the food:

Essence Bakery is a champion of local food use.  Chef Eugenia Theodosopoulos sources the majority her food through local farmers and ranchers, which is big!  Organic ingredients make an appearance in both the breakfast and the lunch menus.  Salads are an integral menu item both as main dish and a side and sandwich pairing, which keeps the nutritional value up and calories down.  Lastly, any review of Essence Bakery would not be complete without mentioning the superb desserts, especially the French macarons, we truly love them.

the location:

We took the light rail from the Thomas stop downtown to the 3rd Street and Mill stop and rode our bikes through a lovely Tempe neighborhood to get to Essence.  It was a short 5 minute ride.  Unfortunately when we got there, we did not see any bike racks, but we managed to tie our bikes to the railing on the patio, which seems to be a feasible alternative.  Also close to ASU.

the dining experience: 

They've got good service, lots of outdoor seating and good outside breezes flowing into the restaurant.  The interior is simple but pleasant and well-lit.  Chef Eugenia is a always talking to customers and a welcoming presence.  More importantly, the food is magnificent.  The specials are always a smart choice.  Every dish we have had there has managed to exceed expectations.  Who knew pancakes could be that amazing! 

the building and operations:

This category is really important to us as sustainable diners.  After talking to Chef Eugenia their operations are surprisingly green.  For example, she mentioned that she specifically trains her employees to conserve water when washing dishes, recycle and compost and in general be aware of the materials they use and dispose of.  Their restaurant was built using sustainable materials, which we were pleased to learn and they use biodegradable and recyclable packaging. 

the community

They have developed quite a following for their macaroons across the local and national community.  They have local art exhibited in the restaurant.  We enjoy getting weekly emails from Chef Eugenia with the weeks specials and dessert specials.  This manages to make our mouths water every monday morning as we stare at the computer screen. 

affordability:

The price per meal is average but the value is great when you consider the quality of food.

overall rating:

We give Essence Bakery a Dark Green Rating.  Chef Eugenia deserves alot of credit for all the steps she has taken to green her restaurant.  Congratulations!

our next stop:

Engrained at the ASU Tempe Campus Memorial Union