Bites Nearby: Bread Box

For a few weeks now, I’ve been passing the Bread Box on my way to the gym, and I’ve been slowing down and—rather creepily, might I add—peering inside for any signs of life. I might be on my way to work out, but even I can’t resist the temptation of a place with a name like Bread Box.

Lucky for me and the handful of other passers-by that I’ve seen eyeing it up, the Bread Box opened last weekend. So naturally, on my way OUT of the gym, I had to stop by and check it out.

The menu at this Allentown café isn’t unlike what you might find at Panera or Wegmans, but what makes it so unique is that everything is freshly made and not overly crowded on a Sunday morning…yet. Because I didn’t feel pressure to scarf down my meal and sacrifice my seat, I was able to enjoy a little bit of everything from their menu. Read on for the review!

The Dishes: Walnut Chicken Salad, a chocolate pastry and a Coconut Italian Creamosa.

What’s on the Plate: My salad was served with an apple, but you can also opt for a French roll or potato chips.

How’s it Taste? My main course, the Walnut Chicken Salad, was a tough decision to make, as the Mexican Chopped Salad and Hawaiian Chicken Panini were both vying for my attention, too. But I was pleased with my selection: a mix of spring mix and spinach topped with walnut-encrusted chicken, cherry tomatoes, dried cranberries, walnuts and mandarin oranges. During the summer, especially, I’m a huge fan of fruit on salads, but the chicken gets my award for salad MVP. It was crunchy, sweet-but-not-too-sweet and tasted even better topped with Butter-Honey dressing. Definitely going to be a lunchtime favorite.

Another of my summertime staples is Italian Soda, which Bread Box also offers. But apparently they also offer an Italian Creamosa, which might actually be even better. My usual order of coconut Italian soda was topped with whipped cream, an idea that seems so simple I’m surprised I hadn’t tried it before. If you’re an Italian soda fan, like myself, try this out. It’s dessert for those of us who try to resist chocolate temptations.

But if you have an absolutely insatiable chocolate craving, this is the place for you. There is an entire portion of the front wall dedicated to pastries, cakes and breads. Naturally, I couldn’t pass up a little dessert, so I picked up a chocolate pastry filled with crushed almonds and drizzled with chocolate and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Although it was probably one of the more delicious pastries I’ve had, I’ll admit that it’s not a job for one person; you’ll definitely want to share this sweet treat.

Eat this Because: It’s a brand new spot to sample. Be the first one of your friends to try it out, or bring a group for a coffee date to check out their offerings.

Tab: $10

Etc: Bread Box offers a cozy in-house dining experience, but offers a grab and go option, too. Cold sandwiches, including turkey and ham sandwiches, BLTs, and hoagies, are always freshly made and ready to go.