What is the appeal behind Nautical Bowls, you ask? Nautical Bowls is an ever-growing and popular chain that specializes in superfood bowls. Founded in the Twin Cities in 2018, this chain has expanded to locations as far as California and Florida. The idea behind Nautical Bowls’ family-owned company was to bring the concept of açaí bowls to the Midwest.
Nautical Bowls stands out for countless reasons, compared to other companies, one being its social media presence. Along with their Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok main accounts that are frequently posted on, many of the locations have their own accounts to promote their separate image. However, the real reason why Nautical Bowls has succumbed to fame is because of their many dietary accommodations. This chain presents an entirely gluten, dairy and soy-free menu along with their ingredients being all organic or natural. They are also entirely plant-based, containing items with refined sugars, leading to their increased popularity.
I went to Nautical Bowls by 50th and France, and when I walked in, I instantly noticed the painted mural on the wall that was beach themed, and the refreshing scent and vibe. The whole store seemed to radiate positive energy and the workers were super nice. I ordered a Build-Your-Own-Bowl with a mango base that was drizzled in honey, sprinkled with granola and had freshly cut strawberries and blueberries. The homemade granola had a great crunchy texture to contrast the smooth texture of the bowl and the fruit tasted like it had just been picked. The two problems I had with this bowl were the price and the sweetness. The smallest size bowl, the Dinghy, was $10, and each topping was an extra dollar. I ended up paying about 15 dollars for the bowl with tax. In addition, it was overall a little bit too sweet because the base was really sweet and not a lot of toppings were added for the price.
Stella Wyatt ‘27 says, “I like Nautical Bowls because it’s a healthy and delicious option, and the flavors make me feel like I’m transported to a beach.” She also states, “I wish that they would bring back the cacao base. It paired well with their homemade peanut butter and PB cacao protein crumbles.”
Overall, Nautical Bowls is a chain that definitely deserves all of the hype it’s been getting despite its few flaws. Their social media presence and variety of options has turned the Minnesota-made chain into a nationwide staple.
