If you’re a follower of low carb, slow carb or Paleo, Great Harvest Bread Co. on the near west side isn’t going to jibe with your lifestyle. However, it’s worth it if you’re willing to take a cheat day, because, as the name implies, it does bread very well.
For example, I was a fan of the honey whole wheat loaf ($5.75) and the extreme cinnamon swirl loaf from the Everyday Bread menu. Both were moist with a soft crust. Among the daily breads, I enjoyed the cheddar garlic loaf ($7.95), although it was more subtle than I expected. It was better once I heated it up to melt the cheese a bit.
Desserts include cookies, scones and muffins. If you have trouble deciding, there are plenty of free samples of both breads and desserts that you may try.
You get your choice of bread with the sandwiches. For one, I wanted as plain as possible, so I ordered the ham & swiss ($7) on white. This is an ideal sandwich for non-adventurous eaters. On the other end of the spectrum, I got the robust chimichurri roast beef ($8.25) on Dakota bread. The fresh chimichurri is the predominant flavor. I just wish I picked a different bread, as the Dakota–chocked full of seeds and nuts–is better with butter than in this sandwich. (Speaking of butter, I also bought a really tasty garlic butter ($4.25), fresh whipped in the store.)
The “limited time” sandwich has remained the same since the grand opening in September, though an employee told me it will soon change each month. Currently it’s the Smoked Turkey Goddess ($7.75), which consists of a delightful combination of avocado, parsley, basil, tarragon, scallions, lemon juice, smoked turkey breast and Havarti cheese.
Great Harvest is open Monday-Saturday for breakfast and lunch. A word of caution: it’s very warm inside due to all the commercial ovens running continuously, so dress appropriately if you’re planning on dining in.
I’ve always been a fan of Qdoba, so I jumped at a recent invitation to try its new smothered burritos. They come in three flavors–bold red chile, smoky chipotle cream and tangy verde.
The bold red chile is made with toasted red chiles and has a strong flavor of chili powder and paprika. It can overwhelm the burrito a bit, which is why you may want to cut it with some sour cream. On the other hand, the smoky chipotle cream is very mild in flavor, and any smokiness is quite subtle. When choosing between the two, you have to ask yourself, do I want the smother to be the flavor of the burrito or simply complement it?
Madison got its first 
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my favorite dish at Bonefish was the creme brulee ($6.90). I have no sweet tooth and would pick something salty over sweet 99 times out of 100, but this was decadent, creamy and perfectly rich. I cannot believe this is a seasonal item–it should be on the menu year-round!
