That was soooooo good!!

The size of my smile as I’m leaving a restaurant is a reliable measure of how much I enjoyed my dining experience. As I exited Luci’s Healthy Marketplace I could feel it reach from ear to ear. And even more, as we drove home from the 16th Street/Bethany Home location I kept murmuring  “That was sooooooo good!! That was soooooo good!!”.

What I was referring to was Luci’s chicken pot pie, which we had come specifically to try. When we arrived a little after 4PM there was a huge pan of freshly roasted chicken on the counter. Our pot pie was made from one of these, sauced and pastry- topped on the spot. A 9” take out container was loaded with big shreds of chicken mixed with a delicious almost sweet, slightly peppery gravy with a few vegetables and the crowning glory, an airy, flaky puff pastry hat. Perfection. It easily fed the two of us. If it hadn’t been so good, it could have fed three.

We decided to have a salad while waiting for our pot pie, and chef  Justin Wolter

came to our table for a consult. He said we could have pretty much anything we wanted on the salad, so we chose artichoke hearts, olives, cherry tomatoes, romaine, and feta cheese. Justin suggested we top it with tzaziki dressing, which was the perfect choice. Unlike most tzaziki, it contained more oil than yogurt, and lots of garlic and parsley (or some other green tasty herb) which added a light green cast to the dressing. Like the pot pie, it was huge. And totally fresh.

Since I was very full, I chose to take dessert home. The charming barrista, Lane (I should have asked how she spells her name) told us these come from two sources. Slade Grove, of Wicked Bakery once on Cave Creek Road, does truffles, mini cakes and incredible cinnamon rolls. Chocolate layer cake, carrot cake, and quiches are imported from New York. I tried the chocolate cake which was moist and light, with a nice chocolate flavor.

Luci’s is open 7 days, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. On weekends there’s an omelette bar, which does a booming business. There are soups, salads, hot and cold sandwiches and wraps, and after 4PM there are dinner specials. Luci’s is also a miniature grocery store specializing in “good-for-you” items. Organic and gluten free is a common theme, but these aren’t dour health food things. We tried some chips made from hummus which were sensational, and the baba we got to go with them was top notch. The owners are great believers in local first, and the products reflect this. Prices are quite reasonable.

Luci and Ken Schnitzer live just around the corner from their neighborhood grocery/restaurant, which is a good thing considering how hard they work. Luci,a real dynamo (and a delightful person) has two small children and until just recently ran a day care center in her home. You really have to come experience Luci’s and feel the vibe. You’ll leave with a big smile too. 

Luci’s Healthy Marketplace

1590 E. Bethany Home Rd.   Phoenix  (S.E. corner of Bethany and 16th St.)

602-773-1339         lucisHealthyMarketplace.com