Great Harvest Bread Co. In Aiea, Hawaii

An Eatery Review

Now that the Atkins fad is over, bread is back with a vengeance. And nowhere is it sweeter than at the Great Harvest Bread Co. at the Waimalu Shopping Plaza in Aiea, Hawaii. Here is a review of the best breakfast spot on the island of Oahu.

Open from six in the morning until seven in the evening, the Great Harvest Bread Co. offers the freshest milled whole grain breads in Hawaii. You can start your day with a steaming cup of Kona coffee and a freshly baked cinnamon roll, or a healthier choice, like a delicious low fat strawberry muffin. Not sure which to buy? No problem. The friendly servers at the Great Harvest Bread Co. in Aiea are willing to give you a free taste. Try the cranberry orange scone or the oatmeal raisin cookie. Or the peanut butter cookie and the lemon bar. It's impossible to choose wrongly; they're all so unbelievably good and baked fresh right before your eyes.

Can't make it in time for breakfast? No worries. Their sandwich menu is served from 10:30 a.m. until three in the afternoon. You can build your own sandwich, choosing a whole or half sub, with your selection of bread, meats, cheeses, condiments and vegetables. Ask for the combo deal and add a freshly baked cookie or chips.

The Great Harvest Bread Co. in Aiea also offers signature sandwiches and grilled paninis. You can choose from the California Cobb, the BLT, the Pastrami Jack panini, the spicy smoked turkey panini, the old fashion roast beef panini, or VJ's grilled cheese panini. All are under seven dollars. Refreshingly inexpensive for the islands.

Ask about their hot fresh soup of the day to accompany your sandwich. And add a fountain soft drink to wash it all down. Just be sure to save some room for one of Great Harvest's freshly baked sweets.

The Great Harvest Bread Co. in Aiea offers a couple cozy indoor tables, or you can get your order to go. The average panini grilling time takes five minutes, but as they say, it's worth the wait. Besides, you're in Hawaii, where everyone lives on aloha time.