Tico's: The Gem of Princeton

One of my favorite places in downtown Princeton is Tico’s Eatery and Juice Bar. In my opinion, this humble store is a gem of the town. They specialize in fresh juices and smoothie bowls. The eatery also offers some of the healthiest options in town. The charm of the store lies in the ambience, from their homely wooden tables to beautifully presented acai bowls. Tico’s is a must-visit.

Walking in, a fresh scent surges through the air around you instantly. The store is realistically quite small, yet never feels cramped. Large panels of window line the outward-facing wall, bordered by a table and bar-seating for those who prefer to watch town life unfold with their meal. Friendly faces take your order from a long menu of juices, bowls, and smoothies. Then, they make your fresh treat in-store.

I adore taking my place at the wood tables to eat, usually sitting and laughing with a friend. A favorite memory of mine was when my friend and fellow writer on the blog, Kat, and I went to Tico’s after getting our nails done. Not wanting to ruin our manicures by prying open the lids, she had to mortifyingly ask the people at the next table to open our bowls for us. Of course, they were friendly enough to help, but we were cackling through the face-warming embarrassment. Since I’ve been there enough times to have way too many Tico’s-themed anecdotes, I’ll show some of my favorite things to order.

The Pura Vida Acai Bowl (Left) is a fairly traditional acai bowl, topped with granola, mango, banana slices, strawberry, and coconut shavings. The acai itself is fairly tart, and the toppings provide a sweet balance. The way the flavors tie together makes this bowl a definite favorite.

The Dragon Bowl (Right) is personally my most popular choice on the menu by far, and one I often find myself craving. The dish consists of a pitaya, or dragon fruit, base, with granola, kiwi, strawberry, and mango. My favorite part of this bowl is how subtle the flavors are individually, but how rich they taste together in one bite. The sweet granola as a center point makes the healthy bowl taste mouthwateringly good.

The drinks at Tico’s are too good to pass up. Their signature Tico Juice (Left), is a citrus delight. The freshly-squeezed orange juice with hints of pineapple and mango is tart and tropical tasting. I would recommend this juice to those who love sour eats.

The Kale Colada (Right) is the drink for health nuts. The consistency is thicker than most drinks, and it is one of Tico’s’ “Hardcore Juices” for a good reason. This drink definitely has more of a vegetal taste, due to the kale, parsley, and cucumber in the ingredient list. After drinking this, I felt like an energized warrior ready to take on the world. But, beware, this juice is not for the feint-hearted!

Tico’s is a wonderful place for teens looking for aesthetic foodstagram posts and even moms searching for healthy and delicious snacks to fit their busy schedules. To be honest, I wasn’t born here, but I consider Princeton my hometown. Maybe it’s due to the atmospheric charm of the university town, where stores like Tico’s line the street. All I know for certain is when I visit Tico’s Eatery and Juice Bar, take in the fruity aroma, and gaze out at people bustling on in their different ways, I feel like a part of the town.

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