Island Grinds

While The Mission pushes chilaquiles and Rosemarie's builds around slider architecture, Island Grinds pulls from a different pantry entirely — Hawaiian comfort food in a neighborhood where that angle doesn't get much competition. The outdoor seating faces the bay instead of the boardwalk, which means you get morning light without the skate traffic, though the coffee program hasn't caught up to the location yet. Multiple reviews flag the same friction: to-go cups when the setting calls for ceramic, serviceable croissants that don't match the atmosphere, barista skills that swing between expert and still-learning depending on who's working the bar.

The value equation feels off at current pricing — people expect mug-level presentation when they're paying sit-down money for bay views, and right now the experience splits the difference between cafe convenience and destination brunch without fully committing to either. Nacho gets called out by name for hospitality that runs warmer than standard beach-town service, which matters when you're trying to build regulars in a strip where most customers are weekend renters.

The play here works best as a post-surf coffee stop or casual weeknight dinner when you want something different from the gyro-taco-slider rotation that dominates the neighborhood. The Hawaiian angle gives Island Grinds a lane of its own — the execution just needs to tighten up around the edges to justify what they're charging. Show up for the bay-facing tables and the change of pace, not for dialed coffee or pastry work. If the kitchen's running Hawaiian plates with the same warmth Nacho brings to the greeting, that's where the repeat-visit case gets stronger.