Since its opening on February 24 this year, Playa Bowls in Wellesley has been a go-to for Dana Hall students. It has a delicious menu, offering a variety of smoothies, coffee, juices, oatmeal, acai bowls, pitaya bowls, coconut bowls, green bowls, banana bowls, and mango bowls. Playa bowls are thick fruit smoothies in a bowl with toppings, even though each is quite pricey at over $10. There are 37 bowls available on the menu, but customers can also customize their bowl with various bases, fruit toppings, and granolas. I rate the Wellesley store a 9/10, and recommend to anyone who is looking for a sweet treat.
The store’s use of organic ingredients and fruits make it a great option for customers looking for a healthier food option to ice cream with its various nutrients and vitamins. However, it should still be noted that each bowl contains over 40 grams of sugar as fruit contains a lot of natural fructose; the “Goldie Mango Bowl” contains the most sugar out of any bowl with 112 grams.
Playa took the place of Pressed Juicery in Linden Square, a 15 to 20 minute walk from Dana, and is open every day from 8am to 9pm. Started in New Jersey in 2014, Playa now has 12 locations in Massachusetts and over 200 locations nationally.
The inside of the store is vibrant, with neon colors painting the walls, ceiling, and various signs. The employees are all very kind and the atmosphere had a fun, summer vibe. The store is very lively, filled with conversation and music. There is limited seating, with only 3 tables and several stools, as the store is 1,100 square feet, but there are many tables outside for extra seating.
This past month, I tried 3 bowls. Here’s what I thought:
The Pacific Bowl (original):
This bowl has a green base (kale, banana, pineapple, and coconut milk) with blueberry flax granola, chopped strawberries and bananas, chia seeds, sliced almonds, and a drizzle of honey. I loved the green base as it was not too sweet, contrasting the sweet toppings and grounding the bowl. It is just over $12 after tax. The portion was quite big and the employees did not skimp on the toppings, and I ended up eating around ¾ of the bowl and took the rest home. The almonds and chia seeds sprinkled on top were delectable, offering a nice crunch to the otherwise mushy bowl. I would rate it a 7/10, my only complaint being that the bowl’s toppings were too sugary and sticky because of the honey.
The Pacific Bowl (customized):
I learned that it was possible to swap out half of any base to another base, so I chose to try the Pacific Bowl again with half green and half mango base. I also asked for no honey on top. I ended up enjoying the mango base more than the green base because it was more flavorful. The strawberries and bananas on top tasted very fresh, and the bowl’s mango base was not artificial at all. This bowl is great for those who want a less sweet option and I thought it was better than the last, rating it a 10/10.
The Nutella Acai Bowl (customized):
When I saw this on the menu, I knew I had to try it as a major Nutella-lover myself. The bowl was drenched in the Nutella spread (chocolate hazelnut) and also had an acai base, blueberry flax granola, strawberry, and banna. I personally removed the coconut flakes that originally came with the bowl. For those trying to be health-conscious, though, I do not recommend this bowl because Nutella has 100 calories per tablespoon. Unlike the other two bowls, much of the 53 grams of sugar was not from fruit’s natural fructose, but the Nutella topping. The acai base was dull in comparison to the green and mango bases as it tasted slightly bitter and earthy; this disappointed me, as acai is the most popular base. However, the fresh fruit on top and massive amounts of Nutella made up for the bland acai base, and I rate this a 9/10.
Overall, Playa Bowls in Wellesley is an amazing store that I highly recommend because of its delicious food and vivid interior.
Indresh Chandel