PABLO’S BOWLS
1607 Philadelphia Ave. OR 12109 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Md
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; 8 a.m.-8 p.m., respectively
Menu: http://www.pablosbowls.com
Suitable for: Vegans, vegetarians, omnivores
Let’s face it: Summertime at the beach can get hot. The sun’s rays reflecting off the sand, the asphalt causing your feet to bake, even the wooden boardwalk emanating radiating heat across your body, pointing out every last missed spot of sunscreen application … it can all be a bit heated at the end of the day.
Sometimes in the throes of such heat, a cooling respite is needed. Enter: Pablo’s Bowls, just a couple blocks from the beach.
Pablo’s specializes in acai bowls, those berry-based meals that have become all the rage over the past few years. Choose from a vast array of options to select just the right bowl for your mood. LeeLee and I came rolling up (literally – we were touring around on our beach cruisers) to enjoy the Nosara and Trestles, respectively. The former comes loaded down with an acai-almond milk blend, plus coconut, pineapple, banana, strawberries, and blueberries; the latter, with chocolate almond milk, PB Lite peanut-butter powder, granola, banana, and strawberries.
The bowls look small, but don’t be deceived – they’re incredibly filling. And while they’re filling, they’re also light in all the right ways. In a town teeming with junk food, Pablo’s offers up a more healthy option. And judging by the line crowding the cash register minutes after the store opened, we weren’t alone in our desire to chow down on something good for us.
Pablo’s also offers a plethora of smoothies and juices to meet any dietary needs or desires. And, at least in the Philadelphia Avenue location, it shares floor space with an outpost of the town’s beloved OC Wasabi – this “Express” version offers up ready-to-eat sushi beginning around lunchtime. Sushi AND smoothies in the same location? You can sign me right on up.
Be sure to aim your beach cruiser for Pablo’s next time you’re in Ocean City for a fresh, healthy take on your morning (or afternoon, or evening) meal. The bowls will cool you off and refresh you before your next foray onto the beach!
:)