The Big Squeeze

Well, I was going to give this place a chance but the hours are nearly impossible for me to do. I just feel as if 9am-​6pm every day is not really convenient for 99% of San Diegans who have to work. I was very excited to come here after discovering it in the plaza when I picked up Phở Time (bomb by the way) and I woke up super early to get juice before work today, to find out they open at 9am. I wonder how they can have a successful business with these hours for working people. It would be wise to open earlier so people could enjoy their juice for their work day. Well now after reading all these reviews, I surely won’t be back. Super sad as I was looking for an organic juice bar! How are these so hard to come by In PB???
Maybe I need to open one? This population needs fast, healthy, organic options!

The acai bowl was the primary reason I tried this place, but I didn’t see it on the menu at all. Of course, I would’ve asked, but I wasn’t offered help for a good while. When the person finally came out from the back, I had just decided to settle for a juice and a fruit salad with cottage cheese on top.
The juice was Ok. It was a bit warm, which was weird, but I chalked that up to it being freshly made. I guess I would’ve expected the fruits and veggies to be cold prior to being juiced, but oh well. It was still good.
The fruit salad was Ok as well. From what I could see, the fruits were freshly cut and there was a good assortment. I kept it simple with just the cottage cheese on top.
As I was waiting for my order, I finally saw the sign for the acai bowls. It was written on a piece of paper, taped to one side of the counter. Odd. It was already too late since I had my fruit salad on its way. Next time.
The place is a bit of a hot mess. The majority of the place is behind the counter and looks dirty. There’s a big water filtration display by the door, which looks so out of place.
Service for me was good. I don’t recall any major hiccups, but then again, I was the only in the place.

Meh. Juice was okay, seemingly absolutely miserable foreign cashier. There was some heavy gravity on her face… it’s the little things. Probably won’t be back.
Yeah it was funny as another reviewer mentioned to see all the warnings about cameras etc in a juice place, seemed like something they would have in a bank. Oh also, look up at the air conditioner vents, there’s years of dust on it. RUM JUNGLE for the win.

I know first hand the owner fires employees based on his moods, not because the employees are good or not, this is why all the good employees are no longer there and the ones there have terrible hygiene. Also, I know he pre-​juiced gallons of juice on certain occasions, meaning — what you think is freshly juiced could possibly have been juiced the night before. I’m surprised he’s even still in business and if he was smart he would treat the good employees with respect instead of running them off.
Also, no credit card use.
There’s a new juice bar on Cass called The Mad Beet, it has excellent reviews and is worth driving a few blocks west for better juice and service.

One of my favorite places to grab a refreshing, delicious and healthy Acai Bowl! It’s the only thing I’ve ever gotten here. It comes in both a small or large around $ 6/​$ 7 dollars. The Acai is blended with your choice of either soy milk or apple juice. Its topped off with fresh fruit — strawberries, mangos, peaches, bananas or whatevers in season and granola all drizzled with honey. Price is pretty normal but I’ve sometimes received fruit that were previously frozen — not that great. But overall I think its worth it. Its a small shop in the Vons plaza on Garnet. They also sell water here and it can get hot in the shop so sit outside or grab it to go. Bring cash cause they’ll charge you extra!

The big squeeze has some of the best smoothies and fresh juices around. I love the colada cooler !!! Perfect on a nice hot sunny day! The service of the employees is very friendly and they always have smiles.
The only thing i could say that could use improvement is that I had to wait 10 mins kind of long for a smoothie but worth it !

I dont really care much for acai bowls however I’ve tried plenty in San Diego and i like the acai bowls here the best. The quality is creamer than most and it doesn’t melt instantly. Because of how big it is, its a great treat to share. I am a fan of bowls being filled with granola and fruits so they make it just the way i like it!

Came for a Acai bowl and was disappointed.
Advice — PLEASE get fresh fruit for your acai bowls, seriously who eats canned fruit nowadays?

Pro: has the best acai bowls in San Diego (when they have soy milk in stock – not guaranteed).
Cons: terrible service. Extremely slow – expect to wait 30 min to be served, even when the place is empty. Serve acai bowls in styrofoam cups with aluminum foil lids. For a place that tries to be bio-​friendly, this is completely out of sync. Also, note that it is cash only. The atmosphere has a bad vibe. I wouldn’t recommend sitting here to eat.

Let me preface this review by saying I was a huge advocate for the big squeeze. But it’s gone downhill and is to a point of turning away business.
The service is so so. The place itself is dirty and in disarray. There’s a fan that faces the work stations, and it’s covered with dirt/​dust. Imagine that being blown straight into your food!!! Disgusting! Workers didn’t wash their hands either.
I ordered a juice that came with chunks in it and an acai bowl that was supposed to have fresh fruit toppings, but everything was frozen.
I hate to say it but there are better places to get fresh juices, smoothies, and acai bowls now.

Second time in two weeks I’ve been here. I used to come all the time about a year ago, almost daily. This place had it’s prime, then. That quality, that service has long since been gone. Fruits frozen, no longer fresh, Acai bowl is liquid like soup, they have no idea what they are doing, and the people working, dingy at beast. The guy cutting the fruit for my bowl and others, picking his eyes right before, hands on the dirty counters then picking the fruit and putting into the bowl with his hands. I had to ask them to remake after washing their hands. This place needs to be condemned by the health department. Only have it two stars because I saw what this place used to be and could be again if they clean it up …

This place is never open on time which is extremely frustrating when I’ve tried already a few times to get something before work.
The service is always slow and the workers there (always different ones) have never been friendly. Each time I have ordered something I’ve had to check to make sure it’s correct because they’ve always seem to forget an ingredient or give me something different… It’s a shame because it’s in such a great location.

The most consistent thing here is the slow and less than happy service. Acai bowl is never the same, sometimes it has strawberries, most times it doesn’t. Sometimes it has pineapples and sometimes random blueberries. They go through employees like toilet paper. Pretty sure the kid making my acai bowl finished up eating his frittos and didn’t wash his hands. Health code violations going on.
It’s very simple concept and execution to a good fruit, veggie, smoothie, acai, juice place like this; basic consistency in the product you’re serving and good customer service.
Rooting for the owner to get it together. It always looks like he clawing at keeping this place afloat.

The acai bowl is good, but the service is horrible and nasty. The guy at the register with the long, disguising hair kept touching his face and hair that was in his face while making people’s orders. They have no idea what they are doing. Instead of making order by order so people can leave, they just rack up orders and make everyone wait together even though there is one person at the register and one to make orders. After waiting 40 minutes, the rush of irritated people were finally served, but my order (which was exactly the same as the herd but ordered much earlier) wasn’t there. Then the slow, dark man with the shaved, balding head found our order and refunded our money.
I’ve been there before and had great service and good bowls, but if you see those two working, just leave.

Acai bowl was canned fruit with the most watered down acai I’ve ever had. Pissed. Now I have to go to Rum Jungle to get a real one.

Here’s the thing. When I can get something from this place, I really enjoy it. I love the works juice. That being said, I’ve gone in 3 times now where I was turned away because they were either behind on juicing or out of everything for the day… and it’s only noon! It’s super disappointing and frusterating. The times I do get what I want I wait for usually about 15 – 20 minutes but I for the most part don’t mind waiting if I really want something healthy after a long run.
I love supporting local businesses but when these things keep repeatedly happening, it turns me off from going to them.
Taking a break from this place for awhile… hopefully they can get it together!

I was expecting bad customer service due to what I’ve read in the Unilocal reviews but the three people working today were all really friendly!
I order the acai bowl and it was delicious!
My only complaint is the use of styrofoam. However, I’m giving you guys 5 stars because I hate bad customer service and I highly applaud you for turning this around — at least from what I’ve seen.
Next step — more sustainable containers!

The acai bowls here are my absolute favorite… HOWEVER…
The service is so awful that I almost never want to come back. I don’t get why they don’t understand the fact that they need more workers. The fact that I don’t even get greeted when I walked in, let alone helped at the register for another 5, and then wait at least 25 to get my order… so ridiculous!
Went today and actually saw 2 customers wait at the register, and then walk out because they were not approached.
It is honestly ridiculous! Figure it out Big squeeze… you clearly need some more workers back there… and ones that actually know what they are doing.
Also… the juices are not good. Go for the bowls or smoothies.

Ok so this review is very mediocre. I can’t decide on whether I want to give them four or two stars so I’ll just meet in the middle with three. Why is that? Well…
Their service is absolutely HORRIBLE! Like beyond belief. For such a small spot you’d think they would be a little more alert and friendly, but that is definitely not that case. And it takes foreverrrrr to receive your drinks.
Now the reason why I came here in the first place is because I was trying to get rid of my stupid cold and the only thing that sounded good were liquids. I decided on a Helping Your Immune System 20oz. It had quite a few fruits listed, but when I went to drink it it tasted like apple juice. It also had fruit chunks of peach inside. It was the oddest thing. Now if I’m going to pay $ 5 for apple juice with peach chunks, then just say that so I’m not surprised…
Meh!

LIKES:
1. Best Acai bowls I’ve had in PB, or SD for that matter…
2. Ingredients are really fresh, and seems more organic than Jamba Juice
3. Lots of variety
4. Water cooler for waiting customers
GRIPES:
1. You’ll need the water cooler because the wait is usually long
2. It’s expensive (but I think that juices usually tend to be…) — the 16 oz. drinks start at around $ 4.25 and the 20 oz. drinks are $ 5.00
3. The hours aren’t great — they close at 6pm on Saturdays, and open at 7am (which is too late sometimes when you have to be at work by 7)
PRO TIPS:
1. Bring cash — it’s cash only!
2. Plan to wait a while after you order
3. The Trifecta is a great veggie drink that is off the menu. It tastes sweet, but it has kale, celery, parsley, and all that green goodness.