Bountiful Harvest

This place aspired to be the Bön Marche, but missed. I give credit to the deli/​retail creativity and the shabby-​chic, French country décor. The food was price-​y and aspired to gourmet heights, but they under-​estimated # of daily specials too many times. I was sad to learn the place closed, esp as the owner needed kidney dialysis. Hope she’s doing better and her family/​friends were by her side.
There was talk of a razing the building to erect a boutique hotel, but I doubt that’s happening with this current economy. Plus I saw ‘for lease’ signs in the windows.

Went there with a co-​worker for the first time today. He sold me by saying that they did ‘real food, really well’. Checked the Unilocal review first and thought I’d be in for a bit of a pricy lunch, but actually, their food is incredibly reasonable. When we arrived, I found it was a store I’d always been curious about, as I bike by on my way to the amtrak every week. Inside, the shop is set up deli-​style — you walk in and pick out an item from under the glass, they heat it up and hand it to you. There are a number of tables for dining in, and some nice touches (zucchini slices in their self-​serve water pitcher). It was empty when we got there at 11:45 or so. The items on offer are largely quiche-​like or dressed slabs of chicken breast — or at least they were today (I’ve been told by my co-​worker they do a great Sheperd’s Pie, which did not seem to be available this time). Plenty of vegetarian options, and most items are under $ 8. I chose the mushroom chicken (even though I’m not particularly a fan of chicken, I am a fan of protein). We got our orders to go, paid at the counter (they take VISA, etc) and were out in under 5 minutes. When we returned to the office, I was surprised to find that the food came with a small side salad, potatoes, and mixed vegetables. The chicken breast was well-​prepared (tender, and not dried out, as I would’ve expected from twice-​cooked meat); the mushrooms and slight breading was a well-​chosen accompaniment. For this, I had paid a total of 8.08 — defintely a great deal in my book.* I’ll certainly be coming back in the future.
*I should’ve probably tipped — sorry guys! Everyone there was nice, and the counter-​person was patient when I couldn’t decide what to purchase.

I like the salads, the sandwichs, and general lunch fare they have in this place. The price for lunch seems to go up and its easily $ 8 – 10 to each lunch here.
I am not so sure about the psuedo french décor, but I like to walk through Capitol Park to get to this place.