Coincidentally, I will be going to the Playa Bowls in Burtonsville today for lunch! I love Playa Bowls (see my 5-star review of the Burtonsville one). That's the only location within 10 miles of my home. The only other location of Playa Bowls I've been to was the Baltimore County one by Quarry Lake. Yesterday, I reviewed the out of town P pick in 2025 alphabet series. Representing the runner up to the out of town pick, P is for Playa Bowls.
I visited this location on Friday, December 26. I had a deal for a free peppermint iced coffee with bowl purchase. I had visited my parents in PA for Christmas and was coming back into town. I saw this location wasn't too far off 695. I had never been to Quarry Lake and is a nice area. I was here for one of those weird very late lunch around 4 PM, but I wanted the deal and the timing was right. It was pretty dead around here as it was the day after Christmas. I parked in a parallel spot right in the front; they also have a parking lot in the back.
Staff was nice. I paid for some strawberry bowl with peppermint to get the free seasonal iced coffee. They didn't have any issue getting the deal to work. I waited at one of their seats near the food station. This location is a lot bigger than the Burtonsville one. They made the bowl first, and then they said we're out of the flavoring for the coffee, so it'd just be a black coffee. I said that wasn't the same as what I wanted or paid for.
They apologized saying that their shipments come in on Thursday, but it was Christmas so shipments didn't come. So, it made sense why they were out. But I think perhaps they could've been more prepared and gotten extra shipment on Thursday, 12/18. They did say I could switch out for a smoothie. I said I don't want a smoothie, I'm already having this fruity bowl. He said I could pick any drink I wanted. I got some juice cleanse drink that was normally $8.99. I figured that could be good for me plus I wanted to ideally get their most expensive tier drink in lieu of not getting the iced coffee.
The bowl was delicious per normal. Fresh strawberries, banana, granola, chocolate, peppermint, etc. all great. As for the juice drink, it was some cayenne fruit juice. It was kind of weird, had a bit of a kick, not my cup of tea. I drank it, but really would've liked the iced coffee better. Thankfully, I had some water in the car to wash down the strange juice.
So, I was kind of annoyed. They should've known and warned me before I paid. I'm not sure I would've gone with Playa Bowl if they had been out of the coffee; that the catalyst to go down there was the free iced coffee deal.
In spite of that negative, like Burtonsville location, the bowls are great, staff is nice, and they did try to accommodate with free any drink. read more