When most of us think about HoneyBaked Ham, it's the place we go to get our table-ready Easter ham or turkey for Thanksgiving, and maybe both at Christmas.

Stopping in the Solon store for a ham bone for soup, I learned the store also had a cafe where you can also get sandwiches, salads and numerous sides.

There are small cafes in most HoneyBaked outlets, but the one in Solon is large seating 70 and comfortable with folksy gingham curtains at windows and a separate room for parties. It's plastic and paper place with orders taken at the counter and delivered to tables. John Paul Racin is the cordial and helpful manager.

In the mid 1930s, Harry Hoenselaar had a unique recipe for curing, smoking and cooking and serving hams. Through hard work and perseverance, he developed and patented the first ever ham spiral-slicing machine and subsequent spiral-slicing method. His patent ran out and companies began producing their version of spiral sliced ham.

The Solon stores new owners are Barry and April Toon, who bought the franchise a year ago, but the store has been in Solon for 13 years.

Barbara Collier

The carefully selected hams are slow-smoked more than 20 hours and finished with their special sweet, crunchy glazes. But, over the years other meats have been added.

There is always a daily special ($5.99). On one visit, it was smoked turkey salad on multigrain bread with Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato. The turkey salad is made with mango chutney and exceptionally good.

Sandwiches are made to order, as are the salads.

Along with the sandwich you have a choice of a side and choice of beverage. We thoroughly enjoyed the sandwich, although it is generally served cold, I requested it grilled and the manager happily accommodated. More than 80 percent of the food is made in-house, with some refrigerated salads made Herold's Salads.

On another visit we ordered the HoneyBaked ham classic ($5.99). Thin slices of ham are stacked with Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato, spread with tangy mayo and rich hickory honey mustard on a fresh baked croissant. Add chips or a side salad and drink ($2.39).

Besides the signature sandwiches there are specialty sandwiches. One of the most popular is ham and turkey bella ($6.49). This monster is stacked with HoneyBaked ham, smoked turkey, provolone and Parmesan cheese, lettuce, tomato, banana pepper rings, red onions with balsamic vinaigrette and tangy mayo on a fresh ciabatta roll.

Even though ham is the backbone for the store, there is a Mediterranean veggie ($5.99) consisting of sliced cucumber, green bell peppers, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, black olives, banana pepper rings with ranch dressing and balsamic vinaigrette on multi grain flatbread.

And, there's roast beef and cheddar sandwich ($5.99). Slices of roast beef are stacked with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion with a zesty horseradish sauce on flaky croissant.

There is a choice of four salads, served in plastic bowls. The HoneyBaked cobb salad ($7.99) is a bowl of fresh spring mix and leaf lettuce topped with ham, turkey breast, bacon, diced hard-cooked egg, cheddar and Swiss cheese, tomatoes. Choice of eight packaged dressings.

On Sunday there are hot meals ($7.99) which change weekly. You have a choice of ham, turkey or pork roast, plus two sides . The sides include, cinnamon apples, small tossed salad, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes and green bean casserole.

Our selection included the roast turkey and roast pork. Both were ample servings but there was enough turkey left to provide a turkey sandwich the following day using the soft roll that came with the meal.

The side servings were not big, but ample. Choices were cinnamon apples, green bean casserole, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes and small tossed salad. The apples and green bean casserole were especially tasty as was the mashed potatoes. And the salad was fresh crisp. Choice of eight packaged dressings.

Fountain drinks ($1.49) and bottled water ($1.29) available.

HoneyBaked also caters and delivers and are beginning to book for the up-coming holidays. There is a sizable buffet menu choices as well as boxed lunches which are popular at office gatherings. Visit a store and pick up their catering menu or go online honeybakedforyou.com.

The HoneyBaked store in Solon is at 33493 Solon Rd. 440-349-0600. Hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.