text: For years, I longed for a truly fine bakery in Urbana-Champaign, and then Jack Kostrub opened Mirabelle Fine Pastry.  The bakery produces exceptional loaves and pastries, both savory and sweet.  We are special fans of the focaccia, from the traditional flat loaves topped with sea salt and rosemary or red onions and tomatoes, to the thick wedges piled with feta cheese and roasted veg.  \n\nThe almond horn, tipped with chocolate, I purchased yesterday is an example of the quality of the bakery's sweets.  The outside had a slight crunch of roasted almond slices, while the inside was dense, moist, and chewy and tasted of the most delicate amaretto.  The chocolate was darkly sweet, perfectly complementing the almond flavor.  Heavenly.  \n\nPlus, Mirabelle is located in Urbana's gallery district, with the wonderful Heartland Gallery just down the block, among other treasures.  If you'd like lunch, too, you can hop right across the street to La Gourmandise.  Or, you can get take-away at Mirabelle, which includes savory stuffed croissants and simple, delicious baguette and loaf bread sandwiches.\n\nOn Fridays at lunchtime, the bakery recently started a piled high roast beef sandwich tradition, steeped in au jus.  I have not had one yet, but a local business owner sends in his folks every week to pick up a batch -- they swear by them.\n\nMy only complaints: 1) popular items run out early, 2) flies, flies, flies in the bakery and cases (especially in the summer, when the door is propped), 3) somewhat surly and negligent counter service.