Another week, another smoothie bowl shop. A new smoothie shop has opened up in downtown State College, and Penn State students are all for it. Frutta Bowls, a “superfood cafe,” had its grand opening on Saturday, March 23. They’ve opened up shop at 262 E. Beaver Ave., right under The Edge apartments.
Photo by Kerry Brennan Custom açaí bowls (top) and the Frutta Bowl (bottom left)
While açaí bowls are plentiful in downtown State College, Frutta Bowls has many menu items that set them apart from the rest. Aside from açaí, kale and pitaya bowls, Frutta Bowls offers smoothies, toasts, oatmeal and coffee. The food is not only healthy and filling but also extremely Instagram-able. The inside of the cafe is decorated in a way that makes it feel less like a central Pennsylvanian restaurant and much more like Penn State is located on a beach. Customers are able to watch their bowls being made and make custom bowls to get all of the favorite fruits and toppings ranging from chia seeds to Nutella.
Super Foods
Their most popular bowl is the Frutella which has an organic açaí base and is topped with granola, banana, strawberry, Nutella, peanut butter and coconut flakes. For those looking to try something new, owner Julian Khater recommends the kale bowls. These are made with kale, banana, pineapple and almond milk and taste sweet while still delivering the health benefits of the kale.
Their toasts are a fairly new addition to their menu, but they are extremely popular among the State College customers. They offer toast with unique toppings such as hummus, goat cheese and olive tapenade as well as simpler toppings like peanut butter and banana. All of their toasts are packed with protein and made with natural ingredients. For those who want to get a taste of both the bowls and toast, Frutta Bowls offers a “combo” option on their menu where customers can get a toast and a smoothie or 10 oz. bowl for just $11. Frutta Bowls offers both sweet and savory, which is a huge differentiator from them and other smoothie bowl cafes.
Photo posted by @fruttabowls_statecollege on Instagram
Embracing The Penn State Way
Although Frutta Bowls started out in Freehold, New Jersey, they have certainly embraced the Penn State culture at their new location. The wall is decorated with a huge “Welcome Nittany Lions” drawing as well as descriptions of their menu items. Frutta Bowls also loves doing fundraisers. Khater emphasizes that they are extremely eager to work with clubs and organizations at Penn State to help fundraise for their causes.
For both seasoned smoothie bowl veterans and those who have never heard the work “açaí” before, Frutta Bowls is definitely a place to try out. The location is super convenient for any Penn State student and the food is a great way to eat healthy while still enjoying a filling meal. Frutta Bowls has a great atmosphere to hang out with friends, hold a fundraiser or even just go and study while sipping a cold brew coffee. No matter the time of year, Frutta Bowls State College is the perfect place to get a taste of summer right in downtown State College.
Frutta Bowls posts menu items, contests and giveaways on their Instagram, so give them a follow @fruttabowls_statecollege.
Tweet us @VALLEYmag with your favorite menu item!
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