The Creamy Bean Factory is Collegedale's newest restaurant. A recent visit indicated it has become a town favorite. Its offerings are simple, but sandwiches and coffee/gelato concoctions can still make a memorable meal.
THE MENU
First things first: What is the most popular panini, I asked. In this community of vegetarians, I wasn't surprised at the answer: the avocado melt. I was hoping for something with a little meat in it, so I asked the second favorite. Answer: the grilled cheeses. Oh well.
The order (for one): Chicken Gilroy and chips. The sandwich description is chicken, tomato, spinach, avocado, red onion, Swiss cheese and tomato. All paninis are made to order, so it takes a little time for all the ingredients to be assembled on the big panini roll and placed on one of the two panini presses.
Paninis are bready, but this one was even more so, and soft, rather than crisp like I like it. The chicken was almost deli thin and mostly on one side of the sandwich when I cut it in half. So I scraped the avocado mayo off the smaller half and loaded all the ingredients on the larger half. Then I took off the top bun and enjoyed half a panini with my fork and knife.
The flavor was good, though, a little more chicken would have been nice.
A good touch to this cafe are two containers of water - one with fresh lemons and one with fresh cucumber - on the house. The cucumber water was very refreshing on a warm day.
THE SERVICE
The fellow who made my sandwich was very nice, but that's all the contact I had with the staff. I meant to ask, and if you know, let me know: Where does the name Creamy Bean come from? I didn't see any beans.
THE SPACE
If you go* Where: Creamy Bean Factory, 9408 Apison Pike, Ooltewah.* Phone: 396-3080.* Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday (closed Saturdays).* Price range: $5.99-$6.99 (paninis and wraps); 99 cents-$5.49 (coffees, teas, milkshakes, fruit frappes and gelatos).* Alcohol: No.
Creamy Bean is a little place tucked into a corner of the Apison Crossing shopping center. It's a shotgun design that's very clean and welcoming. Soft lighting inside creates a warm ambiance. To make the most of the space, an outdoor eating area, fenced off from other center businesses, is well decorated and offers diners an al fresco experience if wanted. I did and found it very nice. I didn't feel like I was stuck out in the parking lot, though I kind of was.
THE VERDICT
If I'm in Collegedale when hunger pains hit, I'd try it again. Those living or working in the area have already discovered it's a nice little restaurant with good flavors.