Restaurant Report: South Block Juice Co. in Del Ray
I wouldn’t say we’re obsessed with South Block. We only go about 2-4 times a week. We haven’t tried every kind of acai bowl, smoothie, or juice. We’ve only been practicing how to say the word “acai” for the past month (“ahh-sigh-ee,” according to their website). We only get a little bit sad when we’re coming to the bottom of our acai bowls…Okay. We’re slightly obsessed. (But so is Elizabeth, so we’re not alone!)
South Block is a local chain that came to Del Ray’s Ease Yoga & Cafe in late December 2015. It features a wide and very colorful range of smoothies, juices and—our favorite—acai bowls. They consist of all-natural ingredients and almost always (except in the winter, when such fruits are harder to come by) include organic toppings like bananas, blueberries, and strawberries. South Block’s granola is handmade and adds a delightful crunch and sweetness to the bowls. The bowls and smoothies are generally kind of high in calories, but the menu reminds us to “count colors, not calories”—a motto I always want to live by! You can also add spinach or kale if you want to go green.
As its full name, South Block Juice Company, indicates, the chain specializes in juices (made fresh at their Falls Church location) and juice cleanses. I was a little wary of juice cleanses, having heard that they were ineffective and actually sort of unhealthy, but one of the friendly employees explained it to me: If you’re doing a juice cleanse to try to lose weight, you’re doing it wrong. Juice cleanses are not meant to help you lose weight; in fact, many people who do cleanses to lose weight gain it all back afterwards. Juice cleanses are, instead, meant to help you detox, to get excess salt and alcohol out of your body. A great time to do one is before you start eating healthy as a way of transitioning into a healthier dietary routine. Supposedly it makes your skin feel really soft, too! If you’re interested, you can order a cleanse online.
For now, I’m loving the acai bowl. The Patterson Group members have tried the California Bowl, PBJ Bowl, Aqua Bowl, and Warrior Bowl. The California Bowl and PBJ Bowl are clear favorites. On a hot day when you’re looking for something refreshing, you can’t go wrong with the California Bowl, made with acai, bananas, blueberries, and almond milk and topped with granola, blueberries, bananas, and hemp hearts. The Warrior Bowl, with acai, bananas, strawberries and pineapple juice, will cool you off, too. If you’re recovering from a great work out, the PBJ Bowl offers a ton of protein while remaining tasty and refreshing. If you’re looking for something to sip on, the Avocado Butter smoothie, made with almond milk, avocado, spinach, peanut butter, bananas and agave, is delicious—and extremely filling.
Don’t take our word for it about how good and good for you these are! We asked our go-to health and nutrition expert Kat Zajac (@kat_zajac_wellness) to weigh in. Here’s what she said:
The acai berry is considered a nutritional superfood due to the high level of antioxidants it contains. Antioxidants are critical to our health because they combat/neutralize free radicals in our body, which, without getting too much into the science, are linked to many diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and heart disease. As a natural anti-inflammatory, the acai berry is great for our gut, assists with weight loss and prevents chronic diseases.
South Block has several smoothie bowls that contain the acai berry. When choosing your smoothie bowl, you should consider your smoothie contents/add-ins. First keep in mind the purpose of your meal: are you looking for an in-between-meal snack, or will your smoothie be your breakfast or lunch? South Block’s website shows that the caloric content of the smoothie bowls range from 300-600 calories. This is important to keep in mind depending on your nutritional and health goals. Choose fresh fruits for toppings to boost the fiber content of your smoothie bowl, and then consider adding in some protein. If you need the smoothie to stick by you for longer, add in granola to pack in more energy.
- About the team
The Patterson Group is one of the most experienced and trusted real estate teams in the area, serving Alexandria, VA for over thirty years. We offer professional, hardworking, detailed and friendly service and a large network of contacts and resources accrued over our many years in Alexandria real estate. Comprised of seven Alexandria locals, six of whom are licensed realtors and three of whom are accredited staging professionals, The Patterson Group is passionate and knowledgeable about Alexandria, VA and here for all of your Northern VA real estate needs. Allow us to help you find your home here and discover all that the Alexandria lifestyle has to offer.
400 South Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.310.6201
