Açaí, (ah-sahy-ee; noun): A small, black-purple berry that contains protein, Vitamin C, Calcium, Vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, Vitamin K, niacin, and riboflavin, nutrients and minerals that are fundamental to one’s metabolism and health.
Beach Bowls Açaí Cafe on Crenshaw: A healthy berry blend place in Torrance that has a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 on Yelp, and a variety of flavors. A bit on the pricey side, a small bowl could be bought for $7.50 and a large bowl for $9.50, but many reviews on Yelp agree that it is well worth a try. Or ten.
Upon entering, a customer is greeted by posters and signs that explain what exactly an açaí berry is and its special properties. Then the customer would typically walk up to order at the counter, where a cute little blackboard is conveniently placed to detail the process in which one goes about buying a bowl. First, you pick a flavor. There are many to choose from, but the top two options are Tropical (a mixture of pineapple and mango) and Chocolate Peanut Butter. You then choose your size and the last and final step is to choose your toppings; a large bowl comes with granola, banana, honey, and your choice of two toppings. A small bowl comes with granola, banana, honey, and your choice of one topping. Toppings include lychee, pineapple, strawberries, and more. Once she is done ordering and paying, the customer can then sit down on a comfy couch with retro-looking tables and read a magazine while waiting for her order to come up.
I went with a large Tropical and a small Chocolate Peanut Butter to split between my friends. The Tropical was sweet without being over-the-top sugary, and the granola and honey complemented the fruits and the fruit blend to keep it from being too fruity. It was light and when I finished I didn’t feel like I put on five pounds as it tasted healthy–rare for something that tastes so good!
The Chocolate Peanut Butter was interesting–it’s one of those types of foods that you get one bite of and are so curious you need to keep taking more. The greatest thing about this flavor, in my opinion, was that it wasn’t too rich in flavor, but was rich enough to make a satisfying dessert after dinner. The chocolate and peanut butter blend was unexpectedly perfect and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who visits the store.
Overall, I give the Beach Bowls Açaí Cafe a 7.8 out of 10 for its nice blend and choice of flavors and the unique berry, but I just wish it were a bit cheaper! There is another place set to open in Redondo Beach, so if the distance is a concern for you, worry no more.
