Au Bon Pain

This store is inside IU Methodist Hospital, the eating area is connected to the hospital cafeteria. Thank goodness for this store. My daughter was in hospital for several days and I couldn't get to the cafeteria during their hours most of the time. I ate at Au Bon Pain everyday I was there, everything was delicious! Baked goods and soups were sold out by the end of each day, meaning everything is fresh and delicious. Cookies are amazing extra large thick and chewy (we had one everyday), croissants are ok little dry and hard for my taste, soups delicious, mac and cheese extra cheesy and thick (like child hood Stouffers classic), sandwiches delicious but very messy.

I'm tempted to call the IU Health - Methodist Hospital location of Au Bon Pain more of a "kiosk" type restaurant, though truthfully it is actually a bit bigger than a kiosk. It exists in a corner along the Professional Avenue Corridor (all Methodist Hospital hallways have names) and directly off the main lobby (I for the life of me can't remember what this is called - Main Avenue?). Essentially, if you go in the main entrance and keep going back it'll eventually be visible on the right.

Au Bon Pain is under the corporate umbrella of Indy-based CC Holdings (think Au Bon Pain, Coffee Zon, Granite City). They are often found in places like the airport, downtown, the Indiana Government Center (CC Holdings also runs several corporate cafeterias including the Indiana Government Center), and others. So, if you're from Indy you've likely experienced Au Bon Pain. They offer a fairly extensive coffee/drink menu, quite a few pastries/desserts, and some lunch options.

As I'm in my post-cancer surgery recovery period, I've been spending more time at Methodist. Today, I had some time before a ride was due to pick me up and I decided to grab lunch. The cafeteria was still serving breakfast and didn't feel particularly welcoming. Truthfully, I never could find Sonny's. I really like the Palm Tree Pavilion that is just south of this Au Bon Pain, so I decided to grab a sandwich and drink and eat it at a table in the pavilion. There are small tables around Au Bon Pain and along Palm Tree Pavilion. While I'd ordinarily say because this is in a hospital accessibility is fine, Methodist is much older and not always accessible. However, Au Bon Pain is basically in a corner of a hallway area and is generally accessible.

I found the sandwich menu a bit lighter than expected. I initially requested a chicken salad sandwich, though they were out (they keep the sandwiches in a refrigerated shelf/cooler just to the left of the ordering counter - I did not catch on to this initially). Thus, I went for a Turkey & Swiss with tomato. I also ordered a large iced tea. This was right about $12+ - a bit steep in my opinion for what you get. You can also order chips, though I did not.

There were two employees working - one seemed to be handling the counter, the other largely preparing drink orders. This was late breakfast/early lunch and traffic was regular but not busy.

The employee was friendly, though had a soft voice and was masked. I'm fine with masked (COVID is having a bit of a resurgence here in Indy), but with that comes the responsibility to speak up. However, we did get through that.

I'm not sure if they heat up sandwiches (this was not offered) and I found the packaged sandwich far too cold - nearly frozen. Tasty is not a word I would use, though I've also had worse. The iced tea was prepared quickly and was just fine They used enough ice, though not too much. On a future return during lunch, I can't lie - I'd probably try harder to find Sonny's (a pizza and deli joint on the ground level).

Good? Oh heavens no. Bad? Not really. This was a convenient middle-of-the-road offering for those who want to avoid hospital food or those who want to grab something quick. It's in an area where the hospital gets a bit nicer (you're pretty close to both cardiac and the administrative areas). The Palm Tree Pavilion has photos of every Methodist School of Nursing graduating class - it's actually pretty cool.

Will I return? Probably, but this is far from a destination option. If you're in the hospital and want coffee or a pastry it's a solid and reliable option.

Wow! Is this place busy and major congested at lunch time? I went in to grab a drink after an appointment in the hospital and it was packed. The restaurant is along Professional Avenue corridor off the main entrance lobby. Most employees or the information desk can steer you in the right direction.

Nice selection of breakfast options, wraps, hot and cold sandwiches, several types of salads, 8 types of soups, breadsticks, seasonal selections, desserts, pastries, and beverages. Gluten free and vegetarian options are available.

As you enter all of the food items are to the right of the entrance with the two pay stations to the left. The order line for the sandwiches was almost out the door. Then those trying to get to the soups, pastries and cooler items (salad, yogurt, drinks) were having difficulty crossing the sandwich line. It was a true bottleneck. After selecting my items I had to cross the sandwich line again to pay where the line was long but moving quickly. The cashier was friendly, efficient and keep the line moving.

I grabbed a Thai Chicken Salad, an Asiago Breadstick, Blueberry Yogurt with Granola and a slice of Iced Lemon Bread. The salad was crisp and fresh with lots of ingredients, the blueberry yogurt was good and the iced lemon bread was very moist and lemony.

There were dine in tables in the back away from the congestion but most were doing carry out as I was.

Other than the major bottleneck, the food was fresh, many healthy options, reasonably priced with a nice selection. I could see myself dining here often if I worked, or visited, Methodist often.

I'm often here due to my daughter's illness, and while the food is just okay, the standout is the service. There's a young African American lady who stands out; she's incredibly friendly and upbeat. Whenever I'm here, she's the only one who seems genuinely happy. She's always cleaning, handling the cashier, mopping, and taking care of the tables - it's like she's the only one truly working. I hope they pay her what she deserves. I've noticed the other two employees, a Caucasian lady and another African American lady who I think is a manager, often just watch her. Even when customers arrive, she still manages to cash them out. It's crazy that they can't even do that while she's cleaning. I'm here almost daily, and it's been the same for months, but I started noticing her about two months ago. She's incredibly sweet, but I'm concerned they might be overworking her while the others seem to relax. It's a pattern - she's always the one working the hardest. I had a conversation with her once, and she's from Georgia, well-spoken, and highly educated. She should be in a higher position running the place.

This is probably the best option for food at the medical center. The salads, soups and sandwiches are all fresh and flavorful and there are some reasonably healthy options. It is not cheap. Figure on $10 if you get a salad and beverage.

The baked goods are amazing, but the calorie counts posted on each item are a reality check. Yes, these need to be once in a while treats.

The only downside is that the layout and flow is confusing here. It also isn't clearly posted that a bread item comes with the salads and the cashiers typically don't ask people if they wanted a breadstick or roll if they don't approach the register with one. Beverages are after the cashier stations so you just have to tell the cashier what size you want, and then it is self serve past the cashier area. Trays are by the cashiers rather than by the food. Plasticware and napkins are at the far end of the seating area. Whew...it's a treasure hunt to get all your food items, pay and get everything else you need.

The seating area is shared with the cafeteria and is bright and clean. The wifi is fast and free.

While waiting at the hospital, I decided to a grab some breakfast. As I was heading to the cafeteria, I happened to notice this restaurant.

Near the entrance, there were several stations with table seating beyond them.

Along the wall was a pastry station and a salad/chilled item cooler at a right angle. A soup island with several varieties was placed between the pastry wall and a breakfast/sandwich counter. Cashier stations were to the left with a self serve coffee station beyond that.

I grabbed a cinnamon roll while waiting for my order of "the Good Egg" to be prepared. I also grabbed a small Hazelnut coffee.

After paying, I enjoyed my meal in house. The sandwich was really good. The bun was toasted and the eggs, spinach, tomato, avocado, and aioli were ripe/fresh and tasty.

The cinnamon roll was glazed with icing and had a slight taste of citrus along with the cinnamon. The center had a slightly doughy texture.

The coffee was full flavored and though served hot, did not scald.

Good food and a smooth system for getting served quickly.

Review #3411

So Au Bon Pain is a chain, but it's location in Indy are tucked into places that make it more likely to be visited by your circumstances rather than searching for a great place to eat. Today I visited the location in Methodist Hospital (there is also one in the airport and on monumental circle), I was there to give a talk and was hungry afterwards. None of these locations have easy access if you are just wanting to find a place for lunch, but if you happen to be in these locations, you are in luck. I believe the locations also may be a factor in the price gouging! It is expensive! Today I ordered a specialty deli sandwich at the counter and purchased a 20 oz bottle of soda and my bill was over $11.
My sandwich was good! I ordered the toasted chicken avocado on an Asiago cheese bagel. The chicken was similar quality to the carving board deli meat you can buy at the supermarket. It was not a freshly grilled chicken breast carefully sliced for my sandwich, but that was expected in this quick service type restaurant. The staff was nice and friendly. The sandwich line is well marked with an order and pickup line. When it is busy, you can write your order on a slip of paper which expedites this process. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but if you find yourself at Methodist hospital, this is a good option!

Was at hospital and needed to eat. It was Saturday so cafeteria was not fully open. Thank goodness Au Bon was open. I think they had four different soups; I tried chicken rice greens soup. It was really tasty. I also had Greek yogurt parfait as a dessert. I like to think it is healthy, it didn't have the info on the package so I don't really know. Great food and coffee normally and at a hospital a comfort.

The variety from the cappuccino to the pastries, soups and salads, you can even have fresh sandwiches made in front of you, etc etc the options are endless. Especially for the newly found eating fresh people.. this place is a great option to eat out.

Compared to the blah cafeteria food at other nearby hospitals, the Au Bon Pain at Methodist seems ultra-gourmet. They offer smoothies, 5-6 soups, asiago and jalapeno-cheddar breadsticks, salads, sandwiches, etc. I tried the warm bacon & avocado chicken sandwich, with basil aioli. It was an ok sandwich, nothing spectacular. Although the chicken was listed as "no antibiotics", its texture was a little plasticized and wet-tasting. Atmosphere-wise, well...it's a cafeteria. Still, it was nice to have a flashier option than typical hospital food, especially after a long appointment.