Frutta Bowls Defies Traditional Dining by Creating Healthy Fruit, Granola Bowls

By Emily Sewell
Hottytoddy.com intern
easewel1@go.olemiss.edu

As summer approaches, many Oxonians are choosing healthier dining options at one of the area’s newest restaurants. Frutta Bowls, a national acai bowl franchise, opened its 50th location in Oxford on Jan. 26 and is located in the Uncommon Oxford apartment complex on Jackson Avenue East.

Frutta Bowls offers a variety of different smoothie bowls, toasts, oatmeal, smoothies and coffee. Photo provided.

The owners of Frutta Bowls want to ensure each store focuses on the community by getting involved with different organizations, building relationships with customers and giving back, said caterer Ashley Baril.

“From the moment we started people were excited about us,” said manager, Sydney Hanson. “Once (customers) came in and actually tried our product, they just kept coming back.”

Located in other college towns like Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Clemson, Chapel Hill, Athens and Baton Rouge, the restaurant serves as a networking tool for students and working professionals. Frutta Bowls frequently hosts private events, benefit nights, happy hours and brand awareness and networking events.

“It’s really easy to be connected to everyone because everyone does want to be healthy and mindful of what you’re putting into your body and what you’re putting out into to the world,” Baril said. “You can continue to do that here because everyone wants to be healthy, especially when it tastes good.”

Frutta Bowls offers a variety of smoothie bowls, toasts, oatmeal, smoothies and coffee.

With their bowls, a customer can choose between three bases: açaí, (organic açaí with gurana and banana), pitaya (organic pitaya, banana, pineapple and almond milk), and kale (kale, banana, pineapple and almond milk.) Proteins, granolas, fruits and several “boosts” can be added to the bowls for customization. 

The Uncommon Oxford bowl. Photo via Instagram.

Baril says her favorite menu item currently is the Bermuda Bowl. It is a smoothie bowl with a pitaya base, granola, honey, coconut toppings, sliced strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple. Before that, her favorite item was the Go Figure Toast which includes brie cheese, a fig spread and is topped with basil.

Hanson says her favorite item is The Cave Man Bowl which is a smoothie bowl that has a kale base and is topped with granola, banana, blueberry, almond butter, coconut flakes, chia seeds and almond slices.

“I did not like kale before working here,” Hanson said. “But our kale bases are so good. They are really tropical because we mix it with pineapple.”

The Gigi Toast includes Nutella and fresh strawberries. Photo via Instagram.

Frutta Bowls also has gluten-free, soy-free and dairy-free options for those with food allergies. Because they mix all their bases fresh in the store, they can customize any base to the customer’s liking, they said.

“You can customize anything you want on the menu,” Baril said. “We have a few different people who come in every day just because we are so helpful and mindful of their allergies or dietary needs.”