The Grove has been mentioned in several publications as a "must go" place to eat. For some reason I missed that it was an "order at the counter" place; I was expecting to order from our table. Despite the large print on the menu board, I had some trouble reading the menu options. It wasn't until we were all the way up to the register that I found printed menus. These menus should be located near the end of the line or by the door as you come in.
Naturally we picked the slowest line, but we were not in a big rush. Drinks and a marker for your table are placed on a quarter sheet pan for a tray, and then you carry it to your table. I was told that we had to find our own table. This is the kind of place that people like to linger with their coffee, and I was a bit worried that it was so busy we wouldn't find anything open. However we immediately found a table. I did notice an employee helping people with finding tables and asking their preference for indoors or outside on the heated patio.
Our food came out in very good time-- less time than we spent in line to order it. It looked fresh and appetizing. The fried egg on the Croque Madame had a golden yellow yolk so delicately prepared that it looked like it had just come out of the eggshell. Beautiful. The open-face sandwich had plenty of flavor from the prosciutto and the mustard served on the side. It also came with a small bowl of fresh fruit. The Pork was delicious, a full sized sandwich with fresh fennel and a light romesco sauce. The slices of pork were easy to bite into, no tug of war to eat it. It was accompanied by a wheat berry and edamame salad with a light vinaigrette. Perfectly chewy, not too much dressing, very nice. I felt healthier just eating it.
All of the good reports are true; The Grove Cafe is definitely a place to experience more than once.