Eating healthy today is a must and never expect the food to taste so good. I was amazingly surprised on the experience that I had here. Of course, I had to check everyone's review and it was off the chart satisfying. I ordered the chicken harvest salad and I have to say that it is not your traditional harvest salad, where the usual lettuce lay under everything else. I'm the kind of person who hate using utensils like knives to cut the salad in smaller pieces. The salad was perfect! The chicken, lettuce, broccoli, red cabbage, raisins, carrots, bleu cheese, strawberry (yes) and nuts diced up in small mouthful pieces. Hint: I highly recommend you order your lunch online. It was very easy and fast. The line was out the door with people and I just walked in and walked out within 5 minutes. The prices are little on the high side but worth every penny. read more

Protein bar! I love you. I hate your lines. Please continue to make good food. Please find a way to deal with your lunch rush because holy **** am I never going to come here during the lunch rush. I will say your food kicks butt, and it does. The amount of healthy/vegetarian options is a definitely plus, even if you gave me non-veggie chili when I asked for veggie chili. Veggie "Barritos" (burritos) with quinoa are always something I enjoy and a nice change from traditional burritos. So, dig the place, dig the food, hate the lines. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Vegan barrito! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This place is crack for healthy food junkies! If you care about high quality, healthy, tasty food, this place is for you. Its ok if you can't spell or even pronounce Quinoa, cause after a few visits you will converted to a true believer. I love their Ivy wrap, and the Capone is also excellent. The Vegan salad (which i sub Chicken in for the tofu) is also outstanding. And their protein shakes make you feel like you are cheating and having a milkshake. My only complaint would be that the portions of the wrap are a little on the small side if you are a large male with a healthy appetite. But then you can always grab a couple hard boiled eggs as a side if necceary. Don't forget to ask for a frequent visitor card, cause once you start you won't stop (i know plenty of people that go several times a day). Oh yeah, avoid the high traffic lunch hours because the line is long and you won't get a seat. If you can wait til 1PM, thats the sweet spot. Or just order online and pick it up with no wait. read more

Thanks to Colleen for hooking us up with some free goodies at Protein Bar last Thursday! I don't think I would have been able to find this place otherwise, and I'm sure glad we did! I was intrigued by what they called a Pancake in a Bowl, which turned out to be a really delicious and healthy bowl of oatmeal with lots of choices for different proteins and such. "Oatmeal for lunch?" you might say, but it made perfect sense and was completely filling and satisfying. I had a hard time finishing it! I also got to read all of the background and nutritional information of the different types of bowls, and they all look really good for you. The prices are completely reasonable ($4-$5) and cheaper than most lunches in the Loop. You can enjoy a big milkshake, a bowl of oatmeal, or if you're really hankering for more lunch type fare they do have some wraps available. All of the people behind the counter were friendly and patient and will walk you through the different boost options you can add to your meal. The only problem is that it is a pretty small space, with seating at a premium. If you're going during the lunchtime rush it might be easier to plan on getting it to go and take it back to the office than trying to find a place to sit down. Think Jamba Juice, but better! Who doesn't love to have a fully customizable lunch? I look forward to going back and trying some more options sometime soon. :) read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Pancake in a Bowl and a Wrigley Peeled drink! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Got to the register and Nick was super helpful in telling me about all of the different proteins offered in the Signature drinks. He told me what he enjoyed and what would suit me best. Ended up with the Millennium Perk which was the perfect pick me up I needed this morning. He also helped me decide on the Pesto Bowl - it was delicious. The perfect size and exactly what I needed but didn't know I wanted. Then at the pick up area Crystal was super excited to see me. She gave me a welcoming good morning and asked me how my day was going. She genuinely cared! It was a nice refreshing breakfast paired with enthusiastic employees who want to help and make sure you enjoy your meal. Definitely stop by! read more

MMMMMM What a selection! I love me some protein, especially to get me through the midday slump during the work week. (See pictoral) Greektown wrap was delicious! The chicken was flavorful and not dry. Their selections for wraps and BAR-ittos are great, I had trouble deciding which one I wanted, even up to the line after having minutes to decide, scratch that, an hour to decide back at my office. They do delivery for $5 and you can get 10% off your first order apparently. I wasn't in a lazy mood so I strolled over. There are lines, but it goes quickly. Calories and nutrition labels are clearly marked and don't make you feel guilty at all, phew!! You cannot make a wrong choice here! I will be coming back very often PB, you betta believe it! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Greektown wrap - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

no flavor whatsoever. seems difficult to make a smoothie this bad considering all of the ingredients by themselves are good. they really managed to do the impossible here. for the price I'm shocked. the salad is so small and bland and I think they microwaved frozen veggies. super GROSS! read more

So... the lady at the counter today lied straight to our face, yep, you heard me right. My friend ordered a spicy Korean bowl, substitute quinoa for cauliflower rice, and she PAID $1.00 for it. But apparently the shop was just too busy or simply just doesn't care about making orders right. They not only skipped our order by 20 something orders, when our lunch order was finally readay after 25 mins, they again lied straight to our face when we asked wether they substituted the quinoa with cauliflower rice. Seriously?!The lady at the counter just took a look at the bowl and said "yes, it's your order." I guess what she didn't say is :" Yes, this is your order and we don't care whether it is correct, and I am gonna just LIE so you can't bother me anymore. Just TAKE YOUR ORDER AND GO already. " Never coming back, not to mention this already happened twice in two weeks. This place is a joke. Treat your customer with respect please. read more

This is my go to lunch spot in Chicago. At least once a week I come here between classes to get a "power" lunch in order to get through torts/property. The Bar-ritos leave me satisfied and energized instead of groggy and greasy like most lunch places around here. My personal favorite is the buffalo bar-rito, which comes with grilled chicken, blue cheese, a vegan buffalo sauce, and quinoa. Delicious and good for you? Yes please. Spicy, savory, and easy to eat on the go. A must try if you make it here. Protein bar makes eating well both easy and delicious. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - The Steak House Bar-rito - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The High-5 is amazing. For being a smoothie with kale in it, it's shockingly amazing and a bit addictive. Plus it's across the street from the Willis Tower, so get your health food on and then go stare down 1,000 ft! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Guac and roll is my fav - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I was so pissed off by this place. Two times in a row, they got me the wrong order, made the very same mistake twice: I can never get that cauliflower rice I substitute for $1. Yeah I paid for that little scoop of replaced cauliflower rice and it seems sooooo hard to get it right. For the first time, a mistake is ok. But today's experience totally provoked me. Not to mention that I waited 25 mintues for my order to came, even 20 customers after me were getting their lunch (believe me I checked the order number on the package). Finally when my order came, I double checked with the lady who was handling out orders since a mistake was made before. She opened the lid, took a peek, and told me this is my thing. Out of curiosity, this time I opened the lid and checked in store. Yep, still no cauliflower rice, just regular quinoa, plain as day. What am I looking like a person who just pay additional for fun? Lying to your customer in the face is what your staff training be like? An organized food chain service should never be like this. I can bear with some glitches at times, but two times in a row??? Terrible service made of negligence, carelessness and lying to your customers was definitely something prevent me from walking into this chain EVER again. read more

1st visit. Staff was friendly and helpful making recommendations. Had the vegan superfood wrap. Was ready quickly and everything tasted fresh. Unfortunately, I thought the wrap needed some additional seasoning - it lacked flavor for me and I wasn't excited to finish it. Definitely would try this place again, but not order that wrap again. read more

See all

This place wasn't bad, it had loads of good yummy choices. It all sounds pretty healthy, but their salads are covered with sauces; pretty much, all their food choices are really heavy, probably not the first choice for a light meal. Having said that, their smoothies are pretty good, especially their beauty brew. The staff are nice, but can get a little loud and ignorant having their own conversations and singing loudly to the songs playing (they seem like loads of fun tho). read more

See all

I really hate the term "noms" but if I were ever to use it, it would be for this place. The options are great - you can get a bar-rito, a salad, a warm bowl of quinoa topped with yumminess, and/or a smoothie/juice. No matter what you order, you can feel good about the fact that you skipped your usual Chipotle. The Greektown is especially delicious. The food is delicious and filling and not too expensive - you get a lot for your money's worth - more than, say, Hannah's Bretzel (I love you Hannah's, but you are giving me a wallet-ectomy). You also know that all the ingredients are good for you so can just enjoy your food. Sometimes everyone needs to fill up their fat cells, but for those times that you just want a healthy filling meal - head here instead. read more

Protein Bar is decent option for a gluten free lunch. While there is no separate gf menu, a handful of the items are on the menu are gluten free naturally or there are some that can be modified. One of the nice things is that they do note which items these are on the menu. If you are truly gf and worry about cross contamination, keep in mind that like many places, there is no dedicated separate area for gf prep. They do try to minimize cc by changing gloves, but there is still always a risk of it occurring. For this reason, I would not recommend getting a salad. I have found that the bowls tend to be a safer meal option. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side,and can get packed during the lunch hour rush. The workers do a good job of getting everyone in and out in a timely manner. Sitting is also tight. There are very few tables, and the line to order and pick up can push the people into the tables. The prices are pretty reasonable and won't break your budget or expense account. read more

Met a friend here for lunch today and had a pretty positive experience. The only real reason for my 3 star review is based on price. Why we came here: she works on LaSalle and I work on Jackson, this was a perfect in between meeting spot for both of us right across the street from the Sears Tower (you aren't from Chicago if you call it that other thing). She's a vegetarian and I am a health conscious meat eater so this was a perfect combo for us. She ordered the Kale wrap and I ordered the regular chicken wrap. I will say that I am more than full but I'm not sure I really felt like $10 was worth it for a wrap. I could have gone to Pot Belly's downstairs from my office for half the price and still had leftover food. I will say in terms of quality it was good but I won't be frequenting a $10 wrap all that often. Pro Tip: They have free cucumber water, skip the bottle. Save yourself some $$ and help the environment :) read more

I "try" to limit my carb intake and since I do have a gluten allergy, trying to eat is a pain sometimes. This place caters to my needs. I regularly order a "pier"nut butter and jelly shake with an energy boost. Just the shake itself is super filling and delicious. The peanut butter isn't too overpowering. Sometimes I order the Santa fe scramble with also is super yummy read more

This was a hold me over smoothie before lunch. While I don't have anything to complain about I don't have anything to rave about either. My smoothie was sort of bland. It was named after Wrigley field. I'm sure some of the selections are tasty and if I was local I would definitely give this place another shot or two. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Sitting in the dining area - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Healthy. Affordable. Quick. Choose 2 of the 3. This places chooses healthy and quick. I like that because many times I need a quick meal, but then I'm left deciding between unhealthy meals. Steak and Eggs scramble (2.5/5) - It's an alright dish. There's a lot of liquid pooled up at the bottom of the scramble so it's kinda gross. I would just go for the burrito and not the scramble. The eggs and steak are just alright. Steak a bit dry for me and doesn't feel like steak. Scrambled eggs are just alright. Matcha/Avocado Protein shake (4.5/5) - This is really good. It's not to sweet as the matcha and avocado balances out any sweetness that's added to the shake. However ,because there is some amount of sweetness, I'm wondering how much sugar is added to get that taste which makes me question if it's really all that healthy. For both the items mentioned above, my total came out to ~ $14, which I feel is very expensive for a fast food breakfast. I do like the concept they're going for here, but Americans don't usually like eating healthy. To incentivize it, they should find ways to reduce the price per unit production. I would suggest that they remove some dining real estate as typically if you're marketing yourself as 'quick meals', you don't sit and dine anyways. Find some way to utilize that space and reduce your costs. read more

Love this place! Wish I came here sooner. Been coming here this past week after my runs around the city. There's not many places in Chicago that displays calorie counts. This could be a good or bad thing. For drinks, I usually get the BGT (Bucktown Green Tea) which consists of matcha green tea, your choice of protein (I choose egg white), milk (I choose soy) & banana. Yum! For breakfast, I like the Pancake In A Cup & El Of An Oatmeal. Both are very similar, both are steel cut oatmeal topped with bananas and raspberries. You get your choice of protein and milk as well. Very filling and delicious! read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - BGT & Pancake in a bowl - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Healthier chipotle, with more options? Did I really just say that? I hope the chipotle Gods don't shun me for this review, but the bar-ritos at Protein Bar are definitely something to rave about. They're def not as hefty as chipotle's, but they're action packed with flavor and (at least my senses are telling me) healthier stuff. I rocked out with the Guac and Roll Bar-rito today and I loved everything about it, perfect combo of salad, chicken, guac, pico de gallo, spices, and I don't know what else. Also, the 16oz loaded chicken chili with onions cheese and Greek yogurt was amazing. Pairs perfectly with their meals. I've been to both this location and the merch mart location, and they're both 5 star joints in my little red star book. I need to check out their new spot in Lincoln Park right off Clybourn. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Guac & Roll Bar-Rito - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This place is awesome. The food is healthy, cheap and filling (all three qualities that make up a GREAT meal). They have burritos, salads, bowls (quinoa filled), oatmeal, granola and healthy drinks. I got the pancake in a bowl - oatmeal with a choice of protein..(I got soy)...a choice of milk (soy again) and a choice of fruit (I got bananas and raspberry). SO GOOD. I tried some of my coworkers bowls (black bean...SO GOOD...I don't even like beans) and crackberry (which is granola with bananas). ALL SOO GOOD. The granola and oatmeal are $5 and the black bean bowl was $6. All very filling. I will come back and try EVERYTHING on the menu. Esp their drinks - sounds delicious! read more

See all

Seemed promising for a gluten free power option after my workout and the pictures looked inviting so I made the trek. It's a food bar so it was predictably sterile in decor with a glowing back lit menu that I perused for probably too long, or at least that's what I thought, based on the two employees visibly in wonder at what was holding me up. Honestly, it's a lot of info to take in-- ingredients and calories and so on...... I was torn between the southwest salad and the meze salad which had "not fried" falafel, so I settled for the SW with a side of falafel. When I asked about the side they told me "we don't carry it anymore as it's not in season." Come again??? Not in season?? Are the falafel trees not growing these days??? I grabbed my salad and kombucha and returned to my hotel expecting some clean, nutritious and great tasting food. First strike-- the kombucha was spoiled. I suspected it might be when I took it from the cooler and noticed it was not very cool to the touch. And for 4.49..... yes....... I was pissed off. The salad was just ok. It was very weighed down with black bean and quinoa and thus pretty dry despite having extra hot sauce added. The things I did not really notice were the chicken or the cheese, and since the lettuce to quinoa ratio highly favored the grain...... it ate more like a dry quinoa bowl. I like clean food..... but not this clean. I'd recommend that they carry some sides that fit the healthy lifestyle like Hummus and gluten free chips..... maybe some prepared small items for those that need some extra calories in addition to a salad...... Final bill was 16.15 for a spoiled kombucha and a not so great salad. Sorry guys. Ya missed the mark....... and fix your refrigeration if yer gonna sell kombucha, lest you sicken people. Rob D, Parker, CO read more

BGT and quinoa chili. DE-freaking LISH!! Prices are kind of much but nothing more than you would find anywhere in the loop. A solid meal for sure. read more

See all

I had a Greek bowl, which I had not ever had before. I was pleasantly surprised how flavorful it was. I normally eat alot of fast food and the food that was served to me was so much better. The cook, Max, not only made sure that the ingredients I wanted left out were but also when he brought it to our table, he was very professional. Will definitely visit again and try new things. read more

Overall (4/5): Great place to grab a quick and healthy lunch! With a menu chock full of quinoa, acai, and kale, Protein Bar is perfect for the health-conscious, busy professional. I was in Chicago for two weeks for a work thing, and I found myself coming here at least 4 times. Food: The Red Line (3.5/5) - Very thick smoothie. I could taste the vanilla protein powder way more than the fruit. That being said, it does have 17g of protein, so it's really more of a protein shake than a fruit smoothie. If you're down for that, then go for it! I personally prefer more fruitiness. Chicken Chili (5/5) - My go-to. Flavorful, chunky chili piled on top of quinoa. Because the ingredients are so substantial, I found that I was full until dinnertime. It does smell a little strong, so maybe not the best if you're eating it in a small office with coworkers (but TBH, worth it). Korean BiBi-Q with Beef (3.5/5) - Tastes good, but looks like mush. The quinoa absorbs all the sweet/spicy/savory sauce, so it kind of turns into a glob of stuff. You're not exactly sure what you're eating, so the flavor is a bit one-dimensional, but still pretty good. Service (5/5): - Fast! You order at the counter and grab it in the pick-up area. Average wait time for my food was never more than 7ish minutes despite the heavy lunch crowd. Ambiance (4/5): - The lunch line may seems long, but it moves very quickly! - Most patrons seem to know what they want before they line up, so I would recommend standing aside if you're still deciding :) - They have nutritional info up on their menu, which is great but can also can make you sad. Waiting impatiently for them to expand into LA :) read more

Great place to come for a refreshing and healthy smoothie. The prices are reasonable, the service is quick and the smoothies are delicious! I recommend the Millennium Park to all the chocolate-lovers looking to get their fix. read more

Protein Bar & Kitchen - Millenium Park Smoothie + Fruit Loop'd Smoothie - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Literally just left a few minutes ago and upon taking the first bite of my burrito, my Lord what have I been missing. This was my first time and although it was very busy, this did not stop how amazing the service was. Although I was unable to catch the cashier's name who helped me(greatly), she is the reason that I will be returning. The service she provided was flawless and made my Friday :) I will be back soon! Thank you! read more

I could probably eat a barrito here for every single one of my weekday meals and be a-ok with it. It's not only tasty, but the ingredients are about 5 times healthier than the Chipotle's and Qdoba's of the world. Filled with quinoa instead of rice and with wheat wraps rather than flour tortillas it's about half the calories while only sacrificing a smidge of deliciousness. Yes, the food is a little bit pricier, but you'll likely live a lot longer and you can't really put a price tag on that. read more

Oh OK. Get it out of your system now. Har-dee-har-har. Protein Bar! YES, the name is just full on hilarity, especially if you are male and under the age of 90. YES, this is the kind of place my husband would absolutely abhor, with its uber-sleek, modern decor, its tiny tables and stools, and orange and brown colour scheme. He would hate the long line that snakes around the small interior and be irritated by the wait (personally I feel like if a line is that long, whatever is at the end is worth waiting for) He would balk at certain terms on the menu - quinoa, agave and acai being just a few. And he would not appreciate the beauty that is the Bar-ritos and their take on a classic - the Buffalo Bar-rito (which is what I had). Not that he is a bad person, mind you. It's just that he is a purist. A hard core, North Side guy, and if he is going to have Buffalo style chicken, or a burrito, well by god and holy hoppin Jesus it is going to be a giant calorie bomb, loaded with sauces and grease and other "manly", unhealthy additives. Eating something that is made up of all-natural chicken, organic quinoa, blue cheese, house-made vegan buffalo sauce, and Super 6 Salad Mix would be a waste because why does he care if it only has 440 calories and 12g of fat (but tastes far, far better than what you would expect 440 calories to taste like)??? Do you think he would trade rice for quinoa, white flour for wheat? Not willingly! Vegan anything? Fuhgeddaboutit. And this is just OK with me. I will keep this as my special go-to place when I want a guilt-free, delicious lunch. I will also brave the snickering and innuendo for another sampling from Protein Bar (insert filthy joke here). read more

There's this pretty new girl in school, and you know you'll hate her. Everyone likes her and tells you how great she is and this just turns you into a seething ball of resentment. But after being thrust into a conversation with her, you're completely disarmed and discover that she is the most genuine, conscientious, witty person you've ever met and you can't believe you wasted all that time being presumptuous? That was me and Protein Bar. It's incredibly good. I walked past it every day on my way to the Quincy stop and scoffed. Why? What did I accomplish by scoffing? Thank goodness Groupon intervened. People have lauded it appropriately, but here's what I love about this place: -Hot protein shakes! Because it's 10 degrees out and your mocha/hot cocoa might as well have 31 grams of protein and other healthy bits. Try the Soldier Field Good -- brilliant! -They have both a vegetarian chili AND a black-bean-jalapeno dish that satisfies my veggie chili-like cravings. I am blushing with options. -The South Acai'd smoothie was more delicious than I was prepared for. The first sip was one of those alarming "OH MY GOODNESS" moments that nearly makes you cry. -The uber-customization options are really excellent, and I love that the girls (never seen a boy) behind the counter will let you know if you're doing something funky. For example, egg protein apparently mixes horribly in the hot smoothies (which, as soon as we really thought about it, did make us want to puke) but they saved us from that mistake, is the point, and we're thankful. -Husband loved this chicken parmesan quinoa meaty-meat thing. This place veggies and carnies us real good. Tiniest gripe that they didn't let smoothieing companion & me know that we could have gotten a free health boost in our smoothies. Not a big deal; the Jamba people don't always tell you either, and I'm theoretically literate. It just left me wistful since they have way more exciting boosts here (libido booster and flu fighter come to mind), but nothing to make me knock down a star. read more

Don't get me wrong: if you are already at a healthy weight, have always been slim, are active, are vegetarian or have bought into the fat-is-bad myth and have no blood sugar or metabolic-syndrome issues, this is the place for you. I walked into the branch at Northwestern Memorial, hoping to get a snack or light lunch that fit my diet. Everything looked and smelled wonderful, and diners were enthusiastic. I searched the menu hopefully and thoroughly. Alas, I'm 63 and have lost over 50 lbs on the low-carb diet I went on a year ago to bring down my bad blood lipids (LDL, triglycerides) and keep a lid on my blood sugar and A1c. There is NOTHING here I can eat or drink, other than lettuce, tomato, frozen berries, nuts, plain tea and water (all of which I can have more cheaply and tastily at home). Everything else is loaded with carbohydrates--and not the low-glycemic kind, either. The smoothies are sweetened with bananas, tropical fruits, honey, agave, or cane syrup--all loaded with high-glycemic carbs. Might as well mainline sugar. Oatmeal? Even quinoa? Might as well eat bread, pasta or potatoes. One salad, smoothie, or lunch or breakfast item at this place will grind my weight loss to a halt--or even cause a gain. FAT IS NOT THE ENEMY--SUGAR & STARCH are! Eat REAL protein from animals or legumes, not processed powder! If you are not young and have ever been fat, keep walking right past Protein Bar (and into the Palm, if you can afford it). read more

If PB wasn't located directly across from work, I may never have run across this restaurant, but I am so happy they are! I've eaten here a handful of times, and have never been disappointed. Today's selection was the Southwest Salad. Their super 6 salad mix is the bomb! Also loaded with warm chicken, quinoa, black beans, avocado, cheddar cheese, salsa and cholula sauce. If you do not like any spiciness, you will think this salad is too spicy. I think it hits the spot and contains the perfect amount of spice. Plus, the salad is HUGE HUGE HUGE. You are paying around $9.50 for it, but the quantity and quality are totally worth it. I have also had their chicken chili in the past, and it is tasty and filling - but more of a cold weather food for me. Things I love about PB, is that service is fast and friendly. If there is a long line, and their usually is, just wait it out. It will move very fast. They have sriracha and cholula bottles at the end of the counter, and little containers to fill up if you want - for free! They also have all of their nutritional information online, right next to each item. Two big thumbs up for Protein Bar!!! read more

Oh hells yes - in my attempt to eat a semi healthy lunch I wandered over to Protein Bar for an opening week yelp event, was crazy impressed, and have been coming back ever since. And for a burger and pizza loving ass like mine, you know this isn't one of those healthy = tastes like cardboard types of places. It also doesn't hurt that the employees are super friendly, believe in the product, and are ready and willing to answer all my stupid questions. While their menu also includes salads and wraps, I've only ventured as far as the shakes and oatmeal bowls and have never been disappointed. Embarrassed - yes. Like the time I meticulously put together all the necessary ingredients for the perfect shake only to be told, "So, you like want the red line shake?" Uh, ya. My latest kick is the pancake in a bowl, which is like the deluxe version of my maple and brown sugar instant mix for those days when I'm livin' large. The only drawback is no matter what I get I'm hungry again in a couple of hours. I'm still trying to get into the 5-6 meals a day kick, but since I'm not there yet sometimes I have to give Protein Bar a pass since eating lunch there means this little pig won't be able to make it to dinner without needing a snack. read more

Not for me. I've been here a few times because the co-workers finally got tired of Freshii and decided they wanted to lick the back of the next computer monitor. Honestly it's not *that* bad but for someone who grew up on spice, seasoning, and cooking from scratch - it's like pouring sand in your mouth. Again, I'm being unfair but that was my initial reaction. I know Protein Bar has a lot of fans and their customers are generally either white collar business or white collar just-left-the-gym people. The menu is written nicely, accurate, appealing but it just has no flavor until you find out they have bottles of sriracha, Cholula, and tabasco they can soak the food in. The shakes are pretty heavy but highly customizable (soy milk, 2%, low-fat, etc.). Some are actually pretty tasty but one large shake can probably fill you up for dinner so I advise you to mind the hunger in your eyes. Besides that they have a wonderful selection of over-priced hard-boiled eggs and fruit in a cup. read more

Love it, love it , love it. I seriously cannot say enough good things about this place. I've had their steel cut oatmeal, their chili, their wraps, their smoothies-- everything is tasty and good for you. I'm here almost everyday. Sometimes twice a day. It's kind of ridiculous. But, I don't feel bad about it-- everything is pretty lo-cal, has healthy fats, and is fiber and protein rich (to keep you full)-- try finding that at Panera! I love that the majority of their items use natural sweeteners (like agave or stevia) and that they use real fruit in their items and don't fill their smoothies with juice or put jelly on their steel cut oats (which Jamba does). I also love that they have a nice selection of snacks-- veggies and hummus, tuna salad, Rachel's cottage cheese, coconut milk yogurt, Larabars, and their own brand of cookies and brownies that incorporate protein powder in place of flour. I haven't tried all of those, but as frequently as I'm here, I probably will. read more

I wandered on during the Grand Opening week, knowing fully well that this is supposed to be a healthy place and I am not a fan of much that is healthy. Even so, a new place this close to work is a new opportunity and I have made it a goal to try more new opportunities as they arise. So I warily entered and was greeted with a mildly-empty state-of-the-art kitchen with some very enthusiastic employees. I picked my poison, the Fruit Loop'd (yes, the drinks all have cheesy Chicago-based names) which had blueberries and bananas. I wanted something that could at least disguise its healthiness with flavor. I was given a choice of protein (whey, soy or egg) and a choice of milk (almond, rice, skim, soy - though purified water is also an option of "base"). I went with egg protein because it sounded less scary and went with skim milk, because it at least came from a cow and that's how I prefer my milk. (As Lewis Black would attest, it's "soy juice" - there is no such thing as "soy milk" because there are no "soy titties", are there?) Well, the drink didn't wow me. It was a standard-tasting smoothie with the added taste/texture of protein powder. It kind of flattens most tastes that it accompanies. But what the hey - I tried them a second time (a habit of mine when I'm offered "buy 10, get 1 free" cards) and went with the North Shore with its banana and pineapple flavors. This one disappointed a little more. Within 30 minutes of purchase (because I'm a busy guy), I noticed the drink was, in a word, separating. the protein-y bits seemed to be forming their own layer, separate from the fruit-y bits. And the melting ice wasn't exactly joining the two parties in any way. I believe half of that drink went to waste, sadly. But I gave them one last chance. "The bowls!" I exclaimed, "The bowls could be their saving grace!" I ordered up the most friendly-sounding option, the Pancake in a Bowl - which looked to be just oatmeal with protein powder, some sweetener and some syrup. Alas, I found this to be another disappointment. Growing up with Quaker Oats oatmeal, I have an expectation of my oatmeal to be mushy, tender and sweet. All they got down was the sweet part, because the oatmeal itself was tough, grainy/gritty and just didn't appeal to me. I know that my regular oatmeat uses rolled oats instead of "steel-cut", but it was like the stuff wasn't properly cooked. I'm sure they cooked it properly according to their directions, but it didn't seem proper to me and again, I felt like it was a waste. I bumped them back up to 3 stars because they are always friendly when I come in, the kitchen is clean and the design of the place is neat, and they actually know their stuff. I watched a pregnant lady asking about the proteins and the server was very knowledgable. That's always a plus in my book. Even so, their 3-punched card will sit in my wallet as a sad reminder of what could have been and what sadly was. I guess if you like healthy-protein concoctions and are speedy enough to enjoy them completely - then this is the place for you. As for me, I'll take my smoothie business back to Jamba Juice. read more

Psst...I'm not a fan of Protein Bar. I know, I should just revoke my human card now and get it over with. There are locations all over Chicago and clearly I'm missing the "it" factor. I got the Korean bowl and felt like I needed to go eat a real lunch after. If I was going to go back, I would order a smoothie/shake as those seemed to be more filling and a better value. read more

As someone who eats mostly vegetarian food, I'm always looking for restaurants with healthy options, tofu instead of meat as a choice, and filling, high-protein meals. I've loved everything I've had at this Protein Bar location, and the staff is friendly! Today, I had a Buffalo Bar-Rito with tofu, which was delicious. I also love the Wrigley Peeled shakes (with peanut butter, banana and chocolate protein). In the past, I've also had some of the wraps with tofu and a salad, which were all delicious. read more

PROTEIN BAR. i REALLY want you to listen to my suggestions. please take heed as i drop some knowledge. your product is great. i neither want to nor can dispute that fact. your ingredients are fresh (and though at times, limited) provide a delicious, nutritious, yet interesting menu of options that i can enjoy. after every meal, i am proud of what i have fed my body. thank you for coconut water and chobani and kombucha! BUT PLEASE PLEASE STOP BEING CHEAP. two suggestions: start offering size options. sometimes i finish a bowl, and i'm still hungry. thank you for helping me be calorie conscious, but some people want to consume more than 300 calories for dinner. you could even charge more (not that much more...) for larger sizes. flexibility is nice. how else can you be more flexible and not cheap? let customers add and substitute ingredients. i mentioned it in a prior review, but each time i wish to add a vegetable, an employee measures out a comically small amount of it and then reminds me that each ingredient is an extra 50 cents. 50 cents for about 6 olives. 50 cents for a sprinkling of carrots. 50 cents for 10 chickpeas. do you see my point? these vegetables are cheap, and charging extra for a small quantity (especially when the base product is small) breeds resent. as an establishment, you exist because people desire dining options that allow them to make smart choices. now let them have some flexibility in that choice. don't take advantage of that niche appeal as a health-focused loop lunch option and misuse it. be good to the people! i know this is a rant. i may love you protein bar, but i don't have to like you all the time. do better please. read more