CLOSED: Paradise Bakery and Cafe offers much more than a desserted aisle
A chicken walnut sandwich and a cup of Sonoma chicken stew with a dry jack cheese biscuit at Paradise Bakery and Cafe in American Fork on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A Fuji apple salad at Paradise Bakery and Cafe in American Fork on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A slice of carrot cake at Paradise Bakery and Cafe in American Fork on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A Fuji apple salad and a cup of Sonoma chicken stew at Paradise Bakery and Cafe in American Fork on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
It might seem like a risky proposition to boldly use the word paradise to describe your eating establishment, but Paradise Bakery & Cafe in American Fork finds itself on solid ground.
The American Fork location — the brand also has five restaurants in the greater Salt Lake area as well as seven additional states, mostly in the Southwest — is spacious and inviting. We visited later on a Friday night, after the main dinner rush, and enjoyed an unhurried, casual meal.
Patrons place their orders at the front of the restaurant from several different stations that each contain a smorgasbord of options. The various stations include drinks, sandwiches, soups and salads, and desserts. There were so many intriguing options it was extremely difficult to make a final selection. The restaurant offered a “You Choose Two” option, however, that lets you select any pair from three choices: a half sandwich, a cup of soup and a salad option. Taking advantage of this offer allowed us to expand our wish list and sample more items.
Let’s start with the soups. The Roasted Tomato was billed as one of the signature soups — and for good reason. The soup came topped with cream and tortilla strips, and the entire combination did indeed evoke visions of paradise, from a taste standpoint. We loved it! We also tried the Sonoma Chicken Stew, a concoction featuring carrots, peas, ham, chicken and a hearty stew broth that was also delicious. We can already envision stopping by this convenient location — just off the I-15/Pioneer Crossing interchange — for heartwarming soups during the winter.
There are a wide range of fresh sandwiches, as well as paninis and wraps. One of our favorites, also a restaurant signature, was the Chicken Artichoke Panini. This offered a cornucopia of tastes with its sliced chicken, artichoke hearts, Swiss cheese and tomato all served grilled on sourdough bread. It also comes with a Parmesan coarse mustard spread. We really loved this sandwich.
Another favorite was the Chicken Walnut Salad sandwich. This featured the salad mixture combined with mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato on Paradise Molasses Bread. A great combination! We also enjoyed the Paradise Club, which featured ham, turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato mixed with a dijon-mayo vinaigrette and served on a croissant.
Among many various drink options, we opted for a strawberry smoothie, which was fantastic and came with a thick, wide straw. On the dessert front, cookies were on a two-for-one special, so that was a no-brainer. Our favorite was the Black Diamond, which oozed brownie goodness.
The Paradise Bakery & Cafe also boasts an extensive breakfast menu, so we felt it prudent to stop by for a quick morning visit on the way to work one morning. A lot of the breakfast items are served only up until 10:30 a.m., while several others are available throughout the day.
We tried the Quiche Pie and the Yogurt Granola Parfait. Both items were pre-prepared and ready inside a display case. It took just a minute to warm up the quiche and we were seated and eating within minutes — so this is a good option for those on the go. Both items were good, but we especially enjoyed the quiche — which included spinach and cheddar, jack and Parmesan cheeses. The parfait features levels of yogurt, strawberries and granola.
Paradise is also great for kids, with a tailored menu offering macaroni and cheese, as well as the following sandwiches: grilled cheese, turkey or ham, and peanut butter and jelly.
You may not want to live in Paradise all the time — but it’s sure a great place to find yourself stranded for a meal.
Paradise Bakery & Cafe
Where: 562 W. Main St., American Fork
Prices: $6.89-$7.15 sandwiches and paninis, $3.95-$7.35 salads, $3.95-$5.85 soups, $1-$6.75 breakfast items
Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday