ANNE BRALY: I’ve been a fan of Niedlov’s since it was just a bakery in a large space behind Market Street Tire and Auto Center. Within a few years, owner and chief baker John Sweet moved into a great building on Main Street and opened what has become one of the area’s best restaurants. People still come for the bread, but they’re also finding out about the great sandwiches, salads and quiche. The Cobb salad, one of three salads on the menu board the day of our visit, was as fresh as they come. The avocado was perfect, the bacon crisp. There was a nice mix of salad greens and large chunks of hard-boiled eggs. To make things even better, the blue cheese dressing was made from scratch and absolutely delicious. I loved this salad.
HOLLY LEBER: I started sampling Niedlov’s fare at the Main Street Farmer’s Market. Their whole wheat muffins (the apple cinnamon is especially good) make for a fine afternoon snack on a Wednesday in the summer. However, I’d never gone to the actual establishment and was eager to try it out.
The aroma of bread baking is evident as you walk in the door. I opted for a salad as well: the Field salad with greens, carrots, tomatoes, dried cranberries, sprouts, nuts and cranberry vinaigrette. While there was nothing unique about the salad, everything was very tasty and fresh. Indeed, we have reached the time of dried cranberries being run-of-the-mill salad fare.
ANNE: The place filled up quickly when the noon lunch hour arrived, so I was thankful we’d arrived about an hour earlier. However, it took about 30 minutes for our lunch to arrive, so this doesn’t make a great place if you’re in a rush. Apparently a large catering order had been called in before we got there, and it came first. I was hungry, but, since one of Niedlov’s great rolls and a pat of butter come with every salad, I was able to ward off my hunger with that. I ate every bite of it, then lapped up the crumbs – with my finger, that is. It’s just that good.
HOLLY: My significant other, who is visiting, joined us for lunch. He greatly enjoyed his roast beef sandwich with provolone. Of course, he’s a card-carrying carnivore. And my finicky (even more than me) fella even ate the cheese.
Meanwhile, I continued my cranberry theme of the day and got a whole wheat cranberry pecan muffin to bring back to the office for later. “Later,” turned into 10 minutes after we got back to the office. It was a good mix of texture, a little fruity, a little nutty, and not cloyingly sweet.
Contact Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6285. Contact Holly Leber at hleber@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6391.