Clean cut atmosphere, fresh and flavorful options, and super friendly and "actually gives a crap" kind of service. Now I'm no regular but I've been to Bolay twice now (one dine in and one take out) and both times have been exceptional. The first time my friend and I were greeted at the door by Jalyn who was mad welcoming and gave us a little menu 101 course, which was super helpful for us first timers. (You eventually realize it's just basically Chipotle's build your bowl formula but with more options.) Anyway, so we go through line and have some great suggestions on some of the staff's favorite picks, and sit down. I look at my bowl and holy moly was she pretty. I definitely had to snap a pic and then snapped some more around the restaurant (even the Uber clean bathroom) because I loved the vibe with tons of natural light, the huge fan, and the bright colorful decor. Now we get to the food itself. Man I'm telling you, I had a little sweet, savory, tart, spicy, salty, umami all in one baby! Sweet potatoes done RIGHT, balsamic mushrooms that weren't too heavy on the bals, some very interesting "forbidden" black rice that I got just to feel like I was breaking a rule, mint rubbed cherry tomatoes which were superb, and I got the lemon chicken the first time and the Thai shrimp the second time and both were super solid choices and didn't take over the other flavors in the bowl. A lot of the times it's hard to pick out flavors from such an amalgamation but somehow they pulled it off and you taste everything that's actually in your bowl! (P.s. a little bonus, our old friend Jalyn the greeter came by a few times too to see if we needed refills or anything else which was mad considerate of her) All in all both experiences were just as great as far as taste, quality, and service and I'm going to be going there a lot more before it starts getting way too popular. Cheers everyone! read more

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I took a pic of our bowls but...I guess I forgot to post it? IDK. It's not in my phone. ANYWAYS. Will make sure to get a pic next time we go, which will probably be soon since this is so close to our house. This place is basically a "Subway/Chipotle" for "healthier choices." I put that in quotes because if you get the "lemon" chicken (as is the BBQ chicken) it is definitely tossed in some sort of sauce (very light, not heavy in any way) but you gotta wonder how many calories and how much sodium is in that. You build your own bowl with base options, veggie sides, and a protein. Base options are things like kale salad, noodles, rice, quinoa. For $8 you get a small bowl and for $11 you get a large. The only difference is with the large you get two base options and two protein options. Then you can get minted (wish it was basil) tomatoes (ask for separate container from the bowl) and a side sauce (spicy Thai, carrot ginger, cilantro pesto.) It is a TON of food. MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT GET the premiere options or you will pay extra for these (ahi tuna, steak, shrimp, avocado, got cheese.) I LOVE that they offer black rice and a sweet potato noodles (if you have ever had a Korean dish called Japchae, it's those noodles.) I had the quinoa (Good note, if you want a "grain" to go with either the kale salad or spinach base option, I would choose this. It's served cold and is tossed with a light and tangy vinaigrette) and the black rice. Added smokey cauliflower (think this might have been one of the seasonal options) and Cajun sweet potatoes. Protein I had double the lemon chicken. I have to say the sweet potatoes had more seasoning that I would have liked. You have to be careful with that kind of seasoning or it is just too much. Don't get me wrong, it's not that this was too spicy to eat. It's just you don't get to taste the sweet potato when it's overpowered by the Cajun seasoning. The smokey cauliflower was good but not anything to write home about. Chicken was basic, would've liked it to be just a little more lemony. I also wasn't a fan of the golden raisins in the quinoa, but that is just my personal taste. THIS NEXT MEAL WAS SO YUMMY! My twin had double base of sweet potatoes noodles. Added ginger broccoli and green beans. Protein was double miso glazed tofu. Will infidelity be going back to get this bowl in the very near future. The sweet potato noodles are my favorite and this place did them right. They were not over cooked, which made us extremely happy. And we CANNOT tell you how much we enjoyed the miso glazed tofu. LOVED IT! It was very tasty and cooked just right, had a little bite out the edges but not to dry inside. SO GOOD! We each got a different side sauce, spicy Thai and carrot ginger, both are yummy but we preferred the spicy Thai (it is not spicy at all to us.) The minted tomatoes are very refreshing. But as mentioned earlier, I would love it they did this same recipe but used basil instead of mint. We definitely want to try the kale salad next time. And look forward to the rotating seasonally veggies (COME ON roasted Brussels sprouts or zucchini spirals, LOL.) read more

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I have gone to Bolay about three times and I can honestly say I am addicted. The food is amazing, if you do not read the rest of this review, just know that I highly suggest it. Staff: The staff is amazing, everyone is always friends, willing to help and explain. Super attentive to needs. Food: The food is the bomb. Most places that have healthy food, don't always have healthy seasoned food. This is not one of those places. There food is well seasoned, flavorful and fulfilling. The first time I was on my way to eat there, I ran into a girl, who worked there and she raved about the food. I took an uber my first time and even thr uber driver was going on and on about the food. I've tried almost everytihing on the emnu and it was pretty good. Price: The pricing can start to rack up especially if you add in a premium and get a drink as well. However, I feel like without getting any premiums or drinks the food is worth it. Maybe on a day I want to treat myself I'll go for the premium. Cons: I love fresh juice, theres is amazing. However, I am not a fan of their soda. I suggest tasting it for yourself as you may disagree, but it is not for me. There tea is not southern enough for me so I have to pass on that as well. I usually just get a glass of water when I eat there. read more

I've been to Bolay about 5 times since they opened in Gainesville. The small bowl is a pretty big portion. My favorite part is that I can get half of my two favorites bases (sweet potato noodles & black rice). The Cajun sweet potatoes is probably my favorite menu item. I wish they had more vegetarian options for protein but the tofu is SO good (& hot! Most "bowl" places serve cold tofu) that I don't mind. I don't get it every time but their sodas are pretty good too! My only complaint is that sometimes it takes too long in the veggie to protein to check out transition. It seems like they may need an additional person since sometimes it takes long. read more

This place is very similar to Grill Fresh and they both have the same philosophies. Fresh and healthy ingredients. I prefer Bolay more although I am also a happy Grill Fresh customer. I usually place my order online and grab and go with my bowls. Super convenient. They make healthy food taste so flavorful. My favorite is the small bowl with quinoa, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and lemon chicken. read more

Bolay is a create your own bowl restaurant with a focus on fresh and healthy food. You choose up to 2 each of bases, veggies, and proteins. Pros: 1) The food is fresh, healthy and tastes good 2) The staff is friendly 3) The interior is clean 4) It is quick Cons: 1) The selection on some items, like the veggies, could be better. I believe there was 5 choices for veggies and this includes potatoes, something I would consider more of a base item 2) The price is a little high for the amount of food you get. A couple dollars cheaper or slightly larger portions and it would be a really good deal Overall, I was pleased with Bolay. I think Bolay is a good healthy restaurant and I'm sure I'll be back. read more

Expensive for what it is. There are other poke bowl fresh food places that are better. Wouldn't go back.

Not many healthy options in Gainesville & this place is very similar to Grill Fresh or Vale. You go in choose a base, some veggies, and protein. Some of the choices are good but, others are a swing & a miss. Like their cilantro noodles are tasteless. The big thing holding this place back is that it's WAY overpriced. read more

I ordered with them through bite squad two days ago. I experienced mild food poisoning and my daughter who ate the other half of her food the next day had VIOLENT food poisoning. She is still recovering today. I noticed I am not the only one who had an issue like this. Stop sending your questionable salmonella chicken out to delivery customers. I used to love this place. :( read more

I've been to Bolay twice now, both times with my mom and 3 year old son. They are very family friendly, my son likes to run around and can't sit still (what 3 yr old can? Lol!). Both times we were there the staff were very nice to all of us, they played around with my son and talked to him. I love that they weren't bothered by him, they even reassured me not to worry. On to the food, we all have multiple food allergies and they employees and managers were all very accommodating. The first time we went all we did was taste different menu items, they will let you taste anything on the menu for FREE!! Now that is the sign of a great restaurant, Bolay, you're doing it right. We talked with a manger discussing our allergies and she explained how they were able to accommodate them. Today was our second time and we got two small bol's. They were delicious!! I got kale salad, green beans, broccoli, steak, parmesan cheese, carrot ginger sauce and spicy Thai sauce. I ate the entire thing and loved every bite. The steak was so perfectly cooked and everything was perfectly seasoned. You really don't need to add sauce, but it compliments it so well. I loved the steak and spicy Thai together. My mom got kale salad, sweet potatoes, broccoli, lemon chicken, basil tomatoes and carrot ginger sauce. She also really liked hers, she couldn't finished it all though. But they provide to-go boxes right next to the drinks so you can get your own. I also wanted to say that I was very impressed by the employees and managers work ethics. We were there for a while today and I was watching them, they were very courteous of each other and they always greeted every customer with a smile. It's obvious that they actually care about their job and doing it well. We will definitely return to Bolay, it's rare to find a place like this. read more

Small bowl is filling enough and I their options are pretty tasty. Small bowl is around 8.99 i believe for one base, protein, and vegetable. I think there are many places with the idea of choosing your ingredients and having them be fresh. They usually range around this price, even though I believe Bolay has slightly higher prices than the other places I have been, BUT their service is outstanding. The workers are all very welcoming, informative, and understand what good customer service means. read more

i definitely have had better. when i got the food i was pleased with it i guess. it tasted ok and i was super hungry so i finished the whole bowl. my two friends were with me and liked theirs. later on, my friends started complaining about how they had major stomach pains and later on i did too. the next day we all were throwing up from food poisoning and we never returned. be careful everyone!! read more

Finally was able to check out Bolay with the family. We all enjoyed making and personalizing our own bowl. I had the sweet potato noodles and quinoa, mushrooms and roasted cauliflower with chicken and the Thai sauce. Large portion was enough to save for lunch the next day. Also tried the gatsby juice-kale pineapple green apple and Lemon. Healthy fast choices! read more

Best new restaurant in town! They have my business for life! The food and service are both fantastic. The food is delicious, especially the cilantro noodles (if you like cilantro) and the big bowl is a must buy! I had a catering order on a Friday night and wanted to give a shoutout to Matt who was able to take care of me in 15 min! I will definitely return to Bolay in the future!! read more

Years later, and Bolay still offers a consistent and reliable taste! I really enjoy the healthy and satisfying options here. The restaurant is always clean and the workers are very friendly and upbeat. read more

Great place to get a great amount of food for the price and not feel guilty about what your eating. I got a small bowl with sweet potato noodles, broccoli, mushrooms, and lemon chicken. Only reason they get 4 stars instead of 5 is because when I sampled their pork tenderloin and their shrimp they were on the dry side. It may be due to the heat being too hot in the warmers. But hey I would rather have hot food than cold food. I will come back next time I'm in town! read more

We like Bolay more everyday. my company orders from here every week. it's always fresh and delicious. great menu full of vegetarian and healthy options. love the sweet potato noodles! will keep coming back. Thanks!! read more

Great healthy alternative to fast food! With GCM and their social media discounts, Bolay is a healthy and affordable option. I've been to other Bolay locations before, however this one has been my favorite so far. The quality of food and service really stands out at the Gainesville location. I do wish there were more vegetarian options besides the miso glazed tofu. I would appreciate other meat-free proteins, or even a different kind of tofu! But overall, the food is fresh and filling. The bowl pictured is the miso glazed tofu with broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and a black rice base. read more

Bolay - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I have been here a few times now. I have been to many places like Bolay in Tampa and Gainesville. It's definitely a fresh, healthier option when eating out. Depending on the number of bases and proteins you choose the price increases. The part that I dislike is that there is an additional up charge for certain meats like tuna and steak. If you don't mind paying extra the tuna is delicious. I recommend eating the food fresh instead of to-go. It tastes SO much better fresh! read more

Bolay - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I was here on Friday for the Grand Opening and they did a great job. The food was on point and I love that you get to sample items. Bolay offers a build a bowl concept and they feature Craft Soda and Pressed Juices. I came back today and so far it's still a great experience, everyone is so pleasant. Can't wait to try their catering. read more

Bolay - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Excellent vegetarian/vegan. Good food, good flavor. Priced just on the upper end just right. Well done! Enjoyed it very much and felt great walking out. Highly recommend trying it. read more

Just moved down from Texas and read great reviews. The food is soooo good, my first time trying this place and the staff was so friendly and the bowl I got smelled and tasted amazing. Usually I'm not a fan of tofu but there's had me over the moon. 10/10 will be back. I had the sweet potato and cilantro noodles with tofu broccoli and potatoes absolutely amazing, sweet potato noodles were delicious and would probably just get those next time. Cilantro pesto sauce on the side and you have an amazing meal. I purchased the small bowl and it filled me up! read more

Bolay - Half Sweet potato, half cilantro noodles. Potatoes, broccoli and tofu - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

This place looked great and had amazing reviews, but I was honestly let down. The shrimp was overcooked and the noodles were a bit hard. The flavor was average for the cost. The staff was nice and helpful, but the food was subpar. I'm still curious to try other menu items though. read more

Bolay - spicy thai shrimp on cilantro noodles w/ cajun sweet potatoes, tomatoes, parmesan cheese and spicy thai sauce - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Let me preface this by saying there are very limited options for healthy food options in this area. Bolay is the exception to that. It's very unique establishment. Located in the southern part of the university. As expected the place is frequented by many collage students. The reason I've rated this place as only 3 stars isn't for the taste but rather the cost. Expect to spend approximately $12-15 for a large healthy bowl. These are typical of prices in NYC where I'm from. Atmosphere is clean and open. Best way to describe it would be a health food chipotle that's close to double the cost. I personally enjoyed it because I'm not oppose to paying extra for good quality foods (I'm of the mentality of Garbage In is garbage out), but for young college kids living off loans, maybe consider this as an infrequent options. read more

Delicious healthy food option! Sweet potato noodles, kale salad, green beans, Cajun sweet potatoes, ahi tuna, Thai shrimp for the win. Top that with cilantro, tomatoes, parmigiana cheese and the secret sauce. read more

Bolay - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I came here again to give it another chance and it was a mistake. They put a lot of the veggies and starches but I got the smallest amount of meat. Everyone that works here is so rude too. Since I am by a regular here, I didn't really understand the process of ordering and who I tell what food item too (it works like a Chipotle and I didn't know). The personalities of the workers aren't friendly and I had my receipt basically thrown at me. - Will not come again to give it another chance! read more

Bolay does it again! I'm taking one of the biggest exams of my life today and I ordered Bolay for lunch before exam time, and it's like they knew what I needed to hear today. I know it's just a coincidence, but a little kindness goes such a long way, and not only is the food great and nutritious as always, but this message that cost them nothing to write really made my day. So thank you Bolay!! read more

Bolay - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Fresh, healthier option. A little pricier than fast food and even Chipotle, but quality is really good. It's always been busy when I'm there but the line moves fairly fast. Like the soda selection - different options. I don't think it's a go-to meal place for me but nice and different, glad I tried it and good for when I want to switch it up. Plenty of choices if you like meatless options. read more

Heard of this place so gave it a shot. Pretty good. Nice vibe. Food was very flavorful. There are a lot of these healthy food options as of late, but they usually taste bland or average to me. I liked the flavors here a lot more. I got half Asian noodles and half the cilantro noddles. Both good in their own ways. Fresh veggies and some nice tangy Thai sauce was awesome. Cilantro sauce was also good with the lemon chicken. The small size was a decent amount of food. It was around 8 something I think for cost. I was content with my food amount but definitely could have eaten more. (6ft 1in 180 pounds for reference haha). Overall efficient system, nice people, delicious food. I'll be back. read more

Bolay - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Super yummy vegan options. Highly recommend the sweet potato noodles. It would be nice if they had more vegan protein options instead of just the miso glazed tofu read more

Bolay never lets me down with their fresh food and varieties! A little expensive, but it's totally worth it. If you order from a delivery service, some of them don't have their sauces listed so make sure you go on their website to choose a sauce and put it in special instructions! Love Bolay. read more

OMGGG!!! So good.!We tried it for the first time, and the food exceeded our expectations. It was seasoned well but not salty and it was fresh. Look forward to returning. I would highly recommend this place read more

Bolay - Forbidden rice, cilantro noodles, mushrooms, lemon and teriyaki chicken - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Food is really good! Sweet potato noodles are my favorite as well as the lemon pepper chicken. Customer service is hit or miss but whatever their sweet potato noddles make up for the lack in customer service skills. It's fast casual anyways. They are a bit pricy for the amount of food you get but still worth it to us on occasion. Definitely worth a try if you haven't yet. read more

Love, love, love Bolay! Delicious gluten-free flavorful food at a reasonable price. Curbside pickup is fast and friendly and fresh! My favorite restaurant in town! read more

Excellent, fresh and healthy food. The kale, sweet potato noodles, brussels sprouts, ginger broccoli, lemon chicken and teriyaki chicken are all fantastic! read more

Bolay - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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I've never been to a Bolay before. They opened up in my area a few years ago, and I had never gone, because they never caught me attention that much. I assumed it would have strange flavors and tiny portions for a high cost, because it was a "bowl" place. But I was dead wrong. This place is awesome! First off, this was perhaps the cleanest restaurant I have so far visited in Gainesville. Secondly, the food is very very good, especially for the price. It's a Chipotle-styled restaurant, but with less of a hispanic flair, and a more cosmopolitan list of meats, veggies, grains, and other things to add to your bowl. I got the Havana pork bowl, and not only was it filling, but it was very tasty, felt like genuine mojo pork with rice and beans, which surprised me for a chain (I think it's a chain, not sure). My wife built her own bowl with what she wanted, and seemed to love hers too. They have a soda machine, and offer tea as well, which goes along with the atmosphere of the restaurant. Many of the ingredients you can add, indicate when they're vegan, and there's like, motivational posters around, which honestly creates a very feel-good environment. And not at the expense of traditional customers who just want some meat and rice and soda. I hope they are paying the employees well too, since our service was great! I mean, we had someone actually come and check up on us if we needed anything, like a non-chipotle type restaurant! So if you're looking for a great new place to try, and you're on the fence, give Bolay a try! The experience we had was one of the best I've had at a restaurant in Gainesville. read more

THIS PLACE IS GREAT!!! My favorite is EVERYTHING! They have the best staff, best food, and clean restaurant. I even bought two more meal to take back home 4 hour drive) to have the next day. read more

I absolutely LOVE this bolay and the staff that works there. All of the food is so fresh and constantly replenished as it runs out. Every meal I have had here has been amazing (and I go twice a week). I don't usually leave reviews but the above-and-beyond employees make my day every time(: This place is the best. read more

Great spot for a quick lunch. Good food , plenty of fresh options. Fast and friendly service.

I had been hearing good things about Bolay for weeks and finally decided to check it out for myself. The ingredients were super fresh and tasty, and my main issue was trying to decide between the options. They let you have as many sauces as you'd like, and it was the perfect amount of food for me. The staff was friendly and helpful and the atmosphere was pleasant and clean. Bolay is a great option for a healthy meal on the go, wish it was a little closer to me! read more

Bolay - New American Near Me - Gainesville, Florida