Playa Bowls to Open in Early 2019 Near Boston College | Eater Boston

"Coming to 2199 Commonwealth Ave., Brighton, near Boston College, Playa Bowls will bring a menu centered on tropical smoothie bowls — pitaya, acai, banana, chia pudding, coconut, oatmeal, and green bowls — each built on its namesake base with assorted other fruits and topped with cut fruit, nut butters, chia seeds, nuts, cacao, granola, and more; the shop also offers standard smoothies (16- or 20-ounce) and juice blends. The chain, which employs the PG-13 motto “go bowls deep” (often stylized as a hashtag), sources its acai from Brazil and blends it in-house to maximize pulp and minimize sugar, according to managing partner Hung Lam. Lam is opening the Boston shop with fellow franchisees and Boston College friends Sarosh and Dana Nentin, David Swanson, and John Castiglione; construction has begun and they expect to open in early 2019. Founded in Belmar, New Jersey, in 2014 as a cart selling bananas and acai bowls, Playa Bowls has grown to more than 60 brick-and-mortar locations and, Lam says, planned to surpass 150 locations by the end of 2019. Lam said his goal is to bring a healthy food option to Bostonians and to offer something “refreshing, delicious, and healthy,” and people can follow the shop’s progress on Instagram." - Dana Hatic