Everything is made right in front of your eyes with the freshest of ingredients. Grab your drink, pick up and pay at the end of the line, and you are ready to eat.
Coffee and a muffin is such a relaxing combo only magnified by the quiet and serenity of the atrium early in the morning. Coffee is full strength and self serve. Muffins rotate, with blueberry appropriately studded with fruit and a sugar crystal sprinkle on top.
Fresh salads feature nature’s seasonal selections and rotate throughout the year. Today, the cool fruit was a refreshing mix of honeydew, cantaloupe, strawberries and grapes. Available at both breakfast and lunch, you’ll find them in the self-serve cooler.
In addition to muffins, fruit bowls, cereals, yogurt, etc., The Deli has a couple of egg dishes. The breakfast burrito combines scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese and a choice of bacon, ham or sausage into a whole wheat wrap. The flavor surprise was the tomato salsa, which blended into the melted shredded cheddar, creating a base and marrying each ingredient into a beautiful blend.
My favorite was the breakfast club, combining egg, cheese and a choice of meat layered on a croissant. I opted for the ham, thinly sliced and piled high. The cheese melted into a perfectly textured breakfast treat.
The menu greatly expands for lunch, starting with soups and salads. The spinach cobb can be ordered as is, which includes bacon bits, candied walnuts, blue cheese crumbles, dried cranberries and tomatoes, or upgraded to include grilled chicken. Both versions feature Hania’s secret-recipe raspberry vinaigrette and a warm, pretzel breadstick. This one’s a keeper!
Soups rotate daily on the specials board, with favorites repeating more frequently. Tomato bisque makes the rotation, and it is strongly recommended. Chunky and creamy, the tomato and basil flavors really stand out. Chili also is available in both chicken or beef versions, and both soup and chili can be combined into combo specials.The key to a good sandwich often lies in the foundation or bread choice. It must be fresh and hold up to the fixings while lending structural support. Both the Italian sub and Le Quint bed ingredients on a crusty Turano French roll. The Italian layers Genoa salami, ham, capicola and provolone cheese with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mayo and a nicely seasoned Italian vinaigrette.
In a nod to our hometown area, the 601 serves a mighty fine Chicago-style hot dog, fully dressed with all the correct condiments on a super light and fluffy poppy seed bun. You also can choose the chili cheese version or any combination.Weekly specials are posted on The 601’s website, along with the soup of the day. A wise person pays attention, as there are several unique specials from which to choose.A highlight special offered about once a month is the chicken Parmesan. Chicken tenders are marinated, dipped in an egg wash and lightly breaded in a coating made from crushed homemade croutons, Italian seasonings and Parmesan cheese. The chicken is baked, resulting in a moist, grease-free and flavorful rendition. The sandwich is then topped with a thick red sauce studded with tomato chunks and a mantle of mozzarella cheese, which caramelizes perfectly after a quick stint in the oven. A silky-sheened hot giardiniera is served as a topper or on the side.
As the atrium is shared space, I felt sorry for the guy at the table next to me who had a peanut butter sandwich and kept looking my way as the aroma easily travels at least 6 feet!“
Westmont’s Best Kept Secret” is so easy to visit with David and Hania providing such a warm, Westmont welcome. Whether it’s a morning stroll, a lunchtime diversion or catering trays for your office, you will enjoy the many options available.
I hope this article changes the perception and helps get the secret out!