Acai bowl review! Worth a visit!
An unassuming kiosk in the otherwise very loud Sawgrass, MiaFruta is probably the most fruity of the acai bowls one can get in this area.
For starters, they cut all the fruit right when you order, which leaves no doubt about the freshness. Also, the chunks of fruit are fairly large, so you really get mouthfuls of fruit w each spoon. Fresh, fresh stuff.
The toppings of coconut are also generous, which detracts a little from the flavor, but adds a nice texture to the mix.
The texture of the actual acai mix is a bit more liquidy than most other bowls (where the consistency is slushier). I'm guessing this is a result of the mix/base being preblended. This is the only acai bowl I've ever had that wasn't blended upon ordering. The process isn't as important as the outcome. And although I prefer a slushier base, this more liquidy base pairs well with the big chunks of fruit, as far as the mouth feel of the bowl goes.
I found that the taste of the acai mix/base, however, a little underwhelming. The taste wasn't strong, & there was a citrus flavor that came through more than anything else. I couldn't tell if the citrus/acidic flavor was coming from the pineapple or if they cut the base with orange juice, but nonetheless, I found I was tasting more of cool smothered fruit than the base. Maybe that's what they are going for, but I prefer a base with more of it's own flavor (I've found that in this area, Toss Up Salad offers the best base, with Raw Juce as a close 2nd).
Despite being light on flavor, the color was really rich. A dark purple comes through which adds a different dimension to the experience if you care about what your food looks like. The dark colors do give the impression that they aren't cutting the base with water or something else (despite what I said about the flavor).
One of my favorite parts of any acai bowl is the honey covered granola. It was sorely missed here. I didn't see any freshly poured honey. To me, it tasted like the granola they use is the pre-sweetened kind. So, while the texture is there, the taste is overly sweet. That's a bummer - all this fresh stuff, great texture & then your bite ends with something clearly from the cereal aisle. It really is the only taste note that disrupts the experience.
And, I keep going on about the freshness - but these guys really figured out how to present freshness so matter of factly, that it evades questions. They put mangoes in the bowl!
Let me state this clearly, they put MANGOES in the bowl!
I've never had mangoes in an acai bowl. It pairs perfectly! They nailed it!
BUT - being from Florida, you might ask yourself, "How'd they get fresh mangoes in December?" Fact is, it doesn't matter. It feels fresh - it tastes fresh. Seasons be damned!
Overall, it's worth the $9. Thats about market price for a bowl. They really have the texture game going, with taste being fair. The portion size is on the smaller end - a bit smaller than Raw Juce, but significantly smaller than a Toss Up or the bit farther Raw Addiction. However, the chunky fruit slices will leave you satiated.
The service is great, which helps since the menu isn't easy to decipher.
I'd suggest, however, sticking with their staples - juices, popsicles, acai bowls. They also offer Nescafe coffee. The double espresso I had was fine - but at close to $3, it was overpriced.
I wouldn't trek out to Sawgrass just for this place, but it's worth a stop if you're in the area. read more