 "Photo: Lauren Gerson; The Daily Texan")
 "Photo: Lauren Gerson; The Daily Texan")
The raw food revolution of the late ‘90s is making a comeback in Austin at a local juice bar that also serves as a smoothie shop and cafe. Daily Juice opened its third location on 45th and Duval streets in Hyde Park.
The store offers customers both more than the recommended amount of liquid fruits and vegetables, and provides regular restaurant options. The juice bar has expanded past fruit-derived delights and delved into the raw, gluten-free, organic and vegan realm.
Eating at Daily Juice is an exploration into the bizarre world of health foods. Boasting ingredients like durian, spirulina and marine phytoplankton, and health benefits ranging from greater sex drive to a boosted immune system, there is bound to be something at Daily Juice you have not tried. Raw food has some scary, bacteria-ridden connotations, whichever way it is prepared. Though the food is not heated beyond 116 degrees to preserve the enzymes and nutrients, it is safely rid of all harmful microorganisms.
While it is an adventure, Daily Juice is not only for the adventurous. The menu contains items like a barbecue coconut sandwich, thai noodle bowl and chile con queso that are all crammed with nourishing foods as well as being somewhat familiar.
They even offer an array of delectable deserts like doughy cinnamon rolls and rich, bittersweet chocolate infused with maca root and various dried fruits and nuts.
One exceptionally delicious item is the all-vegetable and fruit sushi smothered with pesto and served with a wasabi dipping sauce.
To drink, the El Paraíso (“The Paradise”) is an extraordinary smoothie containing mango, lime and spirulina, among other ingredients.
A major pitfall to the Daily Juice menu, however, is the lack of caffeine. Apparently coffee does not have the same benefits as guarana. Obviously, coffee requires boiling water to make, but as a borderline addict I consider this is a major blunder.
Lunch is the prime time to dine at Daily Juice because prices are hiked up close to 50 percent more for dinner. Everything on the lunch menu is well-priced and hovers around $6. Small smoothies are priced from $4 to $8 and desserts are $2.
The staff at Daily Juice is helpful with inquiries about the bizarre menu items and is happy to make suggestions. A giant chart adorning the wall details all of the unconventional ingredients and their potential health benefits.
For the open-minded and health conscious, Daily Juice is an appetizing lunchtime locale.
Daily Juice has three Austin locations. The newest one is located at 4500 Duval St.
You wrote'bizarre' like twenty times in your article. There isn't anything bizarre about eating food that tastes good and is good for your body too! Your coffee addicition is unfortunate, but criticizing a health food restuarant for its absence of coffee on the menu is really bizarre. You left your panties.