As a History major with a Political Science minor, most of my classes are in either the history department’s Bank Building or in West Hall’s public affairs classrooms. This year specifically, three classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are back-to-back from 10:50 a.m.-2:10 p.m. in this frontmost area of campus. Thus, lunch is a bit difficult to set up on those days. Fortunately, Freshens is conveniently nestled right next to the Bank Building! Here’s my breakdown of what to get (or what to avoid) at this little smoothie joint!
I feel like the first and most important things to mention are the smoothies. These are what Freshens is known for. My favorite Freshens smoothie is the Bangin’ Berry, which has blueberry, banana, and pomegranate in it. I am a fan of the berry smoothies in generaI! I would avoid the yogurt-based smoothies, because I tried one and it had a very strange taste and texture. Those two aspects are also affected if you add the energy or protein boosters, but if you are not sensitive to a slightly grainier texture, it may be a great option for you!
Next up – the rice bowls! These are my go-to for lunches, and I usually have at least two per week! I personally really like the Mexican Bowl, which I customize by adding queso, removing the salsa, and ordering the dressing on the side and only putting about half of it on top. Sometimes, if I have a bag of Fritos or Doritos on hand, I will crush them up and top the rice bowl with the chip pieces! I have not tried any of the other rice bowl variants, but my friends and girlfriend have informed me that the Thai bowl and Buffalo bowl are also delicious.
I also like the grilled flatbreads. The Pesto Chicken is my favorite. However, some of them can be quite messy with a lot of sauce dripping off, making eating them in class or on the go difficult. Still, they taste good and are reasonably filling and balanced!
I have only recently come around to the artisan melt sandwiches, as I have previously disliked the taste and texture of the cheese blend used on them. However, the Chicken Caprese sandwich is actually quite good!
Freshens also offers salads, fountain beverages, bottled water, and a small selection of baked goods and shelf-stable snacks. The restaurant also offers customization on many of their products to remove or substitute ingredients, increasing accessibility for those with dietary restrictions. So, the next time you’re on the front part of campus, consider swinging by Freshens for a smoothie or bite to eat!
Ren Monin
Staff Reporter
