I’d always snacked on delicious homemade cookies while meeting with clients at Cole & Parks in Victor, so when I picked up my 17-year-old niece, Mollie, nearby for lunch recently, I returned for something more substantial. There are multiple seating areas, but my favorite in winter is the one in back, which has a cozy gas fireplace.
The eatery’s Web site states that Cole & Parks, which serves cookies, coffees, specialty foods and quick-casual restaurant fare, “can be compared to an exciting combination of Mrs. Fields, Starbucks, Dean & Deluca and Panera Bread.”
The mood
It really is a mixture of all the above. The crowd is a mixture as well, though during the lunch rush it’s mostly corporate types, friends meeting for a bite and loners eating in front of their laptops.
The place feels sophisticated and clean with bold red and yellow walls, wooden floors and stark white trim.
The food
Mostly panini, wraps, sandwiches (all served with potato chips or macaroni salad) and green salads, with inspired combinations and fresh ingredients.
I chose the Chicken Salad Melt ($6.99) with potato chips, which came in a bag. The melt was on a grilled panini stuffed with tender chicken, crisp lettuce and just the right amount of cranberries. I’d order it again. Mollie ordered the Turkey Sandwich ($6.59) on white bread with a bag of chips. She usually eats turkey sandwiches with only mayonnaise as a topping, so she promptly took off the feta cheese, tomato, fresh basil and lettuce that came with it. (But she wanted me to make it clear that it had nothing to do with the quality of the food.) She did, however, enjoy dipping her sandwich in a side cup of balsamic vinegar, on the recommendation of the woman who took our order.
I topped off my meal with a Double Chocolate Chip cookie for $1.49. The restaurant also serves a variety of soups, quiche, sides and snacks.
The drinks
Coffees, teas, espresso, fountain drinks, bottled water and juices. I had a bottled cranberry juice for $2.13, and Mollie ordered a Dr. Pepper for $1.92.
The damage: $24
Next time … I’m a sucker for panini, so it would have to be the Mozzarella Panini with mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil and a side of potato chips for $6.99.
