A new Acai bowl and juice shop, Berries and Bowls, opened on Elm Street in downtown Bethesda on August 13. The shop features a variety of smoothie bases, juices and six different types of toasts. 

The shop allows you to order both in person and online. I opted for the online ordering because the line can be slightly long in the morning. My order was sitting in the fridge when I walked in, and the employees asked for my name and handed me my order. 

The workers were extremely friendly and greeted me as soon as I walked in. The food was prepared in under 10 minutes and was waiting in the fridge when I arrived.  

I ordered the Emmy toast which consists of peanut butter, banana, honey and chia seeds. The toast was delicious, although slightly too sweet for me because of the peanut butter and honey combination. 

I also ordered a green machine smoothie with fresh kale, bananas, pineapple, avocado, ginger and honey. Again, I would ask them to remove the honey, because it was too sweet. The online ordering allows you to sub out ingredients which is a really great feature.

Lastly, I ordered the Rainforest bowl which consists of granola, mango, strawberries, blueberries, peanut butter, nutella and coconut. I asked them to remove the peanut butter. This bowl was extremely delicious, but felt more like a dessert than a nutritional breakfast or lunch.

The smoothies and bowls at Berries and Bowls are enjoyable; however, they taste like they have been artificially sweetened. Alternatively, South Block, with a location in Georgetown and various locations in Virginia, has better and more natural tasting acai bases.

The prices of Berries and Bowls are similar to that of most Acai shops located in the area. Fortunately, the portions are a good enough size to make it worth your buck. I would definitely recommend this store for your Acai and smoothie cravings. However, if time allows, I suggest you make the trip to Georgetown for South Block, a slightly better option over Berries and Bowls.