Lunch Ladies: Shirley’s Bakery & Cafe
The Lunch Ladies enjoyed freshly made sandwiches and salads at Shirley's Bakery & Cafe in Provo. CREDIT: Gabrielle Harris
Gabby ordered a Slow Roasted Pulled Turkey Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette dressing. CREDIT: Gabrielle Harris
Jennette tried the tasty BLT on French bread. CREDIT: Jennette Esplin
Sylvia went for a delicious Cobb Salad. CREDIT: Sylvia Abbott
I remember those old Black Friday commercials where a swarm of ladies are anxiously standing outside a store tapping on the glass windows chanting “Open. Open. Open.” That is how I felt our office was during the construction of the new Shirley’s restaurant on Freedom Blvd. Being right across the street from the Daily Herald we got to witness the progression firsthand. I remember co-workers eagerly awaiting the grand opening. I personally did not share in this enthusiasm, since I have Celiacs, and the wafting smell of Shirley’s delectable rolls only sends me into a slight fit of jealousy.
Then the fateful day came when Shirley’s opened; multiple staff members ran over throughout the day gathering tempting cinnamon rolls, raspberry rolls, and other baked goods, dripping in thick cream cheese frosting and glazes. I secretly thought they were trying to torture me.
Casual offerings of the baked goods by people, who temporarily forgot I could not partake, were declined repeatedly throughout the day. I began to think Shirley and I would be at odds on a permanently on-going basis. But just as I was about to tune out all mention of anything related to the bakery, someone was raving about it also being a restaurant. This piqued my curiosity, so I might have eavesdropped just a smidge. (Yes, I am not above listening in. And if you’ve been to our office, you know our open floor plan caters to you being about as discreet as Peyton Manning yelling, “Omaha” or Colin Kaepernick kissing the tattoos on his bicep. It’s just not meant to be private.)
So that’s when I heard the beloved Shirley’s had more to offer than just a tank full of sugared gluten delights. They had soups, sandwiches, and salads. Now I was intrigued. I had been looking for a new salad place ever since a bad experience involving a live caterpillar on some leafy greens at another locale, so I was eager to try out the menu options at Shirley’s and see what they had to offer.
My first visit to the cottage-themed restaurant was a delight. My first salad won me over. The enthusiastic reception of Shirley’s Bakery AND Café was well deserved. I had finally caught the fever and was on board!
And being so close to the Daily Herald it is quite convenient to partake from Shirley’s menu quite regularly, but here is what the Lunch Ladies enjoyed on our most recent visit:
Lyndsi: Little Buns Combo, $4.99
The best part about Shirley’s Bakery is that is right across the street from the office, but this is also the worst part. I love baked goods and with them a quick walk away I am tempted all the time. So when we went for lunch I couldn’t pass up adding a treat to my meal. The perfect way I found to do this is to get the Little Buns Sandwich and make it a combo with a pastry and drink. My sandwich was the perfect size for me and packed with pulled chicken, lettuce, tomato, onion and their special spread (I think it is mayo and mustard mixed together). The combo has a choice of soup or a pastry; it was hot out so soup just wasn’t appealing, even though they had some great flavor options. I went with my favorite, a frosted sugar cookie, and was so happy with my choice. It was moist and chewy with a generous amount of frosting spread on top. Shirley’s has great menu options for lunch or you can just stop by for a sweet treat.
Sylvia: Cobb Salad, $6.99
I’ve been a fan of Shirley’s for a long time. Of course it started with her famous cinnamon rolls; but with her new restaurant she has now gained notoriety for her soups, breads, pastries, sandwiches, and the yummy Cobb Salad that I had. It was built on a bed of fresh Romaine lettuce, a super generous portion of slow-roasted pulled chicken, bacon, and eggs, plus cherry tomatoes, red onions, avocado, mozzarella, croutons, all topped with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. On a day when I thought I may perish from starvation, this truly satisfied.
Jennette: BLT Sandwich, $5.99; chips, $1.39
Somewhere in my life I heard that ordering a BLT is a lighter choice. I think I made that up because I needed a justification for ordering this delicious sandwich. I wasn’t sad with my choice. The sandwich was served on fresh, soft French bread with the crust that was very chewy. Just the way I like it to be. It was served with plenty of bacon that was still warm, plenty of ripe tomatoes and crisp lettuce, with a hint of mayo. All combined for the perfect summer sandwich. I opted for my favorite salt and vinegar chips for a side. It would have been cheaper to get a combo meal but they don’t serve Coke products in the fountain. Sad.
Gabby: Slow Roasted Pulled Turkey Salad, $6.99
This tasty salad is served on a crisp mix of spring greens and romaine lettuce. It comes with portobello mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, plump Craisins, sunflower seeds, a generous portion of tender turkey, and a sweet raspberry vinaigrette dressing. It is also served with a side roll that I quickly passed off to a lucky recipient. The best part of this salad is how fresh the ingredients are and how hearty it is. I love the flavor of the slow roasted turkey, and how moist and tender it is. The salty and sweet components of this salad contrast and accentuate one other in a perfect balance. Satisfied but not weighed down, I could eat this lunch again and again.
A great meal, a relaxing atmosphere, convenient location; only one recommendation: gluten-free baked goods. Can’t you look into it, Shirley’s? Don’t leave us Celiacs hanging; we too want to experience that cream cheese frosting that everyone swoons over. Just saying.
– Shirley’s Bakery & Café: 1620 N. Freedom Blvd, Provo. Open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Sundays.