I don’t venture to Mahomet very often, so I couldn’t believe that the absolute gem that is Lucky Moon Pies and More existed only ten minutes from my house and I had never been before. Their name alone was enough to sell me on checking them out in person, and the cute local bakery did not disappoint.
I went with my mom and two-year-old daughter on a Friday afternoon. Since it was an odd (late) hour for lunch, I figured we might have the place to ourselves, but I was pleasantly surprised by the steady stream of customers while we were there. I was immediately struck by how charming the space was. There was artwork on the walls; table runners and fresh flowers on every single table with mismatched but perfectly curated chairs. Towards the back, there was a water station along with a jar to place a marble as a vote for whether or not you are planting a garden this year. I know I already said this space was charming, but let me just say it again: this restaurant was charming. The owners, Fred and Emily Kroner, were behind the counter and took our orders. When there was a bit of a break between customers, they sat at a nearby table and chatted with my toddler.
They have several specials every day, but I knew before I arrived I would want to try the chicken salad ($8.50). It was served on a croissant (the only way chicken salad should ever be served) and had grapes mixed in, which is actually my personal favorite way to have chicken salad, but very few places serve it. If you’ve never had grapes in your chicken salad, try it out. They add a perfect level of fresh sweetness to the chicken salad, and it’s a great combination. The sandwiches came with a choice of Miss Vickie’s chips. I got the BBQ and also added on a Sprecher Cherry Cola ($2.50) served in a glass bottle, of course. I was struck by the fact every element of the meal was a step-up: better chips, better soda, better food, fresh flowers on the tables: it shows an attention to detail and also a care for quality and customer experience.
My mom got the meatloaf sandwich ($8.50), which was on special that day. It was served on a bun and likewise came with a choice of chips. She was delighted to find Cheerwine as an option, her favorite soda (again, not that easy to find). She also had the Mediterranean pasta salad, and she agreed with me that every single thing was delicious.
I got my toddler a slice of quiche ($6.50). I intended on eating some of this in order to provide a thorough review, but after she tried the first bite, she refused to share because it was “mmm good.” It did look amazing, and I intend on ordering one for myself on the next trip. The portion was very generous, as was the case with all of the food.
I highly doubt anyone has ever walked into this place without leaving with something sweet. There were so. many. options. Cake pops, brownies, scones, cookies, cake slices, cheesecake slices, tarts. Although I’m a sweets person, typically when I go to a bakery, there are only a few things I’m really tempted by, but here I wanted to buy everything. Despite the many sweets we bought, my mom and I had a lengthly discussion later that night about all of the other things we should have bought as well. Everything looked amazing. Most of the sweets were individually wrapped (making them more tempting, because we knew they would be easy to stock up and save for the next day).
My mom ordered a slice of marshmallow moon Cake ($6.50), which was one of that day’s specials. The three layer cake had marshmallow and chocolate between the layers of yellow cake, with chocolate and graham cracker crumbles coating the outside. I stole a bite, and it was delicious, even though I’m not usually a fan of marshmallows. They were a nice touch of added interest, without overpowering the other flavors. The cake slice was massive and was more than enough for two people to share.
I also got three cake pops and a Thin Mint brownie. The birthday cake pops ($2.50 each) were great, larger than what we’ve gotten most places, and the perfect size for an afternoon treat. The Thin Mint brownie ($3.75) was the stuff dreams are made of. Mr. Kroner told me the brownies have the infamous Girl Scout cookies them, and I was sold. I fully intended to photograph the brownie out of the plastic in all its glory for you all, but regrettably, it somehow managed to have been fully consumed before I made it home. It was easily the best brownie I’ve ever had: fudgy with a perfect minty goodness.
This is the kind of restaurant where as we are eating, we were already mentally planning when we could return again. It was a perfect lunch: I loved the ambiance, the food was great, the service was personal, and it will take many, many trips to try every single thing there that I wanted to buy.
Before I left, I made one final purchase: homemade dog treats made of liver and carrot $2.50. My German Shepherd pup was a big fan, further proving that Lucky Moon Pies truly has something for everyone.
Lucky Moon Pies and More
703 Eastwood Dr
Mahomet
Tu–F 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sa 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.