CLOSED: Take some time to ‘Chill’ at new Provo cafe
A cafe club sandwich sits on display Monday, April 23, 2012, at Chill Yogurt & Cafe in Provo, Utah. JORDAN STEAD / Daily Herald
A cajun chicken salad sits on display Monday, April 23, 2012, at Chill Yogurt & Cafe in Provo, Utah. JORDAN STEAD / Daily Herald
A mango-flavored Italian soda sits on display Monday, April 23, 2012, at Chill Yogurt & Cafe in Provo, Utah. JORDAN STEAD / Daily Herald
There are lots of places you can go in Utah Valley to get soft-serve frozen yogurt on the do-it-yourself, pay-per-ounce model, but no others that I know of where you can also grab a delicious panini sandwich or a fresh, savory salad. It’s an idea whose time has come at Chill Yogurt & Cafe on Freedom Boulevard in Provo, and a welcome development for anyone who craves a good panini.
“Panini,” for those not in the know, is a fancy-pants Italian word that has been Americanized to mean a sandwich pressed and grilled for maximum, cheese-melting, bread-toasting goodness. You can make them at home — you don’t even need an actual panini press if you have a George Foreman Grill or something like it — but why would you bother when the paninis at Chill are so tasty?
We made our visit to Chill, located at the south end of the Alpine Village condo complex, on a recent Thursday night. The spotless dining area includes both table seating and a window-facing counter with stools, and there’s a large flat-screen television to keep diners abreast of the latest developments in the world of sports. (We watched a showdown between the NBA’s Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls while waiting for our food.)
There are numerous panini options, but I found myself immediately drawn to The “Dave” Special, a rugged manwich that improves on the basic concept of a good old ham-n-cheese (two kinds, cheddar and provolone), by adding a grilled bratwurst and bistro sauce.
We also tried a Cafe Club Panini, which combines ham, turkey and bacon with lettuce, tomato, provolone cheese and ranch dressing. Most of the paninis at Chill (including both of the ones we tried) are made using nicely crusty Ciabatta buns that hold their shape and texture well. The bread came out perfect — crisp, but not too dry — and the fixings were flavorful and fresh.
In particular, I give a hearty seal of approval to The “Dave” Special, named for its creator, the former brother-in-law of owner and manager John Larson — wherever you are, Dave, I salute your ingenuity.
We also enjoyed the only non-panini on the sandwich menu, the aptly named Veggie Wrap, which consists of lightly dressed vegetables — mushrooms, olives, red onion, lettuce and tomatoes — in a whole wheat wrap. (Dave would probably not approve, or would at least suggest adding steak and bacon.)
You can also order the soup of the day, or choose from among several salad options. We tried the excellent Cajun Chicken Salad, which combines Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, olives, red onion and croutons with grilled chicken, bacon, two kinds of cheese (Monterey Jack and cheddar) and Cajun ranch dressing. The dressing and meats are particularly good and we found that one salad serves two diners, though your mileage may vary, especially if you haven’t just polished off a “Dave” Special.
The soft-serve yogurt is as good as anywhere else we’ve tried it — there are multiple flavors available and lots of toppings to choose from, including the ever-popular cheesecake bites — but that’s not the only dessert option. You could also have a caramel brownie, fresh-baked cookie or fruit smoothie.
There’s a fountain drink station with free refills, but don’t let that distract you from the Italian sodas. We tried the peach and raspberry sodas, and frankly, I’d have plowed through the entire menu of flavors, probably with a “Dave” Special in one hand, if money and time had been no object. (Curse you, cruel budgetary limitations!)
There’s an appropriately relaxed atmosphere for a place named Chill, but even if you like to stand on ceremony, you should still drop by and have a panini. Perhaps I’ll see you there: There’s a panini that we didn’t try called The Godmother, and I have a feeling that I really want it to do a little favor for me.
Chill Yogurt & Cafe
Where: 1286 N. Freedom Blvd., Provo
Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday
Prices: Sandwiches $5.99 to $7.49, salads $3.49 to $6.99
Info: (801) 373-9827, www.chillutah.com, www.facebook.com/utahchill