A strudel coffee cake with a concha and coffee. (The Gazette: Cody Van Hooser)

The welcoming aroma of freshly baked goods when entering La Concha Bakery and Coffee is only the beginning of what proved to be a positive dining experience.

Admittedly, when I think of bakeries, it's all about the sweets, but La Concha has several well-prepared sandwiches that demonstrate a quality kitchen can do it all. Part of its success is awareness that its strengths primarily have a lot to do with mixers and ovens; it's also apparent that less is more when it comes to alternatives to the many breads and confectionaries.

Even with a list of only nine sandwiches, it was difficult to make a decision. Three are often associated with breakfast, although they're always available, but we went for lunch. After seeing the size of the sandwiches and the assortment of pastries, doughnuts, cakes, cookies and much more, we decided to share a Cuban Baguette ($12.50) and Veggie Baguette ($12) among the three of us. We wanted to ensure room for dessert.

The house-made sourdough baguette was a main player in the Cuban sandwich because the components complemented one another. The same type of bread had more of a supporting role in the veggie; there it was overwhelmed by the amount of burrata and pesto. Those are two flavors I am enamored with, but they overshadowed the crunchy, chewy baguette.

The Cuban was filled with smoked, sliced ham, sliced roast pork, Swiss and mozzarella cheeses and, of course, pickles. The baguette was slathered with tangy mustard, so the sandwich hit a variety of taste points: tart and savory.

The veggie required a lot of napkins! The soft, buttery cheese oozed out the sides of the sandwich, which accounted for part of the mess. This isn't a complaint; the sandwich was a culinary success, albeit an untidy one. Along with the burrata were fresh tomatoes, arugula and house-made pesto. A balsamic glaze was drizzled over everything for a taste more associated with a deli than a bakery.

On my next visit I plan to share (or at least take half home) the roast beef baguette ($12.80). Other sandwich breads include sourdough toast and croissants.

La Concha's name comes from the popular Mexican pastry ($2.50) shaped like a conch shell with sugar-striped topping. These light airy treats are great for breakfast, a midmorning or afternoon snack and even dessert.

We indulged in the strudel coffee cake and gluten-free almond coffee cake (each $3.99). It took a very long time to make these choices. Also tempting were the cleverly packaged tres leches cake, cheesecake and strawberry with cream cake. Even the doughnuts looked extraordinary. The coffee cakes were moist and light, which was a plus given the hearty sandwiches. A return visit just for treats is certainly needed; and/or else next time I'll have dessert first.

Orders are placed at the counter, which guarantees the gamut of goodies is in full view while making, or trying to make, food choices.

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The inside eating areas can get loud, but there are several tables with umbrellas outside. They face the parking lot, but, really, all you'll notice is the food.

La Concha Bakery and Coffee

Sandwiches and fresh-baked goods

Location: 124 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd.

Contact: 719-243-4014; bakelaconcha.com

Prices: $10.50 to $12.50 (sandwiches); baked goods vary

Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

Details: Credit cards accepted. Outside dining. Wi-Fi. Locally roasted coffee.

Favorite dishes: Cuban baguette and veggie baguette.

Other: Gluten-free options available.