May 26, 2014

Sun Juice Smoothie and Juice Bar

In a time where juicing, healthy eating, and exercising are all the rage, Sun Juice Smoothie and Juice Bar offers delectable treats. Like the name implies, smoothies are what this small location off of Red Road specializes in, and they definitely know what they are doing. The menu is surprisingly extensive, featuring close to over 30 smoothie variations based on what your need is. Similar to Smoothie King, you can find smoothies for when trying to stay fit, to bulk up, indulge, etc. But the fact of the matter is that the smoothies here are not only better tasting, but also better for you than the chain competition like Smoothie King and Jamba Juice. As I’m sure we are all aware of by now, Smoothie King is not exactly healthy when it comes to the ingredients that go into your drink, as most of the smoothies are powdered based and contain who knows what. At Sun Juice Smoothie, all the fruits used are fresh and they don’t even add sugar to any of their combinations, letting the flavors of the produce speak for itself. I’m not going to lie and say that everything here is as healthy as it is made out to seem, but it is a more surefire bet than going to other smoothie places.

My go-to is the Strawberry Samba, blending apple juice, low fat frozen yogurt, banana, and obviously, strawberries. Just like any other smoothie I’ve had here, it turns out being thick, viscous, not too sweet, and massively flavorful. You can taste the banana and strawberries, blending to create a tropical and refreshing treat. The sizes go from large to humongous, so I normally go for the smallest, but it still ends up being 20 oz. Prices are around the $5 range, which seem fairly reasonable to me, although it does stop me from coming here on a regular basis. For those not interested in ingesting their breakfast (or snack) through a straw, go for their breakfast bowls, which combine granola, fruits, and yogurt, making for a satisfying and filling meal.

Service is friendly and quick, although there is usually only one person in charge of the store. Although this is okay on a weekday morning, I would advise them to have at least one other person working on weekend mornings, since this is a casual stop for bikers and runners after their trail. Still, things move along at a decent rate and I have never had an order that was different than what I asked for. The cash-only situation is one that I wish were different, but I somehow manage to always have an Abe Lincoln in my pocket when around the area. God knows Sun Juice has gotten so many of my five dollar bills, and they will continue having my business.