Green Bliss, a newborn smoothie, juice, bowl, toast and waffle place located in the former home of The Juice Box, gestated for almost nine months before opening last Saturday. And now that I’ve held it and squeezed its toes, I can tell you it’s a very adorable baby.
I started with the Purple Crush ($7.99-10.99, 12-24oz), a smoothie that was both extremely purple and extremely crushable. Its blueberry sweetness was cut by a seductively floral combo of banana, almonds and blue spirulina, and it was brightened by the natural sugar of dried dates, whose tender, chewy texture came through in tiny unpulverized nibs.
It was then up to me to pulverize the Kimchi Spice Toast (10.50), an artful spread of ripe avocado schmear, mild sour/spicy kimchi, earthy half-moons of crunchy radish, an easy smattering of bias-cut scallions and the right amount of salt and pepper on a large slice of lightly charred artisanal sourdough. Avocado toast has become a punchline to many, but this was no joke. Every flavor and texture sang its part, and the result was Carmina Burana.
The Strawberry Colada “smoothie bowl” ($12.25)—basically a healthy ice cream sundae—was completely different and equally epic. Its cold, lightly creamy, nutty-sweet coconut base was a treat on its own, let alone with toppings of ripe strawberry, banana and pineapple... plus shaved coconut and candy-like goji berries... and layers of crunchy vanilla-kissed granola... all finished with agave syrup, which I had subbed in for honey. It was loaded and delicious and, like everything I tried, a joy to consume.
The name “Green Bliss” had made a bold promise, and baby, it delivered.
Written and photographed by Dan Mims.
