Perfect Pick-me-up: Amazon Cafe Energizes The Ordinary

PITTSBURGH, PA (Thursday, February 23, 2006) - Amazon Cafe Downtown might have the answer to the middle-of-the-day energy zap.
It's a small fast-food chain specializing in fruit juice, smoothies, "power boost" supplements and other light, healthy, energetic fare. And while it has many of the unfortunate hallmarks of fast food -- bright lights, hard colors and the skull-rattling noise of industrial-strength blenders -- it doesn't rely on Grade "D" beef to draw crowds. Amazon Cafe gives us fresh fruit.

My wife got the Tropical Passion ($3.55 for 16 oz.; $4.25 for 24 oz.). A supplement skeptic, she opted out of the "Power Boosts," so it was just passionfruit, mango juice, banana, strawberry, ice and pineapple sherbet. It was delicious -- 236 calories of perfectly-blended produce, churned into a slow-moving, viscous fruity goo.

You don't need to go the fruit route. I attempted to attain Chocolate Nirvana ($3.55; $4.25) through Ghirardelli chocolate, ice, nonfat milk and nonfat frozen yogurt. I had it augmented with an "Energy Power Boost," comprised of Panax & Siberian ginseng, bee pollen, royal jelly, suma & guarana. You can't taste any of that, thankfully. I'm not a supplement expert, but I did stay awake the rest of the day. No swinging from light poles Gene Kelly-style, though. The downside -- Chocolate Nirvana tastes like a thicker Wendy's Frosty.





For those craving solid food, the Amazon Grande ($3.95 half) wrap is surprisingly good for an afterthought, with grilled chicken breast, mild but hearty salsa, onion, lettuce and tomato. Sour cream and ranch dressing are optional.

The Tomato Cheddar ($2.95 small) is wonderful -- a thick, creamy soup where you can't see the cheese, but you can really taste it. Chicken with Wild Rice and Lentil ($2.95) is dairy-free, low-fat and low-flavor.

View all Amazon Cafe Press Releases

This article has been read 325 times.

Printer Friendly