Dining out: Paush Cafe

I think the name "Paush" in "Paush Cafe" is supposed to be pronounced "posh," as in "elegant, fashionable or classy."

Even if that's not true, Paush is a classy little spot for breakfast, lunch or treats, as well as nearly any beverage you'd care to sample.

I had lunch at Paush, but I think I'd like to take my oldest daughter back for tea and pastries. Paush has an ever-changing selection of baked goods and a variety of teas, hot chocolate, coffee, steamers, chai, smoothies, juice and soda, both domestic and Italian.

There's also breakfast, but more on that in a moment. First, our lunch, which we enjoyed at an umbrella-shaded table on what felt like one of the last warm days of the year.

My husband had the turkey club panini on a ciabatta roll, all squished down and crispy, like a good panini should be. He asked me to get it without avocado, but I forgot.

As it turned out, even he admitted it wasn't half bad having smooth, rich, mashed avocado to go with the sandwich's sliced turkey, Jack cheese, bacon and balsamic mayonnaise.

As we searched the menu for something to feed our son, the nice lady at the counter said she could make him a peanut-butter sandwich, made on soft, crusty white bread with that saucy gourmet-type peanut butter that gives a sammie enough moisture that it doesn't really need jelly.

He enjoyed it and his bag of Cheetos, and it wasn't until we were home that we realized she hadn't charged us for any of it.

I debated some of the other paninis — the grilled vegetable sandwich with seasonal veggies, portabello mushroom, spinach, provolone and balsamic sounded particularly delicious — but decided on the chicken pistachio salad.

I was glad I did, too, though I went back and forth on how I felt about the pistachios in this salad, which also contained an ample serving of moist grilled chicken, fresh mixed greens, crumbled bleu cheese, grapes and a pungent balsamic vinaigrette.

There were lots of tastes in this salad: Fresh and light if I forked up greens and grapes; chewy, bitter and meaty when I had greens with chicken and bleu cheese; and super funky if I included the whole pistachios scattered through the salad. I'd like to try it with chopped pistachios, so that their dark saltiness is spread throughout.

For dessert, we sampled three cakes: light and bright lemon with raspberry sauce; sweet and nutty caramel pecan; and dark, not-very-sweet chocolate with rich, fruity flavor.

On second thought, I might go back for breakfast, which features such enticing items as baked French toast with layers of French pastry, cinnamon and Madagascar vanilla; caramel pecan rolls; and (one of my favorites) oatmeal with brown sugar, fruit and nuts.

Panini and other sandwiches $5.95-$6.95, salad $2.25-$7.95, breakfast items $1.95-$3.95, desserts vary by day and selection.

Paush Cafe

Rating: ★★1/2

Where: 7706 S. Union Park Ave., Sandy

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Payment: Major credit cards accepted

Phone: 801-565-9900

Wheelchair access: Easy

Also: Breakfast available

Stacey Kratz is a freelance writer who reviews restaurants for the Deseret News. E-mail: skratz@desnews.com