Located between Dunkin’ Donuts and several Chinese bakeries, Refresh Co stands out as a fresh stop in the heart of Kissena Boulevard. The store offers a wide variety of foods-from juices and smoothies made with fresh fruit to waffle cones, milk teas, and even acai bowls.The location is immensely popular in the area with this variety of selection. On the side, they also sell blind boxes, keychains ,pastries, and macarons. The interior is embellished with posters and vibrant paintings, complete with trendy music playing in the background. The store itself is quite small though, with limited seating; if you arrive too late, you may not be able to snag a chair.
Refresh Co is very popular among Townsend Harris High School students, being just a fifteen-minute walk away. Going through the Queens College campus, students can find the location right next to Dunkin’ Donuts. Upon entering, we were greeted with quiet, upbeat music from the speakers and kind employees. We were lucky enough to find an empty table, and after settling down, we decided to order two of the twenty acai bowls they offer: the Nutella-Acai Bowl and the Mango Acai Fusion.
Nutella-Acai Bowl: $13.55
Critic rating: 8/10
The Nutella Acai bowl is the go-to choice for people who are used to ordering a standard acai bowl with fruit, granola, and acai. The bowl is made up of banana, strawberry, granola, coconut flakes, and acai that the restaurant personally makes fresh every morning. The bowl also comes with nutella-hence its name.However, having visited this location a few times, we recommend ordering the bowl without nutella, as it is often too overpoweringly sweet.
After waiting for about seven minutes, the bowl came out on a tray with utensils. The wait didn’t seem as long as it did due to the nice music, relaxing atmosphere, and since we had each other’s company. The presentation was very intricate and beautiful, and the portions were very large, explaining the price. Taking a bite, the taste of fresh fruit blended perfectly with the acai, and the texture of the soft fruit, crunchy granola, and smooth acai worked perfectly together. The coconut flakes also acted as a bridge between all the different ingredients, and their soft, yet crunchy texture helped tie the bowl together.
With everything being made and served fresh, the bowl was cold, though not too cold.It took us quite some time to finish it, considering the large portions. Nonetheless, it didn’t have a lot of uniqueness that made it stand out. Since the fruit was at the very top of the bowl, we finished it fast, and afterward, the bowl wasn’t as interesting or flavorful as before. The base is typical like an acai you would taste anywhere else. Even though we had removed the nutella, it honestly wouldn’t have made much of a difference and would have made it possibly worse, considering the heaviness of nutella would’ve overpowered some of the fruit’s flavor. Without the toppings, the bowl lacked depth and needed something that sets it apart from the competition.
Mango Acai Fusion: $13.55
Critic rating: 9.5/10
The next bowl we tried was the Mango Acai Fusion. It consisted of the same base and fruits as the Nutella-Acai Bowl but also included blueberries and a layer of a mango-flavored base. You can request for more toppings for free, such as nutella and coconut flakes, but as this was our first time tasting this bowl, we decided to play it safe and keep the toppings on the simpler side.
You can tell the employees put much thought into this bowl because not only was it delicious, but also aesthetically pleasing. The fruits were delicately placed onto the granola, and the layering of the mango and original base was like a work of art. The golden mango blended into the deep, rich purple of the original base, creating an image that resembled a sunset. All of the fruits were fresh and vibrant, and the granola underneath maintained its crunch, adding texture to the smooth acai. Unlike the Acai-Nutella Bowl, which got plain after finishing the fruit, the mango layer added a zesty kick, making our dining experience much more enjoyable and interesting.
One slight downside to this dish was that the mango base was a little too sweet for my liking, making the contract between the original base quite harsh. However, my acquaintance thought the flavors mixed nicely; depending on your sweet-tolerance, your experience may vary.
Our overall rating for Refresh Co is 9/10. They offer so many different choices that it is almost overwhelming–from pastries to boba to crepes and acai, you will never get tired. In terms of acai, there are numerous kinds you can choose from, and they are very flexible with toppings. Additionally, though there is only one size, the portion size is fairly large, making sure you definitely get what you pay for. The only drawback is that there are not enough seats for the amount of people who come in. However, the food itself is mouthwatering, fresh, and perfect for when you want a light snack-explaining the crowds the restaurant draws. The acai is addictive; once you try it, you will long to come back. I know I will.
