Cheap eats: BonBonerie

The BonBonerie serves a Quiche du Jour (spinach) with Spring Salad, a Turkey Sandwich and assorted sweet treats (Credit: Jeff Swinger | Metromix)

Besides shopping around for a wedding cake, I'd never thought to visit the BonBonerie in Madisonville. Then I heard it opened a café serving breakfast and lunch, and figured it was my chance to check it out. I brought my younger sister so we could talk weddings over tea and sandwiches.

The mood: Honestly, I was expecting a tiny teahouse with a mostly older crowd and an expensive menu. None of those were the case. The cute, kitschy café was bustling with mothers and daughters, groups of high school girlfriends and young professionals on lunch break.

Teapots were used as decorations, along with a rainbow of paintings from a variety of genres. Sugar packets were stuffed into tiny teapots on the café tables and freshly cut flowers added color.

I didn't see a sign on whether we were to seat ourselves or not (yes, seat yourself), but we finally nabbed a high table by a window overlooking Madison Road.

The food: The BonBonerie Café serves breakfast 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, featuring items such as a breakfast burrito, crepe du jour and quiche du jour. Lunch is served 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday with sandwiches under $9, like the ham and Swiss, artichoke burger and seasonal panini, as well as tuna salad and tea sandwiches.

We both wanted the lunch special, choosing from two of either the half sandwich, cup of soup, side salad or pastry ($8.95). I ordered the half turkey and Colby Jack on wheat, and the side salad. My sister also went with a salad and the spring sandwich, a vegetarian pick with veggie cream cheese, Colby cheese, tomato, cucumber and lettuce.

When our lunches came out, we first noticed how colorful they were. Our fresh, mixed baby green salads contained strips of yellow and red peppers, Craisins and red tomatoes. Each came with a cup of fresh fruit on the side. My sandwich was very good and was made with the baby greens from the salad.

The drinks: BonBonerie has an extensive list of teas and at first my sister had eyes on the Blueberry Infusion. But she decided to go for the Cherry Blossom, a black tea with natural cherry flavor, sweetened cranberries, rose petals and blackberry leaves ($3.75). The tea came out in a small green pot with a delicate cup and saucer. She liked the flavor and recommends this to anyone who prefers more fruity teas.

I ordered the Fourberry smoothie ($4), made up of blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. It was phenomenal, like a milkshake made of Graeter's black raspberry chip ice cream. If you're a raspberry fan, please do your taste buds a favor and order this.

The damage: $27.32. The bill came with two little tea cookies; a nice touch.

The verdict: If I were meeting some girlfriends for lunch and wanted to pick a new spot, I'd definitely go back. Lots of cafés serve sandwiches and salads, but the BonBonerie's were better than most in terms of quality and presentation. Plus, it's just another excuse to ogle the wedding cakes in their famous bakery.