We’re still in the midst of the holidays, but maybe it’s time to start thinking about eating healthier (if that’s your thing) to mitigate the damage done by an endless parade of turkey legs, gingerbread and spiked eggnog. Luckily, eatery chain Bryn + Dane’s (834 Chestnut St.) is here to make eating healthy quick, easy and fun.
The atmosphere of the downtown Philly location is sleek and efficient, with touchscreen menus at the ready for your ordering convenience. It’s kind of like an upscale Wawa without the chaos or cholesterol. It lends itself to the hustle and bustle of the person on the go as well as the casual diner who can sit for a spell.
Smoothies ($4.99-$5.49), are customizable and most have a water and banana base, extending from there. The fruity Three Oscars comes with strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, and the greener Mo’ Green adds kale, wheatgrass, pineapple and mango, while the more decadent Mississippi Mud comes with chocolate and peanut butter powder.
The restaurant’s kale Caesar salad ($7.99) adds feta cheese and chickpeas to the familiar dish, giving interesting texture and flavor to the leafy experience.
Bryn + Dane’s really impresses with dishes that feel naughty but are really nice. The cold bowls are colorful and exciting, especially the Superman bowl ($9.99), which is probably named for the red, blue and yellow color scheme more than any physical effect it might have on your system. It’s a refreshing and satisfying mix of granola, strawberries, bananas and peanut butter sauce layered like a strata amid a sweet blue algae puree.
The Bryn Mac wrap ($9.99) is magical. This healthy take on a Big Mac was met with some skepticism. The description, which includes a flaxseed wrap, plant-based cheddar and a beyond burger, didn’t instill too much confidence. But whatever vegan alchemy Bryn + Dane’s employed in the conjuring of this wrap works like a charm. The wrap hits all the pleasure points of the iconic fast-food burger without making you feel like you are missing anything. You’d swear that you were eating real beef and real cheese.
With locations all over the region, Bryn + Dane’s is on a mission to bring healthy food to the masses, and the results are so tasty that you’ll happily let them.
If you go:
Bryn + Dane’s
834 Chestnut St.
215-309-2611
www.brynanddanes.com
Mon.-Fri.: 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sat.-Sun.: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.