A Klemm sandwich of mushroom, avacado, havarti cheese and sun-dried tomato alongside a half salad compose one of the many options for a “pick two” at SweetArt. Although the bakery offers many lunch choices, its specialty is desserts.

Located 15 minutes away from Washington University by car, SweetArt is a bakery and cafe, which doubles as an art studio, with many vegetarian options. The restaurant has a “pick two” deal much like Panera, which includes an assortment of half-salads, half-sandwiches and soups for $7.25.

I tried the salad of the day – mixed greens topped with curried chickpeas and a zesty dressing. It tasted strongly of cumin and ginger. For the other half of my pick two, I ordered the Klemm, a grilled mushroom sandwich with avocado spread on thin, crispy bread that had nutty undertones (toasted pine nuts, perhaps). The sandwich and salad complimented each other well; the sharp flavors of the salad are tangy, and then mellowed by the sandwich, which features flavorful cremini mushroom, along with melted havarti cheese under a soft layer of sun-dried tomato.

SweetArt actually specializes in desserts and boasts a wide variety of cupcakes, cookies and scones (the “sweet” half of the bakery’s name). I tried a pecan cookie. It was soft, very sweet, nutty and full of that wonderful homemade flavor. The pecan taste complemented a cup of loose-leaf jasmine tea, served in a cute teakettle that comes with free refills.

I bought four chocolate chip cookies to share with my roommates. After some waiting, I surrendered to temptation and sampled one of the chocolate chip cookies (sorry roommate No. 4). Be warned: At SweetArt, “chocolate chip” is a misnomer. The chocolate comes in chunks, not chips. Some bites were almost entirely chocolate, a pleasant sensation that’s almost addictive. Before long, I discovered that I had eaten the rest of my roommates’ hypothetical gift-cookies.

SweetArt’s atmosphere alone would make it a popular spot for any student at Wash. U. Inside, the light green walls are lined with bright paintings by the owner’s husband, Cbabi. All the paintings are for sale—you can buy either the original or a print (the “art” half). The quiet music and background conversation made the bake shop a perfect study zone, comparable to Whispers.

What could be better than an amazing lunch joint with fancy cupcakes on the side? Now we just have to convince them to open a branch in the B-stacks.