New Freshii Goes Green, Serves Greens

It’s still January, which means many of us are still trying to eat healthy. Lunch hour comes, and we head out into the blustery wind, looking for warm soups and low-cal-but-tasty salads. In Center City, that typically means one of four chains, which means only two weeks in, this diet is getting dull. Just in time to save us from a sharp turn into the pizzeria, the city welcomes new fresh and fast lunch spot Freshii.

Situated in The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Freshii is, in actuality, a chain. And there are a slew more of them planned for the five-county area in the coming months. But hey, for now, it seems new and original to us, and that’s gotta be worth something, right?

Freshii’s concept (or, as their website calls it, their “manifesto”) is to bring healthy, sustainable food to people in a healthy, sustainable way. That means tons of veggies, all-natural chicken, and organic oatmeal make appearances on the menu of soups, salads, wraps, burritos and noodle bowls, as do a number of customizable options for us control freaks. On our to-try list in the coming weeks: the Bliss bowl, an intriguing blend of brown rice, goat cheese, vegetables like avocado and tomato, and aged balsamic vinegar; the Buffalo Chicken wrap, all the classic flavors tucked inside a honey wheat tortilla; and the Spicy Lemongrass soup, packed with rice noodles, cilantro and bean sprouts.

It also means your picks will be served up in a recyclable container and your utensils will be biodegradable. That might be two New Year’s resolutions in one swoop. Bonus points!

Freshii is located at 1414 North Penn Square, 215.977.7123, www.freshii.com.