LUNCH COUNTER

Alchemy Coffee is a well-dressed shop — expressive artwork and photographs on the walls, a pair of teak community tables and benches near the counter.

But beyond decor, desserts, pastries and its signature coffee pours (spicy mocha latte, espresso with cream and cappuccino), Alchemy maintains a small, outstanding roster of sandwiches.

An early favorite: marinated cucumbers ($6.99) with roasted red peppers, tarragon dill butter and goat cheese. The cucumbers' sharp, vinegary flavor meshes nicely with the cheese, rich and full.

The pimiento cheese ($7.99) is homemade, same as a creamy boursin, which is served with roast beef ($8.99) and spread atop a doughy ciabatta roll.

Basil pesto and a balsamic reduction — proscuitto optional — make up the fresh mozzarella ($8.99), and the roasted turkey ($8.99) calls on a sage aioli and Havarti cheese.

Chicken salad, veggie hummus and tuna salad round out the selections, and every order comes with a helping of tortilla chips and tangy pineapple black bean salsa. The recipe's inclusion of red wine vinegar is a nice touch, giving the sauce unexpected pep.

Even better, a small, delicious brownie accompanies each sandwich. It's another smart call from Janie Mallard, the chief alchemist/owner/barista.

She opened her shop almost four months ago, settling into an Avondale space near Subway and Little Pearlz.

Here's hoping she stays a while.

Alchemy Coffee

Address: 11 Magnolia Rd

Phone: 637-3555

Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sun.