It’s been over a month since I’ve written a column. I’d like to say that the time has been spent doing intense culinary research, scouring the Capital Region in search of the perfect meal, and that I have for you the best review in the three-year history of this column.
Unfortunately, I’d be lying.
The hiatus has been largely due to the author being badly overcommitted, taking three classes while working full-time and officiating football. Oh, and my wife actually wanted me to spend a little time with her, too. Thus, all I have to show for my month off is ... the Atlanta Bread Company.
Normally I avoid reviewing chain restaurants—hence the lack of a review for Fresno’s downtown. But when Panera opened in Latham Farms a year and a half ago, I wrote a column about it, not realizing at the time we walked in that it was part of a chain. Since Panera quickly became the single most common place for my wife and I to eat (we’re both suckers for good soup and good bread), it only seemed fair to give the Atlanta Bread Company a shot.
On the surface, they’re identical: primarily soups, sandwiches, and coffee drinks in a comfortable setting for about the same price. However, anything more than a cursory inspection reveals differences.
What struck me right away was the staff at Atlanta Bread Company did not seem well-trained; placing an order proved to be a remarkably inefficient process. Now, we did come in shortly before closing on a Sunday night, so this probably wasn’t their starting lineup, but if your backups are that bad, your team won’t get very far.
The menu has a sizable selection of sandwiches, with a host of possible toppings. Typically there are five soups available; when we arrived, though, there were only three left. We pondered the menu for a bit, made our selections, and sat down.
When our order came up, we just kind of sat and stared at it for a moment, trying to figure out how to eat it. The sandwiches were tall. Being hungry, though, we figured it out quickly enough.
Once we got it into our mouths, the food was good—the same thick, hearty bread went equally well with curried chicken salad, bean soup, and my wife’s avocado-and-various-other-veggies sandwich. Nothing really jumped out as outstanding, though. And the iced tea needs work. For a company purportedly from Atlanta, this is quite disappointing.
On the whole, you can expect to spend $7 to $8 for a decent, filling meal. If you like soup and sandwiches, give the Atlanta Bread Company a shot ... at sometime other than on a Sunday night.
The Atlanta Bread Company is located on Route 9 in Loudonville. To get there, take Route 7 west out of Troy. Go up to Latham and take the exit for Route 9. Turn right at the traffic light at the end of the ramp and go about two miles. Atlanta Bread Company will be on the right, just before Hoffman’s Playland.
