Acai Berry Juice Bar offers fresh take on fast food

The first time I stopped in the Acai Berry Juice Bar I ordered — what else? — an acai smoothie made with water.

In the best light, you could say the drink was purple. But really it was more brown. And a little gritty.

Acai Berry Juice Bar

14 W. Main St., Hyannis

508-815-4949

"That's kind of an acquired taste, and I like it better made with milk," said the guy at the counter, who, I later learned, was co-owner Felipe Lopes.

I drank the acai because I'm a stubborn don't-waste-a-thing Yankee, but it was really more of a "This is good for me" thing than an "I want this" thing.

But I loved the idea of a drink made with frozen fruit and a few teaspoons of sugar rather than an overly sweet fruit base.

I was unsure of what to order after that first experience, so I let Lopes be my guide. On my second visit it was mango and water, sweet enough that I asked for just one teaspoon of sugar.

"You should try the cashew. People here just eat the nut, but the rest is very good," he said.

Trying the cashew smoothie was an adventure. The first sip was tart, somewhat like a Sweet Tarts candy, but underneath that was a richness that evoked the essence of the nut. If you take a sip and breathe in, you can taste cashew near the back of your throat.