Calling all foodies: seasonal fall special bowls now exist at Rutgers’ “Playa Bowls”

Summer is eternal with a Playa Bowls here at Rutgers, but they’re celebrating Fall with some special edition, seasonal acai bowls and smoothies!

We trekked all the way to Playa and decided to put these flavors to the test. In a culture of acai loving millennials, the bar is set pretty high when it comes to taste and presentation.

The super special menu of awesomeness

Sophia’s Picks: Caramel Apple and Pumpkin Smoothie

Caramel Apple

Presentation: This bowl was quite aesthetically pleasing if I do say so myself. Apples, granola, nuts, and bananas were all lined up in perfect rows on top of the acai, all drizzled in caramel sauce with a sprinkle of cinnamon. The bowl had lots of fun colors, and I was super excited to have it once I saw it. It sat in it’s beautiful caramel apple glory (as I took a few pics for my snap story because I’m basic) until I took the first bite.

Taste: I wish this bowl existed on the regular menu. Because of the peanuts, there was a sweet and salty contrast with the fruit on top. It was a medley of awesomeness and I’m all for this bowl. Not to mention, it was crunchy because of the peanuts and granola so that added excitement. If you’re a sweet and salty combo lover, this is definitely the bowl for you. Uncanny resemblance to a caramel apple, just more ~exotic~.

Final Rating: I’d give it a 9/10. This bowl captured the true meaning of fall and embodied the sweetness and saltiness that comes with the changing of seasons. Well played, Playa.

Pumpkin Smoothie

Presentation: For a smoothie, the presentation was as good as it's gonna get. The coloring was a light orange, soft yellow color with a burnt orange pumpkin sauce drizzle around the sides of the cup. The bright, fruity colors give it that summer-in-fall vibe Playa is all about right now.

Taste: There was more of a banana flavor than pumpkin, because the base is banana. Don’t get me wrong, it was definitely enjoyable. However, since it’s featured on an exclusive fall menu, I was hoping it would have a stronger presence of pumpkin. The real pumpkin taste came from the sauce they drizzle in the cup before they filled it. Nevertheless, the flavors complimented each other well and I was satisfied.

Final Rating: Probably an 8/10. Tasty but as a pumpkin enthusiast, I was expecting more of a pumpkin taste. The struggle is real when Playa has to fuze powerful flavors like pumpkin and banana together, but they did manage to make it very enjoyable. I tasted more summer in it than fall, but hey, who doesn’t like a taste of summer? Even in other seasons…

Abby diving into the Jack-O-Lantern

Abby’s Picks:

Jack-o-Lantern

Presentation: This bowl is as pretty as it can get with its shiny pumpkin butter drizzle on top of the fruit, acai, and pumpkin flax granola. The orange shades of the pumpkin ingredients combined with the purple acai gave the bowl a calming autumn day look that will guarantee to spice up your insta feed.

Taste: I loved the refreshing acai mixed with the pumpkin flavor, giving the bowl a summer and fall taste all in one. I decided to replace the bananas with strawberries, which tasted fresh and complimented the acai and granola.

Final Rating: Definitely a 10/10. It was like eating a fruity pumpkin pie that tasted surprisingly delicious (way to make traditional Thanksgiving desserts jealous). Not to mention it was quite the aesthetic. I honestly can’t give criticism, it was one of my favorite bowls I’ve ever had at Playa!

The Harvest

Presentation: The darker colors of this bowl make you feel a warm and fuzzy autumn feeling. Although it isn't as vibrant and colorful as the other bowls, it's still a festive treat!

Taste: This bowl is deliciously fall-like, flavored with coconut flakes, cinnamon and sweet Nutella. In my opinion, it is a little too fruity with the figs and cranberries.

Final Rating: A solid 7/10. Yummy, and pretty, but not my favorite.