By Jeanni Ritchie
Mom and I had stopped by to try Sweet Joy’s lunch in May. I already knew they had great bakery treats—I’d stopped by earlier that month with my grandson—but I’d heard their lunches were amazing.
Problem was, Mom and I were like two kids so mesmerized by the treats in the display case we didn’t want to wait. Her eye was on the Chantilly cupcakes on display and I was tempted by the pre-wrapped cookies loaded with chocolate and peanut butter chips.
“You know, there’s really no law against eating dessert first,” Mom said. I liked the way she thought. We picked out a treat then ordered our lunch.
It was Thursday so I got the plate lunch: smothered pork chop, gravy, rice, sweet potato crunch, cabbage, and roll.
“We’re out of cabbage,” the young cashier apologized. “Is that okay?”
“Well, I just don’t know,” I deadpanned. Her face fell. I laughed. No way was I eating anything green.
“I’m kidding,” I said. “Sounds perfect.”
Mom ordered a BLT off the menu.
Nibbling our desserts while we waited for the food, we looked over their cake menus. Wedding cakes, birthday cakes, king cakes, retirement cakes… they are bakery, restaurant, and custom cake designer in one.
We also discovered they served breakfast, something I keep forgetting. I am all about breakfast, so I’ve just added it to my calendar for later in August. I hope my dad is available. Whether or not it’ll be praline pancakes, sausage/egg/cheese croissant, biscuits and gravy, or breakfast pizza remains to be seen. They all sound fabulous.
And there are many more menu items on the breakfast menu.
But it was time for lunch. When my tray came and I saw that giant yeast roll, I thought it looked like an elevated school lunch tray. They could give masterclasses in serving lunch. The smothered pork chop was tender, the rice and gravy was seasoned perfectly (when I don’t have to add salt, it’s done right!), and the sweet potato crunch would’ve been the highlight of any Thanksgiving table. I’m sorry I can’t review the cabbage for you.
Mom loved her BLT sandwich, but she especially got a kick out of the chips. The bags read, “Because We Give a Chip!” We both came by our love of puns honestly; my grandmother was the ultimate queen of wordplay.
I loved my lunch, but I missed the part about all plate lunches coming with a slice of cake. It would’ve been rude—not to mention, irresponsible journalism—had we not eaten the cake as well.
Chocolaty goodness is all I can say. We each ate half. Well, we shared it. I might’ve had a little more than half!
Shortly after our lunch and desserts, owner Cindy Price stopped by our table.
“We loved it,” we told her. She had a few regulars nearby who concurred.
“You gotta come back and try the red beans and rice,” one said. Price talked with him for a minute, obvious that she was as invested in her customers’ lives as the food she put on their tables.
Maybe so, but even more enticing was the beef tips in gravy or the stuffed fish with cheesy potatoes. In addition to the plate lunches are salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, and Philly cheesesteaks.
Coffees, lattes, macchiatos, frappuccinos, fountain drinks, sassy sodas, and more are available all day long.
Sweet Joy Bakery is located at 3324 Military Hwy., Pineville. They can be reached at 318-704-2125 or at sweetjoybakeryla@gmail.com for custom cake orders.
