Açaí bowls are one of the latest food phenomena. This healthy trend blends fruit into a smoothie-like consistency and tops the mixture with various sliced fruit, nuts or granola, and honey.
A popular spot for this hearty snack is Vitality Bowls, located amongst Redwood City’s downtown area on Middlefield Road next to Chipotle.
Upon entering, customers are drawn to the bright and diverse menu behind the counter. In addition to açaí bowls, the California-based franchise serves smoothies, paninis, and juices.
My choice off of the menu was the Tropical Bowl: a blend of organic açaí, coconut milk, apple juice, bananas, mango, pineapple, and flax seed topped with organic granola, banana, coconut shavings, strawberries, and honey.
Other options include the Dragon Bowl, which includes a similar blend and toppings such as kiwi and almonds, as well as a dessert bowl, which is a chocolate-banana blend with chocolate chips and cocoa shavings on top.
No one was in line ahead of me, yet I waited almost 20 minutes before I received my order. As I waited, I observed the posters and diagrams around the room that artfully depicted what the most popular bowls and smoothies contained.
While there are many flavors and blends to choose from, customers are limited to two sizes: medium and large. The medium size costs between $11.49 and $13.49, and the large costs between $12.99 and $14.99, depending on the blend. Although customers “get what they pay for” in terms of quantity, the large portions are not always desirable.
I ordered a medium bowl and was pleasantly surprised with the amount I received after paying over 11 dollars, but I was full and satisfied after finishing less than half of its contents.
Like most açaí bowls, its texture was smooth and cold. The crunch of the granola paired nicely with the bowl itself and the soft banana toppings. The strawberries added a necessary tang to the sweet mixture while the coconut shavings contributed a unique texture. And finally, the honey drizzle tied all the flavors together in its sweet and sticky nature.
I did enjoy my bowl, but Vitality Bowls offers little that makes them stand apart from other açaí bowl locations, such as Jamba Juice and Bare Bowls, besides their giant portions.
[star rating= “3”]
