By Abby Carella, Social Media Editor
Family-run and French-inspired local eatery, Elegance Cafe, smells of sweet pastries and fresh breads. Guests are greeted by a hand-chalked sign with the day’s specials: Chicken Spinach Rice and Veggie Veggie Soups with Lorraine, Spinach, and Tomato and Onion Quiches. A little smiley face is drawn into the Q of quiche — a small but welcoming detail. Offering both online and in-person ordering, Elegance’s menu includes everything from chocolate dipped butter cookies to chicken curry salad.
The Waldorf chicken salad is a fresh apple-y choice, even better served on one of Elegance’s buttery croissants. A lunch combo allowed for the addition of a cup of the special Chicken Spinach Rice soup — perfectly seasoned with no one ingredient overwhelmingly taking over the dish. A delicate melt-in-your-mouth spritzer cookie is hidden in the sandwich and soup box, making for a pleasant sweet surprise to balance out a savory meal. While not homemade, Elegance also serves deliciously salty kettle cooked chips that provide a nice crunch to any meal. Pro tip: dip the potato chips into the chicken and spinach soup; it’s amazing.
The hot chocolate, tasting very much like a Swiss Miss packet, wasn’t too bad: a nice classic drink, hard to mess up. A fridge sits by the register with a variety of glass bottled drinks such as Snapple, Bai and Nantucket Juice. The menu also hosts a handful of coffee drinks including frappes and cappuccinos.
The giant chocolate chip cookie, a personal favorite of mine, is a must order. It is perfect for sharing (also totally okay to eat alone) with its crispy edges, soft center and evenly spread chips. The elephant ear cookie, a French classic, is crunchy, sweet and beautifully shaped.
Behind a glass wall, employees hand-prepare everything right in front of you, certifying the “homemade” aspect of Elegance’s dishes. All baked goods, including the flakey soft croissant, are also made in-house. If seniors can manage to get out of the parking lot fast enough, the close-by cafe is the perfect cure for after-school hunger. With two locations, one in Paoli open from 8 a.m – 4 p.m. on weekdays and one in Wayne open from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Elegance serves as a great place to grab a quick lunch or sweet snack. Both locations close their doors by 3 p.m. on Saturday and remain closed all day on Sunday. All items ordered, including a croissant sandwich, a cup of soup, a bag of chips, two desserts and a hot chocolate, totaled less than $30. Not too shabby for quickly served food of such high quality.
Price: $$
Rating: ★★★★★
Hours of Operation:
Paoli
8 a.m – 4 p.m. on weekdays
Wayne
8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on weekdays
Both close by 3 p.m. on Saturday and all day Sunday.
Abby Carella can be reached at [email protected].
