Why: Battle Ground Sweet Shoppe recently opened in a longtime vacant space located next to the Cerveza Factory in Battle Ground. The shop provides a selection of baked goods and ice cream. If you stop by at breakfast or lunch, there are a couple of meal options for both.
Atmosphere: The kid-friendly shop includes a play area complete with a playhouse. The decor combines old ideas with a new look. Dark stained wood, black trim and white walls partly covered with siding lend to a farmhouse-inspired vibe. A shade of mint green accents the decor. Bakery cases are built into the countertop, allowing easy viewing of all the selections. The ice cream bar is separate, with a shop-within-a-shop feel. Seating consists of simple tables and chairs that complement the decor and there are a few bar stools at a counter by the playhouse, as well.
What I tried: I tried a brunch boat, which I had warmed up. I accompanied this with a cup of tea, which was piping hot. I took home an assortment of goodies, including a regular brownie, a cream cheese swirl brownie, a snickerdoodle bar, an apple hand pie, a berry hand pie and a cinnamon roll.
The brunch boat consisted of a croissant filled with egg, spinach and feta cheese. It was an appetizing combination, and the croissant was pleasantly flaky and fresh.
Battle Ground Sweet Shoppe
• Where: 107 N. Parkway Ave., Suite 107, Battle Ground.
• Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
• Contact: 360-723-5516, www.facebook.com/battlegroundsweetshoppe
• Health score: Battle Ground Sweet Shoppe received a score of 10 on June 16. Zero is a perfect score, and Clark County Public Health closes restaurants with a score of 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.
Of the items I took home, my favorite were the hand pies. They were like giant, flaky, crispy cookies. They were not overly sweet, with just a touch of filling. They were a good accompaniment to other breakfast items. I was a bit disappointed with the cinnamon rolls. I am hard to please when it comes to cinnamon rolls. My grandmother made the best in the world, as far as I’m concerned. A wonderful cinnamon roll possesses a yeasty essence baked into an airy, bread-like texture with a spiral of just three to four rounds and a firm crust with enough cinnamon and sugar to create a layer of its own. Any proper roll should be topped with a fair amount of cream cheese frosting that’s loaded with cream cheese and just enough powdered sugar and vanilla extract to bring it home. Battle Ground Sweet Shoppe cinnamon rolls have great potential toward this. The yeast essence was present, but they have five spirals. They were dense instead of airy, and it seemed they needed a bit more time in the oven (or more time rising) and also more cinnamon and sugar. I thought the frosting was just right. The chocolate brownie was my favorite of the two. The swirled one was extremely moist, as was the snickerdoodle bar.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: On my visit, there was an assortment of bar-style doughnuts, a couple of muffin and scone options and vegan cinnamon rolls. I arrived in the afternoon. As with most bakeries, the selection is best in the morning. Ice cream treats include sandwiches, sundaes, scoops, a root beer float and a banana split. Beverages include coffee and espresso drinks, juice, milk, tea, soda and hot cocoa.
Other observations: The service was friendly and the atmosphere is inviting.
Cost: Pastries, doughnuts, cupcakes, bars and brownies range from $2 to $4. Breakfast burritos are $4.50. Quiche is $2.50 per slice. Sandwiches are made to order and priced likewise. Soup of the day is $5.50. Cookies cost $2 and $3. Hot beverages come in three sizes and range from $1 to $5. Bottled beverages cost $1 to $1.50. Ice cream options range from $1.50 to $6.
