For those of you who live for Sweetgreen as much as I do, meet Sweetgreen’s 2.0 – WholeHeart Provisions! Don’t get me wrong, Sweetgreen will always be there to fulfill any and all of your salad needs. But if you’re looking for something a little less green, you should make your way over to WholeHeart Provisions – a food chain adored by carnivores and herbivores alike. Trust me, you will not be able to tell that the food you’re eating is actually healthy by how good it tastes.
Let’s start with the aesthetic of the place because why not be more basic than I already am? Despite being a little hard to find on a corner street in Allston, its cute little carrot logo is so eye-catching, it’s difficult not to at least stop and see what’s inside!
When walking in, you immediately smell the fresh and flavorful foods featured on their menu. From seared avocados to falafel “hotdogs,” making a decision is almost impossible. When I say I stared at the menu wall – and yes, there is a menu wall – for about twenty minutes, I’m not lying. But the workers are so kind and patient, they were more than willing to help us decide on what to get.
Just like Sweetgreen, WholeHeart Provisions offers a number of hot and cold bowls that satisfy any sort of craving you might have. Bowls typically build off of some grain, like rice or quinoa, or greens, like kale and arugula.
Once that’s done, it’s time to pick your toppings! I swear this is the most difficult part. The choices are all so good though, you will not go wrong with whatever ingredients you decide to mix and match.
Typically, you add a bunch of veggies, and then some sort of texture, like nuts, avocado, or falafel to spice things up. The third step is followed by your dressing of choice. Now, I love anything with tahini in it, but all of these dressings go well with any bowl you decide to make. Of course, I recommend the tahini dressing, but you really can’t go wrong!
But don’t get too overwhelmed, they offer so many side dishes you’ll get all the flavors you want! Be sure to go with a bunch of friends or your family, you’ll definitely want to dedicate your time to trying at least fifty percent of their menu – that way you have an excuse to go back!
Now, these sides are not like any typical side you’ve ever had – unless you’ve gone to a really abstract food truck festival like I have, then you’ve definitely seen versions of these before. But still, street food in a sit-down restaurant? Sign me up! When in doubt, pick the seared avocado – it’s a little on the lighter side and has a good mix of flavors on top that gives it a Middle Eastern touch – like lentils and za’atar (if you haven’t tried za’atar, you need to).
Be sure to wash everything down with one of their uniquely crafted drinks. I recommend trying a juice or an iced coffee since we’re in New England and need ice coffee injected into our veins. As you can see, though, the trend here is that you cannot go wrong with any food or drink you decide to get.
And for those looking for a new Sunday brunch spot, definitely hit up WholeHeart Provisions for next time. They have a whole separate menu solely dedicated to Sunday brunch! So, if anyone is thinking of passing this one up because it seems to only have lunch and dinner options, think again! WholeHeart lives up to their name since your whole heart will be happily full with pancakes, coconut whip, and a side of potatoes!
So, want a break from Sweetgreen? Fill the gap with WholeHeart Provisions!