if you're bound to corporate america and your gym membership, this is the place for you! unfortunately for someone just stopping by the area for paperwork needs in a neighboring building, this was not the lunch spot to fuel my way back home. i ordered the elvis bowl and the toppings were skimpy and was 90% watery açaí, though the 3 bites that had all the toppings were delicious! and for $11 a bowl, the portion was very small. my lunch partner ordered a salad which she said was good in flavor, but it also had maybe 5 green leaves. read more

I frequent this location on weekday mornings and it is consistently excellent. Food tastes great and is always fresh, service is quick and very friendly, and the price is actually affordable when ordering through the app as there are always deals. Would highly recommend coming here for a quick and easy breakfast. They always knock it out of the park with the bacon breakfast burrito and cocoa puff protein shake. read more

This is usually one of our go-to places for my coworker and I to pick up lunch on weekdays when we are working from the office. As the name suggests, expect a lot of good protein at this place. Most of their dishes will have at least 30g of protein. I have tried their Spinach and Pesto Bowl and Winter Protein bowl on my recent visits and loved both of them! It has good amount of protein, veggies and is also flavorful. I wish they had more vegan protein options though other than just tofu! My coworker usually gets the Japanese BBQ Salmon bowl and likes the good blend of salmon with quinoa. The portion size is huge! My coworker and I struggle to eat the entire bowl. I recently tried their drip coffee with almond milk as it was pretty average. They have a lot of healthy protein bars and smoothies as well which I will try in the future! Overall good place to grab food if you want to increase your intake of protein and eat healthy! read more

Love their berry smoothie. Always leaves me feeling healthy. I'm really happy they have other milk options. read more

Besides random open hours their food quality went downhill fast. Never had i ordered a bowl with old chicken and a big chunk of old chicken. Do they even try the food themselves? read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Garbage quality - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great value for money! Although the portions were a little on the small side, the quality was incredible and flavors were phenomenal! Nothing fancy but perfect for a quick bite or a spot to get some work done on your computer (as they have WiFi too!) read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - AM Fall Protein Bowl - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

They have the BEST breakfast bowls! This one is the fall protein -- deeeeeelish. I added Turkey bacon! It has egg whites, spinach, kale, mushroom ragu, hemp seeds and almonds. Healthy breakfast!! read more

Food is more than just food. It's memories. It's people, places, and things. Food is the way I document my experiences, the visceral scrapbook I return to again and again. Since the dawn of time, humans have used food as a way to punctuate special occasions. There is a reason our ancestors used to feast. Because food is, at its very nature, a joy. It is a comfort. It is a tangible reminder of our most precious experiences. I am so grateful to the staff at the protein bar for making my day a bit more joyous while I indulge in their nutritious and oh so yummy foods! My love for the protein bar continues to increase as I carry out the days at work. I am a health conscious individual and very picky in the foods I eat. If the staff is reading this, please find my following message - Thank you Jeff for always making my complicated long orders taste like perfection! Your efforts are greatly appreciated and my health thanks you. I can add a few more years of a healthy life with all the goodness you in these nutritious shakes I drink everyday. Thank you Will for the friendly customer service and remembering my orders on a daily basis. I have made it a point to visit my friends at the protein bar everyday! Thank you Bradley for your kindness and because of you my day has become a lot brighter. It was my first time meeting you today but your ability to troubleshoot my app is greatly appreciated. I am looking forward to seeing you all very soon! For all the yelpers- I highly recommend the Beauty brew with added peanut butter and multi vitamin. Your skin will glow and your bodies will thank you! read more

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I usually have such a great experience with protein bar, so am disappointed by my recent visit. I ordered lunch 45 min ahead and when I arrived it wasn't ready. When I asked for about my meal, they were unapologetic and said it was a system error. I then had to wait another 10 minutes for my lunch. The worst part: I also had ordered a brownie and when I took my lunch back to the office and was a few brownie bites in, I saw the brownie had mold on it! read more

The food is healthy, tasty, and attractively prepared, and the restaurant boasts a modern, clean dining room. I had the El Verde bowl on my first visit, and the Korean Bibi-Q bowl on my second visit. Both were outstanding re: flavor, presentation, mouthfeel, and temperature. The only issue I have is the portions: they are SMALL. Don't bring a big appetite to Protein Bar. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - El Verde protein bowl. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

LOVE. ME. SOME. Protein Baaaaar. Healthy + delicious = a happy and fulfilling work lunch. Usually I bring my lunch to work (to save money & try & eat healthier), but there are some days I'm just way too busy to think about packing a lunch (let alone grocery shop) in the morning as I'm running out the door to catch my train. Eating out can be challenging if you are trying to stay on track with a healthy diet. That's why I'm so happy Protein Bar is around the corner from my office. They've got quite a variety of options - burritos, bowls, salads, chilli, and smoothies...all of which are very good! I mean, they had me at avocado and buffalo chicken... Here are my personal fave menu items: Buffalo salad or bowl... YUM :) Wrigley Peeled Smoothie Pier Nut Butter & Jelly Smoothie read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Buffalo chicken bowl... Yum!! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was in Chicago for a work trip and came here for a quick lunch. I got the Beef Korean Bibi-q Bar-rito ($10, 450 calories). It was good, but the sauce made my burrito soggy so I ended up opening it up and eating just the filling of the burrito. I would definitely recommend getting the Bibi-q bowl rather than the burrito. Long line, but moves quickly. read more

A great place to go for a good lunch. The menu accommodates all dietary restrictions. They even list which items are gluten free. The quinoa bowls are pretty small but tasty. I had the southwest salad today and really enjoyed it. Plus, they use hot sauce as dressing. HELLO no added sugar or vegetable oil! I mostly come here for juices and protein shakes. The juices are delicious, but I'm still always nervous with how much sugar goes into one of those. The protein shakes are great too. Perfect afternoon snack, especially if you have to hit the gym after work. I still prefer bringing my own lunch to work, but in a pinch this place is great. Nothing about the flavor of the food will wow you. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Southwest salad. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Protein Bar is one of the few healthy places I really enjoy. True there are other food places (not so good for you) I would rather have, but for the calories and nutrition Protein Bar does a good job. The burrito's to me are just okay. I prefer the bowls more. Today I decided to try the Black bean bowl and it was really good. The salsa tasted so fresh....or maybe it's because I haven't eaten anything the last 3 days (cleanse.....hmmm). Either way other good bowls that I normally get here are the Buffalo bowl and the Healthy parm bowl. The quinoa really fills me up and the bowls are really low in calories without sacrificing taste. I also noticed they have raw juices here. I will have to try one on my next visit. The restaurant location on Frankin/Adams is really small. If you go between noon to 1:00 it will be hard to eat in. It's more of a grab your food in go. A nice sit down Protein bar nearby is on Washington and Wells. Same great food, but more seating. If you're trying to live a healthy lifestyle and work in the loop this is a great place to go. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Black bean bowl at protein bar. Filling and healthy :) - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The salad and shakes are not the only things giving me life from The Protein Bar + Kitchen, both Deonta and Deanna are crushing the customer service game. Incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and highly motivated. It's easy to find food in the loop, hard to find consistency. Washington & Wells kills it. read more

This is a great, healthy option for lunch. I went with the Spinach & Pesto bowl and the Wrigley Peeled blended drink. Both were delicious and very filling. However, with the $15 price tag I wouldn't necessarily make this a regular lunch spot. I do think it would be a great place to swing by after a workout though, with all the great protein shake options. *update: Totally contradicted myself as I now go here at least once a week The spinach & pesto burrito is AMAZING, and the staff at this location is super friendly. read more

Addicted! Protein Bar is quick, reasonable, and delicious. You can't get healthy, quick food easily except here. OK, so I went 4 days in a row (twice in one day!) and had: Spinach Pesto bowl: chicken, parmesan, quinoa, spinach Spinach Pesto Bar-rito: above with a wheat wrap Buffalo bowl: chicken, organic homemade buffalo sauce, cuke, celery, bleu cheese, quinoa Buffalo Salad (huge): spinach, greens, kale, broccoli, buffalo sauce, chicken, quinoa, bleu cheese Wrigley Peeled Protein Shake: Chocolate protein, almond milk, PB, agave, banana All of these things were amazingly good, solid, power foods with between 300-500 calories. They filled me up for hours. Love that they let you choose your protein: whey, soy, or egg and your milk: skim, 2%, soy, or almond. They also give you a loyalty card and once you rack up 8 purchases, you get a free one - holler! Must. Get. Protein Bar. In. Milwaukee. My life would be complete. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had lunch with a friend at Protein Bar and it was a fine experience. Décor: It's pretty basic as far as "fast food" places go, but there are a few cool features. The big circular table is a nice touch and everything seems very clean. Overall there are a bunch of tables both inside and out and while it can get crowded at lunch you shouldn't have too hard of a time finding a place to sit. However, there are a couple things I'd change: The menu is on the side wall but nowhere to be seen while ordering; for n00bs (like me) this can cause a small issue - not to mention I think it cuts down on impulse add-ons (juices, etc.). That being said, I can see how regulars know what they want and it doesn't matter. Also, the hot sauce dispensers... no idea how to work them and I'm not alone! The woman in front of me snapped off the handle trying to pump it (so I didn't feel so dumb when I tried and failed). Bathroom: unknown Staff: Neither good nor bad, the cashier was just a cashier. The food came out relatively quickly as well. Food: I had a Korean BiBi-Q burrito (it was fine.. lacked a bit of taste but I guess that's because it's "healthy"?) and a Hi-5 juice-drink (which was very tasty). Overall... it was just okay. Value: You can get away with spending the usual amount for a lunch here but if you have a large appetite (like me) I'd recommend doubling down on whatever you get... I went too light and am still hunger. I'll keep this place in mind for the future, but I won't be running back. read more

First of all, what's with the sub zero temperatures at this location? This place would get a 4 star rating from me if they could figure out how to heat the restaurant. Seriously, I see people eating inside in their coats, scarves and wool beanies. Even the staff grabs a sweater when they go on food break and they sit in the common area. Ridiculous. I love the food however. I try to eat healthy foods as often as possible, and this place just exudes healthiness. The salads are terrific, the quinoa bowls are terrific, and their snacks are terrific. Yes, someone did mention that they updated their nutrition charts, and they don't appear to be as healthy as they once were, but their Barritos still have less carbs and less sodium then most sandwich options anywhere. The two big strikes against this place in my book (other than the temperature) are the cost and the trash. Yes, i said the trash. Regardless of whether you eat in or out, you are served in a plastic bowl with plastic utensils. Why not have some reusable bowls and metal silverware? They talk about being health but just ignore the giant landfills that get created by all their waste. Yes, this might be silly to some, but I believe it goes hand in hand with being healthy. As for the cost, i realize that high quality food is more expensive, but I also know that relative to other places where you can get decent meals, this place ain't cheap. Its not a real knock, because I continue to eat here, but when heir Barrito is $2.50 more than a Potbelly turkey sandwich, and not really any better for you, then i question their pricing. read more

Came during off hours so absolutely no one in line and the setting was nice and quiet :) I tried the spinach pesto quinoa bowl...mouthgasm. The chicken, quinoa and basil/parmesan spinach flavors are almost satisfyingly explosive. Surprisingly fresh and wonderfully complimenting tastes that made my tongue dance and tummy beg for more. The worker was very sweet and helpful as he helped me piece together a whey-skim milk-fiber boosting fruit loop smoothie. It's good but the food I ordered is definitely much more remarkable. I'm very pleased with this place. Nutritional values are conveniently listed, the venue was clean and the overall vibe was very relaxing. Hands down 5 stars. I shall return! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Chicken pesto quinoa and a fruit loop'd smoothie. Delicious bowl. OK smoothie. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It was my first time trying here, sometimes it's not about food ! But what matters even most, is how they talk to you and take care of you! Being a human! A real one. I had such a bad day today and went there to grab food, Lorenzo and Ivan were seemed to be Angels ! They told me about menu and even gave me the option of other dressings if I don't like the original one. I know everyone knows the protein bar food is heavenly! But please know that their behavior is more heavenly! I felt HOME ! They've treated me the way my family members do!! Thanks ! Thanks Ivan,thanks Lorenzo for knowing how to talk and help others feel good and thanks for the best service! ( the place is very clean and not smelly, ) it was a plus point too. read more

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The food here is fresh and healthy while still always being delicious and filling. This location though honestly has the best employees. There are two other locations that are closer to me that I walk passed because Deonta and Nickola genuinely are the highlight of my day sometimes and always deliver exceptional customer service. Thanks, guys!! read more

Awesome spot for healthy breakfast or lunch- I was in Chicago for a work trip and this place was a God send as it's usually hard to find good healthy food to go (and have it be high quality). There's a great mix of egg scrambles and oatmeal bowls for breakfast, and then they transition to salads/wraps/grain bowls for lunch, and they've always got smoothie options any time during the day. What I like about this place is that there are plenty of options and you can see the macro count for each option, which makes it easy to stay on track. I opted for their healthy Club salad for lunch (dressing is ON POINT) and their red line smoothie for breakfast. This is a great great place for awesome food that's great for you! read more

Since my last review, they have corrected problems. Back to top-notch! There are a variety of things, and what I like here surprised me (southwest salad with lots of chalula, spinach / Pesto bowl, the wrigley peeled..). Be sure to try a few different items before writing the menu off as another healthy-but-bland lunch place. read more

The quality at this location is not good. On more than one occasion, I've received several-day-old kale and the Parmesan crisps are consistently stale. The location itself is easy to find and ordering online for pickup is a breeze. Look for your order on the shelves in front of the registers. read more

I asked for the sugar content in the overnight oats and was told that they don't have that information as they are changing the recipe and that if I'm worried about sugar I probably should not eat it. This is shocking and dissapointing as this is supposed to be a place where we can have healthy eating and know exactly what is going in our bodies. I'm a huge fan of protien bar and their mission, but this was just a dissapointing development. read more

I think the food is great. This review is solely based on misleading customers about nutrition. About a month ago, they updated their nutrition info and the changes were DRASTIC. Seriously. Sodium? Double it. Saturated Fat? Triple it. Calories? Multiple by 1.5. At the end of the day, I feel like an idiot for believing the initial nutritional information. It's a burrito - of course it's not 420 calories! Tons of flavor - of course it has more than 1,500 mg of sodium! Shame on me for being duped, but shame on protein bar for a lack of transparency ("oh, we're just rolling out a new menu and happen to update nutrition info at the same time"). I used to go 3x/wk, minimum. Now they're lucky if I stop in 3x/month. read more

Only in the U.S. of A. do we distinguish between "food" and "heath food." By definition, shouldn't all "food" contribute to our health? Well apparently is doesn't. And therein lies the market opportunity! Like many contemporary culinary ventures, Protein Bar is highly conceptualized. Their marketing and design teams could win awards. Their branding is tight. But the food? The food is like any eagerly-anticipated product you receive after buying into a wild sales pitch: it's wildly disappointing. Unfortunately for Protein Bar, food is at the core of, um, a restaurant. Two stars go to the lovely interior, the considerate staff, and the welcoming playlist. But the "grilled" Veggie Classic Bar-rito I ordered was cold, despite the token grill stripes possibly painted on one side. It contained no vegetables, just a sprinkle of tofu, a black bean, and a cheese string atop a mound of the cheapest filler ingredient, quinoa. Quinoa - the low-cal, high-protein, gluten-free wonder grain-berry - might be exciting for anyone who's been asleep for the past ten years of eating. (If that's you, read on for my secret recipe.) But for anyone with half a hand in the kitchen, buying quinoa out is like going out for a bowl of cold cereal or minute rice. Why bother? The burrito had no flavor. The contents were lacking. The ingredients were as delicious as beige paint. Protein Bar could have potential if it delivered on the food as it does the rest of its concept. As promised, here is my secret quinoa recipe. Take pot, boil quinoa in water for 15 minutes. Enjoy. You just saved yourself $9 from Protein Bar! read more

Regardless of friends and co-workers who want to eat here, no thank-you! I'll preface this with, the Protein Bar CHAIN itself isn't bad. This review is focused purely on this venue. The service... abysmal. I went forward and order a VERY common order - Buffalo Chicken Bar-rito no cheese, and a Beetbox. The guy beyond the counter then repeated my order, but did not state "no cheese". So... being lactose intolerant... I asked... TWICE... if he got the "no cheese" on there. Why twice? Well after I asked he decided not to answer and to simply move on to whether I was dining in. The second time I asked he reluctantly said "yes". Finally... when picking up my food the same guy was there, and he jokingly said "extra cheese, right?". I assume jokingly, I don't think he KNEW they messed up my order, but... I get back to my office and immediately find cheese in there. So... I ripped the burrito open to eat what I could. For a 15 dollar lunch, pretty much a complete waste. The food... meh. The food was already "meh" to begin with. But at this venue, it simply became inedible. Overall... don't bother. If you want healthy, there are plenty of other options. If you want the Protein Bar, spend an extra five minutes and walk to a different one. read more

I get it, Protein Bar is where all the cool kids eat. Because protein is cool. But for the love of God, there are other ways to make high protein meals that don't involve quinoa. Because here, quinoa is on EVERTYHING. Salads? Quinoa. Chili? Quinoa. Wraps? Quinoa. If you are eating carbs, quinoa is great, don't get me wrong. But I'm surprised at the lack of options they have for those that avoid carbs. You'd think a place named Protein Bar would be paleo or primal friendly, but there are two salads that fit the bill. But I can't giveth or taketh stars based on my own still-somewhat-panned eating ways. The food is decent, the salads are large, and the meat portion fairly generous. But price to quality ratio is a touch off. And I still can't get over them misleading customers about their nutritional info and then completely changing it where the same item suddenly had 100 more calories or 10 more grams of fat. But if you need fast and want to feel self-righteous for the rest of the afternoon (until you tie one on that evening and eat an entire Lou Malnati's pizza in your drunkeness), this is the place to do it. Order online, and don't expect to find a place to sit during the weekday lunch rush. read more

I have pretty much a negative interest or investment in health food and veganism would be impossible for me. My culinary life is essentially fatty braised meat soaked in wine and cooked with bacon. I like salad but would never eat plain mixed greens just for the sake of eating healthy unless I'm really filled with self-loathing from the night before. So it's weird for me that even though it's super, super granola here (I say this with love), I love this place for lunch. My ex-coworker brought me a quinoa chicken chili bowl back from here and I was absolutely shocked that it was so good. I've had a couple of other quinoa options, usually with chicken, that have been really great. The bowls are HUGE. I don't think it's all that cheap, but any protein (even Chipotle) is expensive in this town. You will certainly have more self esteem after this than you would a barbacoa burrito. read more

I think protein bar is going to become my regular "lunch spot". Their quinoa bowls are delicious, and healthy for you at around 350-450 calories each. All the items I've tried on the menu is amazing. Their quinoa is "rainbow quinoa", containing both white and red grains. Plus, their quinoa is never soggy or too soft (like the ones I would make at home). The quinoa bowl in my opinion has the best value. The salads are expensive, but they give a large portion. Some helpful tips. You can order for pickup instead of going there and waiting. During lunch hour, a lot of people are there, so if you want to avoid the wait, order early from their website, or from the app. read more

Ok...I have started to go there on Tuesday and I have been there every day so far! This place is a God-sent. Not only do I like the concept of this place, but it tastes amazing. But, the really important thing here is...it actually fills you up!!! What a novel idea! I actually get my money's worth, whaaaaaat?!? I have had the One El of an Oatmeal, as well as a Quiona Bowl with chicken, and today (because I am fighting a cold) I had TWO G Lo (freshly squeezed grapefuit, lemon, and orange juice mix) juices and a blondie. The portions are big enough to be filling but not crazy. The food is healthy and has no fillers: every bite counts. The staff is AWESOME and one of them probably thinks that I have an addiction problem to the place because he sees me at least once a day, hahaha. If you are active, or are trying to lose weight and want to stay away from all the junk or poor food options in the loop, this is the place to go! read more

Buffalo Chicken Burrito/Wrap - $8 and change Healthy fillings all over it (quinoa instead of rice, black beans, fresh salad, etc.) makes this place perfect for my dietary intake as of late. The price isn't perfect, but you're paying for some pretty quality ingredients. The burrito looked and felt big, but was exactly just the right size it seems and filled with the right balance of nutrients... I'm a few hours past lunch, and not feeling sleepy or tired at all! Verdict: I'll be back. This place was tasty, healthy, albeit a little pricier than what I like to pay for lunch typically... but worthwhile considering the ingredients. Awesome. read more

I like the burritos and bowls. However I feel they use too much quinoa as filler and neglect actual nutritious items to fill the bowls and burritos with. Some more tomato or salsa would be good. How about some more beans or avocado? For almost $9 an item there should be more than just quinoa as a filling. They need to get the ordering process amended also, it's a gigantic cluster in here when ordering/picking up food. read more

What they do to food is beautiful. It's healthy and it tastes so good that I am speechless. I want more... NOW! There are so many options to try and to tell the truth I was on assignment and someone was dashing out to pick something up. I chose at random - within 20 second of seeing the menu - The Greek Wrap with Chicken. Wow-eee.... It was amazing. Quiona, yes the wonder food that looks only Whole Foods appropriate was all dolled up in that amazing wrap. I absolutely enjoyed every bite which included Romaine, Olives, Broccoli and a Vegan dressing as well... I think they also put a bit of heaven in there.... It's that #$#% good. So I figure if I can at random choose a dish and it's that dag on d'lish then I am for sure when I get a real menu in my hands I will SCORE majorly. Protein Bar is healthy, good and filling - I had only that portion all day... I heard the lines are gargantuan... I mean who wouldn't line up for this stuff! When I go myself that might make me drop my rating one notch. Service is always key for me.... and since I had at my seat service within 15 minutes I am so giving this a 5 for taste and pleasure~ Cheers! Here's to all of our health!!! I hope the rest of the restaurant industry goes in this direction!!! read more

I am pretty obsessed with this place. I have been vegan for about six months and I love that I can eat a majority of their menu. My all-time favorite, however, is the vegan superfood salad. Even though I don't usually like tofu, the salad is delicious. It tastes kind of like a caesar salad but BETTER. It is also a pretty big salad and actually keeps me full through the afternoon. I work close to this location and when I eat here, I usually arrive close to noon. The line looks intimidating but it moves quickly. I highly recommend this place to anyone who works in the loop. It is an especially great option for lunch in the summer! There is even outside seating available. read more

If you don't mind spending a couple of extra bucks for a healty fast food option, then Protein Bar is your 'ish. I ordered online and I HIGHLY recommend doing that so that you don't have to wait in that obnixously long line... it's INSANE. I ordred what someone refered to a "starter meal". I guess that's what the new kids ordering at Protein Bar order. Who knows. Anyways, I ordered the Spinach & Pesto Bowl: which is all-natural chicken with organic quinoa, spinach, basil pesto, and shredded parmesan cheese (371 calories, 21 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 805 mg sodium, 18 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 35 g protein) I also added on a side portion (smaller then the normal portion) of Chicken Chili. Both the spinach & pesto bowl and the chicken chili were really good. I mean, it's fast food...but it's healthy...so you can't expect it to be a gourmet meal or be "the best meal I've ever had". With that being said, I'm a fan of Protein Bar. I like their style. I like their food. I'll be back. read more

Always fresh, always fast, and if you order online beforehand, always ready. I haven't had one thing from here that I didn't like. I work down the street and have been plenty of times. Some will complain about the price/portions, but its protein, so it keeps you filled up until dinnertime! Love this Protein Bar, and the employees are always friendly as hell. read more

Protein Bar is to Chipotle what "Genie In A Bottle" Christina Aguilera is to the present day pop star. It's very similar but much leaner and more health conscious. The mission statement from their website: "To provide active, on-the-go people with healthy, flavorful choices while having a positive impact on everyone we meet and in everything we do." Translation...Chipotle is killing it so we made their product healthier and added some fruit bowls to the menu. It's priced similarly so I'm definitely a big fan. Just hope they make it to the west coast soon. read more