Unsure why 8 high schoolers are expected to run the business with no manager on a busy weekend day, but I waited an hour for my bowl and found out they "lost my ticket." And when I wanted a refund, the charge that was shown in my bank account was no where to be found in their system. The girl told me she can't give me a refund if the order doesn't exist. Weird..... After a little while she magically found my charge in the system. I wasted a good chunk of my day waiting of which could've been spent on the beach with my family I haven't seen. Still never got the bowl. I'll never give them my business again. read more

Terrible slow service! BTW the fruit bowls are high in calories!!! Vastly overrated and high priced.

I used to love playa bowls!!!! I seriously would go there multiple times a week! They just went downhill so badly this past year. The quality of their fruit used to be so amazing, always fresh and delicious and now it's always mushy and tons of sugar clearly added to it. Not to mention they used to fill the bowls with tons of fruit but now it's just a couple of pieces. Not worth the price anymore. My main issue however is the way multiple locations are run. My family and I went to playa in bayhead at 6:05 on a night when they close at 8pm. Me, my son and my husband ordered our bowls and went to pay, handed the girl two twenty dollar bills and she said they couldn't take cash because after a certain time the cash drawer locks? I'm a business owner myself, it's illegal to not take cash.... And this was two hours before closing, it wasn't like we came in last minute. We had walked there so all we had was cash.... When she insisted we couldn't pay with cash we said "okay, then I guess cancel our order" to which two girls in the back got extremely nasty saying how they already started making our bowls and how they will get in trouble now if we don't pay.... All while refusing the legal tender we were trying to give them.... My husband had to run home, grab a credit card and come back. Total insanity. Then they wouldn't even let us use their garbage cans to throw out our garbage because they just took the garbage out so they gave us a bag to put our garbage in and take the garbage home... seriously?!?! Made us take our garbage home. I was blown away. Figuring it was a fluke night and maybe those teenagers were just having a hard night we went again with my brother and his fiancé a couple days ago. My brothers fiancé was so excited to get a smoothie but a similar situation happened where it was 6:30pm on a night when they close at 8pm and they wouldn't make her a smoothie because they already cleaned the blender for the night. Then my bowl had barely any granola, two pieces of a strawberry and 3 pieces of a banana..... they used to pack these bowls to the brim!!! What happened?!?! I'm so upset by how horrible they became because they used to be my happy spot. I should have seen this coming when they expanded everywhere, I just had such high hopes because they used to always have great food and great customer service. I used to wear their merchandise constantly and would recommend them constantly.... I hope they can make positive changes and get back to the amazing business they used to be! read more

Everything is made fresh from scratch which is why there most likely will be a long line. This is the most perfect establishment for a beach like Belmar. The bowls are amazing, but ranging from $8-$11. I will probably always visit this place every time I come to Belmar. read more

Playa Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

Just had my first Kale bowl OMG it was so delicious. Had the Hemp green bowl it was amazing. The staff is so sweet and helpful. The smoothies are also so good and refreshing can't wait to come back and try a different one. read more

Playa Bowls - A Hemp Bowl and a Lola Bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

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I've seen people eating these for the past year and I finally gave in, waited in the long line and awaited my treat. It was better then expected. I chose the Nutella bowl with Pitaya. It had bananas, strawberries, coconut meat, granola and drizzled with Nutella. This is far from a light healthy snack however it's not like it's cheese fries. Was a little costly at $11.00 and where they have the menu is inside by the cash register so you can't decide your order till last second. To expensive for a weekly treat by once in awhile for sure. read more

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One of the best bowls I've ever had. They have so so so many choices that it gave me anxiety haha but great snack while at the beach. read more

Playa Bowls - This is the tropical bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

I really love having an organic, healthy option in Belmar on the beach. The choices used to be limited to pizza/hoagies/7-11... So this is a welcome change. A bit pricey, but that's expected for what you are getting. I got the Dragon bowl, which was incredible. The issue is the wait. So, so disorganized. I took me at least 15 minutes to even be addressed, and then another 25 to have my bowl made. I appreciate that the fruit is cut fresh for each smoothie/bowl, however, it's completely impractical and inefficient. It really takes too long for each product to be made. Also employees were running around back and forth in front of each other trying to reach different things, serving spoons were left on counters rather than put in sink and then grabbed to use again, and there were a lot of sloppy spills unaddressed. They need to get organized. read more

Playa Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

This is a new joint in Belmar on the beach which could have been a much better place if 1. The bowl of frozen berries that anyone can by at the supermarket then put in a blender for $10 bucks+ with some toppings was ridiculous. 2. It took so long to get the bowls then they didn't give me my change they just kept it then charged me for a large coffee but gave me a small one??? Anyway no big deal any froyo place would do and cost much less. Enjoy. read more

Actually went to bay head location but does not show on my phone - good venue - hot as heck in the store but aloha smoothie tasty and served in a timely fashion . Liked the pineapple decorations in the store but a lot of customers were complaining About the heat . My first time here so will try a bowl next time which appeared enticing. Definitely a fun place to visit . read more

Playa Bowls - Aloha smoothie tasty and nicely chilled . Love the biodegradable product Line - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

Best açaí in the DMV! Ive had many many bowls from here and none of them have ever disappointed. Such a cute store and the quality is on point. If your looking for a good pre or post workout snack this is perfect. read more

Waited about 20 mins after ordering to receive my bowl but its was delicious!!!! I got the Nutella bowl with strawberries and bananas, it was so good I wanted a second one. My friend had the chia bowl which was a bit bland but after mixing it with the fruits it actually tasted very good. Cant wait to have another one. read more

Playa Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

I was visiting out of town when we came across this foodstagramers wet dream. They literally make picture perfect acai bowls! If you're looking to get the perfect picture of acai bowl on the beach look no further. The acai bowl its self was pretty good, I decided to try the coconut bowl instead of the traditional acai bowl. It was pretty tasty, but something about eating mush for about 15 mins begins to get to be to much. So it's good, but maybe just too big, so it loses its lust after a while. Much prettier to look at I guess. On a side note I also waited about a half hour to revive said bowl. Not sure if it was just. Ad timing or if they usually have about 30 15 year old girls ordering bowls all at once. read more

Playa Bowls - Instagram worthy Acai bowls on the beach. - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

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I should start off by saying that I really don't get the Acai bowl / smoothie hype. I've been here a few times because I was given a gift card and each time has been a hassle. The line is always long and while there are plenty of staff working, it takes forever and a day to get your order. I tried to do the online ordering and my order wasn't started before I arrived. It was just too hectic. I've started getting the steel cut oats, which I enjoy, but the line/crowd 100% deters me from coming here. read more

Excellent Acai bowls! A little hard to find but well worth it once you do! I like the Dragon Berry and the Strawberry Banana smoothie read more

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Tried their Poké bowl for the first time. It's not only great it's giant in size! The tuna was perfect and the bowl was made to order with little to no wait. I definitely recommend. read more

The Lola green bowl was so so yummy! Service is on point and bowls don't disappoint !

Let me start out by saying that the bowls themselves a very tasty and the ambiance of the store is nice BUT Why is the service so continuously terrible, specifically at this location? I understand on a busy weekend, but on a rainy night with not a single person in line is unacceptable. I entered around 6pm, there were two groups sitting down. No one waiting in line. And no one working behind the counter. I waited for about 5 minutes and still no sign of anyone working there. I get up to look around back to see if anyone was there, and still there was no one even in the kitchen. Finally a girl emerges from one of the groups at the table--she was sitting there socializing the whole time and didn't even acknowledge that a customer had been standing there waiting to order for 15 minutes. When she finally took my order, she was attentive and friendly but did not apologize for the wait. Later on, a girl who is seemingly a manager or higher up comes over, and yet again, does not acknowledge that I had been standing there for 15 minutes. Who manages these people? Because it seems like there is no management or any inkling of basic customer service knowledge. I hate writing reviews like this and will usually give places second and third chances to redeem themselves from having an off day, but the service here is just so continuously poor. I don't care how trendy or profitable you may be--you never skimp on service! read more

Delicious, healthy snacks that are perfect for the beach! Go ahead and try one of their bowls, you won't regret it. They even have a few locations in the area, including a food truck/stand that's usually right on the boardwalk. Don't forget to pick up a loyalty card to get a free bowl after a few purchases. read more

Playa Bowls - The electric mermaid pitaya bowl is very tasty - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

Came here with my bf for an after beach snack and it was so amazing! The atmosphere is awesome and the bowls are like a dessert! I got the coco-craze which was yummy! Will definitely be back when I am in the area again! read more

Playa Bowls - Coco-craze and Nutaya. Both delicious! - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

My husband and I tried Playa Bowls for lunch this past weekend, on the recommendation of my parents. I used the online system to order ahead, which made for a quick and easy pickup. However, I was a bit confused as the online system listed Coconut bowls as an option, but I couldn't find any information about what is in a coconut bowl anywhere on the website. We decided to order 2 Power Bowls - acai, almond milk, granola, banana and peanut butter. They were absolutely delicious! And such a light and refreshing lunch for a hot day at the beach. I think they'd also be great for a light summer breakfast. I'll definitely be back! read more

We enjoyed the acai bowl for sure! Id probably still go back again for a pitaya or coconut bowl It iiiiiis hard to ignore the fact though.. that it's $10 for a bowl of fruit, some coconut milk and maybe some granola or Nutella. It's nice for the novelty though :) read more

Pretty decent stop for a sweet treat when you're done with the beach. It has a lot of healthy fruit blends and flavors like Nutella and such. The portions are pretty big, it's a little pricey though. The fresh fruit is good, but they tend to not put that much, and that results in a soupy melted goop by the time you get half way through. Also, just a side note but one staff member was eating food behind the counter while another was making a bowl and it was kind of gross read more

I got an açaí bowl from here. The strawberries and blueberries were old and warm? The smoothie base was also more of a liquid than usual. Won't be returning read more

The fruit is like soaked in a sweetener, or there is something too sweet about it. We couldn't finish ours. I'd go to any other place but Playa for an acai bowl. read more

So we've been coming to this location for a few years now, and have always loved it. Quality was top notch. More recently I'm disappointed that I can't say the same. They have changed their coconut base. I used to get this bowl because it was made fresh in store, I felt healthy after eating it and it filled me up. Now, it is made at a different facility in order to mass produce it, and it is then shipped to store locations. The new base tastes like a coconut flavoured Italian ice, and reminds me more of a dessert than anything else. The fruit served on top is so cold that the berries lose their taste. Part of the draw for Playa was that everything was served fresh and the difference is noticeable. Playa has gotten so popular that I'm sure these changes are in order to curb wait times. The store was very quiet when we visited (No blenders going). Can't say for sure but our theory is that the bases are delivered to stores and the staff just constructs the bowl. We'll be back, but probably not as often, and we will definitely miss the attention to detail that was obvious in their earlier years. read more

Really bad customer services, super slow and the Asian guy give me an attitude and was very rude, just bc I don't want carrots in my juice, I will never come back to this place there is a lot better place to go. read more

Playa Bowls is great overall but do not get a green bowl. They do not blend the kale thoroughly so you end up with chunks of kale. Some bites tasted like legit salad. Safer to stick with an acai or pitaya base. read more

Playa Bowls - Chunks of kale, not blended at all - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

Pretty good, but the ratios were inconsistent. A bowl I got in February and I was phenomenal and full of fruits and kale. Recent times I've gone the bowls have not been that great and definitely not as good as the first one I got. Not worth the disappointment for the price! read more

Playa Bowls - Feb 2016 - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

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The tropical and nutella acai bowl was the first order my friend and I experienced. The bowl is pretty big and I couldn't finish it even when I was so hungry. It was delicious!! read more

Playa Bowls - The tropical and nutella acai bowl! - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

So I know that açaí bowls are such a millennial thing, but they're just so darn good that I'll happily fall into the stereotype. My best friend and I have been coming to this Belmar location (and it's roaming food truck during busy summer days) for years, and we've never been disappointed. The fruit is fresh, their servers are nice, and the bowls are out of this world. I usually go for a pitaya bowl, typically the Nutaya with added mango, because really what could ever go wrong with a Nutella drizzle? (rhetorical question, because Nutella is delicious and solves all problems). Their Coconut Craze bowl, Pura Vida Açaí bowl, and Electric Mermaid Pitaya bowl are all insanely delicious as well. Pretty much everything I've tried here has been delicious. And healthy - don't forget healthy. I will say they are a bit pricier than the açaí bowls on the West coast, but supply and demand and all that. Just, trust me, the hype is warranted because the bowls are so good. read more

Playa Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

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Playa bowls are pretty expensive (around $10 per bowl) but they do put a lot of fresh fruit into your bowl. I think it's a great alternative to ice cream because it is more fresh and it definitely is more nutritious. I've had the acai bowl before which was yummy and my brother (who hates vegetables and healthy things) tried the green bowl and loved it. If you haven't tried a playa bowl they're delicious I think they're slightly overrated but it's definitely something worth trying! Also in the summer they get super busy but the staff is hard working and has always been speedy and kind! read more

Playa Bowls - Green bowl! - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

FYI- the Cranford location is ignoring President Biden, The CDC, and science by requiring fully vaccinated people to wear a mask. Dated May 28 , 2021 read more

Great place. Decent services for a counter service place. The food is very tasty. If I go for lunch, I do feel like I am eating desert which is mostly true since the bowls all seem to be fruit and Nutella filled. If it is what you are looking for, it is fantastic. If you are looking for real fill you up food, this probably isn't the place to go this time. They have expanded and have a few more locations. My biggest complaint has been the line to get in. Hopefully, the expansion solves that. read more

I got the Pink Pataya and it was delicious. They're not inexpensive - it was almost $8 for a smoothie. But the color was vibrant and taste was spot on. I got it on a hot summer day and downed it in about 10 minutes. I had to wait an oddly long time for my order - just a smoothie and saw several orders of bowls and smoothies go out before mine, and they ordered after me. But I'm guessing they just forgot? Anyway...it was good! read more

My friend took me here in the end of December so I wasn't exactly thrilled to be getting something cold. However, the playa bowl was very refreshing and pretty filling for breakfast. I got the apple caramel one and it was like a smoothie in a bowl with fresh fruit. My friend got the protein peanut butter one and he loved that. I will definitely come back here... especially in the summer. read more

Playa Bowls - Protein bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

Just tried the new Bay Head location. Nicely designed and decorated, friendly and quick service. Tons of options for bowls, smoothies and juices-all fresh and made to order. I loved the outdoor seating, although I was surprised there wasn't a fence on the bulkhead, seems like an accident waiting to happen with the amount of kids that were there. read more

Playa Bowls - 8th Ave Acai Bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

Friendly and caring service. I must follow a strict GF diet. The server was honest about not having a dedicated spot for GF, but was very careful about keeping my açaí bowl and GF granola separate so I could enjoy without worry. She also shared the love with my dog and gave him a bit of coconut to enjoy. Made the experience extra enjoyable. read more

It was the best pitaya I've had in Jersey other than homemade. The granola they use makes the bowl just perfect! Would've ordered açai bowl too but they didn't have a wide selection of toppings. Love the portion and the fresh fruits they had. read more

Playa Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Belmar, New Jersey

Playa Bowls is a delicious spot and not just somewhere you should go in the summer time! They have a huge menu allowing everyone in my party to find something they like. The portion sizes are decent for what you pay, but I wish they had a smaller option for the kids in my party (they never finish their whole bowl). Overall, I would highly recommend this place! read more