Had the vegan burrito .. Did Not like it one bit .. Lacked salt or any taste for that matter .. Liked chipotle's burrito much better .. read more

Still five stars, but just wanted to update that they do carry a soy-free vegan cheddar cheese, and that now their sauces and dressings are vegan, too! They also have vegan soy yogurt available for their smoothies if you ask for it. Lately I have been addicted to their hot Bar-ritos (the wraps are vegan - whole grain AND honey-free...that's awesome), which are comforting and warm and filling in this cold dreary weather. Today I'm going to try my first Chilled Bar-rito. Exciting! The menu has changed a lot since I first started going here and the selection has gotten even better. Almost every single thing on the menu can be made vegan with some minor adjustments. They also have this super 6 salad mix that is insanely good, its got broccoli and purple cabbage and REAL greens. They use agave in their dressings, which I am super super into. The calorie counts are fab and are great for someone (like me) who eats 5 or 6 small meals a day. I haven't had one thing from the new menu yet that I haven't liked. If I could afford to eat out for lunch every day of the work week, I would come here every single time. Nowhere else in the Loop even comes CLOSE. read more

A great place to grab a quick pick me up, breakfast, or lunch. Inexpensive when you compare it to other meals, great service, and a TVs that let me catch up on financial news or sports why I eat. Background: Afternoon visit about 4 p.m. Food: I was surprised by the selection of items. I went in craving a smoothie and noticed everything from fresh Ahi tuna salads to protein-centric baked goods to soups and other quick foods. I ordered the "red line" smoothie. Good stuff, not overly sweet like a lot of other places. It appears that there are different textures with some of the smoothies. Mine was very smooth, but reading the descriptions I think some others are a bit more chunky. Service: It's quick serve food so my expectation is different than a high end restaurant. The person behind the counter greeted me with a smile, gave me choices, and explained why I might want Whey protein vs. Soy protein or Egg protein (turns out there is a giant sign on the wall too). Quick, happy, easy. Cost: Around $5. Along the line for my expectations. It's actually fairly inexpensive if you view it as a meal replacement or grab a salad, etc. Ambiance: Okay, so it's a smoothie joint. I normally wouldn't include this category in my review, but I loved that they had the flat screen TVs by the tables. I can pop in for lunch, grab a salad, sandwich or smoothie and catch up on CNBC or ESPN while I eat. It's more than I expected. read more

Like a grown up super buff Cereality (which, tear, I never got over losing...) Vegan friendly till the cows come home (and we sure hope they do!) Here's the v- run-down. :) Protein- get the Hemp Protein. (The soy proteins have traces of milk) Milks- They have almond, soy, rice, and soy yogurt! Then la-di-da go at it! I spent at least 15 minutes deciding what to order. Between their bowls and shakes, it was tougher than nails. Fresh. Healthy. Super filling. Vegan friendly. I think you'll liiii-iiike. read more

Walking to lunch today, I noticed a long line out the door for this place. I guess to many Chicagoans eating healthy is more important than eating something that tastes good. Granted - I've only tried 2 things at this place - but the 2 things I tasted were disgusting. I tried one of the wrap burritos and a smoothie. The wrap burrito contained a ton of quinoa and was bland, bland, bland. I couldn't finish it. Ditto on my smoothie. I'm thinking ... surely you can't mess up a smoothie. Boy, was I wrong - this smoothie had a great flavor, but I couldn't get over the chalky texture and taste left in my mouth. Based on some of the other reviews, I may dare to go back and try the quinoa chili or marinara - and if I like those - I will update my review. But for now, the Protein Bar is a huge FAIL, and healthy or not - I don't want anything that tastes like crap. Yuck. read more

I finally made it to Protein Bar for lunch today. I know several people who love this place. The deterrent was usually the long line of customers that often extended outside the front door. Today I passed by just before noon and was shocked to see no line at all! I ordered the bowl of chicken chili. I was in the store for about three minutes, as I placed my order, paid with credit card, was given a frequent diner card, and was quickly handed my order. The onion pieces gave it some crunch and texture, and the cheese gave it some extra gooey oomph. I liked the chili and it seemed like I was eating something warm and healthy for a change. I will be back but I will have to pick the right time to avoid the long line. read more

I hate to say this but I'm not sure what's more popular with the young, corporate ladies, this place or H&M. When I walked in and was greeted by a line that snake through the entire place. I wasn't sure if was the line for food or for the ladies' bathroom at a Jack Johnson concert. Clientele aside, this place serves up some pretty delicious food considering that all of the dishes are calorically-responsible but they have got to get the workflow on the food assembly line working smoother. read more

Usually when I enter a new establishment (or new to me) I get super bad anxiety trying to figure out how to order and just jet. This place kept me in line (and the wait was not super long) because, albeit busy, Protein Bar is chill and organized. I was impressed with the menu, cooler selections, to-go items (Wraps and salads if you can't wait in line, and greek yogurt? Smart.), signage, everything. So far I have only eaten the vegetarian chili (which was fantastic). Protein Bar is oh so progressive because they offer Quinoa, the trendiest of grains (ignore the sarcasm, I do actually appreciate having access to this protein-rich food), veg and vegan options (soy cheese!), multiple different milk choices for your smoothie (they offer soy and almond!), and they give nutritional info on everything. I can't wait to stop in and try the Bucktown Green Tea smoothie with Vanilla Protein and almond milk. Oh, and they deliver. read more

Lunch is always a confusing time for me. I usually crave a huge sandwich with tons of meat and cheese and a milk shake of some sort, but generally try not to indulge myself. Since I count down the minutes until 1pm, I have to have something delicious for lunch, even if it's not a big mac. This is where Protein Bar comes in. If your idea of lunch is healthy and filling and energizing, this is absolutely the place to go. Their philosophy about healthy, protein-filled meals is great, and everything tastes delicious. I am a big fan of the protein shakes (although I always ask for them to be extra thick) and the quinoa chili is also incredible. They have burritos, salads and breakfast items as well. I'm excited that they're opening a few new locations because I could pretty much have lunch here every day. read more

I love this place. It's a simple, yummy menu. You definitely don't feel gross after eating here. It seems like it is probably pretty healthy. The sizes are decent. Overall I think this is a great lunch stop from work. Fast, cheap, healthy and delicious. read more

I like places that make me feel healthy without breaking a sweat! Less work, more yummy goods! This place opened on the ideal week before Memorial Day! And they have their stuff down for only being open a week! The staff member asked me if I wanted the whole talk since I'd never been in there before and I said sure, why not? Let them practice, and I'm sure I'll find out something I didn't know before walking in there. First off, I thought they were another Jamba Juice/Smoothie King. Just healthy drinks. Boy was a wrong. They had bowls made with keen-wah, quinoa, oatmeal, and granola. Everything to fill you up without eating much! They also had wraps, greek yogurt, deviled eggs and health bars. I had no idea! Well my prime focus was a smoothie so I opted to get the Oak Street Peach with soy protein and skim milk. You can make your own but I decided to see what they had cooked up first. And yum! It kinda of reminded me of the yumminess in the bottom of a bowl of ice cream, but 20 oz. of it! So good! I hint of protein taste, which is fine with me, so you know they put it in there. Fresh fruits and healthy agave nectar (to keep your sugar count down I found out). These people have been trained well in their products. All of them were super nice and could answer any question. And it didn't sound like they were reciting an index card they had studied. They seemed genuinely excited about their products! Downsides that are minor to me was the fact that there's only one size of drink (20 oz) and the fact that it was $5.73 after tax. I know it's good stuff, but their signiture bowls are cheaper than that when you expect to see the other way around. But the person ringing me up forgot my Daily Candy mention discount so the manager (owner?) gave me a free drink card! Score! I would go back without that card though, even with an almost $6 drink there. They're good and a meal in and of themselves. I just won't go back as much as I go to Jamba Juice though unfortunatley. But it was nice to drink a milk shake-like product walking in the gorgeous weather downtown and know that there's something of substance in there! This place is going to rock with the healthy meal options downtown! I can't wait to try something new! read more

I am not sure what I might be missing here. I went with two of my co-workers to get smoothies--who doesn't love smoothies? The atmosphere is what I expected for a Loop location--sterile. generic, unmemorable. But that is besides the point. I ordered The North Shore--choice of milk (rice), pineapple, banana, coconut, vanilla protein. I would prefer to not have protein powder added to my beverage, as it usually lends a chalky taste. But since this is the 'protein bar' and it is on the menu as such I wanted to give it a whirl. Not good. Watery. Chalky. Tasteless. I appreciate their other menu offerings--kashi, oatmeal, quinoa. But after my smoothie experience I will not be back to sample them. read more

Impressed by the healthy and diverse menu. Had the original bar-rito with chicken and everything was super fresh and tasty. Line was long at 1130. Looking forward to trying more items. Prices are pretty much what you'd expect in the loop for lunch. Kept half of the sandwich for the next day and was still as tasty. read more

I just wandered into this place across from the sears tower and i love it! for about $5 you can get a very filling and healthy breakfast! i really enjoyed the fact that they have the nutritional value of each of their breakfast dishes and fruity drinks listed on the menu and are actually happy to discuss the nutritional content as their food is actually healthy! how crazy?! i thought delicious, fast, and healthy could not possibly coexist at one location but this place is great and not overly expensive. The employees were very helpfull and enthusiastic. You can tell that they love their job and the food/drinks they sell. The place also has some healthy bottled drinks (kambuchas, teas, healthy energy drinks, etc) and low fat greek yogurt for way cheaper than at whole foods. The only downfall to this place is that its not the kind of place you would want to sit down at to eat and hang out. It kind of has a fast food looking like atmosphere but my breakfast was delicious and I was very happy to eat it at my desk. While too pricy to eat every day, I will definately go back if I oversleep and don't have time to eat breakfast at home again. Sure beats McDonalds breakfast (to say the very least). read more

SIGH. Well, I'll give Protein Bar credit when credit is due. Smart move: first gain a cult following and THEN jack up prices while making portions smaller. I came for lunch today knowing fully well that they had tweaked their menu and increased prices due to the addition of kale to their lettuce mix and due to "globally rising food costs" as they say on their blog. Yes I get it - food prices have increased. But I also see Protein Bar's move as a strategic one to increase revenue to fund the opening of more Protein Bars across the city. But whatever, as long as the quality of my food is not compromised, I'm fine with price increases. My buffalo chicken salad was $10.51. TEN DOLLARS AND FIFTY ONE CENTS. For a salad. The lettuce mix is now completely chopped up and hard to grab. The container it is in is now plastic, taller, & deeper, which means that it is even harder to get to the super chopped salad. The kale? So chopped that it was nearly non-existent. The majority of the mix was romaine, and we all know how nutritious (and expensive) THAT is. The joke's on us, Protein Bar. The new rewards card? Get one free item after TWELVE stamps instead of the ten stamps it used to be. The place was crowded as always, but I'm sure it was full of fools like me who didn't realize the extent of the price increase. I will no longer be going to Protein Bar twice or even thrice a week like I had been. I really can't justify paying these prices for lunch. read more

After a hard day at the office, I meandered towards ye olde Monadnock (Any relation to Monadology? Maybe I'll call my drink from this location the Leibniz from now on. I'll do it. I swear. Ed. Note: There will be no more philosophy jokes from now on. Please keep reading?) building to catch a cappuccino at Intelligentsia. Crap. They close at six. How about LavAzza? Also closed at six! Rubbish. What now? Concede defeat? Toss myself in the river? Nay. I pressed on searching for something in desperation, and in my ambling I stumbled upon Protein Bar. As a rule, I have a thing against places that call themselves Something Bar. It just strikes me as snooty. Looking around the store, that sinking feeling just sunk harder: Quinoa? Acai? Oh horsefeathers. This is going to be some bobo, trendy, health-kick, snack-food hotspot isn't it? Plus, the shop is mighty small, like a cramped garden apartment that's two sizes too small for the gear up in there. Clearly, I was beyond skeptical. But then I got my signature bowl. It had blueberries, quinoa, and a splash of almond milk. I was absolutely blown away by how affordable it was and, more importantly, the taste of it all! She certainly wasn't a looker--A billion little balls that coalesced into a mush saturated with brownish milk dotted with blueberries--yet m'lady delivered on da taste front in a major way. I sat staring at middle aged weirdos getting jiggy at the Salseria in Sears Tower as I wolfed down my delicious treat, and it was so good I didn't even snicker when it started to rain on their soiree. All cynicism and snarkiness melted away into a flavor-packed bowl. I felt damn good, man. That bowl was tight. Quinoaingly yours, Brian G. Quinoa Enthusiast M: (224) 1-QUINOA QUINOA ADVOCACY GROUP, LLC. read more

A health nut's dream! I come here when I'm need of a meal for champions: protein, fiber, and boosts! I've tried the 20oz Northshore shake (vanilla protein w/pineapple & bananas, 350 cals), 20oz Red Line shake (vanilla protein w/strawberries & bananas, 275 cals), and 12oz chicken chili. All were good but not delicious! The Wrigley Peeled, however, is delicious (and almost 500 calories because of the peanut butter). I'm curious about the Pancake in a Bowl and all the wraps & salads later. I appreciate the posted nutritional values but don't appreciate the high price for the shakes in particular (close to $6 after tax for 20oz). Good location being across the street from the Sears Tower. 3 stars for the taste, 1 extra star for Protein Bar being health conscious! read more

The summer is approaching, and although Chicago summers usually don't begin until July, summer is approaching nonetheless. It's definitely time to eat healthy and light so we can enjoy the summer. This morning I discovered an eatery that, I believe, will help with new light and healthy eating habits. Protein Bar just opened this week and I already feel it may be my go-to place for breakfast in the morning. Their collection of fruits, protein powders, teas, oatmeal and quinoa will make sure breakfast is not boring. Their signature breakfast bowls will give you plenty to choose from. Protein Bar also serves lunch, so you can definitely make a day of it at the eatery. Smoothies are also on the menu as well, so cannot wait to try them. The staff at the Protein Bar is attentive and friendly and helped answer the questions I had about the various ingredients. The decor of the Protein Bar is bright and open and very welcoming. Thank you Protein Bar for your extensive menu items. I am looking forward to being a happy and healthy patron in the weeks and months to come. read more

I love this place. I come here all the time - it's my default lunch / dinner spot during the week (I work super long hours so often eat 2-3 meals at the office during the week). The staff here is awesome. I've gotten to know them since I come here all the time during the week, and they even greet me by name when I walk in, ha. Special shout-out to Jesse and Selena! My current menu favorites: * Chili chicken quinoa bowl. This is a great chili. Really tasty, healthy and keeps well overnight in the fridge. Add a little sriracha sauce and it's perfect * El Verde bowl. Love this one too. Great ratio of quinoa to chicken, with some vegetables mixed in there to keep it interesting. Awesome sauce on it too * Southwest salad. Perfection. Healthy, filling and quite tasty * Spiced lentil soup. Love the snack size * Chobani yogurt. I'm so glad that they brought back the Chobanis! It's the perfect side dish to any of their bowls / salads Love this place and will keep coming back! read more

Don't let the name intimidate you-this is not a place just for extreme bodybuilders! Everyone should eat at Protein Bar if you want food that satisfies your taste buds, hunger, and nutritional needs! This is the only "fast food" place where I will eat. The servings are huge (I usually can't finish the food) and not just stuffed with fillers but actually with meat and high quality veggies. The flavors are great-they make you think you should feel guilty but they you look at the nutritional info and realize you just ate something that was healthy but tasted unhealthy and delicious! My favorites are the buffalo chicken salad, the chophouse chopped salad, millennium perk shake, and daley grind shake but everything I've had there has been fantastic. Chili is great too with lots of spice. Also, the line at lunch time may look intimidating but they fly through it. Even during their busiest times I'm in and out in less then 10 minutes. Plus they are opening more locations which should help as well! Their locations are in the loop but I hope this business continues to expand so can get their food on the outskirts of the loops and even the suburbs!! We need more places like Protein Bar! read more

There isn't a single bad item on this menu. Literally, everything is great, from the bowls to the wraps to the cheesily named bar-ritos to the also cheesily named shakes. Almost all the food items have quinoa in it, and quinoa is freaking amazing. My personal favorites are the quinoa chili bowl (not spicy, but tasty and filling, with awesome greek yogurt, melty cheddar and delicious black beans), the quinoa pesto chicken bowl (super tasty pesto sauce, fresh spinach and nicely cooked and seasoned chicken), and the original chicken barrito (packed full to the brim with quinoa, beans, chicken, and possibly crack. yes, it's that good). On the shake side, it's always the Millennium Perk for me. It tastes like something between a cafe mocha and a chocolate milkshake, but is full of protein and only other healthy items. I wince at paying $4 for a 12 oz shake but let's be honest, I'm not bringing a blender to my gym downtown and I literally could not imagine a better post-workout shake. In the 3 weeks since I found Protein Bar, I've been here probably 12 times. Will I ever burn out? Not likely. read more

I'm upping my rating a little more than I probably should, because I'm giving Protein Bar the benefit of the doubt, since they make such an effort to be vegan-friendly. They have a few already vegan menu items, plus they can easily make most of their food/drinks vegan. I really appreciate that. So far, I've had the Wrigley Peel smoothie, with almond milk (soy milk is also an option), which was very good, albeit a little pricey. They also give boosts, a la Jamba Juice, but I should note that PB's smoothies are much, MUCH better. I have also had the Green City Vegan wrap, which I really enjoyed. A few days later, in order to be "healthier," I ordered the salad version, called the Superfood Vegan. Later, when looking at the nutrition info., I noticed that the salad really isn't much lower in calories or fat. Although, they were so skimpy on the dressing, that I find it hard to believe the menu's nutrition info. reflected it. I still enjoyed the salad, but next time I would probably order extra dressing or dressing on the side. Finally, I decided to try the Original Vegan wrap, or "barr-ito." Unfortunately they were out of daiya (vegan) cheese, so they subbed avocado. I was REALLY disappointed with this wrap. As a few others mentioned, the ingredients are good, but there is practically no seasoning and absolutely no sauce, so the wrap comes out really bland. Maybe it would be better with the daiya, but I still think that it would have been dry and boring. I was pretty bummed about wasting 8 bucks on it, but at least it was healthy (tons of fiber and protein). A few other notes: Pro: They sell GT's Kombucha, which I LOVE. Con: I attempted to order online, but it said online orders were temporarily "frozen." When I called, the guy on the phone wasn't very friendly or helpful, and informed me that they don't do phone orders and directed me to the site. When I told him it said ordering was frozen, he gave no explanation and just told me to try a phone order at another location. This was not helpful considering I work down the street and was just trying to get a quick meal on my lunch break. read more

When I'm downtown for job interviews/whatever, it's very tempting to want to eat something very tasty, but very bad for me. Thank goodness I found out about Protein Bar before my last excursion! This place is right across from the Willis Tower. I met a buddy here for lunch at about 11 AM on a Friday. The menu is very diverse, and has something for everyone. The service was great, and I really appreciate how all the nutritional information was listed on the menu. Fresh veggies, quinoa, free-range meats, and all-natural products (not just faux natural, either. There's no such thing as all-natural frosted cereal!) I ordered the Capone burrito, which had quinoa, chicken, marinara, spinach, and parmesan cheese. My friend ordered the original. Our food was made promptly, and we just beat the lunch rush. The place was packed when we left. I'd really like to go back to try breakfast and/or a smoothie. The chili sounded enticing as well. I will be back! This is a great option for the type of people looking for a healthy meal without having to worry about preparation by the restaurant. Quality ingredients and quality staff! The prices are also very reasonable. Would you rather have a #4 at McDonalds or a meal with a Bar-rito, fruit cup, and some green tea? For almost the same price, I'll take the former. Try Protein Bar if you are in the city... there are multiple locations! You won't be disappointed. read more

I read all the reviews here one night and got really, really excited about this place, as I'm trying to incorporate more protein into my diet. The next morning, I woke up early so I could get a breakfast shake on my way to class. I got the Millennium Perk, which was delicious. And had 39g of protein! Wowzers. I kept thinking that I need to have a breakfast like that everyday. But for $5.83?? That's not sustainable. On my way home, I decided I also wanted to try one of their wraps... so, I went there a second time in the same day, and got the Southwest Chicken wrap. I hadn't realized they're pre-made/pre-packaged, which was really a bummer... it was actually pretty decent, but just didn't seem worth the price tag. So, in short, going here made me realize I need to buy a blender and start making my own protein shakes. Kudos to them for making me realize that, but I honestly doubt I'll be going back. read more

Disclaimer: I'm vegan. I ordered an original vegan wrap, which has vegan cheese (yum) quinoa (yum, yum) and black beans (yum,yum,yum) in a gluten free, wheat wrap. All the ingredients for a masterpiece, right? Well, unfortunately, this wrap fell as flat as a white woman's derriere in a thong. Wait, I'm not done... As I'm finishing the wrap (because my blood sugar level was at pretty much, dead, since I hadn't eaten all day) I begin feeling/hearing something in my mouth rock and roll. Hmm, what the hell? Is this some quinoa that just didn't get cooked all the way?!?! NOPE, it's an effen rock, yep, a damn pebble is in my mouth. I spit it out. I will update my review to see how management handles the situation. This place is a huge issue, huge. I'm vegan, and I won't get used to the blandness of a lot of vegan places. I know what stellar vegan food taste like, and places need to either take the stuff off the menu or get their shit together because this is not food, it's crap! Pro: They actually offer vegan alternatives for the vegan/vegetarian crowd. Con: They actually offer vegan alternatives for the vegan/vegetarian crowd but just can't execute it correctly. read more

I guess it's alright if you want to eat a relatively healthy lunch. They are super all about quinoa here. I think I was the only guy in line who didn't have the menu memorized already. Their shakes/smoothies are pretty good, I have had a decent burrito here, and their chili was quite good. However, I had some chicken chili & salad combination that was just awful. Doesn't blow me away but sometimes ya gotta be good to your body. read more

Much better than I was expecting! Really good stuff! Not too far from the office. Its nice to have a healthy alternative to eating salads all the time, and the price is right on par with Chipotle. I was especially impressed with the portion sizes. They really don't skimp out on you like I would expect from a place with higher quality ingredients. I got the Ivy Burrito, and it was far tastier than I was expecting. They had a lot of great looking options. If I have to find one thing to knock, it would be the skill of the staff at rolling the burritos. They definitely need to take a class or two, as I saw some pretty frightening looking situations going on. Fortunately the guy that rolled mine did a top notch job. But that should be easily corrected. I'll be back soon! read more

When I came to Chicago over the summer, my friend brought me here for a healthy breakfast. I love how you can pick every single ingredient for your drink! If you do not want to "build your own drink" they do have their signature drinks already decided..all you have to do is choose what kind of milk you want! So for the build your own drink - you get to choose a protein, a milk and 2 "blend-ins". I chose the vanilla soy protein, with soy milk, bananas and strawberries as my blend-ins and added my boost. It was delish! And it wasn't super sweet like some other smoothies I get. Def. wish we had something like this in SF! Next time I'm out here, I'll come back! read more

Yes yes yes. This is my first time here, but I'm already in love. Quinoa? Seriously? I love it. I'm always in search of whole grains, and I usually bring my own lunch because there is a major lack of whole grains in takeout lunches. But it's great to find a new place that appreciates healthy, unique food. I went with the Quinoa Chili with vegetarian chili today. The chili was spicy, very flavorful, and the quinoa was great. Another perk--they don't use sour cream; instead they use greek yogurt! I'm so enthused about this since I gave up sour cream and replaced it with greek yogurt (Fage, hello!) quite a while ago, and I don' t miss sour cream in the least. The chili also has texture vegetable protein in, which, paired with the quinoa, makes it in incredibly hearty, filling lunch for about $5. I liked the portion size, also--a little smaller than a lot of places, but definitely perfect for lunch. I will definitely be back to try their other quinoa bowls, not to mention that their salads looked really fantastic also. read more

This was my first experience with the Protein Bar chain. Some friends raved about it so I met them there for lunch. This place gets crazy busy. The line moved pretty quickly, but be prepared. Order online if you think of it. I love how healthy everything seems. I eat lots of quinoa at home so it's fun to see it in a restaurant. I go to the Washington location now, but this is a great place if you are nearby. read more

Matt Matros & team never disappoint! This place is absolutely amazing and my only complaint is that they haven't branched out and opened locations in Atlanta yet! Protein bar is perfect if you're looking to keep things on the lighter side and/or if like me, are are vegetarian (or vegan). The smoothies are the best I've ever tried - I'm partial to the Wrigley Peeled with skim milk, but you really can't go wrong! read more

Yum! This place is ideal for a quick lunch in the loop area- healthy, fast, and filling. I've had both breakfast and lunch here - I had the pancake in a bowl which was enormous. It should be for $5. I actually had it the next day for breakfast as well. Its a large serving of steel cut oatmeal with natural sweeteners, a lil milk of your choice and fruit. For lunch I shared two items with a friend - the chicken parm quinoa bowl and the chicken chili wrap. Both were really good but we agreed the chicken parm had much more flavor. We were both full well into the afternoon. The service is very friendly and I hear they are expanding rapidly! Its definitely a place to check out even if you aren't familiar with quinoa - a high protein grain that is tasty mixed with chicken and veggies or whatever you like to eat...its like rice but you get more protein and nutrition per serving. They have a selection of salads, wraps, chilis, and bowls to keep people happy. For breakfast there are drinks/smoothies (the mag mile mocha sounds delicious), and oatmeal variations. I would plan on take out if you go since its tiny. Plan a picnic... read more

Protein Bar is a prime example of how accessible, affordable, and fun healthy eating should be. Those who are health-conscious and open-minded will surely find something great on Protein Bar's creative menu, and those who are a little more hesitant will also find some great stuff. Many of their options are based around quinoa, which is getting a lot of attention these days as it's a grain that is crazy high in protein, has a low glycemic index, and has eight essential amino acids. And while quinoa is generally pretty good on its own, Protein Bar does an outstanding job of mixing in other great foods, such as beans and veggies, to round out their dishes. That's not to say that their dishes only include quinoa - traditional staples abound. I'm just highlighting quinoa because its availability is one of the primary reasons I make a point to eat here. My most recent selection was the Quinoa Chili Wrap - highly recommended. Featuring quinoa, chili, lettuce, and cheese, this is a delicious and quick eat. And how they manage to wrap it without getting messy is a feat unto itself. The atmosphere at Proten Bar is modern, with LCDs helping to educate customers on the wacky names (such as "Quinoa Feel It") and their focus on protein and fiber. I don't know if it's a casual relationship or a just a correlation, but the crowd of 20-to-40-somethings all seem to be in great shape. The space is a bit small (I imagine that real estate is at a premium, being right across from the Willis Tower on Franklin), but the line moves well and I've never had a problem finding a seat. They've got WiFi, too, which facilitates your domination at Words with Friends on your iPhone... If you're searching for a fun, healthy place to add to your rotation of lunch hotspots in the Loop, I couldn't recommend a better place than Protein Bar. read more

This is really a 3.5 stars. I will say that I really like the food, and the Fruit Loop'd protein shake is AWESOME. Mostly I give this place props for being a quick lunch place downtown that actually has and promotes vegan options. That is always a huge perk for me. The downside to Protein Bar is the cost. It's ridiculously expensive. $9 for a small salad is just too much. A friend and I went here for lunch a couple weeks ago, and we both did really like the food, but agreed that the deliciousness of the food sadly did not justify the prices. But I might be back for another protein shake. read more

YUMSIES! "i wish you opened one of these in SF", said Di unknowingly to Matt, owner with lean muscle, extraordinaire! he smilingly said, "i like your skirt, and thanks, i'm actually from california" after divulging sandwiches for lunch every day in chicago, i was ready for something filling, but light & healthy. Protein Bar's menu is chock-full of tasty, delicious, and healthy options in bar-ritto, bowl, salad, or shake style. best of all, the menu publishes calorie count and nutritional info under the description of each item, so you know where their priorities are. we all had a hard time deciding what to get, and i finally picked the quinoa chili bowl with vegetarian chili. perfectly portioned. satisfyingly flavorful. food for my soul and health! and they had coconut water! (my fave drink at the moment, it's like they read my mind) you can mix and match ingredients (and health benefits), add a boost (just like those jamba juice ones), and even have your cake, too. literally. healthy cake! so mister matt, when are you opening one in SF?? it's a 5-star lunch! read more

MMMM, protein. I've had their bar-rittos as well as their protein shakes, both are great. I've had the classic bar-rittos with both chicken and steak, and I like the steak more. However, I wish they'd add a little kick to their salsa (but my nickname IS Hotsauce, so yeaaah....). As for their shakes, I've only had their Comisky Cocoa which is delicious! I feel guilty ordering it as a Cubs fan, but damn it's good. read more

I'm high on quinoa! I had a Comiskey Cocoa smoothie with soy protein and almond milk. Tasty and fairly healthy! I also had the vegan bar-ito, which is stuffed with quinoa, beans, tomatoes and best of all, vegan cheese! It's great to get a delicious, filling lunch without having to ask for (major) ingredients to be left off. I didn't have to wait long, but it looked like a line formed after us. There isn't much sitting room inside, but we found plenty of open tables across the street at the Sears Tower. What a beautiful afternoon to enjoy this great lunch. read more

Pretty much, I'm tired of going to standard lunch fare places in the loop and having to modify their 3000 calorie lunch offerings. No goat cheese, no dates, dressing on the side, no mayo, no oil... yea, I LIKE ALL OF THESE THINGS, I just have to have some willpower for the sake of my 300 point cholesterol. There is something really refreshing about protein bar-- the fact that I can pick ANY option in the ENTIRE place and it's healthy, tastes good and doesn't cost some ridiculously stupid price. If you live on Chili's burgers and McDonalds (which I did for about 8 years)... then you may not enjoy protein bar. You also probably won't be around long enough for them to miss your business. But if you're like me, and trying to at least be healthy more often then not (literally, healthy 5 days, not 2 days). Then try it. Also, the lay out is great and the service VERY friendly. read more

Sometimes, you really just have to eat healthy and for those times, Protein Bar is your spot. Prior to Protein Bar, I was going to Pret and Starbucks for my breakfast. After having oatmeal and croissants every single day for 2 weeks, I finally decided that I was over and done with those places. Luckily, Protein Bar was right next door to Pret, making my transition nice and smooth. Protein Bar is a Chicago-based health food spot. From smoothies to breakfast, to burritos and salads, Protein Bar has it all, but in a healthy form. For breakfast, my go to choices are the South Acai'd and the Southwest breakfast burrito. The South Acai'd smoothie comes loaded with Greek yogurt, Acai berry, vanilla protein, and banana. Top that off with a multivitamin boost, and you have a winning morning drink that will beat out any cup of coffee. The Southwest burrito comes pretty stacked as well, with: scrambled eggs, cheese, spinach, tomatoes, and Cholula sauce. At right under 400 calories 32 grams of protein, it sure beats having a McMuffin in the morning. The only gripe that I have with the breakfast burritos is that it is a little dry. Once you get to the end, I just am tired of eating the flavorless wrap. One thing to be aware of is the amount of sodium and sugar in some of these items. Even with the burrito, there was roughly 1150mg of sodium, which in itself is pretty shocking, and for the Acai smoothie, there was about 50g of sugar. On the bright side , the sugars are natural, and not added in like other smoothie shops. Cost-wise, Protein Bar is not cheap. For my large smoothie and breakfast burrito, the total came out to be right at $15. Sure, things here are not cheap by any means, and spending $15 on a breakfast is pretty absurd. Then again, the smoothies are pretty fresh, minus the large amount of sugar, and you can't really get anything heartier for under 400 calories with their burritos. Protein Bar is a fresh new take on starting your day right. The smoothies are amazing, and their breakfast burritos aren't bad either. Now if were only a couple buck cheaper. read more

Wow, as a fitness enthusiast I cant believe I haven't been to Protein Bar prior to now!!! Left my jaw on the ground... Location The location is great! Its only a few minutes walk from the train station. Drinks: This can definitely be its own category in this review! Wow, as someone who is actively eating healthy and making healthy choices this becomes the best part of the experience. Typically I am forced to get water especially at fast casual experience, but this was different! There were many protein filled drinks, and the ones I have tried have all been good! I recommend asking the staff what they recommend if you are stuck between a couple choices. Regardless, what ever you chose you cant go wrong with a smoothie or protein drink here! Food: WOW, I was shocked! The best way to explain it is by saying no matter what you get it will taste good! They make your wrap, bowl, or sandwich quickly so you can take it on the go while maintaining a healthy life style. I was recommended to try the IVY wrap, and I was so surprised it was very tasty! The fitness enthusiast in me quickly recognized the great macros: 600 calories with over 40 grams of healthy protein from chicken in quinoa! (important side note: They do high some higher levels of sodium in some dishes, so if your watching your salt intake be sure to check nutrition facts!) Service & Staff: The service is great! They were extremely busy, and they had the absolute nicest lady handing out the food! She was really getting to know everyone (despite being busy), and thats what really gives this restaurant a 5 instead of a 4 star rating! Overall, this was one of the best fast casual experience I have ever had! I will never be going back to Chipolte or anything similar! I cant wait for them to open more locations outside of the city! Thanks, Connor Brady :) read more