The Avo & Eggs Panini was amazing!!! So much flavor in every bite--I loved it! So happy I found…read moreTAP, a gluten-free Brazilian café with seriously delicious food. Finding places like this makes traveling gluten-free so much more enjoyable. Definitely a highlight of my NYC trip!

The Progeny are little assassins. They're getting scary good at jiu jitsu, a Brazilian martial art…read morethat I consider one of the most effective marital arts for real world use, especially when it's taught in conjunction with aikido. As luck would have it, their dojo is a hop and a skip away from an excellent Brazilian cafe, Tap, where we often stop in for a snack before or after, in keeping with the Brazilian theme. Tap is a mini chain (or soon-to-be chain) with three locations in NYC and one in Miami, with additional locations planned in both cities. We are passionately fond of the pão de queijo, a gluten-free cheese bread made out of tapioca flour that has a consistency similar to mochi. I make excellent pão de queijo at home -- but.... as much as I hate to admit it, Tap's pão de queijo are better. They're toasted / reheated to order and served with a wonderfully crisp crust, but tender, chewy, mochi-like innards. They come in three flavors: classic (flavored with only cheese), pesto, and spicy. You can order them filled like sandwiches. (They call them paninis on the menu.) In any configuration, they are magnificent. The menu also includes acai bowls or cups, which of course are all the rage. (I think there are three or four acai bowl specialists within a few blocks of Tap.) We like the ones at Tap because they're a more manageable snacking size for the Progeny. Some competitors serve bowls that eat like two meals. We've never tried them, but there are beautiful tapioca flour sandwiches (that look like half moon omelettes), as well, and filled egg wraps that look like burritos -- all gluten free. Our only complaints: The Upper West Side location does not have a bathroom for patrons, though there is a little sink for handwashing. Service, while usually very nice, can be a little sluggish. And the matcha, while refreshing, is very wimpy on the matcha flavor. (No ceremonial grade stuff, here.)

This has become a weekly stop for me! I coach in the neighborhood and got tired of going to…read moreStarbucks so I decided to checkout this place next door. They had a buy one get one 50% off which is truly what caught my attention. Theres limited seating outside and inside but enough for 20-30 people. The place is clean and well kept. The workers are truly so nice and welcoming. They introduced us to their app for more points and perks. They are also always willing to provide suggestions based on what I'm craving. At this point I've tried multiple bowls. The coconut and pitaya are my favorites. Their OG granola is amazing. I also really like the PB Cacao and Super Green smoothies. Prices are pretty typical NY prices. So happy I found this place and plan on coming back!

I wanted to love this acai bowl and smoothie spot, which is just a few blocks away from Central…read morePark, but it didn't feel like great value for the price. The kids-sized bowl is a light portion size for a midday snack, but cost $11 and was more than halfway filled with toppings rather than the smoothie base. It was basically a small fruit bowl with some granola and a thin layer of smoothie. Service was also super slow, even for pickup orders. It was nice that they kept all pickup orders refrigerated to keep items at a cold temperature, and the ingredients were all fresh and tasty, but I'd go somewhere else for a larger bowl at a better price.

It is a truly beautiful sunny day on the UES today and I figured I'd treat myself to a morning walk…read moreand a treat, and treated I was. I stopped by juice press to grab a chocolate smoothie ($12) and my god this was delectable. It surely is expensive, but it's the perfect healthy treat. The chocolate smoothie is quite rich, with chocolate chips, cacao, plant protein, pumpkin butter, hemp seeds, cinnamon, banana and almond milk. It is really good. The flavor profile is something unique and you can taste notes of all of the ingredients. I went at 10:30 am and it was a bit busy, but lots of props to the one guy behind the counter who was working hard to get everyone taken care of. Great place with lots of healthy options. You can even customize your smoothie if you'd like. Check it out!

BEWARE!!! Placed an order and only half of it arrived. No working number to call, and the food that…read morewas ordered tasted terrible! Now fighting with corporate to get my money back on what wasn't delivered.

One of my biggest downfalls is always caving into getting an acai bowl after any workout LOL. On…read moretoday's episode, I got this byo 16oz acai cup from Oakberry. I've been wanting to try this place for a while now because I see it everywhere, and it was actually really good! The acai was so yummy, and I also got granola, cacao nibs, peanut butter, chia seed pudding, banana, strawberry, blueberry, and almonds as toppings. All the fruits tasted fresh and I loveddd the peanut butter! I would probably skip out on the cacao nibs next time because it made this bitter (but I guess that's what healthy chocolate tastes like...) but everything else was great! I really wish it didn't cost extra to get almond butter bc i would get that for sure. Portion size was amazing, they stack pack your cup full! It was filling enough to be a meal :) Server was really nice and patient, and it wasn't busy on a Monday evening :) It's a pretty small store, but they do have a table.

Service was great. Clean location. Quick and easy ordering. Refreshing on a hot summer NYC day!read more

72nd Street spot was closed so came here…read more Quick, kind service. Playa-esque inner decor. Spacious for an açaí bowl spot, seating for ~15 people. Densely packed bowl but with a proportionally steep price.

I went to Playa Bowls for the first time today. With the…read moreMixed Bowl, you can combine 2 bases so I chose Coconut + Mango Berry Bowl. It was a delicious bowl, except I'd expected mango chunks, not sweetened mango puree / sauce. It was overly sweet and I would have preferred natural mangos. I ended up eating the whole bowl except for the mango, but considering the price ($15.95+) and amount, I think it would be best shared as a snack. When I arrived, there was just one person in front of me, so there wasn't much of a wait. I took my bowl to go, but inside of the store was cute. There was a counter facing the street and a couple of tables for dining in, so it could be a good snack stop.

Frozen yogurt is a meal. I will die on this hill. We had to leave an amazing gelato place because…read moreBad Mommy wanted coffee gelato, and there was none to be had. 16 Handles had COFFEE YOGURT! Woohoo! I don't know if they always do, but they did when we visited. This was excellent, because we were hungry and crabby. This is self-serve, with 16 flavors, and mix-ins. It's a bright, colorful space. The yogurt was yummy, and the flavor selection varied. I had dark chocolate truffle and mint chocolate chip. So delicious! The cashier was perfectly nice. We enjoyed our yogurt. Will definitely return, hope that they have coffee flavor.

Sorry but this place is filthy. I am shocked this place passed health code inspection and grow…read moreconcerned about the people eating here. The froyo tasted mid. The staff seemed friendly but are clearly not doing enough to keep the place clean.

One of my new favorite breakfast spots…read more I've been wanting to try Black Star for the longest, and now that I finally have... baby, I haven't been disappointed yet. The first time I ordered, I got breakfast for me and my mom. We both got one of the breakfast plates, and it came with eggs cooked your way, a side salad with avocado, fresh berries, and toast. You also get to choose what kind of toast you want, which I always appreciate. Everything was fresh, light, and just really good. Now let's talk about the coffee. Y'all know I love me an iced cappuccino. I got the iced lavender cappuccino, and it was so good. My mom loved her coffee too. They definitely know what they're doing when it comes to coffee. Today I decided to switch it up because I'd been wanting to try a few more things on the menu. I ordered the yogurt bowl, which came with fresh berries, honey, and almond halves, and it was exactly what I was hoping for. Then I got the avocado toast. Baby... Y'all already know I love a good avocado toast. The bread was nice and sturdy, so it actually held up to all the toppings without getting soggy. It came with feta, microgreens, and cherry tomatoes, and everything worked together perfectly. Delicious. I also grabbed an iced apple cider with cinnamon for later, and I'm already excited about that. One thing I really appreciate is how well they package everything for delivery. Nothing is thrown together. Your food stays warm, everything arrives looking the way it's supposed to, and it still feels fresh when you open it. That attention to detail really goes a long way. Honestly, Black Star has quickly become one of my new favorite breakfast spots. The menu has so many things I still want to try, the food is consistently fresh, and it's one of those places that makes eating a little healthier feel easy instead of boring. If you haven't tried it yet, definitely put it on your list. I know I'll be ordering from them again.

Small little cafe in the upper east side with back door patio seating. They have great coffee and…read morefood with items like a breakfast bowl, burritos, and an assortment of pastries. On a weekend you will find this place busy with the line going out the door. It's a great place to get caffeinated and grab a bite to eat.

Spent about $17 and change on a mango bowl with strawberries, blueberries and granola. It was most…read moredefinitely a big bowl. Honestly it's enough for two people to share. The bowl is bursting with flavors. I signed up on the web for points and potential discounts in the future. Will return

Kowabunga, baby!…read more This Playa Bowls is located steps from the UES 4,5,6 subway station. I needed a quick meal as I had not eaten so I grabbed a smoothie - The Dolce - banana, chocolate protein, peanut butter, coconut milk. Yum, hit the spot. Good spot to grab a healthy meal, snack, or smoothie to take on your train ride or for on your way home. Plenty of options to choose from on a large chalkboard. It's a nice option to be able to customize a bowl with your favorite ingredients. Freshly made, clean location, friendly counter staff. Some tables and chairs in here too. Not super cheap but worth it for being a healthier choice.