JEFF KORBELIK / GZO | Posted: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 7:00 pm
You won’t find high-calorie burgers or pizza slices at The Commons at ProActive, the walk-up cafe at Madonna’s new fitness center.
And, really, why would you?
Instead, diners can enjoy sandwiches — many served on whole-grain breads — plus wraps, salads and grilled paninis, all made with fresh ingredients.
Calorie, carbohydrate, protein and fat counts are posted for most of the entrees.
“Generally, it’s healthy food, but we all have our own definitions of healthy,” said Lynn Ostrem, Madonna’s director of food and nutrition services.
The Commons, open since Jan. 30, is a small sandwich/espresso shop open to the public at the fitness center at 56th Street and Pine Lake Road. It’s a little tricky to get to now because of road construction. The best way is to approach it from the west on Pine Lake Road.
The sandwich shop is just inside the front door next to the information desk. There are about five tables for those who want to dine in.
The Commons is managed by Don and Diane O’Brien, who used to run The Daily Grind at 56th Street and Nebraska 2.
The menu features six salads in rotation. Also in rotation are 23 sandwiches, several under 10 grams of fat, and eight hot grilled paninis. The salads and sandwiches are made each day at the hospital and brought over. The paninis are heated up on site.
Salads cost $3.50, while sandwiches range from $3 to to $3.50. Paninis are $4.
The trouble with a rotation is not knowing when a sandwich and/or a salad will be available. I wanted a Mediterranean roast beef panini but settled for a ham, pepperoni and cheese on my visit.
The sandwich was surprisingly good. I was skeptical because it was premade, but the panini was loaded with meats and cheeses on a grilled bread that wasn’t dry.
The real treat was the Island Oasis peach smoothie I had with my meal. The shop has 12 fruit flavors for the 12-ounce icy drinks. Each smoothie is $3.40.
The Commons also features several Java City coffees, teas and espresso beverages. Diane O’Brien, who made her fair share of drinks at the Daily Grind, said she is quite pleased with the state-of-the-art espresso machine.
“It does everything but do the dishes,” she said, laughing.
Coffee prices start at $1.30 for a 12-ounce cup. Specialty drinks range from $1.65 to $3.90.
The Commons also sells Italian sodas ($2.10) and cream sodas ($2.50), power bars, scones, muffins, bagels, fruit and more.
Just the kind of foods you would associate with a fitness center.
Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.
The Commons at ProActive
7111 Stephanie Lane (56th and Pine Lake Road)
Specialty: Sandwiches, salads
Atmosphere: Casual
Cost: Sandwiches $3-4, salads $3.50; smoothies $3.50
Payment: Cash, checks, major credit cards
Hours: 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday
Phone: (402) 486-7977
Notes: Parking, no alcohol, takeout
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Food: 2½ stars
Service: 2 star
Atmosphere: 1 star
The Last Bite: The premade sandwiches and salads are surprisingly good, but because they’re in a rotation you’re limited to what’s made for that day. I wanted a Mediterranean roast beef grilled panini and had to settle for the ham and cheese.
Rating system: Outstanding 4 stars; Good 3 stars; Fair or uneven 2 stars; Poor 1 star