With school back in full swing and midterms lurking around the corner, students may be in search of a new place to study. Look no further than the small building that houses the separately-owned Lux Coffee Bar and Pane Bianco. With the coffee at Lux, the sandwiches at Pane Bianco and the laid-back, friendly vibe pulsing between the two, it's almost fun to cozy up to homework for a day.
When your grumbling stomach begins to protest against homework, Pane Bianco will provide a tasty answer. Pane Bianco, the sister restaurant to the nationally-renowned Pizzeria Bianco, features much of the same magic as its more famous counterpart. The menu is short, featuring three regular sandwiches and one that changes daily. The hours are restrictive, but it's worth it to sink one's teeth into the sizable Italian sandwiches Pane Bianco serves.
They're made with crisp, flour-dusted bread baked in a wood-fired oven and fresh Italian ingredients like house made mozzarella, Gaeta olives and soppressata, a thin, salty, cured salami. Ready in just minutes, the sandwiches are a quick way to satisfy hunger without breaking concentration.
For your inevitable homework-induced caffeine needs, Lux Coffee Bar has a full coffee bar menu, as well as perfectly decadent ready-made pastries that melt in your mouth. The coffee is always fresh and the espresso is organic. Lux makes its espresso drinks stand out by forming the milk into art shaped like leaves, hearts or other pretty patterns that float in the coffee.
The pastries change daily and are homemade in the back, and patrons can watch (and smell) the baking process unfold through a window. Lux offers an assortment of cookies, muffins, scones, cupcakes, pies or cakes, all of which are scrumptious.
The pastries are made with luscious ingredients such as fresh, organic fruit, delicious nuts, creamy, airy frosting and rich chocolate — a perfect reward after a hard day of studying.
The side-by-side combination of Lux Coffee Bar and Pane Bianco provides a hip and casual atmosphere for a study session. The trendy Lux is eclectically furnished with armchairs, cozy couches and a mix of wood and plastic tables. Whether patrons are curled up reading or typing away on laptops, there's an appropriate space for everyone.
Pane Bianco is a take-out only sandwich counter, so it offers no indoor seating. Instead, there are wooden picnic tables in a shaded patio out front that make it easy to grab the best from both spots and study outdoors. With fresh, organic coffee, a savory Italian sandwich and a heavenly pastry in hand, studying can't get much more satisfying.
Reach the reporter at: jessica.kokal@asu.edu or foodinphoenix.com.
