The lunchbox, located next to the C. Burr Artz library, is an affordable extension of Bryan Voltaggio’s wildly popular upscale restaurant, Volt.

In a press release, Voltaggio explained his motivation for opening the new café:

 “I had been thinking about cutting back our lunch hours at Volt when this opportunity presented itself. A former coffee shop in need of a coat of paint was the perfect place to open the doors for lunch. I always wanted to offer an impeccable, quick and casual lunch to our guests, and by separating our lunch and dinner service into two separate restaurants, each can fully concentrate on delivering the best meal possible.” 

The Lunchbox opened in December, and seats about 30 people. They offer classic café options: salads, soups, sandwiches, and a few baked goods such as cookies and brownies. Its focus is solely lunch: its hours are from 11:30 to 6:30 Saturday to Sunday.

When I visted the café, the staff was friendly and inviting, and was happy to explain my questions. I ordered the Portabella Panini, and received a free apple with my purchase. I sat at a bar-style counter, and waited for my sandwich to be delivered. The staff brought it out quickly, and I was pleased to see that the sandwich looked fresh and delicious. It was on ciabatta bread with mushrooms, goat cheese, pesto, roasted red peppers, and fresh cilantro.

The staff is friendly and inviting, and is happy to explain any questions about the menu a customer may have.

Customers will be pleasantly surprised when looking at the prices on the Lunchbox’s menu in comparison with Volt. While a brunch at Volt will cost $35 to $55 per person, lunch items at the new café range from $4 to $8, which is not only less than Volt, but also less than popular franchise cafés such as Panera Bread.

The Café’s menu includes exotic ingredients such as popular Catalonian sauce aioli, a sauce made of garlic, olive oil, and eggs; Gruyere, a cheese made in Switzerland; and frisee, a leaf vegetable in the daisy family.  

English teacher Brittany Garst visited the café on Sunday, February 25^th. Drawn by Voltaggio’s performance on Bravo’s Top Chef, Garst went to try the interesting sandwiches the Lunchbox has to offer. “I thought they had more interesting sandwiches and options available. I like to try new foods in combinations that I wouldn't think to make myself,” she said.

The café is committed to serving only fresh ingredients, and hopes to appeal to families wishing to serve their children a nutritious lunch. Instead of serving traditional Coke or Pepsi products, the Lunchbox offers bottled, naturally flavored sodas.

In addition, the café offers vegetarian options, including grilled cheese, “TCB” (Nutella, Bananas, and sour dough bread), Portabella, and Pastrami sandwiches. There is also a selection of salads, including a “Bibb,” which is comprised of a sherry vinaigrette dressing, fresh avocado, and other market vegetables.