Tastes of Victoria: Rise & Grind delivers deceptively amazing sandwich

Columns May 3, 2023
Tastes of Victoria is a food column appearing in every issue of Nexus (photo by Pablo M. Romero/Nexus).

Back in late April, I was hoping to find a special and unfamiliar place to get breakfast, a place good enough to recover from an incredible night and an exhausting finals week.

My feet and beat took me to a small, comfortable, and colorful spot called Rise & Grind, located at 1294 Broad Street.

It was the first time for me visiting this place, so I approached the cashier and asked for a recommendation, something that’s popular. Originator is a breakfast sandwich composed harmonically with egg, green onions, bacon, brioche, sriracha, mayo, and melted cheddar cheese. 

It may sound like a simple sandwich, but don’t let its simplicity deceive you. It’s such an amazing experience: the bacon is crunchy and perfect. The egg, sriracha, mayo, and green onions dance in a very unexpected and coherent way, while the cracking of bacon defined the rhythm.

The bread had its own main purpose as the perfect scenario for this completely enjoyable treat for the senses. And the cheese was so good melted that I was able to stretch it as long as I wanted.

I surely enjoyed my brief but meaningful breakfast jazz experience at this youthful and always sunny place.

You have to try the Originator breakfast sandwich with orange juice—it just fits perfect as a morning-after breakfast.