Frais

Delicious gluten free lunch here today. Plenty of choice with salads, wraps, sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, fruit and healthy drinks. Also have non GF choices (prepared in a separate kitchen to avoid cross contamination). Staff very friendly and helpful.

Wow! Where do I begin?! Frais is tucked away in Shirley and you could be forgiven for missing this place altogether if you are just casually shopping down the main Shirley High Street. But you really cannot afford to. I made a special visit long journey from my home. It looked that good from pictures online… I was not let down.
Placed on a lovely square near Asda, the front of Frais is very welcoming with it’s fully windowed front ensuring you are able to get a peek into what’s in store for you. On my visit, it was a glorious Easter day and me and my friend were able to enjoy the cool breeze.
Frais is primarily a juice bar with a huge amount on offer. Set into three categories, Juice mixes, Keep it simple and super juices there is something for any mood you might find yourself in. Along with the protein balls which are so full of goodness really gives Frais is identity. But that’s not all. they even provide «Bulletproof coffee» I won’t tell you about that so you can get a little surprise when you visit but wow!
Frais mention that they are gluten free but are very subtle about it and you wouldn’t even notice certain wheaty items missing from the menu. However this was a massive pull for me being wheat intolerant.
What I really liked about Frais was that it is very obviously health orientated. Even having a «healthy living club» and juicing evenings. I was really impressed with this as it’s what makes Frais so different to everything else out there. Foods and drinks costs where something that both myself and friend were delighted with. But is not intrusive, patronising or preachy at all. I have been to many places who do all these things unfortunately and this was a refreshing change!
The menu is limited which at the time I wasn’t taken with. But after having my lunch of a delicious tofu salad, I understand why. Being able to focus on a few high quality meals is much more important and there is nothing wrong with that. Salads and wraps were on offer at a ridiculously low £2.25 bearing in the mind the huge amount of combinations and choice I could have had. Soups, Salads and Sandwiches are currently on the menu and also available for take away. A fantastic lunch choice I would think. I am looking forward to seeing how this expands in the future for a relatively new business.
As you go in, to the left of the service counter, you can find lots of unusual and difficult to find staple gluten free products which I encourage you to have a peek at. They sell many different types of the wonderful Bob’s red mill oats along with various pastas.
I can’t wait to visit again and go though the juice list!