Breads and pastries of the more savory variety (think cheddar scones and cheese danish) are my Achilles heel and (I'm sure) the only thing that stands between me and a career as a Victoria's Secret swimsuit model.
Read Also: Acme Bakery & Coffee Promises Great Bread Starting September 14.
So, when the people at Acme Bakery & Coffee announced they would be opening, I had to try it out for lunch. Pictures don't do this adorable little place justice. "It's like I walked into Kansas", my friend said as we walked in the door.
Indeed, it is a homey little shop smack dab in the center of Midtown
Miami's ultra-modern and slightly soulless collection of high-rise,
multi-use buildings, big-box retailers, garages, and storefronts -- all colored in fifty sexless shades of grey.
Milk
bottles suspended from the ceiling act as vases. Breads are displayed in
baskets for sampling, little milk cows are offered for sale. Even the
music is vintage -- a blend of jazz, honky tonk, and favorites from the '50s and '60s.
The opening was less than a week ago, and
already there's a buzz about the little bakery. About a
half a dozen people are waiting to order, but a friendly hostess at the patron
side of the counter hands out menus and explains choices. This both
advances the line and makes the wait seem shorter.
The menu is
simple: Breakfast items like the Acme Mornin' (two eggs any style,
o'brien potatoes, and toast or biscuit $6), housemade granola with fresh
fruit and yogurt ($5), and Acme cinnamon toast ($7) are offered all
day. Lunch, served from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. includes salads, soups of
the day ($4-8 depending on size), a meatloaf sandwich ($11), and
chicken or tuna salad served with toast points or in a sandwich ($8).
Breads, scones, brownies, blondies, cakes, Panther coffee, and old fashioned soda pop round out the menu of Acme, which is still in its soft opening phase.
Old-time sodas ($2.50) are offered including Vernors, Nehi, and Moxie. Beware: these sodas pack an old-time sugar rush. You can always opt for a sparkling water.
A chocolate cherry scone ($3.50) was crusty on the outside, moist on the inside. Made with dark chocolate, there was a good balance of sweetness to the treat which served as an appetizer (why not?). Savory scones are also available.
The Acme Cinnamon Toast ($7) is basically a dense French toast, served with vanilla-scented Vermont butter and maple syrup. At $7 for one slice, a better value might be the Country Baker's Basket ($7), which includes a scone, biscuit, cornbread, Vermont butter, and Pickleberry preserves -- a sharable breakfast for the same price.
The Acme tuna salad ($8) is made with fish poached in-house.Though at first it looked on the smallish side, this little jar was packed tightly with tuna salad which was chunkier, brighter, and better tasting than the garden-variety. Only comment? One small pickled cauliflower accompanied the salad (the menu states veggie pickles). If Acme added some greens and more pickled vegetables, this would be one of my new favorite lunches.
When in a bakery, order dessert. Carrot cake ($3.50), a brownie, and a lavender-scented blondie ($2.50 each) were delicious bites and really good values.
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