Atlanta, GA: Alon’s Bakery and Market
I have to say, I was quite distraught when eatZi’s Market & Bakery closed its Atlanta locations. I was a huge fan. While Atlantans will forever miss our eatZi’s, Alon’s Bakery has done well in making its home in the large square footage left behind.
From the outside, with the exception of the name sign, it’s as though nothing has changed. But, the interior is quite different. It’s inviting, spacious, quite customer friendly. There is a stunning artisan breads display, full of loaves baked on site. The pastry selection is quite lovely and offers items a little different than a local bakery. Prices reflect their elegance, but the assortment does include single portion desserts and cake slices ready to impress. The cookies left me unimpressed, but the center counter catches onlookers attentions with delicious looking flavors of gelato and assorted hand-made chocolates sold by the pound.
It’s the perfect stop for any lunch crowd as one can find something to nibble on. There are salads, pre-made and made-to-order sandwiches, cheeses, and other specialty food items including spreads, dips, crackers. The large retail section includes bar items, with wines from 140 vintages, a large number of bottled beers, and a beverage bar that serves a variety of coffees, espressos and lattes.
Alon’s can be pricey, and while there are many items you can probably find in a place like Whole Foods, there are hard-to-find specialty products not readily accessible, like Italian Nougat Candy. Alon’s is the first place in Atlanta that I have located the Italian candy I remember from my childhood.
I will go back when I head into the Ashford-Dunwoody/Perimeter Mall area. However, my only wish would be that service gets better. The day staff is very standoffish. I don’t know if it’s because several of them don’t speak English, or that the staff is indifferent. During my most recent visit with my mom, the girl behind the counter seemed irritated when my mom asked a question about the sandwich section next to where we were standing. Then, when the girl spilled some kind of oil that came with our lunch on her apron, she became more preoccupied with finding a towel to clean her apron than attending to the customers. Maybe the night crew is different, but I have never gone in the evening to see if there is a difference.
Alon’s Bakery and Market
505 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA
678-397-1781
