One of Grandin Road’s hidden lunchtime treasures is the Happy Belly Deli, tucked away in the back corner of the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op. Serving quick, easy and tasty meals for single-digit prices, the fact that Happy Belly offers only healthy, organic and — whenever possible — locally produced food can quickly become a secondary concern to the just plain ol’ good eating that they have available.

Prices range from $3.50 for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich ("Made with fresh ground peanuts and an all fruit spread, served with chips") up to $7.50 for a heaping helping of one of the freshest, greenest chef salads a hungry diner could hope to find. It’s easy to eat your fill for under $10 and be in and out in 10 minutes or less (great for those laboring under time constraints).

For folks who’d like to linger a bit longer over their lunch or early dinner, Happy Belly Deli has a sit-down table and a few "at the counter" seats back by all the culinary action, as well as a sunny cafe area near the front of the co-op building, offering table seating for several dozen and a comfy couch for those who’d like to settle in.

While PB&J and chef salad represent the two pricing extremes, there’s lots of culinary ground betwixt the two — and it’s not all shoots and sprouts, as one might expect from a natural foods store. The menu features stick-to-your-ribs favorites including smoked turkey breast sandwiches, hot chicken wraps, lasagna and even lamb fajitas — all priced somewhere between $4 and $7. Perhaps not unexpectedly, a fair selection of vegetarian and vegan eats also is available.

In addition to sandwiches, salads and such, Happy Belly Deli offers a wide selection of pastries, cookies, cakes and other goodies, baked right on the premises by "Grandma" Terri Tobin. Old standbys such as oatmeal raisin cookies and scones are joined by delicious seasonal items, such as pumpkin streusel muffins ($1.50) and squash and cream cheese bars ($1.99).

LARRY BLY'S TAKE on Happy Belly

Appeared on roanoke.com Sept. 8 (See the full review)

Nutshell: The kitchen can be a little heavy-handed with the herbs and spices sometimes, but I generally found the food to be fresh, delicious and inexpensive, compared to other sandwich places.

What he had: I had the turkey Reuben on grilled rye bread, done to perfection and yummy. I also tried a side of their homemade potato salad. Mom's got nothing on them, though I won't tell her if you don't.

Another highlight: My friend tried one of their all-natural smoothies, a bargain at only $2.95 (you'd pay twice that at some shops).

C'mon, people: The folks at Happy Belly were doing a great takeout business the day I was there, but not much in-store dining. That's a shame. With their quality and prices, they should be packed every day. I don't think people realize the extent of what their kitchen serves.

Insider's take: One of the great joys for me was sitting at the counter looking into the kitchen and watching my food being prepared. It's more interesting than watching TV most days.