Nestled in the northernmost building on North Main in the Brady District, White Rabbit Deli is a charming little eatery. Much time and effort was placed on gutting and remodeling this building and the end result is filled with character. Exposed bricks with front and side windows add to its homey, pleasant feel.

White Rabbit's menu is filled with a healthful selection of signature wraps, deli sandwiches, salads, soups and breakfast items.

I came for lunch and ordered several items to go, intending to share them with a few friends. Upon reviewing the menu, I requested direction from the owner, Rachael Rogers, to pick out some favorites.

From the Signature Wrap section, she pointed out the Grasshopper Pinwheel ($5.99) and the Supreme Burrito ($6.29). From the Deli Sandwiches, she said she gets good comments about the Drip Beef ($5.29) and the Reuben Sandwich ($5.29). I also felt I had no choice but to order the White Rabbit Salad ($1.50), an item that came highly recommended. And, I discovered it was "Free Cookie Friday," which meant I could pick out a homemade cookie for each meal I ordered. I selected one of each: Tropical- a good blend of pineapple and coconut; Cowboy- chocolate chips, peanut butter oatmeal and nuts; Chocolate Chip and Cherry; Oatmeal Raisin.

While I waited for my lunch, I chatted with Rogers' mother, who was working the counter that day. She mentioned that they decided upon all the renovations themselves, putting in many hours of hard work. A nice courtyard sits just south of the building-- between the next building over--where Rogers' plans to have outdoor seating and live music in the future.

Once at my destination, I sampled all the items. The Grasshopper Pinwheel begins with a spinach tortilla and is filled with avocado, egg salad, cheese, spinach, carrots, sprouts, sunflower seeds and Italian dressing. This wrap overflowed with the fresh ingredients, and of particular note was the Italian dressing, which added a zing and some moisture to each bite; the crunchiness of the sunflower seeds added texture and flavor to the veggie wrap. My overall impression was this was a pure, hearty and healthy meal.

The Supreme Burrito was a wheat tortilla filled with refried beans, avocado, provolone cheese, spinach, tomato, sour cream, black olives and sprouts. Again, this wrap was filled with good-for-you ingredients, yet all very tasty. The beans added creaminess to each bite; the avocado, likewise, made it rich and earthy. All the other flavors blended well. While it came with a little salsa, it was still a bit on the dry side.

The Drip Beef sandwich contained shredded roast beef, provolone cheese and horseradish, served on a hoagie roll with au jus. Of the four sandwiches, this one was the least favorite. The meat was not shredded, but rather cut into thick strips that, even though the melted cheese held the sandwich together somewhat, were too large and too tough to eat with any enjoyment. It was too cumbersome to manage. The au jus tasted like a watered down beef broth, not like a rich broth stewed from a slow cooking process.

The Reuben Sandwich was quite good. Lots of corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese were stacked on two slices of marbled rye bread with 1000 Island Dressing. The sandwich was hot and moist, an excellent version of this classic sandwich.

The White Rabbit Salad is an interesting blend of cottage cheese, pecans, crushed pineapple, dried cranberries, poppy seeds and honey. This is a treat for cottage cheese lovers. The fruit in this salad stands out most, with the poppy seeds adding a little texture and pop to the overall taste. I loved this.

Other notable wraps include Chicken Caesar, Spinach Tomato Vinaigrette, Buffalo Chicken, Greek, Meatless Supreme Burrito and Thai Chicken. A few other deli sandwiches include salad sandwich, veggie burger, turkey avocado sandwich and the Grasshopper pita. Salad selections are standard-- side, Caesar, spinach supreme, chef, Terrific Trio (where one can choose from any of White Rabbit's three chicken, tuna or egg salads), chicken taco salad and the Mediterranean platter (humus, Tabouli, Greek salad with pita bread). Breakfast choices are "available mornings only while they last," and include fresh fruit or yogurt, baked goods (cookies, scones, croissant rolls and bagels), the breakfast burrito, ham and cheese croissant and the breakfast supreme croissant.

White Rabbit Deli

224 N. Main

582-0200

Hours:

Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-3pm

Rating:

Atmosphere *****

Food ***

Service ****