It's a high 70-degree Sunday in Oxford, one of the first of the spring season, and I find myself craving something cold, refreshing and, most importantly, nutritional. Historically, this would’ve been hard to find for students around Oxford, where Uptown is known for its assortment of bars, sandwich shops and other fast-casual restaurants.
However, on April 11, a new kind of bar opened on High Street — The Berry Bar.
Unlike Brick Street or Corner Grill and Drinkery, The Berry Bar specializes in health-focused foods, offering smoothies, berry bowls, toasts and salads.
Located at 20 E High St, replacing Uptown Blends, The Berry Bar provides Miami University students with a fiber, protein and electrolyte-filled menu, fueling students’ health and fitness goals in a new and tasty way.
The Berry Bar was founded by Miami alumni Tyler Storer and Jackson Trester, who are also the faces behind OxVegas Chicken, Fitness on High and Designated Driver. Since opening Fitness on High last spring, the pair have been looking to expand more into the health market. With the help of Fitness on High instructors and customers, Storer and Trester researched what students would be interested in seeing in a new health-focused establishment in Oxford.
“We’re big on doing research on the businesses we open to ensure they have a good chance of success,” Storer said. “We found that people wanted something truly healthy and convenient.”
What sets The Berry Bar apart from other smoothie options in Oxford is its promise to be “real, not fake, healthy,” according to Storer. The Berry Bar values usingg real ingredients and no artificial sweeteners.
The smoothies are based with coconut water, coconut milk or almond milk, as opposed to traditional orange juice-based smoothies filled with artificial sugar. Toasts are served on sourdough, with plans to offer gluten-free bread in the future as well to accommodate those with dietary restrictions, and the salads are packed with vegetables, greens and beans.
Excited by the refreshing, figuratively and literally, new addition to Uptown, I went to try the Berry Bar for myself.
Upon walking into the new establishment, I was greeted by a light pink painted interior donned with hanging plants, which made me feel as though I walked into a trendy cafe in Miami, Florida, not Miami University. Although it is small and does not have much seating, the new restaurant feels spacious, with ample standing room around the ordering counter that allows customers to watch as their orders are being made.
The overwhelmingly appealing menu made it nearly impossible to decide. I toyed with ordering the “Protein on High,” “The Designated Date” or perhaps the “Power Yogi.” All the smoothie choices included nutritional ingredients, from natural sweeteners like dates and honey, peanut or almond butter, chia and hemp seeds and even protein powder for those looking for a more satisfying smoothie.
Each smoothie costs $11, which I appreciate, as many smoothie chains vary their prices depending on the ingredients. While $11 may seem steep for a smoothie, the price reflects the high-quality ingredients used and is truly not offered anywhere else on High Street.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
The names of the different smoothies were fun ties to Oxford culture and college humor, such as a matcha, spinach, kale and avocado-filled smoothie titled, “Touch Grass,” which I’m sure is a great cure to the need to “reconnect with nature” one may experience after a night out Uptown. Other offerings paid testament to other Oxford establishments founded by Storer and Trester, like Fitness on High and Designated Driver.
Clever smoothie names and neighboring storefronts aren’t the only ties connecting Fitness on High and The Berry Bar. Storer and Trester plan to add a convenient ordering kiosk in Fitness on High’s lobby, where customers can order smoothies or toasts from The Berry Bar before class, and they’ll be ready for pickup once the fitness class is over, adding an element of convenience for busy students.
I ultimately decided on the “6 a.m.” made of bananas, pineapple, coconut milk, ginger, turmeric, kiwi, spinach and chia seeds, all ingredients benefitting immune health as well as a good serving of fiber. My mom ordered The Healthy High, made of coconut milk, mango, banana, coconut water, chia seeds and honey.
Both came out very fast, and we were given thick, bright colored straws, which we agreed made the smoothie experience more fun. The smoothies were similar shades of green from the use of spinach in the blend, adding no difference to the sweet flavor profile, while still providing a hidden dosage of vitamin K, among other benefits.
The true test came in trying the smoothies. Upon taking my first sip, I was quite pleased by the cold and smooth consistency. Unlike many thick milkshakes and smoothies, I didn't struggle to drink them through the straw, and thanks to a blend of fresh and frozen ingredients like bananas, the smoothies were the perfect degree of coolness. I personally don't like chunks of fruit hidden in my smoothies, because I think it can be harder to drink out of the straw, and I was thankful this smoothie was “berry” well-blended.
The ginger in the “6 a.m.” added a subtle yet power-packed kick to every sip. Just what the doctor ordered, to be honest. Both smoothies were very refreshing, and I wished I truly was enjoying the superfood blend on a beach in Miami.
Emphasizing the appeal of healthier dining options to students in Oxford, senior Public Health major Katie Brand said, “One thing I miss from home while in Oxford is fast, casual and healthy restaurants, so I’m really excited about The Berry Bar.”
Brand’s favorite item she’s tried on the menu is The Reformer, a berry bowl, which features a blend of almond milk, peanut butter, banana, protein powder, dates and cacao.
“It was the perfect sweet treat and reminded me of my favorite acai bowl spot at home,” she said.
I recommend checking out the new The Berry Bar. With a wide menu made of meals prioritizing real ingredients and an aesthetically designed space, The Berry Bar is an oasis for those seeking both nourishment and a fun spot to meet a friend on High Street.
The Berry Bar is now open Monday through Sunday from 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., but the Storer and Trester plan to expand its hours to stay open until 7 p.m. in the future.
mcdowekr@miamioh.edu
Read More
University housing or health violation: Miami’s mold problem
By Kenzi Perkins | 1 hours ago"I can understand there are a lot of bathrooms to keep clean across campus; I can deal with hair in the drain and miscellaneous bottles of shampoo littering the ground. But mold is something no one should have to live with."
‘No fear. No hate. No ICE in our state’: Miami’s YSDA march for a sanctuary campus
By Taylor Stumbaugh | 21 hours agoThe group of roughly 25 Miami University students and faculty marched from Cook Field to Roudebush Hall April 24 as part of their sanctuary campus campaign to protect students, faculty and staff if ICE were to come to campus.
Creating community as a minority at Miami
By Zoee Robinson | 21 hours agoOn a quiet campus Tuesday evening, Shideler Hall room 237 is anything but quiet. It’s busy with the bustle of people bouncing from table to table, excitedly catching up with friends. The room smells of cookies and Koolaide while the sound of lively gospel music fills the room.