Grabbing a healthy bite on the go in Boystown got a lot easier ( and tastier ) in July. That's when Bountiful Eatery moved into a storefront on Broadway Ave.
At first glance, the restaurant appears to be your typical wraps/salads/smoothie kind of café. It's bright and well lit, you order at the counter, and the food is affordablebut that is where Bountiful's similarities to a typical fast food joint end. For starters, the entire menu is gluten-free and many of the offerings are vegan. What's more, most of the eats are surprisingly low-cal, with several coming in around 300 calories. And, this is one place where carnivores and vegans can peacefully co-exist. Vegans can delight in things like portabella kale salad with almonds and cranberries while meat eaters chow down on bison burgers.
I thought I would be at risk for leaving hungry because everything on the menu sounded so darn healthy, so I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty and filling the food was. The turkey, bacon and avocado wrap was simple but delicious. Juicy strips of turkey, a couple of crisp pieces of turkey bacon and the better part of a whole avocado are drizzled in a tangy lime dressing and stuffed in a way-above-average pita. The pita elevated this wrap into repeat-order territory. It was soft and warm, tasted fresh baked and was dusted with just the right amount of sea salt. This pita defies the stereotype that gluten-free bread products are dry or flavorless.
For an even heartier meal in the same delicious pita, the bison burger is a solid option. The dense meat is seasoned nicely and topped with a cool, creamy yogurt sauce. Like many of the other selections, the bison burger comes with a heaping handful of fresh spinachanother reminder that you're not at a greasy fast-food spot.
Light options include a rotating selection of daily soups and several protein-packed salads. I tried the chicken rice soup, which was filling and flavorful, but not quite as memorable as some of the other items I sampled. The quinoa salad is perfect for a small lunch or as a side dish to accompany a wrap or burger. The quinoa is light and fluffy, seasoned with good stuff like olive oil, lemon, mint and scallions. Clean living on a plate! The black bean salad was another straightforward but tasty dish. Chipotle and cilantro give the cold beans and tomatoes some heat. My favorite salad was the chickpea. Tiny bits of dried apricots and raisins lend a subtle sweetness that is balanced by paprika, mint and cumin.
If you're in a salad kind of mood, you can order a trio of the quinoa, black bean and chickpea salads. The three colorful salads are served atop a mound of fresh spinach, making this a plate that will keep you full for hours.
You can round out your meal with a gluten-free sweets like cupcakes and brownies from specialty bakeries. Or, opt for a fresh smoothie. Make your own from a selection of fruits, milks and supplements like protein or calorie burner or opt for one of the house specialties. The peanut butter and banana muscle builder had good flavor and a nice milkshake-like consistency. But, for almost 500 calories, I'll take a cupcake any day.
If I worked or lived near Bountiful, I'd be a regular for light lunches and low-calorie takeout dinners. It's a straightforward place that takes the guesswork out of healthy eating and does it without making you feel like you are dieting or missing out.
Bountiful Eatery is located at 3312 N. Broadway Ave.; call 773-687-9811 or visit www.bountifuleatery.com .
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