Protein Bar

We catered an office lunch with Protein Bar. 1. You should go eat there now. 2. You should do catering by them at your next function where you need healthy delicious food prepared with great care and close personal attention that makes you feel like you are the most important customer. Talk to Thomas. You will be amazed at the responsiveness of the service and the quality and yumminess of the food!

Tried the Guac n Role burrito. Not bad, the ingredients were quite tasty, you really got the feeling that it was better for you than most other lunch options out there. Don’t expect anything close to the portion of Chipotle or Qdoba, I’d say Protein Bar-​ritos are about 60% of the size. Total was $ 8.60 before tax, so middle range of cost for non-​national chains in the area.
That being said, I would have liked to see this just a bit bigger, maybe 15% more food. I probably could have had a chili on the side but that would have busted the lunch budget.

I’ve gone twice now to this location and absolutely love it!
I’ve been craving ‘indulging’ foods without trying to ruin my regimen and wanted something more to dig into than a salad. Here, I had the el-​verde bar-​rito and it was soo good and at the same time, packed with protein. I even got more energy after my meal instead of the ‘itis’ that normally follows a tasty lunch. Hit the spot when craving something with a tangy spanish taste.
Its a great, healthy concept, and the staff at this location are always so wonderful!

I really liked their philosophy and atmosphere. i.e.: «Love your food don’t fry it»
Had a very good burito there!

Protein Bar is simple, fast, and one of the only healthy options in Chinatown. Favorites: Buffalo Bowl and Spinach & Pesto Bowl. I’m 5’2″/120lbs. and find the bowl itself filling enough for lunch. Why do I mention that? I came with a bunch of my guy friends and while they loved it, the bowl was not enough for them. They paired the bowl with chips and I could tell that some of them were going to eat a snack as soon as we got back to the office. The one who ordered just the burrito was still hungry afterwards. So if you’re used to bigger meals, then I recommend getting a side or one of their protein shakes since they don’t have meal deals. If you get a protein shake then you must get the avo-​matcha. It is divine!!! :) I rank them five stars for me but I think that a combo option would be a great addition for others.

This place is a wannabe health food joint. It really is just a chipotle or smoothie placed dressed up as healthy. And not in a good way. I think they just use that moniker to draw you in and then charge you more.
They have burritos, bowls, salads, and smoothies. My wife got a salad. It was just ok. Sweet greens is a much better option. I had a burrito. Not as good as chipotle, but more expensive. Some of the bowls looked tasty.
The location is nice, and the inside dining area is pleasant. The staff were friendly as well.
Food just isn’t great nor particularly healthy.

This place is so mediocre, I am starting to question DC Unilocalers in their reviews.
I got the black bean quinoa bowl, which is a:
Frozen yogurt cup filled with a half cup of quinoa on the bottom, then a decently layer of black beans, chicken (which was awful), a scoop of salsa, cheese, and I ordered guacamole (extra $). The scoop of guac was pretty small, so don’t expect much.
That’s it? That’s it!
Don’t worry… They have a large container of sriracha and cholula (hot sauce) with pumps to drown out how bland and awful the bowl is.
I even ordered it ‘to stay’ and I still got the shitty paper cup (and plastic lid) it came in, which didn’t help me mix any of the bowl together because it was filled to the top.
The only reason why it gets 2 stars is because this is an appropriate amount of food. It really is. I ate my bowl, felt satisfied, but not full. And by satisfied I mean by hunger, not by taste, or value. The value is awful. At $ 9.33, I’d rather get a sandwich at Potbelly.

Only 480 calories for a big burrito??? I’m kinda skeptical because I was pretty full and stuffed like I just ate a Chipotle burrito. I felt so guilt free after eating that I could’ve gone shirtless the rest of the day. But I probably wouldn’t pass through govt security at my office.
Everything at Protein Bar has quinoa in it in some shape or form but they do a great job at adding flavor and other textures to the otherwise bland ingredient. They offer many healthy options other than the usual salad like bowls, «bar-​rittos», and chili. The great thing about their meals is that they are filling.
Protein Bar is a great lunch option if you’re hungry, don’t want to feel like a fat slob after lunch.

Back in high school, I used to eat a protein bar every morning for breakfast. This is no protein bar.
I got a buffalo chicken Bar-​ritto (I can’t claim credit for that hilarious menu item name) and it was meh. I could have made something just as good or probably better with some chicken and a bottle of Frank’s red hot. Everyone else at my table seemed to like the idea of this place significantly more than they liked the actual food.
Also note, this is not a bar that serves drinks on a fun Saturday night, despite its name. You can send me thank you donations if you want.

This healthy restaurant was a haven amongst fast food options. I was very pleased to order the chicken chili and added cheddar cheese and onions on top. Great selection on my part! I also tried the limited time only avocado smoothie. I was skeptical at first but it had a pleasant creaminess to it and had a green tea flavor to it as well. One very cool thing about this place are the Sriracha and Cholula serve yourself pump stations. The atmosphere refreshing and the décor is modern and sleek with clean lines and bright colors. Although I didn’t order the salad I saw several bowls and they looked delicious!

I wish this was in San Diego. Seriously. I don’t even mind that it’s overpriced, it’s so damn good. We ordered the Federal A’Peel in an effort to hold off our hunger for a few hours and it worked perfectly. It’s great because it tastes almost exactly like a milkshake, but you can convince yourself it’s a bit healthier.
Their food looked both healthy and delicious, which can be a rare combination. The staff was very friendly, the service was fast, and the ambiance was welcoming. I would definitely come back to try another blended drink.

my favorite thing about the protein bar is the names of their smoothies. brilliant: PB & J street, the red line and the blue line, politics acai’d. i love that they are specific to DC.
my least favorite thing about the protein bar is how the smoothies taste. i tried the PB & J street, and found it to be very bland, sort of like there was more flavor inside but my tongue couldn’t quite access it, i don’t know. weird.
i boosted my review with an extra star for the healthiness factor, since i felt good about myself as i drank the smoothie and all that.

I have gotten lunch here twice. On my first visit I had the spinach & pesto bowl which was pretty good. I mean look at the name, spinach & pesto, both things I really enjoy. My second visit was on a hot and busy day. I used their on-​line ordering and picked the Super Original bar-​rito. I ordered at 1:30 and selected a 2PM pick-​up. The Super Original was yummy and fillings. I went with the super because, well, greek yogurt and avocado makes everything better.
Between these two enjoyable visits I am comfortable saying I am fan. There are several items on the menu I look forward to trying and I appreciate the easy on-​line pre-​order. I have a feeling this will become my lunch standby location while consulting in the area, certainly on hot days.

If fast food ever goes healthy, it will look like Protein Bar.
They sell quinoa bowls — which in many places is like eating styrofoam packing pellets.
Their sauces and flavors make you forget you are eating quinoa.
It doesn’t hurt that they put on industrial quantities of tofu or chicken
(hence the name protein bar) — so that the quinoa is less noticeable than the bun on a hamburger.
there are enough vegetables in there to count as healthy.
so since you have had your vegetables, you can have your chocolate milkshake.
they have a wide variety of protein drinks —
which one rapidly discovers is about forty variations on the theme of chocolate milkshake — and one or two vanilla, and acai options for those people who insist on real health food.
pure chocolate
chocolate and banana
chocolate and nut
chocolate and bbq chicken
(ok i lied about the chocolate and bbq chicken —
but there are a lot of chocolate milkshakes.)
i love chocolate milkshakes.
theirs are very good.
there is a bunch of healthy good for you language on the menu that says i am doing a good thing by drinking these.
suits me fine.
i’ll have a dozen.
(actually, they are big — so just have one)
so huge bowls of meat and sauce with veggie (made good for you by quinoa)
and lots of milkshakes (made good for you because they say so)
when can i move in?

4 stars because they close at 8pm. I’ve missed dinner here by a few minutes soooo many times! 8:30 will get ya 5 stars, Protein Bar!
The spinach and pesto quinoa bowl is fantastic. This is coming from a guy who didn’t eat veggies and didn’t even know how to pronounce quinoa. Now it’s my favorite. My mom is still in disbelief that I am eating my veggies.
If you happen to swing through for breakfast grab the pesto scramble. Honestly I’m not that big a fan of the barrito as it tends to be way too dry for my taste.
My mother salutes you, Protein Bar!

I was really disappointed when I stopped here. For starters — I do love the idea of «fast food» salad places like these — especially when done with fresh ingredients. However, this place fell flat for a few reasons.
Short version:
They don’t serve lunch until 12:30, and wouldn’t take my order for it at 12:15, instead making me wait until 12:30 to order.
A big V doesn’t mean vegetarian: They do have vegetarian options, but good luck figuring out what is going to be in them.
You can’t really customize your salad like you can at their local competitors.
Their chipper customer service boarders on creepy
I showed up at 12:15 on a Saturday for lunch. I had been up for 5 hours, was really hungry, and coming from a race expo — was really happy to find a nearby healthy joint for a quick meal. Upon ordering a salad (after noon!) I was informed breakfast was still being served and I couldn’t order lunch until 12:30, by a very chipper cashier. That was unnerving.
I wasn’t interested in breakfast, so I was ready to leave.
Then my SO said — okay, what’s vegetarian — and ordered a breakfast burrito. It was okay — not great, but I seldom like breakfast burritos… so no surprise. This also was why I wanted a salad, not breakfast.
The cashier informed me I could wait 15 minutes and order lunch. Which, I’m loathe to admit, I ended up doing. I really regret not pushing back more.
Aside from it being insane (or inane) that Protien Bar doesn’t serve lunch at noon, why can’t you just tell me my lunch will take about 15 minutes while they transition rather than making me wait in line again 15 minutes later. Not really acceptable.
So, my salad came ($ 23 for the two I ordered). It was mostly lettuce. While not a bad salad, I found myself hungry surprisingly soon after I finished.
Now — herer’s the big issue I have with Protien Bar. I’m not a vegetarian, but I do like to eat healthy sometimes — and will choose vegetarian options when available. Many of the salads have Vs next to them that means you can get this as a vegetarian option. Does this mean they just don’t put in chicken? If so, why isn’t it cheaper to go V. Do they replace it with something else, which still should be cheaper than meat. What is the nutritional content — because that’s not listed?
So yeah — I really think you can just do better at one of the other very similar places in town.

Superfood Vegan salad and PB&J street (Pier-​nut butter & Jelly to the Chicago Market) how I love thee! The bowls are good, and other salads Bar-rito’s are great, but I can’t get enough of SuperfoodVegan and PB&J street. And I can get cold-​pressed juices if I’m not feeling like chewing my nutritious diet. My second fave item is the Green City Vegan Bar-​rito. Hey all. i’m a meat eater, so these vegan choices are totally great for me to ditch my usually meaty meal!
How fun to get interesting food, where they care about what type of calories you’re taking in. Healthy fats and proteins with lots of veggies. I feel so full and satisfied yet healthy and clean when I am done with my meal from Protein Bar. (Not so Subliminal message: Come to Indianapolis!)

I’ve had my eye on the Protein Bar for a while as I knew they served many vegan dishes. This small café is more of a to-​go spot than it is a dine-​in joint. Their mission is to change the way people eat on-​the-​go by serving healthy food quickly.
I had an hour-​long break from serving my civic duty, that is, jury duty, so I dropped by to see what was on the menu. The layout of the café is really cute. You order on one side and pick up on the other, but it is the dining room with its huge white round table that seats six on retro red stools that really catches your eye. It is a simple, yet functional design.
The menu consists of bar-​ritos, bowls, breakfast, salads, chilis, and sides. I loved that several dishes were not only vegan, they had vegan in the name. There were two items that were exactly the same but with different names in slightly different ways. You could get the Superfood Vegan salad made with marinated organic tofu, kale, toasted pepitas, chickpeas, and chia dressing over the super 6 salad mix. Or you could get it grilled into a burrito by ordering the Green City Vegan bar-​rito.
I went for the Vegan Original (grilled) bar-​rito. What I liked about this burrito was that it was grilled and warm in a whole-​wheat flax tortilla. I also loved that they use organic tofu. And while everything in the burrito from the housemade seasoned black beans to the organic quinoa blend was good for you, it definitely lacked some flavor. There was even fresh salsa and vegan cheese, but not much of it. It tasted like a healthy rice and bean burrito that needed guacamole or a great habanero sauce to really make it stand out. I slathered it with the Cholula hot sauce and was happy to have a healthy burrito, but it definitely tasted like something I could make at home.
On my second visit, I ordered the chilled Green City Vegan. This time, with more understanding as to what to expect here, I was just hoping for a healthy wrap that needed a little hot sauce. To my surprise, this one had a lot more flavor. The marinated tofu, kale, pepitas, and chickpeas were atop a Super 6 Salad Mix rolled in a tortilla and slathered with a creamy vegan chia dressing that was very good. I added avocado and hot sauce and found it to be quite tasty.
All of the items at Protein Bar are super protein-​rich, hence the name, and the people working the counter were really great. LaDonna in particular is super enthusiastic and really gave the place a good vibe! They even post the calories, fat, carbs, fiber and protein for each dish. That can be good and bad. That made me realize that I was getting 27 grams of protein in the grilled burrito, but also 14 grams of fat!
I also love that they make fresh juices as well. They have locations in Chicago, DC, and Colorado. I love the concept and the food and hope they add a bit more spice or complementary sauce or guacamole in the future. Then, it would be perfect!

Bumping it up a star. Yeah, it’s pricey, and yeah, I still find the food bland but…
I like the chicken chili. It’s ok, but if you add a lot of hot sauce, it’s pretty tasty. I now go to Protein Bar once every couple weeks for the chili, which will fill you up pretty well. Once summer returns, I probably will stop coming here, but as long as it’s freezing out, I’ll be stopping by.
Still recommend avoiding the burritos too.

Protein isn’t the only thing that’ll help you gain muscle tone here. If you’ve ever tried to open the door on the 7^th Street side, you feel me. It’s not unlike pushing a boulder up a hill. My biceps are better for it — but it’s a tad inconvenient when my fists are full of smoothies n’ salads.
There’s an app for that. Yep, you can order ahead through your smartphone and avoid the long lines. For even more fun, you can assign any name you want to your online account. I went with ShaeNaeNae. I love to see the looks on their faces when I pick up my goodies.
It’s expensive — today’s lunch was a baja salad and a strawberry serenity kumbucha for just under $ 16 total. For those prices, I can’t pop in as often as I’d like. If you’re like me and you’re trying to save a buck, you can get a 16 oz chicken chili for a mere $ 5.99. It’ll fill you up without hitting your wallet too hard. I always get raw onions on top — it’s delish, and my co-​workers love me for it.
They can accommodate many special diets — gluten free, vegan, etc. Their app offers options to customize your order a multitude of ways to help you avoid a whole host of dietary don’ts.
For an instant (and expensive) brain boost, try one of their fresh press juices. Beetbox’ll make you super smart in seconds flat. I swear. Because I just drank one and then I wrote this review.