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View Full Version : Pottery Barn Bento Box?



new_mommy25
08-10-2011, 06:46 PM
I have a Laoptop Lunch but it was a huge bust because neither of my kids can open it. I use it for myself.

I am looking for something easy for my kindergartener. Right now I am using a bunch of separate containers. I like the look of the PBK boxes. Any reviews?

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/spencer-bento-box-containers/

Canna
08-10-2011, 09:12 PM
I have not tried those, but we have a couple of sistema lunch boxes from Old Navy ($5!) that we like. They are nice in that they are all one piece (no lids to lose, etc) the size works well for a sandwich and sides (nothing too wet) and my 3 y.o. and 6 y.o. can open them. They are made in New Zealand, i believe. We have the Lunch Cube To Go - they also had some smaller containers. They are near the check-outs at ON. I bought one for DD#1 last year and was happy to see them again and get a 2nd one for DD#2 who is starting preschool. They work well. It folds open in half and there's an attached cover over the sandwich compartment that then folds open to the side, if that makes sense. ETA: They also have the little cutlery sets, which are cute: the utensils snap on and off to the interchangeable handles.

http://www.sistema.co.nz/shop/Sistema-Lunch/To-Go/21731.htm

wellyes
08-10-2011, 09:22 PM
I was just at pbk today and overheard the clerk tell a customer that they've gotten a massive volume of calls about those, so many that when they arrive they're holding some kind of debut event ( this was in Natick MA). Lots of buzz, or maybe just that's what they've been to say.

justlearning
08-10-2011, 09:43 PM
I have used the Sistema lunch cubes in my son's lunch (inside his PBK lunch box) for the last 2 years and have been VERY happy with them. In fact, I've written a few posts on here raving about them and explaining how I use them.

I saw them at my local Old Navy store a couple of weeks ago too. I bought mine from the Container Store, which still carries them and for the same price ($5) as Old Navy. Personally, if you have a Container Store, I'd buy it there because they have an excellent return policy.

The snap broke on one of our lunch cubes after a year of use, and I took it back to them (with no receipt) and they gave me a new one, no problem at all.

new_mommy25
08-10-2011, 09:59 PM
Thanks for the tip about the Sistema! We don't have a Container Store but we do have an Old Navy. I'll check them out. They actually look perfect for what I need.

We don't have a PBK, either, so unfortunately I am unable to view their boxes in person. I have to mail order which I loathe. I think I will try to find the Sistema and hopefully those will work instead.

sunnyside
08-14-2011, 11:47 PM
I haven't seen any other bento boxes in real life, but we use this panda from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Kotobuki-280-129-2-Tiered-Bento-Panda/dp/B00200L840

There is a frog as well
http://www.amazon.com/Kotobuki-2-Tiered-Bento-Frog-Face/dp/B00200L84A/ref=pd_bxgy_k_img_b

and a pig
http://www.amazon.com/Kotobuki-2-Tiered-Bento-Box-Piggy/dp/B003I4EAQU/ref=pd_sim_k_2

and a duck
http://www.amazon.com/Kotobuki-2-Tiered-Bento-Box-Duck/dp/B003I4EAQA/ref=sr_1_59?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1313378475&sr=1-59

pastrygirl
08-22-2011, 02:07 PM
I was just at pbk today and overheard the clerk tell a customer that they've gotten a massive volume of calls about those, so many that when they arrive they're holding some kind of debut event ( this was in Natick MA). Lots of buzz, or maybe just that's what they've been to say.

They're having the event tomorrow (Tues) at 10:30am. There will be an author of a bento box lunch book, and demos of the bento box that is usually online-only. They also have the Planetbox in store... I reserved one just in case I like it!

nfceagles
08-24-2011, 08:44 AM
I have the same problem with the Laptop Lunchbox. We've had it for a while and I use to take meals for my food allergic DS, but now that he's going to be eating at school I need something he can open himself. I don't want him to have to ask an aide for help when that aide may have been hnadling other kids lunches too.

A friend of mine had the PB one and it looked cool to me. Only downside I saw was that when it was open it would be big and would take up a lot of space in the dw.

I ended up purchasing Easy Lunch Boxes off Amazon and having used them several times this summer for picnic lunches, I think I'm really going to like them.

http://www.amazon.com/EasyLunchboxes-3-compartment-Bento-Lunch-Containers/dp/B004UIRUJ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314189826&sr=8-1

wimama
08-24-2011, 11:24 AM
I haven't tried the PBK Bento box. But, the sandwich section looks awful small to me. And I would imagine if you throw it in the dishwasher it would take up the most of the top rack. I just ordered a Planetbox from PBK. They are pricer, but I haven't heard any negative reviews of those. We also have a Laptop Lunch Bento box, Easy Lunch Box bento containers, a LL Bean insulated Critter lunch box and Funtainer Thermos for hot food.

Laptop Lunch Box - harder to open and lots of containers to wash. But you can remove containers to make things fit. Like you can remove the left two big long containers and put in a piece of pizza.

Easy Lunch Boxes - Cheap option. Easy to open. You get extra containers, not just one. After one year of use some have chipped.

Planetbox - Stainless steel. Can be washed on the bottom rack of the dishwasher. Great reviews. The lunch box is thin though so not great for sending hot food, the insulated bag is thin.

Globetrotter
08-24-2011, 01:48 PM
Ooooh, hadn't seen these! I looked at the reviews and I don't think it will work for us.

My kids had trouble opening the LL at first, but they got used to it (in preschool). Aside from that, we love the LL system because we can customize it, whereas with the PBK ones you can't. Apparently you can't fit a sandwich without cutting in half and stacking, and it won't fit a cheese stick easily, either. In the LL, I can take out two containers and fit in a large sandwich on one side. There is also a section for cutlery (which fits cheese sticks, too :)).

It seems like a pain to have all these containers in the LL, but that allows me to put just the containers in the dishwasher (outside is easy to wash by hand) and I insert them as needed, depending on what I send. It gets very easy once you get used to it. Ours are going strong after 4.5 years of heavy use.

I am contemplating planetboxes as they look like a sturdy investment, but I think our LL will last a long time, too.
I promise I don't work for LL :rotflmao:

pastrygirl
08-24-2011, 01:59 PM
I got to see the PBK Bento Box in person yesterday, at the in-store demo. It seemed very deep to me, which is why I ended up with the Planetbox instead. I preferred something shallow so that if it gets flipped, etc., the food doesn't move too much.