By TR Robertson
The TERI Common Grounds Café and Coffee Bar does so much more than providing delicious and inspired food and drinks as it also assists individuals with disabilities and trains them for careers in food and beverages, restaurant, and culinary services. Located on the grounds of the TERI Campus of Life in San Marcos on Deer Springs Road, this café and coffee bar offers a wide and varied range of breakfast and lunch options for anyone wanting to try something a little different. The Common Grounds Café and Coffee Bar is in the Tom & Mary Tomlinson Vocational Center at the campus, which currently provides career training and vocational experiences for adults with special needs. This is the first Campus building for the TERI Campus of Life that is intended not only for the students who attend sessions there, but also has a facility for the community, the café and coffee bar.
The Common Grounds Café and Coffee Bar features an outdoor eating area at the entrance, an inside eating area and ordering station and an additional outdoor eating area behind the café and coffee bar that looks out on the TERI Farm where organic seasonal fruits and vegetables are grown, many used in the food preparation for the café. Both outdoor areas have comfortable seating areas and shaded tables. Inside the café and coffee bar, visitors can shop for a number of farm raised items as well as other unique gift choices.
What makes this café and coffee bar unique is the wide range of delicious food options visitors can choose from on the menu. The breakfast options included Avocado Toast, a Breakfast Burrito with chipotle crema, a Bacon & Egg Burrito, Bagel Breakfast Sandwich with Smoked Ham, a Smoked Salmon Bagel, Create Your Own Omelet, Acai bowl, or Fresh Fruit and Yogurt Parfait. Drink choices include a variety of coffees, hot or cold, ranging from Americanos, Macchiatos, Espressos, Cappuccinos, Brewed Coffee, Teas, Hot Chocolate. I tried a delicious Mexican Mocha. The coffee bar also has a selection of Smoothies to try. For those wanting something a little lighter, freshly prepared Danishes, muffins, coffee cake, pretzels, cookies, and lemon bars are available. On the weekend, from 8 am until 2 pm, a weekend brunch is offered where you can choose from Biscuits and Gravy, Buttermilk Pancakes, Chilaquiles, Chorizo Hash, Eggs Benedict, French Toast, Huevos Rancheros, or a Classic Breakfast with Smokes Applewood Bacon.
Many people stop by the Common Grounds Café and Coffee Bar for lunch as the café offers great tasting sandwiches and salads. We tried the Ham & Gruyere Croissant and the Turkey Ciabatta with Apricot Preserves, and we were not disappointed. Also on the menu is Grilled Cheese and Chicken with Honey Mustard, a Cubano on French Roll, a Caprese on Focaccia and a BLTA sandwich. The salad options include a Grilled Chicken Caesar, Crunch Chicken and Strawberry, Butternut Squash Tofu and a Side Green Salad.
On Thursday and Friday from 3 pm until 8 pm Common Grounds offers a Happy Hour.
Some options to enjoy with your drinks, including wine choices, include several side dishes. Options like salads, Truffle Fries, Mac & Cheese, Brussel Sprouts, Chips and Guacamole, Bruschetta, Pizzas and Flatbread, and a Common Ground Burger are available to enjoy along with all of the other great choices. Grab ‘N Go meals made to order are also offered for those who want to pick up breakfast or lunches.
Common Grounds is easy to get to off of Highway 78 at Twin Oaks Valley Road, heading north until Twin Oaks turns into Deer Springs Road. TERI Campus is located at 555 Deer Springs Road. Common Grounds is open Monday-Wednesday and Saturday and Sunday from 8 am until 3 pm and on Thursday and Friday from 8 am until 8 pm. The phone number is 858-356-4596 or go to www.teericommongroundscafe.com to check out the menu and to see more information about the Campus of Life and the tremendous programs offered at TERI.
All profits from the café and coffee bar goes toward all of the program’s TERI offers for San Diego’s special needs community. TERI says in their brochure, “We’re all about coffee, good food and good times”. You will truly enjoy your food experience at Common Grounds Café and Coffee Bar in San Marcos.
