I recently had the opportunity to try many of the items on FARE's new Spring menu. This is good food! Most of the offerings taste like they were made just hours ago (because, according to a friendly manager I spoke with, they are) so flavors are still distinct and fresh tasting, not all slurred together from sitting too long.
The Basil Turkey Meatballs are excellent: mild, tasty, and very tender, they have a familiar "home-made" quality that I really liked. The Smoky Chicken is also very good.
Freshness of the side dishes really stood out to me. Most were more like home-prepared than "fast food," the Spring Pasta Salad being a good example: it's light and very flavorful, not bogged down by sauce or oil. All pasta salad should be this way.
Other sides I had were all very enjoyable. The Chickpeas & Feta are bright, citrusy, spring-like and fresh. The Beets & Citrus are light, simple, and extremely tasty; beet fans will admire the preparation. Sweet & Sour Cucumbers are a-bit-but-not-too sweet, crunchy and addicting. Roasted Carrots have a deep earthy flavor, lightly sweet and also somewhat addicting.
If you like spicy food and want a rationale to eat (more) broccoli, the Fly by Jing Broccoli Crunch is your ticket! It has a very nice kick of heat, with a notable sesame flavor, and the broccoli itself has just the right amount of crunch.
Finally, the desserts were also very good. The Chocolate Chip cookie is soft and tender, and actually kind of... juicy! It's neat and different. The Seedy Cookie is yummy, with enough seeds and grains to (almost) convince yourself you're not actually eating a dessert. The Tahini Brownie is one of my favorites: FARE's Tahini Brownie reminds me of a light and very fudgy version of halvah. It took me a bite or two at first to get past that they are not "typical" brownies, and are excellent on their own terms. (And they are the best gluten-free brownies I've had.) Finally, FARE's Toasted Almond Bread is moist and delicate. I liked it even more after a day in my fridge, which seemed to make it even more moist.
In summary, there's a lot of variety here, and everything I tried was very good to excellent. Flavors are distinct, fresh, and fun. You can tell how much care goes into these dishes. Highly recommended! read more