August First
http://augustfirst.typepad.com/
149 S. Champlain St., Burlington VT
Review Date: 3/4/2011
People Present: Will Landry, Abram Capone, Braelynn Leppert-Hill, Audrey Terrien, Robbie Flint
“It’s simple, and I like that; it’s not pretentious.”
–William Landry
First Impressions
August First is a bakery and cafe located on Champlain Street in downtown Burlington. Built in an old auto-repair shop, the feel of the restaurant remains open, welcoming, and rustic. August First walks a fine line between casual and fine dining. Despite the rustic atmosphere and warm feel of the restaurant the extensive menu and quality ingredients used belie a a more sophisticated establishment, one that works hard to produce quality food and yet keep up an informal atmosphere.
Food
We ordered three sandwiches, as our budget was limited. We ordered the Turkey Bistro, the BLT on a baguette, and the Salmon Salad sandwiches. Overall, without beverages or pastries, the bill came to about $28.
The Salmon Salad Sandwich was good, but lacked the strong flavor of salmon. The red onion, which was used in abundance, masked the more subtle flavors of the salmon. The bread used was excellent, but the sandwich as a whole lacked the depth of flavor that most of August First’s sandwiches usually exemplify.
The BLT was excellent, and the bacon, although chilled, was tasty. One of the members of the review panel was apprehensive about the sandwich as she dislikes mayonnaise; however, upon tasting the sandwich, loved the combination of flavors and even the house-made herb mayo. The BLT was collectively one of the favorites of the reviewers. The one criticism of the sandwich is that the bacon, although delicious, might be better freshly-made and still warm, even if that came at the cost of the incredibly fast service.
The Turkey Bistro was a personal favorite of more than one of our reviewers and seemed to showcase what August First is about. The bread was fantastic, and the turkey piled high and was lightly dressed in a unique spiced mustard.
For one of our reviewers the salads which came with each of the sandwiches were the favored part of the meal. Although the dressing is unique and may take a bite or two to get used to, it is nevertheless fantastic. The fresh salad is composed of a variety of greens, but regrettably no actual lettuce. This may have been due to the season, as the salad included many seasonal components. Overall, the salad was well-liked by the reviewers.
As for desserts, the “August First Bar” is a delicious cross between a granola bar and a blondie. It is a wonderful mix between healthy and tasty. The brownie was described as being “taste bud nirvana” and resembles, in taste, a rich chocolate gelato.
Being a bakery, all the bread for August First is made in-house and is yet to be rivaled in quality. The baguettes are crunchy and buttery at the same time, and their pastries are some of the best our reviewers have ever tried.
Flatbread, a staple of August First, is served on Fridays beginning at 6:00pm. August First serves an excellent variety of flatbreads and even creates a unique dessert flatbread for each Friday. Although delicious, the flatbread remains slightly dry, and a sauce would be a welcome addition to many of the savory flatbreads. Flatbread Night at August First is a community event, and many people eat out as families. We would recommend arriving at least 10 minutes before 6:00 as when we arrived at 6:10, the wait for standing room had already risen to over an hour.
Beverages
Although many beverages, such as the creme soda and the San Pellegrino, are simply offered bottled and chilled, August First takes pride in their coffee. According to the August First website:
“Phil and I really spent some considerable time checking out all of the different roasters and confidently chose ’Fresh Coffee Now’ for our coffee and espresso beans. We worked directly with the roaster to create a house blend for us, which we call Baker’s Blend. It’s a great combo of organic, fair-trade Mexican, Peruvian, and Nicaraguan beans; full of body and punch, hints of chocolate, but without any nasty burnt flavors.”
The coffee drinks are uniquely satisfying and August First offers a wide range of options. From cappuccinos to lattes and everything in between, August First supplies the caffeine junky in all of us with quality coffee.
Prices
Although the prices are slightly high, at nearly $10 per sandwich, the prices are well worth it, considering the quality of food. All the food is made in-house and local ingredients are favored. For the Burlington foodie, the prices are to be expected and even good, considering the type of establishment. However, for the average student, the prices are just a bit high, and careful consideration of menu choices is warranted. Although the prices are higher than some eateries in Burlington, they are well within the norm for the type of establishment.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere on a usual lunch day is relaxed and laid back and the cafe is quiet save for hushed conversation. Beginning at 6:00pm on Fridays, the all-you-can-eat flatbread draws such a crowd as to drastically change the atmosphere. The long tables and bench seating lend to a sense of community quite different from the refined atmosphere of lunch. Families are welcomed Friday evenings and the atmosphere becomes a bit hectic and crowded. Normal atmosphere lends itself to a quiet lunch date or an outing with a close group of friends. However, the atmosphere Friday evenings lends itself to a family outing or a dinner with a large, and perhaps loud, group of friends.
Service
Although there is no wait staff, and no table service, food is prepared promptly. The food is prepared behind the counter, and placed to the right, next to the espresso machine, where the patron picks up their plate and chooses one of the tables available in the restaurant. Once finished, the customer is asked to clear their own table, and place their plate and silverware in a bin, beside the trays with clean silverware. Despite the lack of table service, food is prepared quickly and the service is nothing short of expectations.
Overall
Overall, August First fills a common niche in Burlington. It is only one of many upscale, local bakeries and cafes. Despite the abundance of such establishments, August First does a particularly good job. Considering the slightly high prices, and the lack of table service, the quality of the food and the peaceful atmosphere make August First a must-visit establishment. August First gets a thumbs-up from our reviewers. We urge our readers to visit August First and reply to this post with their own opinions.
