London import Pret a Manger has finally touched down on our shores – and I for one would like to welcome our benevolent conquerors.
For those who haven't been to Manhattan (or Hong Kong or DC, I suppose, but those locations are pretty limited), Pret's a grab-and-go breakfast/lunch spot that features fresh, hand-made natural food that attempts to avoid the additives and preservatives that make most food "fast."
Oh, and it's absolutely fantastic.
I'm an unabashedly huge fan of this brand – they walk the proverbial walk. Lots of other places talk fresh and natural, but what that sets Pret apart is that they actually deliver it. They don't just use green in their logo and hope for a healthy halo. Recipes and items change seasonally; not a new thing for higher-end restaurants, but not common in the QSR world. And even though everything's adorably packaged to go, it was hand-made that day in the store, as every location has a fully-functioning kitchen. New (to me, at least – I haven't hit NY in a while) is listing the calorie count of every item in the store. Since "fresh" can still mean "fat," it's appreciated.
Our Pret's only been open a few days, but based on my visit, it's running fairly smoothly. The staff seems smart and well-trained, its the customers that act a little confused, as evidenced by everyone lining up cafeteria-style at the food cases, rather than popping in and pigging out. Right now there's only one outlet – at Adams & Franklin, across from the (still hard to think of it as) Willis Tower. A Washington and LaSalle location is "opening soon," and for me working in the Merchandise Mart, that soon can't come fast enough. Here's hoping they spread across the city, as crossing the river in winter isn't likely – but with Pret, it'd be worth the walk.
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