Bonne Sante Health Foods

I went here last week and I wasn’t going to write a post because the week before I got a really good Pitaya smoothie! Welp, I was wrong to go back, so very wrong! I loved the Pitaya so much I went back and tried the Pitaya bowl. Why? This is what Im asked my self NOW. I know way to late for that, but I should have known NOT to order once the guy came from behind the counter to see what I was even ordering.
Clearly he had not been trained on making anything, especially this Pitaya bowl. After telling him what I want and giving me my receipt to go pay. I was livid that things that are suppose to be included in the bowl was an additional 75 cent per item. Who pays for milk to be added in and not as a topping! He some how persuaded me (fooled) me into thinking he was listening to me and scratched some stuff off my receipts, ha he didn’t! Whatever I paid and got some BS.
I’ve had bowls before and this was just watery with no health benefits what’s so ever, but why should I be surprised half of the stuff on the menu is mixing good stuff with bad stuff. It’s like pouring a Coke over kale! Ugh I’m so disgusted, after driving away my son told me he never used any gloves while preparing my bowl. I threw it out at the next stop sign. It was watery with cheap granola and flavorless strawberries. The guy behind the counter is unknowledgeable and unsanitary.

Excellent variety of products, supplements, food/​snacks. Overall love this place. However, I would avoid the café/​juice bar altogether. They are extremely SLOW and have no urgency in speedy service. Took 30 minutes for 2 panini’s and there were no orders ahead of mine. The guy behind the counter was more concerned with trying to holler at a lady than helping his colleague.

I was HIGHLY disappointed in the Acaì «smoothie» bowl and the juice bar’s customer service.
I had been wanting to try one of their bowls all summer but since I hadn’t been in Hyde Park I didn’t get a chance… First off I was charged an extra 75 cents for using almond milk when that was a choice listed and it didn’t say it would be extra… Secondly he used SOOO much ice, in the description it said it would be mixed with fruit so I thought it would be frozen fruit for the thickness. NO, I didn’t see him add any frozen fruit, he added ice instead and that completely through me off cause I’ve had the bowls from other places before and I know that would only make the consistency watery!
I will never get one of their bowls again! It tasted watered down cause of all the ice, and the lack of nutrients. They basically add milk, ice, Acai, and they blend it together and add your choice of toppings. I added strawberries and bananas… I asked the guy working if he could use a whole banana instead of a half of one and he rudely tells me «no, a full banana won’t fit…» It would have fit it he added less ice and put a little less product inside the bowl. It was SOOO much left over in the blender that I know his proportions were off.
I was even more upset once I left out cause I tipped him ($ 3!)…the conversation stopped and he basically gave me a bullshit super watery bowl once I paid the cashier and tipped him. I will never go here for food again (and I don’t think anything in the juice bar is healthy aside from the things on the shelfs).
For $ 10 you would think that they at least added flax seeds or protein powder or real fruit or something good for you… Nothing! I feel like this was the biggest ripoff and waste of Money. Please go somewhere else… do not waste your money! You will not be happy with the «smoothie bowls». 3 days later and I’m still thinking about this, I really wanted to support this local business but I just can’t with the type of customer service I received and the horrible bowl, I had one «bite» (really felt like a sip cause it was so watery) and I threw it away. I even went to red mango to get some granola to soak up some the juice and that didn’t make it better. I threw it away immediately after. Rude/​unprofessional service. High priced/​low quality food. Will not be returning!!!

Their panini’s are AMAZING. My only complaint is that it takes a little long to make it, but it has all fresh ingredients and is so worth it once you taste it. Also have a great variety of healthy and unique options for food, beauty, and supplements. One of my favorite places in Hyde Park.

Always running in here for something or other… Smoothie folks are slow but if you know this I guess you deal. I like it here overall. They are really nice to me most of the time.

Love this place! Great customer service, Clean and well organized.

The veggie smoothie was great. The employees are super slow. I lost a lot of time in this place. Dont go if you are in a rush or like everyone else parked at a meter.

The best health food store ever! Great prices and hard to find products or dosages for certain vitamins, etc. Its a grocery store, beauty store, vitamin shop, café all in one w/​the best juice bar. A lot of juice bars don’t have a variety of protein and ingredients. You can create any kind of smoothie or juice you can think of and it tastes incredible. I just wish it was open for the morning rush.

Came here for the first time today. I really enjoyed the smoothie! I didn’t mind that it was eight dollars because it was delicious. However, the service was terrible!!! They were not welcoming and it took me over twenty minutes to receive my smoothie. I don t mind that the employees were laughing and having a great time, but I expect good customer service as well! Joking around for ten minutes before taking my order is unacceptable. Get it together !!

Update: Bonne Sante, I am officially over you. Before I had a sense of humor about this, but now I vow never to walk through your doors ever again. Your smoothies weren’t bad, the problem was you rarely ever had a guy there to make them.
This time I walked in at 10am, the smoothie guy was nowhere to be found. An employee rolled his eyes and said «he is downstairs he will come up later».
That’s when I realized… Why am I coming out in –4 degree weather for an expensive smoothie that gets served with an attitude and may not even exist?!
I Unilocaled and quickly found B’Gabs on 57^th street, they have been there for two months! Great service fresh ingredients! Bonne Sante I am cutting you out of my life, for good this time!!!

They have quite a good selection of common health products. The prices are a bit higher (and sometimes much higher) than other places. They have student discount. My favorite is the juice bar. The people working there are all very friendly and helpful.

Honestly I have been here a few times and its usually the same interaction: unprofessional and the employees can be rude and unhelpful. I agree with a post on here that they gossip at the register quite frequently.
Typical hyde park establishment with the «you need us more than we need you» type attitude and they proved this to me recently when I called asking if they carried a certain product and the lady over the phone gave it about 2 seconds then told me «naw, we dont got that here». I’m pretty sure she had no idea what the product was, nor did she care, she never asked me what the product was used for or maybe checked for a good substitution. I live in HP and I will never go to this place again, I’d rather spend my money where people are friendly, helpful and actually have a knowledge of health products.
if you arent here for natural hair/​skin products or a juice then just save yourself a trip because outside of that, «naw we dont got that here».

Great healthy way to start or finish your day. Not only is it a juice bar and panini shop. It’s always a healthy grocery store. I love it. Second time here and I’m impressed yet again.

Came here a few times. First off, they have a huge variety of stuff. However, I find Costco had better prices on their vitamins and you get much more in bulk. Plus Costco is equally close to my house. However I the juice and smoothie bar is really good. Very large and diverse amount drinks, and all the ones I have tasted were good. Plus they use all fresh ingredients. Would definitely come back for that reason alone.

I had what felt like a pretty bad day at work.
I now live on the North side and I trek down to Hyde Park to get my hair cut because: 1. I’m loyal.
2. I’m wait too busy to try to find a barber who cuts Black hair WELL on the North side
Moving on, I used to live close to this place and always made a mental note to stop in. I had a bad day and figured a smoothie from their juice bar would cheer me up. [I own a Vitamix and haven’t bought many smoothies since I bought it.]
I had a great interaction with ALL the staff but most of all Manny at the juice bar. Due to my interaction with him and the GREAT smoothie (I had the Cacoa one) I’ll be back. Yes, the prices are high due to them being locally owned. I may not like the field of traditional Economics much but I do know about economies of scale and how they work. However, the good vibes in this place are enough to make me shift some of my purchases here.
In addition to my smoothie I bought some vegan Vitamin B-​12. I had consulted with one of the staff members and she helped me buy something that was economical and will also meet my B-​12 needs.
Due to this great experience I decided to wander around Hyde Park a bit longer, hop on a Divvy bike for a good chunk of my commute back, and it reset me. A bit hippie-​sounding? That’s okay with me.

This is a nice health food place in an up and coming area. I do think they are pricey if you think whole foods is expensive you haven’t seen nothing yet. The staff are friendly and pretend to be knowledgable. They talk about vegan organic stuff and look like they are kinda unhealthy (maybe they just started the craze they are promoting). The guy that was trying to sale me some vitamins was sweating a lot. Honestly I was concerned. They give u of c staff or students a discount which is nice they are giving back. The store can be somewhat cluttered looking. I think they have a lot of items to sale and the space is limited.

YEP — sure love this place.
Grateful we have a local health food store right by our place. Staff is friendly, has a good variety of items. Some of the best oatmeal and granola we’ve had. We particularly like their juices right at the front when you walk in. Delicious and true juice.
Their juice bar is pretty wonderful and their pre-​made tofu wraps are delicious. Prices can be a little higher but you are paying for quality.
Please take your own reusable bag with you and Cash is appreciated there.

This place is a gem for vegans/​vegetarians and non-​vegetarians alike! The smoothies are my go-​to pick me up year round, and all (except for one — the avocado one… and I LOVE avocados) the smoothies I’ve tried are delicious. I love all the smoothie guys, though sometimes service can be slow, and they once made a mistake and gave me a size smaller than what I paid for.
I also love the selection of vitamins, fresh vegetarian/​vegan snacks (tuna-​less tuna salad=YUM!), frozen and packaged foods. Love Bonne Sante!

I visited this store today in search of a good smoothie. I got an AMAZING smoothie thanks to the very talented smoothie guy. The store is also well organized and fully stocked with all your organic and health food needs.

I totally wish I went to U of C because Bonne Sante gives a student discount to U of C students!
I love the great variety of vegan (raw and cooked) foods that are available here. The juice/​smoothie bar is headed by a wonderful gentleman that has charisma and a zest for life. The owner and other workers are truly knowledgeable about all things health and super friendly in demeanor.
This place is truly a gem!