Provo eatery Magleby's Fresh provides the best of both worlds: Gourmet food at the takeout level.

Though we're not completely sure about the gourmet claim (gourmet makes us think beautiful platters, small serving sizes and unnecessary sprigs of greenery for looks), we loved the tasty restaurant-style food with the laid-back atmosphere of a takeout eatery.

The simple dining room had a homey feel with its faux wood tables, stone floors and a couple of cozy booths with classy country decor. Though small in size, the dining area was comfortable, clean, and best yet, had the casual setup of a fast food restaurant -- so no stress when your tot tosses a fry or two on the floor.

The menu is equally simple with food choices in the salad, soup, sandwich, wraps and platter categories. Our favorite option was the homemade soup. The delicious minestrone soup was hearty, flavorful and for those with a big appetite it comes with two of Magleby's famous breadsticks and bottomless refills.

The salad menu has a surprising number of varieties, and can be ordered in three different serving sizes. We tried a small serving (the perfect size for a side salad) of both the spinach salad and Cobb Salad. The spinach salad was heavy on the fresh spinach and light on the toppings of mushrooms, and crumbled bacon. The Cobb Salad on the other hand seemed to have every possible salad topping and made a filling side dish.

For our main course we tried the Turkey Avocado Wrap, a wrap of sliced turkey, avocado, bacon, swiss, tomatoes, lettuce and spicy mayo. The thickly sliced turkey was a refreshing change to the practically see-through deli meat we've tried at other restaurants.

The spicy grilled chicken -- boasted as chicken with a spicy kick -- wasn't all that hot. You'd probably get a spicier chicken sandwich at a fast food joint, though we would still prefer Magleby's variety. The thick-and-juicy chicken breast was topped with the usual sandwich toppings and tasted great with a side of fries. The restaurant does have other side options including mashed potatoes and coleslaw for those trying to avoid fatty fries with their takeout.

Overall, we enjoyed the family-friendly atmosphere at Magleby's Fresh. The food had good prices, and tasted great -- without the need for expensive tips and candlelit tabletops. Another bonus (or potential problem depending on how you look at it) is that the dining room opens up into sister-store, Magleby's Dessert Parlor. Though that establishment primarily serves up name brand ice cream, it had plenty of slices of its infamous chocolate cake on display as well.

Next time you're looking for a casual eatery with better-than-casual food we'd recommend you try Magleby's Fresh.

Magleby's Fresh

Where: 3362 N. University Ave.

Cost: $3.95-$9.95

Family Call: Bring the tots or take it home.

Info: 852-8622, www.maglebys.com