Hagermann’s

Downtown Café SLC
15 West, South Temple
(On the corner of South Temple and Main)

Draper Café (Complete Café)
684 East 11400 South

http://www.hagermanns.com/

I found out recently from a friend about a great bakery and sandwich shop nearby that has been featured nationally (granted, this doesn’t mean it’s superb). But thankfully, this local spot has lived up to the recommendation that my chellam offered.  Hagermanns’ is a unique bakery nestled in the unassuming suburbs of Draper.

Hagermanns’ is all about the great bread they offer and the amazing sandwiches and treats they create from it. I’m always hesitant though to give so much praise to any bakery that only creates for the most part, cold foods (sandwiches). They come a dime a dozen. Places like Kneaders, Paradise Bakery, Great Harvest Bread Co. and Village Baker come to mind when I think of the common bakeries that at times, seem to litter the state. Anyone who knows me is familiar with my favorite Utah bakery, Gourmandise on 250 South 300 East.  This type of bakery is a different story and it’s unfair to compare a French-style bakery to a unique neighborhood bakery that offers quality goods.  Yet, I visited Hagermanns with this type of prejudice.

For this visit, I went for breakfast and was a little wary when I saw the layout. It was just something that seemed so suburban to me. It was  like visiting a Deseret Book that just seemed off putting to me (No offense to Deseret Book). Alongside my prejudice towards bakery eateries, I’m also leery of what I call suburban eats.  These are the so-called neighborhood restaurants that  are nestled in middle class subdivisions and seem to me, (bias and all) homogeneous and bland and reflective of a smaller minded palate (No offense South Jordan as well). Having lived in Massachusetts for a few years and also back west in California, there was always a local eatery that was more distinctive and unique. In Lowell, Massachusetts, we had pizzerias like Broadway Pizza and road diners such as the Owl Sisters. In California, there was always New Paradise or the beloved Cherry St. corner “Cambodian bistro” and it’s loud boisterous cook who would scare and amaze his customers with his knife and bowl of chicken porridge. I’ve yet to find something to that degree here. However, when I had breakfast at Hagermanns, there were two things that brought me extremely close to that nostalgic feeling of local eats. One, the owner/baker. Two, the food was just damn good.

I had the Cinnamon Raisin Pecan bread (at the suggestion of the owner) for my unlimited French toast. I’m not a fan of French toast but it was unlimited and graciously well done.  It was balanced and the raisins were sweet little morsels that surprised my palate when drenched in syrup. I hate raisins in anything, especially bread and cookies but they didn’t bother me in the toast. I’m not a fan of French toast but can say it was well executed, especially for someone who isn’t a sweet breakfast fan either.  I had eggs and sausage on the side for a fuller breakfast but the eggs were overdone (sorry teenage worker) and the sausage bland. Man, I sound really whiny. 🙂

Very unassuming but very tasty!

Granted, eggs cooked perfectly is an art-form that few have mastered (including myself) and sausage isn’t something that I expect this establishment to specialize in. The bread is their bread and butter (pun intended) and they do it well. It’s hard to describe good bread so I can only compare it to bad bread. Bad bread is store bought breads that have an overly spongy, preservative taste, and aroma. Good bread is hearty, unique to each roll or loaf and smells amazing.  But strangely, as good as the bread was, there was something else that stuck out. The surprise ?  The breakfast burrito. Now be careful not to imagine the golden arches when I say breakfast burrito.

Breakfast anyone?

This is the king of breakfast burritos. It’s a  tortilla loaded with egg, potatoes, HB Russian dressing, (what they call their “special spicy sauce”,  and then they give you a choice of sausage, bacon or ham and cheese  (swiss, havarti, smoked provolone or chedder). The dressing is what makes this stand out. It’s a huge burrito and only 5 bucks, (I don’t talk much about price but unlimited French toast and a monster of a burrito for 10 bucks? You can’t beat this hearty of a breakfast.  I plan on going back soon to try out their roast beef sandwich and the rest of their menu in part because when you put in protein with great grain and sauce, you can’t match it. Did I tell you I love sandwiches?

Now going back to the owner, let’s just say, he tries his best and succeeds in making his customers feel welcomed and full.  He flirted constantly with my guest and complemented me for my taste in women, food, and just about everything else. He wasn’t pretentious or overwhelming. You could truly tell that he was proud of his food, wanted people to enjoy it, and that was the selling point for me seeing the bakery as more than suburban food. Finding somewhere that offers quality meals, great prices, and a warm welcoming, makes people want to return. That’s exactly what I plan to do.

Friend Meter: Anyone looking for a comfortable and tasty sandwich or an amazing breakfast. Just avoid the eggs or ask them to make it scrambled. Cooking it over medium seemed to be a challenge.

2/3 ain't bad.