Ellington

I’d seen Serendipity Delights next to Carriage Cleaners in Red Bank for a while and was sad to see that it had closed before I’d had the chance to try it. Lo and behold, the next time I drove down Dayton Boulevard, it had reopened in a much larger, totally redesigned building (the former Captain D’s) across the street.

THE MENU

This is a place for a lunch — or a late breakfast — so menu choices are what you might expect: soups, sandwiches, salads, muffins and pastries. It’s not a huge choice, but it is filled with mouthwatering selections. In fact, I had some trouble making up my mind, particularly as a woman walked out of the kitchen telling me that the day’s special, quiche Lorraine, was warm and fresh from the oven. But I’d heard about the signature chicken salad, so ...

The order (for one): Soup and sandwich combo (a half chicken salad on multigrain bread with a cup of tomato-basil soup), a side of cornbread salad, flourless chocolate cake, lemon bar.

The chicken salad is better than any I’ve had at any restaurant. It’s full of tender white meat chicken chunks — not shredded, thank goodness — red grapes and chopped pecans. The mayonnaise isn’t too heavy, so the flavors of the salad come through. Excellent.

The soup was so good, I wanted to lick the cup, but I resisted. Canned tomatoes are sweet, but the sweetness was offset by a nice mix of spices and melted cheese. It was a marriage of flavors topped with three large croutons. This is the restaurant’s signature soup and is always on the menu. There’s also a daily soup, which on the day of my visit was spicy taco.

I know of no other restaurant that offers cornbread salad as a side dish. A large scoop of it came on the plate with the sandwich. I like a little pickle relish in mine, but it really was so good and different with pinto beans and corn mixed in with cornbread, mayonnaise and other ingredients. It was a nice surprise.

Also, I was shocked to see frozen fruit salad on the menu. Had I seen it before the cornbread salad, I might have ordered that instead. Another first for a local restaurant, to the best of my knowledge.

I didn’t have room for the dessert I had ordered, so I took it home for dinner to share with my husband. And oh my goodness! Real butter, real chocolate. These are some of the best sweets in town. You have got to get dessert, and there are so many choices that decisions are difficult. The majority are homemade — just ask.

THE SERVICE

Orders are placed at the front counter and typically delivered to the table with little wait. In my case, I enjoyed visiting with the women behind the counter, so mine was ready before I could take a seat.

Owner Judy Smith came over and visited with me during lunch. She had no idea I was there on official business, but I don’t think it would have mattered. She’s just that friendly.

She shared her story with me, telling me she got her start selling homemade caramel apples at the Red Bank Jubilee. She’s now doing what she loves, still making her apples and other confections and having the chance to visit with the people of Red Bank where she grew up.

Around the first of May, restaurant hours will be extended to offer a takeout-only option from 3 to 6 p.m. It will be perfect for picking something up for dinner.

THE SPACE

Smith said her restaurant simply outgrew its space when it was across the street. There was room for outside dining only, and people were known to shoulder blankets to experience Serendipity Delights. At the urging of customers, she moved into this new, larger space, spending several months painting and redecorating. The result: a clean, sleek space painted in soft beige tones with white trim. It’s bright and welcoming. There’s also a large deck with wrought-iron tables and chairs for al fresco dining in warm weather.

THE VERDICT

With items such as cornbread salad, frozen fruit salad, pimento cheese and egg salad, this place is all about comfort. But it’s an upscale sort of place — not a mom-and-pop meat-and-three.

I was delighted when I walked in and even more so as I walked out full and content. This is a place that will be on my lunch radar from now on. Once you give it a try, I suspect we’ll be seeing each other from time to time.

If you go

Where: Serendipity Delights, 3510 Dayton Blvd.

Phone: 875-3477.

Web site: www.serendipitydelights.com.

Price range: $2.89-$7.49.

Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

Alcohol: No.