behind the counter was super courteous. Good job and would love to come again

My weekend go to. Hidden grounds rebooted with Quality standard & non standard lattes, juices, and sandwiches. Carrot cake rox. Distinct & unique offerings done well!

We ordered a variety of things, Cadbury chai iced latte (tastes like iced vanilla chai from dunkin), vegetable samosa (taste like your average vegetable samosa from the market), samosa grilled cheese was mediocre as well...last but not least super disappointed on the rose falooda...dont get fooled by the pictures. It was literally milk, ice cream, rose syrup, vermicelli....

Cute little tucked away cafe

Serving up some delicious sandwiches. The bagels are excellent...fresh and warm. The CBD tea is yummy! Love the casual comfy vibe.

I found this place online and figured I would try it out since I love coffee! I went and got an everything bagel with veggie cream cheese and it was honestly the best bagel Ive ever had. You can tell it is fresh and homemade, and the vegetable cream cheese was delicious. Then I got a vanilla latte and loved it! Not only did it look beautiful, but it tasted delicious. Great atmosphere in here as well! Would definitely come back and recommend!

I love coming here to just relax, do my work and eat some good food. Love the touch of indian inspired deco they have around! Their drinks are so so soo good! They have a second location as well on campus which gives a more industrial vibe, i much prefer the cozy vibe this location gives.

Flavorfull sandwich (nanwich).

It is a nice small coffee shop, the furnishings are a very good choice. The music could be better for a place like this.Taste of my cappuccino, almost perfect. My avocado breakfast sandwich...to expensive for a white toasted bread, avocado some cucumbers and feta and please, show me how can I eat the sandwich and keep around me clean :DPlease, remove the plastic forks

Wonderful lattes with vegan options for snacks. The place is really nice - there’s also lots of outdoor seating. There were a decent number of students working when I went, but there was still seating available inside! The staff was also extremely friendly. Honestly a great place to work or meet up with a friend for coffee!

Came here at 5:17 and the place was already closed.Update: star rating based on the store experience itself but minus a star for irregular store hours. While the reasoning behind is understandable it still impacts the customer experience. Otherwise, HG is a great coffee joint and would def return.

A nice place to get coffee and dessert while studying or catching up with friends near Rutgers, The staff is friendly, attentive and attractive.

Amazing cappuccino

Liked this place a lot up until I received an avocado toast made with avocado that was old and brown... paid $8 for that. Good for coffee and teas but I wouldn’t trust the quality of the food.

Coffee is good but customer service is not.

Great small coffee shop but the coffee was great and very delicious. I love to have time here having their delicious coffee. Customer service was great.

Good coffee, with solid microfoam and espresso that tastes like they know what theyre doing. Food options arent extensive but are made well. Good bagels. Seating is difficult, with many of the college crowd occupying multiple seats studying. Ive yet to check out their other location, but I am glad to see a good specialty coffee shop in New Brunswick

Good selection of coffees and brewing methods. Would go again if I was in the area.

Among the most delicious hot chocolate Ive ever had! Staff was fast/efficient and very nice. The environment was relatively quiet but not in a library-like way that would make you feel strange talking at normal volume. Patrons free to linger and use laptops (theres free WiFi too) without feeling rushed and although it was fairly well trafficked it never felt crowded. Clean and nice looking too!

Great coffee. No sugar needed (which is unusual for me !). Ill definitely return

Architects/designers did an excellent job turning a basement into a sanctuary. Lots of light from large windows, Natural wood floor, tables, chairs offset putty colored walls. friendly, personable staff serving great coffee & bagels & other foodstuff. ethnic decorations (which are just decorations in their native culture) lend a place a comfortable, relaxed feeling as do the live plants. good wifi & ample outlets! A great addition to the Hub City! Continued Success Hidden Grounds!(my only, ONLY suggestion is that the stools arent low enough for the tables in that my thighs wont fit under the table)

Best espresso Ive had pulled in years, love this place. Real coffee and food, true grass roots and a little sense of humor.

I had a white chocolate latte and it was delicious! There is a very chill vibe and reasonable prices.

This is a great location for Hidden Grounds. The cappuccino at this place is absolutely amazing, probably one of the best I had in the US so far. Short story, I was in Italy studying abroad in the summer and every morning I would see the sun rise over the mountain as I drank cappuccino in the morning at Urbino, Italy. The way their set up and the way they make coffee there is nice and interesting to watch, the passion of it being made definitely gets you excited to taste the coffee. When I sat down to start drinking the cappuccino it lifted up my mood and put me in that same feeling I had in Italy. It had me smiling as I drank it. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys coffee like I do.

Google hours says it is open until 8pm on Thursdays. I walked in at 6:00pm and all chairs are up, the place is clean, everything is packed, there is not even enough beans in the hoper...hmm the kid was outside smoking, run inside to help me and doesnt wash his hands... hmm...I was willing to over look all that until I asked for a decaf Americano and the price was $4.56 or something. My favorite coffee shop in NYC dont charge that. I mean really? I walked away. I can make my own decaf coffee with my hands washed!

The 800-Pound gorilla in the room is, of course, Starbucks.They have a lot to be proud of ... Starbucks did a lot of the heavy lifting to build a Coffee Culture and expose it to mainstream acceptance.Thats the good. Now - the bad. The ubiquity of Starbucks has swayed the expectations of a generation who think that the carefully curated corporate image is anything but a chain experience.Hidden Grounds is a case in point. Here, you have a tiny, local shop, pulling themselves up by the bootstraps and focusing on a menu that is narrow but deep, with an emphasis on quality and originality.What does that mean? It means that if you want an iced latte the size of a garbage can for $5, you might be a Dunkin customer. If you cant wait a couple minutes for a freshly ground, pour-over coffee, there are multiple Starbucks locations that place an emphasis on speed.Parking is tough, the dining area is relatively tiny, but it packs big taste and, as the saying goes ... good things come to those who wait!

New favorite place for studying. Can be tough to find an electric outlet, but is the perfect place for cozy studying once that obstacle is overcome. Love the drink choices, wish they had white cheddar or swiss for grilled cheeses, but definitely not a deal breaker.

Definitely different. Very hipster and coolish. All the food basically had avocados in it and they love their CBD drinks. Over priced for my opinion. Worth a try but not an everyday coffee shop

Loved my experience here at hidden grounds!! Their service was fantastic. I got a complete jerk (which was original and delicious) and a chai. They served me in a reasonable time considering the line I had to wait in, and in the mean time I picked up a book from their self. Overall I really enjoyed my time here and will recommend it to my friends. Thanks guys!!

A trendy college town coffee shop. The furnishings are rustic but the house coffee is good. Lunch sandwiches are unique and so very tasty. We enjoyed the delicious salted caramel brownie, too.

Small quiet coffee shop. I enjoyed my latte and not too expensive

Very good to me

Coffee is OK (no flavors, just regular and decaf), but should not be listed in top breakfast spots. I assume its vegetarian, as they do not offer breakfast meats on their sandwiches, which is fine, but you should be aware. The sandwich itself... if you are looking for microwaved eggs, and a copious amount of cheddar cheese, this is your spot. Service was courteous, though very slow. I was the first customer in the store and my microwaved egg sandwich took about 15 minutes.

Find this place at Easton Avenue . They have free WiFi and plenty of space. The area is underground so makes it more cooler .Try their iced tea .

This place is always good; mochas are delicious, bacon jam bagel was fantastic. The people are always nice and the atmosphere is very chill. If I could afford it Id drop by here every morning.

Kind of slow service because they are always so busy. Small plates. Expensive food. Coffee isnt amazing. You go more for the atmosphere than the actual food. Very hipster hole in the wall place. They have great open mic nights.

Had pretty high expectations when walking in considering the decor is much like your typical 5 star Manhattan/Brooklyn coffee joint. To say the least, the coffee was great. I had an Ethiopian pour over. Espresso is next to taste and I will update when I have a verdict on that!

While out of town on a business trip I visited the 106 Easton Ave location. I was served a perfect matcha with oat milk. However I’m big on customer service and the staff couldn’t have been less friendly and less interested in what they were doing.When asked questions about the company and it’s two locations (I’m not from here and I seek out good matcha wherever I travel!) they mumbled answers as if it was a chore to answer.I wanted to try the location down the street but the Easton Ave shop put such a bad taste in my mouth I got out of there.Not sure why they gave me an opportunity to tip them on their iPad if they did the bare minimum, couldn’t made eye contact and apparently don’t even believe in their own brand.

A perfect place to meet and have a dialogue over a cup of coffee/ chai.This was my first time.

Nice staff, good coffee! Wish this place was around when I was in college, but Im glad real, good coffee is getting more popular. Its nice to have an option while out in the area.Great environment too, but Im usually just in and out for coffee.

Awesome hidden little gem! Takes some time to make the coffee but totally worth the wait.Also a nice ambiance to grab some snacks, plug in your laptop and hang out.

Great atmosphere and some rather tasty coffee offerings. Highly recommend.

I adore this place. Cozy and always happy with everything Ive gotten. Good for studying or for a coffee with that guy you kinds like ;)

Amazing coffee! I love the vibes of this shop.

I like to go here. Coffee is fresh and staff is fun. I find their beans to bring home a little pricey however

I am always looking for an alternative to the coffee giants. Some or better and some are not. This is definitely one of the best I have found. They made an excellent americano. I also enjoy the atmosphere of real people enjoying a good cup.